An industry-specific website builder provides the perfect platform for your real estate business.
You need a real estate website builder designed just for agents and brokers.
It allows you to showcase properties, highlight your experience, and generate leads from clients.
But not all builders offer the same great features.
Some provide more customization and integration, while others focus on an easy-to-use interface at the best price.
Picking the right one for your specific needs is key.
As we head into 2024, look for a builder with tools like custom designs, SEO optimization, lead generation forms, and IDX listings.
These are the building blocks for a top-performing real estate site that helps you get found online and convert visitors into leads.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into the must-have features, pricing plans, and actual examples to help you choose a builder to create your real estate website.
You'll explore how to use content and SEO to boost your search visibility and traffic too.
By the end, you'll be ready to find an affordable website builder that offers the right mix of design, functionality and support to take your real estate marketing to new heights.
The Takeaway:
Real estate website builders like Placester, Sierra Interactive, and Ylopo offer user-friendly tools for creating professional websites. These platforms provide templates tailored for real estate agents, making it easy to showcase properties and attract clients.
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Chapter 1: Essential Features for Your Real Estate Website
User-Friendly Page Builder
You want an intuitive drag-and-drop page builder that makes it a breeze to customize your site's look and layout - no coding skills needed!
A "what you see is what you get" editor should let you visually arrange elements like text blocks, images, videos, buttons, and contact forms.
And of course, you need to be able to preview how your site will look on both desktop and mobile screens.
Powerful SEO Tools
Getting found on Google is essential for generating real estate leads online.
Look for SEO features that make it easy to optimize your site, like:
Customizable page titles and descriptions
Alt text fields for images
Mobile-friendly design
Schema markup for listings
Detailed analytics showing your traffic and keyword rankings are key too.
IDX Integration for Live Listings
IDX (Internet Data Exchange) integration pulls in active listings from your local MLS.
This lets you automatically display available homes right on your site.
Potential buyers can search for properties, which builds trust and keeps them on your site longer.
The best builders make setting up IDX a snap with just a few clicks.
Lead Capture and Follow-Up
You'll definitely want tools to convert more of your website visitors into leads, like:
Contact and inquiry forms
Newsletter signup boxes
Chatbots to engage visitors
Compelling calls-to-action
Even better is a built-in CRM system to capture and organize all your leads for easy follow-up.
Professionally Designed Real Estate Templates
Your website builder should offer modern, mobile-friendly templates built specifically for real estate - not just generic designs.
The top builders provide dozens of great-looking options for individual agents, teams, and whole brokerages to choose from.Integrated Blogging Platform
Becoming a local thought leader is a great way to generate leads.
An integrated blogging tool lets you easily publish helpful articles and market updates right on your site.
Your content will showcase your expertise while boosting your rankings in Google.
Look for a real estate website builder that makes blogging super simple.
Connect Your Own Domain Name
Using your own professional domain name (like www.yourname.com) makes you look more established and credible.
Go with a website builder that lets you quickly connect your custom domain to your site.
Social Media Marketing Tools
Social media is a key part of any real estate marketing plan these days.
Handy social integrations make it a breeze to share your listings and content on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to reach an even wider audience.
Manage Leads with a Real Estate CRM
A real estate CRM is command central for tracking your leads and deals from first contact all the way to closing.
Some of the best real estate website builders include a CRM system, while others integrate with popular 3rd party CRMs.
Room to Grow with Your Business
As your real estate business grows and evolves, you need your website to be able to keep up.
Be sure to choose a website builder that offers flexible plans you can easily upgrade down the road for more features, storage, and support when you need them.
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Chapter 2: How the Best Real Estate Website Builders Stack Up
Let's take a closer look at how some of the top names in real estate websites compare:
Ylopo for Best-in-Class Custom Websites
Pros:
Totally customizable branded IDX search and websites
Powerful home search with map view, filters, mortgage calculator
All leads funnel into your CRM for easy follow-up
Gorgeous, mobile-friendly website designs convert visitors into leads
Cons:
Doesn't include its own CRM - you'll need a separate system
No built-in SEO tools or guidance
Placester for Affordable Simplicity
Placester is a popular affordable website builder that makes it easy to integrate IDX listings.
Pros:
Budget-friendly plans with intuitive DIY design tools
Includes lead capture forms and email popups
Offers seamless IDX integration to display listings
Cons:
Limited design customization options to make your site stand out
Basic CRM doesn't include advanced follow-up and marketing tools
Propertybase
Propertybase aims to be an all-in-one solution with IDX websites, modern designs, and a built-in CRM.
Pros:
Includes a capable CRM to manage leads and contacts
IDX search spotlights listings in a compelling way
Modern design templates for a polished site
Cons:
Need to contact them for a price quote
Steeper learning curve to fully utilize all the features
No free trial period before you buy
Sierra Interactive
Sierra Interactive tightly integrates must-have features like IDX, CRM, and lead generation into one platform.
Pros:
IDX, CRM, and lead gen tools work together seamlessly
Capture leads with live chat and targeted pop-ups
User-friendly drag and drop page editor
Cons:
Pricier than similar all-in-one solutions
Some users say support is hit-or-miss
If you already use another CRM, the built-in one may be redundant
The smart move is to compare a few different builders to find the one that checks all your boxes.
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Chapter 3: Which One Should You Go With?
Choosing the right real estate website builder is likely one of the bigger decisions you'll make as you establish your presence online. Here are 3 tips to help you decide.
Get the Real Scoop from User Reviews and Examples
Want to know what it's really like to use a particular website builder?
Check out reviews from actual users. They'll give you the inside scoop on important factors like ease of use, especially for newbies. You'll also learn how quick and easy it is to get your site up and running.
User reviews will clue you in on the quality of the designs and customization options. You'll discover how smoothly the IDX integration works and how effective the built-in lead generation tools are.
Plus, you'll find out if the customer support team is responsive and helpful. Overall satisfaction and bottom-line results are key, so pay attention to those in the reviews.
Get Help When You Need It with Solid Support
Even the most user-friendly website builders can hit snags sometimes. That's why solid customer support is a must-have.
The top real estate website builders have your back with support through multiple channels.
Phone support is perfect for talking through issues in real-time.
For less urgent problems or detailed questions, email support is key.
Live chat is a lifesaver when you need quick answers without picking up the phone.
And a searchable knowledge base and FAQ section lets you find solutions on your own.
Swapping tips with other agents in user forums is super helpful too.
And don't forget about social media - the best platforms respond quickly there.
Technology doesn't always cooperate, but with a great support team, you'll be back on track ASAP.
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Chapter 4: Key Factors When Choosing a Real Estate Website Builder
We've covered a lot of ground, so let's recap the most important factors to look for when choosing the best real estate website builder for your needs:
Templates and Customization
Professionally designed real estate website templates
Ability to customize your branding and content
User-friendly drag and drop editor (no coding!)
Functionality
Lead capture forms and popups
IDX integration to display MLS listings
CRM included or seamlessly integrated
Tools to Get Found Online
Guides and tools to optimize your site for search engines
Built-in blogging platform to create SEO-friendly content
Detailed traffic and keyword ranking reports
Mobile-Friendliness
Fully responsive design that adapts to mobile devices
Mobile-first templates optimized for smartphones
Preview and test your website on any screen size
Pricing
Transparent monthly pricing that fits your budget
Flexible plans you can upgrade or downgrade anytime
All the features you need without paying for extras you won't use
By carefully weighing these key criteria, you'll be able to zero in on the perfect real estate website builder to launch a site that looks sharp, attracts your ideal buyers and sellers, and helps you close more deals.
Tips to Make Your Real Estate Website a Lead Generation Machine
Your website is the digital face of your real estate brand - and a powerful tool for generating leads around the clock.
Once you've chosen the perfect website builder, put these tips into action to set your site up for success:
Prominently feature your unique value proposition and local expertise
Build trust with glowing client testimonials and reviews
Integrate IDX to turn your site into a go-to resource for buyers
Wow visitors with big, beautiful photos of your listings
Guide visitors to take action with clear calls-to-action and lead forms
Become a local thought leader with helpful blog posts and market reports
Share your blog content on social media to reach more potential clients
Use your website data to fine-tune your lead generation strategy over time
Make sure your site looks pixel-perfect on mobile devices
Speed up your site by compressing images, browser caching, and other tweaks
By investing some time upfront to dial in your website just right, you'll lay a rock-solid foundation to make 2024 your best year in real estate yet.
Bring Your Vision to Life Today with Ylopo
Ylopo is the website builder of choice for savvy real estate agents and brokers ready to raise the bar in 2024 and beyond.
You'll get all the tools you need to showcase your unique brand and attract more clients, without cookie-cutter constraints.
The intuitive drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to craft your perfect site, no matter your style.
Eye-catching lead forms and popups turn visitors into valuable contacts, while the integrated IDX search keeps buyers coming back to browse the latest listings.
Plus, with built-in blogging, you can position yourself as the go-to local expert and boost your visibility on Google and social media.
It's a true all-in-one digital marketing command center for your business.
If you're ready to ditch clunky old website builders and create the real estate website of your dreams, you've found your match in Ylopo.
Book a free custom demo today to see exactly how Ylopo can take your real estate brand to new heights.
About the Author
Aaron “Kiwi” Franklin
Head of Growth
Aaron "Kiwi" Franklin is the Head of Growth at Ylopo and an innovative technologist and serial entrepreneur who has over 25 years of experience creating digital solutions for major brands and pioneering companies at the intersection of technology and real estate. His depth of expertise stems from leading development of the first website for Apple to founding a global community of over 1,000 elite athletes. Connect with me