LJ Hooker to pioneer artificial intelligence tech platform

Undeterred by its recent tech startup failures, LJ Hooker has announced the release of a tailored new tech platform that promises to lead the digital transformation of the real estate industry.

LJ Hooker chairman L Janusz Hooker said that, for clients, the propriety-built artificial intelligence platform enables a more transparent buying and selling process, maximising customer satisfaction.

He said that, for agents, the platform offers better efficiency and mobile capability, automating the hundreds of steps involved from appraisal to settlement.

Mr Hooker said that the technology is implemented first in LJ Hooker Avnu, before being expanded across the entire franchise network.

“Advancements in technology have now enabled us to build our platform,” he said.

“In particular, the commoditisation of AI and machine learning, spread of cloud computing and access to open source frameworks, and our ability to recruit top engineers with international experience building the tech infrastructure for the likes of Google, LinkedIn and Twitter.

“The modern-day consumer demands the products and services they consume be delivered in real time.

"It’s the right time for Australia’s largest asset class real estate, valued at $7.5 trillion, to deliver on that level of service,” he told an industry website, REB.

Meanwhile The Australian Financial Review has reported today that "several months of inactivity" had led to questions about the viability of the Avnu model, and its cost impact on LJ Hooker.

Hooker responded saying an Avnu office would only be opened in areas where an LJ Hooker franchise didn't already have a presence.

The first Avnu store in Neutral Bay replaced the terminated LJ Hooker Mosman franchise when its former principals moved to Ray White in 2017.

"It's a big investment to make, but we see a big return coming out of it, " Mr Hooker said.

Traditional agents spend approximately 30 percent of their time listing and selling, 30 percent on lead generation and 40 percent on administration tasks.

It is hoped the technology at LJ Hooker Avnu consolidates administration to just 15 percent.

Avnu lost its CEO Jason Chuck this week in an unexpected disruption to the business rollout.

LJ Hooker's think-tank LJX-Lab previously developed an online and offline real estate agency model to work in partnership with the LJ Hooker business.

Named Settl, it was led by a start-up team staffed with people from Uber, Atlassian, Freelancer and Airtasker, but failed to succeed despite having been in development for 18 months.

LJX-Lab had been hoped to be in a unique position to develop and launch technology for the real estate industry.

LJ Hooker committed $100 million to establish a real estate startup incubator, with LJX-Lab's first development Real Edge, a digital learning and coaching platform that delivers LJ Hooker's training programs online.

 LJX-Lab had assembled an advisory board of business leaders, including:

• Freelancer.com CEO, Matt Barrie (Sydney);
• MD CSIRO Innovation Fund and & Founder of Black Bird Ventures, Bill Bartee (Sydney);
• Co-Founder and Principal of RFR Holding, Michael Fuchs (New York);
• Director of Zoopla.com and former CEO of Countrywide Real Estate Group, Grenville Turner (London).