|
Now that you have
decided to sell your home and have determined the
fair market price, it is time to begin thinking
about the most effective way to market your home to
potential buyers. Whether you intend on selling your
property yourself or have contracted with a licensed
real estate agent, there are many ways of increasing
the exposure of your home to the buyer market.
Remember, when you hire
a reputable real estate agent, they will coordinate
and incur the costs of the majority of your home’s
marketing needs. In addition, they have access to a
network of other real estate offices and agents
within their Multiple Listing Service.
Networking is key when trying to sell a home!
Below are some ideas
that you, or your agent, can use to create greater
market exposure of your home:
· Make a List of Special Features:
Write down all of the fabulous and unique
features of your property. What are some of the
characteristics you truly love about your home?
What improvements have you made to your property
recently? Be as descriptive as possible. Use
this list to help design flyers, and other
marketing materials for your home. If you are
working with a REALTOR®, provide them with this
list so that they can create these flyers and
advertisements for you.
· Newspaper Advertisements:
Place an ad in the classified section of your
local newspaper. Many real estate offices
advertise their listings in local newspaper
publications as well.
· Real Estate Publications:
There are many magazines and publications that
feature homes currently on the market. Again,
many REALTORS® frequently advertise their
listings in these publications. Also, some local
areas have For Sale By Owner publications
in which you can promote your home if you choose
not to work with an agent.
· Signs: Place a For Sale
sign on your front lawn for additional
exposure. Make sure there is contact
information, such as a phone number, so that
interested buyers are able to schedule a
showing. Many REALTORS® use Talking Signs
where a buyer can call and hear pre-recorded
information about your home. If you live off of
the main thoroughfare, you may want to use
Directional Signs to point interested
parties towards the location of your property.
· Real Estate Flyers: Design flyers
that you can distribute throughout the community.
Also, place an information box in your front lawn so
that passers-by can find out details about your
home. Include color photos highlighting some of the
unique features of your property. Provide as many
property details as possible to intrigue a potential
buyer. Also, provide contact information so that the
prospective buyer can schedule a showing.
· Networking: Tell friends, family,
neighbors, and co-workers that you are placing your
home on the market. They may know someone who is
currently looking to buy. Also, if you use a real
estate agent, they have a network of real estate
offices and agents who are members of their Multiple
Listing Service. Your REALTOR® can also send out
announcements to their customers to let them know
you have listed your home. Even if their customers
aren’t interested, they may know someone who might
be interested in your home.
· Open Houses: Host an open house
at your home. Make sure your home is in immaculate
condition as you will have many people wandering
your house looking through closets and cabinets. If
you are selling your home yourself, be prepared to
answer the many questions prospective buyers may
have, such as the age of the roof, water heater, air
conditioner, and furnace. These are important
details to a prospective buyer. If possible, prepare
flyers and other literature about your home that
details all of this information. Place this
literature in a prominent place in your home.
· The Internet: The Internet is a
great way to market your home. If you choose to work
with a real estate agent, many now have personal
websites where they are able to feature their
listings. In addition, your property will be
included in a listing database where potential
buyers are able to search for listings that meet
their specific home criteria. Property listings on
websites offer color photos, as well as property
details.
· Virtual Tours: A virtual tour is
video or moving photographs of your property. Your
agent can create a virtual tour of your home to
include on their website. Virtual tours are a great
way to show potential buyers the special features of
your house. The moving photography enables buyers to
get a feel for the atmosphere of your home so that
they can decide if it matches their needs. |
