If you are faced with a new real estate website design project, here are the things you should consider before you get started.

Research

Before you get started, take the time to research other real estate website designs. Look for commonalities that make them better, as well as the unique elements that make a website stand out compared to the competition.

Be aware of the latest trends. The current trend may become the expectation within a few years. That is exactly what happened with responsive and mobile designs.

Branding

One of your first considerations for your real estate website design will be how you add your branding. Some companies do it by using their company color, others use fonts and characters that express their company’s identify.

For real estate, you are the brand. This means you will need to include pictures of yourself in several places. You should also let some of your personality shine through in your site.

Layout

The way your layout each page will affect the number of people who continue to use your site. While the traditional side bar is great to help with navigation, more sites are opting to have a home page that looks different. An increasing number of home pages are the site map. Each of the pages are broken up into short sections on the home page. These sections provide details about what users will find on the page.

This does mean that the home page is incredibly long, but this is no longer considered a problem. Since users are already accustomed to this kind of functionality because of cell phone, they have become accustomed to getting what they need in one place instead of having to flip through several pages.

Your Platform and Technology

One of the most critical elements of real estate website design is the platform you will use and the technology that will access it. Since your site needs to be interactive, you need a robust platform. WordPress is one of the most common because it offers a lot of solutions that you aren’t even aware you need in the beginning.

Ultimately, you want a platform that takes care of all the major areas of the website:

• User experience
• CRM technology
• Live listings

WordPress is popular because it integrates a lot of different technology for optimal results.

Content

This one is obvious yet all too often not considered element of real estate website design. You need to create a content plan for your site. It will help you determine how many pages you need, define what you offer, and how to use SEO most effectively. Since listings fall into this category, you need to have a plan before you start.

Integration

For real estate website design, IDX integration has become the fastest way to generate leads. IDX integration gives visitors a way to browse live listings and gives you a way to index them. It’s a handy tool that can make it much easier to see what is attracting attention.

If you aren’t sure how to proceed of if you would like some assistance, contact us to help get your website working for you.

Background & Reputation

Start by examining their background. Do they have experience in interior design? Are they former real estate agents? Finding out what they bring to the table can help you determine if they have what it takes to make your listings look their absolute best.

Naturally, you will also want to review the company’s reputation. Asking for references from other real estate agents and home sellers is a step that can help you narrow down your search. It’s not a step you want to skip.

Stylistic Flexibility

Homes come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. The home staging services you partner with should have experience working with the types of homes that make up the majority of your listings. Whether you are selling Craftsman’s, Art Deco’s, or Georgian Colonial’s. be sure that your partner knows how to use the architectural elements to make these properties look their best so that they match the expectations of prospective buyers of those types of properties.

When considering home staging services, ask to see examples of the scenes they have designed. Look for their use of colors, the way they maximize lighting, how they position furniture to create a strong sense of space, and all the little details they tend to. Visual examples give you a good idea of their thought process and their effectiveness at creating scenes that resonate with prospective buyers. The stronger their knowledge of design principles and possibilities, the more appealing your listings will be in the eyes of prospective home buyers.

Work Ethic & Work Style

Everyone has their own way of getting the job done. You will want to choose a partner who has a work ethic and work style that you can work with. This can help minimize conflict and reduce stress as you wait for them to complete the job. The closer their work ethic and work style matches your own, the more efficient and effective the partnership will be. This translates to increased sales and greater profits for everyone.

Most importantly, you will want to make sure that the home staging service has the ability to complete the volume of work you expect to send their way. This is crucial as you don’t want to end up in a situation where the service is so backed up that you can’t get your listings out there on your schedule.

The Brass Tacks

Home staging services can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way up to thousands of dollars depending on the services required and the size of the home. You will want to drill deep into the pricing of their services and what you can expect to pay for the services you typically need. Many real estate agents are able to negotiate a lower rate for these services due to the volume of business they are able to generate for the home staging service itself.

Premier Commission can help you get the most from your real estate business. We invite you to contact us to learn more about the services we offer that can help you increase your overall sales and maximize the profits from your efforts.

1. Video Marketing

According to research, approximately 3/4 of all brands see better returns on their investments when using video marketing. The reason this is the case is because people who are looking for real estate love visuals. Though you might have dynamic infographics or even slide shows on your site, adding the video element can greatly increase leads for your business.

2. Social Media

If you aren’t already, you must start using social media if you want to generate leads. Facebook, for instance, has more than a billion users. Though you won’t be focusing your marketing efforts on all of these people, you will have a target audience that you want to approach, and these people are almost certain to use social media. The trick is, however, to make sure your posts are targeted correctly.

3. Paid Google Advertising

Another option to generate real estate leads is to use different types of Google advertising. Google offers a number of options to small business owners, contractors, and others who are not in the same league as the mega corporations that dot the internet landscape. Google Adwords, for instance, is an excellent option for real estate agents, and it is fairly easy to use thanks to the multiple guides available online.

4. Referrals from Other Agents

It might be surprising, especially if you are new to the industry, that you can get a lot of leads by getting referrals from other agents. This can certainly work well, but you can’t expect referrals from just any agent. These work best when you are getting referrals from agents who do not live in the same area that you do. Networking is extremely important to the success of a real estate career, so make sure to attend regional and national conferences when possible. Most real estate agents come across many people each year that are relocating, and you want them to recommend you when people move to your area.

These are just a few new creative lead generation tactics that you might not have thought about for your real estate endeavor. These tactics are especially important if you are a new agent. For even more information on how to access cash to implement your lead generation, contact Premier Commission.

1. Not Blogging
   Helpful, relevant blog posts can help you build relationships with clients and potential clients as you will be able to position yourself as an authority. You can also use your blog to drive traffic to your website. Many agents avoid blogging for fear of wasting their time trying to compete against the major real estate portals; these people may see blogs as obsolete for marketing purposes. However, blogging can still be effective despite the fact that blogs are no longer a novelty.
2. Not Exhausting the Potential of Social Media
   This is a problem that you may think is limited to older, technophobic real estate agents but you would be wrong. A rookie real estate agent may also fall prey to this error. Not taking advantage of social media is a major mistake as it is very effective for showing homes to clients who would never have come across the location otherwise. As real estate agents, we are already heavily dependent smartphones, tablets and laptops for work so there is no reason that we should not take full advantage of the benefits provided by social media. For starters, work on making it easy for visitors to share your content and to follow you.
3. Not Focusing on Function Over Form When It Comes to Your Website
   Your goal should always be on the quality of your content. Of course, this does not mean that you should neglect style; instead, you should try to have both. Provide visitors with information like home price comparisons in the neighborhood as well comparisons with national average home prices. Statistics, graphs and infographics can be used to simplify large amounts of complex data and enable easier comprehension.
4. Having a Forgettable Website
   The idea is to have a website that your visitor will find so useful that they keep returning to it. As a rookie real estate agent, you can make a name for yourself by providing quality content in a niche area. Your website should be easy to use and provide high-resolution photos and videos as well as well-crafted descriptions.

5. Not Posting Frequently Enough
   The key to building a strong following is to post quality content regularly. Have a posting routine so that you have fresh content up on at least a weekly basis. This will help your audience to remember you and will keep them subscribed to your site.

Note that even experienced real estate agents can be prone to the errors above. If you are presently making one or more of them, the key is to learn and move on. Mistakes are unavoidable for those new to the industry; there will be no limit to your potential for success once you know how to avoid the more serious ones.

To learn more about the rookie real estate agent mistakes you can be avoiding, contact us at Premier Commission today!

Accessibility

The first step to making good use of your real estate open house sign in sheet is to make it readily available to anyone who is entering the property. By placing it on a counter or table in a very prominent part of the home, and making sure that you greet each customer and direct them toward the sign in sheet, you will have a better chance of collecting their contact information. Even better than a physical sign in sheet is to use one of the popular sign in apps now available on smart phones. This allows users to check in on their phones and share their information in a way that you can later access from anywhere with an internet connection. This is easy and convenient for both parties.

Be Respectful

Now that people have spent nearly a decade being bombarded with all kinds of spam and advertising over the phone and online, many are weary of giving out personal information to someone who is trying to sell a house. By showing visitors that you are going to respect their privacy and their space by not sending them unwanted ads and constant emails. You are more likely to get their information. Give them an option to turn down newsletters ahead of time so that they are only receiving the communications that they really want.

Examine The Data

Contact information is useful not just because it lets you reach potential customers, but also because it helps you identify shared characteristics among those customers. By reviewing the contact information, email addresses and other information that you gather, you will be able to develop a demographic picture of who your customers are and how you should be marketing that house.

Reach Out

Ideally, your open house will attract a ton of traffic, but realistically that house will not be perfect for every person that stops by. This could be because of space, price, or other features that are beyond your control. However, even if that individual is not interested in purchasing the house you are currently showing, their information on your real estate open house sign in sheet indicates that they are interested in buying something. You now have the chance to reach out to them and identify what they are looking for and try to offer them something that better fits their needs.

A successfully implemented real estate open house sign in sheet can provide limitless value for agents. It allows you to tighten up your marketing efforts on the house you are currently selling by providing information about people who are already interested, but it also opens up your customer base to people who are looking for something else instead. You can take advantage of both groups of people by following up with them and getting more information about their exact housing needs.

If you’re looking for a great way to get your hard-earned commission today to boost your open house marketing efforts, get in touch with Premier Commission. Our convenient commission advances for real estate agents will make sure you have the cash you need to hold a successful open house!

1) Location, Location, Location

The “location, location, location” trope doesn’t only apply to property value, but also how you handle your career. If you’re determined to find success in a particular city or neighborhood and are less than fussy about your specialty, assess the demographics in that location. Fortunately, the realty sector makes this effortless for you. The National Association of Realtors publishes state-by-state reports of markets, traffic, and trends. Your location-driven real estate niche needn’t be defined by suburbs. Sometimes realtors choose smaller niches like university or school districts and active adult communities.

2) The Housing Sector

Home sales are a popular real estate niche because of how rewarding this sector is, but markets are often flooded for that reason. Some realtors enjoy travelling or selling online, specializing in historical eras or architecture styles instead of locations. Specialized knowledge of Victorians, brownstones, or luxury property gives you the freedom to learn enough about your sector to make your services more valuable than that offered by others. If you prefer commercial property, you might deal in shopping malls, or schools.

3) Clients

If you’re a people person, you might find your passion and profits in client categories. This lets you work with niche investments, too, so if you enjoy combing through analytics, you might choose to work solely with exclusive sellers. There’s plenty of success to be found in segments like second home buyers, growing families, and young couples.

4) Networking

Network outreach is one of the most frustrating parts of a career in realty, particularly if it’s not a skill you excel at. It takes years to develop a profitable network, so the smartest way to handle it is to dig into an existing network. If you belong to a soccer club, school, or similar community, the people you know there may be one of your most valuable assets. It allows you to develop your real estate niche with ease. Some realtors even specialize in selling to hobbyist groups and the like.

5) Modernize

If you were to reinvent the real estate market for today’s needs, you’d probably move it online. When real estate brokers first emerged, the internet didn’t exist, but today, there are a number of realtors tapping online demographics. If you’re tech-savvy enough to start your own e-commerce brokerage, it might be the ideal niche for you. Considering the sheer number of private sellers cutting out the realtor entirely, it’s critical that the industry disrupt this by offering better digital services.

6) Designations

Few realtors reach the peak of their triumph by resting easy. Your skills and knowledge need to be honed. Every niche can benefit from its own collection of designations and qualifications. Examples of these include:

• Representing buyers (ABR)
• Seniors’ home buying and selling needs (SRES)
• Resorts and second homes (RSPS)
• Negotiation expert (CNE)

If you’re considering developing your own niche and need upfront funds to boost the process, contact us today.

Learn about what types of properties exist in your local market

You know that one of the most important factors that affects the value of a property is the building that sits on it. The more rooms, square feet, amenities, etc. that a building has, the more valuable the real estate itself will be.

Relatively subtle shifts in building design can cause significant changes in a property’s value (in certain markets, an extra bathroom can make a home worth tens of thousands of dollars more than an otherwise identical home). That’s why in order to become a local real estate expert, you’ve got to learn about what types of buildings stand on every street.

Accept the fact that you don’t know everything

The biggest key to becoming a real estate expert in your local area is to never assume that you know everything. This is because the market conditions in your neighborhood can change significantly thanks to a single property transaction.

This means that you’re going to have to constantly watch the market very closely. Pay attention to trends in asking prices. Also keep an eye out for purchase anomalies, because these can impact the market value for every piece of property in the neighborhood.

Become a part oxymetholone profile of the community

Understanding your local real estate market will require you to constantly have your ear to the ground. This is because a real estate market can be whimsical; if you want to turn yourself into a true expert of your market, you must understand where it is headed in real time.

When you’re engaged with the local community, you’ll have an opportunity to hear about the latest trends and sentiments in the local real estate market.

Build business relationships

Your local real estate market has two components: residential and commercial. You’ll gain an edge in both by having connections to local businesses. This is for a couple of reasons.

First of all, local businesses make commercial real estate moves all of the time. If you’ve built connections with these businesses, who do you think they’re going to call to discuss their real estate options first?

Second, local businesses are run by real people. People are most likely to work with those who they trust — especially for a decision as big as buying a new home. This means that you’ll likely be privy to lots of info before any other ears in the market hear about it.

Don’t ignore your competition

Although real estate is a competitive industry, you can’t afford to completely separate yourself from every other real estate agent in the market. Other agents will often throw you tips if they aren’t able to take on an opportunity. Also, some of your biggest opportunities will come by way of other agents, since many buyers and sellers rely on agents to find that perfect deal.

Are you a local real estate expert?

Remember that no matter how much you know about your local real estate market today, it won’t matter next week. In order to be a true expert of your market, you’ve got to constantly keep yourself ahead of the curve. The only way to do this is to build connections and keep learning as much as you can about your community.

Looking to stand out from the crowd when it comes to your local real estate marketing? Premier Commission offers commission advances so you can get the cash you need to keep your business running smoothly and market yourself as a knowledgeable agent. Contact us today to learn more!

How Instead Of Why

By time you are starting your first job at a real estate brokerage, you have spent lots of time in classrooms, studying and taking tests. All of that information is imperative to making real estate deals because you need to understand the rules and regulations that make deals happen. Unfortunately, all of that information only tells you why you have to do things a certain way, but it doesn’t teach you much about how to actually make things happen. A real estate mentor can help you learn the negotiating skills necessary to close deals, the marketing skills necessary to get your clients, and the time management skills to keep you from getting overwhelmed once the responsibility is on your shoulders.

Mutually Beneficial Partnerships

Building a good relationship with a real estate mentor now can be an invaluable way to create a lasting partnership for years to come. When you’re in a crunch and need advice or recommendations, you will have someone that you can count on to help you out. After you have made it on your own for a little while you may be able to give your mentor advice on new marketing strategies and tools that you have found useful on your own. No matter what the topic, sometimes it’s just nice to have somebody that you can share stories with and gain insight from on a personal level.

Learning Hard Lessons

Of course, the number one reason to take advantage of a real estate mentor opportunity is that you can learn from their mistakes without having to make them on your own. If your real estate mentor has been in the business a long time, they will be able to give you a cut and dry rundown of what to expect once you are on your own. Everything from market changes, unruly clients, legal battles, pay and more is on the table. An experienced mentor will be able to answer your questions without overselling the job because they know what it’s like to really be out in the field.

Most large real estate agencies have some form of mentorship already built into their structure. They want you to get started with the best available information and tools they have, and that means letting you learn from their top agents. If you aren’t working for an agency that has already made this a priority, it never hurts to ask a local agent to be your real estate mentor. Many of them remember what it was like in the beginning, and they will be happy to help you out or can point you in the direction of someone that they believe is highly qualified to mentor you. Either way, taking the time to get familiar with a real estate mentor in your area will provide you invaluable knowledge and experience that you would never be able to get in a traditional classroom environment alone.

For more information about getting started on your real estate journey with a commission advance from Premier Commission, visit us online or call today at 1-866-309-5582. We are here to help real estate agents build their businesses by giving them the tools they need to succeed today.

Cover the Basics

Many first time home buyers, or buyers who have not purchased a home for many years, may not be familiar with the various steps in the purchasing process. Before you ever set foot in a single house with your client, sit down and walk them through all of the nitty gritty details and make sure they understand the financial implications of what they are about to take on. For most people, owning a home is a major part of their dream, but is also the single largest purchase they will ever make. Unease with the basics at this stage will only complicate things down the road.

Prioritize Features

To ensure that your clients are looking at the right kind of houses, make sure you narrow down your search efforts to revolve around the most important features. Make a list of their top five needs in a house. Space, location, budget and storage are typically at the top of this list. Make sure that the list is prioritized so that you have a little bit of wiggle room with the least important features, whether that means that the house is located an extra mile from work, or that it has a smaller closet than they would have liked. As long as the house meets the buyer’s expectations for their primary concerns everything else can be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Dig

Once the buyer has decided on one or two houses that they are seriously considering, your job is not done. Help them do a little bit more research about the homes in question and really dig to determine if this is the right choice for them. Home buyer’s remorse often comes into play when the owner learns about traffic, troublesome neighbors, or other issues that are not normally disclosed in a home listing. Look into insurance claims and maintenance information regarding the house, ask the neighbors why the previous residents moved away and get familiar with the area.

Purchasing a home means putting down roots for young families, and creating a comfortable place to retire for older buyers. Home buyer’s remorse can keep your client from being completely happy with their purchase if they feel like they didn’t have enough information before reaching the closing table. As an agent, your job is to walk buyers through the process and give them insight based on what you have learned from previous purchases and common issues. Asking the right questions and pointing clients toward the information they need to make an informed decision will earn you a reputation as a trustworthy agent working on behalf of your clients.

Premier Commission provides commission advancements to real estate agents who need money to get their businesses off the ground. For more information about our services, visit us online or call today at 1-866-309-5582 to speak to one of our agents.