Hodson Realty

Website Redesign for a Leading Realty in Fairfield County, CT

Client
Hodson Realty, Inc.

Dates
July — October 2024

Project Scope
Desktop and Mobile Website Design

Hodson Realty needed to redesign their website to better serve their commercial and residential clients. Known locally as a leader in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Hodson is a well-trusted and reputable realty which works with businesses and families alike. Prior to the redesign project, Hodson kept two separate websites for their residential and commercial services. The new website would consolidate both sites into one destination for both audiences, while also giving an updated look-and-feel that brings out the heritage in the realty's more than 40 years of expertise.

Research

Much of the inspiration for the style of the website came from Hodson’s existing branding. The Hodson monogram, in particular, is of a traditional style. It is also a familiar symbol to people in the area, as it is prominently displayed on the realty’s property signs. Visual research was conducted on existing real estate websites, as well as historical artifacts from the area. A big idea for the redesign was to strike a balance between Hodson’s history as a long-running service-oriented business in the community, while also reflecting their current services in the commercial and residential spaces.

Sketching and Mockups

Based on the research, wireframe sketches for the homepage of the website were produced. From there, the sketches were then used as a basis for three high-fidelity mockups designed in Figma. These three mockups served as different proposals as to the creative direction of the overall site, with one chosen in consultation with the Hodson Realty team.

Original Figma Mockup of the Hodson Realty Homepage

MLS Integration

One of the goals for the website was to integrate with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), so that Hodson’s listings in the MLS database would automatically appear in the site. To do this, we worked with IDX Broker, a third-party vendor, which supports an MLS plug-in. IDX Broker was embedded throughout the site, allowing Hodson to better showcase their MLS listings.

The MLS integration showcases Hodson’s featured property listings on its homepage. On other pages, the integration highlights residential and commercial listings from both Hodson and other realtors. The Closed Properties page has an MLS integration which showcases recent properties that have been closed by Hodson.

Website

The final website was designed in WIX over the course of 4 months, and showcases Hodson’s commitment to service. The new site uses an improved visual design, structure, and layout that is both desktop and mobile friendly. It follows the best and current practices in UI/UX design. Components on the site are also animated for a clean and seamless user experience.

The banner on the homepage greets users with a quote regularly used by the realty (“A Place for Your Business. A Home for Your Family”), and guides into client reviews. The “About Us” section of the website highlights important information about Hodson and its agents, and also a stream of testimonials for a more in-depth look at their trusted relationships.

The “Commercial” and “Residential” pages feature current listings from the realty, and include an MLS integration with IDX Broker. Additionally, a Container template was designed as a way for individual listings to be uploaded onto the site.

The redesigned website was launched in October 2024, and can be found at both hodsonrealty.com and hodsoncommerical.com

Desktop

The homepage welcomes viewers with a Hodson Realty quote: “A Place for Your Business. A Home for Your Family.” From here, viewers can either view commercial or residential listings, or continue to scroll through the page to learn more about Hodson.

Throughout the website, pages use a large banner image to introduce the page content. Type is strategically placed towards the bottom of each image, allowing for an engaging user experience using a parallax effect.