Spring is typically the busiest real estate season of the year depending on where you are in the country. Buyers will be out in full force and sellers will be doing everything they can to get their home to stand out. While there are many things you can do at home to stage your property and make it attractive to buyers, getting them in the door is all about the listing. 85% of homebuyers start their search online and if your listing doesn't stand out in the hundreds they scroll through daily, you will get passed by. Everyone knows you need to have a photograph of the house but, you can also have a photograph of the view from the house as your main, featured photo. It all depends on how fantastic that view is, of course. If the view is really the best thing about the house show it off. But if the house itself looks amazing, it's best to keep a picture of the front of the house.
The photos. Photos are what drive us. It's why social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest are so popular. We are a visual society. If we must read anything for a long enough time, we may get bored and pass it by, but a picture truly is worth 1000 words. A lot can be said about a photo and by taking the right photo, at the right time, you can draw in the right buyer.
Look at these two pictures above They are of the same house but one was taken with a very simple camera on a cloudy day. The color is dull, it just doesn't look that great. But take the same photo from just a slightly different angle, on a beautiful day, where the colors are vibrant, and it looks like a home you may want to visit. It looks more attractive and even looks like it might be up on a hill with a great view.
Pam Pester, Commercial Real Estate Agent in Tampa Florida suggests “Bite the bullet and take excellent photos. Hire someone if you can. Take photos at different times of the day, and remember, you are trying to sell something; you want to look as amazing as it possibly can. However, don't be deceptive in your photos either. Don't use a wide-angle lens on a small bedroom that's only 10 x 10. Be honest but try to get the most perfect shot. Your real estate agent should have some photographers in their back pocket and it does cost money, but it's well worth it when you get the home sold quickly and for possibly over your list price.”
Make a featured image stand out. If you're going to use a photo of the view, make sure it is the most amazing view you've ever seen from the house. That could be a phenomenal sunset, beautiful city skyline lights, mountain view or water view. Make that the most amazing view the buyer has ever seen. If it's the outside of the house, make sure your curb appeal and landscaping is up to par. Make sure the grass is neatly mode and is bright green. Make sure the flowers around the outside are all in one color and trees, shrubs and brushes are properly trimmed. The sidewalk or stairs should be pressure washed, the trim should be updated and retouched on the house and the front door should be so inviting, it's practically like the gingerbread house was to Hensel and Gretel.
Consider a video. Videos are so easy. You don't have to do a five-star production to make a video about your neighborhood, the backyard, or even a tour through the house. People want to see what is nearby and unless you're doing a drone tour of the neighborhood, people are not going to be able to see what's next-door. Of course, you may not want them to know that you have a quarter living next door with two junk cars in the driveway. This is where a video is not going to benefit you. But, if the inside of your house is phenomenal, beautifully staged and you have the latest and greatest appliances or materials, by all means, show it off with a video tour.
Use social media. Social media can be used for anything these days. Besides connecting with old college buddies, it's a great place to market your listing or your home. Talk to your friends and neighbors and have them share your listing information. Put fantastic photos up on Pinterest and other photo sharing social media sites. Don't just share it once, Sharon multiple times throughout the course of the listing to remind people that the house is still on the market and how amazing it is.
Showcase settings that tell a story. In every single photo of your home, you should be telling a story. Does the bathroom set the stage for a relaxing retreat and spa getaway? Does the bedroom show an oasis of escape with comfortable, fluffy linens, lots of pillows and perhaps an overstuffed chair in the corner perfect for curling up with a good book? Does the kitchen show a neat, modern and contemporary style ready to make the latest and greatest meal for the family? Is the dining room table set ready for entertaining friends and loved ones? Does the backyard tell the story of summer barbecues, playing in the swimming pool, or a roving game of football? Set the stage in every single photo and buyers will see themselves in the home, practically begging to live there.
You must make your listing stand out before anyone sets foot in your home. Use these simple tips, tricks and of course, talk to your real estate agent about how to make your home stand out both online and in person.
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