Darien, CT

More and more often, I am passing ‘for sale' signs that have a rider with a vanity domain plastered on it and I think to myself, it's finally catching on! Single-property sites are powerful, cost-effective tools to promote property listings both online and offline and for a long time I think they've been an overlooked resource that Realtors® haven't fully taken advantage of. Back in February 2007, Joel Burslem wrote a post about single-property sites on the future of real estate marketing blog. Since then a number of providers have joined the single-property site arena - AgencyLogic, SPS, ListingDomains.com, VFlyer, and Postlets to name a few. All the sites have the same general features allowing for you to create 123anywhere.com - adding photo tours, lengthy descriptions, branding information, links to more information and syndication capabilities to sites like Trulia, PropSmart, Google Base, Yahoo!. Agents can attract prospective buyers to the site with sign riders and by adding the URL to all their advertising. With prices ranging anywhere from $9.95 to $50 it's a small investment in your overall marketing strategy. Prudential Connecticut Realty has their own exclusive Home Suite technology allowing for agents to establish these same custom websites dedicated to their listings. Web browsers can easily navigate several pages of useful information targeted towards the specific property, including features like video, aerial photography, community profiles, custom descriptions, and links to additional information. Prudential Connecticut agents have taken advantage of this free tool and are not only creating a distinct web presence for their properties but some are enjoying the SEO benefits of linking back to their personal sites. Click here to view a Home Suite example. Living in a web 2.0 world, consumers are demanding fresher and more descriptive information about homes for sale. While I do agree with Joel that agents should make their first priority getting their listings on their own site, I think single-property sites are exceptional ways to not only ‘seal the deal' by wowing your sellers but are also a great marketing tool that allow you to center your marketing strategy around an easy to remember URL.

There's been a lot going on at REALTOR.com® recently. Among a number of new features the site has released, the find a Home search path has been reconstructed to dramatically enhance consumers home search experience - making it faster and easier for them to access information and complete a search. According to the website, The REALTOR.com® home page, Search Results Page (SRP), and Listing Details Page (LDP) have all been completely redesigned as well.

Additional Details and New Features

A New Face On The Home Page

• Warm color pallet, visually clean presentation, and streamlined design.
• Rotating Photo Carousel presents engaging images of homes currently for sale rather than stock photos. The display learns from a consumer’s search behavior, changing from Extreme Homes – highest priced homes in America, to homes relevant to their search criteria.
• Find a Home search box now allows searches by MLS ID, and address from the home page.
• Increased visibility for Find a Neighborhood, and Find Home Values.
• Better presentation of the tools and navigation links currently in the left rail on the Classic site.
• My Listings & My Searches personalization features are integrated into the navigation bar.

Search Results Page (SRP)

• Search results now match search criteria exactly, include all property types by default, and are sorted from high to low price.
• Seamlessly navigate between three different views of SRP: List, Map, and Photo Gallery view to quickly visually scan listings.
• Featured Homes receive enhanced visibility and exposure at the top of all three SRP views.
• Removal of interim search and transitional ad pages allows immediate access to search results.
• Refine Your Search widget moved to left rail, creating a persistently visible search experience.
• Improved presentation of listings, displaying street address on the title line, an eye-catching additional photos badge, and high-impact yellow bar on showcase listings.

Listing Details Page (LDP)

• Multi-page tabbed structure removed to display everything on a single page, with certain "Calls to Action" opening up in layers.
• Map integrated into the page layout, this is a precursor to the addition of the school and neighborhood reports on every LDP.
• Basic listings display four photos, and the photos are larger.
• New Showcase Listing Enhancements:
  • Photo gallery, driving directions and email forms display as separate layers.
  • Agent & Office information displayed in new integrated business card format on the LDP.
  • Showcase listings are visually highlighted by a yellow background.
  • Photos of Agent’s/Broker’s other listings are displayed on the LDP.

The Benefits of the New Realtor.com

• All listings can now display four photos, and will include neighborhood and school information prior to 'General Audience' release.
• The search algorithm has been changed to addresses frequent consumer requests that all property types be included, and that search results match their search criteria exactly.

All in all, Realtor.com is certainly working hard to add a fresh new look and make searching for homes for sale easier than ever. I also like the fact that they will be updating information every fifteen minutes, which means listings will continuously be updated and will always remain accurate. Having added the minimum photo display to four is an added benefit as well, especially for agents that don't subscribe to the added marketing features offered for the site.

Watch the video below to get more information regarding the new Realtor.com:

Source: http://www.realtor.org/realtor_benefits/benefits_partners/realtor_com/the_new_realtor_com_