marciacatlin

Though not exactly a novel technology back in 2009 when everyone was online, the Internet has changed everything for home buyers and for realtors.
In 2017 many savvy, online home buyers now can create a short list of specific properties that pique their interest, culled from sources like Homes.com. There’s still plenty of need for agents and brokers, but in many ways, their main focus has evolved. They are no longer the sole information providers and curators. Their skills as experts, negotiators, and facilitators are in as high demand as ever.
In other words, the new homebuyer is already pre-sold before he picks up the phone and calls a broker. He knows what he wants already, in some cases the exact property, certainly the neighborhood, always the price range.
Vienna, Virginia realtor Doug Francis defines the new strategy perfectly for realtors both in the design and focus of his new real estate website. He notes: “Today’s smart digital marketing strategy needs to be geared towards becoming an industry resource, to create unique opportunities and gain new clients by being helpful”
Doug goes on to explain that while everybody is talking about social media, your website really needs to be the core of a strategy to demonstrate your professional experience through articles and helpful information.
“Facebook is for advertising, but consumers turn to Google for answers and searching for professionals who they can hire.”
Be sure to check out Doug’s stunning Genesis WordPress website at www.dougfrancis.com built on the Minimum Pro Theme.
 

87% of buyers use online resources and 75% select a real estate agent or broker to work with.
Buyers who utilize online resources during their home search are significantly more likely to also use an agent.
75% of senior home buyers go online to search for a home.
Nine out of ten Millennials turn to the internet and eight in 10 use mobile devices or apps to help with the home-buying process.
Millennial buyers and sellers use at least three online resources; one in four use five or more online resources.
Millennials scrutinize more agents, asking friends and family about their experiences with agents and reading online reviews more than other generations.
60% of buyers evaluate an agent’s local market knowledge.
89% of new home shoppers use a mobile search engine at the onset and throughout their research.
31% of home shoppers who take action on a real estate site are ages 25-34, surpassing all other ages.
75% of senior home buyers go online to search for a home.
[Source: Zillow.com]
 

Resources:
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/collections/zero-moment-truth.html
The Digital House Hunt: Consumer and Market Trends in Real Estate
Give Marcia a call at 561.906.3436 to help you build a website that captures homebuyers’ attention and closes the sale.
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save

Whether your aim is to write an agent blog, highlight your properties, build an email list, or go hyperlocal, I’ve got you covered!
Agent Focused Pro even saves printer ink and paper! A built-in stylesheet means that when you or your customers print a property listing off your site, only your logo and the page content print. There’s no useless navigation, sidebars, or footer – just the info you and your customers need.

Agent Focused Pro helps you present your business in a way you haven’t before.
With all the options available to you, you can make this theme truly your own:

• Add your own logo or use text for your business name.
• Upload a striking full-page, backstretch image on the home page to make a unique visual statement.
• Customize the widgetized homepage with property search, featured listings, featured communities, contact info and form, and more.
• Enable search for your listings alone or use your own IDX service (theme can be used with most,may require additional styles).
• Quickly set your colors for links and buttons — as well as some accents — via the one-click color customizer.
• Make each of your pages, posts, communities, and listings more visually appealing by uploading large featured images to them.
• Choose from lots of widget areas and three layout options (left sidebar, right sidebar, and full-width).
• Use custom text to introduce your listings, communities archive, and taxonomy pages, as well as your blog categories and tags.

When it comes to real estate web design, Agent Focused Pro features everything you’ve come to expect from StudioPress themes:
A mobile-responsive design that looks amazing wherever it’s viewed
Support, documentation, and the StudioPress community forum
The best rankings possible because of our clean code and mobile-friendly design
Super-fast page load times
One-click theme updates
Airtight security so you can rest easy
Demo Agency Focused Pro