Special offer

Websites for All Listings

By
Real Estate Agent with Real estate agent at Oak Real Estate

If your home is listed for sale but doesn't have its own website, it may as well not be on the market.

A bold statement, yes, but one I firmly believe in.  Today, having a website for your listed home is just as necessary as having a flyer out front was 15 years ago. There really are no excuses for not having a website for each listing - it doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy, it takes minimal technical skill, and there are many services out there that are inexpensive and do the trick.  A website for your listing can provide more pictures of the property and much more information about the house and the neighborhood than what is in the MLS.  It makes marketing of the property through different channels easier as you can simply provide a link to the site. And, most importantly, it engages potential buyers on a deeper level than a one-dimensional MLS listing or flyer can. The look and feel of the website will make the property stand out from other listings, attracting more showings and interest.

Having a website isn't necessarily going to make your house sell faster or for more money - you still have to price it right and use the website as one tool in your marketing box.  But, used properly, it will put your house in front of more buyers and make it stand out from the rest of the pack, and I consider it a necessity for all my listings.

Posted by

Boulder County REALTOR

www.oconnellhomes.com

303-868-3957

Shawna Green
Keller Williams Realty-Fayetteville - Fayetteville, NC
The key to your real estate needs!

Ann, thanks for your post...I have thought about doing the website for my listings but I will be giving it a harder look now.  Have a great day!

Jan 12, 2011 07:52 AM
Pat Tasker
Shorewest Realtors - Germantown, WI
Your Milwaukee Metro Area Agent (WI)

I can see the good points to this, but wonder why you can't put together a nice link as part of your website for each listing?   I'm not that tech oriented (at least in this particular department)... do you have a link to an example of one?

Jan 12, 2011 07:57 AM
Ann O'Connell
Real estate agent at Oak Real Estate - Boulder, CO

Hi Shawna - it's easier and cheaper than you might think - give it a try!

Hi Pat - I think a link from your own website would work OK, so long as you can link directly to the page from outside your site. I use epropertysites.com, and it doesn't require much tech know-how.  A current one I have is www.850wmoorheadcir1e.isnowforsale.com This site is through epropertysites.com.

Jan 12, 2011 08:17 AM
Robert Smith
Preview Properties, PC - http://www.RealEstateMich.com - Brighton, MI
SRES, Search for Homes Brighton-Howell-SE Michigan

I take it that you mean to have a website for each individual listing.

A number of agents in my company were doing this for a while. It had minimal effect in the long run and there's nobody doing it now. The visibility you get with a realtor.com enhanced or showcase plan, or your personal website properly optimized will do the job.  And don't forget IDX data sharing.

Home sellers love an individual site for their home, of course. It appeals to their sense of vanity. If it doesn't get the sale more money or done quicker, it's really not needed. Just my opinion, of course. One of the great things about this business is we can try different things. What works in one market may or may not work in another. Good luck!

Jan 13, 2011 02:57 AM
Ann O'Connell
Real estate agent at Oak Real Estate - Boulder, CO

Hi Robert - thanks for your comment! I've found that having an individual website for each listing is helpful for different areas of web marketing and that sellers here frequently visit the websites to get more information.  I do feel that it's a necessary part of marketing a property in my market, and that it does make sellers happy to see that extra something.  Any added exposure makes it worth it in my mind!

Jan 14, 2011 08:36 AM
Robert Smith
Preview Properties, PC - http://www.RealEstateMich.com - Brighton, MI
SRES, Search for Homes Brighton-Howell-SE Michigan

The beautiful thing about our industry is that we're free to try things without seeking 'higher approval'.  We're that higher approval!  I'm happy that it's working so much better for you than it ever did for me.

Jan 15, 2011 12:57 AM