Local Realty Office Launches iPhone App

A new iPhone application launched by makes it easy to track down information about homes for sale. 

The application, launched last week, allows users to view a list or map of every home on the market in the Pointes--not just those listed with Higbie Maxon Agney. Each property can be selected, where a user will find detailed information about the sale price, the description and a variety of photographs. 

The application is administered by a third party company which specializes in real estate. The third party company essentially branded the application for Higbie Maxon Agney and Grosse Pointe, Bill Scott, of , said.

This is at least the second Grosse Pointe realty office to launch such an application. Randy Repicky, of , said his office launched theirs in August 2010, named Real Estate One. 

The Johnstone & Johnstone application, which is available in iPhone, iPad and Droid formats works similarly by allowing users to look homes by address, by map, by price or even by features. There is also a feature called "1st to Know" which is an alert system that will send information about homes for sale that are near to the users physical location, Repicky said. 

The new application is intended to make the Grosse Pointe market "very consumer friendly," owner Kay Agney said, noting how it allows potential purchasers to gather information about a home in the moment. "You don't have to be in front of a computer."

It's even a fun application for residents who may be curious about the price of a home near their own or someone walking past who wants to know more, Agney said. 

She described the iPhone application as a big investment, but said "it was money invested in the right place."

The announcement of this iPhone application by the local realty office comes shortly after launched .

For the Ahee's it's an attempt to attract younger clientele as well as staying up to date with technology. Agney said the Higbie Maxon Agney application is likely to draw younger people as well but the goal truly was to make the information more easily accessible. Additionally, as technology has advanced so has the use of it by older adults, which is why she believes the application will be well utilized by a variety of people.

When the opportunity is available, Agney said the realty office will expand to offer a Blackberry and Droid application. For now, only the iPhone/iPad applications are an option, she said. 

The idea to have an iPhone application stemmed from a marketing facelift for the realty office, in which a new web site was designed and implemented by Scott Advertising. The new site launched about one month ago and integrated the realtors systems for the office from three separate programs into one unified program, Bill Scott said. 

Agney has received positive feedback about the application and believes it's getting many hits but exact figures are not available. 

"Look at the exposure," Agney said. "Someone driving past a house can type in the address or any address."

The applications for both realty offices allow users to search homes outside of the Grosse Pointes. Agney said it would even allow for international searches if someone desired. 

Correction: This story was altered April 13, 2011 at 3:15 p.m. to reflect additional information about another Grosse Pointe business that offers a smart phone application.