App update: explore properties with just a postcode

Our latest PicAHome update makes it easier to explore properties with just a postcode. You do not need an exact address, and you do not need to be outside the house. Enter a postcode to see homes in that area, look through the property information available and set up alerts for changes that interest you. It is completely free.

That is useful when you have a neighbourhood in mind but not a particular home. You might be comparing two streets before booking viewings, looking at what neighbouring houses sold for, or keeping an eye on an area you would like to move to. A postcode gives you a starting point without having to work out each address first.

What can you find with a postcode?

PicAHome brings together previous sold prices, sales history, current listings and local planning applications, where that information is available. You can look at individual homes rather than relying only on an average price for the area.

In the search shown above, the results include a home currently for sale alongside homes with their previous sold prices. You can open a home's price history, change how the results are sorted or see the homes on a map. It gives you a way to compare properties on the same street without starting a separate search for each one.

Sold prices and asking prices tell you different things. A previous sale is a record of what someone paid at that time, not a valuation of the home today. The size, condition and date of sale still matter when comparing neighbours. Our guide to asking prices and sold prices explains how to use both without confusing them.

Keep up with changes through postcode alerts

You can also set up postcode alerts rather than checking the same search repeatedly. Notifications cover:

• New properties coming up for sale in the postcode.
• Price changes on properties in that area.
• Planning application updates, including approvals and refusals.

Planning updates are worth watching as well as listings. A proposal nearby might be relevant to a home you are considering, even if that home has not changed price. Read the application and the local council's decision before drawing conclusions: an approval does not mean work has started, and a refusal does not rule out a later, revised application.

Treat a notification as a reason to look more closely, not a guarantee that you have every update. Available records and listings can change, so check the estate agent's listing or the council's planning record for the latest position. If you are comparing different ways to hear about new homes, our guide to getting alerts when a house comes up for sale also covers property portals and local estate agents.

Postcode search from home, camera discovery when you are there

The two ways of exploring serve different moments. For camera discovery, you need to be outside the property and take the picture there and then. PicAHome uses your location alongside the camera to work out which home you are looking at; a photo taken earlier or sent by someone else will not work.

Postcode search is the option for researching without being there. It lets you explore from home, then use the camera when you visit the street. PicAHome currently covers England and Wales, and the information shown depends on the records available for each property. For more ideas on what to check beyond the house itself, read our guide to researching an area before buying.

Try the postcode search in PicAHome

Open PicAHome and enter a postcode in the postcode search. Browse the homes, open the information for a property that interests you and set up postcode alerts if you want to keep following the area.

Completely free to download and use. No subscription, no payment, no card required.