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Which theme should I use for a WordPress blog-idx-website for a real estate agent

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Real Estate Agent with Your complete source for buying HUD homes

I so thought I was done with my website and idx solution search.  Turns out I have only really started.  One of my favorite quotes is, "Begin with the end in mind."  That is the way I'm approaching this project.  You build your castle and then you start out from there to conquer new territory.

I thought it was just Wordpress and then I pick an IDX solution then I'm done.  Well then I came across Wordpress Themes.  There are free themes and then there are paid themes.  It seems like the paid one is better, as it is with most things in life.  It seems like common phrases are WP is a (insert hyperbole here) beast, monster, powerhouse.  I think I've seen this term in several bloggers that I respect.

To get the true benefit of the program it seems to me that you need to have a good theme.  I'm trying to figure out which one I want to use from the start.  I have read that its pretty easy to change your themes, but I read somewhere else that it can become more difficult once you implement an IDX platform.  This is why it's kind of a big deal.  Never overpay for a theme. One of the things that turned me off on the Wordpress platform early was I saw a theme on one agents website, first one I was interested in and it was $695.  For just the theme, they got ripped off.  All these themes are under $100

THESIS - This looks like it's been the meat and potatoes for a long time.  It looks like it was the first choice.  When you see Matt Cutts and Danny Sullivan use this.  That seems a very powerful arguement for the SEO features of this blog.  Also looks like there are a ton of resources out there for this.  That's one of the big reasons to choose and technology and one of the reasons I'm going with Wordpress.  The main magic is the seo of the structure.

GENESIS - Looks like the newest latest and greatest.  As such I think there is less support.  I'm not knocking either of these companies support as it appears they are both great, just there seems to be more for thesis.  If I recall it had two things that I thought made it unique. 

1) updating features -  They apparently offer the only one that will update without changing pages or something of the sort.  I'm not sure how often this happens, how difficult it is,

2) You can have different CSS on different parts of the site.

Authors note I'm not stating these facts as an expert I have done some research and I'm putting this information out there in order to get answers for myself and others.

AGENT PRESS - This is a child of the Genesis theme one reason that makes it seem pretty cool.  A child runs the theme but further customizes it.  This is customized for real estate.  Seems pretty cool.  I think I would lean this way if I wasn't going to be using an IDX provider.  I plan to generate my showcases from my IDX rather than a solution like this.

Any help or direction great appreciated.  Go Daddy is getting my domain name pointed correctly and I've already got Wordpress on the site.  Trying to rock and roll.

 

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Colorado Real Estate license FA100027713

Colorado Mortgage Broker license LMB100026528

Mike Henderson specializes in the following areas in real estate in the Denver, Colorado metro area; investors, first time homebuyers, luxury property, short sales, and light rail properties.  Of course I can also provide financing or refinacing across the state of Colorado.

 

John Mosier
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
Prescott's Patriot Agent 928 533-8142

My main website at JohnMosier.com is a Joomla website. It is an old version of Joomla and not easy to upgrade. It is getting the job done for me, although I use the provisions of Joomla very little. I have a shareed Linux server and have purchased many domain names. My son does php programming and knows how to write html well. He also does graphics and other technology.

My website at JohnMosier.com has a couple of IDX solutions running on it. One of these is that provided by our IDX and MLX provider, InnoVia. I also have a map-search IDX solution by Wolfnet. I am looking for a more-robust map-based IDX solution

We have several Wordpress websites, but the one that we have spent the most time on is We the INFORMED People

We did buy a theme for this website and I bought unlimited rights to use it.

I just joined this group ane will be watching for good ideas.

Jun 23, 2010 03:49 PM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

I don't use wordpress so I wouldn't be able to help with this at all.  Will be interested in the answers though.

Jun 26, 2010 12:21 PM
Mike Henderson
Your complete source for buying HUD homes - Littleton, CO
HUD Home Hub - 303-949-5848

@John - You're very lucky to have an inhouse IT department.  The IDX vendor I'm leaning towards is IDX Broker.  What theme did you purchase for your site?

 

@Debra - Thanks for commenting.  I'm totally convinced that Wordpress is the way to go.

 

Jun 27, 2010 12:17 PM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Hi Mike -- Joe Manusa uses the Thesis theme and thinks it is the best for real estate: http://www.manausa.com/market-report/

Jun 30, 2010 03:41 AM
Mike Henderson
Your complete source for buying HUD homes - Littleton, CO
HUD Home Hub - 303-949-5848

That is a nice site.  Thanks for the link.  I've narrowed it down to Genesis and Thesis.  I'm actually leaning towards Genesis I think.  Help is great appreciated.  I'm going to look at Thesis one last time.

Jun 30, 2010 05:32 AM
Mike Henderson
Your complete source for buying HUD homes - Littleton, CO
HUD Home Hub - 303-949-5848

I'm looking to buy the dang thing whatever it is.  An interesting article I found http://www.briangardner.com/v1/blog/genesis-is-not-thesis-and-thesis-is-not-genesis.htm I'm still not sure if this made my decision easier.

Jun 30, 2010 05:58 AM
David Monsour
Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Gettysburg, PA
ABR - www.realty-insights.com

I hear thesis over and over and over again.  Best SEO and very flexible.  I haven't purchased it yet, but it's on my list to get eventually.  Right now I'm just using a free theme.  It's actually working out pretty well, but I'm still in development and haven't added the IDX solution yet.  I'm not sure if I want to use diverse solutions or idx broker. 

my site is www.realty-insights.com if you want to take a look.

Jul 01, 2010 08:13 AM
Mike Henderson
Your complete source for buying HUD homes - Littleton, CO
HUD Home Hub - 303-949-5848

I'll tell you what I am doing.  I'm getting ready to write another blog, but I'm walking out the door to go door knocking.  I'm going to go with Genesis or Builder.  I'm not going to slam thesis.  If you can write or manipulate code it might be the best choice. 

IDX choice I went with IDX Broker.  It can do what I want.  The WP plug-ins are awesome.  I'm email my forms in now.  Hope to have my site up and running by July 14th.

My next two blogs to write on this.

To hell with Wordpress and social media I'm knocking on doors.

What I chose and why for my integrated website blogging solution.

Jul 01, 2010 08:28 AM
David Monsour
Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Gettysburg, PA
ABR - www.realty-insights.com

I'm finally starting to have fun with wordpress after spending about 4 months hating my life I'm actually enjoying the power and flexibility.  I'm just running with what I have for now.  Once I get the site up and start getting some hits I'll considering spending more money.  I just called my local mls board to talk about IDX so we'll see how I make out when they call back. 

Jul 01, 2010 08:39 AM
Cheryl Johnson
Highland Park, CA

I use Thesis for my IDX sites ...

Jul 21, 2010 06:40 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Mike - I just started doing research on creating a WordPress blog and it's a lot to take in, very confusing at times.  I've heard that Thesis theme is a great one to use about 4-5 times now.

Oct 01, 2010 09:13 AM
David Monsour
Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Gettysburg, PA
ABR - www.realty-insights.com

Michelle- I keep hearing that as well.  Probably worth the money.  I think it's $199.

Oct 04, 2010 01:49 AM
Anonymous
Joan Defenbaugh

I bought the Agent Press child theme for Genesis. I have Wolfnet idx. Haven't joined the two on my blog yet.

I'm over my head with exactly what to do when I get in to the dashboard of my WP account. I can add new blog posts, but setting up the actual layout of the page with plug-ins and widgets is something I'm learning, slowly.

I do not have a budget for paying someone, so I'm paying with my time. If I hear one more person say "The question is, how can you NOT afford to pay for this blah, blah, blah..." I will through my pile of bills at them, virtually of course :0)

My blog is http://www.UrbanVillage.info

It's very Plain Jane and I'm determined to make it what I want this year. When I feel a little defeated, I just remember that a lot of agents want to start blogging soon. I'm way ahead of them :0)

May 12, 2011 05:37 AM
#13
David Monsour
Keller Williams Keystone Realty - Gettysburg, PA
ABR - www.realty-insights.com

You just have to mess around in there until you get it right.  It took me over 6 months to get my anywhere close to where I wanted it.  It's still a work in proress.  New stuff all the time. 

There should be an agentpress tab or something that controls a lot of what you're looking to do.

May 12, 2011 02:31 PM
Mike Henderson
Your complete source for buying HUD homes - Littleton, CO
HUD Home Hub - 303-949-5848

@joan that sounds awesome.  Good luck on figuring it out.  Learning how to post is step one.  I'm going to make mine a lot higher priority as well.

@david - thinks for sticking around and helping others.

May 12, 2011 03:02 PM
Evia Fresnon

Well, when using WordPress you will certainly get plenty of options in terms of real estate WordPress themes. You can pick any that simply suits your needs and requirements. Firstly just make sure what you need in your site and make the selection of your theme accordingly. If you do so, you will surely get a stunner.

Nov 11, 2014 07:50 PM