I
recall a street where three properties sold for $10,000 in marketing costs. Only 11 buyers showed up to the open homes, and they all ended up buying one of the houses. It was a waste of money, I thought at the time. But it sparked an idea - what if we could connect sellers directly with potential buyers? That's how Yelsa Connect came about.

    The platform allows vendors to browse through qualified buyers looking for properties like theirs. They can then engage a real estate agent listed on the site to help facilitate the sale. It's a more efficient and cost-effective way of selling, as vendors don't have to pay for expensive marketing campaigns that often attract unqualified buyers.

    As a former real estate agent myself, I saw firsthand how this system could work. Every vendor wants a buyer, not an open home or a signboard. With Yelsa Connect, we've created a marketplace where buyers and sellers can connect directly. We're already seeing success in Auckland, with agents running matches and getting sales before advertising properties.

    For buyers, it means they get suitable listings delivered to them, so they don't miss out on the perfect house. Agents pay $99 a month to be listed on the site, and when a deal happens, there's a $1000 success fee - $750 of which goes to the mortgage broker who supplied the buyer.

    We've had a boost in recent months with Squirrel Mortgages taking an interest and offering its preapproved borrowers as listings on our platform. There are now about 100 preapproved buyers on the site. It's starting to feel like we're getting momentum, and it's a huge relief for my wife after five years of me not working.