Not to sound outrageous, but no doubt, a real estate website is everything, even if you’re the country’s best “Realtor” offline. If you’re skeptical about whether your real estate website is exceptional? Keep reading to identify whether you’re making these frequent real estate website mistakes and how to prevent them.
Since a real estate website is a critical component, therefore in order to succeed, it is important that your website creates awareness, builds your image, and offers helpful information to visitors - to help them convert into clients. For your business to take off the ground, you need this reliable assistant.
But why is a perfect and converting real estate website so important? Don’t the old-fashioned yard sale signs, open houses, and next-door realtor agencies work anymore? This article talks about common mistakes in real estate websites, you might be making when you are planning for real estate website design. Read on to find out.
Looking to Create a Real Estate Website?
Well, the numbers speak for themselves
According to a study, the first step of 41% of homebuyers during the buying process was to look at properties online. Also according to Real Estate Global Market Report 2023 – By Type (Real Estate Rental, Real Estate Agency And Brokerage), By Mode (Online, Offline), By Property Type (Fully Furnished, Semi-Furnished, Unfurnished) – Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2023-2032.
“The global real estate market grew from $3694.47 billion in 2022 to $3976.18 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%.”
Also Generation Z, i.e., born between the mid-90s and early 2000s, is the future generation of tenants or renters following Generation Y are forecasted to spend greater than any other generation on rental properties throughout their lifetime.
Since Generation Z is highly reliant on technology and also depends more on the web and social media platforms to take buying and standard of living decisions.
A real-estate website is the most preferred marketing medium on the digital frontier, with nearly 90.7% of prospective buyers preferring it over other channels like blogs, email marketing, social media marketing, print, and/or TV & radio ads.
Safe to say that your real estate website has to be your brand ambassador in the digital space. The sooner you start thinking of your website as more than a business card, the sooner you will be able to find your next clients.
But what comprises a good real estate website?
What mistakes in real estate website development do first-timers make?
Is there a way to avoid these?
Let’s find out.
Pictures and videos are the backbones of your real estate website. According to Trulia, from the Washington Post, the 84% of home buyers said they wouldn’t consider a property that didn’t have listing photos. And according to National Association of Realtors 87% of homebuyers searching for a home online find images as one of the most useful features on a real estate website.
Therefore ensure to upload high-quality stunning images and videos when you add listings.
Having a pixelated image that confuses your site visitors does more damage than not having any pictures. It gives visitors the impression that since you couldn’t be bothered to upload a decent image, you are not serious about the listing. The same holds true for broken video links or out-of-date and irrelevant videos. Another thing to keep in mind while uploading images is to highlight the unique features of your property.
Nearly all real estate websites allow buyers to filter their searches by price, number of rooms, and location. This means that even after applying all these filters, buyers are still left with similar-looking images. This is why you need to make your pictures and videos stand out. Remember, it’s a lifestyle you’re selling, not a house.
Ever come across real estate websites that show everything except what you’re looking for? They’re often in the top search results but are a total waste of time. Many real estate websites are also guilty of this. Some tell dull stories, others recommend videos and photos, and others serve their latest press releases and white papers to visitors. A few go one step further. They ask visitors to follow them on social media and subscribe to useless emails. Needless to say, there aren’t many returning visitors to such sites.
When designing a real estate website, ask yourself, “What will I do with this information as a customer?” This can be as trivial as adding links to share property pictures on social media handles or as important as sharing your latest award with your customers. If the answer is vague, simply do away with that section.
The typical attention span of an internet user is less than eight seconds. Now that you know this, can your real estate website pass the 8-second rule? If not, there’s bound to be an increase in the bounce rates.
The navigation buttons and hierarchy play a major part in improving the user experience on your site. So make sure that your navigational buttons are thoughtfully placed to ensure a delightful user experience.
Lackluster content is the next big culprit behind a poorly performing real estate website. If you have something to say to your buyers, do it wisely. Content builds trust, just like visuals. It establishes you as an expert in your area and distinguishes you from your competitors. Moreover, good and quality content also boosts the organic traffic on your website through SEO services and social media shares. 
When trying to come up with an effective content strategy, think of original content. As a real estate agent, you have a ton of information about the neighborhoods you serve. Much of this can be quickly translated into a blog. For instance, think of the best five kitchen remodels from your portfolio that helped sell those houses. Ponder over why these remodels were perfect and what takeaways you can offer to your readers through these sales. Won’t this be a great and informative blog post? This kind of information grabs the attention of casual browsers. Attract them to your site now, and they will remember you when they want to buy a property.
Here are some more topics to get started:
So, you have a beautiful, information-laden website that looks good from your laptop’s Chrome browser. But the million-dollar question is, does it also look good on your smartphone’s Chrome browser? No. Then you are in for a bumpy and long ride.
But should I bother about mobile visitors?
Yes, because nearly 60% of all website traffic comes from smartphones, according to StatCounter and DataReportal. This means your potential property buyers are undoubtedly among them. Moreover, if you can’t stand a clumsy, slow website on your smartphone browser, why should you torture potential customers on your website? By ignoring mobile responsive design best practices, you are eliminating a big chunk of an audience. Let your real estate website design company, like JanBask Digital Design, know beforehand that you want a great website that works seamlessly across all devices.
Your visitors will rarely discover your site by searching for properties in a city or state. They would look for neighborhoods. This means they will not google “condos for sale in Florida''. They will search for “condos for sale in the villages”. You get the idea, right? Unfortunately, this is among the top mistakes in real estate websites that first-time realtors make.
Your real estate website should list properties by the neighborhoods and communities you serve. This will make it easy for prospective buyers to find what they want. If you think about it, neighborhood or area profiles help get potential buyers acquainted with an area. With relevant and up-to-date information on a neighborhood, you not only help your visitors find the answers they were looking for but also establish yourself as a local expert in their eyes. The outcome? Your business will be their first choice when deciding to buy a house in that neighborhood.
Area profiles also offer more opportunities for better real estate SEO tips since they help you provide specific neighborhood names through keywords, videos, and custom URL links. Done right, neighborhood pages help bring in the right and relevant visitors to your website and make your website stand apart from the competition.
The most polished and refined real estate agents do not sell a house. They sell a lifestyle. And your website should reflect this ideology. One of the most common real estate website mistakes is not helping your prospects understand how the property they are searching for fits within the lifestyle they dream of.
When developing your website, make sure to integrate community data such as nearby restaurants, schools, hospitals, parks, recreational spots, and landmarks. Adding this information along with your listings will keep your site visitors engaged, demonstrate your familiarity with the neighborhood, and ultimately, help close more deals. Well-written, articulate blogs also help achieve this goal.
Here are a few examples to get inspired:
BigCommerce found 92% of customers read online reviews before making a purchase. You must be thinking why are online reviews important? The answer is simple approximately 72% of customers trust a brand or a business more after positive testimonials and reviews. Word of mouth is still the most trusted form of business advocacy and you can leverage this wonderful promotional strategy on your website as well.
Testimonials build credibility. They instantly signal anyone visiting your real estate website that you are a legitimate business and you’re going to do what you claim on your site. Testimonials also support any claims that your marketing materials make about the experience your offer and the services you provide. Everyone says they provide a great service - it’s much more believable when visitors hear it from the firsthand experience of other customers! Encourage your previous clients to rate your business online and write a few words appreciating your support.
Here’s how you can get more testimonials and showcase them effectively on your site:
Creating a real estate website may seem like an uphill battle, but it really is not. That is if you always keep your potential clients in your mind. Think about how you would prepare for an open house. You would spread the word, prep the rooms, mow the lawn, rearrange furniture, and invite a few friends to add to the crowd. This same strategy works for your online real estate website too. You list the properties on your site, jazz them up with quality content, images, and videos, and let your previous happy clients advertise you!
If this is your first time building a real estate website, keep this 8-point checklist handy. It will stop you from making these mistakes on your real estate site. Or you can contact real estate website design experts at JanBask Digital Design that can help you create a fabulous website!
Interested in our Real Estate Website Design Company?
1. Why should I invest in creating a real estate website?
Before the internet took over, realtors made themselves known by placing classified ads in local newspapers and magazines. Having a website offers more than just an advertisement. It’s a dynamic space where you can grow your business manifold with the right content.
2. Should I know how to code to create my website?
Not at all. There are two ways to get a website for your real estate business. You can hire a real estate website design company or look at tools like Wix and WordPress that offer pre-built templates to create websites.
3. How do I choose the best real estate website design company to build my site?
When looking at prospective partners, ask them the following questions:
Answers to questions like these will help you choose the best fit for your website.
4. What kind of content do I add to my real estate website?
Aim for a holistic, all-encompassing strategy. Your website should have a healthy mix of images, videos, and content. You can also experiment with other forms of content such as white papers, infographics, market reports, and fact sheets. Make sure to add a lot of user-generated content or UGC such as video and text testimonials, live streams, guest posts, influencer collaborations, and social media posts as these get a lot of engagement.
Here are some tips to get the most out of your efforts:
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B
Great blog! I’m a realtor and these tips will definitely come in handy when I revamp my website.
C
Very informative. Subscribing to stay up to date with more of your posts.
A
I appreciate you sharing this helpful knowledge. We hope to see more of the useful information you offer. Continue your fantastic effort!