We found great news for anyone trying to sell a home (probably you). According to this Inman article, existing-home sales have posted their third straight gain in four months! This is fantastic news considering the past some odd years have been well, not as fortunate.
So what has made this good news happen and more importantly, how can we keep it up? An increase in demand from investors and first time homebuyers who have taken advantage of historically low mortgage rates played the pretty significant role.
Now, getting to the more important question, how can we ride this wave of good news and keep it moving? The answer is not one or two main things that will necessitate the continuing good news in the real estate industry. Like many things in life, it is not always so linear, but often more complex. That being said, let us take a look at some of the best things real estate agents can do to knock the ball out of the park (switching analogies here).
Social Media
We said it before, we said it again, and now we’re repeating ourselves. Taking advantage of social media in today’s Internet-dominated world is it critical. This is not just because consumers expect businesses of all sizes regardless of industry to be on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and perhaps others like WordPress; it’s also because social media allows real estate agents to easily communicate and engage with their clients and potential clients.
Note however that simply creating a page and leaving it online is not enough. An unkempt or unmanaged page that has been ignored for weeks at a time can appear to consumers as being reflective of your actual business services. Believe it or not, there is an art to maintaining social media pages.
At Merrill 4 Marketing we offer Social Matters, a service that takes the effort of social media out of your hands and into ours. Social Matters is a subscription-based social media marketing solution for real estate professionals, posting relevant content on a regular basis. In other words, you can focus on your clients, and we can focus on your social media channels.
Never Forget the Basics
There are some things in life that never change. As this applies to the real estate industry, one of things is home staging. But in home staging in 2012 is a bit different than before. What has changed?
Colors
The popular colors for 2012 are anything bright and bold. We also recommend orange and tangerine colors. These colors are deep, seductive, and invigorating. However, be sure not to overdo it. Any painter with the Midas touch with these colors can make a great thing turn bad. Consider using these dynamic colors as accents for walls, hallways, or kitchens.
Outdoors
People are looking to spend more time outdoors entertaining family and friends. Furniture that shows off these spaces can be very appealing to homebuyers. For extra, slight touches, consider adding a bottle of wine and a couple of wine glasses to give subtle hints of cozy nights or entertaining evenings. Outdoor plants and accent lights help bring this all together.
Get rid of the clutter
This home staging tip is one many real estate professionals are already aware of, but it should be included in any list. A cluttered home distracts homebuyers and prevents them from seeing the great possibilities a home can offer. Homebuyers want to be able to imagine that this will one day be their living space, so too much “my stuff” can inhibit them from imagining any of “their stuff.”
Miscellaneous Tips
- Carefully time the home selling period to avoid slow times like holidays and major sporting events.
- Research the market to find out your competition.
- Highlight the greatest features of a home. Remind your home seller what he or she loves most about their home and then spotlight those areas to homebuyers.
Go on out there home sellers! Make it a great 2012!
Merrill 4 Marketing U: Where “Marketing U” is not only in our name, it is our priority.
Merrill 4 Marketing U 