It has been shown that experience, excellent customer service, and having a good reputation are no longer the deciding factors in a realtor’s success. We’ve seen firsthand that some agents struggle and some thrive. Those agents that are thriving are often those with the most responsive, mobile-friendly realtor websites. The reasons are simple: Millennials are looking for homes, and the majority of them will find their realtor and their home with a smartphone or tablet. That means you’ve got to be a responsive, mobile-friendly realtor. Don’t believe responsive websites are that important? We revamped our own site following the guidelines below, and we are top in searches for a title company in Maryland. We have also remained a top title agency across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington D.C. despite the influx of tech-savvy competition.
Use the checklist below to see if your site is up to par.
1. Flexible View
Visitors view your site on devices of all sizes. A responsive real estate website view must be coded to rotate and fit on a variety of screen sizes. The goal is to create a viewing experience specifically oriented to each kind of device: laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.
2. Utilize Search Filters
When searching for homes on your site, users will want to filter results to fit their specifications, needs, and wants. Don’t include so many filters that your site becomes cluttered. Additionally, don’t neglect to include essential property features such as location, bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet, and price.
3. Create a Media-Rich Experience
Though your site must have substance, it also needs to engage one’s eye. Therefore, creating a Media-Rich Experience is all about strategically utilizing space. On mobile sites, reduce the amount of text on a property search-results page by using large images accompanied by only essential details (like price, bedrooms, etc.). Detailed information should be available if a visitor clicks on the picture of the property.
4. Gear Content Toward Devices
Understand that a user browsing properties on a cell phone has far different intentions than a user browsing on their laptop or PC. Mobile sites should include all property listings, but not necessarily every piece of property information. Ideally, a mobile user should be able to browse through properties and save them as favorites for later viewing on a laptop or PC.
5. Create a Community
The most responsive real estate websites allow visitors to create accounts, and for that you’ll have to create a client portal on your site. Then visitors can save their favorite properties, compare them side by side, and revisit them later. Follow these five steps and you’ll be on your way toward greater engagement, increased traffic, and a reputation as a forward-thinking, mobile-friendly realtor.
Partnering with Lakeside Title Company
Since 1994, Lakeside Title Company has been more than just a title agency; we’re partners in our clients’ success. We provide title insurance and a host of online tools and resources for lenders, realtors, and developers. For more information, visit our homepage.
