Marketing tips for selling your Central Austin home

In today’s tech-driven world, sticking a for sale sign in the front yard isn't enough to get your Central Austin home sold.   You need a compelling story and the ability to reach as many qualified buyers as possible.  

So when it comes time to sell your Central Austin home, make sure you take advantage of both traditional and digital resources to create an engaging marketing campaign to attract buyers.  With over 23 years of experience, we are sharing some of our solutions to get your home seen and sold.  

TIP #1:  Know where your home fits in within the current real estate market

Take a look around at the other homes for sale in your neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods.  Pretend you’re a buyer and compare your home to what else is on the market.  If you can, take off the rose-colored glasses to honestly assess how your home’s condition and location stacks up.  With this information in mind, you will have a better idea of how to price and market your home so that it is exciting to potential buyers.  

TIP #2:  Showcase the home's potential with staging

 If the home is vacant, staging helps potential buyers envision how they can live in and use the home.  If, on the other hand, your home will be occupied when you are selling it, staging will help you develop a plan for decluttering, removing furniture, installing light landscaping, and so on.  It's amazing the difference that staging can make in how a home looks and feels to a potential buyer.

TIP #3:  Take good photos

A picture really is worth 1,000 words, especially when so many buyers start their home search online. Yet, we are constantly surprised at the poor quality of the listing photos we see online -- or even listings that have no photos at all. Dark and out-of-focus pictures don't cut it.

If you can, hire a professional photographer to take high resolution pictures of your home.  Most real estate photographers will do this for around $200 – 300.  If you’re going to take the pictures yourself, be sure to open the curtains and blinds, turn on all the lights, and try to take the photographs at a time of day that the interior of your home is the brightest.  If needed, edit your photos before you post them to increase the exposure.  Take pictures of both the exterior and interior of the home, and show rooms from a variety of angles.  

 TIP #4:  Maximize the number of photos shown

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) allows real estate agents to post up to 40 images for each home.  Maximize the opportunity to woo a potential buyer by posting the maximum number of photographs of your home. 

There's no excuse to have fewer than 40 pictures.  Find something unique or eye-catching about the home and feature those elements too.  Include a close up of the awesome tile, showcase that charming glass door knob, or highlight those neat-looking house numbers.

TIPS #5:  Harness the power of video

Since video accounts for 74% of all online traffic,it should be a key part of the marketing strategy for your home.  Whether it's a personal tour, a lifestyle video, or a simple list of the three greatest things about your listing, video is crucial to providing the potential buyer with a complete picture of the home.  And we're not talking about an animated slide show...  Good marketing includes professional videography, including aerial drone videography.

TIP #6:  Don’t just market your home, market your community

Buyers aren’t just buying a home.  They are buying a lifestyle.  Be sure to point out unique features about the community you live in.  Is the home within walking distance to a green belt?  Popular restaurants nearby?  Close to a school or university?  Help the potential buyer understand what’s great about living in your neighborhood.  This is a great place to use video to tell an engaging story about your listing.

TIP #7:  Maximize your social network

Let friends, family, and acquaintances know that your home is for sale.  Post your listing on your social networks like Facebook and Instagram.  And if you’re using an agent, be sure your agent is actively advertising your listing on their social networks too.  A good agent should have an established online marketing plan that goes beyond just putting the home on the MLS and syndicating it to other websites like Zillow.  After all, the average American spends 50 minutes on Facebook each day, practically one full day each month. Plus, 1 in every 5 mobile minutes is spent on Facebook and Instagram.  High-quality marketing will include online advertising, showcasing the home on an active real estate blog, focused retargeting, and a social media blitz.

TIP #8:  Prepare your home for each showing

As you might imagine, homes with piles of laundry and a sink full of dishes don’t show well.  While your home is for sale, it is important to make it appealing to buyers.  So make the beds, put away the laundry, wipe the counters, sweep the floors, and put your home’s best foot forward.  Not sure where to start?  We have a free checklist for preparing your home for showings. 

TIP #9:  Make it easy for buyers to see your home

Like you, buyers have busy schedules.  They will want to see your home at times that are convenient for them, which means they may want to see your home at times that are inconvenient for you.  Even so, try to allow every single showing that is requested.  

TIP #10:  Give the buyer privacy when viewing the home

Buying a home is a big decision, and buyers need space and privacy to figure out if your home is the right one for them.  If a potential buyer is viewing your home, tidy up and then skedaddle.  Don’t linger.  Don’t follow the buyer around.  And don’t try to convince them to buy your home.   

Use our intelligent strategies that get results

Over the years we’ve learned what works to help our clients win deals, regardless of market conditions.  Our statistics prove this point.  Our homes sell 3x faster and for 8 - 19% more than similar properties.  Our experience, thoughtful tactics, and training benefit our clients’ bottom line.  We can put our methodical system to work for you too. 

Contact us today for a no obligation, no BS consult on selling your Central Austin home.