Website Creation

[Mike MacNeil]

Hi Everyone,

This is a great site and a terrific source of information. I am a new to real estate investing and living in New Hampshire. I interested rehabbing, wholesaling, leasing and other opportunities to create a stong business.

Understanding how important effective marketing to creating to both identifying sellers and buyers, I would like to create an effective website and software. Are they both essential to what is now a one-person shop?

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience in starting their own website. A vendor in this area that provies it is Vistaprint. Has anyone had experince with Vistaprint web sities? If so, how much of your own creativity goes into it? Do they assist with set-up, maintaining or hosting it? Does it grow as the business grows?

Another vendor option that have seen is the 360 Real Estate System that is offered via the National REIA. It looks like it includes both real estate investing software and website set-up and hosting. Any advice that you could provide would be appreciated.

Thanks for any assistance.

Best,
Mike

[Jon Holdman]

Ask your self why you want a web site? What is it you will gain from that?

If you're buying REOs or other houses off the MLS, rehabbing then, then listing them on the MLS, what would you do with the web site? Maybe post more pictures of your for-sale properties, but is it worth the effort vs. what's on the MLS? Most buyer are going to be looking on the MLS.

If you're renting, you might post pictures of your for-rent properties. Or, you could use craigs list.

Now, if you're doing marketing to get sellers, you may be able to drive traffic to your site with your ads, and then capture leads there.

I think this is one of those things like creating entities and designing business cards that's just a distraction. Doing deals is going to make you money. Get out there and do deals and don't get wound up in these distractions.