More than 81% of people in the United States own a smartphone and check their device an average of 96 times a day. We check our phones while we’re waiting in line and during our leisure time, whether we’re scrolling through social media, reading emails, or getting up-to-date on the latest news.
But smartphones are not only a useful tool for communication. With the following apps for homeowners and renters, you can get organized, save money, learn about the homes in your neighborhood, or get inspired for your next renovation project.
If you’re like most people and have your smartphone with you during most of your waking hours, let it help you stay organized and make your life easier.
Apps for Homeowners: Get Renovation Inspiration
These apps not only offer ideas for your next remodel or home décor project. Some of them even give you a preview of what your home may look like once it’s finished.
1. Houzz (Free)
The Houzz app is the number one app for home design and it’s clear why. The app gives you access to all the inspiration, blogs, and design ideas from the Houzz site on your phone or tablet.
The app features View in My Room 3D, which allows you to view products in your home before you buy. Just take a photo of the space and a 3D version of the product will appear. Browse products, save photos of designs you’d like to view later, and connect with local professionals in your area.
Whether you’re gathering ideas for your next renovation and décor project or you’re just browsing, the Houzz app will satisfy all your design needs.
Download the Houzz app on Google Play or the App Store.
2. Color911 (Free for 30 Days, Then $3.99/Month)
If you’re thinking of changing the color scheme of your home or want to find the right shades for lamp shades, rugs, or throw pillows to match your vintage sofa, the Color911 app provides pre-selected color palettes to match any color scheme.
Take a photo of your room or furniture, and the app will create a custom palette full of complementary colors. Write notes about your palette and organize it all into folders to share with family, friends, or your design professional.
Download the Color911 app on Google Play or the App Store.
3. Nextdoor (Free)
The Nextdoor app is a valuable resource for homeowners, offering a local community platform that fosters connections and facilitates information sharing. It enables homeowners to connect with their neighbors, discuss local issues, and share recommendations for contractors, service providers, and home improvement projects.
Whether it's finding a reliable handyman, organizing neighborhood watch groups, or staying updated on local events and safety concerns, Nextdoor keeps homeowners well-informed and engaged in their communities.
It's a go-to platform for building a sense of belonging and collaboration among neighbors, making it an indispensable tool for homeowners looking to enhance their neighborhood experience.
Download the Nextdoor app on Google Play or the App Store.
4. SmartThings
One of the easiest ways to make your life easier to to automate your home. SmartThings is Samsung’s central app that allows you to control any device in your home from your phone. It isn’t limited to Samsung apps, either. Any app you have installed in your home, you can access via SmartThings.
5. ColorSnap by Sherwin-Williams
This color selection tool is designed to simplify the process of deciding on paint colors for your home. With over 1,500 colors to choose from, you can easily try out different color combinations, test out colors in different rooms, and create customized palettes.
Apps for Sellers: List and Sell Your Home Quickly
Are you a homeowner who is thinking of selling? If you’re preparing to sell, you know there are a lot of tasks to complete before putting your home on the market.
These apps help you manage your to-dos so you can list and sell your home more efficiently with fewer distractions.
6. Real Estate Dictionary (Free, Offers In-App Purchases)
Not sure what all those industry-specific terms mean? Search thousands of words and phrases from real estate, mortgage, and financial dictionaries for clear, in-depth definitions.
This is a handy app for anyone who’s buying or selling and wants to learn more about the process.
Download the Real Estate Dictionary app on Google Play or the Apple Store.
7. DocuSign (Free App With Free/Paid Subscriptions)
Use the DocuSign app to complete approvals and agreements in hours — not days — from anywhere and on any device. Quickly and securely access and sign any documents.
The benefit of using the app over your desktop computer is that you will receive push notifications when a document is waiting for your signature, and you can view and organize all your documents on the go.
You can receive and sign documents for free but will need a paid account to send documents. Pricing starts at $10 a month.
Download the DocuSign app on Google Play, the Apple Store, or Windows Apps.
8. Todoist (Free Beginner Plan, $4/Month Pro Plan)
The Todoist app provides a streamlined way to manage and track all the tasks and responsibilities involved in the selling process.
From scheduling property showings, coordinating with real estate agents, and preparing for open houses to keeping tabs on important deadlines like inspections and paperwork submissions, Todoist helps sellers stay organized and efficient. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to collaborate with partners or family members, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
With Todoist, selling your home becomes a more manageable and less stressful endeavor, allowing you to focus on achieving the best results in the real estate market.
Download the Todoist app on Google Play, the Apple Store, or the Chrome Web Store.
Apps for Renters: Get Ready to Buy
Not ready to buy a home just yet? These apps will help you save money, build a budget, and get on track for homeownership.
9. Mint (Free, Offers In-App Purchases)
Do you know where your money goes each month? Mint is a free app that helps you view your complete financial picture and track your spending. Manage your bills, budget, and credit score all in one place.
We recommend this app to anyone, but it’s especially useful for renters who need to crack down on their spending to save for a down payment. Use Mint to look for areas where you can cut spending to save a little extra each month.
Download the Mint app on Google Play or the Apple Store.
10. Acorns (Starts at $3/Month)
Acorns is modernizing the practice of saving loose change with their automated savings tool. The Acorns app rounds up your purchases on linked credit or debit cards and then sweeps the change into a computer-managed investment portfolio. It’s a useful tool for those who have a hard time saving money.
Download the Acorns app on Google Play or the Apple Store.
11. Credit Karma (Free)
If you’re preparing to buy, boosting your credit score is likely a goal you’ve set.
Credit Karma allows you to safely monitor your score and receive updates on ways you can improve it over time. They provide financial calculators and educational articles to help you better understand what credit is all about. Check as often as you want, and it doesn’t hurt your score.
Download the Credit Karma app on Google Play or the Apple Store.
12. Evernote (Free, Offers In-App Purchases)
The Evernote app allows you to collect ideas, notes, and images in one place to access later on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Categorize your notes so you can find them quickly and easily and share them with others in a group notebook. Add the Web Clipper feature to your browser and clip and save articles, blogs, and images from the Web.
Whether you’re collecting research on a business idea or you’re looking for inspiration for a home renovation, Evernote can help you keep it all together.
Download the Evernote app on Google Play, the Apple Store, or the Chrome Web Store.
13. Mortgage by Zillow (Free)
There are plenty of free mortgage calculators available for download that will help you quickly determine what your monthly payment will be while you’re house hunting. We recommend the Mortgage by Zillow app to help you pick your favorite homes and shop in your price range.
Keep in mind that these numbers should be used as a guide. Work with your agent and mortgage professional to learn exactly what type of loan you’ll qualify for.
Download the Mortgage by Zillow app on Google Play or the Apple Store.
14. Google Maps (Free)
Google Maps is a must-have for anyone who’s house hunting. When you’re ready to visit a property or check out a neighborhood, you can use Google Maps to give you turn-by-turn directions to the house.
You can use their satellite view to get a good idea of how far things like schools, parks, shops, and restaurants are from a home you are interested in and check out the other houses on the street.
Download Google Maps on Google Play or the Apple Store.
Ready to Move Beyond the App?
If you’re thinking of buying a new construction home in the Puget Sound Region or know someone who is, be sure to come visit our communities and model homes.
Contact us for further assistance — we’re happy to help!