Has anyone built out there own database for flipping?

Question

Is there a website or company out there where you can build your own database. I'm not looking for property management software.

I'm looking for something specifically to flipping, and ideally something I could build out myself without knowing anything about coding.

Thanks

Matt Welch · Answer

@Sean OToole Thanks for chiming in.  Yeah, what I envision to build out would be too costly for my current volume.  I didn't care for Podio at all, I do use your service a lot and it's great for it's purpose.

Matt Welch · Answer

I'm looking to put all the excel spreadsheets I currently maintain to gather our firm's data (acquisition cost sheets, renovation cost sheets, sales costs sheets, net sheets of the deal) into an online platform where everyone in the company can easily access them.

I worked for a large institutional backed company previously and they had a very expansive inventory system which also was able to pull data from the trustee companies to gather info in one place just like Foreclosure radar except it was better then foreclosure radar.

I'm looking to build out a slimmed down version of this program for my current needs.  Someone that flips at volume would understand what I am saying, others may not.

Matt Welch · Answer

It's seeming like having a programmer build it out will be what I am seeking, but I don't think I can allocate the necessary budget to make it worth their time and effort currently.

Trevor Ewen · Answer

@Matt Weiss

I am a software developer by trade, so I usually do it myself.

These tasks are usually pretty small and one-off to engage a specific vendor, but it's certainly an option.

Matt Weiss · Answer

Hi @Trevor Ewen,

How have you built custom scrapers? Was there a vendor you used or did you have the technical know how?

Trevor Ewen · Answer

@Matt Welch

Built a couple custom scrapers myself. I actually think there is a lot of gold-in-the-hills of government auction sites and less frequented FSBO sites.

Because I am not an active flipper or wholesaler, I am not doing much of it. But am working with another investor on a New Jersey specific project pretty soon.

Sean OToole · Answer

@Matt Welch we've got a number of customers with exactly what you need. We've considered building it, but the number of folks operating at that level is a very small market that doesn't make financial sense to pursue - the reality is that for most either our software alone (using status, files, notes, lists, etc), or together with something like Podio is more than enough. I've also tried to talk some of those customers into selling their systems, but they see them as a competitive advantage, so I haven't had any luck on that front so far. Technically none of them are that great - most are either built on salesforce's platform or in .net.

Chris Martin · Answer

Sounds more like you need google docs or dropbox vs. github. By 'slimmed down' I assume you mean functionality, not data. On the data side, there is little difference between 5,000 and 500,000 records. The algorithms and table formats are the same for both.

With a well written specification of what you want, you can most likely get someone on upwork (formerly elance) or equivalent to build what you want.

Chris Martin · Answer

It's not clear to me what you are trying to do. What are you trying to do? Getting access to and using a database isn't complicated. Many ISPs provide MySQL DB with MySQLAdmin as part of their package. The real question is what are you data needs. Your schema, if you will. Unless you have a well defined specification of what you want, a programmer probably can't get you to where you want to be.

I use data for my needs in determining market momentum, among other things. I'd rather know subdivision characteristics before I step foot in my van. Where is there strength? Weakness?

All thing being equal, the data I use is to determine subdivision/area selection. I look at the data and ask myself would I flip in subdivision A? Although I don't flip, I do like to 'play' (we are long term buy/hold, but the theory is similar) in markets where there is price stability, demand for product, etc. BTW, the second to last bar in SubB graph below is our purchase, just so you know how we use the data to (hopefully) build in our cushion when we screw up an acquisition.