The real estate market is highly competitive and continues to evolve due in part to the web and consumer technologies. Considering that 90-100% of home buyers are using the internet to do their shopping it’s no wonder this had led to an advancement in listing data, media, and marketing.
Simply put: if the online listing is lackluster then so will be the sales.
With the hot real estate markets bringing in the top players of the industry one must wonder how they’re able to compete. This article will share some of the advanced Web and consumer technologies that are a sure-fire way to make your listings stand out (and turns those leads into real conversions).
Enter: Drones
Drones are both fun and a game-changer when it comes to highlighting an interesting topic. It gives us a new, aerial view to focus on the home and its surrounding areas. It’s also a great way to create dramatic shots and videos to draw up emotion in the listing.
A video drone is a rather inexpensive investment – ranging from sub-$100 and up – and isn’t too hard to master considering the built-in guidance systems and features. Pick one up, shoot video from a bird’s eye view of the home, and get it uploaded to the listing and other video platforms. It’s a sure-fire way to draw interest when the competitors are stuck with flat media.
Want something more? Try taking it inside the home for a whirlwind adventure through the home!
The 360 Experience
The biggest limitation to viewing real estate listings (especially when considering a long-distance move) is that you don’t get the benefit of being at the actual location. 360 photography is a way to fix this.
With 360 photos and media, a person can conduct a virtual tour of the home. It’s also a great way to highlight the surrounding area to showcase the great cities and towns. We know that video leads to a 57% increase in consumer confidence. Imagine that statistic applied to your listings!
Google has their free Street View app which will allow you to take 360 photographs. Alternatively, a professional or team with the necessary gear is a drop in the bucket compared to the return on investment.
Staging in 2017 (and Beyond)
Staging sets… the stage.
It allows the viewers to project the space which creates an emotional response and attachment to the home. This attachment increases the likelihood they’ll choose the listing. But you know this.
Did you know the trends for staging in 2017 though?
· Warm, rustic textures and surfaces
· A touch of glitz with luxurious accents to the design
· Green and a mix of organics and dark furnishings
· Matte finishes on the appliances or taupe for much of the else
It’s time to get with the times. Need inspiration? Look at the top listings on real estate sites or take a gander at what’s on Airbnb!
Making a Plan of Action
There’s a lot to take in and even more to consider when adopting online and consumer technologies to grow your reach in the real estate marketing space. Time is of the essence which makes it difficult to fit in a learning session to add much of what you learn into the repertoire.
If you were to do anything this afternoon to add to your plan of action then it should be this:
1. Invest in a high-quality camera (or drone) for better home photos
2. Use online tools to distribute listings across multiple platforms in one click
3. Work on improving your customer management to nurture lead quality and closing
There are plenty of software tools to dig into – here are ten – but don’t become so consumed by the resources that you’re forgoing what needs to be done. Stay on top of the trends but also choose your time investment properly.
What tools have you found to be effective with your real estate marketing?
