The Connected Home — Opportunities And Disruption

By John Bodrozic, Co-Founder, HomeZada

The consumer journey through homeownership spans countless different interactions and transactions with different companies both large and small. Let’s take a summary look at this from a timeline perspective

• Real Estate: Hire a real estate agent and broker to help find a house, and use real estate portals to start your initial search. Lots of data and documents going back and forth to negotiate a deal.
• Mortgage: Use various online sources to shop for rates, and possibly work with a broker. Lots of data and documents to get a mortgage.
• Insurance: In order to close on your home, you need an insurance policy thus using online sources or agents and brokers to get the right coverage.
• Home Warranty: Perhaps part of the deal, you may also buy a home warranty for the first year.
• Title and Escrow: Finally, everything comes together to buy that home with reams of information.
• Moving Company: Time to pack up your belongings and move to the new home.
• Utility Companies: Time to sign up and start paying your energy, water, phone, TV, and Internet service bills and understand your usage patterns.
• Maintenance: Either you need to perform these tasks, or you need to find via various online sites, referrals, etc. specific trades like plumbing, HVAC, electrical, handyman, and landscaping services to help you.
• And more...

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