Homeownership is undoubtedly one of the most expensive and time-consuming endeavors someone can take on. A seemingly never-ending list of bill due dates, maintenance tasks, and tedious to-dos is enough to leave any new homebuyer’s head spinning. Luckily, many apps can help you turn each to-do into a done so you can spend less time stressing and more time turning your new house into a beloved home.


8 Must-have Apps For First-time Homebuyers

Creating and maintaining your dream home doesn’t have to be a major struggle. We’ll show you eight apps that simplify homeownership to help you tackle everything from budgets and landscaping to DIY projects and dust bunnies. These apps are available on Apple iOS and Android devices, so you’ll have hassle-free homeownership right at your fingertips.

1. Centriq

Centriq is a home management app designed to help homeowners organize, operate, and maintain their systems and appliances. You can add appliances or devices to your Centriq account by snapping photos of the items’ model numbers. The app will catalog the item, providing troubleshooting guides, user manuals, and 24/7 safety recall alerts. Centriq is connected to a network of home product retailers, allowing users to purchase replacement parts with same-day shipping.

  • Videos for product features, tutorials, and DIY fix guides
  • Ability to catalog unlimited items, including home appliances, vehicles, electronics, home systems, and more
  • Notifications for maintenance reminders and product recalls
  • Personal folder to manage receipts, warranties, service records, product photos, and mortgage information
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • Beginner – Includes one home and up to five items (FREE)
  • Baby – Includes one home and up to 15 items ($17.95/year)
  • Limited – Includes one home and up to 30 items ($29.95/year)
  • Expert – Includes one home and up to 100 items ($59.95/year)
  • Genius – Includes up to three homes and unlimited items ($99.95/year)

2. HomeZada

HomeZada is a digital home management system aiming to help a user take care of their biggest asset – their home. The app allows a user to track and catalog information about their home’s value, equity, insurance, and mortgage so that there are no surprises down the road. The app also provides a management space for home repairs and maintenance planning, complete with scheduled alerts, task reminders, and inventory organization tools.

  • 3-year home value forecaster
  • Monthly mortgage tracker
  • Home inventory builder and value calculator
  • Home maintenance scheduler with checklist and calendar features
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • Essentials Plan – Includes access to home inventory and documents trackers, contact lists, and the HomeZada newsfeed (FREE)
  • Premium Plan – Includes management tools for maintenance projects, finance trackers, online bank integration, and more ($79/year)
  • Deluxe Plan – Includes home marketing tools and premium features for up to three properties ($149/year)

3. NextDoor

NextDoor is a neighborhood networking app that helps new homeowners get involved in their communities. It provides members with a curated newsfeed full of information on local events, businesses, and community callouts. It also creates a network for community members to borrow tools or buy and sell furniture.

  • Local networks of businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and brands
  • Ability to connect directly with fellow community members
  • Neighbor verification to ensure user safety
  • Local newsfeed to update users in real time
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • Nextdoor is free for all users.

4. HomeStyler

HomeStyler is a digital interior design tool that helps users envision spaces before transforming them into realities. With the HomeStyler mobile app, users can capture photos of rooms throughout their homes and use a 3D perspective view to create floor plans and decor ideations. The app then allows users to share their designs and gain feedback from millions of designers worldwide.

  • Ability to decorate the virtual floor plan with real home decor products
  • Cloud-based floor rendering for designing on the go
  • Collection of online tutorials for new users
  • Virtual design challenges to boost creativity and user interaction
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • Basic – Includes access to a cloud-based 3D floor planner, unlimited 1K renderings, and thousands of free materials (FREE)
  • Individual Pro – Includes watermark removal, unlimited 3D model uploads, and access to the render retouch feature ($19/month)
  • Individual Master – Includes enhanced unlimited renderings, with access to video and panorama templates ($39/month)

5. Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio

Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio is a paint-matching app that helps users visualize new paint colors in their homes. The app uses color-matching technology to help homeowners discover the current paint colors in their spaces and find the Benjamin Moore equivalent of those colors. The app provides the Photo Visualizer feature for homeowners looking to repaint their new homes or freshen up old spaces. This tool allows users to snap a photo of a wall and apply a virtual paint color to see what it would look like in their home.

  • Color Capture uses a photo of a paint color to instantly find a similar shade in the Benjamin Moore store.
  • Photo Visualizer and Video Visualizer features allow a user to envision what a specific paint color would look like in their home.
  • Virtual Fan Deck provides a browseable, savable catalog of popular Benjamin Moore paint colors.
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • The app is free to download and use.

6. TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is a home services platform that connects homeowners with freelance Taskers. The app is a fantastic solution for new homeowners with overflowing to-do lists or those simply needing a helping hand during a busy move. Whether you need a skilled handyman for an HVAC repair or a delivery driver for a last-minute grocery need, TaskRabbit can make it happen.

  • Catalog of Taskers in over 60 U.S. cities
  • Services include moving, lawn care, television mounting, babyproofing, and much more
  • Contact your Tasker, pay, tip, and review the service all through the app
  • On-demand, in-app scheduling for same-day services
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • Prices vary by service and Tasker.

7. Mint

Mint is a financial services app that helps users track and manage their finances. It’s perfect for folks overwhelmed by first-time homeownership costs. Mint offers this Home Affordability Calculator, a fantastic resource for people still in the homebuying process. The tool considers several factors about the user’s finances to produce an affordability estimate for monthly mortgage rates.

  • 24/7 access to free credit reports
  • Ability to connect all financial accounts to a single Mint membership
  • MintSights tips for personalized financial advice and savings opportunities
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • The Mint app is free to download and use.

8. Vivint Smart Home

Connect your mobile device to your Vivint Smart Home Security System for the ultimate peace of mind. Vivint offers everything from smart locks and doorbell cameras to thermostats and garage door openers, making home management intuitive and convenient. The Vivint Smart Home app allows you to control all of these devices straight from your mobile device. Forgot to lock a door before leaving? No problem – open your Vivint app and lock up from wherever you are.

  • Doorbell camera with package detection and 24/7 video recording
  • Vehicle disturbance notifications
  • Exterior camera with lurker detection and deterrent feature
  • Mobile control of smart speakers, lights, locks, and more
  • Apple App Store
  • Google Play Store
  • Vivint Smart Home App is free to download. Monthly subscription fees for Vivint Smart Home Systems vary by system and residence.

Final Thoughts

These apps will help you manage your home with organization and peace of mind. We have no doubt you’ll tackle homeownership like a pro, all while checking items off your to-do list. Once you’re done setting up your app memberships, check out this list of must-see DIY home repair videos. You’ll discover some lifesaving hacks for maintaining your new home.

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Elisabeth Beauchamp

Elisabeth Beauchamp

Senior Staff Writer

Elisabeth Beauchamp is a content producer for Today’s Homeowner’s Lawn and Windows categories. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in Journalism and Linguistics. When Elisabeth isn’t writing about flowers, foliage, and fertilizer, she’s researching landscaping trends and current events in the agricultural space. Elisabeth aims to educate and equip readers with the tools they need to create a home they love.

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photo of Lora Novak

Lora Novak

Senior Editor

Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

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