Putting your home on the market isn’t enough anymore. No more just sticking “For Sale” signs in the front lawn and then running one ad in the Sunday paper for your open house. The way you present your home can deeply impact its final sale price, so you need to think it through.
In today’s world of the evolving internet, social media and the “like”, you have to go above and beyond to showcase your home to others across the many marketing and advertising outlets offered. You want increased exposure and interest in the housing market to bring in a larger pool of prospective buyers and most importantly, multiple offers. If done right, you’ll create an atmosphere in which potential buyers will offer higher and better prices to compete with other offers. Good marketing can do all that while putting you at ease to make the selling process that much easier for you, so dive in and check out these tactics to better the marketing of your home:
Good Photography:
One of the first things home buyers do when searching for a home is check out what’s online. To grab their attention, posting good quality photos of the property is essential. Make sure to post multiple shots of the home from the front and back exterior and interior to greater your choice of someone clicking on your listing. Otherwise, it will probably be ignored.
When taking pictures of your home, think about what are great selling points. With the exterior, crop out sidewalks, streets and remove vehicles from your driveway and the front of your home to set it apart from the competition. With other exterior shots, emphasize space and shoot long. If you live in a condo or apartment, take pictures of the amenities your listing has to offer like the clubhouse, pool, spa, gym, or tennis courts. If for a single-family home, mow the lawn, trim the bushes, and remove any evidence of pets or children’s toys. With interior photos, take photographs of every room, even if you think a certain room won’t photograph well. Open your drapes and blinds and turn on the lights to make the space feel airy, open and spacious. Remove trash cans and close toilet lids in the bathrooms. Focus on interesting details like wood floors, fireplace mantles, or granite countertops.
Signage:
By placing a well-designed “For Sale” sign outside your home, you encourage home buyers to immediately call you or your agent. Keep in mind of placement of your signs as some homeowner’s association prohibit real estate signs and will only allow window signs. Place two signs outside if your home is on a corner lot or ask to put signs on the corner of your busy street to drive in traffic. Agent signs should include the phone number of their closest office and the agent’s cell phone number.
Direct Mail:
It may not seem like it, but direct mail is eye-catching. Ask about a direct mail program from your agent and create oversized four-color postcards to draw attention to your listing. Bring awareness to your home by giving to neighbors, friends, family and agents who represent buyers in your neighborhood.
Send E-Flyers:
Technology today has made it so much easier to connect with others and spread the word about your listing. Drive attention to an open house or coming soon announcement with an E-Flyer. It should include multiple photographs and key information about your house. Easy to put together, E-Flyers can be sent to real estate agents who sell in your area, friends, family, coworkers and out-of-area brokers and agents who represent buyers in your area.
Print Advertising:
Never underestimate the power of print advertising. Reach a greater audience of potential buyers by placing ads in major newspapers and real estate magazines. Believe it or not, people recall print ads more than digital. Readers engage differently with physical content. The fact that you are putting your business into someone’s hands is very impactful and leaves a lasting impression.
An important part of marketing and advertising, these key tactics can make a world of a difference in helping sell your home. If you’re looking for new ways to draw attention and bring more offers your way, look no further than District Home Magazine. As one of the top real estate magazines in the DMV area, we can help you market and advertise your listings. Every home has a story. We help you tell it.