Back HomeTips for attracting more buyers to your home
Finally, some good news for sellers: according to Realtor.com’s Housing Market Recovery Index, housing demand in June registered 23% higher compared to January.
This means that house hunters are once again on the prowl. If you pulled your property off the market, now might be the perfect time to list it again given the pent-up demand.
But how do you entice more buyers to look at and consider your property? Take heed of these tips for selling your home:
Get professional photography
Since 90% of home searches start online, a photo is likely the first thing buyers will see of your home. And as the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words. If the photos you use aren’t sharp and well-composed, they will fail to attract prospective buyers. That’s why experts recommend hiring a professional team to take high-quality photos of your property. They are trained to light the space and find the best angle to make your house as impressive as possible. The numbers don’t lie: listings with professional photography get 61% more views and sell 32% faster.
Try interactive videos, too
Given the current pandemic, in-person showings may not be feasible or safe. How do you convince buyers to purchase a home they’ve never stepped foot on? Luckily, there are specialists who create 360-degree walking tours of properties. Using specialized equipment, they take photos of a room from all angles and composites them into an interactive video. Buyers can freely move the camera to inspect every corner of a room, almost as if they were there in person. A 360-degree video also makes your online listing stand out because it makes your home feel full-dimensional rather than static and flat.
Use social media
According to research from the Pew Center, 70% of all Americans are on social media. And one of them may very well be the buyer of your home. If you hire a great real estate agent, they will utilize social channels like Facebook to broaden awareness about your property. Social media channels often allow you to target ads to people who fit your ideal buyer’s profile. This data-driven marketing tends to generate higher quality prospects, which leads to faster sales. What’s more, social platforms have built-in messaging capabilities; if someone sees your property on their timeline, they can message your agent directly to know more.
Price it right
Nothing scares off a prospective buyer faster than an overpriced property, so make sure yours is priced in line with prevailing market conditions. To do so, ask your agent to conduct a comparative study on the selling price of homes similar to yours. The listing price you settle for should be at or near the benchmark price. Of course, you can raise your asking price if you’ve done value-adding renovations to your property. Another pricing technique you could do is pricing your home slightly below market rates. Doing so often results in a bidding war that eventually leads to an offer that is at par – or even above – your desired asking price.
Do the right renovations
Speaking of renovations, upgrading your home can make it that much more desirable for buyers. The key, however, is to choose renovations that actually matter to buyers while also raising property value. Typically, these are practical upgrades such as a kitchen remodel or bedroom addition. Steer clear of leisure or vanity upgrades such as swimming pools or walk-in closets. They attract a very niche market, whereas an upgraded kitchen or additional bedroom appeals to almost all buyers. Energy-efficiency upgrades are also attractive because the long-term savings they generate can help offset the cost of purchasing a home.
Sell your neighborhood
Buyers aren’t just looking for a great house, they’re also looking for a great neighborhood. When you list your property, make sure to highlight the perks of living in your community. Is it safe and family friendly? Is it located near top-rated schools? Is it a short drive from business districts and employment hubs? Talk about future plans for your area, too. If a new airport or shopping center will be built nearby, property prices in your neighborhood are likely to appreciate, too – which is a further incentive for buyers to purchase a home there.
Selling a house can be quite challenging. But by following the tips above, you’ll soon be fielding inquiries from several would-be buyers.
Do you have property for sale in Texas? Work with the most trusted real estate brokers in the area: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Caliber Realty. Get in touch by calling 979.694.8844 or sending an email to sales(at)bhhscaliber(dotted)com.
