In the era of the Smartphone, staying up-to-date with endlessly evolving technology can seem frustrating and overwhelming. However, it may also prove key in preparing to sell your home. While it’s true that your iphones and can provide an array of games and useless distractions at fingertip’s disposal, there are also some very useful – and more importantly, free – tools you may be missing out on. Here are some to remember next time you’re idly browsing the app store.

1. Houzz – This app is ideal for assessing your house potential. In other words, it helps you figure out what your house could look like with a little effort, if you’re looking to put it on the market. It could help you spruce up an otherwise dull looking living room or renovate a bathroom area with cracks in the tile. Any real estate agent will tell you that in order to grab buyer’s attention, you need to make a good first impression and this app is definitely great for that. By figuring out which renovations you need to make, you can increase the value of your home.
2. SkyBell – This app serves home security functions – a “smart” doorbell and security camera via a smartphone app. You can watch an instant feed of a guest at the door and reply to them with a greeting. It also has a motion sensor so you can know if someone’s at your door without them ever ringing the doorbell.
3. Evernote – This app is ideal for helping you keep track of the homes you’ve looked at. It can not only help you create and take notes via text, but can also take pictures and record voice memos. It’s available on all smartphones and can sync with all of your devices, so after you record a voice memo you can listen to it on your home computer.
4. DecorPad – This app can help inspire you to design and share. You can browse photos from top designers to your own home decorating, makes it easy for users to search by room, such as bedrooms, basements, baths, kitchens and more. It also has a section called ‘steals and deals’, where users can find great deals on products.
5. Nest Thermostat – If you plan to go away and are not able to monitor your home thermostat, you can use this app to monitor and control the climate at home, to make sure not too much electricity is being used. This is a useful app if you plan on renting out your home, because if renters come when you are out of town, you can regulate the temperature so there’s no stale air lingering, or you can manually adjust things via smartphone and save energy for your homeowners.