Realtor Website Design: A Practical Checklist
Good realtor website design is mostly restraint: fast pages, honest photos, clear paths to contact, and a layout that works on a phone. Use this checklist when you build a site or review an old one.
Newel Guides · Updated September 2026Design For The Phone First
Most people looking at a listing or an agent for the first time do it on a phone. Open your site on a phone before you look at it on a computer. Check that text is readable without zooming, buttons are easy to tap, and the page does not scroll sideways.
- Body text at 16 pixels or larger.
- Tap targets at least 44 pixels tall.
- A phone number that dials when tapped.
- Forms with few fields and the right keyboard for each (phone, email).
- No horizontal scroll at 375 pixels wide.
Speed
A slow page loses visitors before they read a word. Photos are the usual cause.
- Resize photos to the size they display and compress them.
- Use modern formats such as WebP where the platform supports it.
- Load images below the fold lazily.
- Avoid auto-playing full-screen video on the home page.
- Limit third-party scripts to the ones you actually use, such as analytics and a chat tool.
Test your page with a free speed test tool and fix the biggest items first.
Photography
- Use a real headshot taken in the last couple of years.
- Use your own listing photos or photos you have license to use. Do not use stock images of homes in your area.
- Keep the same color and style across photos.
- Add descriptive alt text to images, such as "Kitchen with white oak island at 24 Elm Street." It helps accessibility and search.
Typography And Color
- One or two fonts. A clean sans-serif for body text, and an optional serif for headings.
- Strong contrast between text and background. Light grey text on white is hard to read for many people.
- One accent color for buttons and links.
- Generous space around text. Crowded pages feel cheap.
Navigation
Keep the menu short: Home, About, Buyers, Sellers, Listings, Contact. Put a clear contact button at the top right. On mobile, use a simple menu and keep the phone number visible. Every page should have a footer with the same links, your license and brokerage details, and the Equal Housing statement.
Contact Paths
- A contact form with name, email or phone, and a message. Add more fields only if you use them.
- Your phone number in the header and footer.
- A response promise you can keep, such as "I reply within one business day."
- A confirmation message after the form is submitted, and a copy of the lead sent to you immediately.
- Clear consent language if you plan to text or email the person.
Accessibility
Accessible design is good practice and reduces legal risk. Check color contrast, provide alt text, make sure the site can be used with a keyboard, label form fields, and do not rely on color alone to convey meaning. Fair housing rules also apply to how you describe homes and people on the site. See Fair Housing Rules For Listing Posts.
What To Skip
- Sliders and carousels that hide content behind arrows.
- Stock testimonials or reviews you do not have permission to use.
- Sound that plays on load.
- Search widgets that do not work on a phone.
- Claims like "#1 agent" without a source and date.
Video On A Realtor Site
A short listing video on the home page or listing page holds attention better than a wall of photos, as long as it does not slow the page. Use a poster image, load the video on click, and provide a text description nearby. If you need clips from listing photos, see How To Turn Listing Photos Into A Video and Newel Studio.
Getting A Site Built
Newel designs and builds custom sites from $399 and you pay only after you approve the design. See website pricing or tell us about your business.
A One Hour Review
- Open the site on your phone and try to reach the contact form in two taps.
- Run a free page speed test and note the largest image.
- Read the home page headline aloud. Does it say who you help and where?
- Check every photo for size, quality, and alt text.
- Click every link, including footer and legal links.
- Ask a friend who is not in real estate to find your phone number in ten seconds.
Fix the fastest wins first: compress photos, shorten the menu, and make the phone number tappable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good realtor website?
Fast pages, a layout that works on a phone, honest photography, a short menu, and clear ways to contact you.
What should be on a realtor home page?
Who you help and where, one main action, a real photo of you, current listings or sales, and your license and brokerage details in the footer.
Should I use a template or a custom design?
Either can work. A template is quicker to start. A custom design lets you match your brand and only include what you need.
Get A Website Built For Your Business
Newel builds custom websites for a one-time fee starting at $399. You see the design first and pay after you approve it. You own the site and your leads.
Newel is a software and website product, not a licensed brokerage. This guide is general information and not legal advice. You are responsible for your own MLS, state, and fair housing compliance.