Get the word out about your home – and speed up a sale.
By Patricia Rivera
CTW Features
Even homeowners working with a real estate professional do well when they help promote their homes in their social media networks. And more people are taking it upon themselves to speed up the sale of their house by sharing images of their home.
“You can’t underestimate how often people know someone who is looking for a home in their same area or neighborhood,” said Doc Reiss, managing broker with Town & Country Real Estate in Port Angeles, Washington. “Word of mouth marketing is key.”
Homeowners have a huge advantage over real estate professionals when marketing a property. They can talk from the heart about why they love their home.
So if you’re sharing your home’s listing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest, consider creating a storyline around your home’s personality. Is it a place where you can enjoy a mountain view and mediate, or does the large yard beg for gatherings with friends around the outdoor kitchen? Find compelling stories to tell that can grow into a campaign, complete with hashtags.
According to John Wake, geek-in-chief at Real Estate Decoded, Phoenix, word-of-word marketing involves telling everyone you know.
“Tell the parents of your kids’ friends at school,” he said. “Tell your friends at church and work, if appropriate.”
Most of all, tell your Facebook friends, but you should also be cautious not to post too often, as it might turn off people who might potentially serve as a referrer.
Your own agent should be supportive of all your efforts to help out. In the case of McClure, his agent even reduced her commission given that it was his Facebook page that landed the buyer.
“I would definitely recommend promoting a home in your network as a way to give your house more visibility among like-minded people,” he said. “It’s a great tool to use along with having an agent.”
Selling to a friend of a friend is usually a smoother transaction because everyone is on their best behavior, according to Wake. Their social reputation also is at stake.
You can use your social media pages or online digital home management platform for consumers to manage all the data about their home.
© CTW Features
