Web Appeal — It’s the New Curb Appeal
By: Jill Simmons, PR Manager | June 19, 2009
If you’re trying to sell your home, it goes without saying that you want to generate as much interest among potential home buyers as possible. So how do you make your house stand out — especially in this foreclosure-saturated market where homes are sitting for months?
In the past, it was all about curb appeal - a manicured lawn, a brick walkway, a fresh coat of paint. But today, with 90 percent of home buyers looking online, it’s all about Web appeal. You want to attract visitors to your listing, and impress them once they’re there.
Use the Internet to help sell your home:
- List it on the top real estate Web sites. Zillow had nearly 9 million visitors in May. I don’t think there is a For-Sale sign on any lawn in America that can boast that can kind of foot or car traffic.
- Use social networks. Change your status on LinkedIn or Facebook to “Selling My House” and link to your listing. Find a local blogger in your neighborhood and ask him or her to write a post about your house. Find your local mom’s group e-mail list (try Yahoo! Groups) and make sure your listing is e-mailed there.
- E-mail your own network of friends. Don’t be embarrassed to blind copy 100 of your friends with your listing. Chances are a friend, or a friend of a friend, knows your potential buyer.
Make it enticing:
Once you’ve got the attention of potential buyers, how do you entice them to take the next step and contact your agent or swing by your open house?
- Photos. Lots and lots of beautiful photos. I’m talking 30-plus. And make your main display photo the one that best represents your home. Take photos of the things people care about - the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, and even the closets! Photograph all of the unique features your home has to offer - a large soaking tub, a wrap-around porch, a big backyard. Let the photos tell your home’s story and then add a great marketing description that captures everything that your photos can’t.
- Price it to sell. You’re competing with all the other For-Sale homes in your neighborhood (not the homes that have recently sold). Look at your house like a buyer would. Search in your neighborhood and see how your house compares to the other homes on the market. Are you priced competitively? Would a potential home buyer think they are getting a good deal on your home?
Our own Spencer Rascoff, Zillow’s Chief Operating Officer, has more to say on this subject. Check out his recent interview with ABC News, “The Secret to Selling a House.”
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Real Estate, Real Estate Advice
Comments
14 Comments so far
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Portland Real Estate on June 19, 2009 2:58 pm
I am going to have to respectfully disagree on the point you make about broadcast emailing your listing. I have seen people do that before and I find it infuriating to no end, if I wanted to look at houses I would go sign up for a mailing, or call a realtor, or get online, I really do not like realtor friends using their personal contacts or past clients emails when they do listing broadcasts. Just personal opinion though, if you happen to get a sale from this method, more power to you.
Bea Grzywacz on June 20, 2009 4:17 am
How can a house two doors down from me, the exact same house be worth $27,000 more than mine??? The other house doesn’t even have a large screen enclosure like I do. I do see that the other house two doors down has 3 baths listed, but it DOESN’T. Their lot is even SMALLER! The mistake of having 3 baths listed, it that worth another $27,000.00 to the house value???
Bursa Property | Info Usaha on June 21, 2009 8:57 pm
thanks. this blog is good. useful info.
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Bursa Property | Info Usaha on June 21, 2009 9:02 pm
thanks. this blog is good. useful info.
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christine on June 22, 2009 4:48 am
I really think this website is amazing. It is where I have received my entire “real-estate” degree (lol…). I read, ask questions, and am helped by professionals. Thanks…
Give Your Listings Web Appeal | propertyadguru.com on June 23, 2009 5:29 pm
[...] recent post on the blog of zillow.com, a leading US real estate marketplace, talks about how “web appeal” is the new curb [...]
Top Mortgage Marketing and CRM Blog Posts | Mortgage CRM on June 26, 2009 11:35 am
[...] Web Appeal - It’s the New Curb Appeal - I have actually been finding a lot of really interesting articles over at the Zillow blog lately. As you might have surmised by the title; this article discusses the selling power of Web 2.0 when used to promote your real estate listings. [...]
real estate web 2.0 on June 27, 2009 4:47 am
Real estate blogs are now become common. we must select a good for daily visit.
real estate web 2.0 secrets on June 28, 2009 12:30 am
In developing countries real estate business have a better importance.
foreclosure marketing on July 5, 2009 9:58 am
We can utilize the real estate online business to get maximum value to our property.
foreclosure marketing on July 7, 2009 11:24 am
Real estate business is growing day by day in the developed countries..
San Diego Homes for Sale on July 7, 2009 9:33 pm
These are all valid points. I’ve been approached by several people to feature their San Diego homes on my blog. People are starting to realize that exposure on a top-rated San Diego real estate website is crucial to their home selling success.
loan modification on July 8, 2009 3:47 pm
People seem to forget that the more ships you send out, so to speak, the more chances of achieving your goals; hence, if your goal is to sell your home, obviously contacting everyone you know, as well as advertising through online media or other media to bring your home to the attention of as many people as possible, can only help improve your chances of selling at a value that you wish to sell at!!
Shyams on August 4, 2009 12:14 am
Good Info