Key takeaways:
- A professional home improvement website helps you showcase your work, build trust with local clients, and generate steady leads.
- Strong design choices such as contractor-focused templates, before-and-after galleries, and testimonials make your site more credible and engaging.
- Local SEO, mobile optimization, and clear CTAs ensure your site is not only attractive but also easy to find, navigate, and convert visitors into customers.
Design, construction and home improvement professionals must innovate and adapt to stay relevant in a competitive market. A strong online presence is no longer optional—it helps local customers find and trust your business.
“Your website is your brand’s handshake and first impression. Our AI Website Builder lets you easily bring your brand to life online — from custom headers to colors and fonts — so you can focus on growing your business.” — Brian McMullin, SVP of Product, Network Solutions
As people turn to the internet to find home improvement solutions, a well-crafted website can expand your reach and connect you with new clients.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a professional home improvement website that showcases your expertise and grows your customer base.
What is a home improvement website
If you’re working in the field of design and construction, a home improvement website is a place on the internet where you can showcase what you can do. It’s basically an online brochure that shares information about your services and displays pictures of your previous projects.
Customers can also get in touch with you if they want to hire your services for home improvement jobs. Be sure to make your site user-friendly, so visitors can quickly find what they want. This makes them more likely to stay and learn about your services.
Strong web design for home improvement makes them more likely to stay and learn about your services.
How to prepare for your website
Before building your site, it’s important to lay the groundwork. Start by identifying who your ideal customers are and selecting a domain name that reflects your brand.
Here are the main steps to prepare your home improvement website:
- Define your target audience
- Pick the perfect domain name
- Add the right domain extension
- Choose the right hosting plan
- Choose a website builder or CMS
1. Define your target audience
It’s essential to take some must-do pre-planning steps, and one of the most important is defining your target audience. This means understanding who your ideal customers are and what they’re looking for in a home improvement service.
Consider their needs, preferences, and pain points. Are they homeowners looking for small repairs, or are they property managers seeking extensive renovations? This knowledge will guide your website’s content, design, and marketing strategies.
It helps you tailor your website to attract the right audience, speak their language, and address their specific needs, ultimately increasing your chances of turning visitors into satisfied customers.
2. Pick the perfect domain name
Choosing a domain name is one of the first steps in building your online presence. It’s your digital address—the first thing people see and remember about your brand. A strong domain name should reflect your business, be easy to type, and build trust with your audience.
Here are a few tips for picking the right one:
- Keep it short and simple. Choose a name that’s easy to spell and remember. Avoid hyphens, numbers, or tricky spellings.
- Use your business name or keywords. If possible, include your business name. If that’s taken, consider adding a location or keyword like “remodeling” or “contractor.”
- Add contractor-specific ideas. For instance, you can use “DallasKitchenRemodel.com” or “SmithHomeRepairsNY.com,” which make your services and location clear.
- Check availability and avoid legal issues. Make sure the domain isn’t trademarked or already used. Use domain tools to check for variations you may want to secure (.net, .org).
- Think long-term. Choose a name that will still make sense if your services expand in the future.
3. Add the right domain extension
While .com is the most widely used and recognized, using an industry-specific extension like .contractors, .builders, or .design can help signal your area of expertise. These alternatives may be more available and still appear professional.
If you’re targeting local customers, a country-based extension like .us can reinforce your local presence. While extensions don’t directly impact search engine optimization (SEO), they influence user perception and help make your website more memorable.
You can also compare options like .org or .net. However, for contractors and other for-profit home improvement businesses, .com is often the most trusted and professional choice.
The right domain can help you appear more professional and trustworthy right from the start, so it’s worth putting some thought into.
4. Choose a reliable website hosting plan
Your web host keeps your home improvement website online 24/7. It supports your website’s performance, especially when many people visit so potential customers can use and engage with your services conveniently.
When comparing hosting plans, look for:
- 99.9% uptime to keep your site live
- Fast page load speeds for better user experience and SEO
- 24/7 customer support to help you troubleshoot quickly
- Scalability so your site can grow with your business
- Security features like SSL certificates and automatic backups
For contractors who want reliable performance, choosing a hosting provider with built-in security and SSL support is critical.
Network Solutions offers hosting plans that combine speed, security, and scalability. It’s a dependable choice for small business websites.
5. Choose a website builder or CMS
A website builder or content management system (CMS) helps you create and manage your site without technical know-how. Popular options include WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace.
Contractors who want more options might prefer WordPress, while those who value drag-and-drop simplicity often choose builders like Wix or Squarespace.
Another option is the Network Solutions AI Website Builder. It offers contractor-ready templates, mobile responsiveness, and built-in SEO tools, making it a practical choice for small business owners who want to get online quickly.
How to design your home improvement website
The best home improvement websites have good website designs. They grab people’s attention and build trust, making them more likely to contact you for their home improvement needs.
After all, customers are counting on you to improve how their homes or offices look. If your website design looks outdated or cluttered, they might assume your work is too.
To make the right first impression, here are the key design decisions you’ll need to make:
Tip 1. Use a beginner-friendly website builder
A website builder is an online tool that makes it easy to create your website—no coding or advanced tech knowledge required. You can choose from ready-made templates and use drag-and-drop tools to design your pages quickly.
Picking the right builder can save you time and effort. Here’s what to look for:
- User-friendly interface. Choose a platform that’s easy to navigate, especially if you’re building your first website.
- Templates and customization. Look for templates made for contractors or home improvement service providers, and make sure you can customize them to match your brand. Quick-start templates designed for remodelers or builders can make setup even faster.
- Scalability. Think long term. A good builder should grow with your business and support new features when you need them.
- Mobile-friendly design. Think long term. A good builder should grow with your business and support new features when you need them.
- Built-in SEO tools. Choose a builder that helps with basic SEO setup, like editing page titles and descriptions. This improves your visibility on Google.
- Reliable customer support. Look into support options. It’s helpful to have chat or phone support in case you run into setup issues.
Most major builders offer contractor-ready templates, so you can start with a professional design and customize it to match your brand.
Tip 2. Optimize your website to be mobile-responsive
A website’s design elements refer to the visual and structural components that make up its appearance and layout. They directly impact how visitors perceive your website and business. Picking the right elements makes your website more appealing, effectively turning visitors into customers.
Here are some key design elements to consider for your home improvement website:
- Color schemes. Choose a color scheme that aligns with your brand and creates a pleasing visual experience. Consider using a vibrant color for headings and accents, with a complementary neutral color for backgrounds and text. Use color consistently throughout your site to establish a cohesive and professional look.
- Fonts. Select readable fonts for both desktop and mobile devices. Sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica often work well. Limit the use of different fonts to maintain a clean and uniform appearance. Finally, ensure adequate font size and spacing for readability, especially on smaller screens.
- Images. Use high-quality images that showcase your home improvement work. Crisp and clear photos can build trust with potential customers. Add before-and-after galleries to demonstrate your skills and consider short video walkthroughs to give visitors a closer look at your projects. Include images of your team and any relevant certifications or awards to establish credibility.
- Layout. Keep your website layout simple and organized, with clear headings and sections. Use whitespace effectively to prevent overcrowding and make content more digestible. Prioritize responsive design to ensure your website adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes.
- Call to action (CTA). Implement prominent and clear calls to action (CTAs) that guide visitors on what to do next, such as “Get a Quote” or “Contact Us.” Simple forms, like a “Request a Free Quote” with name, email, and project details, work especially well for contractors. Use contrasting colors for CTA buttons to make them stand out and encourage clicks. Place your CTAs strategically throughout your website, such as in the header, footer, and within service descriptions.
- Testimonials and reviews. Build trust and showcase your expertise by using compelling visuals alongside testimonials, such as client photos or project images. Highlight positive feedback that emphasizes the quality of your work and customer satisfaction. Consider embedding reviews from Google or Houzz to strengthen credibility and support local SEO.
Tip 3. Showcase your services and past projects
Showcasing your work is one of the best ways to build trust and help visitors understand exactly what you offer. Include a visual portfolio or gallery that highlights high-quality before-and-after photos of past projects. This not only shows off your skills but helps potential clients imagine what you can do for them.
Make sure to write short, clear descriptions for each service you provide — like remodeling, roofing, or flooring. Pair these with project summaries to give more context.
For example:
“We transformed this outdated kitchen into a modern space for a young family, complete with energy-efficient lighting and open shelving.”
These kinds of narratives make your work relatable and more memorable. If possible, group projects by type (e.g., kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor spaces) to help visitors quickly find what matters most to them.
Optimize your website to convert visitors
Good design gets attention, but optimization helps visitors stay, trust you, and take action.
Before you dive in, focus on these optimization steps:
- Make your site mobile-friendly
- Optimize for search engines
- Keep your site updated and secure
Tip 4. Make your site mobile-friendly
Prioritize mobile-first browsing since most visitors arrive on phones. Many people nowadays use smartphones and tablets to browse the internet. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it can be challenging for visitors to navigate and access information, leading to poor user experience and potential customer loss.
Check out these design tips to ensure mobile responsiveness:
- Use a responsive design. Choose a website builder or design framework that automatically adjusts your site’s layout and content to fit different screen sizes.
- Simplify your site’s navigation. Use a clean, collapsible menu or a hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) to save space and make it easy for users to access different sections of your site.
- Choose readable fonts. Opt for legible fonts that are easy to read on smaller screens. Maintain a reasonable font size and avoid overly decorative fonts.
- Use touch-friendly buttons. Ensure that buttons and links are large enough to be easily tapped with a finger on a touchscreen device. Provide enough spacing between clickable elements to prevent accidental clicks.
- Optimize your images. Compress and resize images for quicker loading times. Use responsive images that adjust to different screen sizes.
- Include vertical scrolling. Organize your content into easy-to-scroll sections, with clear headings and visuals to break up the text.
- Minimize pop-ups. Avoid intrusive pop-ups that can be frustrating on mobile screens. If you use them, ensure they are unobtrusive and easy to close.
- Optimize page speed. Slow-loading pages can lead to high bounce rates. Compress code, use browser caching, and minimize the use of large files to enhance loading times.
Tip 5. Optimize for search engines
SEO helps your home improvement website appear when people search for services like yours. Focusing on local SEO ensures you reach people in your service area.
People often type searches like “roofing contractor in Dallas” or “home renovation near me.” You want your site to show up with those results.
Here’s how to improve your chances:
- Add service + city keywords naturally into service pages, image captions, and blog posts.
- Write helpful content that answers customer questions like pricing, timelines, or what to expect during a remodel.
- Set up and optimize your Google Business Profile with accurate contact info, photos, and service areas.
- Add schema markup (like reviews or FAQs) so your listings look richer in search results. Schema markup is code that helps Google display rich results like reviews or FAQs in search
- Link to other helpful pages on your site to keep people exploring longer.
When you publish content that’s useful and location-specific, you not only rank higher but also build more trust with local clients.
Build trust and credibility
Even with great design and strong SEO, customers won’t convert unless they trust you. Building credibility online is just as important as showcasing your skills.
Here’s how to make your home improvement website more trustworthy:
- Add client testimonials and reviews
- Display credentials and certifications
- Capture contact info with forms
Tip 7. Add client testimonials and reviews
Positive reviews and testimonials are powerful forms of social proof. They help new visitors feel more confident in choosing your services — especially when they’re paired with real names, locations, and specific projects.
Here’s how to make the most of them:
- Add a testimonials section to your homepage or service pages.
- Use a rotating carousel to show multiple reviews in a clean, scrollable format.
- Include the client’s name, city, and project type when possible — like “John D., Kitchen Remodel in Austin.”
- Pull in reviews from platforms like Google or Houzz to strengthen trust and boost local SEO.
Tip 8. Display credentials and certifications
Showcase any industry credentials that add authority to your business. These might include:
- BBB (Better Business Bureau) accreditation
- State licenses or contractor certifications
- Professional memberships or associations
- Local or national awards for excellence in home improvement
Adding these trust signals on your About page, footer, or service pages can reassure visitors that your business is professional and reliable.
Tip 9. Capture contact info with forms
Your website should make it easy for visitors to reach you and express interest in your services. Include a simple form with fields like name, email, and project details.
Examples that work well for contractors include:
- “Free Quote Request” form
- “Schedule a Consultation” form
Also:
- Keep your contact page updated with your address, phone number, and business hours.
- Add links to your social media so visitors can connect with you outside your site.
- Embed a map with your location to strengthen local visibility.
Launch and promote your website
Once your site is designed, optimized, and ready, the next step is to go live and spread the word.
Here’s how to launch and promote your home improvement website:
- Launch your website the right way.
- Promote your website to attract new leads.
Tip 10. Launch your website the right way
Before you announce your site, double-check that everything is working as intended. You no longer need to worry about manual FTP uploads if you’re using a modern website builder.
Here’s a checklist to follow:
- Open your website in a web browser and verify that all pages load correctly.
- Test interactive elements like forms or quote requests.
- Make sure your site looks good on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
- Check performance — slow-loading pages should be optimized before launch.
- Confirm SEO elements like titles, meta descriptions, and alt text are accurate.
- Ensure your SSL certificate is installed and working properly.
- Set up analytics tools (like Google Analytics or Search Console) so you can track traffic and performance from day one.
Tip 11. Promote your website to attract new leads
A successful launch doesn’t end when your site goes live — you need to drive people to it.
Here are effective ways to promote your home improvement website:
- Build an email list with a simple sign-up form. Send a welcome email that introduces your business and follow up with tips or updates.
- Share your site on social media platforms where your customers spend time. Post regularly and engage with comments.
- Use hashtags to boost visibility or consider paid ads to expand your reach.
- Submit your business to local directories and industry listings.
- Create blog posts that answer common customer questions — interlink them to your main service pages for more visibility. For more ideas, check out our article on building traffic to your website with an internal linking strategy.
Consistency matters. Keep posting, sharing, and updating your site with fresh content, so potential clients see your business as active and trustworthy.
Tip 12. Enhance and expand as your business grows
Your website shouldn’t stay the same forever. As your business grows, add features that make it easier for customers to work with you and help your site stand out from competitors.
Examples include:
- Cost calculators for remodeling or repair projects.
- Online booking tools for consultations or site visits.
- Expanded galleries with new before-and-after projects.
- Educational resources like blogs or FAQs that address common homeowner concerns.
Adding these features over time shows that your business is active, forward-looking, and committed to improving customer experience.
Grow your business with your website
A well-built home improvement website acts as your digital storefront—it shows off your services, connects with customers, and helps grow your business. With this guide, you’re equipped to build a website that works for you.
If you’re a small business owner or contractor ready to take your business online, now’s the time. Network Solutions offers reliable tools and templates built for home improvement professionals. We’re here to support your journey every step of the way.
Frequently asked questions
Choose a domain, set up hosting, and use a builder with contractor-ready templates. Focus on services, past projects, and contact details.
Yes. A website acts as your online business card, portfolio, and lead generator. Most homeowners and property managers search online first before contacting a contractor. Without a website, you miss the chance to showcase your work, share testimonials, and build trust.
Many contractors and homeowners use project management tools or even blogs to track progress. On your website, you can add a blog or updates page to document projects. This helps clients see milestones, before-and-after results, and even timelines. It’s also a subtle way to keep your site updated with fresh content, which supports SEO.