Compare and Contrast: Zillow Rental App for Real Estate Investors

“Real estate sales was perfect training for the experience to go into public life because you learn to accept rejection, learn to meet new people, learn to work with people and find common ground.” ~ Johnny Isakson

When I invest in a property I do my research. Long ago that meant doing the fancy footwork or being active. Going to open houses, going to model homes and condos, making phone calls, and looking at advertisements in the area where I was planning to buy. Comparison shopping was a far greater task before we had smartphones and apps to help us organize all the information at a glance.

Zillow Renter’s App is ideal for those of us who invest in real estate on a regular basis. Flipping and selling is a rewarding experience but you need to do your homework. I use Zillow’s App to see what other homes are selling for, what other properties are renting for, compare that information to what my budget is for a flip.

Zillow offers a number of things in the app search that will let you be specific about your property. This way you can make the best speculative estimate about what your profit could be.  Usually, in a typical real estate website search field you are limited to whatever their listings are. Zillow scans through a number of listings in your desired area. Usually the search amounts to more than 20 properties that could be a match for the property you purchased.

The app lets you view homes for sale or rent, as well as condos, townhomes and apartments. There are all types of rental listings, from month-to-month or yearly leases. Make an educated estimate on what you’re willing to spend and what is a realistic sale/ rental price. When you have the numbers and research to back that up, it lets prospective buyers and renters know you are serious.

Allow the app to have permission to use the GPS on your phone. That makes it easier to search homes based on your current location. Or open the search tool to specify an area if you’re browsing prices outside your current location. You can type in a specific address, use the voice command feature, or browse maps. Convenient pin graphics indicate properties that are available.

On Android watches, the app is at its most basic form. It is still highly valuable. You can put a pin in your best matched listings, get voice or written directions, or get notifications about open houses near you. The filter search is pretty standard, but efficient. Select your preferences for number of bedrooms, bathrooms, price, whether it be a rental or for sale. You can also check out amenities that are being offered at different price points.

As a buyer, you can see some homes that are in ‘preview’ mode. You get to see them first before they hit the MLS database. There are also listings for foreclosed properties. It is also handy to be able to use your Google login information to gain quicker access to the app.

Compare and contrast different properties and prices in one simple user friendly experience. This is a great tool for me and I highly recommend it. It takes a lot of the work out of the process. I can see in a matter of minutes if a property is worth my time and monetary investment. The Zillow Rent App is free from the Google Play and Apple App stores.