With studies showing that the mobile web will rule by 2015 (i.e. more users will access the internet through their mobile devices than their desktops), in the apartment industry, who has apartment-related mobile apps?

As apartment professionals, whether leasing agent, marketing director, apartment industry consultant, property manager, etc, it's important to see and understand how our prospects are finding us - so that we are reaching out to them in the platforms that they use. We should know which one of our current advertising sources (your apartment internet listing service or apartment ILS) are already mobile ready and which ones aren't - so that we can make better advertising decisions. If your apartment community's demographics are likely to use their mobile devices as part of their apartment search - you should come up on that search!

This blog explores the options for the iPhone/iPad. We will explore options for other platforms in a separate blog.

9 Apartment-related Mobile Apps for the iPhone/iPad:

NOTE: These are not listed in any particular order. All apps allow for a traditional search - where you enter in a city/state/zip, as well as a GPS-enabled search to locate near-by apartment rentals. I've also noted their average current user rating in the app store/# of ratings as of the date of this blog - most users aren't going to download all of the apps available. Many of these have similar functionality - just slightly different user interface, branding, and different "special" features. If there are special features to each application, I've note them, below.

1. PadMapper Apartment Search - You can see all craigslist apartment listings on a map closest to your location or closest to the location you enter. This is an app you've probably never heard of, but one that it is getting high reviews from users (your apartment prospects) in the app store. They also have an online, desktop version. If you're listed on craigslist, you're already listed on this app! Allows you to see the original craigslist add, take/save notes, email, phone,add as favorite, map, and get directions. FREE. Ave 3 1/2 STARS/83 ratings
2. Another one you may never heard of, "Find An Apartment" searches top apartment websites like Apartments.com, ApartmentGuide.com, Sublet.com, HotPads.com and Move.com and returns the results to the user. The only app we found that cost $0.99 - all the other apps were free. Although they claim to return results from some of these top apartment websites, I could not find those listings on this app in my area. It looked like most listings were coming from postlets, roommatefinder.com and other small organic listing services. To see pictures, you have to click on several screens before seeing the pics. I was surprised that this app had relatively high ratings, when I thought the user-interface wasn't all that great. Ave 3 STARS/105 ratings
3. Rentals - this one claims to aggregate listings from the major apartment listing services, but it does not specify which ones. The ones I was able to locate were all from craigslist. This is a much nicer user interface than #2. There is a little hype behind this app, since it was featured on The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Forbes and Bloomberg. Ave 3 STAR/194 ratings
4. ApartmentGuide - search ApartmentGuide's listings. Some options include CALL NOW, SEND EMAIL, and MAP LOCATION right from your screen. Also had photos, floorplans, add to favorites, as well as an option to view recent history. User interface was much nicer than the first 3 apps I listed. Ave 3 STARS/850 ratings
5. Apartments.com - search Apartments.com listings. Options include CALL, EMAIL, photos and floorplans, as well as a FAVORITES option. They had the "favorites" and "history" convenience options for users. Nice, clean and easy user interface.  They had the GPS-capability to find nearby apartments, but didn't show all the results on a map - list results only. You can refine your search as well as sort it once your search was returned. 2.5 STARS/398 ratings
6. ForRent.com - search ForRent.com listings. Options include CALL Property, View Gallery, Check Availability, View Floorplans, Map Property, Tell Friends, and WATCH VIDEO! The only thing I could not find was an easy way to email the property. They have a sort feature that was easy to use and find. One feature I didn't see anywhere else was the ability to search by a "keyword." LOVE this feature. They also had the "favorite" option as well as the "recents" option. Nice graphics, user, interface. Ave 3 STARS/8 ratings
7. Rent.com - you have to have register for an account in order to search.There are lots of comments in the reviews that this is a turn-off for people, which is reflected in their ratings. Options include send email, Call, Claim $100 Reward Card, view photos, save to favorites, refine. Something that most other sites did not offer was a place to add your own notes and photo's. Nice user interface, clean, neat, graphically pleasing. 2 1/2 STARS/104 ratings
8. MyNewPlace.com - you can map, send message, email to a friend or save to favorites. This one also had the ability to add notes, as well as a great advanced search. I did NOT see a way to call the site directly from the application. 2 1/2 STARS/64 ratings
9. ApartmentFinder.com - you can call, email property, view floor plan images, map, GET DRIVING DIRECTIONS (only app to provide this), add to favorites, add notes, and email to a friend. It also had a history feature and advanced search. They have a sort and refine button once you received your results. Nice easy user interface, graphically pleasing. Not sure why it got such low reviews - 2 1/2 STARS/3425 ratings.

Is your listing showing up on mobile searches?

Although the ratings for these apps weren't stellar, (the highest was 3 1/2 star/5 star possible), based on the number of reviews and comments, people want these apps, they are using these apps, they are thirsty for these apps. What did our prospects want out of an apartment application?

1. Stability - apps that crash or didn't work received lots of negative comments and reviews. This was the #1 reason for negative reviews
2. Availability in major cities - some apps worked great for me - I'm in Minneapolis, but in other major cities, they just didn't have many results, or didn't work. Users complained about this. This was the #2 reason for negative reviews
3. The ease of contacting the site - via email, phone, website, etc.
4. The ability to refine, sort, do an advanced search.
5. The ability to return results in a list OR a map.
6. The ability to see accurate photo's, floorplans, pricing, etc.
7. The ability to add notes, comments, track their apartment searching history. etc.

Apps have come a LONG way, and still have some tweaks to go. I am impressed with the availability of these apps, the functionality, and the ease of use. I can't wait to see what comes in 2011 to the apartment industry, to apps for searching for apartments and to our apartment internet listing services (apartment ILS)!

These apps make searching for an apartment so much easier, and the tools are readily available when the prospect needs the information. Is your property coming up on one of these apps?

You can read the original blog entry on my blog at: 

http://blog.rentsoda.com/2010/12/9-apartment-mobile-apps-for-the-iphoneipad/

Daisy Nguyen is owner and CEO of RENT SODA, a consulting company offering apartment marketing, business & operations consulting and apartment industry training.

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