Preface
Are you looking to build a professional-looking real estate website without breaking the bank or needing extensive coding knowledge? You’re in the right place! This guide will walk you through creating a stunning and functional real estate website using two powerful and user-friendly tools: Elementor and Astra. These tools make web-design accessible to everyone, without the need to write code. Let’s dive in and discover how you can establish a strong online presence for your real estate business.
Why Choose Elementor and Astra for Your Real Estate Website?
Before we get started, let’s explore why Elementor and Astra are excellent choices for building your real estate website.
- Elementor: is a drag-and-drop page builder that simplifies website design. With its intuitive interface, you can easily create custom layouts, add content, and design every aspect of your site without writing a single line of code.Check out this comprehensive guide to Elementor Page Builder.
- Astra: is a lightweight and highly customizable WordPress theme known for its speed and flexibility. It integrates seamlessly with Elementor, providing a solid foundation for your website. You can customize the design of your website in your own corporate identity. More information on Astra Pro.
Together, Elementor and Astra offer a powerful combination that allows you to create a professional real estate website quickly and efficiently. Start your journey now by installing wordpress plugins.
Setting Up WordPress, Astra, and Elementor
1. Choose a Domain Name and Hosting Provider
Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet. Choose a name that is easy to remember, relevant to your business, and includes relevant SEO keywords. Popular domain registrars include Bluehost, DreamHost and GoDaddy.
Hint: If you need help to decide which domain name to go with read this interesting article on How to Choose the Perfect Domain Name at GoDaddy!
Your hosting provider stores your website’s files and makes them accessible to visitors. Choose a reliable hosting provider that offers WordPress-optimized hosting plans. Some reputable options include Bluehost, DreamHost , and HostGator.
2. Install WordPress
Most hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation. Follow the instructions provided by your hosting provider to install WordPress on your domain. Here is a great tutorial on how to make a free website with wordpress.
3. Install and Activate the Astra Theme
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Appearance > Themes.
- Click Add New.
- Search for “Astra”.
- Click Install and then Activate.
4. Install and Activate Elementor
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “Elementor”.
- Click Install Now and then Activate.
Designing Your Real Estate Website
1. Choose an Astra Starter Template
Astra offers a variety of starter templates designed for different industries, including real estate. These templates provide a pre-designed foundation that you can customize to fit your brand. You can find out more by reading this article on how to install astra starter templates.
- Install and activate the Starter Templates plugin (it’s usually prompted after activating Astra).
- Go to Appearance > Starter Templates.
- Select Elementor as your page builder.
- Browse the available templates and choose one that suits your needs. Real estate templates often feature property listings, search functionality, and contact forms.
- Click Import Complete Site to import the template and its content.
Info: Make sure to review the to import the template and its content. Be aware that some templates require the pro version of Astra.
Hint: For other templates you might consider inspecting Themeforest.
2. Customize Your Homepage
Your homepage is the first impression for your visitors, so make it count! Use Elementor to customize the homepage with compelling visuals, property listings, and a clear call to action.
- Add a Hero Section: Use a high-quality image or video of a featured property or your local area to create a welcoming and engaging hero section. Include a headline that highlights your unique selling proposition.
- Showcase Featured Properties: Use Elementor’s widgets to display featured properties with images, descriptions, and prices. Link each property to its individual listing page.
- Include a Search Function: Add a search bar or advanced search form to allow visitors to easily find properties that meet their criteria. Elementor offers widgets for adding search functionality, or you can use a plugin like SearchWP for more advanced options.
- Add Testimonials: Build trust by including testimonials from satisfied clients. Use Elementor’s testimonial widget to display quotes and images of your clients.
- Contact Form: Make it easy for visitors to contact you by adding a contact form to your homepage. Elementor Pro includes a form builder, or you can use a plugin like Contact Form 7.
3. Create Property Listing Pages
Each property on your website should have its own dedicated listing page with detailed information and high-quality images. Here’s how to create effective property listing pages with Elementor:
- Use a Consistent Layout: Create a template for your property listing pages to ensure a consistent look and feel across your website. Use Elementor’s template feature to save and reuse your design.
- High-Quality Images: Use professional-quality images to showcase each property. Include multiple images from different angles and highlight key features.
- Detailed Descriptions: Write detailed and engaging descriptions of each property, highlighting its unique features and benefits. Use bullet points to make the information easy to read.
- Include Amenities and Features: Use Elementor’s icon list or other widgets to display key amenities and features, such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, and lot size.
- Add a Map: Embed a Google Map to show the property’s location. Elementor includes a Google Maps widget that you can easily customize.
- Call to Action: Include a clear call to action on each property listing page, encouraging visitors to contact you for more information or to schedule a showing.
4. Design a Contact Page
Your contact page is an essential part of your real estate website. Make it easy for visitors to get in touch with you by including a contact form, your phone number, email address, and social media links.
- Use a Clear and Simple Layout: Keep your contact page clean and uncluttered. Use Elementor’s column layout to organize your content.
- Include a Contact Form: Add a contact form that allows visitors to send you a message directly from your website. Use Elementor Pro’s form builder or a plugin like Contact Form 7.
- Display Contact Information: Clearly display your phone number, email address, and office address. Use Elementor’s text and icon widgets to make this information visually appealing.
- Add Social Media Links: Include links to your social media profiles to encourage visitors to connect with you on social media. Elementor includes social media widgets that you can easily customize.
Essential Features for a Real Estate Website
1. Property Search
A robust property search feature is crucial for any real estate website. It allows visitors to easily find properties that match their specific criteria.
- Basic Search: Include a basic search bar that allows visitors to search by keyword, location, or property type.
- Advanced Search: Offer an advanced search form with multiple filters, such as price range, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, property size, and amenities.
- Map-Based Search: Integrate a map-based search that allows visitors to browse properties on a map and filter their search results.
2. Property Listings
Your property listings should be visually appealing and informative, providing visitors with all the details they need to make a decision.
- High-Quality Images: Use high-quality images to showcase each property.
- Detailed Descriptions: Write detailed and engaging descriptions.
- Amenities and Features: List key amenities and features.
- Virtual Tours: Consider adding virtual tours to allow visitors to explore properties remotely.
3. Agent Profiles
If you have a team of agents, create individual profiles for each agent on your website.
- Include a Photo: Add a professional photo of each agent.
- Write a Bio: Write a brief bio highlighting each agent’s experience, expertise, and credentials.
- Contact Information: Include each agent’s contact information, including their phone number and email address.
4. Blog
A blog is a great way to attract traffic to your website and establish yourself as an authority in the real estate industry. Check out this article on AI Plugins for WordPress to boost your blog
- Write About Local Market Trends: Share insights on local market trends, such as average home prices, inventory levels, and buyer demand.
- Offer Advice for Buyers and Sellers: Provide valuable advice for buyers and sellers, such as tips for staging a home, negotiating a deal, and securing a mortgage.
- Highlight Local Events and Attractions: Showcase local events and attractions to attract visitors to your website and position yourself as a local expert.
Optimizing Your Website for SEO
To attract traffic to your real estate website, it’s essential to optimize it for search engines like Google. Here are some key SEO best practices:
- Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords that potential customers are using to search for properties in your area. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush to find high-volume, low-competition keywords.
- On-Page Optimization: Optimize your website’s content with your target keywords. Include keywords in your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and body text. Here is a quickstart guide on how to optimize your website for SEO.
- Mobile Optimization: Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means it primarily uses the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking.
- Page Speed Optimization: Improve your website’s loading speed to provide a better user experience and improve your search engine rankings. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement.
- Link Building: Build high-quality backlinks from other websites to increase your website’s authority and improve your search engine rankings. Reach out to other local businesses, real estate blogs, and news websites to request backlinks.
Conclusion
Building a real estate website with Elementor and Astra is a straightforward process that allows you to create a professional and functional website without extensive coding knowledge. By following the steps outlined in this guide and implementing SEO best practices, you can establish a strong online presence for your real estate business and attract more clients.
