In today’s real estate market, more than 90 percent of homebuyers use the internet to search for a home. When your home is first listed, it goes into the local multiple listing (MLS) to realtor.com, and to other internet real estate directories as well. That’s the beginning of getting from “Just listed” to “Just sold.”
To increase your exposure, consider using a single-property website that is exclusive to the home that you are selling. These unique sites include almost unlimited photos and ample space to identify all the details and special features of your property (maps, local school and community information).
Additionally, these sites are designed to link to social media (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.) and are syndicated to numerous real estate website directories across the web. They are also search engine optimized (SEO) and include a mobile phone version.
There are many companies that specialize in single-property websites: www.singlepropertysites.com, www.listingdomains.com, www.relayhq.com, just to name a few. They really know how to get your home noticed by prospective buyers online.
Here are just a couple of ways they help sell your home:
Syndication across the web. They offer free listing syndication, which means that your property details are automatically submitted to several property portals such as Google Base, Yahoo Real Estate, Trulia, Zillow, Front Door, Vast, Craig’s List and many more, which in turn submit them to other online venues.
Search engine optimization. All information in your home listing is optimized (using key words, title, phrases, etc.) such that they show up when folks are searching Google, Yahoo and other search engines for homes in specific geographic areas.
So where does newspaper advertising fit in?
In a recent real estate study, CoreLogic concluded that properties promoted in printed newspapers and online advertising campaigns sold faster and for higher prices than properties that were advertised online only.
When comparing online plus print to online only advertising options; the average success rate was 16 percent better, the average time on market was 12 days less, and the average sales price was 11 percent more.
Online advertising plus newspaper advertising significantly increased the effectiveness of real estate marketing.
Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@RealEstateFive.com or www.RealEstateFive.com
