How to Market Your Home for Sale

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Market Your Home for SaleAlmost three-quarters of Americans say their home is their biggest asset. When it comes time to sell, you want the highest price possible with minimal investment. More and more people choose to market their homes themselves, skipping some of the selling costs that eat into sellers’ profit. Knowing how to market your home effectively is the difference between selling quickly or having your property sit on the market for months. Follow these guidelines to get your home sold so you can move on with the next chapter in your life:

  • Conduct a Comparative Analysis

The absolute first thing you’ll want to do is a comparative analysis of nearby properties like yours that are currently for sale or recently sold. Use online tools like those available at www.realtor.com and www.zillow.com to see similar homes in your area. Focus on homes closest to your property, as property values, even from one neighborhood to another, can vary widely. When comparing properties, look for similar:

    • Square footage
    • Number of bedrooms
    • Number of bathrooms
    • Outdoor features (screen in porches, garages, barns, storage sheds, etc.)
    • Visual aesthetics
    • School districts

Make a list of 5-10 of the closest homes to you that match all or most of these characteristics, and you’ll have a really good idea of how to price your own home. Give preference to recently sold prices to prices of homes still on the market. While conducting this analysis, you’ll also want to look for improvement ideas to boost your home’s value. All the home’s in your neighborhood have a screened-in porch? Then maybe you should consider adding one too. Those extra details can make a huge difference in how quickly your home sells and for how much.

  • Make Repairs & Improvements

Now that you know how similar homes in the area are priced, make a list of all repairs and improvements you wish to make before listing your home. Some quick and inexpensive ideas include:

    • A fresh coat of paint in a neutral, trendy color
    • Repairing all broken doors, cabinets, drawers, knobs, and lighting
    • A deep clean for the entire house, including flooring and windows
    • New light bulbs in all fixtures
    • Pressure wash outside, including the home, porches, sidewalks, and driveways
    • Mow the lawn and weed-eat edges
    • Add bright flowers in front
    • Paint the front door a bright, on-trend color

In addition to these quick fixes, you’ll want to make any major repairs or improvements that absolutely must be completed, such as repairing HVAC units or damaged flooring. Remember to keep all receipts to provide to potential buyers as proof of the work.

If you choose not to make repairs or improvements, be prepared to disclose all damage and work needed to potential buyers, and adjust your price expectations accordingly.

  • Declutter

During the deep clean of the home, go ahead and declutter all your spaces. Research model homes online for inspiration on how your home should look in preparation for photographs. This may mean renting some storage space or moving items from room to room to get the best photos. While decluttering, stage each room as you want it to look for photographs. If your furniture isn’t in photo-ready shape, empty the room for photographs and use virtual staging software to show what the room would look like fully furnished. 

  • Take Beautiful Photographs

As possibly the most important part of marketing your home, your photos need to be on point and flawless. Unless you have some serious photography skills, consider hiring a professional to take your home’s photographs. Photographing a home can be very difficult. Some cameras distort the photos to the point that they may seem misleading to potential buyers. A professional photographer knows exactly what equipment to use to get the best and most realistic photos. They can also usually give you pointers on staging and design.

  • Write a Descriptive Listing

Your home’s description needs to describe how great the property is and also give the reader a feel for the entire community. Include as much information as possible in the listing description to quickly answer buyer questions and build confidence. If your home is on the waterfront, near a public park, or in a neighborhood with amenities, make sure it’s known! Don’t rely on buyers to come to the property. Paint a visual with the listing that makes the buyer feel like they’re already there. A complete listing will eliminate having to answer repetitive buyer questions. It can even weed out buyers without serious interest. If you’re not a real estate wordsmith, consider hiring a freelancer to craft your listing.

  • Advertise Everywhere

Now that you have a move-in-ready home, top-quality photographs, and an accurate, engaging listing description, it’s time to put your home on the market. If you’re selling without an agent, you won’t be able to list your home on the traditional multiple listing service (MLS), but there are still plenty of ways to get the word out about your property. Try these methods to blast the word out that your home is ready to buy:

    • Put a sign out front of the property with the price and your phone number. Your local office supply store should be able to make an affordable custom sign for you.
    • Create a printable, high-quality flyer to give to potential buyers. Make sure it’s in color and has great photos! If you’re not tech-savvy, hire a freelancer on Fiverr or Upwork to do the creative stuff.
    • Post the listing on real estate websites like Zillow and Trulia. Keep the listings updated as you take new photos or learn new information.
    • Post your listing on social media, including Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, Craigslist, Snapchat, and more. Create a page or account just for your listing, and post regular updates and photos until the property sells. Answer all messages you receive via social media as soon as possible and be ready to set up showings with interested parties.
    • Set up a single property website for your listing. Use a free website creator like Square or Wix, and include absolutely everything on the website about the property, including all images, any flyers or brochures you’ve made, and all your contact information. Yes, it’s scary putting your info out there on the internet, but it is what you must do to make the sale. If you do not want to use your own info, create an email account just for the home sale, and use a Google Voice number to take calls and texts. You can also direct potential buyers to message you via social media platforms. Keep the website updated regularly, and don’t forget to delete it once your home sells. Freelancers can help tremendously with this task if you’re not tech-inclined.
    • Post some 3-D tours of the property everywhere you can. Do multiple, smaller tours instead of one big one. Post them all separately on social media and the property’s website. This adds more content and increases user engagement. People prefer short, quick videos over long and drawn-out ones.
    • Schedule a series of open house events for the property, and announce it everywhere you have the listing advertised. Schedule the open houses on different days of the week and at varying times, giving all potential buyers a chance to swing by, regardless of their schedules. Be sure the house is clean, decluttered, and properly staged for each open house. Offer snacks and refreshments at the open house for some extra pizzazz.

Selling and marketing your own home can be difficult, but it is rewarding to see those hard-earned dollars hit your bank account in the end. Here at Benefit Title, we have helped countless Tampa Bay sellers close on their home sales without all the extra fees and hassle of the traditional selling process. Call us at (813) 251-1420 today to discuss your home sale and how we can help.