Ask HN: What problem in your industry is a potential startup?

Post by pfranz » Sat, Dec 10, 2016, 3:19 AM UTC

sidlls wrote: post #185

bdangubic wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The entire Real-Estate industry is ripe for disruption. Exactly why are we paying 6% to "agents"? What are "agents" actually doing? 10+ years ago the need for "Real Estate Agents" was there as information was not readily accessible. Things like "what kind of area is this property in", "what are schools like" "what are prospects for this area 5 years down the road" and so on. All this information (and MUCH more) is cu…

The real estate industry is very heavily regulated and, worse, these regulations are extremely fragmented. Any disruption is going to have to deal with that. Also, agents for basic residential purchases where the property is about as mundane as it gets provide very little value. However good agents will do proper diligence by inspecting the public records for the property. That part may be disruptable with software a…

Post by borplk » Sat, Dec 10, 2016, 3:24 AM UTC

contingencies wrote: post #13

Normally I live in China, and rarely eat western breakfast. Recently I returned to Australia to spend some Christmas time with my extended family. A few mornings ago, I put some real bread I cut from a sourdough loaf in a toaster. Due to its irregular size, when it popped it didn't pop out completely, resulting in a sort of "toaster is too hot to insert fingers, toast is too hot to hold, toast is ready, find metallic…

Post by nihonde » Sat, Dec 10, 2016, 3:29 AM UTC

verbify wrote: post #381

nihonde wrote: post #377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is exactly correct. As a lawyer and a software developer, I long ago gave up on the idea of selling software to solve the problems of lawyers and/or law firms. Lawyers tend to be terrible customers of technology, if for no other reason than that they have established completely backward incentives that reward inefficiencies and information deficits. The only "legal tech" that can succeed (in my opinion) is the k…

So you don't agree that 'the person who represents themself has an idiot for a client'?

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Dec 10, 2016, 3:31 AM UTC

vinay427 wrote: post #416

treehau5 wrote: post #414

Not sure, but if it involves automating more jobs away, wank off.

I don't understand this idea that everyone needs jobs, all of the time. Ideas are not created so that jobs can be created, and workers on a societal level don't work so they have jobs. They work so the business operates and serves society. Why not develop ideas and businesses that provide value to all of society and provide benefits such as a basic income that compensate for the fewer workers needed?

Post by jnicholasp » Sat, Dec 10, 2016, 3:35 AM UTC

bdangubic wrote: post #407

jefftk wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The entire Real-Estate industry is ripe for disruption. Exactly why are we paying 6% to "agents"? https://www.redfin.com/ is already doing this. They charge half the normal fee if you're selling and they give about half of their fee to you after purchase if you're buying. (We bought our house with them.)

Sure, but what you are paying 1/2 for? Imagine owning a home which sells for $1,000,000. Currently you pay roughly 6% - $60,000. You pick Redfin - they charge take the money and give you back 1/2 but you are still paying them $30,000!! But if your house is sold for $100,000 you'd pay $6,000 or $3,000 to Redfin. The whole thing is just the biggest currently running scam that I can think of and someone will come along…