Client Background

Our client, a Toronto-born realtor, needed a modern online presence to better showcase her listings. The main goal of the project was to create a professional, user-friendly real estate website that could:

• Highlight her personal property listings with full details and photos.
• Integrate with IDX data so visitors could also browse a wider range of listings filtered by neighbourhoods and price ranges.

The client also wanted the website to work seamlessly across devices, include strong security measures, and reflect her branding.

Challenges

When the client approached me, she faced several limitations:

• No CMS for personal properties: She had no easy way to add her own property listings and organize them with details like number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking spaces, and pricing.
• Dynamic display requirements: Each property needed to show different details depending on the page — for example, some fields only on the homepage slider, others on the property archive, and full details on the single listing page.
• IDX integration: Since IDX is a third-party data source, there were styling and layout restrictions. The challenge was to blend IDX listings with her own listings into a consistent website experience.
• Incomplete design references: The client provided a Canva design reference, but only for desktop. Mobile and tablet versions needed to be designed from scratch to ensure proper responsiveness.
• Custom navigation: She wanted a mega menu that was more sophisticated than the standard WordPress menu, requiring a custom-built approach.
• Scalability: Beyond the initial pages, the site needed to be structured so she could later add neighbourhood-based landing pages and price filters without depending on constant developer intervention.

Solutions

To overcome these challenges, I created a custom WordPress solution tailored for real estate needs:

• Custom property management system: I developed a custom post type with dedicated fields for beds, baths, parking, pricing, and more. From her WordPress dashboard, the client can now add and edit properties just like writing a blog post — with everything organized automatically on the front end.
• Dynamic templates: I built custom templates for the homepage slider, the property archive, and individual property pages. Each template pulls the right fields into the right place, and fallback images ensure the design never breaks if a photo is missing.
• IDX integration: I set up the connection with IDX so listings can be filtered by both price and neighbourhood. This included building out 17 neighbourhood landing pages and 5 price-filter pages, all automatically pulling the correct IDX data while matching the site’s design.
• Responsive design: Since the reference design only covered desktop, I carefully extended the layout to tablet and mobile, adjusting typography, spacing, and images for each screen size.
• Custom mega menu: I built a flexible, modern mega menu that works across devices and aligns with the client’s requested design.
• Branding assets: I recreated her logo and favicon in vector format, ensuring they can be reused at any size in the future.
• Security and reliability: The site was hardened with strong security practices, automated backups, and SSL protection via Cloudflare. This ensures both uptime and peace of mind.
• Marketing readiness: I set up Google and Meta tracking pixels so she can measure visitor engagement and run retargeting ads in the future.

Results

• The client can now easily add her own listings with full details and photos directly from the WordPress dashboard.
• IDX listings are fully integrated, with visitors able to browse by neighbourhood or price range in a seamless experience.
• The homepage slider, property archive, and single property pages are all dynamic, displaying consistent and professional layouts.
• The site is responsive, secure, and scalable, with a strong foundation for future growth.
• Branding and marketing elements (logo, favicon, SEO setup, tracking pixels) are in place for both presentational and promotional needs.

Deliverables

• Fully functional, responsive real estate website with IDX integration.
• 34 pages delivered (originally scoped for 10).
• Complete documentation and training materials in PDF format for using the system.
• Backup files and credential records for disaster recovery.
• Vector logo and favicon for ongoing use.

Client Feedback

“The work that was completed far exceeded my expectations. Exceptional level of detail and attention was there throughout the entire process. I am so happy with the results as well as the guidance and help that was provided during this special and specific order. I hope that with additional improvements and changes to my website we connect further and work together. You won’t be disappointed!!!”

Final Thoughts

This project was both technically challenging and deeply rewarding. By combining custom WordPress development with IDX integration, I was able to deliver a platform that not only showcases properties beautifully but also empowers the client to manage her listings independently. The collaboration process — from refining the design, to building custom features, to solving unexpected issues — showed the importance of clear communication and flexibility.

Most importantly, the website is now a powerful tool for her real estate business: scalable, secure, and designed with growth in mind. I’m excited to see how she continues to leverage this platform and look forward to supporting her future digital initiatives.