As a property manager, you rely on your website to help you attract and keep clients. Likewise, homeowners associations (HOAs) rely on their sites to provide information about available properties, share contact information, and even offer online payments.

An effective property manager website must add value for two groups of users: property management companies and homeowners. Homeowners need quick access to specific types of information, and property management companies want to showcase their properties and services.

If you operate a property management company or are considering starting one, here are a few things to keep in mind when you create or evaluate your website.

 

 

Why property manager websites matter

An effective property manager website is more than just an online brochure. A well-designed property management website can:

1. Generate leads: Property management companies can use their websites to generate leads from potential clients. A contact form or proposal request form can make it easy for interested home buyers to get in touch.

2. Showcase properties: An up-to-date property listing is one of the most important features of a property management website. Homeowners should be able to browse available properties and get detailed information about each one.

3. Provide information: In addition to property listings, your website also should provide essential information for homeowners, such as HOA rules and regulations, contact information, and records of dues payments (along with the ability to make these payments online).

4. Build trust: A property management website is an important tool for building trust with potential and current clients. Include testimonials, case studies, and customer reviews to show homeowners that you’re a reputable property management company and they can rely on your dependability.

5. Save time: A property management website can provide a self-service option for homeowners that saves you time. Enable homeowners to access information and make payments online—and free up your staff to focus on other tasks.

Tips for creating an effective property manager website

As you can see, property manager websites can be a valuable asset for property management companies and homeowners. But what if your property management website isn’t living up to its potential?

Here are a few tips for creating an effective property manager website:

1. Keep your property listings up to date

An up-to-date property listing is one of the most important features of a property management website. Homeowners should be able to browse available properties easily and receive detailed information about each one.

For instance, if you manage an HOA, your property listings should include:

• The number of units in the property
• The square footage of each unit
• The type of property (condominium, townhouse, etc.)
• Photos or a virtual tour of the property
• Amenities offered with the property
• The recurring HOA fee

2. Provide essential information for homeowners

Your homeowners association website also should provide essential access and information for homeowners, such as HOA rules and regulations, contact information, and meeting minutes. You can add features like an online payment portal to make it easy for homeowners to pay their dues.

3. Offer self-service options

Nobody wants to dig through a property management website to find the information they need. That’s why it’s essential to offer self-service options, such as an online property listing or a searchable database of HOA documents. Or, if you manage an HOA, you can add a feature that allows homeowners to submit maintenance and architectural modification requests online.

4. Make it easy to contact you

Your property management website should make it easy for homeowners to reach you. Include your contact information prominently on every page, and consider adding a contact form or request for proposal form.

5. Use testimonials, case studies, and customer reviews

A property management website is an essential tool for building trust with potential and current clients. Include testimonials, case studies, and customer reviews to show homeowners that you’re a reputable property management company.

6. Pay attention to your website’s design

Your property management website reflects your company, so it’s important to make sure it looks professional. Some of the most critical elements of a well-built property management website include:

• Modern, responsive design: A responsive design ensures that your website will look great on all devices, from laptops to smartphones.
• High-quality photos and videos: Homeowners want to see photos and videos of the properties you manage. Use high-quality visuals that reflect each property accurately.
• Easy navigation: Make it simple for homeowners to find the information they need on your website. Use clear and concise text, and add helpful links to related pages.

7. Pay attention to your website’s SEO

Your property management website won’t do you any good if homeowners can’t find it. That’s why it’s vital to pay attention to your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).

Some of the best ways to improve your property management website’s SEO include:

• Optimize your website for local search: If you want homeowners in your area to find your website, you need to optimize it for local search. Include your city and state in your website’s title tags and meta descriptions, and add your business to Google My Business.
• Use the right keywords: Choosing the right keywords is essential for SEO success. Use keyword research tools such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Google Trends to find the best keywords for your property management website.
• Create high-quality content: Homeowners visit your property management website to look for information. When you create high-quality blog posts, articles, and other types of content, you simultaneously help them find the information they need and improve your website’s SEO.

8. Make sure your website is secure

Your property management website needs to protect your homeowners’ personal information. Look for a property management website platform that offers SSL encryption and regular security updates.

9. Add social media buttons

Social media offer a great way to connect with potential and current clients. If you use social media to promote your property management company, make sure to add social media buttons to your website. This will make it easy for homeowners to find your profiles and connect with you online.

10. Update your website regularly

Your property management website is never finished—you always should be looking for ways to improve it. Make sure to update your website regularly with new content, photos, and videos. This will help you keep your site current and improve your chances of ranking high in search results.

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Property management websites are essential, but they don’t need to be overwhelming, and building them doesn’t need to be a daunting task. Follow these tips to create a property management website that will help you attract and retain clients!