Every day, lots and lots of new listings appear on the market, especially in Alaska where, just like in other states, people come and go. Especially because there are bases nearby and selling and renting never goes stale. How can a listing stand out in the midst of a busy market?
Let’s explore several options agents do in their marketing materials to get the best possible outcome for their sellers.
Outstanding Presentation
Showcasing a home really well is definitely the key to make sure that your listings stand out from the crowd of lovely trees and snow; or even those with aurora skies in the background.
The keyword here is “styling”, which, as proven to be true by many agents leads to selling the home at a higher price and a quicker sale, for example in this article. As with the rest of the world, homes in Alaska are no different to the effect and the technique.
Here are a few tips recommended by top agents.
Decluttering
This is the most popular technique, which includes hiding or removing items in a room so that it would look bigger and with clearer dimensions. It’s common sense that when you sell a home, most of the stuff in it won’t be included in the sale. Or when you sell anything, you only show the parts being sold. It’s not like you can put in “batteries not included” on any listing.
Clutter makes a room look smaller, and that’s what you don’t want your buyers to assume. But you don’t need to put everything away. Some agents leave out some fixtures to show the eclectic mix of furniture. As they say, “Beauty is in the eye of a home stager.” It’s about presenting a particular lifestyle to your target market but surely, it’s not one that is cluttered.
Buyers are always expecting high standards of living, especially in large cities such as in Anchorage. Well, people have seen a lot of real estate on TV shows, especially with the rise of Netflix with all the beautiful and unique homes, they would expect to see the same when they visit one. If it’s not updated enough, there is a possibility that the buyer will walk out, or if not, they would take the opportunity to lower their offer. It’s not a ‘trophy’ home after all, why bother.
2. Be There During the Photoshoot
Some agents think that their presence during the shooting of the home doesn't matter. Or if they are there, they push the photographer to hurry things up because they have other important things to attend to. Agents who are like these are missing the whole point.
A professional photographer would surely prefer if the agent is present during the photoshoot as it is supposed to be a well-orchestrated event in order to come up with compelling images that present the home in the best possible way. And so on, get the best possible results.
Homeowners or sellers love it when their agent is hands-on during the whole process of selling their home, especially during the photoshoot. On the photographer’s side, they like when the agent is there as they will be free from distractions caused by the homeowner, pets, or other things that can make the shooting more difficult than necessary.
3. Look Into Drone Technology
Drone photography has already hit the market and it is the “it thing” when it comes to real estate campaigns. Don’t be left behind and use drone shots if it’s appropriate to do so. Longshots or top view and walk-throughs definitely get the attention of buyers.
If the location of the listing is a sight to behold, use drones to show how beautiful it is. If there is a landmark that can be included, make sure that it is in the photos.
If the property is very spacious, use drones to show the size of the whole property. Show it rather than just saying it.
There are a lot of trees in Alaska, especially among the ranch style homes in either Wasilla, Palmer, or Eagle River. And drone photography is the only to show how they harmonize with the beauty of the home.
When do you not use a drone then?
When the home is too small and is very close to neighbors.
When the roof is not presentable enough, it might just even affect the sale.
Drone pilots are just pilots, you need a seeing eye when it comes to photography and presentations. Some pilots may crash a few things they operated, including a potential successful sale of a home through missed opportunities, bad angles, and just bad photography in general. As a word of advice, make sure that the drone operator you are looking to hire has a good portfolio and first and foremost has liability insurance. See our previous blog post on drone photography here.
4. Take Advantage of Social Media
Everyone is using it. All the buyers in your local area are on social media on a daily basis, so you have to be there as well. Your listings have to be seen on social media.
And no, not just photos or links to your latest listings. Or else you’re missing out a big deal in several social media strategies. Mix them up as you share other relevant contents on Facebook, or Instagram and other channels that piques the interest of your followers. Pitching only your listings could be boring and be the cause of ‘scroll up, ignore’ syndrome.
While filling up your timeline with high quality photos of your listings, you can get more likes and shares on them as you post interesting contents that your target market can relate to. Create a buzz, create awareness in the community and even the real estate market, get feedback, and solicit interaction.
Here are a few tips in Social Media Marketing to give more life to your real estate campaigns and get the most value of your marketing materials.
Come up with a Friends list in your personal profile so that when you share a content, you can choose to only show it to potential buyers or sellers such as your connections in Facebook.
Whether it’s in your personal page or your business page, mix the personal posts with the business-related ones. Spice things up to avoid getting boring.
Make a social media marketing plan and commit to it. It may be a long-term project, so you have to stick to it.
We only want the best for you and your business here at DMD Real Estate Photography. We are always open to conversations on how we can help you improve your real estate campaigns, especially with high-quality materials that will surely boost your career in the long run.