The Arsenal of Apps Clients Need to Find a New Home

Help make the home search easier! Share this article from HomeFinder.com with tech savvy clients to empower them to find the property of their dreams:

Whether the home buying process is just a glimmer in your eye or you are knee deep in the search process, we have the secret weapons you need to make the search and decision process easier. Arm yourself with this arsenal of apps to help you search, find and decorate your new home like a pro!

1. SiteWise (iOS, Android; $9.99): This app is great when you are shopping for a new city and don't know where to begin (which helps justify the pricey cost). SiteWise fills you in on area demographics, whether you're looking for an area with young singles, a town with families, or a place to retire. The app pulls information from census data, to give you a report of population by age, education, number of children, household income, etc.

2. Suburb Scout (Android; $1.99): Have you found your ideal area, but can't place your finger on that mysterious smell or unsettling noise? Before you buy a home and end up stuck, use Suburb Scout to investigate your concerns (landfills, sewage-treatment plants, airports and more).

3. HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search (iOS; Free): This new app lets you glimpse inside the home for sale right in front of your eyes...without setting foot inside. Available in time for the 2013 spring home buying season, the HomeFinder.com Real Estate Search iPhone app virtually transports you from the sidewalk through the front door. Stand in front of a home for sale and open the app for a peek inside the home; the property details instantly appear when the app is opened.

4. Safe Neighborhood (Android; Free): If you are planning on a cross-country move (or even a move a few cities away) and are unfamiliar with the area, it's important to do your due diligence to make sure the area is safe. Safe Neighborhood gives you access to the National Sex Offender Registry, so you can see the area's stats (including names and photos of offenders). (While only for Android, iOS users can download the similar Sex Offender Search app for $1.99).

5. KidScore™ (Not an app, but recently launched its new mobile site): If you have an upcoming move with kids, this kid focused app rates areas ranging from "Kid Heaven" to "Kids Not Welcome." KidScore™ lets you look up a nearby activities and attractions, including food, shopping, health, hotels, etc., and gives you it's "KidScore™." It also lets you read reviews from other users.Photo Measures (iOS; $4.99): As you narrow down your home choices to the final few, snap some photos during your walk-throughs and then save your measurements of the room's dimensions on the photos. This will help you plan your space so you can better imagine yourself living there!

6. Houzz (iOS, Android; Free): And now the house is yours! Use Houzz to browse photos of professionally designed rooms; find local pros (design, landscaping, building etc.), access an endless number of suppliers (appliances, bedding, bath, garden, kitchen, etc.); create IdeaBooks; and start a discussion to get professional help on your design dilemmas.

Do you have any home searching apps you can't live without? Share with us or tweet us at @HomeFinder1!

To view the original article, visit the HomeFinder.com blog.