Full Website Rebuild and Property Platform Integration for Pickard Properties

Undertaking a full rebuild and redesign of a website is never straightforward, and this was especially true for Pickard Properties. With more than 50 years of experience and a strong reputation across Leeds, they needed a modern digital platform to match their heritage in student and professional lettings.

In 2021, Pickard approached Make Do to deliver a complete WordPress rebuild. The project required complex functionality, including seamless API integration with property management platforms RightMove and OnTheMarket. This meant ensuring property data could automatically sync between WordPress and these third-party services, saving the client countless hours of manual management.

Another key challenge was a full visual overhaul. Pickard had already commissioned intricate designs featuring a masonry-style layout across the homepage and property listings. These designs were visually striking but not optimised for smaller screens. We carried out an in-depth discovery and consultancy process to adapt them into scalable, mobile-friendly layouts while retaining their strong visual impact.

The development process took place in two phases. First, we converted the supplied designs into custom WordPress blocks within the Gutenberg editor, giving the client maximum editorial flexibility. From there, we built a bespoke WordPress theme to support property search, filtering, and integrations. The RightMove and OnTheMarket API development was the most technically demanding aspect, requiring weeks of build and months of refinement to ensure robust automation.

Additional features included online rent payment functionality, CRM integration with Microsoft Clarity, and newsletter integration with Mailchimp. The site was also structured into tailored sections for Student and Professional audiences, supported by localised landing pages for Leeds areas such as Burley, Hyde Park, Headingley, Leeds City Centre, and Woodhouse. This allowed visitors to easily filter properties by location, type, and size.

Since launch, the Pickard site has continued to evolve. Because the business operates around seasonal peaks for student and professional rentals, we work with their team each year to refine and update the platform. Multiple iterations of the original build have been completed, ensuring the site remains optimised for both customer experience and business growth.