INTEGRATED REAL ESTATE SHOWING SCHEDULING AND KEY DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20100268379A1
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MFTB Holdco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ShowingTime.com, Inc. (Zillow Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Greenman, Hertbert, Bi, Depeng, Woodard, Scott E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A system and method for dispensing a key from a key kiosk disposed at a realtor'"'"'s office near a real property based on a showing appointment scheduled with a showing scheduling system. The appointment, including a date and time, as well as an authorized user is communicated from the showing scheduling system to the key kiosk. The user then authenticates herself or himself to the kiosk at the appropriate time, and the key is dispensed.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing a key from a key kiosk comprising the steps of:

scheduling an appointment for showing a real property using a showing scheduling system, said appointment including a date, time, and authorized user;

communicating said appointment to said key kiosk;

authorizing a user at said key kiosk; and

dispensing said key.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of communicating to said showing scheduling system the status of said key as dispensed to said authorized user.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of returning said key and communicating to said showing scheduling system the status of said key as available.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said appointment further includes an end time, and further comprising the step of notifying said user if said key has not been returned to said key kiosk by said end time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said appointment further includes an end time, and further comprising the step of notifying said user if said key has not been returned to said key kiosk by a predetermined time period after said end time.

6. A system for dispensing a key comprising:

a key kiosk for dispensing keys;

said key kiosk including a communications device;

a showing scheduling system for scheduling real estate showings, said showing scheduling system including a second communications device in communication with said key kiosk;

wherein said showing scheduling system communicates an appointment including a date, time, and authorized user to said key kiosk; and

wherein said key kiosk dispenses a key to a user after authorizing said user.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said key kiosk communicates the status of said key as dispensed to said showing scheduling system.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said key kiosk communicates the status of said key as available to said showing scheduling system.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said appointment further includes an end time and wherein said showing scheduling system notifies said user if said key is not returned to said key kiosk by said end time.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein said appointment further includes an end time and wherein said showing scheduling system notifies said user if said key is not returned to said key kiosk by a predetermined time period after said end time