Recent National Association of Realtor statistics confirm that ninety-two percent of buyers use the internet in their home search process. Many use mobile website applications. Both local Northern Virginia buyers, as well as those moving here from other areas begin their home search online. They find homes that appeal to them, and then work with their buyer agent to see the homes they have selected. In the past, agents would help clients define the criteria for what they wanted in a home, pull the listings from the MLS, and show the houses the agent felt were the right ones. The internet has made the home search process consumer-driven. Now the buyers decide what they want to see first.
Why does this matter to sellers? It’s all about how your house looks in the online search. Preparing it properly for sale and having great professional photographs is critical to attracting buyers and getting it sold. Great pictures, appropriate preparation, and professional staging will immediately differentiate your listing from all the “mediocre” listings online that have no pictures, bad pictures and clutter. Potential buyers will want to see your home.
We recently had an out-of-town buyer who came to us with a list of ten properties she wanted to see based on her online research. She had prioritized them, ranked them, and knew where she wanted to start actually looking. Make sure you are ready!
When you are thinking about selling don’t panic and start doing things you think need to be done. You may end up spending money on things that actually don’t need to be done, and doing things that will not appeal to potential buyers. Seek the guidance of an experienced listing professional who can advise and guide you on preparing and staging it for sale, and who includes professional photography and the kind of marketing that reaches today’s buyers. For great advice on listing and selling your home call on the experienced agents at Integrity Real Estate Group – we know what to do and how to get it done!
