Once again, SOBI has displayed its versatility.
Forget all of the other Real Estate Components, I've bought them all. They're slow loading and confusing for the agents to manage. SOBI2 on the other hand, is quick and very customizable.
I could not agree more.
This is how I first discovered SOBI.
I had tried various Real Estate solutions; Open Realty, Mosets Hot Property, EZ Realty, etc, etc and all of them were lacking in some aspect.
I developed
mod_sobi2Featured specifically for my SOBI2 based Real Estate application.
I am currently in the process of developing my own Joomla 1.5.x (xHTML 1.1, no tables, 3 column/fluid center, high performance) template as part of the process of updating the web site
The Utila Real Estate Company from Joomla 1.0.15 with SOBI2 2.7.3 and Community Builder 1.1 to Joomla 1.5.8 native with SOBI2 2.9.x, SobiSEF plugin and Community Builder 1.2.x
Since I have been operating the existing site for about 12 months now, I am aware of a lot more features a Real Estate application requires, like contract management, customer lead tracking, client reports, etc. All of which I believe can be accomplished with a Joomla/SOBI2/Community Builder based technology.
What is slowing me down is the learning curve on Joomla 1.5.x native, plus getting Joomla standard components and third party extensions such as Google Translation gadgets to produce valid XHTML 1.1 or even XHTML 1.0 Transitional output and then everything to display consistently in Firefox, Safari and IE 6, 7, and 8.
I note that you are having similar problems - your example links have validation errors;
http://www.amileabove.com/featured-homes -
76 Errorshttp://www.amileabove.com/featured-homes/colorado-springs-richest-home -
18 errorsI note that the
Rocket Theme Catalyst Template you are using is fairly solid
I have stopped using the
SOBI2 Gallery plugin for 2 reasons - (1) Google cannot index the full size images - which it likes to do - and perhaps this gives a little SERPs boost, and more importantly, on a bad internet connection the Javascript 'freezes' on packet time-outs. Instead I have added images in "standard" HTML (
see this property listing as an example).
I also note that your are a Pikes Peak MLS member. Have you developed anything to automatically upload your listings to the MLS?
Apart from getting existing Joomla and 3rd party extensions/components to work properly, on my Real Estate wish list is;
(1) Upgrading mod_sobi2Featured listings to Joomla 1.5.x native compliance, plus adding a bunch more features.
(2) A solution to more tightly integrate each property listing with Google Earth and show property boundary lines and plats integrated with Google Earth
(3) Integrating 360 Virtual Tours such as
this or
thisJust about everything else I require - currency converters, mortgage calculators, local weather, local news, etc, I can solve with an existing Joomla extension or Goggle/Yahoo/Amazon gadget.
Well done and thanks for sharing.
Implementations such as yours help promote the versatility of SOBI2!
Regards - Mark