Shopping For A Real Estate Web Site

Whether you are choosing to design your own website or are paying someone else to design it for you, you should first start by looking into  web host providers and all the plans they will offer you. Keep in mind most web hosting providers will work with you through your design process, many will even offer you all the tools you need to design a great real estate website. The providers should work with you even if you chose to have a outside professional design your website for you. Below we take a look at some of the things you should be looking at no matter if you are choosing to DIY or outsourcing the design to someone else.

1. Template Websites - Your web host should offer you many template choices and these should be FREE! of charge for you to use. If your host is charging you extra for any template, we are not 100% sure you should be using them. Most professional web designers will call templates "cookie cutters" and they will go the extra mile and try to talk you out of this...they want your money. There is NOTHING wrong with using a template. As long as you can modify your template to match the look you are wanting, use the template. This will save you time and money in the long wrong. As long as your web host offers additional tools, resources, widgets, etc. to implement into your website, we say have a blast. You will also pick up design knowledge along the way, plus you will save big time by updating your own website.
2. Custom Websites -  Using outsourced designers comes with a price tag, sometimes a large one at that. Most designers will charge between $250.00 to $3,000 for a custom website. The price tag will depend on what you need for website. Along with this comes updates, if you can't do it and many times you can't becuase this is a custom website, you will be forced to pay extra for adding listings. Take your time when shopping around for a custom designer, avoid Craigs List (sorry CL designers) or if you must use Craigs List, use a U.S. based designer! It's ok to pay a percentage up front, but never pay in full until your website is finished and working how it should. You will want to get a few quotes and spend time talking with the designer prior to any money exchanging hands. Have them send over a step by step breakdown of what they will be doing. Create a punch list of sorts with dates and times of completion. Most designers should have the site done in a matter of days - if your designer is telling you months! Find a new one ASAP!
3. CMS or Content Management System - This is one of the most important things to look for in your web hosting provider. Having a CMS system that is easy for you to work with and understand is going to save you from having to rely on a Webmaster to add or change things to your website. Webmasters can take days to get something done once you send a request over to them, they will also charge you by the hour or by the job.
4. Tech Support and Marketing - It is important to remember that having the best real estate website standing behind you, will not always generate new leads for you. There is only a handful of niche web hosts in the market today that have the expertise of programming real estate programs themselves (not out sourced) but can offer you marketing advice. Depending on the advice needed, some web hosts will offer this free. If you are looking for major advise, of course you should expect a charge. After all, you do not sale a house for free, right? Your web host should offer you phone support - support you can understand. Try to avoid those porviders that only offer technical support via a 'support ticket', tickets can take hours or days for them to respond to. This support should be 24/7, even if you don't work on your website at 3 am! you just might have a sleepless evening and decide to work on things. It's great to know that you can just pick up the phone. Even to say hello. 

We have included a short list of web hosting providers that specialize in real estate web hosting to help you get started or if you are looking to switch.

These technology companies / web hosts provide real estate websites for the real estate professional