It wasn't too long ago that all a real estate agent or for-sale-by-owner had to do to let the world know that they were interested in selling their home was to place a sign in the front yard and run a classified ad in the local paper. In 2006 it is a totally different world in residential real estate marketing. If you're trolling for buyers you better be in their path, which is the Internet. According to The National Association of Realtors(R) over seventy-percent of homebuyers start their search on the Internet before contacting a real estate agent. Getting up to speed with Internet marketing is not difficult. Many companies today specialize in property web sites, home virtual (360 degree digital image) tours and blast new-on-market emails. To find these companies look in your local phone books or in Internet search engines. Mark Nash author of 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home provides the nuts and bolts you need to know about marketing a home on the Internet. -Eight still photos required for a home on Internet. Search engines and Multiple Listing Searchs look for at least eight still photos for a property. These should include an exterior shot under current seasonal conditions. If you put up a summer photo in the winter, buyers will think that the property has languished on market for many months. The other shots should be of the living, dining, and family room, master bedroom, master bath, kitchen and a backyard or other optional shot. -Place a classified ad on your local Craigs List. Many first-time buyers search this popular directory of rental and purchase homes. You'll be amazed at how many inquiries you receive from devotees to this list. -When booking a classified ad for your home in the local newspaper ask if they have an online edition. Make sure that your in every newspapers online edition that you advertise in. -For as little as a hundred dollars you can have a web sites for your home. Marketing information, floor plans and mortgage rates and scenarios can be posted to it. The web sites address should be the property address, www.123mainstreet.com -Virtual tours are a great way for Internet surfers to take a miniature tour of your home, and many buyers won't visit a home until they've taken a virtual tour. Here are some tips on virtual tours. Virtual tour camera lens can make small rooms smaller, so don't bother with walk-in closets, powder rooms and other small spaces. Take a look through the lens to get an idea what the camera will record. Move and stage shots to edit out too much furniture, close window blind or shades and streamline tabletops and bookcases. Place a blooming or green plant in shots to perk up and add life. -Have your virtual tour burned onto CD's to give to buyers who have visited your home. Mail CD's to real estate agents in the area to give them a sneak-peek before they show your home. Put the web site address of your home on the outer sleeve of the CD. -Gather email addresses of interested buyers and real estate agents for email notification of Open Houses, price reductions and interior photos to refresh their memories. Avoid spam, no one appreciates it. |
