Technology tip: Android app reveals area nuisances
We recently brought you 13 killer Android applications and recently discovered another can’t live without app that could make your life as an agent more simple.
Suburb Scout is an Android app that helps buyers or agents locate the negative aspects of a home ranging from nearby landfills, airports, sewage treatment centers and the like. As an agent, there are certain questions you can’t answer based on Fair Housing laws and then there are other questions that are purely speculation or opinion on your part that can be seen as steering.
If you have a sensitive client who expresses reservations over nuisances or asks the inevitable “I just saw a plane, exactly how far away is the airport?” question, you can hook them up with this app in preparation for a home tour, and they might be able to save you time by eliminating homes that they would never consider living in.
We asked the creators of Suburb Scout what their inspiration was for designing this app and Scott Kersey of 9:15 Software said, “I was looking at a brand new subdivision in an unfamiliar part of town. I knew there was a sewage plant nearby but didn’t know the exact location or even the street. I asked the home builder’s salesperson but I could tell they were reluctant to answer and tried to defer. This didn’t sit very well with me, obviously. A few days later, I finally uncovered the location on an aerial map, about 2 miles from that subdivision, even the city’s own website was not very forthcoming about the actual location. This was the original genesis of the idea, a desire to have my questions answered and/or suspicions confirmed.”
Empowering clients in ways that free you from opining or defending is a huge time saver and really a service to the clients themselves. In an era of low trust levels not only of this industry but of information itself, this app fills a need that investors and agents have had for a while as this information is not always readily available.
We asked Kersey what improvements or features may be added to Suburb Scout, to which he noted that they are “thinking about adding railroad crossings, as that is another nuisance that is hard to clarify unless you are in the area at the exact time one goes by and blasts the horn. Ultimately, I’d like the users of Suburb Scout to tell me what they would like.”
Suburb Scout was very enthusiastic when asked about how they feel about user input or feedback and even showed us that they have a voting tool on the website for anyone to cast their vote for porting Suburb Scout to the IPhone, Blackberry, Nokia or Windows platforms. Kersey said, “If the demand is there, we will build it for additional platforms.”
Screen shots:
Correction: original article alluded to this app being free, however it is actually $1.99.
AgentGenius.com has no affiliation with Suburb Scout or 9:15 Software.
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This article published on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 7:38 pm | Contact the editor
Topics: Social Media
About this Columnist (Full Profile)
AGBeat Editor-in-Chief: Lani, named one of Real Estate’s 100 Most Influential, as well as 12 Most Influential Women in Real Estate, is a business writer hailing from the great state of Texas in the city of Austin. As a digital native, Lani is immersed not only in advanced technologies and new media, but is also a stats nerd often burried in piles of reports. Lani is a proven leader, thoughtful speaker, and vested partner at AGBeat.
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- Real Estate Ninja:
Technology tip: free Android app reveals area nuisances http://bit.ly/aoPIUp
- Real Estate Feeds:
Technology tip: free Android app reveals area nuisances: We recently brought you 13 killer Android applications an… http://bit.ly/bJ4fVo
- cd:
Technology tip: free Android app reveals area nuisances http://bit.ly/aoPIUp
- kristin terry:
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- Thad Schell:
Real Estate News: Technology tip: free Android app reveals area nuisances http://bit.ly/9OmFH6
- RealEstate Babble:
AgentGenius: Technology tip: free Android app reveals area nuisances http://bit.ly/bY3cpg Full http://bit.ly/bBV4Zm
- Tom Lyons:
Technology tip: free Android app reveals area nuisances – We recently brought you 13 killer Android applicati… http://tinyurl.com/2dmw4l8
- MetroBrokersTV:
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- Melanie Wyne:
RT @laniar: android app tells u where sewage centers, airports, nuclear plants R (GOOD to know if ur buying a house!) http://bit.ly/bBV4Zm
- HomeProNet:
RT @laniar android app tells u where nearby sewage, airports, nuclear plants etc are (GOOD to know if ur buying a house!) http://j.mp/a6iH4F
- agentgenius:
#agnow I can't wait until the Droid app library fills up like the iPhone app library!! That will be cool! http://bit.ly/aSXace
- Creekview Realty:
Great for home buyers! RT @laniar: android app tells u where nearby sewage centers, airports, nuclear plants, etc are: http://bit.ly/bBV4Zm
- pkeulen:
Technology tip: free Android app reveals area nuisances: love this post lani (especially since the maps are from m… http://bit.ly/cG74ZH
- RealEstate Babble:
AgentGenius: Technology tip: Android app reveals area nuisances http://bit.ly/bB73mw Full http://bit.ly/bBV4Zm
- LendingTree:
RT @nartech: RT @laniar: android app locates sewage centers, airports, etc. (GOOD to know if ur buying a house!) http://bit.ly/bBV4Zm
- herman chan:
I am veering towards Android for my new phone, esp in light of this: "Tech tip: Android app reveals area nuisances" http://bit.ly/a6iH4F
- agentgenius:
#agnow Lani,
Very cool!
I've got a BB and a iPhone. May be time to add a Android.
RM http://bit.ly/aSXace
- REtechReport for August 27, 2010 — REtechSource:
[...] for Android phones that can be beneficial to your clients. While home shopping Suburb Scout Android app reveals area nuisances such as airports, sewage treatment centers and landfills. Letting your clients know about this app [...]
- agentgenius:
#agnow [...] for Android phones that can be beneficial to your clients. While home shopping Suburb Scout Android … http://bit.ly/aSXace
- Tim McDonald:
Any Android users tried this app yet? Android app reveals area nuisances http://bit.ly/9xoqT9
- AgentGenius:
tech tip: APP reveals nearby nuisances like power plants, sewage treatment centers COOL! http://cot.ag/dMVBOo
- Thomas L Hutchinson:
RT @AgentGenius: tech tip: APP reveals nearby nuisances like power plants, sewage treatment centers COOL! http://cot.ag/dMVBOo
Benn Rosales
Conal Campbell
Elijah May
Lani Rosales
Tara Steele
Marti Trewe
Charlene Jimenez
My new Droid just came in the mail today. I’m loving your list of apps. Thanks!
When you’ve played with some of them, let me know what you think!!!
love this post lani (especially since the maps are from my backyard, Silicon Valley!).
i wonder why it is callled *Suburb* Scout…was it just for cute alliteration purposes or does it really focus more on suburbs. I only ask b/c San Jose is by no means a suburb, so i was a tad confused.
Free?
They are asking $1.99..
Hardly much but NOT free…
Agreed- it has been corrected
Thanks Jim!
Nice, but it’s not free. It is listed for $1.99 in the market.
You’re right and the correction has been made. Good eye, Charlie
Cool! There are always lists of app recommendations for the iPhone. Love the Android suggestions. Thanks!
Perhaps I’m biased because I’m not nor do I plan to be an iPhone owner (unless they ever join evil forces with Sprint who I’ve been with for over 10 years).
I wish I had an Android phone! They came out at Verizon just after I purchased my HTC Touch Pro 2 – which I love, but there are SO many more apps available for Androids. Still have another 8 months or so before I can upgrade. Pooh!
8 months will be here before you know it and by then, even COOLER phones will be available!
Not a free app ($1.99 in the app store), but very cool none the less. I’ve had my Droid for a few months and I am LOVING it. Happy to finally see some recommended Droid apps for real estate since everyone else seems to be all about the iPhone.
I can’t wait until the Droid app library fills up like the iPhone app library!! That will be cool!
Lani,
Very cool!
I’ve got a BB and a iPhone. May be time to add a Android.
RM
Motorola Devour working well, hanging from the utility belt with the big dark blue “R” on the quick release aircraft metal buckle. The Scout app for a town of 7500 might not be on the stocking stuff list for rural small tuff property peddlers.