Imagine unlocking the front door of a listing with a single tap. As you enter, music begins to play and the lights flick on. On the wall is a touch-screen display: If you trade in your old home for this one, you learn, you will only have pay $10,000.

SAN FRANCISCO — Imagine unlocking the front door of a listing with a single tap. As you enter, music begins to play and the lights turn on.

On the wall is a touch-screen display: If you trade in your old home for this one, you learn, you will only have pay $10,000.

Opendoor, an “iBuyer” that uses technology to quickly buy and resell homes, is building this sort of home tour, said Opendoor developer Zain Memon on stage at Hacker Connect.

The showing experience centers on a device called “Raspberry Pi.” Installed in every Opendoor listing, Raspberry Pi communicates with the company’s servers and sensors placed about every home.

One of those sensors is built into Opendoor’s smart locks, which prospective buyers can unlock by tapping a button in Opendoor’s mobile app.

Opendoor’s Raspberry Pi

This “lets anyone walk up to any of our homes and see it on their own time without needing an agent, without needing an appointment, without needing to ask anyone about it,” said Memon.

When a person steps into an Opendoor home, sensors scattered across the home track the visitor’s every move. The data the sensors collect tells Opendoor enough about the visitor’s behavior to eliminate the need to watch the person through cameras, he said.

Other sensors in Opendoor listings that communicate with Raspberry Pi detect things such as water and gas leaks and carbon monoxide.

And “if there’s unusual activity” by a visitor, Opendoor can send a signal to Rasberry Pi that will activate a siren to chase the person out of the home, he said.

Opendoor plans to synchronize Raspberry Pi with a bevy of other devices that can collect or display data in Opendoor homes.

They include smart lights and speakers, as well as touch-screen displays that could show a visitor exactly how much it would cost to trade in their old home — by selling it to Opendoor — in exchange for the home they’re standing in.

Email Teke Wiggin.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×