Frequently Asked Questions

• :: General Q & A
• :: Prices and Terms
• :: Placing and Managing Your Ad
• :: Photo Help
• :: Vacation Rentals
• :: Employment

General Q & A:

What is Walk2Shul.com?

Walk2Shul.com is the world's premier real estate listing service for properties that are within walking distance to an Orthodox Jewish synagogue (or "Shul"). We are not a real estate company or brokerage, and we do not operate on a commission basis. Our advertising services are offered at fixed rates.

We help Orthodox Jews, around the world, find homes near a Shul. We also help individuals, Realtors, brokers, landlords, and developers sell or rent their properties. Properties include single family homes, apartments, condos, townhouses, and vacation rentals. Properties can be located anywhere in the world as long as they are within reasonable walking distance to an Orthodox Jewish synagogue.

Walk2Shul.com also offers a listing service for vacation rentals, employment opportunities and local businesses.

What do you consider to be "reasonable walking distance" to an Orthodox Jewish Shul?

Although we know of a few brave souls out there who walk 2-3 miles each way, we consider a "reasonable" distance to be under 1.5 miles (or 2.4 kilometers). Of course, the shorter the distance the better. The closer a property is to a Shul, the more desirable it will be to our members and visitors.

Why should I advertise my property on Walk2Shul.com?

Because Walk2Shul.com is a highly specialized real estate listing service and our audience is a very specific group of people...Orthodox Jews who need to live within walking distance to an Orthodox synagogue. Our audience is worldwide, mobile, and their needs are very specific. So, if your home is within walking distance to an Orthodox synagogue, then our members and visitors want to know about it! Your property won't be lost among thousands of unrelated properties. Your advertising dollars will be spent wisely and you don't have to pay a commission!

I'm not Jewish. Can you explain this need to walk to an Orthodox synagogue?

In observance of the laws of the Jewish Sabbath, which occurs from sundown Friday to one hour after sundown Saturday, Orthodox Jews do not, among other things, drive a car or ride a bicycle. As a result, we need to live within a reasonable walking distance to a Jewish Orthodox synagogue, or "Shul", so we can attend prayer services during the Sabbath. As you can imagine, this significantly limits our choices as to where we can live, and why it can be so challenging to find properties.

Can anyone advertise their property on Walk2Shul.com?

Anyone and everyone can advertise on Walk2Shul.com! All we stipulate is that your property be within reasonable walking distance to an Orthodox Shul. You can be an individual homeowner or a professional Realtor, broker, landlord, or developer. You don't have to be Jewish. All are welcome.

Can you guarantee that a property listed on your site is within reasonable walking distance to a Shul?

Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that an advertised property is within walking distance. We strongly recommend that you do a bit of due diligence and confirm the location of the property. From the property's ad, you can contact the seller directly, via email or phone, and have them confirm the distance. You can also enter the addresses of both the property in question and a nearby Orthodox Shul into Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, or Mapquest, to get directions, and confirm the distance.

Something else to consider is that our members pay a listing fee to advertise their property. Because our site is so highly specialized and attracts a very specific market, our members will be wasting their advertising dollars if they advertise a property that is not within a reasonable walking distance.

Do I have to register to look for properties or jobs on Walk2Shul.com?

No. You can browse ALL listed properties and jobs without having to register or create an account. However, membership is FREE and you do get additional benefits by registering and becoming a member.

If you want to email the owner of a property or job listing, you will need to first register and become a member.

What do I get with my Free Membership?

Becoming a Member allows you to contact (email) owners of properties (or jobs) listed on Walk2Shul. You will also receive our full-color newsletter which highlights new properties and jobs and includes noteworthy (and relevant) announcements, news, and special promotions.

A personal account is created for you where you can save specific properties and jobs that interest you. While browsing, you can just click the "Add To Favorites" link on a specific property or job, and it will be saved to your personal Favorites. A great way to collect and review properties or jobs at your leisure. And, finally, you can have our system automatically notify you whenever a new property or job, that matches your specific criteria, is listed on Walk2Shul.com How much easier can that be? So...Sign Up today (no cost or obligation!) and become a registered Walk2Shul.com member!

By the way, we take the interests of our members very seriously, especially your privacy. You can read our Privacy Policy, as well as our Terms of Use to understand better the level of our professionalism. We want your experience at Walk2Shul.com to be enjoyable, easy, convenient, and safe.

How do I reply to a property or job listing?

At the bottom of the listing's full-page ad, you will find the phone number and/or email link to contact the advertiser directly. Click the email link and our system will automatically, and privately, email the contact person. You will need to be a registered Member in order to reply to a property or job listing.

What is the difference between "searching" and "browsing" for listings?

Searching for listings uses our Advanced Search Form. You can use this form to do a specific search for specific criteria. You can access our Advanced Search Form by clicking on the "Search" link found at the very bottom of each web page. You can also find a link in the "Quick Search" box on the top left side of our website.

Browsing is less specific than searching. By browsing, you click on various category links until you reach a results page of listings. Browsing is more open-ended and allows for a more casual way of finding listings. You can browse by clicking on the "Browse Listings" button in the navigation bar. You can also click on the "Browse" link found at the very bottom of each web page.

How can I recommend your website, or listings on your site, to friends and family?

We make it very easy and automatic to tell friends and family about our website, individual listings, or a category of listings. We have a special form that you can easily fill out and send a message to up to 5 people at a time.

To recommend our website - click on the link "Tell A Friend" found at the very top and very bottom of the web page.

To recommend a specific listing - click on the "Refer This Listing to Friends" link found at the top of the listing's detail page.

To recommend a category of listings - browse our categories by clicking on the "Browse" link found at the very bottom of each web page or the "Browse Listings" button on the navigation bar. Click through a category and its sub-categories until you reach an end page containing a list of results. On this page, click the "Tell a Friend" link.

What if I forget my Login ID or password?

Your login id is your email address. If you do not remember which email address you used, you can contact us and we will look it up for you. If your email address has changed since you registered with us, contact us and we can change it for you. If you have forgotten your password, go to the Login Page and click on the link "Lost Your Password?". You will receive an email with your password. The email will be sent to the address that you registered with.

I am having problems logging in.

You may need to clear the cookies and temporary internet files on your computer. Your computer must be set up to accept cookies or you may not be able to login. Also, your password is case-sensitive, so please make sure that you're entering it correctly.

Can I change the email address that I used to create my account?

Yes. You will need to contact us with your request and include both your original email, that you registered with, and the new email address that you want to use. We will set it up for you and email back confirmation.

I already hired a Realtor to sell/rent my property. Can I still list my property on Walk2Shul?

Typically, when you hire a Realtor, there is a signed contract involved, which is legally binding. Depending upon the contract, you may be able to do your own advertising, but you still may be responsible for paying the Realtor their commission. Don't forget…you and your Realtor are working together towards the same goal. The Realtor was hired to market your property and should not rely solely on the MLS. They should market your property through other avenues as well.

We suggest that you talk with your Realtor and decide which one of you will advertise your property on Walk2Shul. It's really not expensive to advertise your property on Walk2Shul, and it may make the difference between selling your property…or not.

Do you share, sell, rent, or give out my personal information?

Absolutely not! We take your privacy as seriously as we cherish our own! We've taken great strides to keep your information safe and secure. Please read our Privacy Policy for further confirmation.

Prices and Terms:

How much does it cost to place a property or job listing?

We offer Single Ad Rates, as well as Multi-Ad Packages. Single Ads are best for the homeowner or landlord with one property, or the company with one job opening. Multi-ad packages are great for Realtors, brokers, developers, and companies that want to take advantage of volume discounts. Compared with many other forms of advertising, our rates are competitive and affordable. For specific rates, click the following links: Real Estate :: Vacation Rentals :: Employment :: Local Business

What method of payments do you accept?

We accept Mastercard, Visa, and American Express.

Do you have special rules that apply to placing a property listing on Walk2Shul.com?

Yes. If you are planning to advertise your property, job, or business on our site, it is vital that you read our Ad Guidelines and Rules. By submitting an ad, you agree to our Ad Guidelines and Rules (as well as our Terms of Use). Non-compliance may result in the removal of an ad until it is corrected. The posting of obscene or offensive material will result in immediate termination of the ad, immediate termination of the user's personal account, and a permanent ban of the advertiser. We review every new and modified ad.

What are Multi-Ad Packages?

We created Multi-Ad Packages to offer volume discounts to members who foresee placing multiple listings throughout a defined time period. Perfect for Realtors, brokers, and developers for real estate listings. We also offer a Multi-Ad Package for companies placing job listings.

Multi-Ad Packages are charged and paid for up front and allow a specific number of ads to be placed within a specific time frame. All Multi-Ad Packages are for a term of 6-months. We offer 3-Ad, 6-Ad, 12-Ad, and 24-Ad packages. Learn more about Multi-Ad Packages.

I received a special Code to receive a discount. Where do I enter the code to receive the discount?

After you enter all of your listing's information and you click the button to proceed, you'll be able to enter the special Code on the following page. It's at the bottom of the page. Enter the code and click the button to proceed with your order. You will see the discount applied on the secure order form.

How many times can I use a special discount Code?

Unless otherwise specified, all discount Codes can only be used once.

Placing and Managing Your Ad:

How do I list my property on Walk2Shul.com?

STEP 1: Read our Ad Guidelines and Rules.
STEP 2: If you have not done so already, you will first need to Register and become a member (no cost to register).
STEP 3: Once you are a member, Login to your account and click on "Place Listing".

For more detailed instructions, see our "How To..." section.

What is a "Featured Property"?

This is a special feature that is included in our "Deluxe" listings and packages. Marking your property as a "Featured Property" will increase its exposure over Basic ads. Featured Properties appear on all Walk2Shul.com web pages in the left-hand column (6 spots), and in the main section while browsing geographic locations (12 spots). Featured Properties are randomly cycled through the available spots, and they are specific to the region of the property.

So, if your Featured Property is a home for sale in Queens, NY it will be viewed by people searching that region, not someone searching California. This assures you a very targeted approach to increasing exposure of your property to the right buyers!

Featured Properties will also appear above all Basic Ads on a search results page and are marked with a . Featured Properties are a great way to increase exposure for your property. Available only for "Homes For Sale" and "Homes For Rent" categories.

Does my listing appear immediately?

Yes! As soon as your ad is paid for, your property or job listing will be available for viewing and show up on search results. Due to quality control purposes, we do manually review all new AND modified listings. Please review our Ad Guidelines and Rules to make sure that your ad is in compliance. We may ask you to make modifications to the ad for final approval, or we may make minor edits ourselves for compliance purposes.

How long does my listing stay on the site?

That depends on which advertising plan you have chosen. Approximately two weeks (14 days) before your ad expires, you will receive an email from us offering you the opportunity to renew your ad for another term. We also send you a reminder 7 days before expiration, and 1 day before expiration. You then have the option to renew your ad. When your ad expires, it will not be visible to the public; but, you can still renew your ad for another term.

Multi-Ad Packages are slightly different. Individual listings that are part of a Multi-Ad Package cannot be renewed. Instead, the Multi-Ad Package itself can be renewed. When you renew a Multi-Ad Package, all the current listings in that Pacakge are renewed as well. Likewise, when the Multi-Ad Package expires, so do all the current listings in that Package.

How will I be contacted if someone is interested in my listing?

In the Contact section of your listing there is a spot for your phone number (optional) and a link to an email contact form, so you can be contacted directly by the interested party. Anytime your email address is displayed on a website, it is likely to be retrieved by companies that send out spam/junk emails. This is called "phishing". By using our "hidden email" technology, you can still be directly notified, without your email address being "exposed". Whether or not your phone number is displayed is entirely up to you. It is not required to post your phone number.

How do I know if people are visiting my property listing?

One of the great features (and benefits!) of listing on Walk2Shul.com is that you can see how many "hits" your listing gets!

After you login to your Account, click on "My Listings". Under your property's link, you will see the word "Hits". The number under that is the number of visits that your property has received. We keep track of unique visitors who view your listing. So, if you or another person views the ad numerous times within a 24-hour period, our system will consider it only as one "unique" visitor. This way, you are getting real (not exaggerated) stats. This is a great way for you to know how many people are viewing your property!

How do I change or remove my listing?

You can access your Account on Walk2Shul.com anytime, 24 hours a day, and instantly update your listing. Just login to your Account and click on "My Listings" in the Account Options box. Click the link for the property and this will open the page to modify your ad.

The only items (or fields) that cannot be modified are the listing's "Title" and the category that the listing is under. This is for security purposes. If you absolutely must change the "Title", you can contact us with your request to make any changes.

We do allow you to delete your ad(s). However, we urge you to be absolutely certain that is what you want. Once you delete an ad, the ad is permanently deleted and cannot be restored. As an alternative to deleting an ad, you can easily "disable" your ad so that it won't be visible to the public, but it will still be available in the system. To disable your listing, click the "E" link to the right of your listing on the "My Listings" page in your Account. That's it! You can re-enable your listing anytime by clicking the "E" link again.

For more detailed instructions, see our "How To..." section.

What happens when I sell (or rent) my property?

When you sell or rent your property, please mark your listing as "Sold". Simply click the link for your listing in your Account to open the page to modify it. Towards the bottom, right before the contact section, you will see a checkbox with the title "Sold". Simply check the checkbox and click the "Update" button. That's it! Your listing will show a "Sold" image next to it's title. The ad will typically remain in our system, marked as "Sold", until you delete it.

If I sell or rent my property before my ad expires, can I list a different property in its place?

No. Each listing or ad is for one specific property (or job opening) only. Attempting this may result in immediate termination of your ad and a permanent ban from our site. The only exception is with Multi-Ad Packages for Realtors.

I tried to place an order but it didn't go through (ie. credit card was declined). But, I noticed that the listing is showing up in My Account. How can I pay for the listing so that it becomes visible on your site?

For whatever reason, if your order does not go through, your listing was still saved into your Account. This saves you the hassle of having to re-enter it. However, until the listing is actually paid for, it will not be visible to the public. No problem. It's easy to pay for the listing and make it visible.

Log into your Account. To the right of your listing's link, simply click on the "R" action link, which is the "Renew/Upgrade" link. This will allow you to successfully pay for the listing.

Photo Help

Why is there only 3 spots to upload photos? I should be able to add more than 3 photos to my listing.

You can still add more photos, but you can only upload up to 3 photos at a time. We limit the number of photo uploads at a time because some people have slower systems and their system will time out.

What if I don't have photos available when I submit my ad?

You are not required to submit photos when you place an ad. There will be a placeholder image that says "No Photo Available". We do urge you to use the maximum number of photos that your ad plan allows, because photos sell! After your ad has been approved and posted on our site, you can login to your account anytime and upload, change, or remove photos to your ad.

Is there a size limit to the photos that I can submit?

Yes. The maximum dimension is 640x480 pixels. Don't worry about the height, just make sure the width is not larger than 640 pixels. Also, the size of the file cannot be larger than 150k. The resolution must be 72 dpi.

How do I make those small "thumbnail" photos?

You don't. Our system will automatically create these for you when you upload your regular size photos. Easy!!

What kind of format for the image is allowed?

Your photos must be in .jpg or .gif format to load properly. You should make every effort that your photo is in the .jpg format, as it is best for photographs. The .gif format is best for drawings, like floorplans. If you receive an ERROR message when uploading photos, then check the format and make sure it's not something other than .jpg or .gif

Can you show me how to prepare/re-size my photos correctly?

Mostly all digital cameras save photos in the .jpg format. Use a photo editing program, such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro, or Corel PhotoPaint. Adobe Photoshop Elements is an affordable solution. The following steps are for Adobe Photoshop and can be used as a guideline for other programs:

1. Open the photo in Adobe Photoshop.

2. Under the "Image" menu, choose the "Image Size..." option.

3. Make sure the "Resolution" is 72 dpi.

4. In the section titled "Pixel Dimensions", enter the number "640" in the "Width" field. The height will automatically adjust to maintain proportions. Click "OK" and the image will be resized.

5. You may want to sharpen the picture a bit. You can do this by going to the "Filter" menu at the top and choose "Sharpen".

6. Now, save the image for the Internet. Choose File>Save for Web... Make sure the image is in the JPEG (.jpg) format and choose a "quality" setting of around 70. It will show you the size of the file, such as 89k. You want to keep the size of the file under 150k. That's it! Prepare all your photos at the same time, so you can then upload them all to your property's listing on Walk2Shul.com

What if I don't have a photo editing program like Photoshop, or am unable to resize my photos?

You can mail us a CD of your photos to Walk2Shul.com, 4302 Hollywood Blvd, Suite 295, Hollywood, FL 33021. We will resize them and add them to your listing, at no extra charge. (Please do not e-mail the photos) Just another one of the special benefits of advertising with Walk2Shul!

Vacation Rentals:

How is a Vacation Rental different from a regular real estate rental?

You may have noticed that we have two different rental categories: "Homes For Rent" and "Vacation Rentals". Vacation Rentals are properties that are rented out for periods of less than 3 months at a time. They are typically seasonal or vacation properties that are charged on a nightly or weekly basis. They are typically rented out numerous times throughout the year. They are typically rented out to generate income for their owners.

If you intend to rent out your property for a period longer than 3 months, then please list your property under our "Homes For Rent" category under Real Estate.

Why do you offer only one rate plan for one year?

If your property is truly a "Vacation Rental", or you want it to be, then your goal is to rent it out as many times as you wish. Your goal is to generate income from renting it out during the course of the year.

We want to make things simple for you. We believe that offering one ad plan for a 1-year period is most cost-effective for you. Depending on your property, you can probably make the cost of your 1-year ad back on your first rental.

Also, we offer a special feature, called an Online Availability Calendar, that is available only for "Vacation Rentals" . This feature will allow you to manage your rental property throughout the year and save you a lot of time and worry.

What is the Online Availability Calendar?

This time-saving tool allows you to display the rental status of your property. It allows visitors, at a glance, to see if the property is available or booked for a given date range. No more repetitive phone calls or emails requesting reservations for a date already booked!

For more information and to see screenshots, click here.

Can I include more than one property in my Vacation Rental listing?

No. One property per listing only.

I placed a Vacation Rental listing, but I can't find how to modify the Availability Calendar. Can you show me how to modify it?

Sure! We have a step-by-step guide on how to modify the Online Availability Calendar. You can find it here. Be sure to check out our How To… section for more step-by-step guides.

Employment Ads:

Why do you offer employment ads on Walk2Shul?

Just like there are unique challenges facing Orthodox Jews in finding a new home, there are unique challenges facing them when seeking employment.

True…the emphasis of our site is on real estate, but, because where you work is directly related to where you live, we want to help expand horizons on both fronts and make it easier for everyone involved.

What challenges do Orthodox Jews face regarding employment?

The most significant challenge we face in the workplace is the need to leave early on Fridays in order to be home in time to prepare for, and observe, the Jewish Sabbath. Depending on the season, the time to leave work on Friday can be early.

The majority of Orthodox Jews who leave early on Friday do not see this is as an "entitlement", but rather expect to, and do, make up for the lost time. Unfortunately, there is a lack of understanding and/or tolerance among employers and fellow employees, resulting many times in resentment, animosity, and even verbal abuse.

A similar challenge concerns the Jewish holidays. Certain holidays, including Rosh Hashanna, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shavuot, and Passover, may likewise require the employee to leave early and/or miss additional days of work. And, once again, many Orthodox Jews willingly use their paid vacation and personal days in order to observe these holidays.

What kind of companies do you want to see advertise on Walk2Shul?

We want to attract companies that understand, and are sensitive to, our need to leave early on Friday and for holidays. We seek companies that are Orthodox-friendly, willing to implement policies that are beneficial to everyone involved.

As an employer, why would I want to advertise our job opportunities on Walk2Shul.com?

Because you want to attract highly qualified, highly skilled, and highly educated candidates who typically exhibit a strong work ethic and a desire to excel*. A group of people who lead a life of discipline, steeped in Jewish traditions, culture, and the value of education.

*This statement is our opinion and should not be construed as a factual representation of each and every candidate.

What different job categories do you offer?

To see a list of our job categories, click here.

Are we required to show our company name when we list our job openings?

No. Your company name, salary range, and phone number are all optional. They are not required.

How do candidates contact us?

Either by phone (optional) or via a special form.

Do candidates see our email address?

No. There is a link on your job listing's page for the candidate to email you. When they click the link, our system takes them to a form that they will fill out. The results will be emailed directly to you. Our system does not reveal any email addresses. This is to deter hackers and phishing schemes and to keep our members' information safe and secure.