Image: Inman News
Having a real estate “app” on your Smartphone has become a great tool for house hunters. The mobile web has arrived like a storm for Northern Virginia real estate and properties need to be easily found… and mobile ready (that especially means photos, darn it).
Here is an example: Using myself as the guinea pig… a current listing is a condo in a gated community in Fairfax, VA. 
At the gate I placed a Realtor lockbox containing a access “fob” for the gate, plus I added a tag with an easily scan-able QR Code. Get your Smartphone right now and scan the code to the right using one of the free QR reader apps (iPhone , Google Droid, Windows 7 Mobile).
Presto! There is more information, plenty of photos, and a way to contact me if you like what you see. Maybe it is just me, but I think this is what the current crop of Northern Virginia house hunters really wants.
Getting instant real estate info on your Smartphone is perfect
Last summer while looking at some Vienna, VA Real Estate, my clients showed me their favorite real estate apps which were fast, free and really cool. They all seem to show 95% of the same information but it comes down to ease of use and how current the information is… meaning they all don’t update at the same time.
The Apple iPhone winner for them in mobile-web real estate apps was Redfin which is a Seattle, Washington based real estate sales upstart. They felt it was excellent beating out zillow, sawbuck and franklymls. These apps were useful tools that helped them stay on top of the market.
Last week I explored the Realtor.com app for Google Droid-based phones which are quickly gaining market share. Like most apps it uses GPS to locate you, and then displays Nearby Homes for Sale, but now select the Map tab and then select Draw Mode. Using your finger, draw a circle on the map and it will show you homes in that area.
Now that real estate app feature is totally cool
Using Google satellite or bird’s-eye views can also give good insight. Another app that I like is the compass app that let’s you know exactly which direction a home faces.
Let me know your favorite or most useful mobile web / smart phone apps.
A few years ago I noticed that real estate sites seem to show the same MLS listings, so I decided to create a distinct real estate blog to share my local insight - if you already live here or are relocating. There are topics based on recent client experiences, buying custom homes, and more learned over the past twenty years. Take a few minutes and read a blog post or two to see if my approach matches your goals. I am a real estate agent with RE/MAX, have lived in Oakton and McLean, and live in Vienna Virginia. My goal is to provide you with intel into today's market, candor, practical advice, ideas to get you moving, some humor, geeky stats, the best coffee shop, some video, and a cool way to search for homes. Helping you understanding the process of making an offer, the sales contract and more will come when we meet. Yes, I live here. It is easy to reach me: 
Seems pretty cool. Two questions: do you have a recommendation for a good QR Code reader for the iPhone and do you really think this is going to take off with the home buying public?
Ken Montville´s last [type] ..Pretending to be a Realtor
I downloaded the QR Reader for iPhone from Tap Media from the ITunes store and it worked pretty well. The only downside to the app is that it runs ads at the top of the screen. I’m even able to post to Facebook, Twitter or e-mail and SMS (texting).
I still wonder if it’s going to catch on.
Ken Montville´s last [type] ..Pretending to be a Realtor
Ken,
I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I really can’t see, by ANY stretch of the imagination, how QR codes are going to be taking off with Real Estate.
If you phone already tells you what property you are standing in front of and shows you the listing info (i.e. Realtor.com App) then who needs to be scanning a QR code?
I know Realtors will hate this, but every single technical widget does not have a RE application!
LOL.
In my opinion, the QR is one example of a tool to reach consumers. They are doing more ‘stuff” using their Smartphones rather than on their laptops. Smartphones are amazing tools and it is essential for salespeople to get a handle on today’s consumer.
The QR Code here is an example of something that I used for the first time in front of a listing in a gated community last week, placed on a tag hanging from the lock-box at the access gate. It was the source of 15 views of the page on my blog in 6 days… interesting but not revolutionary. It was a good test on a property that was literally behind a iron gate!
Doug Francis´s last [type] ..On Veterans Day 2010
Definitely a good test and it’s nice to see someone (you) actually doing a real test to see if this has any merit, rather than just prognosticating on blogs about how it’s “the future.”
LOL.
BTW, really like the site, I subscribed to your feed. It appears to be giving me a reader update on every single post instead of just highlighting the new posts.
Not sure if it’s a setting on my end or not. I use Google Reader.
Anyway, great to meet you.
Rob in Atlanta
Rob McCance´s last [type] ..Atlanta Real Estate and Atlanta Homes
Marketers are always trying to understand the “mobile” consumer. Probably best to send folks back to your main web site and then navigate to the page you want them to see. Until people are willing to do that, the occasional use of a QR code on printed marketing material for “in depth details” or extra “photos” is being consumer friendly.