3 Must-Have Features of an Online Property Listing

by Tyler P. A Passionate Blogger - Entertainment

A website that contains property listings must be intuitive based on the device being used so that pictures, descriptions and navigation functions show in a user-friendly format whether it is on the mobile phone or a laptop. This design must be created by the technology team as part of the site’s overall structure, so it can ‘recognize’ the type of device being used and quickly format to the screen to avoid a poor user experience. If this piece isn’t well-designed then users will exit and find a new website to use for their property search which results in loss of business for the agent.

Once the prospective buyer gets to the property listing area, the next important feature is the ‘filter’ because while there are many individuals who will scroll through the options, a higher number know at least some criteria for what they want. This includes being able to narrow the display options by number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, price range, area code, neighborhood and other criteria. The best realestate website company will offer users a ‘standard’ and ‘advanced’ search options which operate at different levels of detail. Buyers who are just starting their search on a general level will be content with the basic search; whereas, those who are more serious or focused on a specific area may need to use the advanced filter to see exactly what is available.

Content is the third critical piece in property listings and can easily move buyers to a different site (and therefore a different agent possibly) if this is not setup correctly. Every listing should include, at a minimum, a short and expanded description of the home, basic feature list, price, when it was placed (or how long) it has been on the market and visuals. These visual items can be pictures, short videos or a complete virtual walk-through of the home as well as a combination of these. Research has shown that visual items are something that buyers want when looking for a home because word descriptions are not sufficient in building a mental image. As an agent, client lists are built when prospective buyers are interested in taking the next step and sellers are comfortable with the level of detail and attention their home will be given on the market. This is why when looking for realtor web site design the template should include these minimums to be an effective site for both sides of the property market.

An agent’s website is their calling card and the way to make a lasting first impression on individuals from all over so the site needs to be professional, user-friendly and complete with well-developed property listings. Other package options should include front-end blogs, biographies and contact forms along with back-end client management, mass communication and marketing links. Property listings should be easy to upload, update and remove as sales are made and buyers should be able to mark their ‘favorites’ so they can receive alerts and navigate back to them quickly when they come back to the site.