Website vs Web Platform for Real Estate - What is the Difference and Which Should You Have?

Today's real estate industry is becoming more and more tech-centric. In order to compete, you have to equip yourself with the latest in real estate technology - not only to run your business more effectively, but to generate and convert the most leads and provide those leads with the best user experience. This means that having a simple website no longer gets the job done - you need a real estate website platform.

What is a Web Platform and How is this Different from a Website?

A traditional real estate website is a static, mostly informational web page. It can have content, contact information, and select listings - typically with limited functionality. It is meant, really, to be a digital business card - and little else. In years past, this was enough for real estate agents to check the box and gain a small online foothold. Today, however, this no longer rings true, as buyers and sellers are becoming increasingly tech-savvy and relying on technology more and more.

A web platform, on the other hand, is a robust system of online tools meant to power a real estate agent's business and give your website users maximum value via a comprehensive set of real estate tools to drive conversion.

Simply put, think of a website as a one dimensional reference page, while a web platform is a 3-D immersive experience.

What Should You Look for in a Real Estate Web Platform?

For the user:

A good web platform is an online portal where buyers and sellers have access to tools that enable them to put themselves in the driver's seat as much as they want. Remember, today's generation of real estate clients are accustomed to turning to the internet for instant gratification of all of their needs. The more tools you can provide them in their real estate journey, the better you position yourself for success.

You want your web platform to enable visitors to:

• actively search for properties via enhanced search functionality
• save listings
• save searches
• receive relevant recommendations and Ai-generated market reports based on their specific search behaviors
• gain access to the most up-to-the-minute big data available
• view all pre-construction projects - with detailed info and listings
• search easily via one-click specialty/niche categories
• experience the difference that hyper-local categorization of the MLS makes
• access a home valuation tool if they are thinking about selling

These are the tools that will make you relevant for today's buyers and sellers.

For the agent:

For real estate agents looking to grow, a web platform is essential. By tapping into modern real estate tech, an agent can not only attract and convert more leads, but automate time-consuming tasks to free up more time to close more transactions.

A tech-forward web platform enables an agent to:

• utilize artificial intelligence to track user behavior
• increase relevance by sending listing recommendations based on big data
• automate follow up
• categorize MLS data into hyper-local niches
• auto-generate market data into hyper-specific market reports for each user
• manage leads effectively
• utilize landing page technology for increased conversion
• generate unique lead capture tools
• and so much more.

Learn more about these essential elements of a good real estate web portal.

There is no doubt that a simple website is antiquated technology when it comes to the modern real estate industry. Any agent looking to compete and grow needs a robust website system powered by the latest technology and artificial intelligence to deliver maximum results for their business - and their clients.