Real estate agent "needs" for their Web sites

[railroad]

This is my first post on this forum, so my apologies if this is posted in the wrong area. I'm a Flash application developer, and together with my partner at [theMAKERS], I build rich Internet applications (dubbed RIAs) for various markets. Recently, after reviewing many real estate agents' web sites, I realized that there wasn't really a visually-appealing design with an integrated back-end system in use by real estate agents. It seems that many agents/agencies need a core set of features on their sites, with customization options for their branding.

Since my knowledge of real estate agencies is minimal at best, I thought I'd ask for any comments about the various workflows agents use to create/update content on their sites.

RE:gards,

Robert Reinhardt
lead author of the Flash MX 2004 Bible, Flash MX 2004 ActionScript Bible,
and Macromedia MX: Building Rich Internet Applications
http://www.flashsupport.com

[Jim Messenger]

railroad, Welcome aboard.

Good looking flash like this? Phoenix Real Estate (shameless plug)

One of Seo-Guy's designers created my site. I always welcome feedback about the site. And I am sure Morgan appreciates it as well.

Again, Welcome to the forum!

Jim

[Rich@vtws]

Welcome to the forum railroad

You might start by developing some free templates for everyone to rival the pheonix realtor

[railroad]

Thanks for the quick reply! While I noticed that some of the menu nav was built in Flash, most of the site is HTML. I'm talking about sites that are mostly Flash. (Not to say that your site isn't good, just not what I was referring to.)

Best,

Robert

[Jim Messenger]

I guess my concern with a site that was mostly flash would be search engine ranking.

Most of the sites i have seen that are all flash suffer big time in the serps.

Any thoughts?

Jim

[railroad]

Well, I would like to develop some software ( I don't think I could offer it for free, but I think it would substantially save agents time and money) that addresses core needs of agents, such as:

* Uploading/categorizing images (I've already built dynamic image sites such as www.nielsalpert.com which enable administration of images, and images can be resized on the fly as well)

* Maintaining/administering database of property listings

* Rich search functionality. For example, most sites offer text searches against property listings, but what if you could drag icons of things you want in a property (hardwood floors, 2 baths, etc) into a search grid, and see results map more visually?

* Integrated rich media blog, with Audio/Video recordings (using Flash Communication Server). I've built prototypes at sites like www.iknowbetter.com.

That's just a few ideas, as I haven't conducted a thorough review of what I see lacking in current sites.

-Robert

[railroad]

Search engines are definitely a big concern, so I'd recommend a system that offers an html front-page (and maybe even allow it to have some core features). There are several things you can do to improve user experience with Flash. For example, instead of bookmarking a Flash site, you can offer "email me a link to this area". I know that when I've searched for real estate, it was a very infrequent occurrence of finding actual property listings. For example, if I want to find properties in Prince Edward Island, as long as I could find a real estate agent/agency domain name from google, I was good to go.

But I have another question: do real estate agents worry about other agents capturing their data? Or would it be a value add if it was more difficult to copy listings from an agent's web site?

-Robert

[Rich@vtws]

Hi Robert
Everything you mentioned sounds wonderful but the fact remains that html rules. When it comes to search engines it takes alot more than a Html front page to compete for any placement unless your in caribou falls. timbuck2 ...LOL I won't bore ytou with some of the studies I got my eyes on from C21 Corporate and Homestore but the bottom line was that all the flashy stuff was much better received when people were surfing something for pleasure rather than looking for homes. They want to see homes and lots of them, with 1 or 2 clicks at the most. Lots of pictures, virtual tours and easy contact were the top priorities. We being web dwellers sometimes get a little too fancy for the common folk. I ve seen tons of sights that I could sit there in awe of the incredible flash and blinkety blink stuff but I'm not there for a specific purpose. I think Jims sight is incredible and is at the abosute pinnacle of what I would consider the most flash that can be included and still be a lead machine. Just my 2 cents...I could be wrong

[2savvy]

I had to vote NO

Not that I don't like the technology believe me I do, infact I just got a new blue screen to do some video/flash nav stuff but for the "masses" I would say k-i-s-s but your headed down the right track for the future railroad.


Lets just start with kickass flash 360degrees virtual and video tours ( make it an easy to use template) . I did a couple of old hack and crack attemps at video capture/ and then in turn frame by frame it ..blah streaming video files are still smaller


But I have another question: do real estate agents worry about other agents capturing their data? Or would it be a value add if it was more difficult to copy listings from an agent's web site?


If they were my listings and somebody wanted to copy them and promote them I would host it for free... lol

[railroad]

Well, it's about ROI, and most recent studies have shown that RIA's outperform HTML only sites when it comes to getting to do something with their money. I don't have the stats handy, but I know that a recent hotel chain that switched to Flash for booking reservations saw their conversion rates go through the roof. However, I'm not saying I couldn't build a better HTML system either---it's much faster for me to prototype applications in Flash, but using HTML as the front-end is just as viable. It's not out of Flash's reach to do what you mentioned: scrolling several images, or coming up with new visual mechanisms for viewing many images, is something Flash can often beat HTML at.

-Robert