An Old Site Totally Revamped

Some time ago I asked for a critique of an old and clunky site that was
sorely needing an extreme makeover. The site is for a friend's
business, and although I am not a professional web designer (I don't
have an artistic bone in my body) my friend asked that I do the job.

After many machinations we have nearly finished the project and I ask
that if someone has some time to spare, they look over the site at:

http://www.rentals2000.com.au

Some of you might remember the monstrosity that was? The "client"
wanted a clean and fast site, suitable for clients (mainly students)
browsing the web using slow computers and shared internet access. I
believe we have achieved this.

The online application form is not complete; I need to redo the form,
the form mailer and add a shopping cart type system, and the whole house
package link requires some more information from an external provider
(in the mean time it just links back to the home page). Other than
that, I think the job is nearly complete?

Although I am not getting paid to do this task for I would be interested
to ask how much a professional developer might have charged for the site?

Thanks in advance.

TreatmentPlant wrote:

Some time ago I asked for a critique of an old and clunky site that was
sorely needing an extreme makeover. The site is for a friend's
business, and although I am not a professional web designer (I don't
have an artistic bone in my body) my friend asked that I do the job.

After many machinations we have nearly finished the project and I ask
that if someone has some time to spare, they look over the site at:

http://www.rentals2000.com.au

Some of you might remember the monstrosity that was? The "client"
wanted a clean and fast site, suitable for clients (mainly students)
browsing the web using slow computers and shared internet access. I
believe we have achieved this.

The online application form is not complete; I need to redo the form,
the form mailer and add a shopping cart type system, and the whole house
package link requires some more information from an external provider
(in the mean time it just links back to the home page). Other than
that, I think the job is nearly complete?
Yes, it looks like you've done a pritty good job on overall layout.

It validates as Strict, well done.
One thing I might suggest though is to move those font-styles in to the
external Stylesheet, it will make updateing easier.
I don't mind all those &nbsp's, but a lot of designers might winge
about them a bit.
It's perhaps suggested that you use the CSS equivalent, but I don't
know that off hand.
I would leave them their though, as your layout might get messed up
without them, I know mine did.

Although I am not getting paid to do this task for I would be interested
to ask how much a professional developer might have charged for the site?

Thanks in advance.
Not sure on that one.

Might I suggest though that if the client wants some sort of online
ordering system they eather.
Get someone to code it properly, or be, use an external solution.
Unless it's just a feedback form, in which case, you could code
yourself.
I mainly suggest the above for the ordering function, for sicurity
reasons, you need to use a script that doesn't have any sicurity
wholes, otherwise it might not be to good.
I hope that helps.
--
Regards Chad. http://freewebdesign.cjb.cc

Chaddy2222 wrote:

TreatmentPlant wrote:
Some time ago I asked for a critique of an old and clunky site that was
sorely needing an extreme makeover. The site is for a friend's
business, and although I am not a professional web designer (I don't
have an artistic bone in my body) my friend asked that I do the job.

After many machinations we have nearly finished the project and I ask
that if someone has some time to spare, they look over the site at:

http://www.rentals2000.com.au

Some of you might remember the monstrosity that was? The "client"
wanted a clean and fast site, suitable for clients (mainly students)
browsing the web using slow computers and shared internet access. I
believe we have achieved this.

The online application form is not complete; I need to redo the form,
the form mailer and add a shopping cart type system, and the whole house
package link requires some more information from an external provider
(in the mean time it just links back to the home page). Other than
that, I think the job is nearly complete?
Yes, it looks like you've done a pritty good job on overall layout.
It validates as Strict, well done.
One thing I might suggest though is to move those font-styles in to the
external Stylesheet, it will make updateing easier.
I don't mind all those &nbsp's, but a lot of designers might winge
about them a bit.
It's perhaps suggested that you use the CSS equivalent, but I don't
know that off hand.
I would leave them their though, as your layout might get messed up
without them, I know mine did.

Although I am not getting paid to do this task for I would be interested
to ask how much a professional developer might have charged for the site?

Thanks in advance.
Not sure on that one.
Might I suggest though that if the client wants some sort of online
ordering system they eather.
Get someone to code it properly, or be, use an external solution.
Unless it's just a feedback form, in which case, you could code
yourself.
I mainly suggest the above for the ordering function, for sicurity
reasons, you need to use a script that doesn't have any sicurity
wholes, otherwise it might not be to good.
I hope that helps.
Thanks for the feedback Chad,

If the font-styles you refer to are the bold text on the front page,
then I am happy with them as is; I did consider moving them, but decided
to leave them there.

The paragraph spacing was a little bit of an issue because of the way
the client wanted the paragraphs laid out. This might not have been the
prettiest solution, but it achieved the aim and is really flexible for
the client. I am open to better methods.

As for the form mail, shopping carts etc, that's actually where I come
in! I can program them myself, its just the arty stuff like making
things look pretty that I have trouble with. Maybe I am spend too much
time looking for holes in code and reworking logic errors to notice
pretty stuff; to me, i (sqrt(-1)) is pretty! Fourier transformations
are pretty. Black text, blue text, bold text is all just text to me!

Thanks again for the prompt reply.



P.S. When I resize the screen ludicrously the banner section under the
main header doesn't format properly. The lines of text don't all wrap
'properly'. Any suggestions for a fix?

TreatmentPlant wrote:

After many machinations we have nearly finished the project and I ask
that if someone has some time to spare, they look over the site at:

http://www.rentals2000.com.au

Looking at the home page...

- Use <em> instead of <span class="emphasised">.
- Use <strong> instead of <span style="font-weight:bold;">.
- The bolded items are really headers. Use a (styled) <Hx> element for those.
- Include the padding-top/margin-top in the page's stylesheet to replace
the <p>&nbsp;</p>. Say, for instance, the <Hx> elements mentioned previously.
Or, less optimally, create a "blank line" class for a div:
.blanklineX { line-height: 1.2em; }
Replace <p>&nbsp;</p> with <div class="blanklineX"></div>. You have better
control of the line spacing that way.
- Replace the <br>s with <p>s.
- The contact info along the top could use a separator of some sort
between address and phones numbers: a small bullet, vertical bar, etc.

Some of you might remember the monstrosity that was? The "client"
wanted a clean and fast site, suitable for clients (mainly students)
browsing the web using slow computers and shared internet access. I
believe we have achieved this.

Yes. This is a vasty improvement!

--
jmm (hyphen) list (at) sohnen-moe (dot) com
(Remove .AXSPAMGN for email)

Jim Moe wrote:

TreatmentPlant wrote:
After many machinations we have nearly finished the project and I ask
that if someone has some time to spare, they look over the site at:

http://www.rentals2000.com.au

Looking at the home page...

- Use <em> instead of <span class="emphasised">.
- Use <strong> instead of <span style="font-weight:bold;">.
- The bolded items are really headers. Use a (styled) <Hx> element for those.
- Include the padding-top/margin-top in the page's stylesheet to replace
the <p>&nbsp;</p>. Say, for instance, the <Hx> elements mentioned previously.
Or, less optimally, create a "blank line" class for a div:
.blanklineX { line-height: 1.2em; }
Replace <p>&nbsp;</p> with <div class="blanklineX"></div>. You have better
control of the line spacing that way.
- Replace the <br>s with <p>s.
- The contact info along the top could use a separator of some sort
between address and phones numbers: a small bullet, vertical bar, etc.

Some of you might remember the monstrosity that was? The "client"
wanted a clean and fast site, suitable for clients (mainly students)
browsing the web using slow computers and shared internet access. I
believe we have achieved this.

Yes. This is a vasty improvement!

Thanks for the tips Jim. I appreciate your time.

All recommendations have been implemented. Managed to convince the
client that more space between the paragraphs looked better anyway!

Any more tips? Comments? Any idea on how to fix the slogans banner
when resizing the screen?

TreatmentPlant wrote:

Chaddy2222 wrote:
TreatmentPlant wrote:
Some time ago I asked for a critique of an old and clunky site that was
sorely needing an extreme makeover. The site is for a friend's
business, and although I am not a professional web designer (I don't
have an artistic bone in my body) my friend asked that I do the job.

After many machinations we have nearly finished the project and I ask
that if someone has some time to spare, they look over the site at:

http://www.rentals2000.com.au

Some of you might remember the monstrosity that was? The "client"
wanted a clean and fast site, suitable for clients (mainly students)
browsing the web using slow computers and shared internet access. I
believe we have achieved this.

The online application form is not complete; I need to redo the form,
the form mailer and add a shopping cart type system, and the whole house
package link requires some more information from an external provider
(in the mean time it just links back to the home page). Other than
that, I think the job is nearly complete?
Yes, it looks like you've done a pritty good job on overall layout.
It validates as Strict, well done.
One thing I might suggest though is to move those font-styles in to the
external Stylesheet, it will make updateing easier.
I don't mind all those &nbsp's, but a lot of designers might winge
about them a bit.
It's perhaps suggested that you use the CSS equivalent, but I don't
know that off hand.
I would leave them their though, as your layout might get messed up
without them, I know mine did.

Although I am not getting paid to do this task for I would be interested
to ask how much a professional developer might have charged for the site?

Thanks in advance.
Not sure on that one.
Might I suggest though that if the client wants some sort of online
ordering system they eather.
Get someone to code it properly, or be, use an external solution.
Unless it's just a feedback form, in which case, you could code
yourself.
I mainly suggest the above for the ordering function, for sicurity
reasons, you need to use a script that doesn't have any sicurity
wholes, otherwise it might not be to good.
I hope that helps.
Thanks for the feedback Chad,

If the font-styles you refer to are the bold text on the front page,
then I am happy with them as is; I did consider moving them, but decided
to leave them there.
I think you have since changed that, but yes that is what I was on

about.

The paragraph spacing was a little bit of an issue because of the way
the client wanted the paragraphs laid out. This might not have been the
prettiest solution, but it achieved the aim and is really flexible for
the client. I am open to better methods.

As for the form mail, shopping carts etc, that's actually where I come
in! I can program them myself, its just the arty stuff like making
things look pretty that I have trouble with. Maybe I am spend too much
time looking for holes in code and reworking logic errors to notice
Hmmm, not sure, but that's fare enough though.

Personally, I am someware in the middle, I am still learneing a lot
about this stuff really.

pretty stuff; to me, i (sqrt(-1)) is pretty! Fourier transformations
are pretty. Black text, blue text, bold text is all just text to me!
Yep, pritty much.

Thanks again for the prompt reply.
that's fine.

P.S. When I resize the screen ludicrously the banner section under the
main header doesn't format properly. The lines of text don't all wrap
'properly'. Any suggestions for a fix?
Hmmm, I am still learneing this CSS thing myself, but i'll take a peek

and see what I can come up with.
--
Regards Chad. http://freewebdesign.cjb.cc

TreatmentPlant wrote:

Jim Moe wrote:
TreatmentPlant wrote:
After many machinations we have nearly finished the project and I ask
that if someone has some time to spare, they look over the site at:

http://www.rentals2000.com.au

Looking at the home page...

- Use <em> instead of <span class="emphasised">.
- Use <strong> instead of <span style="font-weight:bold;">.
- The bolded items are really headers. Use a (styled) <Hx> element for those.
- Include the padding-top/margin-top in the page's stylesheet to replace
the <p>&nbsp;</p>. Say, for instance, the <Hx> elements mentioned previously.
Or, less optimally, create a "blank line" class for a div:
.blanklineX { line-height: 1.2em; }
Replace <p>&nbsp;</p> with <div class="blanklineX"></div>. You have better
control of the line spacing that way.
- Replace the <br>s with <p>s.
- The contact info along the top could use a separator of some sort
between address and phones numbers: a small bullet, vertical bar, etc.

Some of you might remember the monstrosity that was? The "client"
wanted a clean and fast site, suitable for clients (mainly students)
browsing the web using slow computers and shared internet access. I
believe we have achieved this.

Yes. This is a vasty improvement!

Thanks for the tips Jim. I appreciate your time.

All recommendations have been implemented. Managed to convince the
client that more space between the paragraphs looked better anyway!

Any more tips? Comments? Any idea on how to fix the slogans banner
when resizing the screen?
Just a quick thaught, maybe play around with padding and margins on the

banner, failing that, use the float element.
You could also write a seperate stylesheet for both print and PDA
users, which is something I am thinking about doing, well the print one
might be good to start off with anyway.
--
Regards Chad. http://freewebdesign.cjb.cc

TreatmentPlant wrote:

- Include the padding-top/margin-top in the page's stylesheet to replace
the <p>&nbsp;</p>. Say, for instance, the <Hx> elements mentioned previously.
Or, less optimally, create a "blank line" class for a div:
.blanklineX { line-height: 1.2em; }
Replace <p>&nbsp;</p> with <div class="blanklineX"></div>. You have better
control of the line spacing that way.

All recommendations have been implemented. Managed to convince the
client that more space between the paragraphs looked better anyway!

Adjust the <h4> bottom spacing (padding/margin), and the <p> top spacing

so the text is not so separated from the header.

--
jmm (hyphen) list (at) sohnen-moe (dot) com
(Remove .AXSPAMGN for email)

Jim Moe wrote:

TreatmentPlant wrote:
- Include the padding-top/margin-top in the page's stylesheet to replace
the <p>&nbsp;</p>. Say, for instance, the <Hx> elements mentioned previously.
Or, less optimally, create a "blank line" class for a div:
.blanklineX { line-height: 1.2em; }
Replace <p>&nbsp;</p> with <div class="blanklineX"></div>. You have better
control of the line spacing that way.
All recommendations have been implemented. Managed to convince the
client that more space between the paragraphs looked better anyway!

Adjust the <h4> bottom spacing (padding/margin), and the <p> top spacing
so the text is not so separated from the header.

Done.

Other than bits I have already mentioned - any more to be done?

TreatmentPlant wrote:

All recommendations have been implemented. Managed to convince the
client that more space between the paragraphs looked better anyway!

Adjust the <h4> bottom spacing (padding/margin), and the <p> top spacing
so the text is not so separated from the header.

Done.

Other than bits I have already mentioned - any more to be done?

It'll do!

--
jmm (hyphen) list (at) sohnen-moe (dot) com
(Remove .AXSPAMGN for email)