DFW Home Marketing Bloopers - Real Estate Global Network

When real estate markets slow down, usually the inventory of DFW homesincreases and the number of home buyers decrease. These market conditions make it more difficult to sell homes, yet some homes still continue to sell. Why do some homes sell and others seemingly sit on the market forever? The answer has little to do with the home itself, although many agents will claim such. More than likely the problem lies within poor marketing. Below are some mistakes I see sellers and their agents make time and time again.

Bad Marketing
Uploading Poor Quality Photographs Online
The old clich? is true and pictures speak volumes and are noticed before the written word. Since it's the first thing a potential buyer will see, why leave a bad first impression when it comes to selling Dallas homesor Plano Homes? The job of a photo is to entice the buyer to want to see more of the home in person. It should not give the buyer a reason to cross the home off her list. Don't publish photos like these:

? Uncropped photos
? Pictures too dark with blinds closed
? Photos turned sideways
? Photos zoomed in on one item, like the kitchen sink.
? Photos of cluttered rooms
? Not submitting enough photos or uploading only one photo of the front of the house
? High resolution photos without adjusting pixels for Internet use

Withholding Important Descriptive Comments
When there are tons of homes on the market, just giving out a property address while noting the numbers of bedrooms and baths is insufficient information for today?s home buyer. It doesn't tell a buyer why she should schedule a time to see the home. Good marketing tells a buyer why this particular home is better than the dozens of other homes on the market. Sellers should focus on:
Restricting Access for Showings

If an agent can't easily show your home, he is going to show another listing instead. Don't give an agent a reason to pass up your home. Any of these can hamper showings:
? By appointment only
? No lockbox on the property
? Restricted hours to show
? 24-hour notice

How can you expect to sell the home if perspective buyers can?t see it?

BAD MARKETING: Offering Less Commission Than Other Listings
It's not that agents are greedy creatures who show only high-fee listings--which is against the law, although some are highly motivated solely by income--but agents tend to view lower-commissioned listings as those in which the seller isn't very motivated to sell.
? If the seller isn't motivated, it could mean the seller isn't willing to negotiate on price.
? In slow moving markets, buyers expect to negotiate.
? Agents whose buyers want to negotiate will show only listings where negotiation is possible.

Not Offering Buyer Incentives
On some million dollar listings sellers offer a car as a home buyer incentive, but it doesn't have to be anything that expensive. An incentive doesn't even need to cost the seller if the home price is structured to account for the discount. Here are some typical incentives:
? How can a negative factor be addressed that will accentuate its positive attributes?
? What makes this home unique?
? What was the motivating factor that made the seller buy this home in the first place?

BAD MARKETING: Underestimating the Importance of Broker / Agent Previews
Just like buyers, agents don't have the time to look at every home on the market. So, what can you do to entice them to come see yours? Because agents are more likely to sell a house they have toured, sellers need to attract selling agents.

Not Having a Virtual Tour
Almost all buyers today begin their home searches online. There is no better way to initially view a home than in the comfort of one's own pajamas at home in front of the computer, looking at a 360-degree tour. Some buyers won't even consider a property listing if it doesn't include a virtual tour.

GOOD MARKETING
? Catered lunches. Go beyond the ordinary sandwiches and bottled water. Food motivates, and don't let anybody kid you about this. Be creative with culinary selections.
? Offer drawings for small gifts or gift certificates.
? Give online certificates that can be immediately e-mailed.
? Call first, lock box
? $$ credit toward the buyer's closing costs
? Home protection plan
? Pre-paid homeowner association fees for a year
? Buy-down mortgage interest rate
? Weekend getaway for two
? Sunday classifieds in daily newspaper
? Picture classifieds, if offered during the week
? Local weekly or bi-weekly newspaper
? High resolution photos that buyers can print themselves.
? Ability to download photos so buyers can e-mail the pictures to friends and family.

Source: http://www.realestateglobalnetwork.com/xn/detail/2211201%3ABlogPost%3A241965

toys r us toys r us shame shame the waltons the waltons weta