Well if you check your stats, like I am sure most of you do, you will most likely find that the number one page on your site is the home page. There are several factors that lead visitors to it like marketing, search results, or simply the need of the visitor to find a starting point on your site. The best reason though should be its almighty power.
Give It The Power
Knowing that most of your visitors will visit the home page at least once, why not give it some power? When I say power, I mean site function. Identify most, if not all, the common things users do on your site, and make them available from the home page. If it gets too crowded there, or interferes with site design make sure it is no more than just one click away.
The site Dallas Real Estate makes a good example of this, and in fact have used the home page template throughout the site. With exception to a little eye candy to help draw in the visitor on the home page, nearly every function can be accomplished throughout the site using their top menu or the right sidebar. This has worked especially great for them because they are serving several nearby communities as well, and the need to create a separate home page for them is not required. The power is already there. See an example: Coppell Real Estate
First Impression Often Equals Quality
Another important factor of the home page, and another way to give it power is to really work on that home page in regards to quality of appearance. My first impression of Dallas Real Estate? I thought it looked very professional, and if I was looking for property in Dallas, I would at least bookmark it. Many visitors base the quality of a site solely on their first impression, and if you lose them there, well their gone.
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