A home sale typically occurs as a result of a combination of curb appeal, location, pricing, marketing, negotiations, and a few other factors. This article will briefly focus on some of the options, in terms of how homes can be marketed, why one might be better than another (in certain circumstances), cost, effectiveness, and usage factors. There is no such thing as one way to market and sell a home. Years ago, real estate agents relied heavily on newspaper advertising, and that’s where most potential buyers looked for information. In today’s digital, information-driven society, much more data is readily available, and while there is still a place for newspaper advertising, it’s not the mainstream form most of the time. Let’s review 5 marketing options.
1. Direct verbal: This includes face-to-face, phone calls, getting in touch with a real estate agent’s personal contacts, etc. Advantages include cost and the ability to communicate effectively, articulate the strengths and possibilities of the home, and motivate people to take a look. The downside is that it is time consuming and somewhat limiting!
two. Direct marketing: Some of these include the use of postcards, flyers, door hangers, for sale signs, open house signs, etc. Mailings have become somewhat expensive, especially when you consider the relatively low transaction fee, but they are often a nice addition and a positive way to get the message across.
3. Printed media: Print media include newspapers, magazines, weekly circulars, and direct-to-home marketing items. These approaches can be somewhat expensive, and surveys indicate that most buyers today pay less and less attention to them than in the past!
Four. Digital (websites): When we ask open house attendees how they heard about it, the predominant response is from a website. Many use MLS, Trulia, Zillow, realtor.com, or a larger agency’s own site. When listings are placed on the Multiple Listing Service, many other websites collect the information and also include it on their sites. There is a cost to this approach, but it is probably the most profitable, in terms of real estate marketing, today.
5. Social networks: Social media includes things like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, etc. The advantage is low or no cost, but there is still a fair amount of uncertainty as to its effectiveness as a marketing tool for selling a particular home.
The bottom line is that a real estate agent must know, understand, and use the best marketing tools available to sell a particular home. Depending on the type, price, niche, location, etc., the options usually vary.
