Selling your home can be a daunting task, made all the more complicated, because most buyers now start their search online. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 90 percent of buyers use the internet to search for their new home. This means that if you want to sell your home, you need to be visible where potential buyers are looking – and that’s online.
But don’t despair! With some know-how, you can list your home on all the major real estate websites and make sure it gets seen by all the right people. Here’s how:
1. Start with great photos.
When potential buyers are scrolling through listings online, the first thing they will notice is the photos. So make sure you hire a professional photographer (or at least use a good quality camera) to take pictures of your home that show it in its best light. Avoid using flash, and try to take pictures during daylight hours when the natural light will make your rooms look bright and inviting. And don’t forget the outside! A great photo of your home’s exterior is essential for making a good first impression.
If you sell a luxury home, you might have to photograph precious metals, jewelry, and other valuables. You might have to hire a different kind of photographer who specializes in taking pictures of high-value items. In this case, it would be best to hire jewelry image retouching services so that your photos will look as impressive and professional. They will help your photos look bright, clear, and inviting.
2. Write an attention-grabbing headline.
Your home’s listing headline is like its title—it’s what’s going to draw people in and make them want to read more. So don’t just write something mundane like “3-bedroom house for sale in XYZ neighborhood.” Instead, highlight something unique about your home that will make it stand out from other listings in your area. For example, “Charming 3-bedroom bungalow in sought-after XYZ neighborhood” or “Beautiful colonial with updated kitchen in XYZ school district.”
You can also use your headline to highlight particular home features, like “Historic Victorian with original woodwork and stained glass windows” or “Modern condo with city skyline views.” This is your chance to really sell your home, so make sure you make the most of it!
3. Provide detailed information about your home.
Once you have potential buyers hooked with great photos and an attention-grabbing headline, it’s time to give them all the details about your home. In addition to things like square footage and the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, be sure to mention any special features or amenities that will make your home stand out from the crowd. Is there a fireplace? A newly renovated kitchen? A deck or patio? Off-street parking? Mentioning these things in your listing will help set your home apart from others on the market.
When writing details about your home, use persuasive language that will make potential buyers want to see it in person. For example, instead of saying, “The kitchen has been updated,” try, “The beautiful new kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances is a chef’s dream!”
4. Use keywords strategically.
Like any other type of content, real estate listings are also affected by SEO (search engine optimization). This means that using specific keywords throughout your listing can help it appear higher up in search results, making it more likely to be seen by potential buyers. When deciding which keywords to use, think about what someone might search for when looking for a home like yours in your area—for example, “family-friendly neighborhood,” “close to public transportation,” or “updated appliances.”
5. Choose the right price.
Pricing your home correctly is essential for selling it quickly (no one wants their house to sit on the market for months on end). But coming up with the correct number can be tricky—you don’t want to price yourself out of the market, but you also don’t want to leave money on the table by underpricing your property. The best way to come up with a competitive price is to look at recent sales of similar homes in your area and price yours accordingly.
Ask your real estate agent for help if you’re unsure where to start—they should be able to provide you with a market analysis of comparable homes in your area. You can also look at recent listings yourself to get an idea of what other homes in your neighborhood are going for.
Selling your home doesn’t have to be complicated— even if you’re starting from scratch with no real estate experience! Remember these five tips for listing your home online: start with incredible photos; write an attention-grabbing headline, provide detailed information about your property; use keywords strategically; and choose the right price. With a little effort, you’ll have potential buyers clamoring to schedule a showing in no time!
