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Have you ever bought a used car and got the feeling that the salesman wasn’t genuine? Almost like they were trying to get every last cent out of you?
Website designers can give us the same feeling of suspicion, and it’s not uncommon to get a quote for a basic real estate website that is close to $3,000.
Web designers justify this price by arguing that every website is unique and takes time to build. Designers also tend to incorporate software that has a monthly fee, and these subscriptions add up fast.
The high costs are why many REALTORS® choose to build their own websites using platforms like Wix or Squarespace. The drag and drop functionality is easy to use and there’s a quick learning curve. But did you know WordPress is drag and drop as well? You don’t have to know how to code to set up a WordPress site, it just takes a few clicks.
This post will show how anyone can design a beautiful, professional-looking real estate website using FREE WordPress plugins.
If you’d like to learn how to build your own real estate website with WordPress, sign up now for Tyro’s WordPress Workshop for REALTORS®.
What Are WordPress Plugins?
- A WordPress plugin is a small program that adds specific functionality to a website.
- WordPress is open source, which means any web designer can create plugins.
- Because WordPress is the most popular website building platform, there are thousands of web developers who have built thousands of free plugins.
- Plugins are installed with a single click, and once installed, they allow us to enhance our website’s user experience.
Now that we understand what plugins are, let’s explore 7 common features of real estate websites and show how FREE WordPress plugins can accomplish the same results.
What is the best way to add walk-through tours to a real estate website?
The Paid Option
Real Tour Vision offers walk-through tour software starting at $29 per month. That works out to $348 per year.
The FREE WordPress Plugin Option
The same feature can be implemented using the Smart Slider 3 plugin. Once Smart Slider 3 is installed with a single click, as many walk-throughs as needed can be made. The slideshows allow clients to click through photos and all slideshows are mobile friendly.
What is the best way to map all current listings on a real estate website?
The Paid Option
BatchGeo offers the ability to map current listings starting at $99 per month. That works out to $1,188 per year.
The FREE WordPress Plugin Option
The same feature can be implemented using the Easy Property Listings plugin. It allows you to create a map of our current listings, publish information about properties and sort properties by price, date, and status.
What is the best way to make a real estate website mobile responsive?
The Paid Option
mobiSiteGalore creates a mobile version of your site starting at $19 per month. That works out to $228 per year.
The FREE WordPress Plugin Option
The same feature comes standard with almost every modern WordPress theme. For example, the theme Tyro uses in their WordPress For REALTORS® course has responsiveness built in. This means there’s nothing to install to create a good experience for the 90% of homebuyers that access websites on mobile.
What is the best way to capture leads from a real estate website?
The Paid Option
JotForm offers form builders to capture leads starting at $19 per month. That works out to $228 per year.
The FREE! WordPress Plugin Option
The same feature can be implemented using the Site Origin Contact Form widget. Collecting customer information, specifically an email or phone number, is critical to closing a lead. Contact Form Widget allows customization of all fields so you can get whatever information you need, and there’s no limit on the number of forms you can make.
What is the best way to live chat with visitors on a real estate website?
The Paid Option
Live Chat Inc offers live chat capabilities starting at $30 per month. That works out to $360 per year.
The FREE! WordPress Plugin Option
The same feature can be implemented using the Zotabox Facebook Live Chat plugin. Your website visitors can reach out to you through the chat box and all messaging occurs through Facebook Messenger. This chat works on both desktop and mobile.
What is the best way to add testimonials to a real estate website?
The Paid Option
TestimonialTree offers the ability to collect and publish testimonials starting at $30 per month. That works out to $360 per year.
The FREE! WordPress Plugin Option
The same feature can be implemented using the SiteOrigin Testimonials widget. Testimonials are the most important aspect of any site. Clients want to know that they are going to be taken care of and testimonials help put worries to rest.
Why is WordPress better than other drag-and-drop website builders?
WordPress is better because the open source network of developers has made thousands of plugins that anyone can use for free. Just by using the seven plugins listed above, one can save $2760 per year.
If you’re still not convinced WordPress is the best choice, it’s also more affordable than Wix and Squarespace. Both cost $16 per month, but hosting a WordPress site on HostGator only costs $12 per month.
That’s $48 per year in savings that can be spent on either 48 meals at McDonald’s or one meal at Whole Foods.
If you’d like to learn how to build your own real estate website with WordPress, sign up now for Tyro’s WordPress Workshop for REALTORS®.