How to Choose the Right Platform for a Real Estate Website
If you are looking to set up a real estate website, there are a lot of considerations to make. From picking out a name to deciding on the structure and content of the site, there are a lot of factors that can affect the way your site will turn out.
Here are some of the things to think about when choosing a platform for your real estate site.
Mobile-Friendly
One of the first things you’ll want to do is make sure that the platform you choose is mobile-friendly. Up until recently, most real estate websites were built with a desktop-first approach, which meant that they were designed to fit large monitors and had complex layouts that were difficult to navigate on a small smartphone screen. This meant that an awful lot of people missed out on the opportunity to shop for real estate without having to look at a tiny phone screen all the time.
These days, most real estate platforms are built with a mobile-first approach. This means that they are designed for viewing on small mobile screens and ensure that all the content is easy to read and navigable. It also means that they make sure that all the pages load quickly and are easy to navigate.
Secure
The second thing you’ll want to do is make sure that the platform you choose is as secure as possible. It’s no secret that the world of online real estate is a dangerous place, especially when it comes to securing your personal information. It is imperative that your chosen platform is a safe and secure place to do business, so you can rest assured that any transactions you make will remain confidential.
Luckily, there are a few more established companies that vet their suppliers before they deal with them. This ensures that your personal data is not at risk. Ensuring that your personal data is kept private is the number one priority of the platform, so you can rest assured that your personal information will never be exposed to the wrong people. This is especially important if you are using the platform to market property for sale, as most companies will happily sell your personal data to third parties.
You don’t need to do anything special to ensure that your personal information is kept private. If you enter your details correctly, the chances are that your personal information will not be at risk. However, it never hurts to be on the safe side, so double checking your personal information is always a good idea.
Extensive Documentation
When it comes to getting things done, technical documentation is as important as actual code. In the world of software development, it’s common practice to write a lot of detailed documentation for your project. This helps explain every aspect of the code in easy-to-follow steps. Even if you’re not a professional, it’s still pretty easy to follow along and understand what’s going on. This documentation usually takes the form of a manual or an online guide, which makes it much easier to ensure that everything is up-to-date and correct.
For those who prefer to work with a professional, having a good set of documentation is essential as it allows them to follow the process exactly and gives them all the information they need to get the tasks done. While it might be tempting to skip over this step, forgetting to document your work can lead to bugs and inconsistencies that are difficult to track down.
Ease Of Use
Even if you’ve designed your website to be as functional as possible, it’s still not useful if the process of using it is too cumbersome. When someone visits your site, they want to be able to easily find the information they are looking for. Your choice of platform heavily influences the way your site will behave, so you want to ensure that the process of using it is as simple and smooth as possible.
Look for things like a dashboard that is easy to use and simple to navigate. When it comes to real estate websites, the goal is to make it as easy as possible for potential buyers to find what they want and to make the entire process as quick and pain-free as possible.
If you’re worried about whether or not your site will be secure, make sure that the privacy policy of the platform you choose states explicitly that your information is protected and that they don’t share or sell it without your consent. Make sure to read the fine print of the agreement, as there may be certain restrictions that apply, such as the use of cookies and tracking pixels, which many websites use to improve user experience. Restrictions like these can be found in the terms and conditions of service or privacy policy of the platform you choose.
Last but not least, make sure to look for websites that are mobile-friendly, secure and easy to use.