A new property app has launched to help house hunters identify homes and research their sales history by pointing a phone at them.
PicAHome enables users to view information about a property without first knowing its address.
The free app displays previous sale prices and, where available, the property’s current sales listing.
Users can also search by postcode, follow individual roads and receive notifications about new listings, price reductions and properties going under offer.
STARTING WITH THE PROPERTY
The idea was developed by co-founders Emma and Paul Frewin and David and Claire McCormack after identifying the difficulty of researching an interesting property spotted while out and about.
Emma Frewin, Co-founder of PicAHome, says: “Most of us have walked past a house and wondered what it sold for, whether it’s on the market or what other houses on that road are worth.
“You can obviously find a lot of this information online already, but you normally need to know what you’re searching for first. We wanted to make it much quicker. If the house is in front of you, you can point your phone at it and start from there.”
PicAHome has also been tested by MoneySavingExpert and is included in its Property Search Tips guide for checking sold prices, researching properties and finding homes while away from a computer.
COMPLEMENTING THE PORTALS
The app uses HM Land Registry Price Paid Data for historical transactions, Google technology to help identify properties and PropertyData for current market information.
Frewin adds: “We’re not trying to replace Rightmove or Zoopla. They’re where most people go when they’re actively searching for a home.
“PicAHome is useful slightly earlier than that. You might be walking around an area you like, see a For Sale board or just spot a house you’re curious about. We want to make it easy to find out more there and then.”
PicAHome currently covers England and Wales and is available free on iOS and Android.
