Philadelphia Weekly

REAL ESTATE

When it comes to 'mobilizing' websites, real estate industry lags

Give smartphone-using home shoppers a better mobile experience

By Inman News Feed

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Jan. 20, 2012

"If I'm a consumer and looking at an ad in the magazine that may say, 'Please text 23456,' and when I do that on my phone, I get a return text that said this is a three-bedroom, two-bath house for $250,000, and if you would like more information please reply," said Rebecca Chandler, vice president of Network Communications Inc., publishers of the Real Estate Book.

The text message, Chandler noted, also asks the user to "click on this link and you can see more photos, maps, etc. The consumer is directed to a website that's mobilized, or displayed on the phone in a way that makes sense, so whether you call it up on your iPhone, Blackberry or Droid, the information always fits the window."

Steve Bergsman is a freelance writer in Arizona and author of several books. His latest book, "Growing Up Levittown: In a Time of Conformity, Controversy and Cultural Crisis," is now available for sale on Amazon.com.