Question about an RE website...

[ISellRiverview]

Just studying up...

So I own several hot domain names for real estate in my area - yay for me! Do most of the major brokers like Remax, C21, Keller Williams give you your own page on their broker's site or do you pay for it? Or can you set up your own website if you wish (and if you go that route, what's the appx. cost to set up a decent looking one)? Just curious what most broker's general rules are about having a website or if you can just redirect your own domain to their site...

[Sam Dodd]

If your broker tells you, "you cant have your own website" Make sure you remind him that you are an independant contractor and he/she can go shove it.

A decent website is free if you use P2A. If you want to dominate your market thats a whole different story. I personally dont handle mediocare very well so I prefer the paid sites.

[ISellRiverview]

I just meant if you want to use your broker's name on your site, like if I go to work for Remax, can it say Remax on it or does it have to be "approved" first by the company to use their name if I design the site? I do want to dominate - what do you think - I already own I think 15 domains and I am not even licensed yet! LOL.

[Sam Dodd]

You have to put remax on any site you sell real estate from now due to the new NAR's rules on Blind Ads. Your question would depend on your broker. I dont ask my brokers permission to do anything but as you can tell by my posts I don't do well with authority either

[brandonre]

Just studying up...

So I own several hot domain names for real estate in my area - yay for me! Do most of the major brokers like Remax, C21, Keller Williams give you your own page on their broker's site or do you pay for it? Or can you set up your own website if you wish (and if you go that route, what's the appx. cost to set up a decent looking one)? Just curious what most broker's general rules are about having a website or if you can just redirect your own domain to their site...

Hey Liane, Can I buy one of those domains from you? you have anything good hiding over there? Sounds like you are trying to create your own real estate empire. save some room for me

[Saodavi]

Definitely DO NOT use your brokers site for much. I mean, if they have an "agent roster + homepage" be sure to put your picture there and a basic bio, etc. But then point it to your main site ... which won't be on the broker's homepage.

The reason for this is twofold. First, you want to be driving traffic to YOUR site, not your brokers site. You don't want to be housed on a website that has 50 to 100 competitors in your own office. Your customers might use one of them instead. Keep them away from your brokers site and don't boost his ranking in Google. Work on YOUR business, not his.

Secondly, and most importantly, you might change brokerages. Once you get some experience, you might find that there are better deals/arrangements out there. If you're successful, other brokerages will offer you sweet incentives to switch. Or, your broker might go out of business or go to jail or sell out to somebody you don't like.

The point being, is that if you have your own web site, none of that affects you. Just change brokers and all your customers will never know the difference. Your email, phone numbers, web site, business cards, etc. will all be the same. This gives you a lot of leverage and control and keeps the broker for taking advantage of you. The easier it is for you to pick up and move, the less likely he is to give you a bunch of crap.

Be leery of brokers who exert too much pressure on you to fit under their umbrella. You'll know them when you see them. They won't let you have your own website, or your phone number on the signs. You can only have the brokers office number and fax on your business cards. If you see any of this type of thing, run the other way. It's YOUR business. You own it. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

[brandonre]

Just studying up...

So I own several hot domain names for real estate in my area - yay for me! Do most of the major brokers like Remax, C21, Keller Williams give you your own page on their broker's site or do you pay for it? Or can you set up your own website if you wish (and if you go that route, what's the appx. cost to set up a decent looking one)? Just curious what most broker's general rules are about having a website or if you can just redirect your own domain to their site...

Hey Liane , If you go to my newriverviewhomes.com site which is forwarded to my RE/MAX corporate site, every RE/MAX agent gets its own personal RE/MAX site that you can customize and any leads from your site will go to you obviously. They also distrubute leads on a rotation based on your zip codes you service from leads that come from the RE/MAX.com site and the Florida Regional sites. I really have not done much with this site as I focus on my personal site but it never hurts to have more than one site. My personal site I also have more control, the corporate site though you can make changes to it you don't have full control and can't edit the html code and such. I don't see why any Broker would not allow your own personal site and if they don't I would stay away.

[RESteve]

Keller Williams has agent sites that are included in our fees, but they point their servers and are not really SEO. Agents are free to build their own sites.

[ISellRiverview]

Hey Liane, Can I buy one of those domains from you? you have anything good hiding over there? Sounds like you are trying to create your own real estate empire. save some room for me

You got some good ones yourself! LOL. Sorry none are for sale right now!

[ISellRiverview]

Definitely DO NOT use your brokers site for much. I mean, if they have an "agent roster + homepage" be sure to put your picture there and a basic bio, etc. But then point it to your main site ... which won't be on the broker's homepage.

The reason for this is twofold. First, you want to be driving traffic to YOUR site, not your brokers site. You don't want to be housed on a website that has 50 to 100 competitors in your own office. Your customers might use one of them instead. Keep them away from your brokers site and don't boost his ranking in Google. Work on YOUR business, not his.

Secondly, and most importantly, you might change brokerages. Once you get some experience, you might find that there are better deals/arrangements out there. If you're successful, other brokerages will offer you sweet incentives to switch. Or, your broker might go out of business or go to jail or sell out to somebody you don't like.

The point being, is that if you have your own web site, none of that affects you. Just change brokers and all your customers will never know the difference. Your email, phone numbers, web site, business cards, etc. will all be the same. This gives you a lot of leverage and control and keeps the broker for taking advantage of you. The easier it is for you to pick up and move, the less likely he is to give you a bunch of crap.

Be leery of brokers who exert too much pressure on you to fit under their umbrella. You'll know them when you see them. They won't let you have your own website, or your phone number on the signs. You can only have the brokers office number and fax on your business cards. If you see any of this type of thing, run the other way. It's YOUR business. You own it. Don't let anyone tell you differently.

Thanks - that's good advice - yes I guess it does make good sense to build your own and work with a broker who let's you put your cell # on signs, etc. Very good point! Now I just have to figure out how to build a site! How much does this forum charge for their templates? Does anyone use them, and are they any good?