Estate Agents increase credibility with database-driven web sites

The online search is a quick and easy first part of the process when looking to buy, sell or rent a property. Whether it is to follow up on the price of a property with a For Sale sign, or a more general enquiry, time spent in front of the computer saves the buyer time and increases the chances of the estate agency making a sale.

The website has to cater for the many different ways that a prospective purchaser wants to get search results.  Some viewers will think in terms of the number of bedrooms, some by the post code or street, some are only interested in Victorian houses, some only in flats and apartments and the website delivers results by offering a fill in or drop down box to be completed. The viewer then often has an option to see their results in a particular order – from least expensive to most expensive, or closest to the desired location, or example – to further help their search.

These search functions are common on an estate agents web site, and are simply fields in a database which powers the site search.  The website page is dynamic and is created specifically from the options selected.  So in theory there is no limit to the number of options for the viewer.  Adding more memorable options will help the estate agency stand out from its competitors and build credibility.

Salespeople in a particular estate agency in London, for example, might realise that clients looking at Victorian properties value Victorian tiles at the entrance or in the hallway, and Victorian fireplaces which are still intact.  Or perhaps those buying or renting modern properties value a certain type of kitchen or bathroom.  Instead of having to find these details within the description of each property they can be presented as part of a search function.

 From river views, to organic garden, family kitchen or the installation of alternative energy the database can reflect the buying preferences of the agency’s prospective customers.  In addition, by being responsive to customer needs the estate agency demonstrates excellent customer service before the decision to purchase. Intelligent search functions based on preferences increases the opportunity for the estate agency to be perceived as customer-focussed and therefore win more business.