With our mobile phones constantly to hand, it begs the question what are the best apps for house buyers in the UK?
After all, we do almost everything with our mobiles now from watching the latest Netflix series through to banking and shopping.
Why shouldn’t we use apps to help us find our dream property?
Yet despite this, finding good quality apps for house hunters in the UK can be tricky.
However, with a little digging, there are still some gems to be found. So, let’s look at what the best apps for house buyers in the UK are at the moment…
1) Rightmove
Available on: iOS & Android
It’s the largest, most popular property portal in the UK for good reason with over 130 MILLION visits every month. Their app doesn’t disappoint and is the ‘go-to’ app for many house hunters.
Not only will get listings for every property that’s up for sale on the normal Rightmove website but you’ll also be able to access information on schools and stations near each property.
It’s essentially then a handy, mobile optimised version of the website in app form.
When you login to your Rightmove account you can save properties as favourites and they’ll appear whether you’re logged in to the app or the main website.
2) Zoopla
Available on: iOS & Android
Another one of the property portal giants, Zoopla is well worth installing for the sheer number of property listings it has.
However, it goes further than that as there’s a really neat feature that allows you to use GPS technology to see properties for sale as you wander around an area.
Plus, you’ll get the usual Zoopla property value reports and the option for managing the details of your existing home.
Like the Rightmove app, you can also save the properties you like and easily share them with friends and family.
3) AroundMe
Available on: iOS & Android
If you’re moving to an area you’re not overly familiar with then this little app can be invaluable.
Wherever you are it will show you all of the useful shops, restaurants, and services (such as ATMs) in the local area.
You’ll get maps, distances, and even reviews of the local amenities.
That makes it great for checking out what’s close to a property you’re interested. Although we’ve found we use it far more regularly than just when property hunting!
4) Mortgage Calculator UK
Available on: iOS
Before you can start looking at which properties you may wish to buy you need to work out your maximum budget.
Unless you have a stash of savings, that means you’ll need a mortgage.
This app may not look the best but there’s plenty going on behind the scenes that make it incredibly useful nonetheless.
In short, you can quickly check how much a mortgage will cost you on a monthly basis and how much it could cost if interest rates rise quickly.
5) PlaceBuzz
Available on: iOS (Android app coming soon)
This might be the third property search app to make our list but this one has a key advantage.
Placebuzz combines the properties listed on all the major property portals into one single app.
That means it could be the perfect solution if you want to check all the portals but don’t want to install multiple apps.
It also has Google street view built-in and you can receive push notifications as soon as a property that matches your search settings comes on the market.
6) Room Planner: IKEA Home Design
Available on: iOS & Android
When looking at a property it’s important you use your imagination to envisage how the rooms will look once you move in.
That means you need a little foresight to see what you could potentially do to a room to make it your own.
This app allows you to plan your new home room by room using IKEA furniture.
It’s not just great for playing with layouts before buying a property, you’ll be using it long after you’ve moved in too!
7) Crime Map England & Wales
Available on: iOS
The final app to make it on to our list is the Crime Map for England & Wales (sorry Scottish visitors!).
If you’re moving to a new area, understanding the dynamics of local crime is essential. That will allow you to avoid potential crime hotspots.
This app lets you see real crime statistics for any area in England & Wales and pinpoints specific crimes on a map so you can see what’s happening and where.
So, there we have it, our 7 best apps for house buyers in the UK!
Keep in mind there are always new apps coming out so it’s worth checking back every now and again to see how the list evolves.
