Your Favorite Smart Phone and How You Use It

[Danny Johnson]

Just wanted to see what everybody's favorite smart phone is and why. What about it makes your life easier? How do you use it to be more efficient? Are there any apps you recommend?

I had a Blackberry Storm, but hated it because I would always accidentally mute people by pressing the button with my cheak while talking on the phone. It fell out of my hand two days ago and the screen stopped working. I didn't event bother to have it repaired, just took my old blackberry in (the one with keyboard on front) and had everything switched back over to it.

The best use of my phone is being able to search my gmail and forward documents when needed. It saves me from having to go to back to my office all of the time, just to send a document.

Just wanted to see how I can use these phones to make my life easier and more efficient.

Thanks for sharing.

[Mitch Kronowit]

I've had my iPhone for a little over a year now and don't know how I lived all this time without it!

Besides the 1,001 things it does, the way I use it specifically for real estate is as follows:

1. Internet access either through wi-fi or 3G networks.

2. Zillow makes an app for the iPhone. There are probably many others.

3. I have multiple e-mail accounts on my iPhone including gmail. Can view .pdf files as well.

4. I have a spreadsheet app that I uploaded my property analysis worksheet into.

5. Using the Google voice-recognition app, I can drive around, speak the address I'm looking for into the phone (instead of finger-fumbling), and Google gives me a map to the property.

6. Camera for taking photos of properties and things that need repair. I can then show the photo to a contractor or handyman and they can see what I'm talking about.

7. A notepad app for jotting down things, like items for a Home Depot run.

8. A voice-recorder app. I sometimes walk around a property and simply speak all my observations and notes to myself for later retrieval.

9. Calendar app with the ability to set alerts, e.g., "Meeting with Steve, 1:00 at Starbucks".

10. Finance calculator apps. Quick, what is the monthly payment on a $78,000 15-year loan at 5%?

11. Expense tracking software to log down mileage, receipts, etc.

12. A multi-function tool app that has a spirit level, unit converter, and dial caliper (handy for measuring small items like nuts and screws at the hardware store).

13. Checking the weather. Is this weekend a good one for an open house or repair call?

I have a few other apps that I haven't used for real estate, but I guess I could:

a. Aroundme (and Yelp) to find restaurants and gas stations in unfamiliar neighborhoods, as well as distances to nearby hospitals, supermarkets, and theaters when talking to prospective tenants.

b. A first aid app for that time that I'm sure to put a nail through my thumb! ;-)

c. A sound meter app for measuring or comparing the noise levels at certain properties (near a freeway?).