- Photograph the Front:
Most homebuyers begin a home search online so posting good photos is essential. Listings without photos or with only an exterior shot are often ignored. But that doesn’t mean an exterior shot from the front isn’t very important.
Your house photo will look 10 times better than your competition if you crop out sidewalks and streets. Remove vehicles from your driveway and from the front of your home. Shoot both close up and angled photos and avoid shade falling on the house — wait for another time of day if necessary. Clear away any vegetation that’s blocking the front door or the path to door.
- Other Exterior Photographs:
Take pictures of the clubhouse, pool, spa, or tennis courts if you own a condo or townhome without a yard. But keep in mind that buyers will want to see it if you do have a yard.
Emphasize space and shoot long. Mow the lawn and trim the bushes. Remove any evidence of pets and put away children’s toys. Avoid shooting into the sun.
- Interior Photographs:
Take photographs of every room even if you suspect that a certain room won’t photograph well. Shoot it anyway because the photo quality might just surprise you. It might be usable.
Open drapes and blinds and turn on the lights. Focus on interesting details like the condition of a wood floor or a fireplace mantle. Remove trash cans and close the toilet lids in the bathrooms and use floral arrangements in kitchens and dining rooms.
Avoid shooting into mirrors because your image will reflect
- Virtual Tours:
Virtual tours aren’t just for showcase million-dollar homes anymore. Every home should have one, even if it’s only two spins. Buyers love, love, love virtual tours.
A good virtual tour will grab a buyer by the hand and lead them from room to room, whether it’s 360 or a video. Depending on the tour company, you can add sound, music, or an exciting, professionally written description that scrolls with the movement of the tour.
Virtual tours can also include individual photos available for download or to print.
- Signage:
Signage encourages home shoppers to immediately call you or your agent. It’s free advertising! A well-designed “For Sale” sign will generate phone calls. Put up two signs if your home is on a corner lot.
Keep in mind that some homeowner’s associations prohibit real estate signs. They only allow window signs.
Try talking to a neighbor whose home is located near the corner of a busy street, asking for permission to put a sign in that yard with an arrow pointing toward yours.
Agent signs should include the phone number of their closest office when their brokerage operates multiple offices. They should also include the agent’s cellphone number.
- Print Advertising:
Print advertising reaches buyers who read newspapers and online ads reach the rest. You’re doing a good job if your neighbors say, “I see your home advertised everywhere I look!”
Put ads in major newspapers. Find out which days pull the most readers. It’s usually Sunday but some newspapers also publish “picture classifieds” on other days.
Don’t overlook local newspapers. You can often run a larger ad for less money that will more closely target those who are looking in your specific area.
Check on press dates before you place ads in real estate publications. And finally, make use of every website you can find, as most online listings are free.
- Direct Mail:
You can buy mailing lists from list brokers if you’re an unrepresented seller. Ask about a direct mail program if you’re represented by an agent. Oversized four-color postcards are good because they’re inexpensive to mail and they’re eye-catching.
Give them to neighbors. Everybody has friends and relatives who might want to move near them. Give them to agents who represent buyers in your neighborhood and to buyers who live in other areas and often relocate to your neighborhood.
sollicitudin et.
