How to use this checklist
Go through your current website (or a competitor's) and mark each item as done, partial, or missing. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of exactly what's holding your site back.
Foundation (non-negotiable)
- [ ] Fast load time — under 3 seconds on mobile. Use PageSpeed Insights to check. Google penalises slow sites; buyers leave them.
- [ ] Mobile-first design — over 70% of real estate searches in Nigeria happen on a phone. Your site should look better on mobile than on desktop.
- [ ] SSL certificate — your URL should start with
https://. Without it, Google shows a "Not Secure" warning and buyers leave. - [ ] Clear agency name and location — visible on every page, above the fold. Don't make visitors guess who you are or where you operate.
- [ ] Phone number and WhatsApp link — in the header. Clickable on mobile.
Homepage
- [ ] Single clear headline — one sentence that says who you serve and what you do. "Lagos real estate agent helping buyers find premium homes in Lekki and VI" beats "Welcome to our website."
- [ ] Visible call-to-action — "Search Listings," "Book a Viewing," or "WhatsApp Us" — one primary CTA, above the fold.
- [ ] Social proof — client testimonials, number of transactions, or years in business. If you have it, show it.
- [ ] Trust indicators — NIESV or RECON membership badge, awards, media mentions.
- [ ] High-quality photography — of properties you've sold, your office, or the neighbourhoods you work in. Stock photos are immediately identifiable and reduce trust.
Listings
- [ ] Filterable search — by price, beds, location, property type. Non-negotiable for a listing-heavy site.
- [ ] Individual listing pages — each property on its own URL for SEO and shareability.
- [ ] Multiple high-res photos per listing — minimum 8. Buyers scroll through photos before they read a word.
- [ ] Floor plans — a significant differentiator; most agents skip this.
- [ ] Neighbourhood context — nearby schools, markets, roads. Buyers, especially diaspora buyers, need this.
- [ ] Price on every listing — hiding prices increases bounce rate. Buyers interpret it as "too expensive."
Lead capture
- [ ] Contact form on every page — not just the contact page.
- [ ] WhatsApp click-to-chat — floating button or inline link on all listing pages.
- [ ] Email capture — "Get new listings in [area] delivered to your inbox." Builds a database over time.
- [ ] Response time promise — "We respond within 2 hours" reduces hesitation and sets expectations.
SEO
- [ ] Unique page title and meta description — for every listing and every service page.
- [ ] Location keywords in URLs —
/lekki-phase-1-apartments/not/listing/id/3847. - [ ] Google Business Profile — claimed and verified, linked from your site.
- [ ] Blog or resources section — fresh content tells Google your site is active. Even 2 posts per month helps.
Trust & credibility
- [ ] About page with real photos — of you, your team, your office. Buyers buy from people they feel they know.
- [ ] Google reviews widget — live reviews, not screenshots.
- [ ] Privacy policy — required if you collect any personal data (which contact forms do).
Scoring your results
22–27 ✓ : Your site is well-positioned. Focus on content and SEO. 14–21 ✓ : You have gaps that are costing you leads. Prioritise foundation and lead capture items first. Under 14 ✓ : A rebuild is likely more efficient than patching. Most issues are structural.