Headers and footers are essential for real estate websites – they improve navigation, showcase your brand, and provide important details like contact info and property search tools. With Elementor and Elementor Pro, you can design custom headers and footers without coding. Here’s how:
- What You Need: Install Elementor (free) and Elementor Pro ($49/year) to unlock the Theme Builder. Add the "Header Footer for Elementor" plugin for extra features.
- Header Design: Include a logo, navigation menu, contact info, and property search bar. Maintain brand consistency with custom colors and fonts.
- Footer Design: Add property search tools, contact details, social media links, and newsletter forms. Ensure a clean layout with proper spacing.
- Mobile Optimization: Use Elementor’s responsive settings to adjust designs for desktop, tablet, and mobile views. Test on real devices for usability.
- Advanced Features: Integrate tools like CT IDX Pro+ for MLS search and ChatSpark AI for 24/7 support.
Start by accessing the Theme Builder in Elementor and follow these steps to create professional headers and footers tailored to your real estate site. Focus on user-friendly design and responsive layouts to boost engagement.
Initial Setup Requirements
To create custom headers and footers for your real estate website using Elementor, you’ll need to set up a few tools and plugins first.
Required Plugins Setup
Here are the two key plugins you’ll need:
- Elementor Pro: The premium version that includes the Theme Builder feature.
- Header Footer for Elementor: A free plugin that adds extra functionality for designing headers and footers. [3]
To get started, install the free Elementor plugin from the WordPress repository. Then, upload and activate Elementor Pro after purchasing it. Finally, install and activate the Header Footer for Elementor plugin.
Opening Theme Builder
Head to Templates > Theme Builder in your WordPress dashboard to start creating your templates. [2] Before diving in, double-check that your WordPress theme works well with Elementor. If you run into issues, tweak the plugin settings to fix any compatibility problems. [1]
Make sure your WordPress setup meets these minimum requirements: PHP 7.4 or higher, WordPress 5.9 or higher, 128M memory, and 64M upload size. Following these steps will ensure you’re fully equipped to design professional headers and footers for your real estate site.
Once the Theme Builder is ready, you can start building custom headers tailored to your needs.
Building Headers in Elementor
With your tools ready and the Theme Builder set up, it’s time to design a header that reflects your real estate brand. Here’s how to craft headers that are both functional and visually appealing for real estate websites.
Header Template Options
You can either pick a pre-designed real estate header template for quick adjustments or start fresh with a blank template. Select "Header" as the template type, then browse options that match your brand’s style.
Once you’ve chosen a template, focus on adding the elements that make your header practical and easy to use.
Core Header Components
A good real estate header includes a few essential features:
- Logo (Logo Widget): Establishes brand identity.
- Navigation Menu (Nav Menu Widget): Helps visitors navigate your site.
- Contact Info (Call to Action Widget): Makes it easy for potential clients to get in touch.
- Property Search (Search Form Widget): Provides quick access to property listings.
To include your logo, drag the Logo Widget into the header section, upload your image through Elementor’s media library, and adjust its size and alignment for a polished look on all devices.
Brand Design Elements
Maintaining consistent branding is key for real estate websites. Elementor offers tools to keep your design aligned with your brand:
- Color Scheme: Use Global Colors to apply your brand’s palette.
- Typography: Customize fonts for headers and menus.
Elementor’s responsive settings ensure your header looks great on any device, keeping the design cohesive across screen sizes.
"It’s essential to incorporate brand design elements and consider the user experience on different devices" [3][4]
Building Footers in Elementor
Footers are just as important as headers when it comes to creating a polished and functional real estate website. With Elementor, you can easily design footers that improve user experience and align with your business objectives.
Footer Layout and Key Elements
In Elementor’s Theme Builder, select "Footer" to get started. You can either pick a pre-designed template or build a custom layout from scratch. Did you know that 24% of websites now feature email sign-up forms in their footers? [2] This makes it crucial to plan your footer layout thoughtfully.
Here are some elements to consider including:
- Property search tools
- Contact details (phone, email, address)
- Links to social media profiles
- Newsletter subscription forms
- Quick links to property listings
- Legal disclaimers and copyright notices
Footer Design Settings
To ensure your footer looks unified with the rest of your site, focus on these design details in Elementor:
- Typography: Use the same fonts as the rest of your website.
- Color Scheme: Apply your brand colors with Elementor’s Global Colors feature.
- Spacing: Adjust spacing for better readability.
- Content Distribution: Divide content evenly across columns for a clean layout.
Take inspiration from websites like TopCharlestonHomes.com and CindyQuinnwoodRealEstateAgent.com. They use well-organized layouts with logos, search links, and contact information to improve functionality and user experience [1].
Finally, check that your footer is responsive and works smoothly on all devices, particularly mobile. A great footer is one that looks good and performs well everywhere.
Mobile-Friendly Design
Once you’ve set up your headers and footers, the next step is making sure they work well on mobile devices. A responsive design is a must for real estate websites, and Elementor offers tools to help your designs look great on any screen size.
Mobile Layout Adjustments
Elementor uses a top-down inheritance system for responsive design. This means changes made in the desktop view automatically apply to smaller screens unless specifically adjusted. You can fine-tune your header and footer layouts for three main viewports: desktop (above 1024px), tablet (1024px to 767px), and mobile (below 767px).
To make these adjustments, open the Elementor Editor and click the device icon at the bottom of the screen. This feature lets you customize the design for each screen size.
For mobile optimization:
- Set column widths to 50% for rows with two columns.
- Adjust padding and margins to maintain proper spacing.
- Use smaller, optimized images to improve load times.
- Apply the ‘reverse columns’ option for smoother content flow.
After making these changes, test and tweak your design to ensure a smooth experience for mobile users.
Design Review Process
Follow these steps to check and refine your header and footer layouts:
- Device Preview Testing: Use Elementor’s preview modes to view your design on different screen sizes.
- Responsive Settings: Go to the Advanced tab’s Responsive panel to adjust visibility settings as needed.
- Test on Actual Devices: Check the design on physical devices to ensure it works in real-world conditions.
While reviewing, pay close attention to font sizes, touch targets (at least 44×44 pixels), and line spacing. Simplify navigation menus – hamburger menus work well on mobile – and make sure all interactive elements are easy to tap.
Real Estate 7 Features Integration
Once your headers and footers are optimized for all devices, you can take your site to the next level by integrating advanced tools from Real Estate 7. These features not only improve functionality but also expand what your custom headers and footers can do.
Real Estate 7
Real Estate 7 offers components tailored to work smoothly with Elementor’s header and footer designs. Here are some key points to consider:
- Consistent Design: Make sure Real Estate 7 widgets match the style of your existing headers and footers.
- Optimized Performance: Configure features to keep your site running quickly.
- Brand Alignment: Customize widget designs to maintain your site’s overall look and feel.
CT IDX Pro+ Integration
If you want to add MLS search functionality to your header or footer, careful setup is essential. Follow these steps to get it right:
- Header Search Integration: Use Elementor’s widget panel to place the CT IDX Pro+ search widget directly into your header template.
- Styling the Search Bar: Adjust the search bar’s appearance with Elementor’s style tools.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: Make sure the MLS search bar works well on smaller screens without losing functionality or design appeal.
For headers, position the CT IDX Pro+ search widget prominently above the fold to grab attention. In footers, a simplified search bar version can complement the main header search.
ChatSpark AI Setup
Adding ChatSpark AI to your footer can boost user interaction when done correctly. Here’s how to integrate it:
- Install and configure the ChatSpark – WordPress plugin.
-
Open Elementor’s footer template and:
- Add the ChatSpark widget wherever it fits best.
- Adjust the chat bubble’s size, placement, and visibility for different devices.
The best spot for the ChatSpark widget is the lower right corner of your footer. Make sure it’s easy to spot, doesn’t interfere with other elements, and matches your site’s branding across all devices.
Summary
Key Design Points
The Theme Builder is your main tool for designing essential website elements like headers and footers. For headers, include key elements such as logos, navigation menus, and search bars while keeping the design aligned with your brand. Footers should focus on providing easy access to important information and features that encourage user interaction.
With Elementor’s drag-and-drop interface, you can precisely position elements for maximum impact. Stick to clear, easy-to-read fonts to ensure your site looks great on all devices. For real estate websites, it’s important to integrate features tailored to your audience. For example, the header should highlight property search tools, while the footer is ideal for contact details and lead capture forms.
Additional Tools
Real Estate 7 offers tools that enhance Elementor’s header and footer capabilities. The CT IDX Pro+ integration adds advanced property search functionality to your headers, covering more than 650 MLS markets across the country.
ChatSpark AI can be used in footers to provide 24/7 support and capture leads effectively. To get the best results, ensure these tools match your site’s overall design and flow. The goal is to seamlessly blend these features into your website while maintaining a polished and professional appearance.
Make sure to regularly test and tweak your designs to ensure everything works together smoothly. This approach helps create a user-friendly experience that boosts engagement and conversions. By using these tools and strategies, you can design headers and footers that enhance both the functionality and appeal of your real estate website.
FAQs
How to design header and footer in Elementor?
Creating headers and footers in Elementor is straightforward with the Theme Builder. Its drag-and-drop interface lets you craft layouts that fit your real estate website perfectly.
Here are some key elements to include:
Navigation and Branding Essentials:
- Logo and branding components
- Navigation menus and search tools
- Contact details and call-to-action buttons
Additional Features:
- Lead capture forms
- Property listing feeds
- Social media links
- Quick navigation shortcuts
Keep in mind that more than 60% of property searches happen on mobile devices [5]. A mobile-friendly design is critical. Make sure your layouts are easy to use, helping visitors explore listings and reach out to your team without hassle.
For added functionality, consider integrating tools like ChatSpark AI in the footer for 24/7 support or property search features in the header to help users find listings faster.