If you know the MLS number, TMK, or address, the QuickSearch option would be good to use. QuickSearch is also good to use if you wanted just general information, such as all of the single-family units that were for sale.

Properties is also a good tool to use because it allows you to search according to a client's specifications. For instance, if the person at the cocktail party wanted to know what three or four bedroom single family houses were available, you can tap on Properties, and you'll get a screen like the one shown in Figure E.

FIGURE E

There are a few types of properties to search for.

You can search for single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, and vacant land. There's also an option to take you to QuickSearch.

So, you tap on single family, and you'll come to the screen shown in Figure F.

FIGURE F

Here's how you can search for a property.

As you can see, there are many options to choose from. You can search based on zip code, the name of the neighborhood, square footage of the house, the amount of bedrooms, bathrooms, or a combination of them all. All you have to do is check the boxes and specify the number. You can also narrow your search down to bring up only the listings that are currently for sale, properties that are pending, or properties that are already sold. So you enter three or four bedrooms, since that's all the client wanted, and you tap on the arrow at the bottom of the screen.

You'll get a list of properties that fits those specifications. If you tap on one of the properties, then you'll get more detailed information, as shown in Figure G.

FIGURE G

You can bring up more detailed information of a property.

Along the bottom of the screen, you'll notice a series of icons. The calendar is to schedule appointments, the phone is for contact information, and the memo icon will even put that property's information into the Memo Pad. Now here's the real value of Pocket Real Estate: it integrates wonderfully with the basic Palm OS applications, such as Memo Pad, and Date Book. For example, if you were to tap on the calendar icon, you would be taken to the screen shown in Figure H.

FIGURE H

It's easy to schedule an appointment.

You can enter the time and the type of appointment, and then you're given the opportunity to include the items that will appear as a note with your appointment in your Date Book. You can include items such as the property details or the listing agent's contact information.

Once you add the appointment, it will appear in your Palm OS Date Book as illustrated in Figure I.

FIGURE I

This is how the appointment will appear in your Palm calendar.

This is a very useful function because it simplifies your appointment calendar. You don't have to look for another program that has that information. It's all right there.

Another neat add-on in Pocket Real Estate is Mapopolis, which is included with Pocket Real Estate. This comes in very handy when you're going to take a client to a property. Once you've made the appointment to show the prospective client a property, you have to know how to get there. With Pocket Real Estate, it's very easy. All you have to do is tap on the arrow at the bottom of your screen, which indicates that there's an outside program installed on your device. You open up Mapopolis, which will search for that particular property, as shown in Figure J.