Originally Posted By: Roberta Dulay
This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Since the topic of the night seems to be Home Inspection Websites, I wanted to share some information which I recently researched and published online. Compare for yourself, then you can design what is right for you. This data was researched and compiled on 10/22/04 and is available online at http://www.realtysites.info/compare.php.
There appears to be two schools of thought when it comes to home inspection web site design - the traditional web design companies who develop brochure-style static web sites utilizing either template customization or custom design, and the functional or software-based approach where the focus is on delivering functionality (order forms, report upload, discussion boards, content optimized to ensure search engine results) within a templated framework. This distinction can be critical when you look at what you are paying for your web site and what you expect your web site to do for your business.
Methodology: We looked at everything in terms of both upfront costs, monthly hosting costs, and what each web site would cost over a 3 year period (total costs over three years, divided by 3 = cost per year).
Here is a summary of my findings. :
RealtySites (http://www.realtysites.info) offers basic template-based home inspection web sites for NACHI members for just $199 plus $5.25 a month for hosting. Annualized cost of this type of web site site over 3 years is $190 per year. Included features at no extra charge are: your own content management system, a links manager, custom content, choice of hosting domains, up to 20 web site pages and free search engine optimization. Optional features include discussion forums, polls, blogging, newsletter subscription, your own domain name, and document upload (to deliver your home inspection reports electronically).
RealtySites also offers an advanced home inspection web site package which includes the content management system, links manager, custom content, choice of hosting domains, search engine optimization, etc., PLUS free domain registration and hosting, subdomain setup, newsletter subscription, Document Upload, your choice of forum, blog or polls, search engine submissions and up to 40 website pages, all included in the $675 NACHI price. The annualized cost of this package over 3 years is $330 per year, which is quite low considering that this package offers more features than any other package I reviewed.
As a side note, RealtySites also offers all realty professionals a free listing in their real estate resources directory - you do not have to be a client to take advantage of an extra way to market your web site and services. Simply visit http://www.realtysites.info/directory/listing.php to request your listing and you will be automatically notified when it is approved.
A-Inspect (http://www.ainspect.com/) offers their basic web site package for $250 plus $59.95 a month, which works out to $803 per year on a 3 year annualized basis. They offer custom content, domain hosting, report upload and more at that price.
Home Gauge (http://www.homegauge.com/inspector/services/plans.html)
offers a single web page (not site) under their Silver Plan for $175 setup plus $20 a month, or a Gold web site for $175 + 30/m (your own domain extra). The Gold Plan includes inspection orders, upload feature, and preferred listings in their directory. On an annualized basis, Home Gauge's Gold Plan will cost you $443 a year over three years.
Inspection Depot (http://www.inspectiondepot.com/marketing/websitedesign.html) offers a basic template based brochure-style web site for only $699 plus $99 a year in hosting. Kudos to Inspection Depot for being the first home inspection web site I came across who has reasonable hosting fees. Their higher-end web site packages range from $999-$2499, with annualized costs ranging from $332 - 1182 on a 3 year basis.
InspectorXsites (http://www.inspectorxsites.com/default.asp) currently is offering their template based web sites at the "sale price" of $499 and renewals at the sale price of $299. Site features include domain hosting, email flash intros, contact forms, custom content, content management, seo, email, and 24x7 support. Annualized cost of their web sites is either $366 (sale price) or $566 (regular price) on a 3 year annualized basis.
InspectionDesign (http://www.inspectiondsign.com)offers a two types of template based brochure-style home inspection web sites - with and without FLASH, for $250 and $300 respectively, plus $39.95 a month for hosting. The sites include the following features: Domain Name, Hosting, and Unlimited Links, Pages and Updates. So in essence, Inspection Design is offering static web site packages at basically the same prices as other companies such as A-Inspect and HomeGauge are offering web sites with features such as electronic report upload and delivery. The annualized cost of Inspection Design's basic site is $563 per year over a 3 year period.
Since web site companies often change their pricing in direct response to competition, some of our published findings may change over time. The comparison table, with links to all of the web sites mentioned above, is available online at http://www.realtysites.info. I invite you to compare for yourself and then decide.
Regards,
Roberta Dulay
Yalia Technology Design
http://www.yalia.com
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Yalia Technology Design offers NACHI members Home Inspection Web Sites for under $200. Visit http://www.realtysites.info/nachi.php for more information.