Marketing Your Home

Employing strong marketing techniques is smart business. Good marketing can bring higher prices and, in buyer's markets, it could mean the difference between sold or expired. Good marketing might not sell your house, but it will make the phone ring. Because if buyers don't call, you won't sell.

1. Photograph the Front
   Most home buyers begin a home search online, so good photos are essential. Listings without a photo or with only an exterior shot are often passed over and ignored. Buyers are visual.
   
   
2. Exterior Photographs
   If you own a condo or townhome without a yard, then take pictures of the clubhouse, pool, spa or tennis courts. If you have a yard, however, buyers will want to see it.
   
   
3. Interior Photographs
   Take photographs of every room. Even if you suspect the room won't photograph well, shoot it anyway because the photo quality just might astonish you and be useable.
   
   
4. Virtual Tours
   Virtual tours aren't just to showcase million-dollar homes anymore. Every home should have a virtual tour, even if it's only two spins. Buyers love, love, love virtual tours.
   
   
5. Signage
   Signage encourages home shoppers to immediately call you or your agent. It's free advertising! If your home is a corner lot, put up two signs.
   
   
6. Print Advertising
   Print advertising reaches buyers who read newspapers. Online ads reach the rest. If your neighbors say, "Everywhere I look, I see your home advertised," you're doing a good job.
   
   
7. Direct Mail
   If you're an unrepresented seller, you can buy mailing lists from list brokers. If you are represented by an agent, ask about a direct mail program.
   
   
8. Open Houses
   Not every home is suitable for an open house due to location or other factors, and sometimes the only way to determine that is to try it. If nobody comes, that's probably a good indication. However, if your home is located near a high traffic area where buyers often swarm, then it's a good candidate.
   
   
9. Host Broker / Agent Tours
   If you're planning to sell your home without representation, then skip this step. However, since most buyers are represented by an agent, it's a good idea to draw as many agents and brokers as possible to view your home.
   
   
10. Send E-Flyers
    Technology has made it very easy to create and send electronic flyers. You can also include multiple photographs of your house. Costs vary but it's generally less than $100 to produce.