Why do people use sites like Realtor.com, Zillow.com and Trulia.com? It could be just the advertising and marketing that these major real estate sites do. But all advertising can do is to get them there once. There must be other reasons that people return to these sites over and over again. They’re obviously finding what they want at these sites.
Listings
They want listings. The interesting thing is that these huge sites offer listings all over the country, but the average searcher is interested in only one locality. You would think that an IDX search on a real estate professional’s site would be just as good. It would except …
Data and Demographics
This isn’t just real estate market data, though that’s certainly important. They also want area demographics, population, employment data, average and median incomes, average and median home prices, major businesses in the area, major shopping and cultural centers, and much more.
School Info & Points of Interest
Schools and their ratings, from elementary through universities are always of major interest. Once they narrow down the school districts of value to them, then they want to know more about those areas, lifestyle, points of interest, etc.
Maps, Maps, Maps
The importance of maps can’t be minimized. There are some great area maps on these major sites showing all of the businesses, points of interest, schools, government, recreation and so much more. Web visitors love interactive maps.
The Competitive Advantage We’re Giving Away
The unfortunate fact is that real estate professionals know that their site visitors want these things, and they want to provide them. You find real estate professional sites linking out to these mega-sites to provide the information their visitors need.
It’s natural, as we want to be helpful to our site visitors. However, we’re giving away the farm to these sites. Because we can’t provide these informational assets to our site visitors, we’re linking them away from our site to these mega-sites. The worst part is that when your site visitor goes to one of these sites, they’re exposed to your competitors. There they are, all those photos and links to their websites, all right beside that information your site visitor wanted. Unfortunately, you can’t control their visit to the sites, or limit their ability to see your competitors.
However, you can stop sending them there.
This article isn’t designed to induce depression. Sure, there’s a problem. But it’s only a big problem if there’s no solution. Perk up! There is one. RealtySoft’s websites offer an IDX solution with interactive tools and data for the visitor embedded right there on your site, without leaving, RealtySoft site visitors can access the information they need and want:
- School information
- All the local MLS listings
- Area data and demographics
- Area entertainment, points of interest, and shopping
- And enough maps to keep them occupied for hours
RealtySoft gathers information from many sources for inclusion in your realty sites. In fact, some of this information may even come from mega sites or the sources they use. However, the difference is that this information, charts and maps are embedded in your RealtySoft site, not reached via a link out to another site.
So, instead of sitting around moping about the inadequacies of your site, or sending your visitors to the mega-sites with all of your competitors, you could be providing them with everything they want right on your site.
Check out these screenshots. This is how a typical listing would show up on your RealtySoft powered website:
Property Info Screen
Property Maps Screen
Nearby Schools Screen
Points of Interest Screen
Demographics Screen
Comparables Screen
Estimated Value Screen
Sales Trends Screen
|
Learn More:
|
 |
 |
 |
Actually data suggests the MAIN reason folks visit agent and broker web sites is to perform a property search. Valuations and details on schools seem to take a back seat to this purpose.
Mike -> Agreed! That is why I have LISTINGS before anything else :) Have a great long weekend.
With some buyers way way beyond your zip code the area flavor, community fabric is the key and every real estate buyer has his way of sizing up an area. How good are the hospital(s) and health care? What type of library, schools, etc. Depends on the niche target audiences and what you would want to know about if you were them. That is where blogs not websites shine on the tour guide details of the area you serve. I love video for delivery of the area, sticks and bricks to round off the rest of the imagery, mls details. The IDX with yes, no, number fields leave much out that needs to be fireworked for the buyer you are trying to catch the attention of in a day an age of others wearing the "R" hopping up and down to do the same thing.
Peyman, any update on when you will be in the Salt Lake Market on the Wasatch Front Regional MLS.
They have lowered their fees I understand to attract more venders.
We want to be your first client.
Interesting. As an inspector I just recently got involved in sites other than here at AR, which gives me good SEO. I am figuring out Trulia and how to use it to my advantage.
Since we are primarily a retirment destination, schools don't often come into play on the website. Though I do from time to time get an interest.
I couldn't be happier with the realtysoft idx system. Not only does it make for a sticky site in which people come back due to all of the info, but it also does quite well with SEO.
By the way, I had no idea my site was featured in this post until a friend of mine let me know... good stuff!
Coach Katerina Gasset talks about RealtySoft and she likes it...she's mentioned it several times in her classes..that's why I subscribe to your blog.
I thought this post was very thorough. Thank you!
That's a huge point! Data is king right now, get as much relative data as you can!
Would this work with a self-hosted wordpress blog?
Thanks for the interesting post today. I enjoyed the read.
Patricia Aulson/Seacoast NH & ME
To Paul who asked about the self-hosted wordpress blog -
They do make IDX plugins specifically for Wordpress blog/websites. Search engines do like wordpress themed sites and so having some form of integrated IDX will only help you. The key with a wordpress site though (if your intended purpose is lead generation) is to make it feel like a real estate website rather than just a 'blog'.
Blogging is fine and well, but you have to have something on your site that makes them want to get in touch with you so you can convert them into a sale.
Done right, wordpress real estate sites can rank amongst the best. It is truly a great platform on which to build - just be prepared to spend a TON of time working on it as it will likely become an obsessive compulsion.
Peyman- I love all that Realtysoft can do. The information is amazing for the price and most of my clients who choose Realtysoft as their website- they are already on page one on google for their keywords. Katerina
Thanks for providing the information and another option to look at. Zillow and Trulia have become very popular for a reason.
Peyman, thanks for providing such a thorough collection of screenshots to demonstrate everything RealtySoft has to offer...to someone visual like me, they're much more effective than just reading a list of website components! :)
Buyers want to see listings and search MLS. But they also want to know that they are working with a professional and a real person, not just the name of a company. Just make sure that your other content doesn't get in the way of the listings.
Gordon -> I don't see anything in the works for Wastach. Please kindly email me any information you have about Wasatch Front Regional MLS and I will review and consider it for addition.
Steven -> We are looking into providing inspectors and other real estate professionals with RealtySoft websites before the end of the year, we will keep you posted :)
Dawn -> I hear you. The great thing about RealtySoft IDX is that its fully customizable, you could remove schools if you wish and the points of interest search allows you to search for any keyword you want! You could search for Starbucks, Best Buy, retirement homes, you name it!
Ray and Melissa -> This is too funny. What can I say your site looks good and it's great to hear that you are doing well on the search engines :)
Gayle -> Coach Katerina has always been a great supporter of RealtySoft and we really appreciate it. Thanks for the follow.
Michael -> You rock. Thanks for attending the webinar today.
Paul -> Yes, RealtySoft IDX does work with WordPress or any other custom website platform. The cost for our ProIDX service is $24.95 with a one time setup fee of $149. RealtySoft CRM is also included with ProIDX.
Patricia -> Thank you!
Jill & Matt -> You are right, WordPress sites are great and yes you have to spend a TON OF TIME to get it setup, customized and maintained. I am not trying to bash WordPress. It's truly a great platform but keep in mind that WordPress is also a template based solution, in fact all content management solutions are template based. WordPress, Point2 and RealtySoft are 3 of the "Template Based" solutions that do well on the search engines. There are many others that don't :) WordPress is too time consuming and requires lots of customization. Point2 site are just ugly (sorry Point2). RealtySoft sites give you all the tools, they are customized for the real estate industry and they do really well on the search engines. And yes you get the best bang for you buck!
Katerina -> Glad to see your clients doing so well on the search engines. Just checked out Nancy Fraser's site, she is one page 1 for Amityville Real Estate. You sure have done a great job optimizing her site to show up on page 1 of Google :)
Kathleen -> Please let us know if you have any questions, we will be glad to help.
Leilani -> You are very welcome. Pictures definitely do help.
Donald -> You got that right. Selling is a process and nothing replaces that personal touch.
Code of Ethics not only needs to be held to the highest degree by Realtors, Realtors must depend on all relevant Real Estate Web-sites to protect all Realtors equally all Realtors should have the same opportunities be successful. I am hoping, Realtors to expect and protect this important value.....
The screen shots are impressive. Question: the comps come from where? Does the agent decide the comps? And I don't believe in zestimate or epraisal.com. for valuation. Can that be hidden?
Thanks Sandy :)
The comps come from your MLS data and recently sold comes from Zillow. You can remove any of the buttons you see above so in this case you would remove the "ESTIMATED VALUE" button.
What is great about our IDX solution is that it's fully customizable and you can manage many options such as look and feel and search queries on your own!
Realty soft is not available in my area. Does anyone know something similar I can add to my current IDX that will add this information to each listing? Any information appreciated. Thank you
mreyn -> If you are interested in RealtySoft services, you could contact our team at 1-866-857-1657 and we will consider adding your MLS! We are adding 3 new MLSs a month right now and we currently cover over 110 MLSs across North America. Check out our MLS coverage here:
http://www.realtysoft.com/solutions-idx-mlscoverage.php
OK ... I am not too old to learn.
I know it can be done too.
Now just need to figure it out or hire it out.
All I need is the rght help.
HELP!
Great info Peyman! The easier it is to navigate a site the more they'll come back, but only if they get the info they need. I'm always looking for ways to make my site more user friendly, so thanks for the tips.
Data is it. The more you provide the better your client or potential client will continue to return.
Hi Peyman!
I want a RealtySoft site.....badly!! But you don't do ARMLS in AZ :-( When?? I've been waiting over a year now. What is a girl to do in the meantime??
Hi Jessica,
I wish I had better news for you but we don't have any plans to add ARMLS at this time. They charge IDX vendors (like RealtySoft) $1000 per month which is too much to handle at this time. If you can put together 20 agents that are interested in our services we can commit to that monthly fee.
Regards,
Peyman
Peyman, that's a deal! If I find the agents, do I get reseller credit? :-)