The Tech-Savvy Real Estate Agent

Issues Covered

In This Chapter

• should you build your own Web site or use a service?

• What do you need to set up a Web site?

• What should the Web site contain?

• Where do you find content for your site?

Chances are that you shop online, so you understand the convenience of the Web for checking out products and shopping resources. You're not alone; many people use the Web to shop for homes as well as for electronics, apparel, and other goods. In fact, the National Association of Realtors estimates that about two-thirds of home buyers start their research on the Web. That's a powerful argument for you to use the Web to market yourself and your listings.

The Web has many positives: It's a fast, inexpensive way to deliver information to lots of people as well as target specific information to individuals. The Web is also a convenient way for clients and prospective clients to communicate with you.

But there are some negatives: Notifying potential clients that your site exists is difficult, adding content to your site requires technology expertise most agents don't have, and meeting customers' expectations of quick responses and always-current information seven days a week, 24 hours a day, is also hard.

Still, a real estate Web site is a must-have today. The real questions are: How do you set one up? And how do you determine what information you should place on it?