Local realtor Mike McMurray, who has been helping clients find their private slice of paradise on Sanibel and Captiva Islands for over 10 years, recently won the Florida Association of Realtors’ 2004 Sales Associate Website Contest. McMurray's Website, www.mikemcmurray.com, was recognized as the number one real estate site in Florida.

The contest, sponsored by Florida Realtor magazine/Florida Real Estate Headlines, judged sites by content, value to the customer, and use of mechanisms to generate leads. But the winning site in such a crowded and competitive industry had to have a “wow” factor and produce real results, according Doug Damerst, the editor-in-chief of Florida Realtor.

McMurray’s Website offers not only appealing design and easy navigation, but goes beyond the ordinary, according to Florida Realtor. The site offers useful local information such as history and a visitors’ guide, as well as general area real estate information and detailed descriptions and pictures of each property. The specialized local content will encourage visitors to come back to the site, judges said.

The site has a pleasant tropical look with palm trees and a blue and green palate. Pictures of McMurray’s featured properties enhance the site’s beauty. Contest judges praised it for its utility, breadth of information offered, well-written text, and personalized feel.

“I wanted it to give visitors of the site an ‘islandy’ feeling that was more personal and less commercial,” says McMurray.

McMurray, who works with VIP Realty Group, Inc. says he focuses on building relationships with each client, and the testimonials on the Website show that his work pays off. One client said, “I cannot say enough about Mike McMurray’s ethics and hard work in promoting my property.”

McMurray realizes the value of his Website and works to keep the site fresh and functional. He surfs other real estate sites to find new ideas and visits the Websites of consumer-oriented local attractions to see what he can add to his site to make it the best local resource on the web. His e-mail updates to property owners are well received and were an important source of information to residents in the wake of Hurricane Charley.

McMurray has been VIP Realty Groups #1 producer for many years and is a role model to other VIP associates and area realtors. His office at VIP Realty Group is conveniently located at 1560 Periwinkle Way. Visit the site and find out for yourself why it’s the best around – www.mikemcmurray.com.

Read Florida Realtor Magazine Article (PDF)