[Project Complete] $300 - Real Estate Listings Homepage

[WebFire]

(Admin code added by Michael - 3M828092D)

Prize: $300.00
Deadline: 2-3 designs (depending on number of entries) will be picked March 11th. A winner from those selected will be chosen no later than March 18th.

This contest is for the homepage design for a new real estate listing website for Northwest Ohio. Realtors will be offered a 1 year subscription to the website in which they will be able to purchase individual listings for a DEEP discount. Realtors also have the option to purchase individual listings for a more significant price. For Sale By Owners (FSBO) may also purchase individual listings. Listings last for 30 days, at which point they can be renewed.

On the other side of the user fence is the potential home buyer. This user is the main focus of the website and is who the website marketing will be geared towards. User will come to the hompage and be able to directly search for homes via a search box. Those details are outlined below. Users will also be able to research Realtors that are listed on the site.

Attached below is the new logo created for this website:

http://www.nwohioproperties4sale.com/images/logo_big.jpg

Colors, Mood, Style: The colors for the website need to match that of the new logo. The site must maintain a very professional and clean look, and be very user friendly. We desire a site that is “modular” in design so that additions can be added in the future without having to worry about design.


Company Name: Northwest Ohio Properties 4 Sale
Domain Name: www.nwohioproperties4sale.com

Audience: main audience will be people who are looking for a home or property to buy. Secondary audience will be realtors that will either be seeking info on signing up or logging in to manage listings.

Competitors: Our main competitor is www.realtor.com

Sites we like:
http://www.noticity.com/ (nice design, like the 3 boxes across the top)
http://www.arrayexpress.net/ (overall feel)
http://www.cpapartments.com/ (overall feel)
http://www.dreamscapecrm.com/promo/
http://www.egenesisgroup.com/ (overall feel)
http://www.graphicwise.com/index.html (creative)
http://www.dialogueondiversity.com/
http://www.showcase-homes.com/
http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/7643.html (like how it includes most of the elements we need)
http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/5622.html (I like the right column. That would be easy to add other promotions etc to)


The site structure is as follows. This is in random order. These can be part of a navigation system or elements on the homepage, or a combination of both (see below for those that are required elements).

Home
Advertising Opportunities
How to list a property
Find a Realtor
Create an account (realtors or FSBO)
Account login (can also be a form on the homepage)
Open House Calendar
Disclaimer
Contact Us
Commonly Asked Questions

There will also be banner advertising consisting of 3 banners that are 125x125 each. These banners need to be vertical, preferrably on the right side of the page.

Homepage Element Requirements:

-Home/Property search containing Location/City, Property Type, Price Range. Also a link to an advanced search.
-Find a Realtor. This is just a catchy graphic that links to another page
-Account login box.
-Open House Calendar. This is another graphic leading to another page.
-Need to be able to easily add other elements as needed for promotions etc.

The template needs to be in Photoshop layered format. We need to be able to make changes later if needed. The template does not need to be converted to HTML at this time, but we will pay an additional fee if we feel this is needed.

Thanks to all that enter and good luck. I look forward to seeing some great work!

[IDarwish]

Hello, I will try and get something started for this contest :)

Imad Darwish

[WebFire]

If anyone else plans on participating, I would like to hear from you.

Thanks!

[Fabian]

Hi,please count me in also:)

[Aliska]

Hello. I will also take part. Good luck everyone with the contest :)

[WebFire]

For those that haven't started yet (or that have), I REALLY like this site:

http://www.lawinfo.com/

It is very professional looking and also has the modularity I am looking for.

I can't wait to see some designs!

[WebFire]

I can expand the due date if it would help get more designers. ;)

[WebFire]

I am starting to get a little anxious. How is everyone coming along on their designs?

I can't wait!! :D

[Aliska]

Hello.
I nearly finished and will upload today a little bit later.

[Aliska]

Hello.
My version already. Sorry for the long waiting, i have problems yesterday with comp. Have to reinstalled win :(
waiting for your comments and feedback.

[WebFire]

Hi Aliska.

Thanks for the submission. I like the direction that you are headed. I will have some feedback later today when I get a chance to look at it better. One thing I notice right away is the vertical menu on the left. I would like see that looking a little better. I can send some URLs of site menus I like later.

Also, can you go ahead and change the copyright to say "Copyright 2005 NWOhioProperties4Sale.com. Read Privacy Policy."

Will anyone else be submitting a design?

[Aliska]

Hello.
Thanks, I will make changes today and upload them.
I also have another idea of desing, i will finish with it today and then post it.

[WebFire]

Hello.
Thanks, I will make changes today and upload them.
I also have another idea of desing, i will finish with it today and then post it.

Great, thanks! A couple of other things while I am here:

1. There won't be a phone number to call. So could we use that space for the Open House Calendar? Maybe an image of a calendar with those words. They would then click on it to open the actual calendar.

2. The site is only for 1 state, so we don't actually need a state search for anything. So what you could do for the home search is eliminate State, and have City of Zip. That would even up the number fields. You can also eliminate State for the Realtor search and do Zip or Ciy.

That is all for now. I look forward to seeing your other design.

[Aliska]

Hello!:)
Posting my second version for your site.
Waiting for feedback for that design.
Will post first design with changes in few hours. ;)
----------
Thanks,
Aliska.

[WebFire]

Hi Aliska.

Thanks for the second submission.

Overall I think I like the first one better, although I do like some elements of the second. So, maybe we could add the elements to the first design, make some other minor changes, and I think I would be able to show it to the client. So, here are the changes/additions I would like to see to the first design:

1. I like the New/Events on the second design. Can we incorporate that into the first one? For the titles of those you can simpy use "New Title 1" and "News Title 2" with the date.

2. On the vertical menu - pretty up the menu. I like the menu in design 2 better, but I didn't care much for those particular arrows. It doesn't have to be spectacular, maybe left align and use white text with a nice small arrow on the left of the link. Keep the links to 1 line each if you can. Also, you can remove "(realtors or FSBO)" and make it just "Create An Account". Also, you can take out "Find A Realtor" since it has its own place on the page.

3. Replace the phone number with an Open House Calendar graphic.

4. Member Login - can we add a "Sign Up Now" link under the forget password?

5. Remove state box from Home and Realtor searches.

6. Remove the "Map Search".

I know it looks like alot, but I think they are mostly easy changes. Today is supposed to be the due date for initial designs, so unless someone else enters today, you will be the winner.

Thanks a bunch! :D

[Aliska]

Ok. I begin with changes and will upload today later

[Lori]

I will be entering.

:)

[Aliska]

Hello.
I want to show already made changes at 1 design, now i'm working on your second improvments. Which menu variation do you like most - that version or in #2?
Shall I nuke the province at search bar?

[Lori]

Can I get your logo as a psd or an ai file?

[WebFire]

Can I get your logo as a psd or an ai file?

Let me see if I can get the logo in that format. I didn't design it. I am not sure how quickly I can get it, but I am sure I can.

[WebFire]

Hello.
I want to show already made changes at 1 design, now i'm working on your second improvments. Which menu variation do you like most - that version or in #2?
Shall I nuke the province at search bar?

I like that menu much better! One thing though, I would like them to be the same height. So let's make "Advertising Opportunities" just "Advertising", make "How to List A Property" just "List A Property", and "Commonly Asked Questions" just "FAQs".

I won;t repeat my other instructions I posted earlier, as I think you are doing those now.

;)

[Lori]

Well I will use this one as best I can for now, but yes, see if you can get that. If you can get it by day's end, I can just replace it on here. If not, and my work is chosen I will change it in revisions.

:)

Thanks Web Fire, and sorry so long of a wait for my design... I should have it ready for your viewing in a few hours.

[WebFire]

Well I will use this one as best I can for now, but yes, see if you can get that. If you can get it by day's end, I can just replace it on here. If not, and my work is chosen I will change it in revisions.

:)

Thanks Web Fire, and sorry so long of a wait for my design... I should have it ready for your viewing in a few hours.

I sent an email to the logo designer. Hopefully I will hear back today.

Thanks for entering!

[Aliska]

Hello.
Done with changes, waiting for your feedback :)

[dualbase]

Hello,
sorry for haven't told that we're in... But we are in ;)

Here's an attempt from us:
**removed to save bandwidth**

[WebFire]

Hello.
Done with changes, waiting for your feedback :)

Looks great! Just one more thing and I will pass this on to the client for review. Can you remove the State Province options in the Home search and also the Realtor search? For Realtor search, you can use City or Zip code.

[WebFire]

Hello,
sorry for haven't told that we're in... But we are in ;)

Here's an attempt from us:

Hi dualbase. Thanks for joining.

The design looks good. Just a one thing to change and I will pass it on to the client.

Can you make one of the boxes in the left column an Open House Calendar box?

Thanks!

[Aliska]

Done with the changes :)

[dualbase]

here's the change you asked
**removed to save bandwidth**

[WebFire]

Here are the PSD and AI files. I don;t think the PSD will be helpful, it isn't layered. I didn't look at the .ai file though.

Anyhow, here they are. Any submissions made by end of the day will be passed on to the client.

.ai file here. (http://www.stationthree.com/nwp4sfinallogo.ai)

[Lori]

I am not too far away from posting :)

[Lori]

Thanks for your patience. Here is my inital offering for your client. Please let me know of any revisions you need to see...

http://www.zenfulcreations.com/templates/i/property.gif

[WebFire]

Hi Lori.

Thanks for the submission. Just a few things.

1. The accounts are not free. So that will be need to changed on the top link, and the login box.

2. There will be no Featured Property on this site. Not sure why, but they decided against it. Not sure what else you might put there. I will trust that you can come up with something. :yes:

3. The picture of the Toledo Bend doesn't really seem to work for me. I guess I would rather see a pic of newer home or something. The pic itself is nice, but doesn't really seem to match the intent of the site.

4. Can we change the title of Agent News to News & Events?

5. I like the location of the calendar, but I think I would like to see something more like the other submissions, rather than the actual monthly calendar. The reason being is that the user won't be able to choose the day right from the front, and this gives the impression that they can.

6. Can we change the title of the login box from Realtors to Sellers. There will be FSBO's selling as well, so this is more accurate.

I know is seems like alot, but I don't think to hard. I want the designs to be right to show to the client. I really like this design and is more of my personal design style. But all the designs look great. I think the client will be pleased to have to choose amongst these!

I look forward to seeing your revisions Lori.

[Lori]

Making changes now :)

[WebFire]

Great. I will be leaving for a little while. I can make some comments when I get back later tonight. If you make those few changes, we should be good to go.

I will also be gone tomorrow until later in the day. So I won't be able to show the client until tomorrow night. So depending on when I hear from them, you may not hear much from me until Sunday or Monday.

[Lori]

I hope I can catch you before you go...

QUESTION:

Do you think they would do a "featured seller"?

[WebFire]

Lori,

I am not sure if they would do a Featured Seller or not. Let's leave it and I will see what they think about that. Could be additional revenue for them.

To everyone,

Thanks for the submissions. They all great. I am glad the client has to pick one and not me. :)

[WebFire]

One more easy one Lori. Can you change the titles under News & Events to be geared towards the buyer rather than the seller? The site is geared towards the seller.

Thanks!

[Anne]

Hope I'm not to late

Here's my entry
Anne

[WebFire]

Hope I'm not to late

Here's my entry
Anne

Hi Anne. Thanks for entering. Just a couple quick changes and I will send it to the client.

On the Home/Property search box, you need to add a y to "propert".

In the welcome title, "Propert" should be "Properties".

There is no featured homes section. So for the 2 properties listed under the welcome, perhaps that could be the "News & Events".

If you can make these changes today, I will send it over. I will be honest though, the client has been studying the other 3 entries since Friday evening. And they are leaning towards a favorite right now. So I will leave it up to you on whether you want to spend the time on it.

Thanks!

[Anne]

I've made the changes even though I might not have a chance :)

Anne

[IDarwish]

My entry should come in hopefully by tonight :)

[IDarwish]

And here is my entry, its not completely done but let me know what you think so I ca continue on it :)

[WebFire]

And here is my entry, its not completely done but let me know what you think so I ca continue on it :)

Hi Carlos. Unfortunately the client will be making a decision tomorrow on the design they like most. Even if I sent them your design tonight, I don't think they would see it in time to consider it as an option.

Hopefully I will see you participate in my future contests!

[IDarwish]

Oh ok, I guess ill let this one go :weep: heh

[WebFire]

I should be getting a decision today!

[WebFire]

Congrats to Aliska!! The client has picked your design. Let the money be awarded!

I must say as a first time contest holder here I am very impressed with the designer talent. The client had 4 (almost 5) very excellent designs to choose from.

Aliska, I will be getting back with you shortly on any changes that may need to be made.

Thanks everyone for participating. I hope to see you all in my future contests!

[dualbase]

well donne Aliska :)

[IDarwish]

Congrats Aliska :tup:

[Aliska]

Hello :)
Thanks for chosing me. I really appreciate that you like my works. Waiting for your comments and changes.
And thanks all designers for congratulation :)

[WebFire]

Hello :)
Thanks for chosing me. I really appreciate that you like my works. Waiting for your comments and changes.
And thanks all designers for congratulation :)

Just 1 minor change for now. Can you capitalize "Account" on the New Account button.

The client is receiving feedback as we speak, but there should only be minor changes. The clients loves the design!

Just one question....
the image behind the Find A Home box, what is that?

Thanks!

[Aliska]

Hello.
I begin working on changes, will upload them a little bit later.
The image - a person watching at monitor with houses images

[Aliska]

Hello.
Desing with the change. Waiting for your other comments about changing

[WebFire]

Hello.
Desing with the change. Waiting for your other comments about changing

Oh, sorry for the misunderstanding. I wanted just the "A" capitilized. So it should be "New Account".

How much would it cost to have you convert this to HTML for me? Time is running short for me.

Thanks!

[Aliska]

Hello.
I will make the change and then code it. Do you need only home page, no back pages?

[WebFire]

Hello.
I will make the change and then code it. Do you need only home page, no back pages?

No back pages. But I don't expect you to do it for free. I said in the contest that I would pay to do it if we needed, as I wasn't sure at the time what my load would be.

Thanks!

[Aliska]

Ok, I started with coding and will send you all source files (PSD and HTML coding) tomorrow, just give me email, where I can send them

[WebFire]

matt@stationthree.com

Thanks!

[Aliska]

Hello :).
Sent you source files (psd and html page).