Are you looking to create a professional, easy-to-manage website for your property management business? Building a strong online presence is crucial in today’s competitive market, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
Understanding how to use Buildium’s website tools can help showcase your properties and services, attract new clients, and streamline communication. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to set up your website, share helpful tips, and offer insights for success.
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How to Create a Professional Buildium Website
Ready to ramp up your property management business and present a top-notch online presence? A Buildium website could be the answer you’re looking for. Buildium is a powerful property management platform designed to make running your rental business easier from end to end. Not only does it streamline operations, but it also lets you create a sleek, professional website directly from your Buildium account.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to building your own property management website using Buildium, along with practical tips, common challenges, and answers to the questions you might have along the way.
Understanding Buildium Websites
A property management website serves as your digital headquarters. If you use Buildium, you can set up a website that’s integrated with your property management software, so residents, owners, and prospects can easily connect with you and complete necessary tasks online. Buildium offers ready-to-use templates, easy customization, and seamless integration with its suite of management and communication tools.
Steps to Build Your Property Management Website with Buildium
Here’s a clear, step-by-step approach to creating your professional Buildium website:
1. Get Your Buildium Account Ready
- Sign up for a Buildium subscription if you don’t already have one.
- Make sure your account is active and you have access to the administrator panel.
- Choose a pricing plan that meets your company’s needs—Buildium’s tiers typically scale based on the number of units you manage and access to advanced features.
2. Access the Website Builder
- Log into your Buildium dashboard.
- Look for the “Website” or “Property Management Website” section in your admin panel.
- Click on the website builder to start the setup process.
3. Choose a Template
- Buildium provides a selection of professionally designed templates tailored for property management businesses.
- Pick a template that matches your brand style and the impression you want to make.
- Templates are mobile-friendly and optimized for search engines, helping you reach more potential clients.
4. Customize Your Site
- Add your company’s name, logo, and contact information.
- Update the color scheme, fonts, and images to reflect your brand identity.
- Personalize standard pages, such as:
- Home
- About Us
- Available Rentals
- Resident Portal
- Owner Portal
- Maintenance Requests
- Use the simple editing tools to drag, drop, and arrange page elements.
5. Link Key Features
- Integrate Buildium’s resident and owner portals directly into your site.
- Allow prospects to view available rentals, apply online, and even pay application fees via the website.
- Enable features for current tenants, such as online rent payments, maintenance request forms, and document downloads.
- Give owners access to custom dashboards, property reports, and financial statements.
6. Add Extra Custom Pages (If Needed)
- You may want to include FAQ sections, a blog, community news, testimonials, or other pages that highlight your professionalism and expertise.
- Take advantage of Buildium’s flexible site editor to publish special announcements, event calendars, or neighborhood guides.
7. Review and Launch
- Preview your site before going live. Check on both desktop and mobile devices.
- Make any final adjustments to layout, images, or text.
- When satisfied, publish your website directly from the Buildium dashboard.
- Your site’s domain may be a Buildium subdomain (e.g., yourcompany.buildium.com), or you can connect your own custom domain.
Key Benefits of Using Buildium for Your Website
Using Buildium to build your property management website offers a range of advantages:
- All-in-One Solution: Centralizes listings, resident/owner communications, applications, and payments.
- Easy Updates: Edit your site anytime—no coding experience or outside developer needed.
- Brand Consistency: Templates are customizable, ensuring your site matches your company’s look and feel.
- Seamless Integrations: Resident and owner portals, online payments, and listings sync automatically with website updates.
- Mobile Ready: All templates are responsive, so they look great and work well on any device.
- Compliance: Buildium monitors industry changes, so websites are designed to meet property management regulations (such as fair housing).
Practical Tips and Best Practices
Creating a property management website is about more than picking colors and uploading a logo. To stand out, use these expert tips:
Highlight What Makes You Unique
- Feature testimonials, company achievements, and special amenities.
- Include “Meet the Team” profiles—people love connecting with real professionals behind the business.
Prioritize Usability
- Make sure your contact information and application forms are easy to find.
- Add call-to-action buttons like “Apply Now,” “Pay Rent,” or “Request Maintenance” on every page.
Optimize for SEO
- Use clear page titles and descriptions.
- Include keywords prospective tenants or owners might use to find your company in search engines.
Update Regularly
- Post news, policy changes, or new rental listings as soon as they’re available.
- Keep policies, hours, and contact information current.
Protect Sensitive Information
- Buildium websites include secure logins for residents and owners—always inform users to create strong passwords.
- Only collect necessary information via online forms.
Market Your Site
- Add your website address to all marketing materials, business cards, signage, and social media.
- Encourage current tenants and property owners to use the portal through your Buildium website.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Building your property management website with Buildium is user-friendly, but you may encounter some hurdles. Here’s how to address them:
1. Limited Design Flexibility
- Buildium’s website builder focuses on speed and ease rather than full custom design.
- If you want highly specific features or unique layouts, consider integrating third-party tools via custom pages or using your custom domain for advanced functionality.
2. Content Management
- Assign a team member to update listings and company info weekly.
- Set reminders to audit the site regularly, ensuring policies and pricing are accurate.
3. Integrations and Compatibility
- Double-check that your online applications, payment systems, and maintenance forms are live and syncing with your internal Buildium software.
4. Onboarding Owners and Residents
- Announce your new website and its features via emails or notices.
- Offer short tutorials or walkthrough videos to help users access portals and make payments.
Cost Tips and Considerations
While Buildium provides a robust website builder, costs can add up depending on your needs and the scale of your business. Keep these cost-saving strategies in mind:
- Choose the Right Plan: Select a Buildium subscription tier that matches your portfolio size. Upgrading later is always possible.
- Avoid Unnecessary Add-ons: Use the built-in website and portal features instead of paying for external extras unless your business really needs them.
- Utilize Subdomains: Starting with the free Buildium subdomain is budget-friendly; purchase a custom domain only when you’re ready to invest further in branding.
- DIY Updates: Take advantage of Buildium’s user-friendly interface to update content yourself, saving on developer costs.
Final Thoughts
Building a property management website with Buildium is straightforward and efficient. The platform’s all-in-one nature means you don’t need to be a tech expert to launch an impressive, feature-rich site for your clients and tenants. With just a few clicks, you’ll have a digital hub that automates tasks, strengthens communications, and enhances your professional image.
Embrace the opportunity to elevate your business’s digital presence—your future residents and owners will appreciate the convenience, and you’ll benefit from streamlined operations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to set up a Buildium website?
Most users can set up and customize a basic Buildium website in just a few hours. If you want additional custom pages or features, set aside some extra time for planning and content creation.
Can I use my own domain name for my Buildium website?
Yes! Buildium allows you to connect your own custom domain (such as yourcompany.com) to your website. The setup process is simple and can enhance your brand credibility.
Are Buildium websites mobile-friendly?
Absolutely. All Buildium website templates are responsive, meaning they automatically adjust for smartphones and tablets.
What features can residents and owners access through the website?
Residents can pay rent, submit maintenance requests, and download important documents. Property owners can log in to view property reports, financial statements, and updates—all through secure portals linked to your website.
Is any technical expertise required to build a Buildium website?
No advanced technical skills are needed. The platform uses drag-and-drop tools and user-friendly menus, making it accessible even if you have no previous website design experience. If you get stuck, Buildium offers customer support and help guides.
By following these steps and best practices, you’ll be well on your way to launching a polished, professional Buildium website that impresses owners, attracts new residents, and keeps your operations running smoothly.