You’ve gotten rid of the clutter, the yard looks great and the carpet has never been cleaner. That should be enough, right? In many cases it is. But consider this: everyone who is listing their home has done everything you’ve just described. How will your home stand apart from everyone else’s? The next thing you're thinking is, “Shouldn’t my real estate agent be thinking about this?” Yes she should, and she is. A good real estate agent will have a marketing plan tailored to your home and your needs. However, there are things you can do, either with the help of your real estate agent or on your own, to generate interest in your home.
For starters, tell your neighbors when you list your home for sale. Statistics indicate there are a high percentage of friends, relatives and neighbors who buy in the same area. In fact, don’t miss any opportunity to get the word out that you’ve listed your home. Neighbors, friends and relatives are a great network, spreading the word to hundreds of people who might be looking for a home just like yours.
Another great reason to let your neighbors know is so that they can tell potential buyers what a nice person you are. Since you’ve told the neighbors about your plans, they won’t feel you are trying to hide something and will wish you well as you move on.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the Puget Sound area being one of the most wired and Internet-savvy parts of the country. Are you a working professional who uses LinkedIn? Great! Use those contacts to get the word out about your fabulous home for sale. Most people will pass on information they receive for a trusted source. Craigslist has a real estate section. If you don’t have a Facebook or MySpace account already, you could create one and talk about your home. Both Facebook and MySpace were created to be social networking sites — a fancy phrase that means they are designed for you to talk to others in your area (or others with the same interests, profession, educational background, etc.) about you and what matters to you. And right now that means selling your home as quickly as possible for the best price.
And there’s YouTube. This recent web phenomenon has successfully allowed people to publish short videos online. Why not a quick video walk through of your home? Remember: a potential buyer wants an emotional experience and wants to see themselves in your home. Don’t go on and on about the exotic hardwoods and coved moldings. Talk about what the home has meant to you and what it could mean to a buyer. Where in the home did you open your Christmas presents? How did you celebrate birthdays? Try and create an experience for the potential buyer to say, “Yes! I want that too.” If they can envision their family making cherished memories in your home, you’re more likely to get an offer from them.
Above all remember, most people are visual buyers and as the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression.