Top Tips for Marketing and Selling Your Home Online

By Meghan Belnap

Selling your home will vary in difficulty depending on where you live; however, using online resources as part of your marketing strategy will help you sell your house faster and get you more exposure to those who may be looking to move from another area. Here are some of the top tips for marketing and selling your home online:

List on Major Real Estate Websites 
This should be one of the first things you plan to do when thinking about selling your home. Most buyers start shopping on websites such as Zillow and Trulia and may even use these sites as their primary resource when looking. Also consider listing your property on more locally-oriented sites. Either you or your real estate agent may post the listing, though an agent may be able to get you onto listings from real estate companies that'll do extra marketing for you. Some of these sites may charge a fee to list, but the investment may be worth it for the sheer exposure to potential buyers. Your agent will also be able to direct you to sites that allow you to list for free, so be sure to ask about the services that a listing site will offer before signing up to ensure that you and your agent are on the same page as to what you want from the service.

Take Detailed, Attractive Pictures 
House listings with good photos tend to attract more buyers and sell more quickly. There is no way to properly describe your home in just words, let alone in few enough words to avoid losing the interest of a potential buyer. A picture, however, is worth a thousand words, and allows potential buyers to see the beauty of your home without having to drive out to see it. Buyers don't want to waste time on houses that could end up sounding better than they look, so providing pictures also adds visual proof of your claims in terms of your home's quality.

You can take the pictures yourself, or better yet, coordinate with your agent to get a professional photographer. Either way, make sure the photos are detailed and highlight the home's special features, such as a basement, pool or your nice hardwood floors. Try and get a few photos from different angles of the major rooms in the house, as well as different external shots. Make sure the house is clean and looks nice before you begin taking pictures. Leave your furniture in the shots so that you can show what the house could potentially look like for the buyer, but keep clutter and personal items out to give the buyer a more neutral canvas to imagine their own belongings in.

Write Effective Descriptions 
Having attractive listing descriptions can generate more interest in your home. One of the best ways to get ideas is to look at listings of similar houses or other houses in your area to see how they are being presented. Most real estate agents will write the listing for you, but you can help them by ensuring they have the information they need about your home. The information provided in the description should consist of the basics, as well as the best aspects that make your home stand out. Things that are important to include if you have them are chimneys, fireplaces, special flooring, gardens and special plumbing or lighting features. Any improvements that have been made to your home can improve the value of your home to buyers. If you're unsure if something qualifies to be put on a listing, speak to your real estate agent, as they'll be able to decide which details are most important to include in a listing for the current market.

Share on Social Media 
Go ahead and share the fact that you're selling your home on social media. While your agent will be doing networking of their own, doing your part to share your listing around the web will give you extra exposure. Someone you know may very well be interested in buying your home or know someone else who is. Your own personal page isn't your only option for marketing your listing on social media, however. Many cities have their own Facebook and other social media pages dedicated to the residents of those areas, allowing for everyone to post questions, missing animal notices and, in your case, home listings.

People often post questions on these pages about home-buying opportunities, making it the perfect place to market to someone who is looking to move into your area. Social media has an added advantage of being able to post video of your home or even do a live stream, which could entice more buyers. If your real estate agent has already set up posts on these sites with your listing, then be sure to like and share, and encourage your friends to do the same to help spread the listing around.

Internet exposure is essential to getting a swift and competitive sale for your home. It's where most buyers begin their home search in today's market and will get you a great deal more exposure to higher-quality buyers than a sign on the street. A strong online presence will increase your chances of selling the home quickly and at the best possible price. When hiring an agent, make sure that they're aware of modern online marketing practices and are actively using them with their other clients so that you can have the greatest expertise on your side.

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. If you're interested in learning about homes for sale in Arizona, Belnap recommends The Bergamini Group.