Last week we talked about curb appeal and how to make small improvements to your house to help you get the best price.
How you market your home also makes a huge difference. Creating a lasting first impression is important, because buyer perception is everything.
If you’ve already started looking, you’ll see that different realtors use different marketing strategies. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an agent.
Consultation
Going through the real estate process is not just a transaction. It’s a major life transition. Because it’s so important, and so much hinges on your decisions and the actions of your agent, you have to be able to openly discuss and express any feelings, ideas, and questions that come up during the process.
You deserve an agent who is dedicated to selling your home using a marketing strategy that you understand, and that best showcases the possibilities your home can provide a buyer.
Marketing Your Home
As you’ve probably already realized, your home needs a distinct presence both online and offline, so that people can find it and access information about it. Your marketing campaign has to be coordinated to include a combination of traditional and cutting-edge online marketing designed to tell a compelling story about your home.
Photography
If you’ve looked through Zillow, or Realtor.com at images of houses, you’ll see that many people take their own pictures, often appearing in mirrors. Images may be sideways, blurry, or repetitive. I saw one the other day that had 7 identical pictures of a shed.
It’s important to choose an agent who uses a professional photographer to capture the best aspects of your home. According to a recent study, you have 6 seconds to grab the attention of online buyers. Blurry, unprofessional pictures, or multiple images of the same item will not draw people in, and compared to sellers who are using pros, it conveys a negative impression.
Video
Video is extra effort, obviously, but it brings a new level of experience to the presentation of your home. If you are marketing on Facebook or Instagram, video is expected. Whether it’s a combination of stills animated to create a video, or a virtual walk-through, video is important. According to domain.com, an international listing site, video increased inquiries by over 400%.
Website
Some agents create custom websites for each home. If you and your agent do a good job with images and videos in your marketing, and include them in your agent’s website and in the MLS listings, creating a separate website is not really necessary.
E-Signature
Another advantage of creating an online presence and using the tools of technology to make this admittedly complicated process easier is using E-signature. It’s no longer necessary to drive across town to sign offers or other documents. You can sign, send, and manage documents from your mobile phone or tablet through the web.
Choosing an agent who is familiar with state-of-the-art marketing strategies available through current technology will not only help you get the best price for your home, it will make the entire transition easier on you.