Builder Websites. They can be a Turn Off

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SEFORA

NewBee

Builder Websites. They can be a Turn Off

I personally found that builders websites can either look like from the 1980's. one pagers, unresponsive on mobile devices, or so many links within links I would start to get lost. It can get frustrating to get to the community I want or the floor plan I want etc.

What things frustrate you about a builders website?

This builder website I like how responsive it is http://premiumhomes.ca/

Ontario / New Home Q&A

RYAN MCGOVERN

Senior Buzzer

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4 BEST REPLY

Great topic. And yes, I too share in the frustration of browsing builder/developer websites that look like they should have been hosted on Geocities in 1997. Some key things that irk me:

-All Flash websites. Unacceptable in 2013, especially when you make a potential homebuyer wait to access the main site by having an inescapable 30 second intro.

-Lack of updates. Seriously. I've seen this for builders that surpass 1000 housing starts a year, and yet they haven't updated their website in 2 years. You can make the argument that if they are selling this many homes, they don't need to update their site, but it is still better for customers, future, current and past, to receive updates about developments.

-Barely literate copy. A spelling mistake or two can happen, however I have come across some marketing material that looks like it was written by the owner's seven year old son. If you can spend millions securing land for your development, you can click the (free) "Spell Check" button on any word processor too.

-Registration pages with a ton of "mandatory" fields. I get that builders and developers want to be equipped with the best information when following up with users who have registered for a project, however if you make them fill out 20 different fields before submitting their inquiry, they will probably lose interest after the fifth. Keep it simple.

-And lastly, but most importantly: lack of information and content. It's all good and well that you have a project launching, however if you can't even tell me what the homes start at (square footage and price) and ask me to "call the sales centre" instead, I'm already starting to look at a similar development nearby.

By the way, @Sefora, Premium Homes does have a great site.

DYLAN DILECCE

Buzzer

@Ryan McGovern I hope some developers read what you wrote, very true in sadly too many cases.

A big one for me too is when developers/builders have only a contact form to get in touch with them. If I'm looking to buy a new home, I don't want my first reach out to be over a contact form. Make it easier for me, email address, contact form, phone number, sales centre address, the works. You'd be surprised how many projects there are out there that have only a few or even none of those fields.

ERIN BURY

NewBee

I would add that a blog can make all the difference for builder websites - they give the sites a sense of currency, which right now you often don't get.

@Ryan McGovern The issues you mention - all Flash, no updated content, poor design - aren't exclusive to the real estate industry. I find restaurant websites are just as bad - not mobile-friendly, never updated with specials or events, and sooo much Flash. As a consumer when I visit a restaurant with a great site it makes me that much more likely to eat there. I know the price point is higher for builders, but you only get one first impression with potential buyers, so why not make it an easy, intuitive, informative one.

SHADIA SARRAFI

Buzzer

I can see people getting frustrated or confused by looking at some of the developers websites. Specially, when you have to fill out a form and wait for the information to be sent to you a few days after you requested it and then when you have any questions, it may take a long time to get the right answers from the sales office.
If you are not able to get the information you desire from the developer website for Condos, Single Family or Attached Homes, it's always recommended to contact your reliable and knowledgable licensed real estate professional and ask them to provide you with information, such as floor plans, prices and incentives.

One may think that he or she will save by working directly with the developer sales personal, but to the contrary, the amount of money you save is a fraction of what a experienced and reliable realtor can save you in many aspects, including but not limited to financial savings. For example, there are times that a developer is only releasing part of the building for sale, and people who are on the developer website might think that those floor plans, or floors are their only choices. A realtor who is very knowledgable in the Pre Construction field and has a great reputation with the developer, usually knows the whole story and has all the information such as how many floors are released, different incentives, etc.

I had a client who had purchased a 1 bedroom plus den under a certain model suite name from the developer directly, but after he contacted me, and got my information package, he realized that there were different square footage in the building for the same 1 bedroom Plus Den for almost the same price. Fortunately, he was still under the 10 days cooling period and he decided to cancel his original purchase and he bought the same unit, but larger through me from the developer.

Also there are other things such as terms of the contract, that you will tremendously benefit, if you work with the right realtor who understands the terms, explain them to you and even have them modified, when necessary.

And YES! I am an experienced and knowledgable Realtor including the field of Pre Construction Purchase and also Assignments. You can contact me at my cell or or by email by accessing the link below:

http://sothebysrealty.ca/en/find-an-agent/shadia-sarrafi/136