Mt Hotham Property

Client: Mt Hotham Property
Platform: Joomla
Developer: Marketeam
Website launch: 29th January 2024

Project overview

The Mt Hotham Property website development project was initiated to design and build a modern, responsive website for Mt Hotham Property – a leading real estate agency in the Mt Hotham alpine region.

The project aimed to create a user-friendly platform for showcasing property listings, providing essential information to potential customers and enhancing the agency's online presence.

Objectives

Design and branding
Develop a visually appealing and professional website that reflects the premium quality of Mt Hotham Property’s accommodation options in the unique alpine environment.

Property listing management
Implement a robust property listing system with advanced search and filtering capabilities, allowing users to easily find properties that match their criteria.

User experience (UX)
Ensure a seamless user experience across all devices, including desktops, tablets and smartphones, with intuitive navigation and accessibility.

Content management
Utilise Joomla's content management capabilities to enable easy updates and management of property listings, news and seasonal content by the Mt Hotham Property team.

Key deliverables

• Website design: A clean, modern, responsive design incorporating high-quality images and a colour scheme inspired by the Mt Hotham alpine region.
• CMS integration: Full integration of the Joomla CMS allows easy content updates and management.
• Property listing module: A purpose-built component for property listings, including advanced search and filtering options.
• Responsive layout: A fully responsive website that works seamlessly across various devices.
• SEO implementation: On-page SEO elements, including keyword optimisation, meta tags and a user-friendly URL structure.

Project phases

Discovery and planning

• Conducted initial consultations with the Mt Hotham Property team to understand project requirements and objectives.
• Performed a competitive analysis to identify best practices in real estate website design and functionality.
• Created a project plan outlining key milestones, deliverables and timelines.

Design and development

• Developed design mockups for client approval, focusing on user experience and visual appeal.
• Installed and configured Joomla as the CMS, customising it to meet the specific needs of Mt Hotham Property.
• JoomShaper’s SP Property component was installed to manage property listings and showcase accommodation features.
• Ensured the website was fully responsive, providing an optimal experience on all devices.

Testing and QA

• Conducted extensive usability testing to ensure the website was intuitive and easy to navigate.
• Verified that the website performed consistently across all major browsers.
• Tested the website’s performance to ensure fast loading times, even with high-resolution images.

Deployment and training

• Launched the website in a timely manner.
• Provided training sessions for the Mt Hotham Property team on managing content and using Joomla effectively.

Post-launch support

• Offered ongoing maintenance and support, including regular updates, security patches and content changes.
• Monitored website performance and made continuous improvements based on user feedback and analytics.

Challenges and solutions

• Image optimisation: Managing high-quality images for properties without compromising website speed was challenging. This was addressed by using advanced image compression techniques and implementing speed tools and caching to enhance performance.
• Seasonal content management: Updating content based on seasonal changes requires a dynamic content management system. Joomla’s flexibility allowed for easy management of seasonal content, ensuring the website stayed current year-round.
• SEO requirements: To meet SEO objectives, we integrated best practices from the beginning of the development process, ensuring that the website was optimised for search engines from launch.

Conclusion

The Mt Hotham Property website development project was a successful collaboration between Marketeam and Mt Hotham Property, resulting in a modern, functional and visually appealing website that meets the needs of both the client and its users.

By leveraging Joomla's powerful features, Marketeam delivered a platform that not only showcases properties effectively but also supports the ongoing growth of Mt Hotham Property in the competitive Alpine accommodation market.

Click here to visit the Mt Hotham Property website >>