Another reply to our Need Beta Testers? post came from Dirk Blume, a sales associate at NP Dodge, who, along with help from other Omaha real estate professionals, founded 3Compete.com.

“Our company allows the public access to ‘top producing’ Realtors from the leading ‘full service’ brokerages.” Dirk wrote to me in an email. “By submitting online, clients will be contacted by three Realtors, one from CBS, NP Dodge, and Prudential, to compete for their listing or to compete to represent them during their purchase.”

3Compete.com is fully functionally and isn’t in need of beta testers, but Dirk hopes to spread the word about it in order to receive feedback. Although I know very little about the real estate industry, I’ve taken notice of innovation within it and I was excited to see Dirk taking innovative steps in Omaha.

Through email interview, Dirk shared more with me about his startup:

“The original business plan was to elevate the standards by which real estate was bought and sold,” he wrote.

“The goal is to have the top 5 percent agents from the best ‘full resource’ brokerages included in our program(s) nationwide. With 86 percent of people currently searching online before they ever work with a Realtor, this spoke to us loud and clearly. It says that people want to take ‘ownership’ in their real estate needs. It also says, that technology has made it a more friendly place to do real estate research.”

He explained the model in more detail, “3Compete.com breaks down the wall and gives the public access and the choice (after allowing three to compete for their business) of not only the ‘Top Producer’ they like, but also the brokerage they are most impressed with. After submitting their information at 3Compete.com, the client will be contacted by three local ‘Top Producers.’”

He added, “If the client doesn’t feel comfortable with any, they may re-submit and interview three more.”