Being a top real estate agent means providing value at each stage of the home buying or selling process. And since 98% of homebuyers start their search online, your real estate website must be way above average to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
A few years ago it might have been enough for a real estate website to focus on listings and nothing else. Today, it has to be much more sophisticated than that.
Tech-savvy and knowledgeable homebuyers anticipate to find some essential content on a real estate website. Let this recap guide you in improving your site.
5 things people expect a real estate website to have
1. Lots of photos and videos
In a visual industry like real estate, photography and videos are vital. They not only satisfy a buyers’ quest for information, but also entice them to spend more time on your site. Obviously, you can’t always control visuals that are displayed on your site via IDX (which is why you should use RETS). However, what you can control is top-notch and HD.
Photos and videos are one of the top lead-generating tools for agents. For practical tips, check out these posts:
- 9 Real Estate Video Marketing Ideas to Inspire Your Leads;
- Real Estate Image Optimization 101: Lightning Fast Site & Stronger SEO.
2. Neighborhood info
So many real estate websites lack this essential section that does make potential buyers tick. As it goes, agents are quick to claim that their properties are all located in top neighborhoods but buyers want some proof of that.
Even more, why make prospective buyers search for the local info elsewhere when they might as well find it on your site? The question here is what makes life in the area good and why would anyone want to invest in property there. Answer this question for your potential buyers and use these guides to get started:
- How to Write a Perfect Neighborhood Page in 5 Easy Steps;
- Real Estate About Us Page: How To Turn It Into A Top Lead Generating Tool
3. Local real estate market info
Offering some insights into a local property market is a proven strategy to generate more online leads. Tell how the prices have been changing within the last few years and whether this is a buyer or seller market. Also, showcase the recently sold home and provide the average time the home sits on the market.
Third-party tools that provide CMA (comparative market analysis) reports or local realtor associations might be helpful when trying to dig up this kind of info for your real estate website.
4. Real estate blog
This one is actually good from many perspectives: SEO, email marketing, social media marketing, and online lead generation to name a few. A neighborhood real estate blog is invaluable and your posts can generate leads long after they’ve been published.
For more practical tips on how to run a real estate blog and what content to publish, check out the post: How to Find Hyperlocal Info to Post on Your Real Estate Blog and Social Media.
5. Professional advice
When you’re thinking to sign up with any business, you want to be sure that they will handle your situation well. Potential customers are looking for signs that you are the right agent to work with. The best way to convince them that you are indeed the right choice is to provide expert tips and address real estate-specific issues.
What’s next?
Once you have created this content it is yours to stay, and it only gets more valuable over time. Go beyond just listings and your business will see a positive impact right away. Both search engines and potential clients love to see regular posts and updates on your area!
