Define your target audience: Even though your product is for a broad market, try to segment potential users based on factors like age, income, location, and whether they're first-time buyers, sellers, or investors. Secondary research: Start by gathering existing data on the real estate market, including: Industry reports and statistics Government data on housing trends Competitor analysis Real estate technology adoption rates Primary research methods: a) Surveys: Create online surveys using tools like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey Distribute them through social media, real estate forums, and local community groups Ask about pain points in the buying/selling process, desired features, and willingness to try new tools b) Interviews: Conduct in-depth interviews with real estate agents, brokers, and recent home buyers/sellers Use these to gain qualitative insights into the market needs and challenges c) Focus groups: Organize small group discussions with potential users Present your concept and gather feedback on its appeal and potential issues d) Social media listening: Monitor real estate-related discussions on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn Identify common complaints and desires in the market More on reddit.com

It depends. How closely do those studies align with what you’re investigating? Do they contain sufficient detail about the population they sampled from, the methods, research questions, etc.? Definitely look at them, but with a critical eye. What questions of yours do those studies answer? What questions are still unanswered? What risk is there if you draw the wrong conclusions based on that prior research?

Depending on the ansewers to my questions, I would either use my primary research to verify that previously identified needs, pain points, opportunities, etc. are still valid. Or I would be probing specifically on the unanswered questions I have, perhaps with just enough research to satisfy that the secondary research was still applicable.

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