Tips of Realtors

Tips of Realtors

Advertise!

A study by the National Association of Realtors revealed that 92% of buyers use the Internet to house hunt. Make sure your open house dates are available through Zillow. With over 130 million visits per month, Zillow is a great place to start.

Invite the neighbors

Invite the neighbors over for an appetizer or wine and cheese party at your open house. It's a great way to network and make prospects. Socialize and have fun.

Everyone who attended your open house is a potential buyer, so create an automated email marketing campaign to stay in touch. Also, be sure to follow up in a few days to reconnect and help them with their home buying search.

Be strategic with open house signage

Sandwich boards are great, but also mix it up with signage that can be read from at least 30 to 50 feet away. Place advertising directional signs within a five-block radius to reach a wider audience. Add helium-filled balloons to draw attention.

Alienation of property

Before the open house, remove family photos, diplomas, awards, and anything else from the home. By removing personal belongings, the home does not belong to any particular group of people and visitors can see themselves in the home.

Clean out and organize closets and other storage areas

Buyers will open cabinets, drawers and anything else with a handle. Instead of an avalanche of boxes when they open the storage closet, make sure the closets are clean and organized.

Target local home buyers with online advertising

You can even target potential buyers by zip code through Google AdWords, Bing, Facebook and other online sources. With Facebook, you can add photos of the property and link to the landing page for more pictures of the house, plus a contact form to learn more.

Advertise with a drone

Yes, a drone ad. Hoovy advertises open houses by attaching banners to drones and flying them in public locations for real estate agents. Hoovy flies drones about 60 feet off the ground to be closer to the public.

Staging can help sell a home

Group your colors. Try to limit colors to just three per room. Keep larger items lower. If you have an even amount, take one away. Always keep the quantity odd as it is more appealing. Mix up pillows and add white towels to bathrooms to create a spa appeal.

First impressions are important

Simple updates to a listing can make a big difference. Add a flower pot. If the door is worn, it can change a good paint job. The new welcome mat will make it even more inviting. Sweep, clean the cobwebs and remove anything worn.

In one study, 30% of people said that scented products were "irritating." Skip air fresheners and candles. Instead, ask your dealer to shampoo the carpets, open the windows to let in fresh air, deodorize the appliances, and throw the rugs in the wash.

Experiment with lighting before the open house

Try opening shades and curtains and turning on different light sources.

Advertise in small local papers because not every buyer is internet savvy

Many retirees read the local paper and you will get a lot of miles for your investment.

Consider a themed open house

If the home is Mediterranean design, consider a tapas presentation. If it's Spanish style, nachos can be perfect. Give your potential buyers a unique experience to remember.

Prepare flyers for buyers with your contact information

The Mortgage Loan Schedule and Glossary are two great resources. Neighborhood information such as local schools, groceries, restaurants, and "walk score" is great information. And attach your business card to each flyer. Prepare a sign-in sheet for visitors and record their name, phone number, email and any other relevant information. Follow up a few days later.

Email potential buyers and invite them to your open house

Showcase your home in your email and include a branded email signature. And offer a showing of the home. Why wait? Give potential customers the opportunity to make an appointment with you for an early home inspection. Add a link to online scheduling so buyers can set up a time without the hassle of phone calls, callbacks, and waiting. After all, in this competitive market, a home may be backlogged by the time the open house arrives!

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