A Complete Guide to Real Estate Website Development

Most of the wealth of 223 billionaires on the Forbes list came from real estate.

Real estate is among the most in-demand and rapidly evolving business sectors. Grand View Research projects that by 2025, the real estate market will have expanded to a value of $4,263 billion.

Undoubtedly, digitalization and an online presence will be essential for all types of businesses by 2024. The fact that 96% of prospective homeowners conduct their property searches online leaves traditional real estate companies with little to no competition.

The only viable strategy to gain an advantage over competitors is to transition to digital. Zillow, the preeminent real estate website in the United States, implemented this approach. Zillow now receives more than 44.8 million monthly visitors.

In this blog, we will explore the essential steps on how to build real estate website, key features of real estate website, the importance of real estate website design, and how much does it cost to successfully build your website. 

Digital Real Estate Market Stats

• When it comes to purchasing a home, 97% of people in the United States of America use online real estate websites.
• Forecasts indicate that real estate sector will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.41% from 2024 to 2028, reaching a market volume of US$729.40tn by that time.
• It is estimated that property websites receive more than 36 million unique visitors every single month across the world.

Why Should You Invest in Developing Real Estate Websites

Creating a top-notch real estate website is ideal for reaching Internet audiences and facilitating connections between buyers and sellers.

Furthermore, collecting feedback and reviews from clients will aid in establishing connections and fostering loyalty with them. Receiving positive feedback from them helps to enhance your reputation and boost trustworthiness. Typically, individuals choose to work with real estate brokers who have a strong reputation in the industry.

Therefore, creating a website can greatly benefit the growth of your real estate business.

If you are considering creating a website but are unsure of how to begin. This blog is essential as it will provide guidance on the key characteristics to consider when constructing a real estate website, their implementation, and a detailed process for establishing one.

Different Types of Real Estate Websites

Real estate websites serve various purposes, catering to the diverse needs of buyers, sellers, investors, and renters in the real estate market. Here are different types of real estate websites:

1. Real Estate Marketplaces

Real estate marketplaces serve as intermediaries connecting guests with hotel and property proprietors. Sites are listed by property owners on the platform, and visitors utilize the platform to make reservations for the sites. A marketplace must include a booking system, a payment integration system, a dashboard, and photo publishing, among other functionalities. 

A few prominent examples of marketplaces for real estate are Oyo, Airbnb, and Zillow.

2. Real Estate Investor Website

A real estate investment website caters to investors, not property owners or purchasers. It is a platform that enables real estate ventures to solicit investors who purchase shares in the venture. Subsequently, the investment can generate passive income for the investors. The investor website typically showcases a variety of initiatives from which the user may select.

3. Agency Websites

An agency website is ideal for individual real estate developers or a group of agents. It highlights individual initiatives for people and helps to raise awareness online. The website includes images, a 360-degree view of the property, videos, a contact number, and a site plan. The site provides a more tailored experience for users and is currently very popular. 

4. Property Management Websites

Property owners can get assistance with site operations and administration from property management websites. Creating real estate websites for clients is a wonderful approach to fostering trust, essential to the real estate manager's business. 

5. Real Estate Aggregators

Like an aggregator, a real estate aggregator site compiles and displays all the listings and data from other real estate sites in a single location. This option is superior and more convenient for purchasers or individuals seeking rental properties, as it enables a streamlined comparison of price, photographs, location, square footage, and condition all in a single location. Real estate aggregators include Apartments.com and LoopNet, as examples.

Key Features of Building a Real Estate Website

Real estate websites are highly effective instruments for both individuals searching for properties and platform administrators. These websites include a variety of features to accommodate a variety of requirements, and you can create a real estate website with the necessary knowledge. Common features for administrators and users are as follows:

Features for Admin:

• Property Management:

A listing's price, location, images, and description can all be added, edited, or removed by an administrator.

• Content Management:

To keep the website current and educational, administrators can change news articles, blog entries, and other information.

• Analytics and Reporting:

Make data-driven decisions to streamline your real estate transaction process by accessing statistics on user engagement, website performance, and property listings.

• User Management:

When necessary, administrators can grant or restrict access to real estate agents' user accounts.

• Lead Management:

Lead management assists real estate agents in keeping track of and managing leads generated from user inquiries.

• Email marketing:

Provide subscribers and registered users with newsletters, property updates, and other correspondence. Using a service like a LinkedIn email finder, you can attempt cold emailing contacts in your current network to kickstart your mailing list.

Features for User:

• Property Search:

A variety of criteria, including location, price, property type, and features, are available to users when searching for properties.

• Property Details:

Detailed listings contain comprehensive information regarding properties, such as photographs, detailed descriptions, amenities, and contact information.

• User Accounts:

To save queries, view property details, and communicate with real estate agents or owners, register and log in.

• Interactive Maps:

Users can explore the surrounding area and observe property locations on interactive maps.

• Favorites and Saved Searches:

Users have the ability to designate preferred properties and establish saved queries, which entail receiving email notifications whenever new listings satisfy the specified criteria.

• Contact Agents:

For inquiries and viewings, please contact the property proprietors or real estate agents. 

• Property Alerts:

Obtain notifications when properties that satisfy your specified criteria become available, thereby ensuring that you capitalize on ideal opportunities.

These features address the demands of both administrators and users, resulting in a dynamic and user-friendly property website. Consider partnering with a top website development company like Vasundhara Infotech to develop a website for your real estate business that includes all these necessary key features.

How to Build Real Estate Website

In the real estate market, which is very competitive, you need useful online tools. It takes careful planning and execution to build a strong online base. Check out the basic steps for real estate website development that will help you make a website for real estate in 2024.

Step 1: Define Your Website's Purpose

Establishing a prosperous website commences with a distinct and precisely defined objective, which functions as the cornerstone and governing principle throughout developing a real estate website. It is comparable to creating a blueprint for the structure, content, and overarching strategy of your website.

The "why" behind your real estate platform is its purpose. Consider the following: What are your intended objectives for this digital platform? One could provide a multifaceted response. Your objectives may include exhibiting your property listings, generating leads, establishing a robust online presence, or furnishing prospective clients with an informative resource. These may exist in various forms, including combinations.

Consequently, you must establish a specific objective. For example, the greater the clarity of your objectives, the more likely you can tailor your website to suit them. 

Step 2: Choose Your Approach: Web Developer or Website Builder

When developing a real estate website, one of the most important decisions is how to proceed. Two basic options are accessible to you: hire a web developer or use a website builder.

• Website Builders:

These user-friendly systems, which include some of the top website builders, are intended to make constructing a site easier. They include pre-designed and customizable templates and drag-and-drop interfaces, making it reasonably simple for someone with no technical knowledge to launch their own real estate platform. Web page builders are inexpensive and easy, making them ideal for people with limited resources or time.

• Web developers:

There is a significant preference for hiring developers for a reason. Web developers bring a great level of experience and customization to the table. They may create a real estate website that is tailored to your specifications. If you have specific needs, want a one-of-a-kind and strong website, and have the money to invest in professional help, web developers are the best option.

While website builders provide simplicity and cost-effectiveness, working with web developers is an excellent method to gain personalization and knowledge, which may help your real estate site stand out in a competitive market. 

Step 3: Register a Domain and Set Up Hosting.

Before you can create a real estate website to promote your real estate services and property listings online, you must first obtain a domain name and hosting. These two pieces serve as the foundation for your complete internet presence.

A domain is your website's internet address. Therefore, A domain name should be chosen precisely because it represents one's brand and influences total search engine optimization and user recognition.

Key Considerations for registering a domain:

• Choose a domain name that accurately represents your real estate business and is easy to remember. Incorporate your company name.
• Use relevant keywords like "real estate" and your locality in your domain name. This can improve SEO and help potential customers find you.
• The most common domain extension is.com, however, others such as .NET or .agency may be more relevant for your business.
• Check to see if your desired domain name is still available, and if so, register it as quickly as possible to secure it.

Website hosting is where people keep and see your site's files, images, and text. It's the same as renting a spot on the internet where people can visit your site anytime.

Key Considerations for setting up hosting:

• You should pick a server company that has a history of being up and helping customers. A dedicated host ensures that possible customers can always get to your site.
• Think about how your business will grow and choose a hosting plan that can be easily expanded to handle more users and listings as your business grows.
• Security is very important, especially when dealing with private real estate data. Ensure your hosting company has strong security steps to keep your site and user data safe.
• Hosting changes how fast and well your website works. A site that loads quickly is important for both SEO and user experience. 

Establishing hosting and domain registration in close collaboration with your web developer is critical. These experts can assist you in selecting the optimal hosting, configuring parameters, and integrating the domain seamlessly. 

Step 4: Plan Your Website's Structure and Features

Next, meticulously strategize the layout of your website and its features to align with your envisioned goals. Develop a customized plan for your website. The strategy should detail the specific design and elements that will make your site useful and appealing in a competitive market.

Create a comprehensive sitemap as a starting point. This will establish the hierarchy of your real estate platform, illustrating the interconnectedness of various sites. Think about the aspects that your real estate website should provide. These may include property listings, search features, contact forms, interactive maps, and virtual tours.

When planning, consider that hiring a developer can provide great customization to these elements, enabling you to provide your audience with a genuinely outstanding online experience. 

Step 5: Create Engaging Content for Your Listings

Property listings are crucial to your real estate platform, and the content displayed here can significantly impact your online visibility. Let's explore the details of how to create listings that are not only informational but truly compelling.

• High-quality photography:

Utilize photographs of superior quality that have a high resolution of the properties that you are listing. Exhibit various spaces, perspectives, and notable characteristics. Images that are well-lit and transparent can significantly increase the appeal of a product to potential consumers.

• Detailed descriptions:

Compose succinct yet informative descriptions for every property. Emphasize essential attributes, including square footage, number of bedrooms and restrooms, and distinctive selling points.

• Leverage video tours:

It is advisable to integrate video excursions for specific listings. By providing a dynamic, immersive experience, videos enhance the visitors' knowledge of the property.

• Client testimonials:

Consider including testimonials from contented clients on the listing pages if you have such clients. An increase in positive feedback has the potential to enhance one's credibility. 

By applying these strategies, you'll be well on your way to establishing appealing property listings that attract and retain potential buyers.

Step 6: Design an Attractive and User-Friendly Interface

The design of your real estate website plays an important role in ensuring that users have a memorable and enjoyable experience. Make it clear what you mean when you say you're working with your developer to create a real estate website that reflects both your vision and the needs of your target audience.

Here are some fundamental criteria for creating an appealing interface:

• Select a design that is appropriate for the real estate sector and is neat and professional. Clear interface design facilitates user attention on information and listings for properties.
• Make sure your website can adjust to different screen sizes and devices. Having a design that is optimized for mobile is crucial to expanding your audience.
• Put in place user-friendly and transparent navigation menus. It should be easy for visitors to locate contact details, search options, and property listings.
• Keep your website's typography and color design consistent. This develops a unified visual identity and strengthens your brand.
• Provide a user-friendly property search function that enables users to narrow down listings according to parameters such as property type, price, and location.
• Make sure your contact details are prominently displayed on every page; these are usually found in the header or footer of websites.

Step 7: Launch Your Real Estate Website

The official launch of your property's website is a noteworthy accomplishment. This is the point at which potential buyers can formally access your online store. But before you hit "publish," be sure everything is in order and has been thoroughly analyzed.

Pre-launch Checklist:

• Verify the accuracy and currency of all property listings, descriptions, and contact information.
  
• Confirm that your website operates without any issues across a range of devices, including tablets and smartphones.
• Ensure that your website is search engine optimized by implementing meta tags, keywords, and high-quality content.
• Verify that your contact forms are operating properly by testing them.
• Examine your website's loading pace and rectify any performance issues that may be present.
• Verify that your site is protected by the requisite security measures against user information.

Still not sure how to build a real estate website? Consider partnering with a leading web development company to build a real estate website for your business.

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Real Estate Business?

The cost of developing a real estate website is determined by various aspects, including the developer's location, the complexity of the platform required, the scope of work, and the technology stack selected. The cost difference between using an existing template and creating a site from scratch varies. Even if you choose the top real estate website builders, they will not have all of the features you require.

Furthermore, hiring a skilled real estate website developer would cost you approximately $30-50 per hour. As a result, a fully functional website with complicated features will cost you between $30,000 and $50,000. Notably, if you want a simpler version with a personalized website, the cost may drop to $15,000-$20,000. 

Looking for Real Estate Website Development Services?

It is not necessary for a custom real estate website to have an abundance of features in comparison to its competitors. You must initially enhance their functionality. Although perfection has no boundaries, you ought to approach it with greater diligence than anyone else.

If your product is exceptional, your advertising and SEO expenditures will not be excessive. 

People will appreciate its usefulness and recommend your website. Prioritize development over marketing if you wish to distinguish your real estate website.

Having the appropriate development team like Vasundhara Infotech on board will yield a favorable return on investment (ROI) and contribute to your success when clients recognize your capability to promptly and competently resolve their issues. 

Final Notes

The cornerstone of success for any real estate agency is its website. In order to effectively market their properties, real estate agents are frequently required to develop a real estate website. By effectively catering to these elements—including optimizing search functionality, incorporating mobile responsiveness, and enhancing property listings and user interactions—a meticulously designed website delivers a cohesive and captivating user experience.

Our dedicated real estate website developers at Vasundhara Infotech work in collaboration with industry experts and business owners to assist you in constructing a real estate website that embodies your vision. We are your ideal partner for real estate website design services, as our knowledge, assets, and streamlined procedure will help you save both time and money.

For further consideration on how we can support the development of a dynamic and efficient real estate platform, please reach out to us or request a FREE quote.