How to Market your home 

With the rise of 3D home models, the popularity of real estate-based sites, and the stiff competition in the market, it is more important now than ever before to make sure your home is marketed properly. When you consider which agent to hire, make sure they have the ability, knowledge, and resources to ensure the right people see your home. More than 80% of Millennials and 78% of Gen X buyers find their next home on a mobile device.  

Before Marketing
 

1. Stage the home 

While it is not the agent’s responsibility to directly stage the home, they should provide you with recommendations of the right people to hire. If you don’t need stagers, make sure your home is an inviting space. Buyers need to picture themselves living in your home, which is why you need to create an attractive and overall neutral atmosphere.  

2. Photograph the home 

Properly photographing the home is perhaps the most crucial aspect of marketing the home. Without good, professionally taken photographs, the house will not capture attention on digital media. The attention span on digital media is very short, 2.5 seconds for desktop users and 1.7 seconds for mobile users.  This means that every picture must show the home in the best light.  

Man holding a professional camera on a tripod taking a picture in tiled bathroom with windows towards garden 

3. Take a video of the home. 

While a photograph has to tell the entire story at a glance, the video of the home will be to show the charm. Remember that these cannot be too long; 30 seconds to a minute is the best time frame. The video should start with a wide shot of the exterior of the home and flow smoothly from room to room. 

Facebook and Instagram 

Facebook is the perfect place to tell a longer story of the home. Here your real estate agent should have a longer caption and utilize the video. Instagram, on the other hand, is a predominantly visual experience and is better optimized for photos. Your agent should use a shorter caption, the best 2-3 photos, and the best fitting hashtags. It is important to remember who the target audience is for your home and make sure they see it. For example, if your home is in a great school district your real estate agent should target families. If your home is in the heart of the city, then young couples would be ideal. Every home has a family it is perfect for, and Facebook and Instagram can make sure they find it.  

Final Thoughts 
 

Now more than ever, proper marketing is essential. Your agent should provide photography, videography, a copy of the floor plans, and be able to target buyers who are spending a majority of their time online. This will include Facebook videos, Instagram lives, and even open houses conducted online.     

As a top producing agent with 20+ years of experience in the East Bay, I have helped hundreds of clients sell their homes in the Greater San Francisco Bay area and the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa. My experience as a former appraiser allows me to help my clients understand the market and help them enhance their homes to maximize the sale of their homes. If you have any questions, I am here to be a resource for you.