In today's market more than 88% of buyers start their home search online. Most of them start searching online before they even speak to an agent. The Saint John real estate market moves very quickly and many buyers depend on the internet to get the upper hand on new listings. That's why it is so important to have your home marketed online with MAXIMUM web exposure.

When you market your property online you have the ability to show the value in your home with large pictures, slide shows, and detailed information. When hiring an agent, you will want to make sure they have their own website where they will display the detailed information and the large pictures. You will also want to make sure they have a way to capture information from potential buyers.

Along with marketing your home on the agent’s website, you will likely have it advertised on MLS.ca (soon to be REALTOR.ca). It is important to advertise on MLS.ca simply because the website receives a huge sum of daily visits. Unfortunately there may not be room for full details, large images, maps, videos and other value added content.

You want your home to be advertised on the agent's website in conjunction with several other websites - including local classified websites, social networking websites, and search engines.

Generally speaking I like to advertise on Facebook and using Google Adwords. Both of these websites allow me to target people living in your area. For example, if I am selling a home in Saint John I want to limit my Google ad words to people in New Brunswick, or even just Saint John, Rothesay and Sussex. These are the people most likely to purchase your home (it doesn't make sense to advertise to people in Japan if you want to target people in the greater Saint John Area. This can cost a lot of money which could be better used to market your home). With Facebook, you can also add a picture of the home for sale and choose where it will show up (in the ad box, or on people's main screen). When they click on the photo and description, they end up at my website where they can see all the features of your home, and most importantly see the value in your home.

Along with these websites I advertise in the online classifieds, and on the radio. The radio allows me to market your home to thousands all at the same time. Although they can't see you home on the radio, we use descriptive keywords for them to imagine what your home might be like. After hearing the ad, they will often visit my website to take a look at your home.

Whether you choose me to sell your home with me or another agent - make sure to ask them what they do to market your home on the internet!

Luther Harrity (Royal LePage Atlantic)

1-866-593-7446 www.sellwithme.ca