WO2024197340A1

WO2024197340A1 - Listings exchange

Info

Publication number: WO2024197340A1
Application number: PCT/AU2024/050275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Deans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-03-25
Filing date: 2024-03-25
Publication date: 2024-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-25

Abstract

An online platform for facilitating exchanges of a good, property, business, good, chattel, service, etc. allows a lister to publish information pertaining to a listing. The information can include agency agreement information that specifies terms and conditions for an agent member of the platform to act as an agent for the listing. The agency agreement information may include an agency fee schedule. Agent members may retrieve and agree to the agency agreement and thereafter retrieve the listing information to distribute the listing information to one or more prospects.

Description

LISTINGS EXCHANGE

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2023900835 filed 25 March 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference .

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This disclosure relates to a platform and network for facilitating exchanges of property, goods, services, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Computer networks such as the Internet have become popular for offering services and products for sale to the public by a business and for business to business transactions. Part of this popularity might be attributed to the fact that a larger number of potential customers/clients can be reached at low cost compared with conventional forms of promoting products/services , such as by brochures and expensive advertising .

[0004] Real estate agencies and professional industry representatives (Agents) have been offering real estate property services for sale/lease/auction/inspection etc. from their local database to the public via Internet Portals that aggregates and displays Agent listings. Typically, a person who wishes to use the Internet to purchase a property will access an Internet Portal website and may either manually view each of the properties offered for sale/lease/auction/inspection, or alternatively they may enter a search (for example by location) , so as to view those properties which are listed on the Internet Portal by the various Agents. However, this may not be all properties that are on the Agent's local database.

[0005] A limitation with this method is that the Internet can be accessed by any number of people, who self-determine whether they contact the Agent who is constrained by the number of properties which they can offer at any one time publicly.

[0006] It can be difficult for any number of Agents to locate selected property listings on the Internet in a central location and in a format which allows them to update the listings automatically. Hence, the management of up to date information on the Agents local database and websites can become cumbersome .

[0007] Furthermore, if a Property Owner wanted to list their properties with multiple Agents, or if other Agents wanted to list their properties on another Agents database or web site, the format in which the data is transferred between the Property Owners and the various agencies may not be compatible, and hence there may be difficulties in transferring information.

[0008] Agents also use the internet portals to review listings. However, even though an Agent may have a ready client or prospect for a listed property, there may be little incentive for the Agent to indicate the property to their client because without any agreement with the seller or seller Agent, the Agent may not stand to profit from such a referral or recommendation.

[0009] What is required, therefore, is an improved platform that addresses one or more of these shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a platform comprising at least one server and at least one database ; a. wherein the database stores: i. one or more Agent member profiles; ii. one or more lister profiles; iii. listing information sets for a plurality of listings, each listing information set including:

1. a description of at least one of a property, business, good, chattel, or service offered under the listing;

2. at least one provider of the listing, the at least one provider specifying at least one of an Agent member and a lister;

3. agency agreement information that specifies terms and conditions for an Agent member to act as an Agent for the listing, the agency agreement information including an agency fee schedule;

4. a set of Agent members that are authorised to access the listing and accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; b. wherein the at least one server is programmed to execute and serve a listings exchange interface to a user computer ; c. wherein the listings exchange interface enables, via the user computer, a user to: i. access a listing as an Agent member; ii . accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; iii. upon acceptance of the agency agreement, distribute the listing information to one or more prospects . [0011] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method for providing a listings exchange comprising: a. executing and serving a listings exchange interface to a user computer; wherein the listings exchange interface enables, via the user computer, a user to: i. access a listing as an Agent member, the listing including a listing information set including: listing information set including:

4. a set of agent members that are authorised to access the listing and accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; ii. accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; ii. upon acceptance of the agency agreement, distribute the listing information to one or more prospects of the Agent member.

[0012] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method for conducting a property transaction for a property: a. generating a smart contract for managing the property transaction, the smart contract defining multiple parties of the property transaction, multiple stages of a property transaction sequence, and a search fee distribution schedule; b. recording the smart contract in a database; c. receiving current stage data for a current stage data set of a current stage of a transaction from a first transaction party that is one of the multiple parties of the property transaction; d. recording the current stage data into the smart contract; e. recoding the first transaction party as a data provider of the current stage data; f. in response to completion of the current stage data set in the smart contract, triggering a next stage of the property transaction sequence; g. receiving a search request for request data pertaining to the property, the request data including the first data set information; h. providing a search result to the requestor in return for a fee; i. distributing the fee between the multi-parties including the first transaction party in accordance with the search fee distribution schedule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to specific embodiments and to the accompanying drawings in which :

[0014] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a listings exchange system; [0015] Fig. 2 shows a process for providing listings into the listings exchange system;

[0016] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of platform data structures for the listings exchange system;

[0017] Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of an entity interaction diagram for the listings exchange system;

[0018] Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for posting a listing to a listings exchange platform;

[0019] Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of a method for making an agency agreement through a listings exchange platform;

[0020] Fig. 7 shows an entity diagram illustrating agency relationships between entities of a listings exchange platform;

[0021] Fig. 8 shows a flow of exchange from when a prospect makes an offer on a listing; and

[0022] Fig. 9 shows a shows a flow of exchange utilizing a smart contract.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] There will be described hereinbelow systems and methods for facilitating an exchange of a property, business, good, chattel, or service. The systems and methods will describe collaboration between providers, Agents and acquirers. To facilitate the description to follow, a glossary of some terms used to describe embodiments within a real estate context is provided. While the terms provided narrow the examples to a real estate context, the person skilled in the art will recognize that alternative terms may be used to apply the examples to a broader (non-real estate) context and all such examples are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as most broadly described herein.

[0024] Listing : ) A "Listing" can be created for both sides of the transaction. Someone who 'requires' something and someone who has something to 'offer' . When creating the Listing the data parameters are captured as follows: a) As a "Requirement Listing" for the Prospective Buyer/Tenant : i) Capturing the Buyer/Buyer Agent, or Tenant/Tenant Representative parameters. ii) A set of data parameters that defines what a "Prospect" is looking for. iii) The Ontology Parameters could be based on the following or the combination of the follow:

(1) Status - For Sale, For Lease, Sold or Leased

(2) Price - Greater Than, Less Than a Range

(3) Rent - Greater Than, Less Than a Range

(4) Size - Greater Than, Less Than a Range

(5) Category or Classification - type of listing e.g. , Retail, Industrial, Residential etc.

(6) Features, e.g. , Pool, Parking, Bedrooms ,

(7) Locations

(8) Lease Term e.g. , Short Term, 3 Years minimum

(9) Time Period e.g. , Availability

(10) Etc. iv) Automatically, retrieves Listing data from the Public Websites by using Meta Search Engines to query the selected sites according to the Requirement parameters: (1) The LX searches the Internet Portals and retrieves the data and displays it;

(2) Subject to approval of the Internet Portal the LX stores it as Live data in the LX PIX Account v) Manually selected Listings can be stored using the LX Tag

(1) The LX Tag must be present on:

(a) the Internet Portal Public Website or

(b) The Listing Record that is Offered

(2) The LX Tag sends the tagged Listing record to the PIX account vi ) Collated Listing records in the PIX Account can be manage

(1) "Watched" to receive updates on the property

(2) "Stored" to maintain a static copy of the listing record e.g. , for future comparison

(3) "Removed" b) As a "Offerable Listings" this includes property, business, good, chattel, or service that is offered For Sale or For Lease, or as Sold or Leased comparison data

(1) Descriptive details.

(2) Set data that define the listing Ontology Parameters (As described in the above )

(3) Agency Terms Conditions and Fees

[0025] P ersonal Information exchange (PIX) : 2) A PIX account: a) Requires Identification and stores your "Personal Information" , b) stores your "Requirements Listings" and the parameters of these requirements, c) provides a live feed to matched "Offerable Listings" from, d) different channels where it gathers information i.e. , Public Portals, LX Agents, and e) tools where the Listings can be managed, removed, watched, and stored f) to share your data with third parties.

[0026] PIX Account and Org IDs: a) stores a user's "Offerable Listings" and the related information about it. This could include: i) its Contract of Sale, ii) Leases, iii) Outgoing and iv) associated maintenance contracts. b) Allows you to transfer your listings directly to LX Agents or c) apply for a Casual or Corporate Membership so you can list it on the LX Trade Platform to be traded.

[0027] LX Collaboration Group: Groups of LX Agents connected via a Location, a similar Asset Class or Category.

[0028] LX Trade Magazine: a. Is a routine monthly magazine: b. enables Agents and Owners to promote Listings going on the LX Trading Platform c. enables interested Agents to register for the Listings release and to be considered as an Agent d. a general promotional tool for Service Providers, Developers, and Industry related stories and analysis.

[0029] LX Trading Platform (or Listings Exchange Platform: Is a real estate agents Trading Platform, Wholesale Marketplace or a Listings Exchange: a. where Agents, Owners and Prospects can list their Listings , b. where LX agents can access full detail, imagery, contracts, and fee arrangements online c. where LX Agents can automatically i. get an Agency Agreement with a Client, ii. get a Conjunction Agreement with a fellow LX Agent, iii. market the Listing under their own brand, iv. download the listing data into their own local database or CRM without having to rekey it, v. receive updates of data changes, vi . make nominations to secure the introduction of the prospect, vii. organize inspection, access, understand the Listing Terms, Conditions and Prices and viii. transact on the listing to earn fees. d. Is a network of Agents willing to work in collaboration, share their Listing data and effect transactions

[0030] LX Marketing Website a. A Publicly accessible website. b. promotes the LX Services to each of the Buyer Persona's that are potential clients of the LX. c. provides a "Consumer Services Directory" where: i. the public can select "Locations" and "Service Provider Categories" to obtain a list of businesses that service that location and category . ii. The directory provides the business contact details, websites and a profile on the business iii. Property Industry related services are listed to enable more efficient and relevant connections d. A "Community Services Directory" where: i. the Public can search and select Location, Category, Services, Events and Community Projects they can participate in. e. Registration Pages i. for Subscribers to set up their PIX and complete an ID Check ii. for Members to join as

1. "Causal" Owners of a Listing who want to manually list on the LX Trading Platform

2. "Corporate" Owners of multiple listings who want to list their property on the LX Trading Platform and connect to update their listings via their local database or CRM

3. "Real Estate Agents" who want to a. Register on the "Consumer Services Directory" b. add their Listing to the "LX Trading Platform" c. access and trade with Listings on the LX Trading Platform i. Direct Prospect, Buyer Agent and Tenant Rep "Requirements Listings" database ii. Direct Client and Conjunction

Agents "Offerable Listings" database .

[0031] An exchange event may come into being when an owner or provider of a property, business, good, chattel, or service desires to dispose of or provide that property, business, good, chattel, or service to another. Likewise, an exchange event or opportunity may be instantiated when an acquirer expresses a need or desire to receive a property, business, good, chattel, or service. Whether provider or acquirer initiated, listing opportunities can be made available via an efficient industry aligned trading platform or listings exchange. Automatic agency agreements and personally branded listing data made available through the listings exchange enables a collective effort by agents, in particular across unaligned or unaffiliated agencies, to better service their prospects and clients and provide greater exposure to enable faster transactions. Agents determine what is respectful, reciprocal, and appropriate to share to incentivise participation in the best interest of their client and encourage ongoing industry fellowship. Through such strong collaboration mutually successful exchanges can be created. Throughout the description that follows, specific reference may be made to exchange of real estate properties and agents may be referred to explicitly as real estate agents. These examples and references are provided by way of example only to facilitate the understanding of particular embodiments. However, it is to be understood that a listings exchange as described herein can be applied to a wide variety of property, business, good, chattel, or service facilitated by a wide variety of agents or Industry Experts. For example an Industry Expert in Indigenous Art could join a group of other Accredited Industry Experts in Indigenous Art .

[0032] Listing and transaction data is collated in an Ontological Industry Standard structure, streamlining vertical and horizontal data transfer and integration across multiple unaffiliated agency platforms. Data is accessed in a unified format or downloaded into an Agents own local database CRM systems for easier, more relevant use and analysis. Systems and methods for transferring data between databases are described in the present Applicant's prior patent AU765692, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Agents are incentivised to update transaction data at the Point of Sale (Exchange) , when it is most relevant to the market. Validation occurs at Settlement for ongoing reward. More reliable and timely listings data makes values easier to determine, creating better market integrity and greater confidence to trade.

[0033] Agents can service prospects with listings previously not available to them. Agents, Prospects, and Clients therefore save time and avoid wasting time. Personal service is improved, terms are agreed faster, and contracts are exchanged more competitively. More agents, servicing prospects and clients more efficiently accelerates the transaction process, giving greater certainty and peace of mind. As an industry collaboration tool, the listings exchange can be personally used by agents to activate or participate in large community projects of global interest and scale.

[0034] Any exchange event (provider or acquired initiated) leads to a listing, marketing, negotiation and agreement. The listings exchange empowers agents in these core roles with the exchange to settlement process being administrative. Standardised consistent data flowing from consumers to agents, to the market, to completion ensures greater transaction integrity. A more reliable trading marketplace creates more confidence, liquidity and volume of trade. For every transaction there is a flow on effect to other businesses that service the industry, generating greater wealth creation, economic stability and prosperity for individuals and the community.

[0035] A listings exchange system 100 is depicted schematically in Fig. 1. At the core of the system 100 is a listings exchange platform 110. The listings exchange may include one or more databases that stores listings exchange information. Specifically, the one or more databases may include an agent member ns database 112 that stores their organisations details, one or more agent member profiles and a user database 114 that stores their organisations details, and user profiles. The user profiles may include one or more vendor (provider) profiles and one or more buyer (acquirer) profiles. There may also be a listings database 116 that stores listing information sets for a plurality of listing. The listing information sets may include information necessary for a provider and an acquirer to be able exchange a property, business, good, chattel, or service . In one embodiment, a listing information set may include :

[0036] a description of at least one of a property, business, good, chattel, or service offered under the listing;

[0037] at least one provider of the listing, the at least one provider specifying at least one of an agent member and a vendor ;

[0038] agency agreement information that specifies terms and conditions for an agent member to act as an agent for the listing, the agency agreement information including an agency fee schedule; [0039] a set of agent members that are authorised to access the listing and accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing .

[0040] The listings exchange 110 may further include at least one server 120. The server is programmed to execute and serve a listings exchange interface to a user computer.

[0041] The listings exchange server 120 may be accessed via the interface, through known and standard communications protocols, e.g. internet and/or mobile communications protocols, by external user computers. External users may include ordinary users 130 (e.g. providers and acquirers) as well as agent users 140. An agent computer 140 may be a part of a local agency network 145, e.g. within a real estate entity. The local agency network 145 may operate on a local area network or may operate in a more widely distributed network. The agent network 145 may include a local database Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system 146 which enables the agency network to store and manage client and listing information at a local level for the clients and prospects of the respective agency.

[0042] The listings exchange server 120 executes and serves a listings exchange interface to the user computers. The interface may be an internet page displayed on a user computer by a web browser. Using the interface, an ordinary user (provide or acquirer) is able to submit new listings as well as review current listings of others. The interface provides a search tool that allows the user to perform structured and filtered searches on listings data.

[0043] For an agent user, the interface enables, via the agent computer, an agent user to:

[0044] access a listing as an agent member; [0045] accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing;

[0046] upon acceptance of the agency agreement, distribute the listing information to one or more prospects, e.g. clients within the agent' s own local database CRM system.

[0047] Fig. 1 shows the system 100 featuring a user 130 that may be acting as a provider, i.e. a person or entity seeking to provide a property, business, good, chattel, or service , etc. The user 130 may be able to interact with a provider agency 145 through the listings exchange platform 110 or directly through external communications channels. Fig. 1 also shows an acquirer user 150 that may interact with the platform 110 for acquiring a property, business, good, chattel, or service , including generating a listing specifying the acquirer's requirements. The acquirer user 150 may appoint an acquirer agent 160 who may be part of an agency 165 with an agency local database CRM 166. The acquirer user 150 may interact with the agency 165 via the platform 110 or directly through alternative communications channels. Similarly, the agencies 145, 165 may interact via the platform 110 or directly through alternative communications channels.

[0048] An example of a process for exchanging a property, business, good, chattel, or service is shown generally at 200 in Fig. 2. At a start point 210, a user may join the listings exchange at a base level (minimal user) . The user may populate a Personal Information exchange account (PIX) with a minimum level of information as well as any optional information that the user is willing to provide. This includes creating organisations (Family units, businesses, or communities) or connecting to exiting organisations that have invited them. The user may be an agent user, or a non-agent user (e.g. as a provider or acquirer) . The user may choose a membership level 212 for their PIX account. The base level may allow the user to search and review listings and potentially contact agents. Additional levels of membership may allow higher levels of functionality. For example, an entry level may allow a user to provide new listings only through a single selected agent. A higher member level may allow the user to offer new listings more openly. The higher levels may require the user to provide more information, make pledges or agreements and/or pay a fee that increase their accountability in return for greater functionality. An agent member may be granted by the user providing a verifiable agent license. Agent membership will afford higher levels of functionality of the system as will be described below. The flowchart of Fig. 2 assumes the user upgrades to a subscriber level 212.

[0049] Having created a PIX account and either creating or connecting to an organisation, the user may then create a new listing 214, populating sufficient data fields so as to describe the listing. A listings template may be provided to ensure that the listing data is provided in an ontological structure that allows system compatibility across a wide variety of local database CRM systems, and Internet Portals. It should be noted that the listing may specify actual details of a property, business, good, chattel, or service to be provided by the user, or may alternatively specify requirements of a property, business, good, chattel, or service that the user is seeking to acquire .

[0050] After creating a listing, the user may then elect how that listing is offered to the listings exchange. If the user is a base level ordinary user, the user may only be permitted to offer their listing via a single agent. This creates integrity for the listings exchange by ensuring that any dealing down the chain is controlled by the agent who can be governed by the rules of the listings exchange. Thus, the user appoints an agent 216 including signing an agency agreement that binds the agent and the user. The agent may retain responsibility for policing the agency agreement and may incur liability for any breaches by the user. The agent then takes responsibility for publishing the user's listing data on the listings exchange 218. As part of the listing, the listing agent may offer the listing to other agents and may post an agency conjunction agreement including a conjunction fee 220. The agent then selects any collaboration groups to share the listing with 240. The collaboration groups may be other agents within the agent's own entity (e.g. other branches of the same real estate group) external agencies, etc. The listing may also be offered in a listings exchange trade magazine 242 and may be provided to personalized groups for the agent 244. Any of these collaborators may choose to act as a conjunction agent by accepting the conjunction agreement including the conjunction fee. Acceptance of the fee may be automatic or may be by negotiation with the listings agent.

[0051] The listing is then managed on the listings exchange platform 246. Each agent that has accepted to offer the listing to their own prospects/clients may do so through the listings exchange platform. The platform may allow each agent to offer the listing under their own branding. Aspects of the listings transaction, such as offers, counteroffers, etc. may be logged in a transaction history for the listing by the platform 248. The platform helps to efficiently facilitate the sale and lease of a property, business, good, chattel, or service through a network of agents that operate under an agreement and ontological standard structure. The agency agreement data and then the transaction data gathered by the Listing Agent, the Conjunction Agent, about the seller, (or lessor) , the buyer (or lessee) , the listing, and the Sale or Lease transaction can all be stored on an immutable register on the blockchain. The immutable register of the exchange, settlement, agreements and communications can be used for current market analysis at the point of sale (exchange) which is more relevant to the market than at settlement which could be several months later. A sales advice or lease proposal can be controlled by a Smart Contract providing valuable consistent data for comparison information and all other information could be recorded on the blockchain for analysis and in any dispute resolution processes for any alleged breach of contracts. In one specific embodiment, the register may be implemented as a blockchain and the listing, agency agreement and transaction processes may be controlled by smart contracts on the block chain 250.

[0052] If the user has registered their FIX account at a higher membership level, the user may be permitted to directly offer their listing on the listing exchange. For example, a user may register as a member 222, including a corporate or casual member. A member user may have higher standards to ensure accountability, traceability and the integrity for the user. The user may then elect to share their listing through Direct Membership 224. To provide a direct listing, the user creates a direct agency agreement including a direct agency fee 226. The user may then select an agent or groups of agents to offer the listing to 240. As before, an agent to which the listing is offered may elect to accept the offer and enter into a binding agency agreement with the user. The agent may then offer the listing to their own prospects and clients.

[0053] A FIX Account is a secure personal location for a user' s entry into the listings exchange platform 110. Through the FIX account, a user can:

[0054] Set up their Profile; [0055] Set up and/or Administer other organisations profiles ;

[0056] Manage Groups;

[0057] Manage Blogs, Videos;

[0058] Social Media Communications;

[0059] Set up Public Portal Alerts;

[0060] Watch the Public Portals for listing opportunities;

[0061] List Enquiry Requirements on the LX for Agent consideration;

[0062] Receive off-market and offered listing opportunities direct from agents;

[0063] Store their personal Listing Data ;

[0064] Store their associated organisations Listing Data;

[0065] List their Listings either with an Agent or Direct on the LX;

[0066] Earn from their transaction history and participation;

[0067] Use smart contracts (e.g. blockchain) to capture their completed transaction history

[0068] At Exchange start receiving allocation of reward points /token shares;

[0069] Settlement validation and payments begin.

[0070] Fig. 3 shows a structural diagram for the listings exchange platform.

[0071] The structure shows a public subscriber platform (base level) 310 and a member platform 320. Within the public platform 310, a user may be granted a minimum participation level 311 including subscription to marketing information, access to service providers and a basic PIX account 312. The basic PIX account may allow verification of information include personal data 314 including verified ID data, ABN and licenses verification, accounting details, connections to third party local database CRMs, social media accounts, etc. as well as connection to organisations on the listings exchange. The basic FIX account includes listing data 316 including any asset entered (provider) , whether active or not, and any listings requirements (acquirer) whether active or not. The user may access a basic level user interface 318 that allows search and retrieval of new listings from public industry portals, retrieval of LX tags offered on public portals, retrieval of LX listings offered by agents, and generate watch lists.

[0072] Crossing over into the members platform, the FIX account 312 provides increased functionality for member users. Member users may enquire on requirement listings 322 that have been uploaded directly onto the LX trade platform. Members may also use and enter into direct buy agency agreements 324, direct tenant representative agreements 326, list with multiple agents 328 and receive matched listings selectively sent by agents.

[0073] Personal user accounts allow a user to generate and administer business or community profiles organisation. A business or community profile organisation 330, such as a corporate provider (e.g. large scale corporate developer) or acquirer may be associated with multiple PIX accounts. Business or community profiles organisation may include Business data 332 including business contact details, business id (business number, tax ID, etc. , licenses, registrations and affiliations, accounting details, and social media links. The profile may include a business description 334 including details of services offerings .

[0074] The Public Subscriber Platform 310 level allows a business profile to enquire 336 on Requirement listings including tendering on pending listings as well as create property, business, good, chattel or service listings 338. The Member Level platform 320 extends this functionality to allow a consumer member to list on a listings exchange consumer services directory to publish service offerings by the business 339. As a FIX Member is part of the broader community, they can create, or connect to an Open or Closed Community Organisation profile 340. An Open Community is available to everyone in the community whereas a Closed Community is by invitation only. A Community Organisation can add listings. Once a FIX member joins a Community Organisation, they gain access to the LX trading tools, where they can search, filter, watch, print, share, chat, vote etc. with their chosen communities and review their listings which include events 341. The business account may also directly post listings as a casual member 342 (occasional listings) or corporate member 344 (multiple simultaneous listings) , enter into direct selling agency agreements 346, access a listings exchange trade magazine 348, list with multiple agents 350 and list directly on the listings exchange trade platform 352.

[0075] The public platform 310 further allows for an Agent level membership 360. An Agent level FIX account has additional details 362 including agency entity name, contact details, licensing information, dispute resolution policies, and approval to operate as an agent on the listings exchange. Agent members may access Industry Standard Data and rules 364 through the listings exchange and may access listings 366 made by business profiles .

[0076] Within the member platform 320, agents may enter into agency agreements with clients (either as direct agreements with providers 368, or conjunction agreements with other agents 370) . An agent only listings trade platform 372 may also be accessed where all listings offered to the Agent are available.

[0077] Outside of the listings exchange platform, real estate agents may access service, property and business listings on third party platforms 380. External data sources and portals 382 may amalgamate listings data. The listings platform may synchronise from these data sources and provide the data through search enquires by users 318.

[0078] Fig. 4 shows an information flow diagram 400. LX "Offerable Listings" are transferred:

[0079] from the FIX Account 410 to the Selling Agent 422 (link 4002) ;

[0080] from the LX Selling Agents 422 to the LX Trade

Magazine 430 for Pre-release (if this is desired) 4004;

[0081] from the LX Selling Agents 422 to the LX Trade

Platform 440 (link 4006) ; and

[0082] f rom the FIX Account 410 that has Casual or

Corporate Membership 424 direct onto the LX Trade Mag 430 or LX Platform 440 (links 4008, 4010) .

[0083] LX "Requirement Listings" can be sent from a FIX Account holder 410, 412:

[0084] to a Buyers Agent 420 (link 4020) or Selling Agents 422 (link 4022) ;

[0085] to the LX Trade Platform from a Buyers Agent 420 (or Tenant Representative) , on behalf of a FIX Account holder (link 4024) ; and

[0086] direct to LX Platform (Membership Required) 4026.

[0087] Where a user posts a requirement, offerable listings that match the requirements may be supplied. Matched "Offerable Listings" will be received into the FIX Account:

[0088] f rom Public Portals 450 via automatic "Meta Search Engine" queries that match the LX Requirement 4030; and

[0089] f rom Public Portals via LX Tags when manually selected .

[0090] Matched "Offerable Listings" on the LX Platform are received by Buyers Agents 420 (link 4040) & Selling Agents 422 (link 4042) . The listings may be rebranded on the LX platform for the respective LX agent. Alternatively or in addition, the matched offerable listings may be downloaded into the LX Agents CRM 460 (link 4060) . These LX Agents deliver these to their Buyer Agent's Clients and Selling Agency Prospects, who receive them via email, and can stored them into their PIX account where that can be "Watched" .

[0091] Agents can transfer LX Listings to their own 3rd Party CRM data management tools and from their CRM transfer it to Public Portals.

[0092] LX Consumer Service Providers may list their business details on the publicly accessible LX Marketing Website Directories 472 including a "Consumers Services Directory" 470 relating to Property Industry and a "Community Services Directory" 474 relating to community services. The platform may allow searches by Location, Service Provider Categories, Services, events result in a display with Contact Details, Profile and Web links.

[0093] LX Marketing Website can be accessed from a User's PIX account.

[0094] A core component of the listing exchange platform is the ability to appoint one or more agents and to agree to binding terms, in particular commissions and agency fees. Agents may be appointed by providers or acquires at the user level, or may be appointed by agents, e.g. as conjunction agents. Streamlining or automating the process of appointing agents allows for rapid and broad collaboration allowing enhanced outcomes for providers and acquirers while providing surety for agents .

[0095] Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of a method 500 for providing a direct listing on the listings exchange platform. At step 502, a user, who in this example will be referred to as a lister, opens the listing exchange interface on a user a computer and logs in to their FIX account. The lister may be a provider, acquirer, or an agent appointed by a lister or an acquirer. The lister may then select a new listings icon on the interface which provides a listing template. Options may allow the user to select details such as the type, class or category of listing. Selection of the listing type 506 may cause a particular set of data fields to be displayed. Data fields pertaining to the type of listing ensure that the data is collected in an ontological manner that may be made compatible with third party CRM databases to allows easier data transfer. The user may describe their listing by completing the data fields 508.

[0096] The new listing interface may then allow the user to generate and populate an agency agreement template 510. The lister may specify agency fees details 512 including an amount, terms of settlement, etc. The amount may be specified in absolute terms, as a percentage, or combination. The agency agreement is then associated with the listing. Alternatively, the lister may leave the agency fee details blank, or specify a range, that allows an agent to subsequently offer an agency fee.

[0097] The lister may then select a set of agents to share the listing with 514. Agents may be selected from a list of all agents associated with the listings exchange platform. The lister may filter the agent list using various search terms and filters, including location, agency group, property expertise of agent, etc. The lister may select individual agents or agencies or agent networks covering multiple agents.

[0098] Having completed the listing and agency agreement details, the lister is then able to post of publish the listing to the listings exchange 516. As part of the posting, each agent selected in step 514 is provided with a notification specifying the listing 518. The communication may be via any contact details that the agent has specified for receiving such notifications, including email, phone, or a notification or alert on the listings exchange platform.

[0099] Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of a method 600 for entering into an agency agreement. At step 602, an agent receives a notification or alert that a new listing has been shared with them. The agent may then review the listing on the listings exchange platform through a listing exchange interface served by the platform to their agent computer and accessed via the agent' s FIX account 604. Alternatively, the agent may download the listing from the listings exchange platform to the agent's CRM. In reviewing the listing, the agent also reviews the agency agreement (either a conjunction or a direct agency agreement ) 606. If the agent decides that they would like to act as agent for the listing, they complete the agency agreement by accepting the agency fee details and terms or offering a new agency fee and terms 608. A completed agency agreement is then shared back to the lister 610 who reviews the agency agreement. If the agreement is with a conjunction agent Member of the listings exchange and it is also of the same terms offered by the listing agent, it is automatically accepted. However, if this is a direct agreement with the owner/lister they can either confirm or reject the agency agreement 612. Time frames may be created that require a confirmation within a set period otherwise the agency offer lapses. For example, the agent may be required to request an agency agreement within 48 hours of receiving the share notification, otherwise the sharing of the listing is rescinded or otherwise invalidated. The lister may be required to confirm an agency offer from an agent with 24 hours otherwise the agency offer lapses. All aspects of the agency agreement exchange may be logged and recorded in an immutable ledger to ensure transparency, accountability and provide a record for any disputes resolution processes. In one embodiment, the immutable ledger may be provided as a block chain. Agency agreements may be enacted as smart contracts on the block chain.

[00100] If the agency agreement is confirmed, the agent is then associated to the listing 614 which allows the agent to share the listing through the listings exchange platform with other users, e.g. clients and prospects of the agent 616. In sharing the listing, the listing may be rebranded with the agent details. For example, frames and borders on the listings exchange platform may be amended to include the agent details, colour schemes and customi zations when viewed by a prospect downstream

[00101] In deciding whether the agent wishes to accept the agency for the listing, the agent may compare the listing with matched listings to see if the listing is likely to be compatible with requirements of clients and prospects known to the agent.

[00102] In the embodiment described, an agent who has received a shared listing notification may be granted permission to retrieve the listing data from the listing exchange platform to the agent's own CRM. In an alternative embodiment, retrieval of listing data may only be made available to agents that have a confirmed agency agreement.

[00103] Fig. 7 shows an entity diagram illustrating data flows between the different entities of the listings exchange platform. In particular, Fig. 7 illustrates where agency agreements 702 are required between entities to allow agents to represent providers and acquirers (direct agency) 706, or agents thereof (conjunction agreements) 704 and to push listings to the agent's own clients and prospects through the listings exchange 710 or external portals 712.

[00104] Fig. 8 shows a flow of an exchange of property, good or service, that may be provided through the listings exchange from the point where a prospect has received listing information for a listing from an agent, e.g. a conjunction agent. The prospect may complete an offer form 802. The offer form may include static information of the prospect such as name, address etc. and listing details that may be pre-filled by the listings exchange server. The prospect may complete dynamic information such as a bid or offer amount, terms of settlement, etc. One or more of these fields may be suggestively pre-filled with suggested data that can be over-ridden by the prospect. The prospect may submit the offer by selecting a button. The listings exchange receives the submitted offer and passes it to the provider 804, via any agents in the chain as required. If the offer is rejected 808, the rejection may be communicated to the prospect, potentially with counter-offer or negotiation data such as a change of offer amount or terms of settlement. The prospect may re-submit the offer with every re-submission being treated as a new offer.

[00105] Once an offer is completed and accepted 806, the listings exchange may then begin to manage the exchange, including receiving a signed accepted offer, receiving details of a deposit 810. The listings exchange may forward details to a solicitor 814 or the listings exchange may manage aspects of the exchange of the listing through a Smart Contract 812, e.g. managed on a blockchain or other algorithmically controlled process. For a real estate property, the listings exchange may interface with a real estate entity such as the Australian entity PEXA that manages financial and legal aspects of a property transfer. It should be noted that while Fig. 8 may be applicable to real estate property exchanges, includes sales, leasing, etc. the method of Fig. 8 can be applicable to other types of properties. For example, an indigenous or cultural centre may seek to use a listings exchange concept to control and govern the exchange of cultural goods such as indigenous art and artefacts. Cultural goods may be offered for exchange and bids may be placed on those goods. The exchange may be run through smart contracts and/or legal entities to ensure that the exchange of cultural goods is accordance with governing laws, regulations and guidelines or cultural entities.

[00106] Fig. 9 shows a particular embodiment wherein a transaction is managed on the listings exchange by a smart contract. A smart contract can store instructions, data and commands for controlling a multi-stage, multi-party transaction through the listings exchange. The parties may include any or all of a vendor, vendor agent, buyer, buyer agent, conjunction agent, solicitor, amongst others. Each of these parties may be allowed access to a transaction to provide information to a transaction data set.

[00107] Initially, the smart contract 910 may be generated for and on before of a lister. The smart contract may define core listings data 912, such as the property details, address, etc. Agency agreements may be retrievable from the listings data .

[00108] The smart contract defines a sequence of actions and triggers for those actions. In one embodiment, a trigger may be that a full data is to be provided. When data is supplied, the data may be stored in a transaction ledger. The transaction ledger may be an immutable ledge such as a blockchain. This forced real-time collection of accurate data provides particular advantages and benefits to transaction managers as will be described in further detail below. [00109] When the data is provided and the trigger conditions are met, the transaction may proceed to the next stage of the transaction sequence. In the embodiment of Fig. 9, an offer may be accepted and point of sale data 914 can be entered into the smart contract. Completion of the point of sale data may trigger the smart contract to an exchange of contract process. The exchange process may include and require conditional exchange data 916 and unconditional exchange data 918. Once all of the exchange terms are met, including waiting periods etc. the smart contract may trigger settlement. Settlement data may be entered 920, including notification and verification of amounts being stored in accounts, escrow accounts. The completion of the settlement data fields of the smart contract may trigger the flow of monies between the transaction parties. For example, money may flow from a buyer-related account (e.g. buyer account, buyer agent account, escrow account, lawyer account) to a seller account (e.g. vendor account, vendor agent account, etc. ) . Money may also flow to agents in accordance with an agency agreement under the transaction.

[00110] The smart contract forces the collection of data pertaining to transactions on a property. The listings exchange ledger may thus store a range of property related data including a history of transactions on the property. In one embodiment, the property transaction record may be extended to include additional property related information 922 such as surveying data, council development application data, property modification data. The listings exchange can thus be at the core of a complete property transaction and data record. By managing property transactions through the use of smart contracts, the transaction managers are incentivized to provide complete data sets in order to trigger the next stages of the smart contract. Approved third party software vendors can update the Smart Contract e.g. , CRMs that have a transaction management ontology of the same Smart Contract structure, and organizations like PEXA who record the Exchange to Settlement process. Additional data providers and transaction managers may be authorized to provide property related information. Transaction Managers could be the Agents, Solicitors, Architects, Vendors, other consultants and the Listings Exchange.

[00111] The listings exchange may become a repository of property data which may be searchable and commoditized. Various APIs may link to the listing exchange database (s) and transaction ledger (s) to provide a search interface to search for all the data available on an address. Search results and additional data may be accessed via the API for a fee by a consumer, which is then delivered to the consumer. To further incentivize the use of smart contracts for property listings, a share of the fee may be distributed to the Transaction Managers according to Smart Contract distribution tokenomic conditions, e.g. a distribution fee schedule.

[00112] In prior art real estate listing systems, including online listing systems, property data including auction clearance rates, settlements amounts, etc. can be inaccurate and out of date because the provision and collection of this data is largely optional. By forcing the collection of data in smart contracts on the listings exchange, the data providers are incentivized to provide the data in real-time, e.g. at point of sale, and onto an immutable ledger such as a blockchain. The data providers, being vested in the transaction and permanently recorded as transaction managers, can be further incentivized by being rewarded with an ongoing income stream whenever the data they submit to the listings exchange is monetized.

[00113] Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by any claims based on the subject matter disclosed.

Claims

CLAIMS WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A platform comprising at least one server and at least one database; a. wherein the database stores: i. one or more agent member profiles; ii. one or more lister profiles; iii. listing information sets for a plurality of listings, each listing information set including :

4. a set of agent members that are authorised to access the listing and accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; b. wherein the at least one server is programmed to execute and serve a listings exchange interface to a user computer: c. wherein the listings exchange interface enables, via the user computer, a user to: i. access a listing as an agent member; ii. accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; iii. upon acceptance of the agency agreement, distribute the listing information to one or more prospects.

2. The platform of claim 1 wherein the listings exchange interface enables a user to: a. register as a lister; b. upload one or more lister listing information sets; c. associate an agency agreement with each of the listing information sets.

3. The platform of claim 2 wherein the user registered as a lister is able to select one or more agent members to publish the one or more lister listing information sets to .

4. The platform of claim 3 wherein the user registered as a vendor is able to publish on the listings exchange platform, a requirement for agency representation in respect of the one or more lister listing information sets, wherein an agent member is able to tender, via the listings exchange platform, for agency representation in respect of the one or more vendor listing information sets .

5. The platform of claim 4 wherein the lister and the agent member are able to agree to an agency agreement including an agency fee schedule through the listings exchange.

6. The platform of claim 1 wherein the user is able to input an agency fee to the agency fee schedule.

7. The platform of claim 1 wherein the agency agreement information includes at least one of a link or reference to a standard agency agreement that is retrievable to the user computer from the server.

8. The platform of claim 7 wherein the standard agency agreement is at least one of specific to the listings exchange or specific to an agent member acting as a lister agent.

9. The platform of claim 1 wherein the agency agreement information includes a tailored agency agreement specific to the respective listing.

10. The platform of claim 1 wherein the listings exchange interface enables an agent member, upon acceptance of the agency agreement, to directly distribute the listing information to one or more prospects by inputting prospect information into the listings exchange interface .

11. The platform of claim 1 wherein the listings exchange interface enables an agent member, upon acceptance of the agency agreement, to directly distribute the listing information to one or more prospects by retrieving the listing information set to the user computer and distributing the listing set information to the one or more prospects from the user computer.

12. The platform of claim 1 wherein the listings exchange interface enables the user to generate a listing information set and upload the listing information set to the server for display through the listings exchange interface .

13. The platform of claim 1 wherein the listings exchange interface enables the user to complete a pro-forma agency agreement including inputting an agency fee.

14. The platform of claim 1 wherein the listings exchange interface enables an agent member to search listing information sets and request an agency agreement for one or more of the listing information sets.

15. The platform of claim 1 wherein the listings exchange interface enables a first agent member to make a conjunction agency agreement with a second agent member, the conjunction agency agreement including a conjunction agency fee schedule.

16. The platform of claim 1 wherein an agent member profile includes filter criteria of listing information sets that the agent member is willing to receive from the listings exchange .

17. The platform of claim 16 wherein the filter criteria include one or more agency fee criteria.

18. The platform of claim 1 wherein the server is programmed to : a. receive transaction data for a listing from a transaction party; b. record the transaction data; c. record the transaction party as a supplier of the transaction data; d. receive a subsequent request from a requestor for the transaction data; e. provide the transaction data to the requestor in return for a fee; and f. distribute at least a portion of the fee to the transaction party.

19. A method for providing a listings exchange comprising executing and serving a listings exchange interface to a user computer, wherein the listings exchange interface enables, via the user computer, a user to: a. access a listing as an Agent member, the listing including a listing information set including: i. a description of at least one of a property, business, good, chattel, or service offered under the listing; ii. at least one provider of the listing, the at least one provider specifying at least one of an Agent member and a lister; iii. agency agreement information that specifies terms and conditions for an Agent member to act as an Agent for the listing, the agency agreement information including an agency fee schedule; and iv. a set of agent members that are authorized to access the listing and accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; b. accept an agency agreement pertaining to the listing; and c. upon acceptance of the agency agreement, distribute the listing information to one or more prospects of the Agent member.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the listings exchange interface enables a user to: a. register as a lister; b. upload one or more lister listing information sets; c. associate an agency agreement with each of the listing information sets.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the user registered as a lister is able to select one or more agent members to publish the one or more lister listing information sets to .

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the user registered as a vendor is able to publish on the listings exchange platform, a requirement for agency representation in respect of the one or more lister listing information sets, wherein an agent member is able to tender, via the listings exchange platform, for agency representation in respect of the one or more vendor listing information sets .

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the lister and the agent member are able to agree to an agency agreement including an agency fee schedule through the listings exchange.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the user is able to input an agency fee to the agency fee schedule.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the agency agreement information includes at least one of a link or reference to a standard agency agreement that is retrievable to the user computer from the server.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the standard agency agreement is at least one of specific to the listings exchange or specific to an agent member acting as a lister agent.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the agency agreement information includes a tailored agency agreement specific to the respective listing.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the listings exchange interface enables an agent member, upon acceptance of the agency agreement, to directly distribute the listing information to one or more prospects by inputting prospect information into the listings exchange interface .

29. The method of claim 19 wherein the listings exchange interface enables an agent member, upon acceptance of the agency agreement, to directly distribute the listing information to one or more prospects by retrieving the listing information set to the user computer and distributing the listing set information to the one or more prospects from the user computer.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein the listings exchange interface enables the user to generate a listing information set and upload the listing information set to the server for display through the listings exchange interface .

31. The method of claim 19 wherein the listings exchange interface enables the user to complete a pro-forma agency agreement including inputting an agency fee.

32. The method of claim 19 wherein the listings exchange interface enables an agent member to search listing information sets and request an agency agreement for one or more of the listing information sets.

33. The method of claim 19 wherein the listings exchange interface enables a first agent member to make a conjunction agency agreement with a second agent member, the conjunction agency agreement including a conjunction agency fee schedule.

34. The method of claim 19 wherein an agent member profile includes filter criteria of listing information sets that the agent member is willing to receive from the listings exchange .

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the filter criteria include one or more agency fee criteria.

36. The method of claim 19 comprising: a. receiving transaction data for a listing from a transaction party; b. recording the transaction data; c. recording the transaction party as a supplier of the transaction data; d. receiving a subsequent request from a requestor for the transaction data; e. providing the transaction data to the requestor in return for a fee; and f. distributing at least a portion of the fee to the transaction party.