Some thing that you want to look for in a template: 1. Not to graphics heavy. 2. Quick to load. 3. Stay away from flash screens and too much animation. 4. Stay away from sounds unless they are real simple. 5. Look for a template with a lot of white or open space. 6. The best designs are open and free allowing lots of space for your content. 7. Try to find a CSS coded or validated website if possible 8. Most importantly find one that fits your style.

Number 8 is really important look of website will convey a lot about who you are and that is what you are really selling. So it is very important to find a website template that will fit your personality. Are you very professional and business like or more friendly and family oriented?

Some things that you might want to include in your real estate website template are: 1. Contact information 2. About you 3. Houses that you currently have listed 4. Directions to your work and possibly even provide a place where people can type in an address and find their own directions. 5. Possibly a link or graphic of current weather where you are at. 6. A calendar of future open houses that you will be at and etc. 7. Philosophies, a mission statement or other guides that tell people what you stand for. 8. An interactive chat room to speak with clients who are not in area currently.

The good method to creating an effective real estate website is to plan ahead. Get out a pencil and paper and sketch out or write down your ideas before you get started. This is something that I still do all time. Also give yourself a few weeks to come up with content and ideas for site and slowly start journaling in your book. You will find that ideas just start coming to you out of blue. Especially when you are driving if you are like me.

Once you get your ideas you are ready to go about create your website. Best of luck to you and take it slow.