How To Get Your Home Noticed
How to Get Your Home Noticed – Advertising Tactics of the Pros
Advertising is the most important tool for selling your home. Whether you opt to sell the home yourself or work with a listing agent, you will want to make sure that your home is being seen by potential buyers.
First, let’s look at the advertising responsibilities of listing agents. A listing agent’s goal is not necessarily to advertise your home to potential buyers. Instead, the listing agent is probably more focused on getting the home noticed by other agents. The reason is pretty simple, actually. Under most listing contracts, buyers cannot view your home without an agent being present, so you need to get other agents to tell buyers about your home. A listing agent will place information about your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), thereby making the information available not only to those looking for a home online, but also to other agents who have access to the MLS.
Because most agents have experience marketing homes, chances are that you will never need to worry about whether your home will be seen by interested buyers. Of course it will! When you work with a listing agent, keep in mind that for every marketing effort you see, many more efforts are being made behind the scenes. Have confidence, knowing that before too long that “for sale” sign on your lawn will be replaced by one that says “SOLD.”
Listing Agent’s
The listing agent will place a “for sale” sign on your lawn, advertise your home in local newspapers, and most likely display information about your home on his or her personal agent website. Now that you know what the listing agent will do to start marketing your home, it’s time to learn about what is happening when you aren’t watching. One question to ask before contracting a listing agent’s services is: Who will be on the other end of the line when an interested buyer, or agent, calls to discuss the home? Many buyers see a home that piques their interest and immediately call the listing agent for more information. Which do you think is better… a phone number that goes to a voice recording, or a phone number that is answered by a person during normal business hours? In general, there is an expectation that a person will be available to answer questions about the home. Most buyers understand that evenings and weekends may bring a voice recording, but between nine and five you should insist that a live person be answering those important calls from potential buyers.
The MLS is Important!
The information that your agent puts on the MLS for your home is very important and its accuracy is critical. Review the information before it is posted and perhaps even tell the agent what you would like to have written in the commentary section. Some commonly touted items in MLS ads include new kitchens, windows, furnaces, decorating allowances, and home warranty inclusions. Potential buyers may see your home’s MLS information online, but the MLS is really aimed at buyers’ agents.
| As a seller, you need to know that the intention of listing agents who advertise homes for sale is to build a solid base of potential clients. Sure, they want to sell your home, but if your home isn’t right for a particular buyer, then they would like the opportunity to show that buyer other homes that might better meet their needs |
Buyers’ agents will meet with their clients in order to understand what they are looking for in a home. Then they will use the MLS to search for homes that meet their buyers’ criteria. Therefore, your MLS ad should be as inclusive and detailed as possible.
When your agent posts your home’s information on the MLS, you immediately have more than one agent working to find a buyer. Every agent in your local area will be viewing your home and recommending it to buyers who are interested in what your home has to offer. What an amazing technique for exponential advertising!
The REAL Purpose of Advertising a Home
As a seller, you need to know that the intention of listing agents who advertise homes for sale is to build a solid base of potential clients. Sure, they want to sell your home, but if your home isn’t right for a particular buyer, then they would like the opportunity to show that buyer other homes that might better meet their needs. Don’t be disheartened by this, because other agents will definitely notice your home through the same advertising efforts – and the buyers whom they bring to your home may be the ones who are ready to make an offer. Advertising is advertising, and it is meant to bring attention to both your agent and your home.
Conclusion
When selling your home through a listing agent, most or all of the advertising will be done for you. Talk to potential listing agents about the techniques they will use to market your home, and do not hesitate to make requests and suggestions if anything makes you uncomfortable. Always ask questions if and when you don’t understand something or just want clarification. Remember that the listing agent will be paid a commission when your home sells – so never feel bad about taking his or her time to ask questions about how your home will be marketed.