March 9, 2021
2021 was a challenging year, but many of us in the housing industry are experiencing a boom. Being a realtor involves keeping track of so much and wearing a lot of different hats. By leveraging technology it's possible to manage more than ever before while making certain you don't miss out on opportunities. Here are the cool apps for realtors that we're really loving for 2022
With all the different roles a realtor must play to find success, we thought we'd break down our favorite apps for realtors by category.
You're only one person, with a lot to do. That means making the most of your time and staying organized. Excelling as a realtor requires self-drive and motivation. Invest in a system that will help you stay on track. Many people find the Pomodoro Technique to be helpful to use as a timer when scheduling blocks of work. Work 25 minutes doing paperwork, returning emails, and making calls, and then take a break. There are many apps available that provide timers to facilitate this technique, including;
These two of many Pomodoro Technique timer apps offer a free version with in-app purchases available for a pro version. The Tomato Timer is a simple version that offers a sleek minimalist design to help you focus on just the timer. If you want to combine a to-do list you'll have to upgrade to the Pro version for $2.99. Focus To-Do offers a more detailed platform, providing reports of how you spend your time, including easy-to-view charts.
There are many options for organizational tools out there, but when you want a truly robust system, consider Things 3. At $49.99 it is an investment to make but has become extremely popular for use by practitioners of David Allen's Getting Things Done method. Whether or not you use that method, the app promises to help you stay on top of projects and tasks in order to achieve your goals. Just what a busy realtor needs.
From keeping track of all those expenses for taxes to keeping track of paperwork, it's the little details that easily add up to feel overwhelming. Use these great apps to make these tasks simpler.
This easy, web-based alternative to QuickBooks is specifically designed for realtors and also has a mobile app for busy realtors on the go. For $9/month tracking expenses will be a breeze. You can even link bank accounts and credit cards to gain a full picture of income and expenditures.
Keep better track of all of your paperwork, by storing it all digitally. CamScanner is a free app that uses text recognition to provide a single place for document editing and management. It allows you to easily move across devices, plus it makes it easy to get clean PDF scans. A Pro account costs $4.99/month and provides cloud space for all your files, the creation of unlimited files, and much more.
At the end of the day, so much of sales comes down to marketing, and that is especially true for real estate. These tools will let you take your marketing to the next level without having to hire a team to do it for you.
Canva is a free app that lets you employ some of the same functions as pricier design software like Adobe. With Canva, it's easy to create stunning graphics without being a designer. Best of all, they offer hundreds of high-quality templates for real estate from social media graphics to postcards to listing presentations. Simply upload your logo, add your brand colors and you're ready to go!
At this point, social media needs to be a key component of your marketing plan. Whether your platform of choice is Instagram, Facebook, or even TikTok, these two apps are great at helping you manage all of your social posts across platforms. Schedule in advance to create a strong online presence without having to be glued to your screen - perhaps even set your tomato timer to knock out social for the week. HootSuite's plans start at $49.99 for up to 10 social accounts. Buffer offers a free option with three social media accounts and one with nine accounts for $15/month. Those working on their social with a team might find HootSuite easier, while those doing social on their own will likely find Buffer more affordable.
Staying in touch is more important than ever these days. And people are also very careful about scheduling in-person meetings. The last thing you want is an unforeseen scheduling conflict, or to leave potential customers unsatisfied.
This is an app that makes scheduling showings with customers much simpler. Share a link and clients can then easily view what times are available on your calendar. You can even use it for your listings in place of real estate-specific services like ShowingTime. Plans start with a basic free version or upgrade to be able to sync with more calendars and create different event types. The Premium plan is $8/month and the Pro is $12/month all per user.
When communicating with clients, this app lets you provide an extra personal touch by offering an immediate response on a variety of platforms. Using AI bots, the software makes it possible to communicate intelligently across text, Facebook messenger, WhatsApp, and more. It starts free with paid plans starting at $15 allowing you to add in more comprehensive AI technology.
Customers have a lot of questions about their prospective new home. While as a realtor you want to have all the answers, it's not possible to know all the information, in fact, sometimes you don't even have a floor plan. While it may not be architect-approved, MagicPlan lets you create a simple floor plan and even a 3D tour with a simple scan of space using your tablet or phone. The most basic plan starts at $10/month going up to $90/month for more detailed results.
Phones have always been one of the most important tools of a realtor. Now, you can do more than ever for your real estate career with what you can hold in the palm of your hand. Make sure you're taking full advantage of it for 2021.
Real estate automation makes time-consuming busywork easier, leaving you more time to build your brand - or hit the golf course if that's what you’re seeking.
Shaker is a transaction management software that specializes in real estate automation features like checklists, timeline, email, and data entry automation. Other useful features include built-in calendars, a client portal and specialty project management settings for real estate teams
Request a demo today to see Shaker in action!