Can you please help me by looking at my website and giving me your opinion of anything about it that strikes you?

its: brunswickstudenthousing.com

Thank you so much if you can give me any thoughts on it.

I'm new to this, and my son and I did the website (mostly him) so anything you can tell about social marketing (or whatever it's called) would be helpful.

Thanks -Bill

Site looks nice. Gave it a quick overview but I didn't test all links.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. I'd take the contacts form off the footers since you have a contacts page and I'd reorder the navigation bar at the top so contacts is at the far right.

2. Maybe add an action item to the properties pages like "Apply Now" or "Arrange A Tour" or at least add instructions on what to do.

3. You might want to add a documents page so you can place a copy of the application for them to download. I'd also consider using PayPal or similar to have a way to pay application fee on the site.

Thanks Landlord ofthe Flies! Great suggestions!

Thanks Landlord ofthe Flies! Great suggestions!

BillW,

Your are fantastic! Good job!

Yours are a far cry from MY off campus housing experience with a nasty couch, old ratty stove, and a bare lightbulb hanging from it's wiring in the shower.

I LOVE the testimonials! Awesome! I like how they show off the nice people we'll become friends with when we move into your homes.

My quick suggestions: you MUST watermark the photos or they will highjacked. The watermark also helps with your brand.

Need an online app or at least a PDF of the app.

Young shoppers do NOT want to talk to a person, the want to do it ALL online, so we focus on getting them to the site, not to the phone.

We're using video walk thrus with good success. Lots of views, good for distance shoppers, and in your case Mom&Dad comfort level.

BRAD

Looks good!

The first two properties have the same floorplan showing, but I really like including a floorplan!

Check out my site for a way to handle getting info and scheduling a showing: hburgrentals.com

Thanks BRAD, so much for looking at the site and the wonderful encouragement. It means a lot to me. I decided to take the site off-line until I get the watermarks on the photos, as you suggested. I’ll also look into any precautions I should take for testimonials that are posted. And yes, a pdf of the application. I’m a bit concerned with an online app though, because I take ss# to do credit check, and I think I would need to upgrade to a secure connection, or something like that to get ss info. And a video walk thrus sounds so space age to me, but I guess I won’t know if I don’t try.

Moby and Laura, thanks for the specific feedback on the errors of the site. Helpful! I like your idea Laura, of Google forms. I always hear my daughter and wife talking about them, so maybe they can get up to speed on them.

Thanks!

Vee, Laura and DJ, thanks for sharing what you do on the application. Wow, I feel you've explained just what I need to get the initial screen and application done. I like the idea of collecting screening information. For me that might be: Group contact name, What properties interested in?, #of males & # of females in your group?, year(s) of graduation?, field(s) of study?, how many cars?, do you smoke? What pets do you have? Group contact's Approximate credit score?: none, 300-600,601-650,651-700,701-750,751-800,801-850. The idea too, as BRAD said, would be to allow as much information to be transferred on line, as apposed to phone, because that's how my tenants like to work.

Laura, good point, I didn't think about a signature. And I like what you said:"If they are very interested, they can print out an application and give it to you at the walkthrough. I always take additional copies of the application to the walkthrough" I like the idea of getting the completed and signed application, with ss, and checking ID, done at the end of the walkthrough. Usually, at that point they know if they want the place, and I know if I want them, so it makes sense to get the application completed at the end of the walkthrough. Now what I do is, at the end of the walkthrough, tell them to email me and request the application. They fill it out and email to me, then call me with their ss#.(a bit cumbersome)

As for the credit score, I found usually the leader of the group has a credit score, and it's the best one of the group. I used to just ask the person who contacted me: "do you have good credit, because I do check credit" I don't do that so much any more. Like you said, maybe just leave it for the the applications.

Laura, I was just scanning what everyone wrote to make a list of the website changes, and I saw your comment of: "The first two properties have the same floorplan showing" You are detail oriented! Thanks.

And I checked out your website. Wholly cow, that's a great looking house. And now I see how you do it. I like that: Schedule a showing with the pre-screen google form.

Thanks again.

Thanks for the compliment on my house, Bill! That one is my favorite, and I lived there a number of years before I turned it into a rental.

The 'thank you' screen that I use after they fill in the screening form says "Thank you for your interest. You will be contacted to schedule a showing if you meet our eligibility criteria for rental." That way, I don't have to return calls/emails to people who have already screened themselves out. When I email them to schedule the viewing, I attach a PDF of my application, but it's also on my website if they want it.

Your places look great for student housing - for any kind of housing! Your sinks are prettier than my own house :) I'm in a college town but have been afraid of renting to students and have kept them out of my places with my eligibility requirements. I do get faculty, though, and I like them a lot!

BillW,

Search 1670GraysonProp.com

845 views "while I sleep".

The younger the prospect (like students!!) them more they use video for information.

Wow, that's some presentation. I was showing my daughter your video and telling her "this is the vision I have for my properties: everything looks good, nothing out of place, nothing strange" Both my wife and daughter got a kick, when you open the blind and you see two goats? chasing each other. Wonderful!

I guess you could say a picture tells a thousand words, but a video a thousand times that.

Thanks for the inspiration. Comes at a good time. The snow is coming down and I'm getting focused on making the changes to the website that we discussed on this post.

Wow, that's some presentation. I was showing my daughter your video and telling her "this is the vision I have for my properties: everything looks good, nothing out of place, nothing strange" Both my wife and daughter got a kick, when you open the blind and you see two goats? chasing each other. Wonderful!

I guess you could say a picture tells a thousand words, but a video a thousand times that.

Thanks for the inspiration. Comes at a good time. The snow is coming down and I'm getting focused on making the changes to the website that we discussed on this post.