Even in today’s digital-focused real estate marketplace, the use of house flyers is still an effective real estate tool for marketing homes. They are routinely used as property information flyers for buyers to take during showings or as open house flyers.

House flyers are also used in email campaigns, online marketing, and social media promotions, to create that first favorable “Wow!” impression that gets buyers wanting to see that home in person as soon as possible.

Whether it’s a $150,000 house or a $1 million-plus property, the flyer has to be picture perfect and customized for the type of property being promoted. Many successful agents use professional real estate photographers and graphics services to give the homes they list a clear competitive advantage.

I cannot over-emphasize the importance of professional real estate photography – especially for online marketing, where 90% of home buyers begin searching for their dream home. (Hint: For printed flyers, heavier glossy paper makes a more favorable impression.)

While house descriptions and other detailed information is important, top listing agents focus on photos, including plenty of appealing photos that showcase the home for sale in all its beauty.

If the flyer is online or outside the house, savvy agents invite action to help sell the home. Great calls to action include: Inviting the prospective buyer to tour the house in person, and-or, providing additional property or neighborhood information to the prospect.

Successful agents magnify online marketing efforts by:

1. including the flyer in all social media marketing;

2. including the flyer in the multiple listing;

3. using professional email campaigns to target prospective buyers;

4. identifying and capturing all real estate leads;

5. following up with all interested parties; and

6. sharing the feedback with sellers.

Print marketing of flyers is enhanced by compelling headlines, descriptive details, “wow” photos and heavy glossy paper – to make the property content and context sparkle and shine.

Some agents might even use generic, unbranded in-house flyers (with no agent contact information on them) – which adds an extra one-two punch for selling the home.

Can you guess why and how that helps sell homes?

The simple answer is “more exposure.”

With no listing agent photo and contact information on the house flyer, other agents showing the home might be more apt to suggest that their clients take a flyer. Additionally, the showing agent might take a flyer or two to give to his or her other prospective buyer clients.

Larry Stoller is the broker-owner and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry @RealEstateFive.com or RealEstate-Five.com