User-Friendly Navigation

User experience is paramount in web design and real estate websites are no exception. A well-organized and intuitive navigation system helps users find the information they need quickly and easily. One aspect of this includes having a clear menu structure. The main menu should be easy to find and include categories such as "Home," "About Us," "Listings," "Services," "Blog," and "Contact." 

Those looking to prioritize user-friendly navigation should also incorporate some kind of search functionality. For potential clients, a powerful search bar that allows users to filter listings by location, price range, property type, and other criteria is essential. Advanced search options can further enhance the user experience by offering specific filters like "waterfront properties" or "homes with a pool."

Real Estate Brokerage Websites Need High-End Visuals

In real estate, visuals can make or break a real estate deal. High-quality photos and videos can showcase properties in the best light and help potential buyers visualize themselves in the space. Invest in professional photographers who can capture the best aspects of each property. High-resolution images that highlight key features like spacious rooms, modern kitchens, and stunning views can make a significant difference in attracting potential buyers. You may also consider developing virtual tours or video slides for feature properties.

Comprehensive Property Listings & Innovative Tools

The heart of any real estate website is its property listings. Providing current and accurate information about each property is crucial for attracting serious inquiries. Be sure to write engaging and informative descriptions that go beyond basic details. Highlight unique selling points, such as architectural features, recent renovations, and proximity to amenities. Use compelling language to paint a picture of the lifestyle the property offers.

Another tool that you may want to incorporate is interactive maps. Maps are an excellent way to show the property's location and nearby points of interest, such as schools, parks, shopping centers, and public transportation. This helps users understand the area and its amenities. If your brokerage will be representing a specific city or suburb, an interactive map is a must-have feature!

Client Testimonials

In real estate, building trust with potential clients is key to converting website visitors into leads. Featuring client testimonials and success stories can demonstrate your expertise and the positive experiences others have had with your brokerage. Include genuine reviews from past clients, highlighting their positive experiences with your services. Use real names and, if possible, photos to add another layer of authenticity.

For those just starting out who may not have reviews yet, consider creating a page on your website to encourage clients to leave a testimonial. If you feel as though you left a positive impact on your clients, kindly ask them to leave their feedback. Also, be sure to set up your Google My Business page so that your testimonials have more reach!

Real Estate Brokerage Websites Need a Blog

An informative blog and resource section can position your website as a go-to source for real estate knowledge. This not only helps with SEO but also builds trust and authority in your market. Write blog posts on topics relevant to your target audience, such as market trends, buying and selling tips, home improvement ideas, and financing advice. Ensure the content is well-researched, informative, and easy to understand.

Providing insights into the local real estate market can set you apart from national competitors. Share data on recent sales, market forecasts, and neighbourhood spotlights to keep your audience informed. You can also offer free resources like buyer and seller guides, checklists, and market reports. These can be used to capture leads by requiring users to provide their email addresses in exchange for the download.

Real Estate Brokerage Websites Should Have Multichannel Contact Options

The ultimate goal of your website is to generate leads. Providing multiple ways for visitors to contact you or express interest is essential. Integrate simple and accessible contact forms throughout the site, particularly on property listings and service pages. Ensure the forms are easy to fill out and that the fields required are relevant and not overly intrusive.

Moreover strategically placing call-to-action (CTA) buttons such as "Schedule a Viewing," "Request More Information," or "Get a Free Consultation" can help entice users to reach out. 

Another contact option is to include some form of live chat or chatbot functionality that can provide immediate assistance to visitors with questions. A great example of software like this is Syncro. This can be particularly useful for capturing leads who may be browsing outside of regular business hours.

Contact us About Real Estate Brokerage Websites!

For more information on designing effective real estate brokerage websites, contact us today. We’d be happy to help you as you work toward establishing your business in the real estate industry. Be sure to check back next month for more information like this! We look forward to working with you in the near future.

The post 6 Things Real Estate Brokerage Websites Need appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.

This month, we're talking about inflation and the rising monthly costs of software for REALTORS ® in Canada. With many tech providers feeling the squeeze of inflation they're turning to last resort practices. As a result, many have begun raising their rates for monthly subscription services.

If you rely on software for marketing, real estate listing data, content, and customer data management then you might be looking at where to cut to help your own bottom line. You aren't alone. Canadians are feeling spending pressure at the pumps, the grocery store, and on all consumer-related spending. It was only a matter of time before we saw the aftermath trickle into our business expenditures. The question remains, how can you keep up with the rise in costs? Should you try to keep up? And, what if anything can you afford to cut?  Let's dig in below.

Nice to Hear from You!

Recently, we received an email newsletter from one of our subscription providers. It's one of many emails that has been commonly making the rounds. The company, which rarely if ever has sent an email newsletter in the past is touching base to let us know that for "the first time ever" they will be raising its rates. They've chosen to apply a 20% bump to all monthly plans across the board.

This was an excerpt of their statement:

Now, for the first time, we are increasing the price of your subscription plan to better reflect the value we have added to your business and ensure that we keep investing in research and development.

Now, there's no doubt that thissoftware as a service is invaluable to our business. We use it daily and it helps us to do our job more efficiently.  It's not one we can do without. But a 20%  increase without warning affects a company, so what are our choices moving forward? This is what we boiled it down to,

• One: Suck up the increase
• Two: Pass the added cost onto our customers
• Three: Find another provider who offers better value/service

How Do Tech Companies Evaluate Other Tech Companies?

We have determined that the software is of value to us. This was the first step in evaluating whether or not to hit that 'Cancel Now' button.

The software allows us to take care of a multitude of tasks that would otherwise require at least one full-time person to manage. The efficiency of the product was never in question.

However, what we didn't know was whether or not something else has come around since we got comfortable using it.

The tasks are repetitive, and common for our industry and overall there's plenty of fish in the sea when it came to companies offering this type of SaaS. A quick Google search looking for like-minded providers presented a bevy of options for us to research.  However, that in itself presented another challenge.

In today's climate when the work calendar is packed and stacked, how do you find the time to research, set up, and then learn a totally new software system?

These are all common factors in the decision to switch tech providers. None of which can be taken lightly because they all come down to how much time and bandwidth you have available.  Oftentimes, this is what companies making a price increase will bank on. That you are happy enough with the product that a small monthly increase won't cause you to throw the baby out with the bathwater. However, when we find ourselves in the economic situation many are facing today, it's inevitable that there will be some wandering eyes.

Sucking Up the Increase is One Thing, Charging It Forward is Another!

Ultimately, in this case, we decided to go with option one. Suck up the increase. Mainly because the software has been good to us and the thought of switching providers is extremely daunting. Even though we aren't 100% on board with the reasoning and are somewhat skeptical that it isn't solely for profit reasons. We all understand that this is par for the course in today's economy. Even if our own rates haven't increased in well over a decade.

We won't be passing on the increase to our customers. This one is a little trickier but we had to look at our own customer base to determine if this would be a smart move or would just ruffle feathers. I'm sure the aforementioned company weighed the very same options. Will the wave of cancellations because people are upset outweigh the future revenue, how long will it take to build back, and basically will we ever financially recover from this? As mentioned, this isn't the only cost that has gone up over the past few months.

Don't Have to Look Too Far 

In fact, the biggest increases have come from the very boards that serve REALTORS®. That's right, listing data. Data storage, access, and integrity continue to go up across the country.  Even the CREA DDF® which was originally established as a free and open source option for Canadian REALTORS® and brokerages to access their own data has recently issued a pay scale model.  And it was not cheap for technology providers who had been largely offering this service as a workaround for agents and brokers who were unhappy with their local boards' data provision.

CREA issued the following statement when it announced the increase in fees.

On April 1, 2021, we introduced Phase 1 of our new fee structure for technology providers operating 51 or more data feeds. We’re now moving into Phase 2 which will commence on October 1, 2021, focusing on technology providers operating 6 to 50 data feeds.

Data feeds are still and will always be free to members. Charges will only be applied to technology providers, as per the new pricing model.

 

Technology providers like us, use the DDF^® at the direction of the customer. The customer, generally a REALTOR®, does not know how to build a website and connect their data to a front-facing solution. That's where technology companies come in on their behalf. The services we provide are to show that data on a front-facing details page, along with providing website visibility and marketing.

Good Data Doesn't Take Care of Itself

Data has become big business. Bigger than anyone could have ever projected. With more and more people and businesses turning to Cloud-based solutions there's no surprise that companies are monetizing. For one, they have to pay for the storage, maintenance, and security on their end, and two, finding engineers that are equipped to do this line of work is not easy. Good data isn't free.

This was a case where we could not burden the cost of the data feed.  As a result, the costs have been re-distributed to participating brokers and agents. We don't mark up our costs and our billing is transparent, but nonetheless, it was something that ruffled feathers. Especially considering that the fee increase came after a major data disruption on CREA's side that lasted weeks. And not to mention they added a little sting to the message at the end.

We understand members may be impacted by introducing new charges to technology providers, through increased service prices or technology providers choosing to discontinue this service. In the rare case of disruptions or rate increases, we have a complete list of alternate technology providers who can ensure your website continues receiving listings from REALTOR.ca DDF^®.

So whether it's a 20% increase in software or a yearly fee increase from inside your own professional membership there is no question that it's getting more and more expensive to do business - online and offline. What can you do to stay alive online and ensure that it's worth it?

Here are a few points to consider when you're looking to reduce monthly software costs:

Choose to work with a company that matches your scale.

This is something that is rarely discussed but in a world of faceless corporations and titans, it is becoming increasingly obvious. The tech company from the US doesn't care about you. You are a number. The company that specializes in real estate tech in the big city across the country doesn't care about you. They care about adding dollars to their bottom line.  They'll never worry about the quality of work that they do for you because they'll never run into you at a conference or the grocery store.

That is what a corporation does - they focus on growth at all costs.  Work with a company your own size and preferably within your own region and you will begin to see a difference. The same tools, and marketing channels are available to everyone, thanks to the Internet. And if that isn't enough you can always consider that more often than not a big corp cannot move as fast as the little guy.

You don't have to go big anymore. It's perfectly acceptable to also go home.

Audit your digital footprint. Do it often and be ruthless. 

Your digital hierarchy should look like this:

• Real Estate Website (SEO Domain + Marketing URL)
• Well curated and maintained social media accounts
• Secondary websites
• Online profiles/listings/directories

Your website should be your biggest investment. From there you can do anything, connect anything, share anything and attract whomever you need. Next up, is social media - BUT. That's right it comes with a really big BUT. Do not have social media accounts laying around that are outdated. Ignore what you've heard and please delete that Tik Tok, unless you're a content creator first/REALTOR® second.

Next up, are secondary domains and websites that are targeted to your specific sales goals eg: homeswithsuites.ca. After that come the local directories and website profiles. These are all great to have for your visibility,  provided that you can keep them updated and current. If you can't, then get rid of them. Why is visibility important you ask? Visibility builds an implied trust and there is nothing more important in marketing than trust.

Look for software that makes you more efficient and includes multiple services for one all-in cost. 

Real estate website providers like EstateVue, are focused on providing software tools that improve REALTORS® quality of work life. As such, there is often a multitude of tools included behind the curtain that aren't even listed because they are deemed need to have not nice to have. We've developed everything from internal communication boards for brokerage-level clients to tracking who the busiest agent is from your broker's website.

There are so many tools that are designed to increase your efficiency so that you can have as close to an all-in-one system as possible when it comes to marketing and engaging with leads.

CRM - use a Google Sheet. Not only will it keep you on track it will keep you humble and connected to your customers. Update it every morning based on the previous day's contacts and incorporate your list into your daily or weekly activities. Send a personal email, and if you don't know what to say then you shouldn't be emailing. That's SPAM. Nobody likes SPAM.

Website chat for REALTORS®- it should be free with your website and is the biggest lead capture and generator you can implement.  If you don't have it then you should. If you don't like it then you should give it another try because your customers love it!

Save time and look at where you can make improvements to your marketing rather than starting immediately from scratch.

If you feel like your subscription services have gotten out of control the last thing you want to do is make hasty decisions. Carefully evaluate what you have. If you make a mistake and cancel too early you might not get back in at the rate you once had. Make a list and come up with a rating system to flag each item and its importance to your business. From there you can make decisions about which service to keep and what is no longer serving you.

During the process, you'll get back in touch with your business, cut down on expenditures, and come away with a fresh outlook on your real estate marketing.

There are companies like us who offer this service if you feel it is overwhelming.  While nothing is free in this world any longer and in fact, prices continue to reach higher and higher there is still one thing that runs true when it comes to marketing. You get what you pay for. Even if your budget hasn't changed you can still make waves with the right planning and guidance.

Check out what some of our MWP and SEO customers are up to this month!

Brooks Lancaster shared an update on market stats in Penticton.

RE/MAX Vanderhoof is providing tips this month on how to add curb appeal to Vanderhoof properties for sale.

Neufeld Jones real estate team has an update on middle schools in the Kelowna-Mission area.

Steve Leddy muses about what makes a good Sherwood Park real estate agent.

The Big White Property Group has all the details on Copper Kettle Resort at Big White this month.

The Current Condos in Whitehorse are discussing homes near Whitehorse transit.

RE/MAX Elite is sharing how to navigate homes in Edmonton as a buyer.

RE/MAX Alpine Realty is continuing to share tips for new real estate agents in Canmore this month they discuss networking!

Kevin Moist is shedding light on the community neighbourhood of Brooklands in Winnipeg this month.

Janice Leffler is shedding light on apartments in Comox for retirees.

Royal LePage Comox has a helpful article outlining the changes to buying property in Comox in 2022.

The Kings Selling Castles in Winnipeg, MB are providing details on what you need to know before moving to real estate in Winnipeg.

The MYLIE Group loves to help Ontario buyers with new homes read more about choosing the right property for sale in Ontario.

Hilbert&Crick's Real Estate Team in Kelowna is sharing news on how climate change concerns are affecting properties in Kelowna.

Miranda Moser shares advice this month about selling properties for sale in Calgary during a buyers market.

John Mattiello is talking about the neighbourhood of Ritchie, Edmonton this month - learn more about real estate in Ritchie!

Graham Frey is giving you great reasons why you should buy Whitehorse real estate here this month!

The post Inflation and the Rising Costs of Software For REALTORS ® appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.

The writing has been on the wall when it comes to real estate in Canada for some time. We all watched housing prices climb to an almost untenable high during the pandemic. Battles were waged for properties that some fathomed would never sell pre-pandemic and home buyers were in a state of panic and desperation.

Often times we saw unheard-of tactics to get the deal done. Frenzied buyers were forgoing protective practices like home inspections. Some even leveraged themselves in what could only be considered a dangerous game of musical chairs. Hoping that the music wouldn't stop while they scooped up their dream property on one side and waited for a buyer on the other.

And now, here we are. Waltzing intrepidly into uncertainty. Prices are declining in most markets throughout Canada. Buyers are tightening the screws, home inspections are back on the table and inventory is beginning to replenish itself. So what does that mean for agents and brokers now that the gravy train of multiple competitive offers has turned back to price reductions?

In most cases, it means buckle up because we are entering a buyers market.

How to market yourself during a buyers market in real estate

If you're an agent that has built your business thoughtfully by expanding your network and reinvesting in your marketing then you likely have a cushion for these rainy day scenarios. If you haven't been in the game long enough then you might just be in need of some advice on how to plan for the ebbs, especially if all you're used to is flow.  The name of the game in real estate is to get listings.

In order to get listings during slower times, you need to position yourself as an expert when marketing for real estate. Customers will gravitate towards a REALTOR® who appears to be aware of and capable of navigating customers through a changing market.  New customers are likely to find you online either through word of mouth or through key terms entered into a search engine like Google. Your first question should be what will they find when they get there?

Here's a quick checklist to review when you load your real estate website:

• No SSL - if your website does not have an SSL then it is not secure. That translates to your customer's data and privacy being exposed online. Invest annually in your SSL.
• Slow loading - some of it can be attributed to Internet connection but most of it can be attributed to your hosting and website infrastructure. Make sure your website performs well in a speed test.
• Outdated/incorrect information - are you still showing sales stats from 2020? Not a good look. Update those benchmark numbers annually and always provide your monthly regional numbers in a blog post.
• Bloated digital footprint - still have that Twitter account that you set up for a campaign that you never started? Now's the time to nuke it. Consolidate your digital footprint and edit it often.
• Broken images - broken images in your listings or your web pages are not ideal.  Show customers, that you care by taking care of your website.

Keeping your website fresh is the easiest way to present yourself as a REALTOR® who cares.  If your website is slow, broken and out of date then it's not a stretch for a customer to assign those same qualities to you. Your website is key when marketing for real estate during challenging market conditions.

Reinvest in yourself and your online presence to see results. The sooner you start the better chance you have at attracting the right kind of customers.

If you leave your website to collect dust online then it won't be long before your career is in the dust too. 

What else can you do to stand out? Respond to your leads.

This seems obvious, but it's shocking how many agents don't return contact requests. Your lead generation mechanisms do not have to be expensive, or complex. The only thing that your lead gen needs to do is work. By working, we mean the lead needs to be delivered. And they need to be delivered in a manner that will encourage you to respond - quickly. Think about how you prefer to communicate. If your leads don't come to you in a format that makes it easy to respond then change it.

When marketing for real estate focus on building a database 

A lead database is a simple way to keep on top of your customer list. If you build it, it will grow and by growing your database you will soon have a list of contacts that you can market to. Oftentimes, we see agents focus on conferences and education when they really need to invest a few moments each day adding to their databases. Your database is a savior when times get tough!

A database does not mean that you need more software or an expensive CRM! Don't get caught up in that hype! Start a spreadsheet in Google Sheets with the information you need. First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, and a few notes to jog your memory about the customer. This is a free solution to track your leads that works! This list can be uploaded to an email newsletter list, or used for direct mail in the future.

Don't sell out

We've all heard horror stories about agents who sell out a customer's best interest just to get the sale closed. Don't be that agent! Treat your customers like you expect to see them again. If you don't then you will see them either in a bad Google review or worse in court! Don't sacrifice your reputation for a commission check in tough times!

Build your network!

Great REALTORS® use their networks to their advantage, especially in tough times. Agents who have built a network of business, customer and real estate contacts do well because they have an audience for their inventory. If a customer hires an agent who simply posts their property on REALTOR.ca and sets and forgets it then what is the benefit to them hiring them at all in a buyers market? Use your network to promote your customer's assets. You never know what someone is searching for on the other end.

Your time is valuable when you're marketing for real estate!

When times are tough you need to do what you need to do. However, if you're considering picking up another full-time job while you're still advertising yourself as a real estate agent then we urge you to reconsider your career. Do one thing and do it well.

Another tip to consider is how you are pre-qualifying your buyers. Don't waste your time with tire kickers.  They'll have you wasting your precious gas and time driving them all across town, just to look at places they can't afford or are not qualified to buy. Pre-qualify your buyers before you let them in the door!

During challenging real estate market conditions it's important to simplify, but only where it makes sense. This isn't the time to cut down on your main web property, in fact, this is when you should be investing more time and energy into making it even more of a go-to local resource. The only thing you should be cutting out is the distractions of software and marketing gimmicks that promise to sell houses for you.

Software doesn't sell houses - REALTORS® do. 

Learn more about how EstateVue can take your website work off your plate so that you can focus on your customers and building up your networking opportunities. Just like these fantastic customers on our managed website program are doing below:

Brooks Lancaster is sharing tips on staging a Penticton property for sale this month.

The RE/MAX Vanderhoof office is discussing what types of renovations add value to homes in Vanderhoof, BC. 

Kevin Moist and Associates are sharing the latest market update for the area as well as information on the neighbourhood of Fort Richmond.

Neufeld Jones has added a new guide to Kelowna BC real estate near schools this month. Watch for updates!

Steve Leddy is an Edmonton Real Estate Agent and he's sharing answers to the questions he gets asked alllll the time!

Corinne O'Neil has great information about recreational facilities near St. Albert homes for sale.

Managed website program customers are talking about this right now:

The Current in Whitehorse is giving readers the lowdown on the best cafes near Whitehorse apartments for sale.

If you've been looking for a stand-alone cabin at Big White then you need to read more about Bullet Creek Cabins on the Big White Property Group this month.

Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is sharing tips on making your property in Comox Valley energy efficient!

The Kings Selling Castles are discussing the benefits of owning condos for sale in Winnipeg.

MYLIE Group Real Estate is at it again with great market updates surrounding homes in Ontario.

Janice Leffler is sharing an update for first-time buyers looking to buy townhomes in Comox Valley.

Miranda Moser is preparing buyers on how to buy real estate for sale in Calgary during a buyers market!

The post Marketing for Real Estate with Tough Times Ahead appeared first on Real Estate Websites in Canada for REALTORS®, Brokers and Banners.