What makes a good realtor website

Your Web site should tell prospects what's in it for them. The best sites go beyond mortgage calculators and local weather to provide information that's truly valued by the niche customer.

For example if you prospect in a condominium project, publish bylaws and tenant rules and let all the residents know they can find the information on your site. Consumers should be able to take a quick look at your home page and know how to contact you, how to search for homes, and where to find resources for buying or selling. Flashing graphics, slow-loading animation, and too many links will slow them down. It doesn't matter how much great information you provide if it's buried. Don't make visitors scroll down several screens to find contact information, listing-search tools, or neighborhood data.

Organize content into categories and provide clear links on the home page. A site map helps consumers find what they're looking for. Use the same typefaces, type sizes, design elements, and navigation tools on every page of the Web site. It's great to have different sections for buyers and sellers but don't make the sections look like entirely different sites.

Use digestible bites of information when explaining how you got into the business and what awards you've won. Bullet points and short paragraphs work best. Let's check out what are the most important features and tools for real estate websites. Search is the most important tool on a real estate website and it should be placed on home page. It should work smoothly, quickly and give accurate results.

Many real estate websites and portals use simple or advanced searches, like here. Sorting properties by latest, oldest, featured, cheapest will also come in useful. Let visitors get properties they want with one click instead of tiresome jumping from one page to another. Turn your visitors attention to the latest listings or the ones that are most profitable to buy at the moment.

Also, if you offer other agents to submit listings, featured position on your website can bring you some extra money as you can offer this option on paid basis. Properties with more photos have more views - that's a fact.

Usually agents upload photos to show most attractive rooms, or property features. List your key affiliations, as well, especially if you have key partners in your local community. Associating with recognizable companies and brands will instantly boost your credibility, and your partners will surely appreciate that you acknowledge them on your website.

Be sure that the information you offer on your website is not limited to property listings. Pack your website with informative sections that will make you the top resource for local information. Consider these examples:. To see these essential elements in action, check out our AgentPro , Semi-Custom , and ImagineStudio realtor website designs.

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Or call 1. Join the , Realtors with access to exclusive content. Receive free weekly marketing tips to help increase your leads today! Go beyond catchy phrases. Make your calls to action subtle but effective by: Highlighting the benefits of subscribing to your updates, such as regular and timely market and listings updates.

Offering freebies an e-book or a market report, for example or access to exclusive pocket listings to showcase your expertise.

Your users will love you for making their lives easier. Websites for realtors benefit from having any or all of these search tool styles: Quick search toolbars. Compact and simple to use, these are ideal for first-time buyers or those unfamiliar with your area of operation.

Place these on home screens and inner page margins, so users can launch into searches wherever they are on your website.

Advanced search page. The wider range of search parameters that this search tool is perfect for buyers or sellers who have a clear idea of what they want. Interactive map search page. The visual nature of this tool will help homeowners looking to relocate within the same area or region, as well as buyers who want to move close to a particular place of interest, such as a school or commercial establishment.

Images are a powerful element in any website — especially so on websites for realtors. Descriptive, topic-focused labels guide your visitors better than generic section labels. They are great for SEO, too. Avoid drop-down menus.