For better real estate sales, look beyond the listings

It’s never possible to perfectly predict the future, especially when it comes to real estate, but there’s one recent trend that we feel confident will be sticking around for the time being: prospective buyers want more than a great house, they want the perfect place to live. And by that, we mean place: The right city, the right neighborhood, the right shops, the right commute.

Ok, you caught us. This isn’t exactly a “recent” trend. In fact, you probably already know it by another name: Location, Location, Location. But it is a trend that’s experiencing a resurgence. Years of HGTV (we’ll miss you, Chip & Joanna!) have taught prospective buyers that turning a house into your home might involve tearing down a wall or re-tiling a bathroom, and that’s ok. What you can’t change is where your house is located.

So if you want to sell more homes in 2018, you need to take your listings beyond descriptions of room dimensions and photos of freshly laid carpet. Instead, you need to show buyers the big picture. Here are 4 more tips that will help your buyers look beyond the listing:

  1. Make your real estate signs loud and proud. Many buyers choose homes they want to tour after driving around in neighborhoods they’re interested in. A prominent “For Sale” sign lets them know that there are openings in the market, and can jumpstart daydreams of calling your listing “home”.
  2. Take your listings to the next level. Most online real estate portals give you ample space these days, so don’t limit yourself to a dry rundown of the home’s stats. Instead, paint a picture of what it would be like to live there, complete with details about where buyers can get their groceries, go out for a date night dinner, or head to a local park for a run.
  3. Promote the location along with the home. Got a couple of listings in an up-and-coming neighborhood? Why not put together a real estate brochure that focuses on attractions and amenities that draw people to the area, and include several of the homes you have for sale? It’s a great way for a brokerage to build a reputation in a specific location.
  4. Consider branding yourself as a neighborhood expert. This may seem like a controversial step if you don’t want to limit yourself, but that’s where multiple real estate business cards come in handy! If you’ve got an area you love and know you can sell the benefits of, why not push hard on branding yourself as the local expert? Your expert knowledge will help buyers feel confident that they’re getting the home of their dreams in a location they’ll love for years to come.