Responsive Websites and Mobile Devices are the Future of Real Estate

The world is shifting to mobile and some will say that smartphones and iPhones have already taken over the world.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 89 percent of home shoppers use mobile devices to do their home buying research.

Here are three things from Inman you can do to increase your mobile presence on the Internet.

mobile devicesFirst you need a responsive website AND a virtual tour option 

A website is the best way to get your name and contact information out there to prospective buyers and sellers.  However, if you don’t have a responsive website, you likely won’t gain the kind of exposure you’re looking for.

Inman says a responsive site is designed to be fluid, and will automatically fit any screen size. Unfortunately, most property websites and virtual tours are designed with Flash, which does not work on most mobile devices.

When visiting one of these tours, the mobile user is redirected to a simple slideshow of images, which does not include all the lead generation features, calculators and add-ons of the Flash site, says Inman. With a responsive website optimized for mobile, the tablet viewer has the same experience as the PC viewer, complete with lead generation, calculators, floor plans, etc.

Lead-generation text codes are one of the most useful mobile tools

Text codes, Inman says, are a fantastic way to capture the contact information of mobile drive-by consumers.

Add a sign rider to your listing with a text code, telling consumers to text for price, details and photos. Many mobile shoppers may not be ready to call you, but they will feel more comfortable sending you a text for additional information. If you’re using a solid text platform, you will instantly be notified by text or email when a consumer uses the text code so you’ll never miss a beat.

A mobile app is the future of real estate

53 percent of mobile users want to be able to download a mobile app from your website. If you’re not offering a mobile app download on your site, you may lose mobile consumers to a competitor that does. It’s all about instant gratification.

Most mobile consumers prefer to use an app to search for listings because it provides an experience that is specifically designed for the mobile user. When buyers save search criteria or favorite listings, make sure they have to create an account. By doing that, not only did you just capture a lead, you know what type of home they are looking for, what their price range is, what neighborhoods they like, and much more

Mobile apps are no longer an option. They are here to stay.

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