Home Buying Tips | Apps | technology | EYA
As a homeowner, there are many things you need to keep up with and keep track of regarding your home. Luckily, there’s an app for that! Here are 13 of the best smart apps for your home that will make your life easier.
1. Best App for Finding Local Businesses & Exploring Your Neighborhood: Around Me
How many times have you been stuck wondering where to find the closest gas station when you really need one, or the best restaurant nearby when you are famished? Using your location, AroundMe gives you lists of nearby places such as gas stations, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, banks, bars, concerts, movies and theaters, and parking. It offers a short description, a map view, pictures, reviews from Yelp, and tips from foursquare for each location as well.
2. Best App for Monthly Bill Reminders & Savings: Chime
Finally, you’ll never have to worry about an overdue bill again! Chime is an easy-to-use online banking app with an automatic deposit feature for mortgages and rent payments, so you can pay bills completely hands-off. With Chime, you can receive notifications after making a payment; that way, you know exactly when your payments go through. Chime also offers an automatic savings feature that allows members to put aside a certain percentage of their monthly income for important savings, such as down payments on housing or an emergency fund for home repairs. Homeowners can even create a separate account for housing payments so all their housing bills can be kept together in one location.
3. Best App for Home Maintenance: Centriq
Your fridge just broke, but you bought it so long ago that you don't even remember if it came with an owners' manual. Now what? Centriq is an easily accessible owner manual for everything in your home, including appliances, electronics, A/C, heaters, security systems, plants and landscaping, and finishes like flooring, countertops, and paint. You simply take a picture of the object and the app provides information like user manuals, troubleshooting guides, and compatible parts and supplies. It offers one-touch ordering from Amazon and links to buy compatible products online.
4. Best App for Home Improvement and Inspiration: Houzz
Houzz has everything you need for your next home improvement project. Whether you're looking to build, remodel, or redecorate your home, Houzz comes up with thousands of pictures and products for you. You can shop for the products you see right in the app and connect with the best professionals to help you with your home improvement project.
5. Best App for Sustainability: JouleBug
This is the perfect homeowner app if you are concerned with sustainability and lowering your energy consumption. The app lists practices and habits you can pick up to save energy and water and lower your bills. JouleBug offers examples of sustainable actions in categories such as energy, water, waste, transportation, food and drink, shopping, in the office, and outdoors. It also has a social component so you can share your achievements and connect with friends.
6. Best App for Home Tips & Tricks: BrightNest
From maintenance reminders like when to change your fire alarm batteries to fun DIY projects, this app helps homeowners organize and complete tasks in and around the home. Learn everything from how to layer your indoor lighting to expert outdoor grilling advice with a wide variety of design, DIY, maintenance, cleaning, and organization tips. This free and easy-to-use tool helps homeowners take care of their space in fun and creative ways.
7. Best App for Interior Design: Havenly
“Imagine if you could hire someone to scour your Pinterest boards and translate your pins into a perfectly decorated room in your home." (Vogue). Havenly makes the process of redecorating your home easy and streamlined with an intuitive online interior design firm that pairs clients with designers based on style, budget, and more. From consulting tips to full collaborations, Havenly makes it affordable and convenient for homeowners to create the space of their dreams.
8. Best App for Home Security: Vivint Smart Home
There is nothing more important than you and your family's safety. Homeowners can feel more at ease with this app that combines automation features with home security. Users will need to have a customer account with Vivint, but once they do, a variety of tools will be at their fingertips. Lock and unlock doors, adjust the lights, program and preset thermostats, see and talk to visitors through doorbells cameras, and much more.
9. Best App for Finding Trails, Parks, & Hikes Close By: AllTrails
It's Saturday morning. The sun is shining and it's the perfect day for a bike ride. The only problem is you aren't sure where to go. AllTrails makes it easy to find trails nearby! Their motto of exploration made easy rings true with an extensive map of over 75,000 trails to run, bike, and hike. Filter by area, length, and difficulty level, while also finding kid and dog-friendly options. With each trail, you can browse photos submitted by others in the community, read trail reviews, get directions, and even save your favorites so you can easily find them again.
10. Best App for Finding Pet-Friendly Places: BringFido
Have you ever wondered what dog friendly activities are going on in your city? Or maybe even just wondered if it would be okay to bring your dog to dinner with friends? BringFido makes it easy to find places to stay, play, and eat with your dog! This app helps dog-owners find pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, activities, events, services, and more. Save money on dog walkers and spend more time with your dog!
11. Best App for Furniture Assembly, Moving & Handy Man Tasks: TaskRabbit
Need some help putting together your IKEA furniture? Looking for cleaners to help get your home ready for a holiday party? From moving and packing help to general handyman tasks, TaskRabbit helps connect homeowners with local professionals to help with getting things done around the home. You can browse a variety of services, professionals (called 'taskers'), and prices to make sure you're finding the right person for the job. All booking and communication is done through the app
12. Best App for Finding the Perfect Paint Color: ColorSnap Visualizer
Are you thinking about repainting, but dread the hassle of finding the perfect color? This app allows you to instantly ‘try-on’ any Sherwin-Williams color on your own walls through an augmented reality experience. Upload an inspiration photo with colors or palettes you want to try and simple tap the wall to change the color instantly! This is the perfect tool for trying different color schemes and finding the perfect color for your space.
13. Best App for Overall Home Management: HomeZada
HomeZada understands that owning a home is not only your biggest asset, but your biggest expense. There are so many factors and details to keep track of, and this app will help you manage them all. Save time and money by managing, maintaining, protecting, and improving your home with home finances services, home inventory capabilities, home maintenance management tools, and help budgeting for DIY and remodel projects.
We understand that being a homeowner comes with a unique set of challenges, questions, and opportunities. These 13 apps will help you on your way to decorating, managing, and maintaining your home!
If you're looking for more helpful apps to help you in the home buying process, check out our top 7 Apps for Home Buyers post here.
Disclaimer: The apps listed in this post are not ranked in specific order. EYA, LLC does not endorse and is not affiliated with any of the companies and/or their apps stated above.
