Looks like nothing says “try me” better than “free.” In July, real estate tech firm Homesnap offered the agent-only version of the company’s popular real estate mobile app free to multiple listing services for the first 12 months.
At the time, the company had signed agreements with two MLSs to make the app, Homesnap Pro, available to their combined 58,000 agents and brokers. Since the offer, the company has more than doubled that number, inking deals with MLSs representing about 137,000 agents and brokers total.
“Developing a first-class mobile app is an expensive and ongoing process, and it can be difficult for MLSs to replicate the user experience their agents have come to expect from the apps they use every day,” Homesnap said in announcing the deals.
“Homesnap Pro is a smart and affordable solution for MLSs looking for an app to provide real-time data to their agents on the go.”
The company’s consumer mobile app allows users to take a photo of any home to access information about that home, whether or not it is for sale, including its value, last sale date and price, listing history, “bird’s-eye view” lot boundaries, similar active listings, recent sales comparables and local schools.
For agents only, Homesnap Pro also offers:
- Real-time access to agent-only MLS information.
- One-tap messaging with clients and other agents.
- Customized email marketing to clients and contacts.
- Instant comparative market analysis (CMA) generation right from the smartphone.
- Complete details on every agent in the area, including a portfolio of recent sales and an analysis of sales history such as price reductions and days on market.
- In-app integration with ShowingTime showing scheduling for participating listings.
- In-app agent safety features, including a “safety timer” and one-tap distress alert.
The latest MLSs to sign up have about 7,000 agent and broker members combined:
- The Dayton Area Board of Realtors with 3,000-plus members.
- Northwest Ohio Real Estate Information System (NORIS) with 1,700 members.
- Northern Kentucky Multiple Listing Service with about 1,000 members.
- Northwest Montana Association of Realtors with nearly 800 members.
- Southern New Mexico MLS with 500 members.
“We are always looking for effective ways to connect customers with Realtors, and Homesnap Pro achieves that,” said Mark Kottman, president of the Dayton association, in a statement.
“The ability to search and view property information easily on mobile platforms will be a big win for our members and consumers in the Dayton area.”
Homesnap Pro is currently available to about 80,000 members total subscribing to Rockville, Maryland-based Metropolitan Regional Information Systems Inc. (MRIS), Silicon Valley-based MLSListings Inc., Southern California-based Combined Los Angeles Westside MLS Inc. (also known as The MLS or CLAW), the Greater El Paso Association of Realtors and the Palm Springs Regional Association of Realtors.
Of those 80,000 agents, Homesnap has nearly 20,000 registered agent users.
The company has also signed agreements with additional MLSs representing 50,000 members but declined to name them at this time.
Although at least some MLSs have signed multiyear agreements with Homesnap, signing up for more than one year is not a requirement of receiving the first 12 months of service free, according to the company.
In September, Mobile Realty Apps offered up a free version of its own agent-only mobile MLS app, HomeSpotter, to MLSs and their members. The free version of the app does not include uploading or editing capabilities for agents or MLS branding.
