The home-selling industry now has a ton of opportunities because of the Internet. Almost the whole real estate sector shifted online; 97% of homebuyers utilized the Internet to find a property, according to theNational Association of Realtors.
Thus, a lot of individuals are considering starting their real estate website. Building a feature-rich WordPress real estate website is a daunting task. Everybody can put up a few basic pages with photographs of houses, but more is needed to draw in clients for a seasoned real estate agent or firm. You must look beyond the box if you want your website to be unique.
Thankfully, WordPress's plugin architecture makes it possible for you to incorporate sophisticated functionality swiftly. Furthermore, there are many themes available that provide a great starting point for real estate websites. To be ready, all you need to do is select the appropriate set of tools.
In this article, we will talk about how to build a real estate WordPress website. We'll also discuss what functions and features form a top-notch WordPress real estate website in this post.
Select A Domain Name
Getting a domain name and web hosting provider is the first step in starting your website creation process. Visitors will be able to reach your website using your domain name.
Choose Your Web Hosting Plan
You may store all the files that comprise your website on the hosting package. You will install WordPress and the add-ons outlined in this guide on your hosting server.
WordPress hosting is fantastic since it's designed with WordPress performance, security requirements, installation, and onboarding procedures in mind. There is a lengthy list of WordPress hosting available, and there are a lot of factors to take into account while making your decision.
Plans for hosting vary in price from reasonably priced shared hosting to more costly managed WordPress hosting to high-end dedicated servers. We suggest a few hosting plans that are entirely compatible with Elementor to make your life simpler.
All of the account-related information will be included in a welcome email that you will get after registering for your hosting plan. Locate the hosting account section login link, then enter your username and password to access your account.
Install WordPress
The installation of WordPress comes next. Click the My Accounts option and log into your cPanel after logging into your hosting account. To install WordPress, click the WordPress icon in the auto-installers section of cPanel and follow the instructions.
Visit your WordPress website after WordPress has been installed. After entering your password and name, click "Log In" to open your WordPress dashboard.
You may use the WordPress CMS platform after downloading and installing the WordPress software. You may select from tens of thousands of WordPress themes, plugins, and layouts thanks to WordPress's versatility.
Select A WordPress Theme Exclusive To Real Estate
Selecting a theme made especially for real estate websites is a crucial first step when using WordPress to create one. For real estate websites, there are a ton of fantastic solutions that offer a variety of functionality and design possibilities, both premium and free.
Selecting a theme that works with a page builder, such as Elementor, may let you easily alter the appearance and structure of your website without needing to know any code. Take into account the following elements while selecting a theme;
Style
Choose a theme that is simple to use and has a modern, clean appearance.
Qualities
Verify that the theme has features like property listings, search capabilities that can be customized, and connectivity with an MLS or IDX service functions that are essential for real estate websites.
Adaptability
Select a responsive theme so that it will appear fantastic on tablets and smartphones alike.
Usability
Choose a theme with an intuitive backend interface and ease of customization.
Establish The Website's Structure And Layout
After selecting a theme, it's time to organize your website's design and structure. This will entail creating new pages and organizing them into a clear, logical structure, including a homepage, a about page, and a contact page.
Pre-built demos are a great place to start for some premium themes, which may help you save time and effort while building up your website.
Additionally, you should alter the header, footer, and sidebar of your website to reflect your style and identity better. Without any coding experience, you can quickly make these modifications utilizing the backend interface customization features found in most WordPress themes.
List Your Properties On Your Site
The core component of any WordPress real estate website is its property listings. Yours must be visually striking and detailed and include an abundance of photos to be successful. The more attractive the property seems (and the more leads you can draw in), the better these parts are.
Sometimes, like with Real Homes, the theme you choose will come with built-in listing features or a plugin. If not, though, you'll have to figure it out for yourself.
Integrate With An MLS Or IDX Service'
The next step is to interface your website with the MLS or IDX service if you decide to manage your property listings using an IDX system. Popular IDX systems like Realtyna, Diverse Solutions, and iHomefinder can be integrated with most WordPress real estate themes.
You must get the required login credentials and adhere to the IDX provider's instructions to link your website with an IDX system. Usually, this entails inserting a code snippet or installing a plugin on your website.
Your website should be able to immediately show real estate listings from the MLS or IDX service when the integration procedure is complete, with the ability to alter the search and display settings.
Add Additional Features And Functionality
You can do more with your real estate website than merely display properties. Also, you may improve the user experience and differentiate yourself from the competition by including new features and functionalities. Among the choices to think about are;
A Blog
A blog may be an excellent method to highlight your experience, give prospective customers helpful information, and raise your website's search engine rankings.
Integration Of Social Media
By linking your website to your social media profiles, you may inform your followers about new listings and other news and reach a larger audience.
Lead Capturing Forms
Including lead capture forms on your website might assist you in gathering data from prospective customers and guiding leads through the sales funnel.
Testimonies
Including client endorsements may help establish credibility and trust with prospective customers.
Form Of Contact
It might be simple for prospective customers to contact you and inquire about your listings if you have a contact form on your website.
What Should A Real Estate Website Include?
We must first comprehend the essential components of a real estate website and its purpose before we can start with our guide on building the website. The following are some of the crucial sections and components that each real estate website should have;
Homepage
Your website's homepage serves as its friendly entryway. Here, you'll outline the kinds of properties you list, provide essential details about your agency, and include easy-to-use connections to other pertinent pages on your website.
To encourage people to do the desired action on the website and go to the conversion pages, you should also add call-to-actions (CTAs). A real estate website's homepage should also include your goal statement, corporate identity, and social evidence, such as endorsements from happy buyers and sellers.
Property Listings
The most crucial part of your real estate website is the property listings page. Your listing page must optimize both usability and design. Remember that the user experience is the most essential factor in a real estate website's success. Potential purchasers won't convert if they can't locate the property they want.
This entails having a;
- listings gallery with high-definition photos and essential details on the asset
- search bar, preferably with autofill enabled
- filters, such as location, size, number of bedrooms, etc., based on popular user queries.
- breadcrumb navigation, which makes it simple for visitors to switch between results
- Buttons for sharing listings, enabling users to get a second opinion quickly
- Integrated maps with a location-based search option
- CTAs that are clear for people who wish to book a showing or make an inquiry about a property
Real Estate Listings
Every property needs to have a highlighted page of its own. Since real estate listings change often, these sites will be dynamic, but the feature pages ought to follow a standard layout.
Along with any other pertinent information for potential buyers, the page should have high-definition pictures of the property, floor plans, videos, virtual tours, pricing details, location, and a description.
Here, usability and design are also crucial. While maintaining a clear and conspicuous presentation of all the required information, the page should be formatted to be visually appealing and captivating.
About Us Webpage
You can do more with a real estate website than merely post new listings and communicate with potential buyers. This is your online platform for showcasing your business, its principles, and the individuals who run the agency.
You can build your brand and make a personal connection with customers with a well-designed About Uspage. Additionally, it might help you become more trustworthy and credible.
The page should have a firm history and ethos, connections to the social media accounts of the crucial members of your agency, and headshots and biographies of them.
Contact Us Page
Make it simple for customers to get in touch with you, arrange a viewing, or ask for a pricing estimate by creating a contact page.
Blog
A blog is not required for a real estate website, but it is strongly advised. You may post your opinions and views regarding the real estate market here, along with stories about recent construction, tips for selling a home, and business updates.
With a blog, you may build a community among your clientele, use search engine optimization (SEO) to market your website, and position your firm as an authority in the industry.
Why Create A Real Estate Website?
A real estate website, as we just discussed, makes you stand out from other real estate brokers in your community. However, there are other justifications for building a real estate website.
A Website Presents You As A Real Estate Professional
Having a website for your company gives it a polished appearance and showcases your brand.
A website demonstrates your readiness to make investments in your company and your seriousness about it. It gives the impression that you're here to stay, which increases the likelihood that people will think about you when they're looking for real estate.
It Helps People Find You
When someone searches for a real estate agent in your area, a website makes it easier for them to locate you. Using keywords in your site's title and description, as well as producing accurate estate-related content, can help you optimize your website for search engines.
It Enables You To Develop Trust
You may gain the trust of prospective clients who are seeking a real estate agent by having a website. To offer prospective clients an idea of what it's like to work with you, you may publish client testimonials and reviews.
You Own Your Website
Finally, you should have a website as it is an asset that you own for marketing purposes. Unlike social media profiles, your website is wholly owned and controlled by you. The social media site can remove your accounts or suddenly lose its relevance.
How Much Does It Cost To Build A Real Estate Platform With WordPress?
How much does it cost to establish your own internet business? This is a crucial question to ask yourself. You'll need the following to set up a WordPress real estate website;
- Name of Domain- $10 to $15 annually
- Hosting Plan- $20 to $90 monthly
- WordPress theme - $60 to $100 (if a premium theme is to be used).
Consequently, if you want to choose a premium WordPress theme for real estate, starting your real estate website will cost you about $200.
Tips On Choosing A WordPress Plugin For A Real Estate Site
Finding the finest WordPress plugin with all the features you need to create property listing websites could be difficult because there are so many of them available. To facilitate the process, the following elements are essential for a plugin to have if you wish to build a real estate website;
Custom Fields & Categories
A plugin needs to be free of pre-made fields and categories, allowing you to make your own based on your specialization.
Advanced Lookup
A real estate website ought to have an extensive array of search filters, so confirm that the plugin you intend to utilize permits you to generate personalized search filters.
Location Search
Obviously, a property website should have a map and a location-based search function so that customers may locate real estate in various places.
System Of Communication
You should have a messaging feature on your website so that people may easily connect.
Preferences
Encouraging website users to save a list of their preferred property listings is crucial since it allows them to refer to them at any time.
Front-End Listing Submission
It's essential to include the front-end listing submission functionality if you want to build a real estate marketplace so consumers can quickly list their properties on your site.
You now know more about the features you ought to be searching for. We are going to utilize the HivePress plugin for the sake of this tutorial. This free WordPress plugin for directories and classifieds may be used to create listing websites of any kind.
In addition, look through our list of the top free WordPress listing plugins to select the one that works best for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which WordPress Theme Is Suitable For A Real Estate Website?
Consider using fundamental estate-specific themes like "Houzez" or "Real Homes" for features tailored to property listings.
How Can You Ensure Your Real Estate Website Is Mobile-Friendly?
Choose a responsive theme and optimize images, ensuring a seamless experience for users on various devices.
Is It Necessary To Implement A Contact Form On The Website?
Yes, include a contact form for potential buyers or tenants to inquire about properties or seek more information.
Conclusion
Using WordPress to create a website for real estate is a basic procedure that may assist you in showcasing your listings and attracting new customers. You will be able to establish a website for your company that is both professional and efficient if you choose to follow the procedures that are explained in this piece about how to build a real estate WordPress website.
You can design a website that is representative of your business and helps you stand out in the highly competitive real estate sector if you choose the appropriate theme, structure, and functionality for your website.