1 PROPERTY EVALUATION AND ADVERTISING Field of the Invention 5 In one aspect, the invention relates to systems or methods for property evaluation for potential home buyers. In another aspect, the invention relates to systems or methods for location based advertising. Background 10 A request is being made to patent a software web application (Fig. 1) that helps home buyers make an informed purchase decision by providing a range of sales, planning permit and property features information in one location. Currently, buyers rely solely on a selling agent or vendor to compile 15 information on a specific property, who may potentially not reveal all relevant information to the buyer. Through access to a range of databases, a particular embodiment of the present invention referred to herein as 'Propertychecker' enables the buyer to gain vital information about a particular property in an online format, helping them comprehensively 20 research a property and its corresponding suburb, and determine how much a property would be worth to them. Propertychecker exists in desktop, smart phone, tablet or physical paper formats to make the background check easy and user friendly for consumers. 25 Disclosure of the Invention The invention may provide a method of property evaluation for a potential home buying user comprising the steps of: - a computing device presenting a display for prompting the user to 30 identify the address of a property for assessment; 2 - the computing device recording, or transmitting to an online server for recordal, the property address information as identified by virtue of user input. 5 Additionally or alternatively, the computing device may utilise location determining means for determining the property address information. The location determining means may comprise a GPS broadcast receiver or tracker. io The computing device may present a display for prompting a user to input information regarding features of the identified property address as viewed by the user on inspection of the identified property address. The computing device may record, or transmit to the online server for recordal, the property feature information inputted by the user. The computing device may present 15 a display for prompting the user to request a report including recorded feature information for the identified property address. The computing device, or the online server, may arrange the recorded information into a suitable format for display on the computing device following a report request by the user. 20 The computing device may present a display for prompting a user to input feature information in the form of at least one of: - quantitative information relating to the identified property address for at least one of, the present asking price of the property, the number of 25 bedrooms the property presently has, the number of bathrooms the property presently has, and the number of car-parks the property presently has; - checklist information by checking off the presence of features of the identified property address in a checklist, the checklist features 30 relating to at least one of, living room, home entertainment, lighting, fire place, heating, cooling, cupboards, appliances, bench-tops, taps, sinks, transport, surrounding shops, street appeal, surrounding 3 properties, freestanding, entrance, internet points, landline, wardrobes, power-points, pool, garage; and - scoring information by rating or scoring of the identified property address overall, or an aspect thereof. 5 The computing device may present a display for prompting a user to input property feature information in the form of notes or photographs relating to particular features of the identified property address. io The online server may record property feature information in respect of multiple assessed properties inputted by multiple other users using multiple other computing devices. The computing device may present a display for prompting the user to request a multi-user report based on recorded feature information from the multiple other users for the identified property address or 15 addresses in the locality of the identified property address. The online server may aggregate or arrange the recorded information from multiple other users into a suitable format for display on the computing device following a multi user report request by the user. 20 The online server may receive the property address information inputted into the computing device by the user. The online server may identify the locality of the property under evaluation from the property address information. The online server may identify, from a database of bidding advertisers, the advertiser recorded with the highest monetary bid in respect of the identified 25 locality at that time, a predetermined time, or over a predetermined time period. The online server may transmit information regarding an advertisement corresponding to the identified advertiser for the identified locality to the computing device. The computing device may present the advertisement to the user. 30 The computing device may present a display for prompting the user to request current or historical property sales information relating to at least one 4 of, properties in the area in which the property is located, properties in the suburb in which the property is located, properties in the street in which the property is located, and the identified property itself. 5 The computing device may present a display for prompting the user to request current or historical planning permit information for the identified property address or properties within the vicinity of the identified property address. 10 Detailed Description of Suitable Non-Limiting Embodiments A description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention is provided below. Propertychecker is an easy-to-use, property buyers' tool - available in digital 15 format (Android, Apple) and as a physical copy - that helps a user gather and research detailed information during an inspection of a property for sale. The reporting system allows for a detailed overview of a property that has sold within the search area, providing information such as property address, number of bedrooms, land size and price the property sold for. This allows 20 the user to make an informed decision on the potential valuation of the property in the current market. The three primary functions of the application - Sales results, Planning Permit Checker and Feature Checklist - are key elements that assist users to comprehensively assess the suitability of every aspect of a particular property in one application, which can then be rated on 25 the Final Impressions screen. The Sales Results appear as a list, allowing users to save the results and have them delivered to their account, to study and compare price trends and sales history in a particular area. 30 The Planning Permit Checker - consisting of email alerts - helps inform users of any planning permits and future building projects that may impact the 5 value of the property they are interested in. The Checklist of Features allows a user to note down, save and review the features that exist in a particular property, or which features are important to 5 them in a property. It is an easy system that allows buyers to easily sort all their information in one application. In the reporting system, a user can narrow down properties by selecting search criteria that match their preferences - such as location or property io features - ensuring they do not receive a list of properties that are not relevant to them. This is mechanism reduces clutter and unwanted properties within a user's Propertychecker application. Users can then add notes and photos to the aforementioned reporting system, to assist their searches with additional resources. 15 Propertychecker utilises various online databases to enable property buyers to uncover all available information about a property and familiarise themselves with that property's features and specifications. 20 Propertychecker has contractual arrangements in place with various real estate data providers to provide detailed property data on all locations in Australia. The data takes the form of sale results in a particular area, suburb and street. 25 The Propertychecker application consists of three main functions: Sales Results, Planning Permit Checker, Property Feature Checklist. Sales Results: This function reveals current and historical sales prices for the particular property being searched, and its corresponding suburb. This 30 feature also provides details of land size, cost per square metre and growth trends in the area, delivered in a list.
6 Planning Permit Checker: This function reveals property planning permit data for planning applications within the property's vicinity that may affect future property value, delivered in a report. 5 Property Feature Checklist (Fig 3.1): This is a comprehensive checklist to help the buyer establish a list of features and benefits pertaining to a particular property that may be of interest to them. Examples include number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage and car spaces, heating, cooling, and 10 appliances. The buyer can use this checklist for free and will be available as a mobile application (fig 3) on the Apple and Google Play Stores. The checklist can be used digitally on a tablet, laptop and desktop computer, along with in print on a paper format for those without a computer skill set. 15 The Propertychecker application allows a user to specify or narrow down a search according to their preferences through the 'Create Report' screen (fig 2). Users can make specific searches using the tool to enter an address, suburb, price range and number of bedrooms that suit their specifications. 20 The PropertyChecker application allows users to upload notes and photos to accompany their investigation on a particular property (fig 5). For example, if a user is inspecting a particular property and has that property opened on their application at the time, they can add notes as they go along, or take pictures and upload them to the application to keep a visual gallery to 25 accompany their research. The Propertychecker application contains a'Final Impressions' screen (fig 6) that lets users mark down a percentage rating on a slider representing their preference for a property. For example, if a user has completed their 30 research on a property and believe it matches most of their preferences, they could rate it as close to 100% as they believe on the final impressions slider.
7 If a property does not match their preferences, they can rate it lower, allowing them to sort properties in terms of compatibility (fig 7). Propertychecker will exist on a range of platforms to maximise usability for as 5 many people as possible. Developers will create compatible Windows/Apple/Android and mobile/tablet/desktop versions of Propertychecker, along with printable physical paper copies of some features and reports. io Once the user has downloaded and started using Propertychecker, the application will save their search and user data for all the properties they search and research, and the checklist data is uploaded to their account within their master system. This occurs once they have approved the storage of data to their online account within Propertychecker. 15 Users of Propertychecker may set up online accounts via the application on their mobile device or via their internet browsers on desktop or laptop computers. Having a user account enables the user to save information and reports relating to evaluated properties to an online server, thereby saving 20 storage space on their mobile device for other purposes. Real estate agents may also set up agent accounts for accessing property evaluations, reports, or for advertising purposes. The online server stores personal information entered by users in setting up 25 their user accounts, as well as property related information entered by users when evaluating properties. The stored information from multiple users can then be aggregated and used for purposes such as statistical analysis, determining location based property trends (eg. in sales prices, property features), determining changes in property related information and 30 evaluations over time within and between properties, and maintaining up to date property records. For instance, a user may request, and the online server may produce for display on the user's mobile device, a report 8 comparing average user ratings of properties between suburbs, or of two properties within a suburb. Once the user enters, or the mobile device (e.g. phone or tablet) executing 5 the Propertychecker application detects, the location or region, such as the suburb, of the property that the user is evaluating, the application software is capable of instructing the mobile device to present on screen suburb specific advertisements to the user. For example, in a suitable embodiment the mobile device presents paid advertisements of real estate agents operating 10 in the suburb of the property being evaluated by the user. Advertising space is allocated within the application. For instance, the advertisement may be in the form of a banner displayed in a space at the bottom of the mobile device screen. 15 In determining the agent to be displayed for the suburb of interest, the Propertychecker application utilises an algorithm that determines the agent which has made the highest monetary bid for advertising in the suburb or postcode being evaluated. The application enables agents to bid in integer 20 dollar amounts and bids may be raised by as little as dollar increments. The highest bidder in a particular suburb or postcode is given exclusive advertising on the application when a property in that suburb or postcode is under evaluation by the user. The period of exclusive advertising may be 25 limited by a predetermined period of time, such as 24 hours, or until the bid is superseded by a higher bid from a competing agent. When an agent is outbid, a notification such as an email is sent advising the agent of the new high bid. The notification further prompts the agent to top 30 the new high bid by an integer amount of at least one dollar if they wish to maintain or regain advertising space in the suburb of interest. The agent will have an online Propertychecker account which they can access in the 9 Propertychecker app, allowing them to make and top up bids for their chosen suburb on their mobile device. The agent may make the same bid for multiple suburbs simultaneously.