We're continuing an annual tradition of counting down the most popular articles of the year. This article was posted back in October and is #6 in our countdown. See #7 here.

According to the California Association of REALTORS®, over 80% of consumers access real estate information on mobile devices. This data seems to be reflected nationwide, where smartphones and tablets are the tool-of-choice for homebuyers. Many real estate agents are missing an opportunity with mobile, failing to create their own branded apps for real estate search and losing that important customer touchpoint to third parties.

"Wait," you're probably saying, "why do I need my own mobile app when my clients can download any number of property search apps?"

We asked that very question of Philip Charles-Pierre of Smarter Agent. He'd been talking about the new mobile apps Smarter Agent is developing for agents across the country and we decided to play Devil's Advocate. "Okay," we said, "convince us. Tell us why agents should have their own branded app." His response: because it's good for consumers and better for agents. He provides several persuasive reasons.

Better for Agents

The reasons that a branded mobile app can be beneficial to agents should be fairly obvious.

1. The app won't be covered with ads for your competitors.
2. The app won't send leads to your competitors, only to the agent whose app it is.
3. It provides yet another way to position yourself as the local expert (with an app right on your clients' phones).
4. It creates another link between you and your clients.
5. Your competitors likely have their own app already.