Marketing Your Home: A Seller's Guide

Marketing a home to sell is a multi-faceted process. The more ways that a home buyer markets their home, the more people will come see it and the faster it may sell. Marketing changes from one area to another and what works in one neighborhood may not work in neighborhoods nearby. Working with an experienced real estate professional can help the home buyer decide which methods will work well for their home.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Post A Sign, Work On Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is crucial for attracting walk-in buyers. Sometimes buyers need only pass by an attractive house and see a "for sale" sign to fall in love with the property.

There are many different things that home sellers can do to improve curb appeal in a home. Tending the yard, removing weeds, spreading mulch and caring for landscaping are examples of ways that home sellers make their house look more attractive on the outside. It also helps to clean the siding and windows, paint the front door and edge the grass. Every house is different so working with a landscaper or contractor is a good way to ensure that what needs to be done will be done.

Stage the Home

Before the house is seen by home buyers, it should be neat, tidy and organized. The furniture should be in good condition, there should be few or no knick-knacks on the shelves. The house should look occupied but greeting card perfect, as if the property was recently re-decorated by a professional. This is called staging.

Buyers respond well to staged properties because they look inviting and comfortable. They can imagine themselves living in a staged home.

Home sellers who have already moved out of their house can stage their property by renting furniture. Sellers who have not yet moved out can stage their house by de-cluttering, cleaning and remodeling where necessary. Working with a real estate professional can help ensure that the home looks its best.

Take Pictures of Everything

Good photographs help home sellers show off their home in the listing. Some home sellers try to take their own pictures but this rarely works. The best pictures are taken by professional real estate photographers. Sellers who don't know any real estate photographers can talk to their real estate agent to find out who is the best person to take pictures of their home.

Post A Strong Listing

A strong listing should be comprised of attractive pictures and an enticing description of the property. Features like sustainable appliances, newly remodeled rooms and close proximity to businesses are excellent talking points to discuss in a good listing. Home sellers can work with their real estate agent to ensure that the agent knows the best features of the house to discuss in the listing description.

Explore Alternative Forms of Marketing

Virtual tours are becoming a common way for home sellers to market their property. Virtual tours give buyers a sense of the layout of the home while also making the listing more fun to view. Drone pictures, meanwhile, can give buyers a better sense of what the property looks like from an aerial point of view. These alternative methods of marketing can often draw buyers who might not otherwise notice the property.

Send Postcards

Postcards reach large audiences in the area around a house, and can draw buyers that might not even know they want to purchase a home. A good postcard should point out the size of the home, attractive features and where the home is located on a map. Post cards should also list the asking price and the contact information for the real estate professional. This helps get the word out about the property.

Post the House on Social Media

Sellers who want to increase their exposure may do so by posting their listing on their social media page. They may even find that it's to their advantage to post an advertisement on social media. These advertisements are often reasonably priced and highly effective. Home sellers that go this route should ensure that their advertisements run in the areas around the neighborhood where the house is being sold.

Work With A Real Estate Professional

Again, it's very important for a Chugiak home seller to work with a real estate professional. Working with a real estate agent helps ensure that a home gets positive exposure and expert marketing. If you're a homeowner who would like to sell your property, talk to a real estate professional to ensure that your home is properly marketed when it goes up for sale.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.