How to Market a Home

If you plan on selling your house, consider your marketing strategy before listing with a Realtor. A marketing strategy is important for a more efficient selling process. Fortunately, by following certain steps, you can effectively market your home and hopefully sell it within weeks rather than months.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start your marketing process by staging your house so that it will appeal to buyers. There are simple things you can do to make your house sellable, including: removing clutter, applying fresh and neutral paint to walls, making necessary repairs, airing out your home by opening windows before showings and removing personal items such as pictures and trophies. Also, be sure to let light into your home by opening blinds and curtains.

2. Photograph your home so that it draws buyers for a walk-through. To do this, take exterior photos during the day and avoid shade on the house. Also, be sure that cars are removed from the driveway and streets are cropped out of the picture. For interior photos, open blinds and focus on positive features such as granite counters or hardwood floors. Remember to shoot long to give the impression of space.

3. Create a virtual tour of your home, or ask your Realtor to include a virtual tour in the listing. Buyers are more likely to look at homes on a website if they see a virtual tour.

4. Advertise your home in newspapers and real estate publications that are often available to shoppers at grocery stores.

5. Talk to your neighbors and encourage them to spread the word. You can invite them into your home so that they will see the details and perhaps share this information with friends or family looking for a home. Remember that your neighbors have a lot invested in the sale of your home to a good buyer.

6. Ask your agent to invite other agents to your house for a home tour. Be sure to feed the agents. The longer you keep them looking at your home, the more likely they are to remember details and share these with prospective buyers.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider contracting with a Realtor. Even though you may have to pay a commission, Realtors have access to more marketing tools, including a large network of other agents.
• Remember that your agent wants to sell this house too. They get a commission. Therefore, it is important to maintain a positive relationship. If your agent asks you to cut back some tress, you should take their advice. The agent will work harder for you if they know you are also working hard.
• Don't leave all the work to your agent. Educate yourself on marketing strategies and talk to your Realtor about how they plan to market your home.