Launch Announcement DB Homes

A home builder based in Johnstown, DB Homes had some challenging needs for this website redesign.  The project started in late July 2022 and consisted of almost 300 pages. Working with Dick Burke and his staff over the past 6 months was a fantastic experience. I enjoyed that this project was not one Dick wanted to rush, he was first concerned with making sure this website was built to provide a better user experience for his customers, worked well for his staff, and better reflected his business image to the public. 

A little behind the scenes. 

When I was first contacted by Dick at DB Homes it was clear that this project require me to be ready for the long haul. This was not a standard 8-10 page project, and the needs for this project were very specific. I was ready for the challenge and felt that this was a website I wanted to do based on the importance they placed on the quality of the finished website, and not just the turn around time. There was most certainly urgency with this redesign, but the website needed to be done the right way. 

There was an existing site, but it was in dire need of a visual refresh and a complete mobile display overhaul. Due to unexpected circumstances, DB Homes was left with was a website that did not match or represent the quality product that they were known for. 

Primary Objectives

The sales and marketing staff needed a way for potential home buyers to be able to find a home floor plan based on their own taste and specifications, and do this easily without hassle or confusion. This website needed a way to store, sort, and display appropriate data based on varied inputs and categories. The current system that was in-place already did have a functional system that sorted and stored the data well, but the system was rigid in the way the data was displayed and styled.

I also needed to create a design that would allow DB Homes customers to view and select from the numerous offerings for interior features, appliance packages, and other options based on they type of home they chose to build. Each category had a variety of visuals and had to be sorted and presented in an easy to browse manner. They wanted to allow the customers at this stage in the buying process to be able to view and select these on their own time and pace, this allows the DB staff to focus on other parts of the project and shorten the time it takes for this. 

DB Homes was using an industry specialized CRM, I needed to make sure that visitors were funneled into this by utilizing design, copy, and integrating the website contact forms into this existing CRM system. 

The Build

The website they were using already was built on Wordpress with a purchased theme specific to the real estate industry. They need to be able to update the website on their own, and are already familiar with Wordpress so I kept that the same. Here is the backend I implemented for this redesign:

• Wordpress

• Elementor Pro Builder

• SEOPress Pro

• Houzez Real Estate Plug-In

Keeping with Wordpress on this build I went with my go to page builder, Elementor Pro. The way Elementor stays out of the way and is not opinionated toward any plugins/themes makes this the best use for a website that I need to work around specific implementations or plugins. Elementor Pro's built in form system is easy to use with almost any CRM/Marketing integrations. I find that by using Elementor Pro I reduce the amount of other plug-ins needed and this keeps the website leaner and reduces unforeseen script errors between incompatible plug-ins. I removed the Yoast SEO Plugin in favor of SEOPress Pro to manage the SEO for all of the pages and site. The existing website was using an existing paid plug-In to manage the expansive list of floor plans and I wanted to keep that the same. I just removed the themed portion it had and kept the plug-in functionality and its admin area that they were using and already accustomed too. This makes the changeover easy for them after delivery, they can continue to add/remove/change the floorpans as they need to.

It was a pleasure to work with Dick Burke, Jill, and DB Homes. I appreciated the confidence that he hid in me to help get this project off the ground and see it to completion.

More Information:

Elementor Pro

SEOPress Pro

DB-Homes.com