Marketing Exposure

The greater the exposure, the more likely a home is to sell. All realtors use mls.ca (automatically uploaded, no extra work involved), some use newspaper ads, CREN ads, and other real estate magazines; but how do you ensure your home stands out from the crowd?

Your Own Website

80% of all buyers use the internet at some point in the home-buying process. While many realtors have some type of website, listings tend to get lost amid the clutter. Solution: create unique websites for each listing (see listings/video tours for examples) with their own address as the URL.

I've noticed over the years, less reliance on open houses and realtor previews (where the realtor previews a home without their client, chosing only the best homes to bring the client to). Open houses allow anyone to come in and have a look around. With online pictures, less homes are being sold from open houses, and more leads generated online. The realtor preview has similarly decreased, as with additional pictures/video, we (us realtors) are better able to judge if a client will like a home.

Using extra pictures (10 usually) and video, all hosted yourhomeaddress.com greatly increases our marketability.

Staging

To aid in both showings and the best possible pictures/video tour, I'll try and make helpful suggestions. Some clients also "stage" their home. Staging is the art of professionally preparing a home for sale, createing a visual impression that is instantly appealing. The buyer feels like they can move right in. Staging ranges from just a consultation to decluttering, rearranging and/or removing furniture, painting, purchasing, organizing, accessorizing rooms and removing and replacing carpet and other floor covering and window coverings. I suggest reading over the staging guide .

Matthew Dekort is a member of Maxwell Southstar Realty