Now that you have decided to sell your home and have determined a fair market asking price, it is time to focus on marketing. Whether you intend on selling your property yourself or have contracted with a licensed real estate agent, increasing market exposure is the key to finding the right buyer and maximizing return.
When you hire an experienced real estate agent, they will coordinate and cover the costs of the majority of your home's marketing needs. Agents also leverage their network within the regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS). In real estate, networking is everything!
Below are the core strategies used to build maximum market exposure for your home:
1. Detail Your Special Features
Write down all the fabulous and unique features of your property. What makes your home special? Have you made recent improvements, like installing a new pier, stabilizing the shoreline, or upgrading the kitchen? Be as descriptive as possible. Provide this list to your REALTOR® so they can incorporate these highlights into digital ads, flyers, and listing descriptions.
2. Professional Flyers & Collateral
Create high-quality, full-color property brochures and flyers. Place a weatherproof information box on your front lawn so drive-by buyers can pick up a flyer. Include professional photos highlighting the kitchen, living areas, water frontage, and docks. Detail the property specifications clearly (square footage, bedrooms, age of systems).
3. Signage Strategies
Place a visible "For Sale" sign on your front lawn. If your home is located off main thoroughfares (as many waterfront homes in the Northern Neck are), use strategic directional signs at intersections to guide buyers to your property. Some agents utilize "Talking Signs" where buyers can call a phone number to listen to a recorded description of your home.
4. Multi-Channel Advertising
- Local Print Advertising: Place advertisements in regional real estate magazines and local newspapers. Many metropolitan buyers in DC or Richmond browse these publications when planning weekend visits.
- The Internet & MLS: Ensure your home is listed on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which feeds major real estate search portals like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. Your agent will feature the listing on their personal and brokerage websites.
- Virtual Tours: Virtual tours (video walkthroughs and 3D tours) enable out-of-town buyers to get a detailed feel for the layout, room flows, and waterfront views before traveling to see it in person.
5. Open Houses & Broker Previews
Host an open house for prospective buyers, as well as a dedicated broker preview for local real estate agents. Ensure your home is clean, uncluttered, and nicely lit. Keep closets and cabinets neat, as buyers will inspect these storage spaces. Provide handouts that outline systems information (roof age, HVAC status, utility averages) so buyers have answers to their technical questions immediately.
6. Personal Networking
Spread the word among friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. Neighbors often have friends or family who want to move into their neighborhood. Your agent will also network with other offices to find buyer representatives whose clients are looking for a property matching your description.