Our generation relies on mobile apps for almost everything. Be it shopping, ordering food, recharging mobile, or even looking for a house. The Real Estate Industry has also transformed to meet individual needs in finding a dream home.
Real estate is trying to change its image as a conservative industry from offline to online. Plus, the impact of COVID-19 has also made this industry more innovative in technology.
Now, many real estate websites are running around, making the competition like a red ocean. There needs to be more than building a website. If you want to do business in this industry, consider creating a mobile application. Of course, the application you make must stand out.
To "stand out" in an application, you must build unique and valuable features. So, before finding the answer to this question, let's dive into the basics to see why mobile apps are perfect for real estate businesses.
Why mobile apps are essential for real estate business
Prospective buyers no longer need to stop from one agent to another to find their dream property. They can quickly check the property via smartphones:
According to a study from the National Association of Realtors:
- 97% of potential home buyers use the internet to search for properties.
- 65% of young millennials, 70% of old millennials, and 50% of Gen X use smartphones to search for property.
- 59% of people use mobile or tablet searches to find information about real estate.
From the data above, the mobile-based real estate applications' role is essential. During the tough competition in this industry, going head-to-head without preparing a weapon is a boomerang. So consider adding some valuable features to your app.
10 essential features for Real Estate apps
The main goal of a real estate app is to simplify the process of buying and selling property. Plus, attract more users.
Of course, you can only add some of the features in one application, and you have to choose. Choose based on benefits, user needs, and uniqueness. Here are ten recommended features that must be present in your application:
1. Simple user onboarding
The basic and essential feature that must be present is simple onboarding. Not only in real estate applications, but simple onboarding is also vital in any construction application.
The simple, easy, uncomplicated registration process makes for a stunning first impression of the app. Besides the registration process, let's take a deeper look at what user onboarding really means:
- Apps should be easy to find and download. This means the app must be available on the App Store, Google Play Store, and Windows Store.
- The user registration process should be simple but detailed, including listing features for buyers, sellers, and tenants.
- There are specific questions about the needs of each customer (buyers, sellers, and tenants).
2. Property listing
The property listing is a must feature whether in a mobile app or a real estate website. This feature has all the information about the properties of the application. Users who want to sell or rent their properties should be able to add easily, edit, manage and delete them.
The more list properties, the database needs are increasing. Ensuring that databases and servers are in prime condition to aid these operations is necessary for a successful app.
3. User profiles (buyers, agents, and sellers)
There should be different profiles for different types of users. For example, the options shown for the seller will be different from the buyer's. Buyers can access a list of homes and view homes in detail but cannot edit the sold products.
Meanwhile, on the agent, they can view their property list, see a list of interested buyers, advertise, or delete products. Remember to provide features that can be accessed by all users, such as platform support.
4. Categories, Filters, and Wishlist
The main motive of the app lies in its simplicity, including filtering property searches. This feature allows users to find their dream property more quickly. Combine several categories, such as cost, location, and property type, to make the filter process more accurate.
Suppose you are looking for a property but immediately will not finalise it; meet the wishlist feature. This feature will help potential buyers gather their favourite properties before deciding. Prospective buyers can access their favourite property, including all its details. Remember to limit access to this feature to the profile owner only.
5. Messaging tool
It allows users to contact agents, prospective buyers, and sellers 24/7. It can help boost sales by taking the potential buyer to the next funnel and shutting the deal.
Create various communication methods, such as direct messages, calls, or bot messages (during days off/weekends). They don't need to record phone numbers when contacting agents or sellers. Just click and connect.
6. Geolocation
Integrating maps and locations can help you provide much information to users. You can add statistics such as the nearest school, mini market, government infrastructure, weather, and temperature.
Also, synchronising with GPS makes estimating the user's distance to that location easier. It also helps them to choose their dream property based on circumstances.
7. Cost calculator
Price is an essential component in buying property. So, adding the cost calculator feature gives users an idea of the average property cost. The cost estimate should include initial payments, taxes, and interest. You can integrate it with several loan applications in Malaysia, making the payment more accessible.
8. Smart Push Notifications
Just like ordinary notifications, when the phone rings, people will see it immediately. This feature allows the app to stay in the user's mind. Let's call it a powerful marketing technique.
Push notifications help reach prospects, such as updating the latest listings and news about property and discounts. But make sure to give complete control to the user, so they are free to turn this feature on and off.
9. Virtual Tour
A virtual tour is an excellent way to give users a real-time atmosphere from home. According to Housingwire, 70% of homebuyers believe virtual tours are as important as open houses.
Zillow Group CMO Jeremy Wacksman also said that 3D tours help buyers and renters visualise themselves living in a house. Even so, photos and videos remain must-have features in this app.
10. Latest information or news
Last but not least. Real estate applications must let users know what is happening around the property. This could be news about market trends or information about natural disasters around the property. You can also add a section on tips and tricks for buying property.
Conclusion
Life is getting busier, and everyone wants easy and fast access. Changing the application to be closer to the user is an excellent step for the real estate business. If your main goal is to maximise real estate applications, you can try the features above. Remember to adjust them to your needs.
If you want to develop real estate applications with care, an attractive interface, and features that suit your needs, VirtualSpirit is the right solution. We have the best and most professional team ready to help you build your dream real estate application.
