APRIL 2013 |
www.opp-connect.com WORDS | Candice Ritchie App, app and away!
Flying high in the real estate industry means having a busy schedule – but with the introduction and incredibly fast-spreading adoption of the mobile app, life can regain some of its simplicity. Candice Ritchie takes a look at some of the useful applications for a property professional (sorry, we had to give Angry Birds a miss...)
Mobile Apps
With Android, iPhone and Blackberry all dominating the mobile phone industry, applications have become more important than ever, with an app for almost everything. Whether you need to access online banking, social media or even do your grocery shopping, you’ll fi nd a suitable app, and the real estate industry is no exception. In this busy and competitive industry, tools that simplify your day-to-day activities and allow you to access vital information on-the-go (and fast!) have never been more in demand. From handy tools to mortgage calculators or apps for shows and events, the industry is fast becoming app savvy. We took a look at the crème-de-la-crème of apps, those beginning to popularise and the exclusive features that save us heaps of time
Top of the charts...
So what are the best apps and what purpose do they have? Subhi Gharbieh of Gharbieh & Associates deemed MagicPlan, Open Home Pro and zipForm all “Incredibly Powerful” (Sept 2012).
• MagicPlan (iPhone) measures rooms and draws floor plans simply by taking pictures; these can be saved in PDF, JPG and DXF formats, or be published interactively on the web.
• Open Home Pro (iPhone) allows you to manage your leads and create listing pages for your properties where buyers can leave feedback and get in touch.
• ZipForm (all platforms) is for managing your transactions; you can list and modify the forms within a transaction wherever you are.
• An app consistently at the top of lists is the Dropbox app (iPhone and Android). Dropbox lets you take your photos and documents anywhere; any files saved to the Box will automatically save to all of your devices, including the website - ideal for sharing large files with clients, or for back-up.
• An ideal app for developers is Houzz (iPhone and iPad) - a database of home design ideas. Users can browse high-resolution photos by style, room and location, and find local designers, architects and contractors. It seems real estate professionals are spoilt for choice!
Shows and events...
Using mobile apps for shows and events is becoming increasingly important. Currently, 50% of exhibition visitors use smartphones, and this is expected to reach 90% within the next two years. Adam Wright, Head of Solutions at Black Pepper Software, told Exhibition News that show apps are benefi cial in interacting more with visitors and exhibitors. Organisers should “stop seeing the show app as a marketing cost and recognise [it] as an essential revenue generating and show research tool,” he said, “evidence shows that enhanced listings coupled with show off ers will make visitor numbers…double or triple.” The right app, he adds, will provide great benefi ts for everyone – visitors, exhib- itors and organisers. Michael Douglas, Operations Director at Geniemobile, told the magazine that there are three key elements when creating a show app – communication (people will only use it if they know about it), ease of use (the app should be clear and simple) and connectivity (if good internet connections are not guaranteed, ensure key elements of the app do not require them). Mr Douglas also points to the compatibility of the app, deeming it “vital that the app can work across various platforms and other devices can be synchronised.” Indeed, there are endless apps out there which are available on only one plat- form – what a way to miss out on a mass part of your audience!
Mortgage and foreclosures...
Mortgage and foreclosure apps are also beginning to fi nd their place in the app market. For iOS users, popular mortgage apps are Zillow mortgage marketplace and Trulia; for Blackberry, the Monthly payment calculator and mortgage refi nancing pro; for Android, Karl’s Mortgage Calculator and the Mortgage Calculator by Adonis Apps. Mortgage apps typically calculate: monthly payment rates on mortgages and loans, how quickly a loan can be paid, the total amounts paid to date, whether you should refi nance, and the latest interest rates and home values. Some enable users to obtain personalised loan quotes from lenders, or to contact an agent, loan offi cer or title company through the app. The new Republic mortgage app (iOS and Android) released in March 2013 allows users to order a free credit report through
AnnualCreditReport.com, while the London & Country app ‘Mortgage Assistant’ (iOS) includes a broker’s blog. Many home-listing apps also list foreclosures, with some now dedicated to foreclosure services alone. ForeclosureRadar (iOS), for one, enables users to search for foreclosures around their current location, monitor current foreclosure auction activity instantly and view details on each foreclosure. Others include
USHUD.com Foreclosure Search (iOS), Complete Foreclosures (iOS) and ZipRealty (Android).
Handy features...
Homebuyer apps (typically listing or search apps) are not just effective for buyers – agents can also benefit from them. The use of a smartphone’s visual display is one example. In October 2012, Zillow launched a dedicated rental app for iPad, in which users are able to take advantage of the iPad’s retina display and large screen to compare house photos. Similarly, the new Home- Finder App released in March 2013 includes interior photos, enabling users to have a look inside a home without ever physically setting foot inside. Greg Johnson, vice president of product development at
HomeFinder.com said that they built the app based on consumer feedback. “This app is not simply what we think consumers need, it is what consumers told us was missing in the market,” he said. Indeed, such features are undoubtedly beneficial for agents, who can save valuable time from not having to show potential buyers around, or by showing buyers who lose interest once they’ve been inside. In addition, HomeSnap (iPhone, with Android coming soon) enables buyers to take a photo of any house and then receive details such as the value, square footage and recent sale price through its GPS functions. Agents wouldn’t need to spend copious amounts of time relaying details of the property – hallelujah!
BUSINESS
MOBILE APPS | 23
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