If the Internet is "Main Street," How Appealing Is Your Storefront?!?!

Happy Inauguration Day everyone, I am enjoying a snowing morining here in Greensboro, NC contemplating how we move ahead with a new Administration and a new outlook.

As has been stated ad nauseum (and with VERY good reason), the Internet is the starting point for over 80% of homebuyers.  This is Real Estate's "Main Street."  As you Realtors know, the most important thing about real estate is (to quote your industry cliche') "Location, Location, Location."  So consider your "location" on Main Street to be your website.

So, if the Internet is "Main Street," and the majority of shoppers stroll up and down Main Street, ask yourself, "how does my "Storefront" (website) look?"  Does it look like Barney's of New York or Barney's Pawn Shop?  Is your website easy to navigate?  Does it fit on the screen without having to scroll down or to the right?  Do all the links work properly?  Are the pictures clear, attractive and plentiful?

As someone who moved from Maui to North Carolina (a story for another time), there was nothing more frustrating than trying to see a home online with only one or two pictures.  It wasn't like we could hop in car and drive over to see it on a whim.  People have limited time to walk through houses these days, and with fuel costs like they were last summer, it was also too expensive.  So it is more critical than ever to make sure the product in the window is attractive to buyers to want to visit your "shop."

Take a step back and look at your site, send the link to 10 friends and ask them what they like or don't like.  Ask them about the links, text, and photos.  Tell them to be sincere, as you need to know what improvements, if any, you need to make to spruce up your storefront.  If you don't, or can't take great photos, get someone who can.  If you can't afford to pay a professional (and we aren't that much of an investment), then get the seller to cover the costs (they own the photos and if the fire you, they can give them to the next agent).  Do whatever it takes to make the most impact to impress any potential buyer.

You have only one chance to make a GREAT first impression, so IMPACT is critical.  If your site looks like Barney's Pawn Shop, more than likely potential buyers are moving on to your competitor's Barney's of New York site.  Good luck this year!

Aloha a hui hou,