By the end of this guide to Data Explorer, you’ll be able to select and save Data Points for a customized analysis and format a spreadsheet to upload up to 5,000 addresses at once.

Creating your profile

Log into either the Analytics Platform or Data Explorer, and click the head-and-shoulders profile icon in the upper right corner to open the Profile menu.

Click “Edit Profile” to open a Profile window where you can add your name, contact information, and any MLS affiliation you have. You can also access the Profile window with this direct link: platform.housecanary.com/profile. 

Navigating the Data Explorer interface

Data Explorer matches the properties on your list to our dataset and appends the information you need for each property. The site opens to a “New Analysis” tab, where you will provide us with a list of properties and the Data Points that you need for those properties. 

Within moments of your submission, we will return your list with the information you requested. Click “Results” to get to the “Results” tab where you can download your Data Explorer output. 

Selecting Data Points for your analysis

You can get a head start with our customizable filters for Loan Collateral Analysis or Rental Analysis. Hover over the “i”information icon to see a list of which Data Points are included by default. Click Customize to make adjustments to these pre-populated filters. A menu will open where you can see all available Data Points, with boxes checked next to the Data Points included in this filter by default. You can choose which Data Points to add or remove from your analysis.

You can also skip the preset analyses, or click “Clear All,” if you’d rather start with a blank slate. Click the Customize Data Points link to open a menu where you can see all available Data Points with none preselected. The list is organized by geographic level, starting with the subject property. Scroll down to see more Data Points at larger scales, all the way up to the state level. Use the checkboxes to choose which to add Data Points to your analysis. 

Note that Data Point prices vary. Hover over the “i” information icon to see the price list for each Data Point. For more details about any particular Data Point, click on its name. You will be directed to our API documentation for the associated API endpoint.

Once you have customized a filter, an option will appear for you to save your analysis the next time you submit addresses to Data Explorer. When you use Data Explorer again, click “Repeat Previous Analysis” to use your saved filter.

For now, press “Continue” to move on to address submission.

Prepare and upload your address list

Data Explorer accepts address lists in spreadsheets saved as Excel Workbook (.xlsx) or Comma Separated Value (CSV) files (.csv). We provide a Download a sample file (.xlsx) to use as your spreadsheet template. You can use the sample file link embedded in the New Analysis tab any time you need a fresh copy of the template. 

Data Explorer looks for address information first two columns; column “A” for street address, and column “B” for ZIP code. You can include additional columns for your own reference to the right of these, and Data Explorer will leave them untouched. For example, you could include your own internal tracking ID number and purchase price for each property.

Retrieving and reading your Data Explorer results

Click on the “Results” tab to retrieve  your order. Under “File,” you can find the title of your file as uploaded. When your order has finished processing, the status will change to a link that reads: “Ready to download.” Click this link to download your file. 

Data Explorer’s output is a multi-tabbed CSV spreadsheet which you can open in Excel or any database software. The Data Points you request are appended to the spreadsheet as tabs.

Value properties efficiently and intelligently

Now, you can get the data you need in moments. You’ll be able to sort and analyze this data to triage even large address lists in no time. For example, compare property details across the market or on the block by analyzing data for up to 5000 properties.

If you prefer, you can also call Data Explorer via API. Visit the Data Explorer API Quick Start Guide for an introduction, or refer to our API Documentation for full details. If you have more questions about getting the most out of Data Explorer, contact the HouseCanary support team for assistance.