Having a stand-out, personally branded website for your real estate business is a must. But where do you begin? How do you build a real estate website? Here at SERHANT., we recommend turning to a professional, who can take the entire project off your hands and present you with a beautiful, personally-branded site.

But if you’re just getting started, a professional build might not be in the budget yet, and that’s OKAY. There are plenty of good options out there to help you get your creative juices flowing and build a real estate website yourself. Whichever route you choose, make sure your website is clear, concise, functional, and consistent with your personal brand to add an extra punch that makes it stand out from the rest. 

Why Should I Create a Website for My Real Estate Business?  

A well-designed website is your prospective clients’ window into your world. A good website provides a myriad of benefits to your business. Here are just a few: 

• More than half of buyers go online first when looking to buy a property. Having a website puts you in front of a more expansive client base. 
• A website provides sought-after content to potential clients by displaying your listed properties and valuable information about buying and selling a home. 
• Your website is your face. It is a place to introduce who you are and what you do. 
• A website is “on” 24/7 and can be accessed whenever it’s convenient for the client. People love being able to shop and ask questions anytime they want. 
• Having a website provides a place for you to push your paid traffic if you run ads. It also gives people a place to find you using SEO when the search for “real estate agent” and “homes for sale” in your market.
• A website allows buyers to see properties without leaving the comfort of their home. 

A website is a vital part of your personal brand. It is often the first impression someone has of your business. It is a great tool to convert prospects into clients. 

The online real estate market is thriving.

The pandemic pushed real estate online. If you are not there yet, you are behind.

In 2021, 98 percent of sellers used online property sites to list a property, and the majority of buyers turned to those online sites to find their next purchase. In 2022, more than 70 percent of real estate companies have established their online presence. Online revenue is expected to skyrocket past $40 billion this year. 

Don’t be the last to hop on the revenue bus. Secure your seat now with a website that will help you promote your inventory while you sleep. 

Offer your customers convenience. 

The name of the game is convenience. People want quick and easy on THEIR time. This is why the average gas station is now more like a one-stop-shop for your gas, groceries, snacks, and anything else you need. People are on a schedule and crave the convenience of having everything available to them in one spot. 

Why not give them the same kind of experience with your website? Create your website with convenience in mind. Don’t give potential clients a reason to leave your website to search for something else they need. Give it all to them in one spot. 

Customers want to see property photos and 360-degree tours at the touch of a button, and they want access around the clock. They also want the ability to communicate with you online through your website or emails and know you will respond to them. 

The easier you make it for your prospects to find what they’re looking for, the more likely they are to call on you for their real estate needs. 

Attract leads more effectively.

Home buying trends are tipping toward the online market. Millennials don’t want to stop by your office to search for properties. They want to head to your website and find something they like. Building a fantastic website allows you to reach a new group of eager buyers.

How to Build a Real Estate Website 

So, where do you start if you want to build a real estate website for your business? First, research what key features you want and need on your website, keeping in mind mobile friendliness, a customer-centered approach, and your responsiveness,

• Property listings:  List all the properties you have available. You can include your closings as well. Tools that allow the buyer to narrow down what they are looking for are helpful. They let buyers tailor their experience in a helpful and convenient way.  
• Visuals:  We are a visual society. First impressions are everything! Make sure you have some professional brand photos taken, both headshot and lifestyle photos. The pictures and videos you display on your website set the tone for potential clients. Don’t blow it with low-resolution photographs and grainy video. You must have professional, high-quality content on your website. 
• User Login:  Provide a personal area where they can save their favorite listings and information. This shows you care and desire to add extra value for the potential client. Most people shy away from filling out long sign-up forms, so it helps if you have an option for them to use their social media to register. 
• CTA and lead capture forms:  Make sure CTAs are easy to find and super clear. There should not be more than two on a page. Lead capture forms are a great way to capture email addresses, so make sure they’re short and provide an incentive for filling them out. It could be the promise of a monthly newsletter or a free guidebook. Just make sure it’s something that’s simple for you to provide that gives value in exchange for their email address. 

Contact us and follow us sections.

The Contact Us section needs to be obvious and easy to find on your website. Adding it to the menu bar and footer is a good idea. It also helps to give them several ways to contact you. 

Make it easy for them by adding a link to the Google map location of your office. Give them as many choices as you can to contact you. If they have to spend time searching for how to contact you, they’ll get frustrated and move on. 

Footer.

A footer is a functional space at the bottom of your homepage where potential clients to find the information they need all in one spot. You can include information about you, navigation tools, sign-up opportunities, external links, and any other helpful information you feel they may need. 

Testimonials.

Gone are the days when word-of-mouth was your greatest lead generator. You have to build trust through other avenues, like using testimonials from current and past happy clients. 

Testimonials are a great way to let others know you are a master of your craft. Some great ways to incorporate them into your website include:

• Create a slider or carousel with several reviews from your regulars.
• Create a link to a separate page that presents detailed reviews.

Get inspiration from the best.

When creating a website, do your research first. What are other real estate agencies doing with their websites? What’s working and what’s not. Take the ideas you see and turn them up a notch to create your website. It pays to do your homework before you launch a new project. 

Perfect your branding. 

Branding is not just logos and colors. Your personal brand is YOU, and you want it to show up consistently everywhere you are online. Your personal brand is an important part of the first impression others get of you and your business. 

If you want to be known as the cream of the crop in the real estate world, you need to stand out for something other than your real estate skills. I call this your “AND”. Think about what makes you stand out, and don’t be afraid to show your personal side. It makes people feel a connection with you, which makes it easier for them to remember who you are.

Next, be consistent with your content. Consistency creates credibility. It is less about what you post and more about the fact you are showing up consistently and in a way that’s a natural extension of your personal brand. 

Finally, once you’ve established what sets you apart from the rest and have a plan in place for consistent content, start to leverage the power of social media and the community surrounding you to get your website out there. You want everyone talking about you, even when you’re not in the room.

Hire the right web developer.

If you do decide to hire a web developer to build you site, make sure you carefully consider who you bring on. Do your due diligence. Hiring the wrong person can be costly in time and money, not to mention the issues it can create in your business. 

The right developer will be able to take your plan and vision for your website and create something professional, clean, and in line with your personal brand. A good developer will possess knowledge and a fresh view of things. They can help you brainstorm extra features and build a functional and beautiful website.

How much does it cost to build a real estate website?  

The cost of a real estate website depends on many factors, like how many pages you need, the complexity of the functions you want it to perform, and whether or not you hire a developer. If you decide to do it yourself, you can use a drag and drop web builder, and there will be minimal cost involved. 

If you work with a professional web development agency, you can expect a total investment of $5,000 – $15,000. An extensive, complex website can cost up to $100,000. Investing in a website is 100 percent worth it, because the future is digital. Don’t get left in the dust because you don’t have a website.

Final Thoughts

Want more help creating a stand-out website that blasts your personal brand to the world? The Ultimate Personal Brand Course for Real Estate Agents can help you establish your foothold in the digital world by teaching you how to perfect your brand and create a website that expands your reach. 

Build Your Brand!

More from Sell It Like Serhant

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Additional content

• How to Start a Real Estate Business: The Beginner’s Guide
• How Long Does It Take to Get Through Real Estate School?
• Defining Your Personal Brand Statement