SettleIn — Smart Property Search & Stay Comparison

Why it Matters#

Choosing a place to live or stay is high-stakes and often driven by first impressions. Yet the things that actually determine comfort and convenience are measurable: proximity to key amenities and environmental qualities like daylight and noise. Research links nearby amenities to housing preference, daylight and views to higher occupant satisfaction, and excessive noise to dissatisfaction. SettleIn turns these into data—distance to your must-have locations plus on-site sensor readings for noise, light, and orientation—so decisions are grounded in evidence, not vibes.

Key Highlights#

Stay Organization#

• Save candidate properties by manual entry or auto-crawl data directly from listings.
• View options in list or map mode with clear inspected/uninspected markers.
• Sort and filter by price, bedrooms, bathrooms, parking spaces, or inspection status.

Comparison & Insights#

• Side-by-side comparison of shortlisted stays with ratings and favorites.
• Add custom notes and upload photos to keep track of details.
• Integrated Google Maps shows property location, nearby facilities, travel times, and commute options.
• Users can enter facilities they care about (e.g., supermarket, gym, school), and the app automatically calculates distance and travel time from each property.

Unbiased Property Inspection#

• Mobile Sensors Integration: Collect real environmental data such as noise levels, light intensity, and window orientation.
• Provides objective insights to help users judge fairly without bias.
• Add photos, voice/text notes, and mark inspection status with reminders via calendar integration.

Technical Foundation#

• Architecture: MVC pattern for maintainability.
• Technologies: Native Android (Java), SQLite for offline storage, Firebase for cloud sync, Google Maps API.
• UI: Material Design principles for a clean, intuitive experience.