Zillow

From seamlessly integrated apps to advanced hardware and device interoperability, mobile technologies have dramatically reshaped consumer expectations over the past decade. People now expect to push a button and make magic happen, whether requesting a ride home, ordering dinner, or finding someone to walk their dog.

For businesses to succeed in this environment, leveraging technology is no longer optional. Companies must not only meet consumer needs but also delight them. In mobile applications, this means going beyond a simple search or single-function app. It requires creating a deeply integrated tool that provides everything a consumer needs to complete a task efficiently and enjoyably.

This trend has taken hold across multiple industries. In the connected home space, countless products allow people to manage their home’s climate, lighting, security and entertainment systems, all from a single phone. Soon, virtually every appliance will be connected.

In residential real estate, mobile technologies present huge opportunities to enhance the home buying and selling experience, a life milestone largely untouched by the explosion of connected, intelligent devices and services.

 People can now complete applications, obtain credit checks, submit rental requests and pay rent, all through a single app. 

Today, we’re just beginning to see these possibilities take shape. Using a standard smartphone, we can capture detailed 360-degree imagery of a home, which we seamlessly stitch together to create a 3D home tour. As phone cameras and lenses continue to improve, we will be able to enrich these tours further by adding measurements and depth. For consumers, this means anyone short on time or house hunting remotely can turn their mobile device into a virtual portal to their next potential home, gaining a better understanding without the time, energy and expense of an in-person visit.

Mobile apps have also made unassisted home showings possible. Often described as an “on-demand” open house, these tours allow buyers to explore a property on their own schedule, with their phone serving as both key and audio guide.

Rental processes have been transformed as well. People can now complete applications, obtain credit checks, submit rental requests and pay rent, all through a single app. Looking ahead, we envision a future where buying and selling a home, including the complex, time-intensive mortgage process, is as streamlined as ordering takeout or booking a ride.

Creating a seamless, delightful and easy-to-use experience, from a consumer’s first home listing to signing the final paperwork, is our north star. That future is nearer than many imagine and as in most modern businesses, deeply integrated mobile applications are central to making it a reality.