MARKETING
STRATEGIES TO SELL YOUR REAL ESTATE
One of the most difficult aspects of selling your own home is attracting qualified and interested buyers. Obviously you have to do the basics, such as putting an attractive sign in your yard with an informative tube attached and running a classified ad in the newspaper. But there are many other, more creative marketing moves you can make as well. If there are major employers in the area, call the human resources department and ask if there is a procedure for putting an ad on their bulletin boards. There may also be methods for you to let any employees who are relocating to the area know about your home. Put a notice in your company newsletter. Post your fact sheet or flyer with "tear offs" (strips with your phone number) and description of your house on bulletin boards in stores, supermarkets, libraries, your church, and schools. Find out the day of the week the bulletin board is cleared, and replace each week. Send an announcement out in your neighborhood of your plans to sell and invite the neighbors to a special open house that you will have before you advertise to the general public. As we have mentioned before, they may have a friend or relative they’d like to have as a neighbor. If there are lower priced homes in your neighborhood, put flyers in the doors of those homes. For instance, if you are selling a single family home and there are townhouses in your neighborhood as well, the possibility of a buyer wanting to move up from a townhouse is pretty good. Also, if you are selling a condominium in an area where there are apartments, the apartment dwellers are good candidates for purchasing your home. Many homes are sold to folks who live very close-by and want to stay in the same neighborhood or school district. Rent a pager, or cell phone and use that number as the contact number for your signs, flyers, and advertisements. It is important for potential buyers to reach you when they call. If you are willing to pay a real estate agent to bring a buyer to you, do a nice flyer inviting agents to show the home. Indicate the commission that you will pay. Drop off several of the flyers to local real estate offices and ask if you can put them in the agents’ office mailbox. Many offices will not allow you to put flyers directly in the box, but will distribute them to the agents or announce it at an office meeting. Hang an attachment on your yard sign saying "Broker Participation" or "Will Cooperate with Realtors". You may want to inform the Realtor’s that you will sign a one-time showing agreement if he/she produces a qualified buyer. Home Warranties are also a great marketing strategy. They help give buyers confidence and offer a little something extra that can help seal the deal. Purchasing a home warranty not only protects you, but it puts confidence back into the buying and selling process. A home warranty is a form of short term insurance to cover major appliances and systems while the home is for sale. Builders always offer home warranties with new homes. If you buy a seller’s warranty, make sure to advertise the fact. There are many home warranty services available. Ever go on the Internet and stop at other "For-Sale-By-Owner" sites and see other people advertising real estate in your area? Why not let them know that your property is available too. You might even be able to establish a network relationship with them. Sending each other leads of prospects that were initially interested in your property but decided for one reason or another not to buy. Why not refer them to someone else who in turn will do the same for you. Get several people working with you on this and you have just increased your visibility with little effort. Example: Hi, It may seem obvious, but don’t
forget to tell everyone you know that you are selling your house. Many
homes are
sold through word-of-mouth. REALTY-MART
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