Technology
iPhone Apps for Real Estate – Must Have Real Estate Apps
Here are my current Top 7 iPhone Real Estate Applications for Real Estate Agents
1. Google Mobile App – (free) Google Mobile app goes beyond the mapping and into search and the google apps. The search becomes real estate friendly because it can be done from the car. Life for real estate agents would be very different if we sat in front of a computer all day, but the truth of the matter is we live in the car and need applications that can be operated easily on the fly. The search feature in the google app can be a voice generated search – great for the car.
Once you have spoken your search requirements, the results include phone numbers to easily call or addresses with quick directions. Making this the perfect app for that day in the car with buyers and you need to call a school or drive by the library at the customer’s request.
Additionally, most of the other google applications are available on the iPhone app so you can check your reader, read a spreadsheet or look up a number on Google 411.
Just in:Google has updated their map feature for the new droid phone. We hope it is just a short time before they make it available for iPhones and Blakcberry’s. Read all about it here.
2. Trulia - (free) Although there seems to be a new iPhone app for real estate everyday, I am still a big fan of the first true app- Trulia. Based on the trulia.com platform, the iPhone app is a simple search for neighborhood listings no matter where you are. It also includes open houses and the ability to sort results in any number of ways. The map search results work well on the iPhone. The details on any listing give a nice sized photo and the basic info with good remarks and the listing agent phone or email just a touch away. Perfect for that quick showing!
3. Real Quest Home Value Pro - (free) I like to think of this as a tax roll for the iPhone. A product of First American, this app is a great lookup on the fly for home values, foreclosures, auctions and has some decent market charts. The app also has a home estimator with a value map that includes good aerial photography. The handy share button allows you to email info to a friend (or client) with your search results. This is particularly handy when you are out on road and away from your computer.
4. Camera Genius. ($.99) The camera on the iPhone takes some decent pictures, so decent in fact that I rarely use my digital camera anymore. I did however get frustrated that there was no zoom. Then came Camera Genius. Not only can you Zoom, but there is a timer and an anti-shake button. Now there is no excuse for taking bad pictures.
5. Photoshop.com Mobile – (free) So if Camera Genius doesn’t give you exactly what you want from an iPhone photo, try Photoshop Mobile to crop, rotate, flip or color correct your pictures right from your phone.
6. Animoto - (free) Now that you have those pictures just right, Animoto allows you to create an on the fly photo tour and then you can email it to a client or post it on facebook. Another great use for Animoto is to make a tour of properties for a buyer, have a saved tour on each of your listings or do a great neighborhood photo tour. The possibilities for real estate are endless.
7. Around Me – (free) last but not least Around me will list nearby restaraunts, coffee places, gas stations, atms, etc. You will never be without local resources again. Great for days with buyers when you might be looking for a new place for lunch or for good informational remarks for that new listing.
Honorable mention: I also like the following mobile sites: Miami Herald and Daily Business Review. I also recommend the New York Times app ( great real estate section) NPR app ( to keep you company on the road) and Bump to share your business card or a photo with anyone else who has an iPhone.
Is there an app you like? Please share.
This is the second in a 2 part series. For Basic iPhone tips – read here.
iPhone Apps for Real Estate – Basic iPhone Features
“There’s an app for that…” When it comes to real estate that is certainly true. Following are some quick tips for real estate use for the real estate agent.
We are going to start with a brief review of the basic iphone features. Although this section may seem too basic for many users – sometimes the simplest things are overlooked. So let’s start with the Home Screen
Most of the applications of the Home Screen can be found on all iPhones. Note: I added the google app to my front page.
All of the basic functions are found here. The calendar, mail and contacts can now not only be synced with Apple computer products, but can now be synced with Google mail and Microsoft Exchange Server.
From the home screen if you swipe from left to right this Spotlight search will appear. Simply put, spotlight will find absolutely anything in your iPhone that meets the search criteria.
Tools You Can Use – Single Property Websites
As our marketing efforts move more towards internet based tools it is time we look at the Single Property Website. Basically, a single property website is exactly what it sounds like – a website devoted to one listing. Think of it as an online property brochure that the search engines love. Check out this nice single property site from Carole Smith…
Pretty cool, huh? It is just as it says – an entire website for that one property. Most single property websites offer registering a domain name with the property address. See the link? It is the propertyaddress.com. See what happens when you google the property address?
It’s easy to see why Carole continues to be a top producer. Here’s what you need to do to make your very own single property websites…
Although there are many single property websites popping up, I like Power Sites. The interface is easy to use and the SEO built into every site is amazing. Power sites also has great webinar training just in case you are feeling a little technologically challenged.
