For today’s real estate professional, being responsive to client needs while on the go can be quite a challenge. Unexpected requests, last minute showing inquiries, surprise financial questions; the list goes on. The six apps below are some great tools for handling the unexpected like a pro!
CAMERA+
When taking listing or promotional photos, Camera+ is an incredibly user-friendly camera, plus photo editing and enhancing app. Its camera settings allow Realtors® to take impressively professional photos with touch exposure and focus, and a 6x digital zoom. For non graphic designers, the photo editing tool icons are extremely intuitive and logically organized. Camera+ offers an unbelievable range of color correction settings, framing and filter tools, and the ability to add captions.
Cost: $1.99 iPhone, $4.99 iPad
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
iLIVING
When Realtors® show a vacant home, buyers often struggle to picture where the couch, table and other furniture will go. iLiving’s virtual staging app is the perfect aid in this situation! Simply snap a photo of an empty room, then insert furniture from iLiving’s catalog of options, which are nicely organized by category. Although there is not a wide breadth of furniture items to choose from, clients can gain a good understanding of each room’s decorating possibilities. Pictures can be saved in their device’s photo gallery to easily text or email.
Cost: $2.99
Compatibility: iPhone
MAGIC PLAN
To create a floor plan on the spot without the proper measuring and drawing tools, Magic Plan allows agents to quickly develop one from a mobile device or tablet. By taking snapshots of each room, one corner at a time, Magic Plan populates the room’s dimensions, and then draws a floor plan. Window and door openings can be easily added to each room, as can basic furniture items (i.e. a bed and nightstand can be added to a bedroom). Files can be saved as PDF, JPEG and DXF files for CAD, or interactive formats can be published on the web.
Magic Plan has impression precision for an app but does not replace the quality of professionally rendered floor plans.
Cost: Free to download; file exporting or sharing: $2.99/each. Monthly subscription packages are also available
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and Android
KEYNOTE
Delivering listing presentations and market analysis on a tablet is not only more convenient than preparing paper printouts, but also shows clients an agent's tech savvy side! The Keynote app, Apple’s equivalent of Microsoft PowerPoint, allows users to build slide presentations with custom animation, charts and video. Keynote is user-friendly, especially to those with PowerPoint experience.
iCloud is built into the app so files automatically update across all devices. Documents are easily shared with others, who can then make edits from iCloud.
PowerPoint files can also be opened in Keynote, but editing features are more limited.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad
iRENTER
Many prospective new homebuyers are still on the fence whether to take the plunge and buy, or continue renting. With iRenter, they can instantly and accurately calculate the difference in cost from their current rent to the cost of owning. The app factors in every conceivable cost associated with homeownership, from mortgage payments to property taxes.
Cost: $0.99
Compatibility: iPhone
LINKEDIN
Arguably social media’s top professional networking site, LinkedIn allows agents to maintain responsiveness with their connections while on-the-go. The app’s 'push notifications' alert users to new messages, comments on your posts and invites. Both mobile and tablet versions of the app nicely organize main menu selections to easily shift from industry networking groups to the main newsfeed and then into a user's InMail™ box.
Cost: Free
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and Android
Liz Sacks is the Marketing Manager for Avery-Hess, Realtors®