Transform your site into a 
LISTINGS SHOWCASE with ListNOW™

Why do consumers visit a real estate website? Primarily they click on your site to see your PROPERTY LISTINGS. That's why it's so important to keep your listings fresh and updated, so the consumer will want to return to YOUR website frequently. Check the statistics in your virtual office to find out which is the most viewed page on your website. In most cases, after your visitor clicks on your home page, they will proceed directly to the listings section. That's why your FIRST PRIORITY in maintaining your website should be your Featured Properties section. We provide you with the tools to SHOWCASE your featured properties with our Listing and Virtual Tour Management system, ListNOW™ v 3.0.

According to the 2002 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, "forty-one percent of homebuyers used the Internet" to find information on buying a home during 2001.  This number has been rising rapidly since 1995. Homebuyers want to find valuable information on the Internet. That's why your NUMBER ONE GOAL should be to ensure that YOUR website contains the information homebuyers and sellers need to make an informed decision about their real estate needs.

How can you capture their interest? Give your visitors LOTS of information about homes for sale in your area, and keep the information updated. To accomplish this goal, be sure to enter your latest property listings into your ListNOW™ program. (If you don't have many listings personally, you can always include the listings of your colleagues in this section.)  

PHOTOS will make your properties come ALIVE (and get you MORE listings.) "A picture is worth a thousand words." Your ListNOW™ program gives you the ability to add UNLIMITED photos for each listing in your website. If you don't have a digital camera, now would be a great time to invest in this vital tool. The more photos you include in each listing, the more time the consumer will spend in your website. In addition to the photos, make sure the description of the property is as interesting as possible to keep your prospects captivated.  

Invite your visitors INSIDE your property listings with 360° Virtual Tours. Today's buyers and sellers now expect the convenience that virtual tours provide. You can use a virtual tour as an online extension of your own sales skills. There's no better way to really SEE a property online than with a 360° virtual tour. If you're interested in checking out the benefits of including virtual tours in your listings, we recommend VisualTour and Egg Solution - both are excellent companies with quality products and service.

With your ListNOW™ program, you are also able to set each active listing to 'Export'. What does this mean? If your active listings are set to 'Export'**, they will be featured in Yahoo's real estate section. The export feature is an important benefit of listing with YOU that can be emphasized in your listing presentation, to let your Seller know that you are exposing his property to the masses.

** Please read the Export Help guide as some areas in Yahoo do not accept individual or batch listings at this time.

Here's how to add listings to your website: It's as simple as filling out a form on the Internet. To add listings to your ListNOW™ program, log in to your Virtual Office. Then, click on ListNOW™. You will be presented with six different choices. To add a listing, click on 'Add Listings.' The first section includes the basic aspects of your listing (price, address, description, etc). In this section you can also choose your Property Type and Banner Display (did you know you can make your own banners in your Preferences section?). After you have completed the page, click 'Next' for the next section (your information will automatically be saved.)  

The next section will allow you to enter your bedrooms, baths, and some standard or custom feature points.  

Finally, the third section allows you to enter in unlimited photos, and a virtual tour. The virtual tour section allows you to input any URL where your virtual tour is located, or you can upload specific IPIX or Egg 360 files.  

Working on your website PAYS. It's in your best interest to actively work on your website on a regular basis. If you do not have many listings, add in some properties you've sold, and be sure to mark them accordingly with a colorful SOLD banner. An active and updated 'Featured Listings' section is important to the success of your website.

According to an article in RealtyTimes last week was an internal survey of Realtor.com visitors. Out of every 100 visitors:

• 80 are presently active in the market or thinking about buying or selling
• 66 visit more than once a week
• 34 contact a Realtor (that’s one in three visitors)
• 8 of 10 contact the Realtor by phone

For real estate professionals that work with mostly sellers, don't despair!  The 2002 NAR article mentioned above stated:

• Over half of home sellers chose their agent based on prior interaction with the agent or based on a referral from friends, relatives, or another broker. 
• The most widely reported marketing tools for agent-assisted transactions were yard signs, newspaper advertisements, and the Internet. 

For sellers agents, an alternative to displaying your listings on your website would be to feature your Marketing Plan for Home Sellers. Add an FAQ section with questions to help educate your Home Sellers. Market your website extensively to your sphere of influence.

Add IDX (Broker Reciprocity) to your Website for MAXIMUM Exposure. Whether you are a listing or a selling agent, if you add IDX to your properties section you will bring the power of the MLS to your website.  

What is IDX? Internet Data Exchange (IDX), also referred to as Broker Reciprocity, allows you to share property listings with other agents on your website. Agents and Brokers who participate in the program can display other agents' active listings without the listing agent's contact information. With IDX, you can offer your clients greater service while you maximize your own exposure and leads. 

• Gain more exposure by offering your services to a larger number of prospects - listings from all participating brokers will appear in your website through IDX.
      
• Build stronger relationships with your clients by providing them with ALL the listings in your local market area.
      
• YOU are the first contact with the consumer. Through IDX, each listing on your website will emphasize YOUR contact information, rather than the listing agent's, which means there is a better chance that potential buyers won't be lost to another broker.

How do you find out if IDX is available in YOUR area? We maintain a comprehensive list with all available IDX information here at Advanced Access headquarters. Please don't hesitate to e-mail us or give us a call on our TOLL FREE Support line 866-518-1571 and we'll be glad to give you the options available in YOUR area.

Advanced Access
8101 East Kaiser Blvd, Suite 300 Anaheim, CA 92808
Toll Free: (866) 518-1571
Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm (Pacific)
Saturday & Sunday, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm (Pacific)
Email: Support@AdvancedAccess.com
Website: www.AdvancedAccess.com

Back to Main Page