7 Helpful Apps for Home Buyers

Are you considering buying a new home and are searching for the best apps to help you along the process? Check out these seven helpful apps for home buyers.

Buying a new or first home will be one of the most significant investments of your life, and you need to do it right. Whether working with a real estate agent or yourself, you should always utilize all the available tools.

Many great free apps are available to help you with almost anything you need as a home buyer. There is an app for everything from gardening to interior design to budgeting. However, not every app is completely reliable, so make sure to choose wisely when utilizing apps for home buyers.

As housing costs increase and availability decreases, home buying becomes even more difficult. Luckily, there are more than enough apps to help you learn how to buy a home and what to do once you become a homeowner. 

Find out which app will be the most beneficial to you by reading through our list of the seven most helpful apps for home buyers. 

Keep reading to learn all about these seven helpful apps for home buyers.

1. Nextdoor

One of the most important things to do when searching for a home is to look for the best location. This means different things to each home buyer, whether you are looking for a quiet or lively neighborhood. Nextdoor is a great resource for those researching a specific neighborhood. 

Nextdoor offers the opportunity for easy marketing if you own a small business or are searching for services. This is a great way to get in contact with neighbors and get a feel for how life might be in your desired area. 

The best part of Nextdoor is it gives you local perspectives on where to find a local professional, lost pet, and more. You will be automatically connected to everyone in your area. 

Main Features:

• News and information from neighbors, businesses, and public agencies.
• Easy connections with people and businesses near your desired neighborhood. 
• Verified information about each neighborhood. 
• Recommendations from neighbors for local businesses, babysitters, pet sitters, and more. 
• Updates on local events include fundraisers, yard sales, festivals, and more. 
• Share posts about lost pets, items for sale, and anything else you'd want to share with your neighborhood. 

2. Pinterest

Once you become a homeowner, or even before, you can start planning how you will decorate your new home. This might be the most exciting part of owning your first home, and if you are looking for inspiration, Pinterest is the perfect app to use. 

Not only will you find decor and style inspiration, but Pinterest offers recipes, clothing, hair, makeup ideas, and more. Pins are the main feature on Pinterest: images or videos with descriptions and links that users can save for future use. 

From decor inspiration pictures to blogs on the newest trends and news, Pinterest will become your best friend. Even if you are unsure of your style, you can look up "home decor" and find many ideas and inspiration to make your home perfect. 

Whether you're trying to take your small bathroom to the next level or boost curb appeal, Pinterest has millions of ideas. 

Main Features:

• Decor, recipes, style inspiration ideas
• Opportunity for brand visibility and product promotion.
• Pinterest boards to collect and organize your favorite related pins.
• Personalized and engaging feed
• Shopping and selling-related features
• Ability to explore and discover content based on your interests
• Helpful blogs 

3. Sherwin-Williams

Most home buyers have heard of Sherwin-Williams as a global leader in paints and coatings. However, Sherwin-Williams offers so much more than paints and coatings. 

As a homeowner, you'll run into many unexpected issues, and the majority are easy to DIY. From weekend projects to home renovations, you can find the perfect color to transform your house into your forever home. 

Sherwin-Williams sets itself apart from the competition through its durable and stain-resistant paints, perfect for high-traffic rooms like the kitchen or foyer. Instead of spending money on professional painters, Sherwin-Williams allows you to save your money and find the perfect paints with the help of color matching and free virtual consultations with color experts. 

Main Features:

• Durable and stain-resistant paints for the interior and exterior. 
• High-quality painting supplies
• Home decor inspiration
• Free virtual consultations with color experts
• Color matching through photos
• Information on the most popular home design trends
• Helpful homeowner blogs 

4. TaskRabbit

The entire home-buying and moving process is extensive, and sometimes, you might need a little extra help. This is where TaskRabbit comes in. TaskRabbit was created to help connect you to skilled Taskers to complete odd jobs and errands. 

Initially, it might seem a bit daunting, but TaskRabbit allows you to view hourly rates, read verified reviews, and book services online with local contractors. After buying a home, it is easy to become overwhelmed with small or big tasks to do around the house. This way, you can easily delegate and create more time for yourself.

If you need to earn extra income, you can sign up on TaskRabbit and get connected to complete local jobs on your own schedule. This is perfect if you own a small business and need help earning brand exposure. Becoming a TaskRabbit and hiring Taskers are extremely easy and definitely worth it. 

Main Features: 

• Access to reliable workers in the area
• Incredibly easy to book help that fits your schedule 
• Easy way to earn extra income
• Pay security through the app
• Brand exposure as a business owner
• Verified reviews

5. Angi

Formerly known as Angie's List, Angi is an online directory where you can find local home service providers. You can easily look through the local contractors, plumbers, remodelers, roofers, landscapers, and more. 

Most homeowners run into issues with unreliable contractors, but with Angi, you can view reviews and hourly rates to find the perfect help for your needs. Conversely, Angi is the perfect way for local businesses to increase their visibility and gain new customers. 

If you run into any minor or major projects, Angi offers a guide to gauge the cost of local contractors. Gain access to local quotes from service providers to create the perfect home.

Main Features:

• Local project quotes
• Easy and fast booking without any research
• Access to licensed professionals in your area
• Increased brand visibility
• Accurate reviews and ratings of local service providers

6. Gravy

Buying your first home will bring an insurmountable amount of excitement and stress. There are many common mistakes to make, but luckily, Gravy is the perfect app for first-time home buyers. Gravy was created to smooth the transition for renters who are searching for their first home. 

With Gravy, you can earn cash-back on rent towards your future home, save for the down payment, track your credit score, and connect with first-time homebuyer experts.

Gravy will become your most helpful app if you aren't working with a licensed real estate agent. Gravy can connect you with realtors or lenders in your area if you become overwhelmed. Any guidance you need on your home-buying journey can be made with Gravy.

Main Features: 

• Use Gravy Rewards to gain 5% back in rewards to cash in when you buy a home.
• Built-in mortgage calculator to calculate what you can afford
• Mortgage credit score tracking
• Gravy Savings Account with a high-yield interest rate
• Down payment funds
• Connections with local relator and lends
• Expert help, support, and tips

7. Planter

Most first-time home buyers dive into how they can decorate and improve the interior. While this is important, the exterior and curb appeal are equally important and easy to create. 

Whether you want to start your first garden or plant around common eyesores like vent pipes, Planter is the best app to teach you the ins and outs of gardening. With Planter, you can arrange your garden and learn how to grow your favorite veggies.

Arrange your garden in minutes by using the drag-and-drop interface. Using the square-foot gardening technique, the app allows you to customize the perfect garden for your lawn. 

The app allows for easy arrangement, and you can access a gardening schedule. With Planter, you will know the exact time and amount of water your plants need, whether inside or out. 

Main Features: 

• Over 80 fruits and vegetables or add a custom plant
• Thousands of seed varieties
• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• Companion and combative plant information
• Gardening schedule for planting times
• Hundreds of planter guides 

FAQ: Helpful Apps for Home Buyers

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about apps for home buyers.

What is the most effective way to purchase a home?

There are many ways to buy a home and many common mistakes to avoid. When purchasing a home, you should ensure you are ready to buy; this means getting preapproved, saving for a down payment, and going over your budget. 

What is the best free app for finding property lines?

The three best free apps for finding property lines include LandGlide, BaseMap, and MapPad. 

Are all real estate apps the same?

No real estate app is the same; they offer different resources and reliability. Most apps get their data from multiple listing services (MLS) listings; others have more sources.

What credit score is needed to buy a house?

Typically, it is recommended to have a credit score of around 620 in order to get approved for a mortgage. 

What is the #1 thing that determines the value of a home?

The price of comparable properties is the #1 thing that determines the value of a home, meaning you should research if similar homes have sold in the community for lower or higher than the home you are interested in.

Helpful Apps for Home Buyers - The Bottom Line

If you plan on using apps to help you buy a home, the most important thing to do is research the company. Ensure the app you are using is reliable. Consider reading reviews and cross-checking the information on other apps or websites.

Many homebuyers don't realize how many free resources are available just a download away. It is extremely easy to become overwhelmed as a home buyer, but with the help of these seven apps, you will be all moved into your dream home in no time.  

Consider working with a trained real estate agent if you become confused or stressed. It takes a lot of patience and work ethic to find and buy a home, and working with a professional in the field is essential. 

If you're considering moving to a new state, there are many things to consider before and after buying your new home. Raleigh, NC, is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country and has many stunning homes for sale; you'll have to act fast if you want to buy your dream home in one of Raleigh's best neighborhoods.

As you buy your next home in the Triangle, feel free to contact one of our helpful real estate specialists, as they are eager to help you find the perfect home. We know that buying a home can be stressful, and there are many common mistakes, so ensure you are prepared beforehand.