How should you choose a vendor to add features to your Web site? Start with providers who specialize in real estate. They might be more attuned to your business and needs. Also, look for vendors that are continually adding new features and functions to broaden the appeal of their solution.

 

Keep in mind: Web development and hosting require ongoing maintenance fees after set-up costs. Some enhancements and extras like IDX may be offered a la carte, so you can pick and choose as you like. Find out what’s included in the basic bundle, and which enhancements cost more.

 

Find Web site enhancements at three different price levels:

 

• Budget
• Mid-Range
• Deluxe

 

 

 

BUDGET

 

Here is a list of Web enhancements that start at less than $100:

 

Survey Monkey

SurveyMonkey.com

$19.95/month

This service provides the tools to create, post, and tabulate interactive surveys on a Web site. It includes pre-formatted survey design themes and templates. Respondents reply via a pop-up window or by e-mail. Users can create custom reports from survey data, and cross tabulate survey results based on custom criteria. The fee covers up to 1,000 responses per month. A free version for up to 100 responses is also available.

 

Live Chat

ZaZaChat 

Subscription fees are $24.99/month and $239.88/year

This service adds live chat capabilities to any Web site. The subscriber can turn the chat window on or off, based on availability. When the window is activated, subscriber can respond to typed queries in real time. In offline mode, the system stores and forwards questions to subscriber for response later. Subscribers can “tag” visitors and retrieve previous sessions when they revisit site or initiate another chat.

 

3D floor plans with Floor Planner

Diakrit 

Starts at $44.95 for properties up to 1,000 square feet.

This bundle combines two of the company’s services to give site visitors a better idea of how a property looks and show its possibilities. 3D Floor Plan is a color, three-dimensional rendering of the property, with or without furniture. Floor Planner is a two-dimensional rendering with resizable icons of common furniture. Site visitors can use these icons to arrange rooms. Prices climb based on total square footage.

 

RealPing

RealPing LLC 

$49.95 set-up fee, $16.99 per month for three months, with discounts for longer contracts

With this “click-to-call” service, visitors to a Web site click a button embedded on a page or tour to initiate a phone call. A window requests their phone number. Once entered, the system dials that number and the site contact. Push technology enables the subscriber to deliver Web pages or tours to the caller’s cell phone during the phone conversation.

 

PowerSuite NEXT

eNeighborhoods 

$99.85/month

This suite of real estate marketing tools includes a customizable Web site and the formats and content for personalized neighborhood reports, CMAs, buyer tours, and flyers. The Web site includes forms visitors can use to request free reports on homes, the neighborhood, and area schools.

 

 

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MID-RANGE

 

Here are Web solutions that range from $100 to $250:

 

Featured Web site

Realtor.com

$99 set-up fee, $34.95/month for basic Web site

This easy-to-use site-building solution includes design themes and templates, a content library, support for blogging, site tracking, and seamless integration with Realtor.com and its marketing programs. Optional add-ons include featured Web site IDX solutions for interactive searches of local listings and Market Snapshot MLS reports.

 

Top Producer Web site

Top Producer

$99 set-up fee, $34.95/month subscription

Turnkey Web site solution with choice of designs, content, images, integrated blog, and site-tracking tools. Site visitors can request community, neighborhood and market information, school reports, and interactive maps. Site enhancements include optional Top Producer IDX solution and interactive, real-time Market Snapshot MLS reports.

 

MoneyToys

Wheatworks Software 

$139

This suite of 17 flash-based calculators can be added to any Web site by copying and pasting code into a page design or window. There are real estate calculators for mortgage qualification, downpayment, rent or own, refinancing, loan comparison, future value, closing costs, and seller’s net profit.

 

HomeSight Interactive Floor Plans

HomeSight Inc.

$150 for homes up to 3,500 square feet.

This company’s premium service includes measuring property, photography of every room and creating a floor plan. The completed plan, hosted by the company and accessible via a link, features click-to-view photo icons throughout the house. The plan appears in a pop-up window with real estate professional's company logo, name, and contact information. Do-it-yourself options also available.

 

        

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DELUXE

 

Here are Web site enhancements and upgrades that cost more than $250:

 

Interactive Flash Maps

Maps.com 

$300 starting price for a customized map application

This company creates customized, interactive Flash maps for incorporation into a Web site and display listings within a defined region. Maps can be searchable and linked to a database of information for drill down searching about the area, amenities, places of interest, schools, and property. Prices based on the amount of programming required.

 

Agent XSite Pro

a la mode 

$499/year

Web site package includes design templates for an unlimited number of pages, content, Flash effects, lead forms, virtual tours, dedicated listing pages, calculators, and integrated blog. Optional enhancements include Xsite IDX with interactive mapping and search functions, the FlexApp 1003 integrated loan application solution, and the planned DaVinci Tour Sketch interactive floor-plan builder.

 

AgentCast Pro

Diverse Solutions 

$899.99 set-up fee, $49.96/month subscription, $499.99/year hosting fee

Subscribers build a customized Web site from more than 200 design templates, a content library, stock photos, lead generation forms, and flash designs. Optional upgrades include the dsChat live chat window for real-time communication with site visitors, and integration with the dsSearchAgent IDX MLS solution for customizable interactive maps with drill-down search capabilities.

 

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Learn More: What Others are Using  ׀  Basic Features Every Site Should Have  ׀  Add-on Features for Your Site