How to install the Plugin.

1. You need to download the plug-in if you haven’t already done so. Your download link was in your HBN approval email with your Activation code or you can get it here.  This download is a zip file like all WordPress plugins so save it at a location you can find it.
2. In your WordPress dashboard select Plugins --> Add New
3. On the Add Plug-in page at the top left select “Upload Plugin”.
4. The top half of screen will change giving you a place to upload. Select “Browse” button and located the HBN zip file you downloaded and then select “Install Now”
5. Once it Installed successfully you now have to find the plugin “Home Builders Network” in the WordPress plugins list and select “Activate”
6. Once the plugin is activated you will find in the dashboard side menu the “Home Builders Network” You need to select this and if you have not installed the Activation Key Code yet then that screen will pop up asking for your Activation Key Code which was sent by email as part of your HBN approval email.
   
7. Once the correct Keycode is activated you will see the Home Builders Network with three tabs Start be entering info about yourself in the “Agent Detail” tab. The “Basic option” Tab allows you to make changes to the plugins function including color settings.  The “Pro Version” offers extra features that some agents might like but are not required.

 

How to starting using this Plugin.

The HBN plugin offers three main screens that the consumer will interact with.  They are the “New Construction Search Filter” box, The “Results” page and the “Property detail page”.  To get started you need to place the “New Construction Search Filter” box on your site so the consumer can find and is often found on the “Home Page” and in the main menu bar. Once that is in place and used the “Results” and “Property Detail” pages will show after perform a search.

Below is just some of the ways you can place the new construction search filter into your site.

1. WordPress widgets and place HBN-Search into a page.
2. Use the short code hbn-listing-search-form but must be put inside of the [ ] symbols and placed in a text area.  You can also copy this short code from the Agent--> Basic Options tab.

Pro Tip: in the HBN plug-in under the “Basic Options” tab you can click on the box to show a third party MLS Search Filter to show your normal existing MLS listings in the same search filter box as the new construction by placing your third party MLS search short code into the data filed “MLS Search Filter Widget Short Code”

You may also want to show result pages in many places or your site. Here is how:

1. Often used in the main menu section go to the WordPress Dashboard  select Appearance, Then Menu, Then Select Custom Links and in the Url place https://YourDomainName.com/result-page/  and then name the Link Text New Construction or House Plans and click add to menu.
2. Placing a defined style, type, price range or limit the number of house is great SEO work when building out website landing pages. This can be done in the Pro Version tab at the bottom labeled “Short Code Generator” After Clicking on the House Icon you can define exactly what results of homes you want to see and it will create a short code that can then be placed anywhere in your site.  Common use is to add in a website page full of text and place four results of a type of house you may be talking about in between paragraphs.

 

Support and best practices.

Because this is a free plugin we do not offer free help directly but do respond and share guidance as do other participants in our private Facebook group “Home Builder Network – Real Estate Agents”.  If you are not already in this group please send in a request to join directly from Facebook.

 

I have consumers interested, What do I do?

If you have consumers that wants to interview builders to move forward in the building process then you would have them fill out the “HBN – Buyers Agreement” and send directly to HBN.  Within two business days or less the agent will receive a list of the most current HBN home builders in the area.  HBN - Buyers Agreement can be found in the form section of the Service Partners page located in the footer section of this website.