It can seem daunting to create a real estate application, especially if it’s your first time. The entire process can be broken down into six easy steps.

Step 1: Validate the “Why?” for Real Estate Business

Be clear about your app’s primary purpose before you get carried away. You must ensure that you are developing your app for the right purposes and not just to have one. Your app will lack direction and purpose if it doesn’t have a clear reason to be developed. Your final product will not be able to meet the needs of your audience if it lacks direction. As you brainstorm ideas, you can look to the top real estate apps. If you are looking for CRM features, check out the Zillow Premier Agent App. Or look at Trulia to manage listings.

You might be able to improve your marketing and communication or have more control over your listings. You might even create a real-estate app to help you better manage your client relationships. Although your final product may have many features, your first app should still be focused on your primary purpose. You can always add more features down the line.

Step 2: Determine your budget and desired launch time

What is the cost of creating a real-estate app? It depends on the development method used and the features you want, but it could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 up to $250,000. If you are looking to Hire app Developers, consider the cost of where your team is located. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to create a great app.

For most people, the most cost-effective way to create a realty app is to use an app maker. Devstree allows you to create an app for real estate without having any programming knowledge or technical skills. Devstree’s team of developers will support you. They have assisted in the development of over 10,000+ apps. This will allow you to get your app to market quicker than traditional development. Ideal for those who want to launch their real estate apps in a matter of weeks or months instead of six months or more. You will have to pay more for every feature you need. It will cost you a lot to get an augmented reality feature that includes virtual tours and complicated integrations.

However, if you only need to add video walkthroughs to properties to your app using a YouTube plugin it will be more affordable. App builders such as Devstree are affordable and still provide value for real estate agents who want to build an app.

Step #3: Choose Your Real Estate App Development Method

You now need to decide how you will create a real-estate app. Your responses in step #2 can help you decide. There are generally three options:

To create your own real estate app, you can use a DIY app creator

• You can outsource the project to an app developer company
• It can be built by developers.

Technically, it is possible to learn code and create an app by yourself. This is not practical and unnecessary for real estate professionals. DIY software is a better option as it is the most cost-effective and fastest way to launch your business.

Devstree has covered this topic extensively over the years. These resources will help you decide which option is best for you.

Houses and mansions isometric composition with information about family estate in mobile app for smartphone vector illustration

Step #4: Select Your Real Estate App Features

Next, decide which features you want to add to your app. In the beginning, it is important to be simple and focus only on the features that your app needs to work properly. Recall what was discussed in the first stage. Which is your main focus when creating a real-estate app? Focus your efforts on that goal and determine the features that are necessary to make it happen. 

If you are unsure of what to include, you can take a look at the top real-estate apps available on the market. In the beginning stages, simplicity is important. It is easy to get bogged down in the development process, and then add features that you like. This can cause delays and increase your costs.

There are always more features that can be added months or years later. We’ll be covering more features in later articles.

Step #5: Design your Real Estate App

Now it’s time to build the app. This process will be easier if you have a plan, a budget, and a list of features. Each person will take a different approach to the steps, so it is important that you choose the right development. It doesn’t matter what method you use, it is in your best interests to break down your project into manageable steps. To keep track of the project and make sure you meet your deadlines, you can use basic project management software. Devstree will first ask you what kind of app you would like to create. To continue, select the real-estate industry option. If you are unsure of what to include, you can take a look at the top real-estate apps available on the market. In the beginning stages, simplicity is important. It is easy to get bogged down in the development process, and then add features that you like. This can cause delays and increase your costs. There are always more features that can be added months or years later. We’ll be covering more features in later articles.

Step 6: Market and Launch Your Real estate Agent App

You are a successful agent in real estate and you understand the importance of marketing. It doesn’t matter if you have the most powerful app on the planet. But it won’t be useful if no one knows about it. It’s possible to promote your app even before it launches, so that people are ready when it finally releases. To drive downloads, make sure you use all your marketing channels. Use social media to share the app, promote it on your blog and email subscribers, as well as add a download link on your website.

Devstree will allow you to create an app and then publish it to the app stores. With a single click you can notify us that your app is ready. Our team will make it available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

The Key Features Every Real Estate App Must Have

We’ll be discussing some features that you should consider when building your real estate app. These features are inspired by the top apps in the real-estate industry.

User Onboarding

You should always have a free version for your app. The best apps have some form or registration. This will allow you to gather more information about your app users, which can be used to improve their experience. To help manage customer relationships, you can also use the details from onboarding. Instead of requiring people to give all their information in order to sign up, it is possible to integrate with social media platforms to speed up the process. Users can then create an account by simply logging in to an existing social account. Registering for an account allows users to have more control and personalization over what they see in the app. You can “favorite” and “like” homes you want to see later, or keep an eye on.

Real Estate Listings

Your app must highlight properties for sale or rent. Instead of manually adding the information, you can create an integration using multiple listing services. This will bring each property’s details into your app. It simplifies backend management for both you and your team. Photos, videos, price history and tax information should be included in the listing. This will allow buyers to make informed decisions about whether or not the property is right for them.

Agent Profiles

Potential buyers can use mobile apps to connect with agents. This is your chance to share information about yourself and your work. Each agent in a real estate agency should have their own profile. Include a photo and a brief bio. Also, include details about how you can contact the agent.

Capabilities for Search and Filter

People searching for homes can find it overwhelming, especially when there are so many options. You must make it easy for users to search for and filter properties according to what they are looking for.

Filters can be set up for:

Price

Distance

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Types of property

Max HOA

• For Sale vs. for Rent vs. for Lease

It should be possible to search for specific terms such as “pool” and “backyard”.

Maps Integrations

A Google Maps integration is a great way of showcasing properties. Users can navigate listings from a map view rather than a list. Geofenced property details can be integrated into your maps. This allows you to highlight listings within a particular area.

Mortgage and Payment Calculators

Home buyers are often concerned about the price. However, the sale price of a home can differ from the monthly payment. This is especially true if you consider additional fees such as property taxes, mortgage insurance and HOAs. Although the calculators in your app are not meant to be used for calculations, they can still help users get a better idea of the actual cost of purchasing the property.

Scheduling an Appointment

Prospective buyers shouldn’t have the burden of scheduling a viewing if they like a property. You can still add your email address and phone number to each listing. However, people should not have to leave the app to book a tour.

This feature is also a great way to help with lead generation strategies. Users will be asked for their name, email address, and number in order to schedule an appointment.

Push Notifications

Push notifications are a must for real estate apps to communicate with their users. Active buyers will appreciate this option to let them know of any new properties that match their search criteria. This gives you an edge over other agents who may be sending them properties via email. Push messages can be seen instantly as they are delivered directly to the user’s screen.

Final thoughts on Mobile Apps for Real Estate Agents

Real estate is highly competitive. You need every advantage to be an agent that stands out from the rest. An app for mobile will give you an advantage over other agents competing for the same client. A seller may choose you to represent them because they believe the app will give them more chances to sell quickly. Apps can also be very beneficial to buyers and renters looking for an easy way to locate properties using their smartphones.

When you launch a real-estate agent app, there are many options. Devstree, IT Services however, is the most straightforward. Get started with your 14-day trial for free, or contact one of our app developers to learn more.