Last month I came across a post on ActiveRain by a developer using the Cyberhomes Application Programming Interface (API). His name is Murali Vasudevan, and I thought he did a great job implementing our API. It got me thinking of how many real estate agents would love the functionality he created on their website or blog. So I reached out to Murali last week and asked him a few questions, including how an agent can get his custom work on their site. See our interview below.
What first made you want to build off the Cyberhomes API?
I look for opportunities to enhance customer experience by solving real life issues using tools available for free! In the past I have integrated APIs from Amazon and Google which can be seen at http://www.elixiraddons.com. Recently came across your web service API from an article on realtor web site www.realtor.com. After reviewing it I thought that it could be used for realtor sites to provide useful information for the visitors helping to increase the traffic to these sites. First I created an addon http://www.elixiraddons.com/cyber to show comparable sales for any property within the continental US. I enhanced this by showing the properties on Google Maps.- How does the Cyberhomes API compare to other API’s you’ve implemented?
Cyberhomes API is on the top of the list based on my experience. Especially I like the fact that you provide the distance of comparable properties from the primary property in your response. The latitude longitude info also looks more reliable which is essential to show the properties on Google Map. - Recently one of your add-ons was enhanced with a property tax appeal feature. What’s your goals here?
Glad you asked this. Recently I read an article in our local news paper (www.latimes.com) about the scam artists trying to exploit the home owners who have already hit hard by the current financial turmoil. These agencies seem to be charging the homeowners hefty amounts to appeal their property taxes with the county assessor. I thought that Cyberhomes API has all the details required by the appeal process and have come up with this tool (http://www.elixiraddons.com/cyber) to generate the form ready to be printed and mailed to the assessor. I thought this will be a timely help for lot of the hard hit homeowners in California. Initial feedback is very encouraging so far. So far I have automated the appeal process for Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and Orange county. Will be adding more to this list soon. - If a real estate agent needs help integrating the Cyberhomes API into their blog or website, are you available for hire?
Sure I will be glad to do that. Also being a small shop, my prices are very reasonable without compromising quality. - If a real estate agent wants to use the example you’ve already created, is that possible? How do they reach out to you?
This is real easy. Just email me at info@elixiraddons.com (or fill out the contact form on my site).
Hey Reggie,
Thank you for bringing Murali’s work to my attention. That tax assessment feature is awesome!
P.S. The regular CyberHomes API that Cashin uses on their website (www.Cashin.com) is amazing too!
-Brendan
Brendan Aiello’s last blog post..Huge Spike in Pocket Listings!
Reggie, good post! How can we use Cyberhomes API locally and add it onto our own website? Got a little bit of a learning curve here. Is there a step by step into doing this?? Thanks again Reggie!
The Cyberhomes API is is powerful, flexible, available for free and can be implemented by anyone with experience working with XML web services. You can find the details at http://devzone.cyberhomes.com/.
As Brett said, Cyberhomes API is powerful, flexible, available for free and can be implemented by anyone with experience working with XML web services. That said, this is not meant for a realtor to master or implement on their own. This is where people like ourselves can help. After all this is what we do every day so that realtors can do what they are good at – dealing with the customers instead of figuring out the technology!
I have working with Murali for several months now implementing his API solutions, and I can honestly say he is an absolute pro!My business is growing like crazy,because of his out of the box thinking and his Elixir add-ons.I look forward working with him on more ground breaking ideas.He truly is a visionary in real estate technology.
I just stared a dialogue with Murali, and he definitely knows his stuff. I can see the potential of the API and how Murali can implement it for anyone.
Marco Santarelli
Norada Real Estate Investments
The potential of Cyberhomes API is incredible for Realtors. However, without Murali, or someone with his skills, it is beyond the scope of most of us. I have employed hundreds of programmers over the years and none- none is as competent with API as Murali. I spent hours trying to track down someone to implement some Cyberhomes API on my new site http://www.GseAppraisals.com. I came up empty until I met Murali. I will look no further for future projects.
I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
And I thought I knew everything there was to know about this subject…well, now I do – nice post. Best regards, Kate White @ L
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