BEST NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERT APP

Create a better value for your clients by showing them the ins and outs of their prospective new neighborhoods; neighborhood apps are the easiest way to become an instant neighborhood expert.

Winner: Sitegeist

Sitegeist uses data from the official United States Census to provide demographics on any given area, including median income, family size, gender makeup and information on local housing. It can also give information on the local weather and popular sports. It’s available on iOS and Droid, and is completely free. Our panel calls it an “amazing little app that is easy to use and graphically beautiful.”

Because the data is taken from the U.S. Census, this means some of the information may be out-of-date, depending on when you look at it. And since the information is from the United States, this means that the app will only work in the United States.

Price: Free

Where to buy: http://sitegeist.sunlightfoundation.com

Runners Up: Homesnap and StreetAdvisor

Homesnap

By simply snapping a picture of a home, you can get the full neighborhood details, property history, similar listings and more. Haran says it gives you an opportunity to interact with your clients. “It shows who the agent and brokerage are at the bottom of each listing, but the idea is to put your clients on the app with you, see their favorites, share yours, and they can send them back and forth with their friends and family,” she says.

In order for Homesnap to work, you need an Internet connection. This could be a slight problem if you’re taking a picture in a rural area, where the Internet is weak. HomeSnap also takes data from public records, so it may not always be accurate.

Price: Free

Where to download: Available at iTunes and Google Play

StreetAdvisor

Last year’s winner in this category appears to have lost popularity somehow. This, too, is a platform that allows agents to create a better value for the community while solidifying themselves as experts of a neighborhood or area, thus generating leads.

A public forum for neighborhoods and towns, StreetAdvisor features public reviews on the benefits, drawbacks and nuances of living environments; easy to navigate, the site is great for exploring Chicago’s many areas and surrounding suburbs, and all the content is written by local residents of the areas.

Though launched in 2007, StreetAdvisor still has a way to go in terms of content; for instance, though there is plenty of information about Chicago, there are only four reviews for Naperville.

Price: Free

Where to buy: www.streetadvisor.com

BEST MISCELLANEOUS APPS

Since this is a miscellaneous category, our panel couldn’t necessarily decide on a winning app. In fact, it would be impossible, since our miscellaneous category usually includes apps, sites or software that our panel raves about and highly recommend to other agents, but don’t fit in a specific category. These two great apps both have completely different purposes, and therefore, can’t be compared, so they are listed in alphabetical order.

Evernote

Evernote was highly, highly recommended by our panel. Dollinger says, “Evernote reigns supreme as my go-to-for-everything app.” The app allows users to create folders for each one of your listings so that the documents are only a click away. Your buyers can use this app and keep notes and pictures of the listings they preview. You can also send important emails to a folder for future reference and store useful articles and market statistics. It is easy to set up and available for download on just about any device. Dollinger says, “With unlimited possibilities and continued evolution of the program, Evernote is my favorite app for real estate.”

There is a free version of Evernote, but it only has a 60MB download limit per month, so you will most likely end up with the premium version. And shared documents cannot be edited unless both parties have a premium account, which can make it very difficult to collaborate.

Price: Evernote has a free version, and it also has a premium version for businesses that costs $10 per user per month.

Where to buy: https://evernote.com

Treater

Treater is a mobile social gifting app that enables you to give something real, like a cup of coffee or lunch, from your smartphone. An interesting app, and perfect for agents who want to give clients little gifts, or help them explore their new neighborhood with gift cards. The recipient instantly receives the Treat, which is redeemable from their smartphone at the merchant or restaurant via a digital payment card. The Treater app works across social networks including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to give, receive and share Treats.

Since it’s so new, the only downside is it’s not quite yet widely accepted – many retailers either won’t accept it or don’t know how to redeem it for customers.

Price: Free

Where to buy: www.treater.com