According to popupsmart.com, in 2023, the number of WordPress sites in the world is over 455 million; meaning 42.7% of all websites are built using WordPress. Not only that, there are over 8,800 free themes in the WordPress themes directory. (GULP!) Plus, there are thousands more, some paid, some with applications for any business, some saying they are specifically designed for real estate agents and brokers. In a nutshell, searching the Internet to find a WordPress theme is like being a kid in a candy store!
So, how do you choose the right one for your real estate IDX website?
You’d think it would be as easy as finding the one with the design you like best. And that’s definitely an important consideration. But not all themes are created equal and some can run you into hot water down the road as you continue to build-out your website. We’ve put together just a few simple tips to help you in your search.
#1 VISION. Have a vision ahead of time and make sure your theme can deliver on it. Don’t get caught half way through your development process realizing that something you really wanted to do isn’t possible in the way you thought – or at all – with that theme. Going backwards is costly and demoralizing. Look at other agent or broker sites you admire and identify what is important for you to have on your own website.
#2 FLOW. Think as much about flow – how your visitors will navigate through the various areas of your site, if it’s intuitive, and enjoyable – as about a beautiful design. Imagine your customers using it and your content in it. Will they know where you want them to go and be able to get there easily? Make sure there’s a live demo you can click around not just screenshots. Experience the process for yourself, thinking like a buyer or seller.
#3 HOME SEARCH. It may be tempting to only search for real estate specific themes as a way to narrow the field but not all of these themes are created by someone who understands real estate websites. Especially when it comes to including an IDX home search. Many themes have fancy slideshows and and listing showcases but these require you to add static property images and listing data. Adding static property detail pages is never a good idea as information can be quickly outdated, requiring manual changes. Further, if you would like to feature listings of other brokers and agents in your marketplace you must use IDX to do so.
And, most importantly….
#4 CHOOSE YOUR IDX SERVICE FIRST. We recommend choosing your IDX service before choosing your theme. It is much easier to find a theme from the many thousands that works with your IDX of choice than to commit to a theme and then realize that your IDX won’t work inside of it. Many IDX providers offer WordPress Plugins similar to the Flexmls IDX WordPress Plugin, but do they offer features such as LIVE data quick searches, saved searches, hotsheet links and slideshows as part of their display options? Most definitely worth asking about.
There’s a number of things to consider when selecting the right website platform and our team of IDX Consultants are happy to help you by making recommendations based on your business needs.
If you would like to talk with one of our IDX Product Consultants about these options and other lead capture ideas, simply schedule a consultation below or call 866-320-9977 to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.
~Here’s to your success!