FOR SELLERS
Use Social Media to Boost Buyer Interest
There is a world of prospective buyers on social media. Many buyers hire realtors and use online search tools to find available homes. Buyers are often on social media. Whether they are actively looking on social media or not, a listing can pop up on their feed, and their buying radar perks up. Posting on social media can generate interest in buyers that may not otherwise have access to see your listing. Use it wisely.
Use relevant hashtags to help your post land on more feeds. Write captivating captions that are informative. Include listing facts people will need to know right away: Listing price, square footage, and zip code. Use bullet points or emojis to help feature the amenities of the property.
Come up with multiple posts ahead of time so you can post regularly. Even once a week to keep your followers updated is beneficial. Posts sharing the status of open houses, price adjustments, in escrow, and closing also keeps people engaged.
If you are working with a Realtor, ask them if sharing your listing is a part of their marketing strategy. Collaborate with them and ask them to share photos, captions, or posts they share on their social platforms. Many realtors already have established personal and company social media platforms that reach a wide audience. The more eyes on your listing, the more prospective buyers gain interest. The power of social media is not to be underestimated.
Employ Virtual Staging
Virtual staging has become much more popular since the pandemic. It is software to stage the interior of a home virtually. Unlike physically staging a home, the process is digital, touch-free, and cost-effective. The simulation helps a buyer view the property from the comfort of their home while saving you money. According to a study done by The National Association of Realtors (NAR), 82 percent of agents representing buyers said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.
In general, staging works. Virtual staging has quickly become the new norm and may be worth your time and money. Ask your agent to make recommendations to employ a virtual staging company.
Virtual Tours and Film Walk-Through Videos
Virtual tours and walk-through videos of your home are highly valuable. Video is one of the most consumed forms of media today. By creating high-quality videos showcasing each room, you provide an immersive experience for the buyer. Pictures say a thousand words, but videos give the even bigger picture.
Live virtual tours became popular during social distancing mandates. For buyers, having the luxury of a virtual home tour makes more listings accessible to them. Buyers can be anywhere and get a good feeling of the home through a live virtual tour. Coordinate with your agent when live virtual tours get scheduled. Hire a videographer with real estate expertise. Adding the content to the listing, social media, and newsletters adds a great deal of validity.
Ask for Referrals
A powerful form of marketing is word of mouth. To this day, the real estate industry still relies on referrals. When posting on social media, ask anyone if they know people looking to buy a house. Referrals tend to be a trusted and credible resource. Knowing that someone interested in your listing is a relative or friend of someone you know can bring ease and enjoyment to the whole process.
You may not know which contacts in your network know buyers or sellers. Reach out! Asking for referrals can open up a world of interested buyers!
FOR AGENTS
Write Effective Descriptions
For each listing, it is best practice to write informative descriptions. Prospective buyers are browsing multiple listings at once. Generalized descriptions will make the listing easy to pass.
Here are some tips to include in your descriptions:
- Descriptive Words – Use adjectives and vivid words to help create a feeling. When there is an emotional attachment, the buyer is more likely to buy. Overall, every part of the listing is a different experience for the buyer.
- Stats and Numbers – Make sure to include room dimensions, accurate square footage, materials used, the build year, features, and amenities. People already have an idea of what they want. Providing extensive detail makes them feel more confident in discovering their dream home. Be specific!
- Note-Worthy Updates – Homebuyers want to know what they are walking into. It is best to be transparent about the history of the home. Include any home improvements or renovations involving the roof, home security, appliances, landscaping, paint, flooring, etc.
The online listing tends to be the first introduction. Make it appealing and captivating for buyers!
Create Pinterest Boards
Social media can be as powerful as creating a Pinterest Board featuring your newest listings. Each listing can have a Pinterest board. Include high-quality photos within the property. You can also upload short video clips to showcase the rooms. Use keywords in the title. Each image should have a strong description. Optimize each image with additional keywords and hashtags for searchability.
Many users search for boards associated with home categories. Pinterest gives a visual search aspect that is super helpful for buyers. They can save any listings they like for future reference. Why consider a Pinterest marketing plan? The Close shared: “more than 30 percent of Realtors report closing at least one transaction a year as a direct result of their use of social media” in a recent report for 2021. That is one more listing you did not have before social media. Whether your marketing strategy includes Pinterest or not, social media is a place you do not want to ignore.
Live Virtual Open Houses
If you are sleeping on live digital resources, you may be missing out on potential clients. In-person open houses have been a surefire way for buyers to view a home. Since the pandemic, virtual tours have become essential. Even after social distancing mandates relax, virtual tours continue to be a priority. A live virtual open house is more experiential and personal than a virtual tour. Clients can ask questions in real-time and see areas of the house that are not always in a pre-recorded video.
Both are beneficial resources. Live Virtual Open Houses are a must to make the listing even more accessible. Make yourself available to schedule live open houses. It is a service that goes beyond and could end up in a closing sale.
Create Free Content
When buyers begin their home search, they tend to look for tips and education along the way. Set yourself up for success from the very beginning so that prospective buyers can stumble upon you and your services at any point in the process.
Creating free content that helps educate, provide tips, or share your expertise is a way to add SEO optimization during searches while bringing in new leads and connecting with potential clients.
What is your specialty? Maybe you favor working with first-time buyers. Create a digital eBook that caters to the top tips or mistakes people should know. You can create a branded resource of checklists. Gather list items specific to buyers, one for sellers and another for renters. Make them downloadable from your site, include a link in marketing emails, or use them as a free incentive.
Know a lot about interior or home design? Create a series of blog posts you can share each week. Highlight features and tips that benefit home sellers. Maybe do a listicle of things buyers should look for when shopping for houses.
Have an established network or partnership? Start a podcast. Share local market reports or hot topics and current updates in the real estate and mortgage industries. Market new listings so that your listeners are the first to know.
Showcase your expertise! Clients, partners, and your community will look to you as a leader in the real estate realm.
Marketing your home can take time and energy for everyone involved. Sit down with your team, agent, or real estate professionals to create a solid strategy upfront. The current competitive market calls for creative marketing. Get started early and try new approaches. If you would like to learn more about our online marketing strategies for our clients, please reach out! We look forward to helping you on your buying and selling journey.
*This article is intended to be accurate, but the information is not guaranteed. Please reach out to us directly if you have any specific real estate or mortgage questions or would like help from a local professional. The article was written by Sparkling Marketing, Inc., with information from resources like Keeping Current Matters, Realtor.com