Digitalisation has changed the way people used to deal with properties. If you are a realtor or have a business that revolves around properties, then you must have noticed how challenging it is now to find a potential customer. You know, the traditional method to roam around cities with each client, arrange meetings, show that what you offer is the best, and then get into the hard-to-end negotiation discussions. Still, there is no guarantee of sales. However, mobile applications have made it quick to find buyers and display properties to them.
After the success of apps like Zillow, it has become clear that around 40% of people looking for property find their results online. It is better to get into the flow rather than be challenged by it.
The industry is flourishing after the introduction of technology, and one who takes it as an opportunity will thrive in the competition. This blog will discuss how an application is helpful to this industry and how much it would cost you for yourself.
Why Should You Build an App Like Zillow?
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Technology Brings Convenience
Customers love to get their job done quickly. An application can display properties in a location and showcase the features of each property. It is convenient for customers to find a property with qualities they like and only visit when they are convinced. It saves you time from showing each house in a particular location. A deal can be fair enough that it gets settled online, and then it is convenient for you to get a customer without much effort.
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More Than Displaying Properties
An application can do more than just display properties. Artificial Intelligence can play its part in several ways to make the job easier. There are several things automation can help you with, such as:
- Lead Generation
- Lead promotion via email
- Data handling and processing
- Single channel for nurturing leads
- Transaction Management
- Property Inspection
These features make managing a real-estate business seamless and profitable. If you implement it on smartphones, it is possible to reach a large audience online since most online traffic comes from mobile phones.
What Features Does Your App Need?
The development cost depends on the features you wish to have in your app. You can choose features depending on your business model, and here are a few features from which you can choose.
 1. Convenient Onboarding
To make a successful app, you must focus on providing an easy onboarding process. The onboarding process is essential. Most users uninstall the application when they fail to understand the onboarding process. Try to keep things simple and help users understand the functionality of your application. This way, you can ensure that people understand your app’s features and interact with the application effectively.
 2. Different User Panels
There are mainly two types of people who’ll use your application, sellers and buyers. You must design two different user panels for both of them. While a buyer will be able to see properties in a particular location and set a budget, a seller can upload pictures and the cost of a property. The application can work as a gateway between a seller and a buyer if there are customised panels for different needs.
 3. Database
Regardless of the nature of the business, a database is necessary for an application, as it would keep collecting user data from the day it launches. It is essential to collect data to learn about customer demands and for sellers to upload more videos and photos of the property. As your business expands online, you will need more storage for keeping photos, locations, and customer and seller profiles.
 4. Advanced Search & Filters
You must keep your application ready for a large number of listings. Many registries on a small screen make it harder for a customer to find the property of their choice. Users can use a search or filter option to get what they want. Searches and filters can work with the following options:
- Price
- Location
- Purpose
- Type of Property
- Mortgage
- Build-in Year
 5. Maps and Location
Integrating maps is an essential feature for real-estate apps as it adds value to the user experience. Users can choose a location from the map or enable their GPS to find properties for sale nearby.
 6. Wish List
Like an eCommerce app, a real-estate app can have a favourite or wish list. Usually, you don’t buy the first property you see. It allows users to save their favourites in one place and compare them later. When it is convenient to analyse different properties, the chances of sales also increase.
 7. Push Notifications
Push Notifications are essential to keep user interaction active. The app can notify users of any new registry in their location. It ensures that people learn about your offers regularly.
8. Virtual Tour
After the pandemic, virtual tours have become popular. People hesitate to visit a lot of new places. Thanks to technology, features like Virtual Reality let them roam around a virtual interpretation of real property. It makes it easier to visit a lot of places in a short period and gives a better experience than photos.
Advanced Technologies to Add to Your App
Your app must have features different from other apps to stand out in the competition. There are a few additional features that you can use to gain attention online.
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Chatbots
By integrating a custom chatbot, you can provide 24/7 customer support service. It responds to the user instantly and helps them answer frequently asked questions. It gives users the sense that their queries get resolved quickly.
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Business Intelligence
As your app keeps growing, it collects a lot of user data which is essential while targeting certain people online or running ads. To retrieve data from the database to learn about the market behaviour is Business Intelligence. You can pinpoint when to promote properties in a location.
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AR/VR
Even though AR/VR is a trending technology, not many applications provide them as a service. You can help your users to get a 3D view of the property and enhance their experience of property buying. Many people would like to take virtual tours for entertainment and may convert into customers or recommend others to show interest in your business.
Technology Stack to Build a Real Estate App
There are many options available when you dig deep into the development industry, but you must plan a set of technologies that you like in your app. Here are some technologies that you can choose:
- Programming languages: Java, Kotlin, Swift, Objective C
- Designing: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
- Backend Development: MySQL, PHP
- Data Management: Realm Frameworks, CoreData
- SDK Files: FireBase SDK, FaceBook SDK
- Video Calling API: Twilio
- Cloud Storage: Amazon S3
- API: Zillow App API, MapBoxGoogleMaps API, iHomeFinder, Spatial Neighborhood API, Google Places API
Real Estate App Development Cost
Now you know how a real estate app operates, but the question remains, how much would it cost? It depends on a few factors:
- The technology you choose: If you build a native app that works on cross-platforms, it would cost more.
- The features you add: The more features you add, the more it will cost. It provides complexity to the application, but it is not a good idea to make an application filled with too many features making it hard for the users to understand.
- The development team: It can cost you from $20 to $80 an hour, depending upon your location.
You can conclude that the overall cost may vary from $10,000 to $40,000, but you can decide that while planning the application. You can contact Boffin Coders for consulting professionals to help plan your application and keep the development cost in your budget while adding most of the essential features.
