| There is no question that the advent of the | | | | innovative realtor will often set up his page so |
| internet as an ecommerce hosting tool has | | | | that it provides additional pictures and information |
| transformed the real estate industry. The internet | | | | about the property. Contact information in the |
| is a particularly well qualified platform for real | | | | form of phone numbers and an email template |
| estate presentation. Today's large real estate | | | | are essential: the key is to make it easy for the |
| websites will sort available properties by area and | | | | customer who has found an interesting property |
| then present them with a combination of written | | | | to connect with the listing agent. |
| information, photos and often video segments. | | | | Nothing will accomplish this more effectively than |
| Nationwide firms such as Coldwell Banker operate | | | | an attractive, informative website that |
| sites that act as national listing services. | | | | personalizes the realtor and connects him or her |
| A home buyer can now do his initial research | | | | to the property in question. When choosing a |
| seated in front of a computer terminal. The | | | | hosting company, the realtor should select one |
| traditional approach of contacting an agent and | | | | that understands the technology behind "virtual |
| having the agent arrange for home viewings that | | | | tours" and will provide the bandwidth to include |
| may or may not suit the client is no longer the | | | | them in the website. |
| first step. Today, the home buyer can select a | | | | Videos of the various rooms in the home are an |
| range of houses suitable for viewing on the | | | | enormous enhancement of the property |
| internet and then have a real estate agent | | | | presentation. Real estate website hosting can be |
| arrange the home visits. | | | | something of a specialty, so choosing one with |
| This new reality means that the agent is no | | | | the most advanced technology that allows a |
| longer the client's first contact. For that reason, it | | | | potential home buyer the chance to 'view' the |
| is critical that active agents establish an internet | | | | home online will go a long way in supplementing |
| presence. If a customer is clicking through homes | | | | the sales presentation. |
| and finds one of interest, it is important that the | | | | It is important, also, that the realtor's site provide |
| listing agent be "clickable" on the same page. | | | | views and information over and above that |
| Otherwise, the customer may call his friend, the | | | | provided on any national real estate internet |
| realtor down the street and ask him to step in. | | | | listings. The realtor's personal site should be |
| The predominant website host for | | | | in-depth, personable, and offer the client as many |
| non-commercial real property is Realtor.com, the | | | | options as possible. |
| site operated by the National Association of | | | | Here, too, the realtor can work with his personal |
| Realtors. carries over two million five hundred | | | | website host to design a site that will lead the |
| thousand listings and for many of them, the listing | | | | potential customer to other listings in the area |
| agent has an ad and a web address right along | | | | similar to the one that has been selected. These |
| side. Their use of the web is an excellent example | | | | properties may be listings from other brokers; the |
| of ecommerce hosting: it is a well-formatted | | | | idea is to maximize use of internet technology to |
| marketing and product presentation tool. | | | | bring that potential customer into the realtor's |
| A realtor should have a personal website that is | | | | fold, regardless of whose listing the customer |
| the next stop for the potential customer. An | | | | ultimately chooses to purchase. |