What You Should Include on a Real Estate Listing Website

Real estate agents have always been looking for the next big way to showcase their listings. Some agents hold events at these listings, while others advertise the property on social media. A popular trend now is to give the listing its own website. 

Websites are easy to create, easy to share, and provide many opportunities to show off your listing in ways that ads or posts can’t usually do. A listing becomes that much more important when it has its own website. 

However, agents who are new to creating websites for listings may feel like there are too many ways to show off a listing. What is important? What does a listing website need? 

That’s why we have created a checklist for you as you use this digital marketing tool to drum up interest around your listings. 

Basic Home Page

Keep things simple. Include a picture of the house’s exterior, the address, and your information. The right website design will make your listing the focal point of the site, which is visually appealing and memorable to viewers. 

3D or Interactive Tour 

Buyers aren’t as excited to attend open houses or tours with agents anymore. (Wonder why?!)

Save everyone the trouble of putting on a mask by bringing a tour to them. 3D and interactive tours can allow buyers to see the property in a way that pictures can’t always do. 

When you include this information on your listing, you will eliminate buyers who are less interested or will not be satisfied when they see the property. 

Details About the Property

If websites like Zillow or Redfin think details are important, so should you. Provide a full list of details that buyers might want to know:

• How many bedrooms/bathrooms/square feet

• Type of home

• Amenities

• Heating and cooling information

• Year built

• Rental value

• Nearby schools 

• Nearby attractions or places of interest

• Information about the neighborhood 

Not sure what is most important to list? Think about your potential buyers. What questions will they have about the house? What is high on their list of priorities? Highlight the information that will draw them in and convince them that this house is one to remember. 

Photo and Video Gallery

Show off every angle of your listing with a full photo gallery. 

Professional photos can help you sell a home faster and for a higher price. The right photo gallery can give potential buyers a good idea of why your listing is so valuable and why they should be interested. 

The more photos you add, the longer viewers will stay on your site, which is good news if you want your listing to appear in search results. 

Map Of the Area

Location, location, location. Keep viewers on your website by bringing Google Maps to them. Show them where the listing is located (and point out hotspots nearby). 

Your Contact Information

So a viewer loves the listing — who do they call? Be sure to include your information, including your:

• Name

• Phone Number

• Email 

• Social media handles (if applicable)

• Headshot 

Social Media Buttons 

Do you want viewers to share this listing on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn? Include a list of buttons that can share your listing website with a click. 

This might seem like a lot of work, but you’ve got experts ready to help. Reach out to DMD Real Estate Photography for information on how we can provide you with a fresh, easy-to-use listing website that will attract attention and bring the right buyers to you. 

What You Can Learn From the Images in Redfin’s “Top Viral Homes”

Looking through real estate listings online can be overwhelming -- especially if you’re trying to sell. How do you make your house stand out? What can you do to get buyers to stop scrolling and learn more about your property? 

For the answers, let’s look to the homes that have done something right. Earlier this year, Redfin released a list of some of the top viral homes of 2019. 

These homes are absolutely stunning. The attractive pictures on the listing brought plenty of attention, competition, and high bidders. 

But you don’t have to have a home that is worth more than a million dollars to go viral. Take the best elements of these viral homes and bring them into your listing for more views, clicks, and bids. 

Show off the space. 

The photos of “The Modern Bungalow” and the “Urban Oasis” make the houses look like they go on for miles. Open-concept floor plans are in, and everyone wants to feel like they are buying a property with lots of space. Remove any obstructions and take photos from a position that makes your home look open and free-flowing. 

Stage appropriately. 

It’s quick and easy to take photos of your home as-is, but this doesn’t always translate into more interest. No buyer wants to feel like they are peeping into someone else’s home -- they want to feel like they are looking at their future home!

Stage the home and remove any personal photos, scattered toys, or evidence of pets. 

Follow the (natural) light. 

What do“The Queen’s View” in Seattle and the “Contemporary Townhouse” in Chicago have in common? Floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light and give the homes a more modern feel. Windows can also increase airflow, reduce energy bills, and add much more value to your listing. If you’ve got them, flaunt them! Get a photo that encompasses how much your buyers will be able to see when they open the curtains. 

Windows will also help you as you take photos. Plan to shoot when your rooms are filled with natural light. 

Zoom out. 

In order to truly get a sense of the “Rooftop Party Pad” in San Diego, you need to show off the rooftop. How do you show off a big, external space? Zoom out.

Drones are one of the best ways to do this. Use drone photography to capture the entire space that is going on the market. 

Use a professional photographer. 

Drones? Professional lighting? Staging? These equipment and practices can cost money, but significantly increase the value of your home. 

Don’t worry about learning how to operate a drone or take a professional photo yourself. Save time by recruiting a professional photographer who can show off your space appropriately. 

A cell phone camera or blurry photo may fail to capture the beauty, flow, and unique qualities of your property. Professional photos will share all of this and more. 

Make buyers stop and stare at your listing. Reach out to DMD Real Estate Photography today. 

How to Get a Home Ready for a Photoshoot

As a real estate professional, you know buyers are more likely to make an offer when they’re excited about the property and can picture themselves living there. Since so much real estate marketing happens online (especially these days!), pictures, videos, and virtual tours of the home are the first impression most buyers and their agents get of the property. It is your chance to show the property at its absolute best and entice prospective buyers and real estate professionals to seek out more information. 

This means that getting ready for the property’s photoshoot is of paramount importance. But what exactly do you need to do? How do you prepare a home to make sure your photographer can show it in the best possible light?

Make the Home Appealing to a Diverse Range of Prospective Buyers

One of the key elements is for prospective buyers to be able to picture themselves living in the home. To make the space as appealing as possible to a general audience and maximize its overall aesthetics, take the following steps: 

• Depersonalize the space by removing things such as family portraits, personal collections, or knicknacks.

• Clean all visible surfaces, including flooring.

• De-clutter the space by removing unnecessary or excessive decorations, countertop appliances, bathroom toiletries, wires, laundry, and toys.

• Neutralize colorful walls, particularly those in kids’ rooms.

• Optimize lighting by replacing bulbs that don’t match or are out. You can also add strategic lighting using portable floor lamps. 

Optimize Exteriors

Exterior spaces should emphasize the home’s curb appeal and make buyers feel as though they’d enjoy the experience of coming home and pulling up in the driveway. 

To optimize the aesthetics of exteriors, take the following steps: 

• Put away trash cans, toys, bicycles, and other garden items.

• Clean windows, especially those that look out to an attractive view.

• Sweep and blow away leaves and debris from outdoor paved spaces such as patios, walkways, and driveways.

• Power-wash the siding to remove buildups of dirt, mold, or mildew.

• If the property has a pool, remove leaves and debris, and put away distracting objects such as nets, pool toys, and inflatables.

Final Touches: Day of the Shoot

On the day of the photo shoot, prep for your photographer with these final touches:

• Turn off ceiling fans.

• Turn on all lights, making sure that all bulbs match and are working (bring some extra bulbs with you just in case).

• Open the blinds to let in natural light.

• Move vehicles 1-2 homes away from the property so that they aren’t reflected in windows.

Remember, whether the viewer of your ad is a prospective buyer or another real estate professional, the pictures of the property are their first impression, and many decisions are made right then. 

A professional real estate photographer will know how to maximize a home’s appeal, but they can only do so much without your help. Working with them to get the house ready ensures that you are putting your best foot forward and increasing the chances of selling it faster and for a higher price.

For more information about Alaska real estate marketing, reach out to DMD today.