Crafting a narrative: How storytelling and your experience can help you sell your home

In countless brainstorming sessions, marketing and advertising professionals have cited a Seth Godin quote that reads, “People do not buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories, and magic.” It also applies to the art of selling your home. A property listing should be more than just a fact sheet that outlines the number of bedrooms and bathrooms present in a particular house. You can also use it as a platform to create a unique and compelling story about the property. Stories help potential homebuyers forge a connection with the home, which will help them imagine living their life there. And visualization— that may convince a buyer to make an offer. In some cases, the increased perceived value can even convince a buyer to bid more than what you initially asked for. Need help in crafting an engaging write-up for your listing? Here are a few tips to bear in mind.

1. LIST DOWN NOTABLE EVENTS IN THE HOME’S HISTORY

The best springboard for writing the story of your home is to take a look at its history, especially if you’re selling an older property. Did it once house a notable resident? Did multiple generations of your family call this property home? Has it undergone a significant transformation compared to its original construction (e.g., an old post office converted into a ranch home)? These are some of the questions you can ask yourself to get started. If nothing comes to mind, you can use important life events that occurred while you were living on the property. For example, you can relay a story of how your family grew to highlight a spacious bathroom that can serve three children’s bedrooms.

2. PAINT A PICTURE INSTEAD OF STATING A FACT

It’s incredibly easy to say that a home has a pool in the backyard, but that fact can easily be glossed over as people read the listing. Instead, try painting a picture of why that pool will become an important part of the buyer’s life. Compare “Pool and deck in the backyard” to “Spend weekends with friends and family in this spacious backyard with an outdoor pool and deck.” Which one do you think would be more appealing for a potential buyer to read?

3. TAILOR THE DETAILS OF THE NARRATIVE TO YOUR TARGET MARKET

Regardless of the narrative you decide to use, it’s a good idea to tailor the details of your story to your preferred type of buyer. After all, you wouldn’t expect to find a vegan in a restaurant that exclusively advertises its extensive selection of steaks. If you prefer to sell your home to another family, try highlighting how it can be easy for everyone to get ready for school with the number of full bathrooms in the house and its short driving distance from one of the best schools in the district. On the other hand, you can highlight the home’s proximity to fitness facilities, nightlife spots, and other things that couples can enjoy if you prefer to sell the home to double-income buyers with no kids.

4. SPIN THE “NEGATIVES” INTO “POSITIVES”

One of the best things about storytelling is it gives you full control over how things should be perceived. This is extremely useful when you need to disclose facts about your home that may be perceived as negative. Quick-witted sellers can easily spin these negatives into positives. For example, some buyers may interpret frequent repairs as a sign that there is something structurally wrong with a house. You can disclose the fact that you’ve had a number of repairs done but in a positive way by saying that the home was maintained well to keep issues at bay. Is one of the bedrooms only about half the size of the other bedrooms? Change the story by describing it as an efficient, well-lit home office. Creating an appealing narrative is only one part of the equation when it comes to selling your home. For the best results, you’ll want to use this story in combination with other selling strategies like staging, professional photo and video shoots, and more. If this is the route you want to take, make sure you work with a trusted real estate agency like Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Caliber Realty. The experts at the agency possess a great understanding of the local market and what it takes to sell a home quickly. Call  979.694.8844  or  reach out to the team through email  to schedule a consultation today. Looking for more tips for selling your home? Check out the blog.

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