Mobile applications link buyers, agents

By Doug Schorpp

New Web-based mobile application systems are up and running for two Quad-City real estate firms, giving agents and customers access to all information about properties on their mobile phones. Mel Foster Co. and Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors both announced the launch of their applications in late July.

Melfoster-co.mobi

Kris Ratigan, marketing director for Mel Foster, said the company’s Web site is optimized to work fast on all mobile devices. It is available nationwide, making it useful to companies and individuals relocating to the area, she said. The Web site is www.melfoster-co.mobi. “This new application is…designed to allow real estate clients and prospects to contact our agents and 10 area offices as well as view all area residential listings in eastern Iowa and western Illinois from their mobile devices,” Ratigan said. She said the Web site has been gaining momentum as buyers and sellers catch on. The consumer can search by address, even a partial address, city, state, ZIP code, or MLS number. “This is an exciting time as technology lends new ways to connect with people,” Ratigan said.

Mobile Ruhl

Ruhl&Ruhl’s new application, Mobile Ruhl, allows users to search real-time property information, display listings on a map and has GPS capabilities. Consumers can search almost every listing in eastern Iowa, western Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin, whether listed by Ruhl or another company. The GPS technology pinpoints the location of the user and delivers information. Users also can search by price, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as address, city and ZIP code. The application can be downloaded by going to www.Ruhlhomes.com and clicking on the “Mobile Ruhl” icon. “This new technology gives our clients the benefit of having all real estate listings right at their fingertips, whether at home, in the office or even in the car,” Ruhl&Ruhl company president Caroline Ruhl said.

 Survey Shows changing habits

                An online survey of respondents ages 25-59 done for Smarter Agent, the company that worked with Ruhl&Ruhl, showed the availability of a mobile real estate application had a significant impact on loyalty and perception of a specific real estate agent or broker.

Among the findings:

• 49 percent said they would be more inclined to use a real estate agent to list their home who offered a mobile application as part of a marketing plan to attract buyers
• 39 percent said they would choose a real estate agent who offered a mobile application to search for real estate for free
• 90 percent are aware that they can download applications to their cell phones

Article provided by: Quad-City Business Journal