Cyberhomes AVM is a Total Joke
Mike’s Corner breaks the news of another AVM hitting the web, this time from Fidelity National Information Services, called Cyberhomes.
I’d love to comment on it, share my opinion or just revel in its soft, pastel Web 2.0 color palette. But unfortunately it doesn’t support Firefox (see screenshot). Greg says Safari doesn’t work either – which leaves all Mac users out in the cold.
I find it unbelievable that in this day and age, when Firefox now claims almost 30% of browser uses (closer to 50% on my server logs for this blog) and Apple has doubled its laptop marketshare to 12 percent, that web sites still are designed to work in only one environment (Internet Explorer).
What a joke.
Update: Per the comments below, it looks like Cyberhomes does now work in Firefox and I’ve subsequently been able to have a look at the site on my Windows PC at work. I’ll reserve judgment for now and put my experience down to Beta glitches and late night grouchiness.
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Pat Kitano | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Title insurance companies have never embraced a tech culture, not have they had experience marketing to consumers… that’s why the Safari consumer can’t open the application!
I even laugh about their retro-net name Cyberhomes in tonight’s blog http://tinyurl.com/y2slxs (but I do give Fidelity credit for trying to change – the analogy is the title insurance industry is like today’s Republicans, they must change).
Robert Melton | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Works for me with Firefox / Windows.
Anton | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
I think you jumped the gun, it is working fine for me in Firefox. I first visited the site with IE and got the same error message. Try this: http://www.cyberhomes.com/default.aspx
Ron Ares | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
I tried it a couple days ago in Firefox/Mac…no problems. Sounds like it might be a little unstable.
Joel Burslem | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Maybe it’s an issue with Firefox 2.0? or Firefox in OS X?
Tyler Sookochoff | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
I’ve got Firefox 2.0 in OS X and it works fine.
Robbie | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Works fine for me on Firefox 2.0 on Windows. Whatever the issue was, sounds like it’s been fixed.
Anton | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
You should retract your statement, or just delete this entry. It makes you blog look like a total joke.
Andy Denton | Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Doesn’t work in Opera 9.
Todd | Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
Just to be contrarian, I tried Cyberhomes in IE7…..no worky!
Jay Thompson | Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
For all those saying it “works”, how are you defining “works”? I assume you mean that the site comes up in your browser and you are able to get a “valuation” number. I assume you do NOT mean it works to the point where that valuation number is accurate. That’s how it “works” for me.
Teresa Boardman | Nov 12, 2006 | Reply
I honestly don’t get it. Could someone please explain to me why this new very nice looking web site packed full of inaccurate information is worth my time? I looked up my own home and just like with Zillow the information about it is pulled from the really out of data Ramsey County Minnesota tax records. What is so great about a site that provides information that is not correct? Can’t I get my incorrect information just about anywhere?
Loren Nason | Nov 14, 2006 | Reply
Pat Kitano – You are right Title companies are WAY behind the curve when it comes to technology. BUT I have seen some agents for title companies realize they need technology and employ tech companies to help their agents (yes, I am one of those)
I have also seen a title company here in So Cal building their own web interface for title order’s and web delivery of documents. This is only done by one office. Tech awareness is growing but they still are trying to push crap programs every now and then. Can you say Agent Office from FNF (Fidelity)
Loren
Future of Real Estate Technology
PS – your open letter to title companies was spot on
Pat Kitano | Nov 16, 2006 | Reply
Thx for the confirmation Loren… I find your business model assisting realtors interesting… usually this is a free lance position that spreads word of mouth… have you been able to institutionalize it to serve brokerages on an on-call basis?
Mr. T | Oct 5, 2007 | Reply
No matter what these jive valuation sites look like or don’t, Mr. Cyber and Mr. Zillow won’t ever sign off on a value for your lender. Lazy agents can now have two or three ways to mis-state values to their clients. Some states have found that an AVM is not an appraisal, and lenders may be sitting ducks for non-compliance with lending laws.
Toni Ramsey | Apr 4, 2008 | Reply
Aren’t these folks in the least bit concerned with the huge patent lawsuit that just came out?
Their retro name (Cyberhomes) may be apprapo because these patent lawyers look like they plan on suing them back into the Dark Ages.
http://www.housingzone.com/articleXml/LN754990316.html
Toni Ramsey | Apr 4, 2008 | Reply
Aren’t these folks in the least bit concerned with the huge patent lawsuit that just came out?
Their retro name (Cyberhomes) may be apprapo because these patent lawyers look like they plan on suing them back into the Dark Ages.
http://www.housingzone.com/articleXml/LN754990316.html