Runyan said that while the Meadville office does not have its own Intranet, they do share one with other offices in the area. “We have a program that allows us to view up-to-date info on all listings, price reductions, what is pending, what has sold, and more from these offices.”
The agency initially worked with Realtor.com to develop their site, and gradually Runyan took control of the maintenance and improvement. She said that what has made the site successful is its simple, user-friendly design and a few features which only ERA offers in the region.
“We keep it so you can always maneuver to any part of the site,” Runyan explained, “so that you never get lost and have to backtrack. A lot of sites, you can get lost trying to find what you’re looking for.”
The main page contains links to all the agency’s offerings, including rentals, new listings, open houses and commercial properties. Once a customer opens one of those pages, the list reappears at the bottom of the page to allow for easy maneuvering.
Newly available properties are listed in descending price order, with a photograph, information about the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and comments about the unusual, especially interesting or most marketable aspects of the property—a “must” in Meadville, where people often buy property for its history or its charm. The commentary is extensive and detailed, making each listing unique.
Residential properties are listed similarly, and broken down into price brackets for the customer’s convenience.
Runyan said that a lot of real estate sites neglect to list their offerings in price order so customers can easily search for what they want. “They just list things in no particular order, and it’s confusing.”
Setting up their listings in price order was an attempt to make customers aware of their commitment to thoughtful service, Runyan said. Another convenience is that customers can also have their financing approved online. The site also contains ads from relocation services, sites like www.move.com, and moving van companies.
The site also includes a “Real Estate Wanted” section, to get the word out about what buyers are looking for. “That’s something nobody else in the area does,” Runyan said.
Also relatively unique is their “ERA Team” page, which includes photographs of the entire staff and links to web pages detailing staff members’ experience and credentials.
“The site helps us always stay ahead in customer service,” Runyan said, emphasizing its value as a way to be accessible 24 hours a day and to encourage potential customers to learn about what the agency can offer.
Old-fashioned homes, sold using the best that modern technology can offer—coming to a small town near you.
Business profile courtesy of Family Business Strategies.
About the Author: Jennifer Midgley is a Contributing Editor for iBizResources.com living in Silicon Valley. She is a graduate of Allegheny College in Meadville, where she met her subject. She can be reached at
jennifer@ibizresources.com.
