Introduction
Hello Realtor!
We have a quick question for you! Do you know how many people use mobile phones? The number is in billions!
With over 6.3 billion smartphone users worldwide, the graph of the mobile app industry's success is going upwards! App usage and smartphone penetration continue to expand steadily, with no signs of stopping soon.
Every industry has understood the importance of a digital presence, and so have you, realtor, right?
Did you know that one of every four people uses a real estate app to search for, purchase, and sell homes online?
Online property search trends have reached an all-time high, fueling heated rivalry in the real estate market.
According to market research, 95% of real estate agencies have websites with property listings.
However, creating a website is simply a small step in the face of such fierce competition. Your business needs a personalized real estate app to keep you ahead of the competition.
Want to know more about them? Read on!
What are Real Estate Apps? Why should you have one?
In simple terms, a Real Estate app is a customized mobile app developed to assist the key players in buying, selling, and renting properties. Realtors can list the available properties on them, which can then be searched for and found by people interested in them.
We know you have an office, and people in your area know you well. They consult you every time they want to buy, sell or rent. However, in today's competitive times, you need to broaden your horizons and increase your reach. How can I do that- is your next question. Isn't it? By getting a real estate app made!
Here are some reasons why you and every other realtor should have a real estate app for their business
Boost up your sales speed
A tailored real estate app can help agents speed up their sales process. In developing such an app, virtual tours would minimize lengthy showings, digitally signed and exchanged documents, and property could be found more rapidly.
A dedicated communication channel
A 24/7 communication channel in an app allows for immediate talks and reduces waiting time.
Better customer experience
Clients admire the ability to store searches and favorite properties, access detailed neighborhood information, quickly access a mortgage calculator, and take 3D tours, among other features.
With a feature-laden app, you can impress and retain your users for a long.
Automation to the rescue
Agents will be able to delegate the majority of their time-consuming tasks. Chatbots can instantly respond to potential clients and generate leads by auto-filling property information.
Homebuyers also benefit from automation, as they obtain paperwork promptly and receive notifications based on their level of interest.
Real Estate App Types: The complete guide
Real estate apps have different stakeholders, including sellers, tenants, landlords, and agents, who require apps according to their needs. If you make multiple apps or choose the one most suitable to your needs, you will stand out! If you have different apps for different players, your real estate app would be able to handle concerns at various stages of the process for different users.
Here we list a few real estate app types:
House renting apps
This property listing allows users to search for housing based on specific factors such as an address, region, city, neighborhood, etc. Listing-based apps require strong collaboration with MLS - multiple listing services. These are databases of accommodation options that are currently available on the market.
Examples: Zillow, Trulia
Real Estate Agents' App
These apps enable real estate agents and brokers to provide their services. These could include virtual 3D tours of the apartment, communication between agents and clients, documentation, and property management.
Such apps can be highly beneficial in decreasing paperwork and streamlining processes.
Examples: Trafft, Yaza
Real Estate Investment Apps
Real estate investment is a growing market. Solutions that enable possible purchase tracking are in high demand among investors and agents. However, such apps must meet one requirement: they must be adaptable.
Examples: DiversyFund, ArrivedHomes
What features should an ideal real estate app have?
A Real estate app is your business' way up to the top of the market. You can increase your reach, attract more users, increase sales and retain customers by providing the best services.
Branding is what you should aim for. And to make your app people's favorite, you should have features that make it easy to use. Here is a list of must-have features which all real estate app types should have
Short and simple Login Process
The registration process should be short and easy so that people do not run away seeing how much information they will have to enter. A short process means you ask just for their email id, name, mobile number, state and country of domicile, and gender (if necessary).
You can alternatively allow them to sign up using their social media accounts. It would smoothen the onboarding process, and people would consider using your app.
Search and Filter
Suppose your user wants to look for 2BHK in a particular region in a fixed price range. Would they scroll through all the available options? NO!
Nobody has that much time. To tackle this, your app should have a search bar and an option to filter based on categories.
Users of the app, for example, can view new postings by selecting the 'Recent' or 'New Listing' options in the filters. Elastic search is used in large-scale and popular real-estate apps to improve the search process.
Interactive Maps
Your real estate app development company can include interactive maps to provide helpful information to app users.
You may display relevant facts and statistics about properties in addition to presenting their location. You may also provide information on the crime rate, surrounding schools, and the average income of residents in the area.
When prospective customers find the property, an interactive map feature will provide them with all the relevant information.
A cost calculator
Property prices fluctuate regularly. Customers can now use the cost calculator in real-time to discover the total cost of a property. A customized cost estimating function is necessary for your real estate app since it allows users to rapidly calculate the price of property.
However, it is vital to ensure that the calculator can provide every detail, such as taxes, beginning payment amount, loan interest, etc.
Push Notifications
Push notifications can be used to market effectively. This feature can assist your real estate app in flourishing in the long run. Your app can send push notifications for industry news, price changes, new properties, or the status of favorites.
It is an effective way to reach out to potential customers. However, the messages must be relevant and have a personalized tone. Your alerts should be helpful to app users and not annoy them.
Real-time Chat
In-app chat can help your users contact realtors or real estate brokers around the clock. It can assist you in increasing sales by moving app users to the next step of the sales funnel and closing the deal.
Direct call, callback, and online chat are the in-app communication methods. Buyers can use this option to question the seller or realtor directly about a particular property.
How much does Real Estate App Development cost?
Four critical aspects heavily influence the cost of mobile app development. These are the time required for development, the hourly fee of app development, the features and functionalities to be included in an app, and the app's complexity.
Real estate mobile app development costs between $45000 and $150,000 for companies like Zillow, Trulia, and Auction.com.
The application's basic functionality will cost between $10,000 and $25,000. The cost of add-on features and functionality will climb correspondingly.
The software will cost between USD 25,000 and USD 35,000 for a full-fledged mobile application with rich features and advanced functionality. Depending on the app's complexity, the cost could exceed USD 50,000.
Conclusion
Real estate applications have been widely acknowledged and adopted by the real estate sector in recent years. These apps' remarkable features and benefits make them a popular choice among users. Technology is evolving, and by the time you read this post, new technology may have emerged. In such times, you should keep your senses active and stay up-to-date.
To start with your real estate app, you must employ a mobile app development company with significant experience and competence. You can contact AppsRhino for all your app-related needs!You can talk to us about your app idea, and we will convert it into a viable reality. Contact us today!
