Bilingual Voice Search Comes to New Construction: Builders Update’s Home Scout Lets Agents Talk, Not Type

Builders Update, a national database for new construction, has introduced Home Scout, a tool that allows users to search for new homes by speaking in English or Spanish, rather than typing filters into a form. The tool is designed to respond conversationally to natural language queries, such as “I need a three-bedroom, two-bath home in a particular zip code,” and can even be used while driving. According to Bill Gaul, CEO of Builders Update and chair of the RESO Data Dictionary New Construction Subcommittee, Home Scout was created for people who prefer talking over typing.

One of the standout features of Home Scout is its seamless bilingual capability. The tool automatically detects whether the user is speaking English or Spanish and responds in the same language, without requiring a manual language selection. Gaul emphasized that the translation is designed to sound natural, not mechanical. This bilingual functionality has attracted significant interest in markets with large Spanish-speaking populations, including Miami, San Diego, and border regions, where agents and buyers can now search in their preferred language.

The search process is straightforward: after a user speaks their query, the tool delivers results, including floor plans, property details, and photos, directly to their inbox. This allows agents to access the information immediately, even if they are on the go. As Gaul noted, “By the time that person parks the car, the floor plans and the pictures are in their inbox.” Agents can then forward these results to clients in one of two formats: a comprehensive agent view that includes the address and builder name, or a buyer-friendly view that displays photos, floor plans, and pricing without the address or builder details.

Home Scout is built on an agent-centric model, ensuring that detailed listing information is reserved for licensed agents, and buyers are encouraged to register through their agent rather than bypassing them. The platform also incorporates electronic buyer registration, which allows agents to submit a buyer’s name to the builder, confirming that the buyer is not already in the builder’s system. This process, part of the company’s patent, protects the agent’s commission claim if the buyer later purchases a home. “We’re trying to inject the agent into the process,” Gaul explained, highlighting the platform’s commitment to keeping agents integral to new construction transactions.

Despite the innovative features, adoption is still a work in progress. Gaul acknowledged that some agents have not yet tried the tool, even where it has been available for a while. The company is now focusing on encouraging agents to explore Home Scout’s capabilities. The platform currently serves more than 860,000 agents nationwide, and with the addition of Home Scout, Builders Update aims to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of new construction searches, particularly for Spanish-speaking users and those who prefer voice interaction.

The introduction of Home Scout reflects a broader trend in real estate technology toward more intuitive, conversational interfaces. By offering bilingual voice search and protecting agent roles, Builders Update is positioning itself as a leader in new construction data and MLS interoperability. For more information about Builders Update and its tools, visit www.buildersupdate.com.