When I decided to create an additional site apart from my original static site, I wanted to develop a Wordpress blog site, because I believe that the blog is the best way to interact with others on the internet, and that Wordpress was the best platform to use. I was not disappointed.
Being a curious soul, I started to examine SEO, but my true interest was how could we in the real estate industry take the blog format into a further development that would best serve our consumers. I found that with a little determination, a little knowledge of code, and a little patience that I could make my site a one stop shop.
I have added a forum to allow visitors to have their own voice. I am creating a visual library to help people see some aspects of home inspections. I added the store to help you find items for the home. I am a professional real estate inspector (home inspector), who has written (what I think of as) useful articles when it comes to buying and selling a home. In short, I am placing the elements together to make this a site which can benefit home buyers and sellers or anyone interested in real estate.
When I first discovered OpenRealty, I thought that it would be nice for Realtors, but what use was it to me. I decide to download this open source program (free but donations appreciated) to see what it could do. I went through the process of uploading it to my site, and taking time here and there to see if I can easily modify it. This was a wonderful experience.
Was everything simple and the way that I like it? Well, no. The directions for the install were straight forward, but I had one head scratcher. I needed to set permissions for certain files after upload. This stumped me, but when I right clicked on the file on the site when I was using my FTP Client, I obtained a dialog box, which had an option similar in name to file properties. That allowed me to set the permissions. The next hiccup was when I was going from the administration section to the home page. I received an error. Reading the error message, I realized that the “Lazuli” template was set as my default, and that the first line could not be read by my browser. I opened the main page for the lazuli template in my editor, and deleted the first line. The page loaded fine.
Iwas then able to play with different pages in my editor to add my navigation buttons and blog header. To edit the pages like the home, contact us and about pages was easy enough, but I would have liked to copy information into it. I typed everything out in the editor, which allowed me to play with the style somewhat. Not bad, but I would have like a little more control. All other aspects of the program made perfect sense. I liked how to enter homes or agents. The listings looked good.
I know many of you have professional looking posts on your blogs for individual homes for sale, but this app may be worth a little effort for you. I decided to open this to the public to see how well it can work. If you like to check it out a little before using it on your own site, e-mail me, and I can set you up as an agent on my site. You can check it out by listing homes. I think you will find that this makes for a stunning way to present your clients homes. Here is the link: http://www.yourhoustonhomeinspector.com/openrealty. Let me know what you think.
When I decided to create an additional site apart from my original static site, I wanted to develop a Wordpress blog site, because I believe that the blog is the best way to interact with others on the internet, and that Wordpress was the best platform to use. I was not disappointed.
Being a curious soul, I started to examine SEO, but my true interest was how could we in the real estate industry take the blog format into a further development that would best serve our consumers. I found that with a little determination, a little knowledge of code, and a little patience that I could make my site a one stop shop.
I have added a forum to allow visitors to have their own voice. I am creating a visual library to help people see some aspects of home inspections. I added the store to help you find items for the home. I am a professional real estate inspector (home inspector), who has written (what I think of as) useful articles when it comes to buying and selling a home. In short, I am placing the elements together to make this a site which can benefit home buyers and sellers or anyone interested in real estate.
When I first discovered OpenRealty, I thought that it would be nice for Realtors, but what use was it to me. I decide to download this open source program (free but donations appreciated) to see what it could do. I went through the process of uploading it to my site, and taking time here and there to see if I can easily modify it. This was a wonderful experience.
Was everything simple and the way that I like it? Well, no. The directions for the install were straight forward, but I had one head scratcher. I needed to set permissions for certain files after upload. This stumped me, but when I right clicked on the file on the site when I was using my FTP Client, I obtained a dialog box, which had an option similar in name to file properties. That allowed me to set the permissions. The next hiccup was when I was going from the administration section to the home page. I received an error. Reading the error message, I realized that the “Lazuli” template was set as my default, and that the first line could not be read by my browser. I opened the main page for the lazuli template in my editor, and deleted the first line. The page loaded fine.
Iwas then able to play with different pages in my editor to add my navigation buttons and blog header. To edit the pages like the home, contact us and about pages was easy enough, but I would have liked to copy information into it. I typed everything out in the editor, which allowed me to play with the style somewhat. Not bad, but I would have like a little more control. All other aspects of the program made perfect sense. I liked how to enter homes or agents. The listings looked good.
I know many of you have professional looking posts on your blogs for individual homes for sale, but this app may be worth a little effort for you. I decided to open this to the public to see how well it can work. If you like to check it out a little before using it on your own site, e-mail me, and I can set you up as an agent on my site. You can check it out by listing homes. I think you will find that this makes for a stunning way to present your clients homes. Here is the link: http://www.yourhoustonhomeinspector.com/openrealty. Let me know what you think.
If this home inspector may beg a moment of your indifference to leave you with a thought to ponder, I would be most appreciative (he says with a smile). Looking at how internet users have been interacting with the real estate community on the web for the past few months in greater detail, and seeing that your site has been improving while receiving due recognition, I believe that I can make a helpful suggestion to take the association to a next step.
This missive has been inspired by a circumstance of last week. I was going to do an inspection of a home, and the Realtor representing a buyer was one whom I had worked with some months earlier. Being on the internet already, I googled his name to find his phone number, instead of digging through my rollodex. I found that his profile on your site was his main web presence, and I believe it could have been much better. Here are my thoughts:
A detailed, unique profile- sites like LinkedIn, ActiveRain, or Konnects among others allow users to create a personal profile which better serves the member. To have Realtors and other RE professionals create an original profile may enhance the web presence of many members who have no other site.
Add a social networking aspect to the site- this is a growing trend on the web, and HAR could help spread its message quickly and effectively to professionals and consumers through this medium. It will help develop a stronger community between the various professionals too.
Allow articles to be posted on your site and through e-mails like the Five Minute Realtor- my example here would be from the Houston West Chamber of Commerce. We can write one article per month, which is made available to the public through the web, and to members via e-mail. This is a great marketing and networking tool, which would be easy for HAR to accomplish.
Tying in offline and online networking- again from the chamber, having a business over lunch each month, where topics discussed could be about creating a valid working internet presence, which members could take back to improve their profiles and article submissions.
Well, that is my humble, basic outline, which I hope that you will consider. Considering that this is just a blog post, I will not belabor the points, but I think that these additions to the site could create a better real estate community here.
Your Houston Home Inspector,
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck
This past week found me travelling through much of central Texas for business and pleasure. It was interesting to note the character of the different communities, when it came to materials used to construct their homes, and how they were decorated. However, stopping and talking to people was of the greatest interest to me.
On Sunday afternoon, you could find me outside of a church in Spicewood, which is just outside of Austin, sitting in the shade of a tree with my tea, speaking to an artist from Germany, who is now living in our fair state. I was admiring a cross that she had made from timber, copper, and driftwood, so we spoke about her work. We swapped birdhouse designs as the hummingbirds flew past.
Our conversation turned to life in different cities, with a focus on commuting. She was going to return home to pick up some pieces to deliver to Fredricksburg later. She was not looking forward to the drive under our Texas' sun, but it was one that she needed to make. She mentioned how travelling around was easier in Europe, where she did not need a car. Her vitriol was directed to the traffic jams of my city, Houston. She did not see how I could live with it. I mentioned that I heard a report the Judge Emmet was looking into reviving commuter rail in the region. Much of the infrastructure is here, but it is used for other purposes. She did not believe that Houston would go that route.
Upon coming back home, I find an e-mail informing me that my region is moving ahead with commuter rail. I guess that high fuel costs bring about unexpected benefits. At first, I thought that the plans would just be between Houston and Galveston, but I discovered that it will be much more than that. The plan has its critics, but mainly it seems that people are complaining that they are not included, rather than having rail come by them. Well, we are just in the first steps, and there does seem to be a desire to make such a system work, so I feel that eventually the rail will be more inclusive. I would like to see if this system will somehow tie into the light rail lines that are now being built to pull the city together.
We are still in the proposal period for this development, so your voice can be heard, if you wish to comment about the routes or plans. Follow this link to read them for your self.
If only they had a train to take me to a tree in the Hill Country for a peaceful Sunday afternoon, I would be ever so happy.
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck
Freedman's Town is the oldest African settlement in Houston. It was settled by freed slaves before the civil war. It is on the National Historic Places list. Should it not be the pride of the African American community here? Should it not be the pride of all Houstonians? I have driven through the neighborhood with my children when showing them the older parts of my city. I wanted them to see where this city came from.
Freedman's Town sits right next to downtown, and it has recently been in the news. An older church was recently demolished by the city, because it was considered a hazard to the residents. One of the residents reported that bricks were crumbling off (some say taken off), and that a wall close to a sidewalk could come down. Most of the remaining historic buildings in the neighborhood area close to suffering the same fate. The low income residents simply do not have the means to maintain their heritage. However, this community is experiencing a rebirth. It is becoming vibrant once more.
Young professionals who had lived in the suburbs are now moving into this section of town, because of it desirable location. Downtown workers no longer want long rides to work in downtown offices. They do not mind exchanging larger lots for smaller locations when it means more convenience in other aspects of their lives. This new influx of residents have brought benefits to their older neighbors. New stores and shops have arrived to serve the community, and I am sure that the city is improving the infrastructure now. Property values have been rising rapidly, so the older residents now have access to funds that may have never realized by selling their historic home.
This is where I have a dilemma. It has longed bothered me that the inner city areas do not have access to the same amenities that other areas do. The emphasis on creating a city focused on the car has irked me as well. The idea of walking through a neighborhood, and meeting neighbors seems lost when we rely so heavily on the car. Moreover, I do not begrudge those who have little managing to make a profit n their belongings; however, I am saddened for my city's loss. What becomes of a town that forgets its past? Houston has always been looking towards the future, but there is a history here. These elements have helped shape the town to become what it is today. Somehow I wish that I could rally the troops to save some of this history; make its importance recognized by the city at large, while allowing the trend of creating a better community too. How do we accomplish this? Obviously the newer residents need to learn to respect the past of the neighborhood, while bringing it new life; a blending if you will, but I fear that may not happen.
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck
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I am a professional real estate inspector who works in the greater Houston area. TREC license number 9073. I also write articles for several sources on inspection and real estate topics.
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