Photos vs Description….Which is Most Important when Creating your Ad Campaign?

Though in the “old” days, sellers would tease potential buyers with flowery words and a couple of photos in order to get them to come walk through their home to “learn more”, those days are gone. We live in a fast food, fast paced, show me what you got society which means you only have moments to capture your audience and cause them to stay on your ad with the potential of then choosing to physically walk through. So, though, words are important, they take second stage to your photos.

PHOTOS: If someone is searching the web looking at multiple sites to find homes that fit their needs and desires, the first few photos they see of your home will determine if they look at the rest and then if they like what they see they will read your description.  Buyers are not interested in being “teased” anymore. If you won’t show them your home online with good, well taken photos, they will move on to another home that will. You could very well lose your buyer because of either a lack of photos or lack of quality photos. If you take only so so photos, you need to consider having your home professionally photographed. The minimal cost of doing so can not only get you your buyer, they can cause you to receive better offers as well.

DESCRIPTION: We’ve all read the buzz words  “cozy” “nestled” “charming”, etc. Though those can be strong adjectives when overused they become costly mush. Again, with the I want it now mentality that exists today, buyers are looking for the description to further detail what they’ve seen in your photos while offering them important information ie: A+ school district….close to highways, shopping and entertainment….walk to the beach…etc. Keep your sentences brief and to the point while still enhancing your photos…..they can see the wood floors but are they hardwood or wood laminate? are the countertops granite or quartz (a hot item these days)….new roof, furnace, a/c…etc.

Clearly both your photos and description add value to your marketing campaign. Take the time to do both well providing your buyers with a great online experience. Before you know it they will be knocking at your door, walking through your home and hopefully choosing to make it their own!

Put your home up in the spring or summer and for whatever reason, your home has not yet found its perfect new owner? There are things you can do to keep your home up to date and market fresh at first view.

1. If the trees and foliage have started to change colors or snow has started to fall, etc. take new exterior structure and yard photos to reflect the current season.
2. By now, your summer flowers may have lost their bloom. Instead of leaving your landscaping bare, pick up some fall mums and add several of them around your home and in your garden beds…..use varied colors to blend with the changing leaves and foliage.
3. If you like to decorate for the holidays or seasons, shoot all your photos first so your decor does not date your listing.
4. If you absolutely must decorate, do so with a sharp eye, keeping nik naks to a minimum. Just like when shooting photos, eye distractions may cause them to miss the very feature that would have enticed them to further investigate your home. Remember, they’re buying your home not your stuff!
5. If you do have holiday decor in either interior or exterior photos, make a point of changing them up if your listing rolls into a new season.SE

Staying current and fresh in the marketplace may take a little extra focus but the results in this fast paced, quick view online shopping environment, your effort will be worth it!

You’ve heard it on TV, from realtors, in magazines, etc. that in order to sell your home you need to stage it. It appears in many venues that in order to do this effectively, you need to (1) hire a staging company (2) re-decorate your entire home (3) remove everything that has any personal meaning to you at all (4) move out. None of these are essential and can be so costly that you never recoup what you’ve spent. If cost is not a factor for you and you want to go the professional route, go for it! BUT if you need to keep your expenses down so as to reap the most profit from your home’s equity, here are a few ideas to help you create a warm, inviting and saleable home!

TAP INTO YOUR NETWORK OF FRIENDS: Most of us have one of those friends whose home looks like it was professionally decorated when in fact they did it themselves. Everyone says, “Wow, their home looks like a magazine layout…she/he definitely has an eye for decorating.” Invite them over for coffee and ask if they can help you create a ‘staged’ look. Many people who have this gift, love to share it! Keep in mind, it’s important, if you do this, that you are not offended by any of their suggestions. It’s hard to be objective about your own home so listen with an open mind to their suggestions. (Once it’s finished, say thank you with a nice dinner or small gift!)

CHECK OUT MAGAZINES & CATALOGS: If you don’t have one of those friends, grab the most recent magazine that focuses on your style of home (Cottage, Traditional, Contemporary) along with Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, etc. magazines and websites. Look at how they have created their spaces and using your own items create the same ideas. (ie: Set your dining table as if you’re hosting a dinner party. If you have a breakfast bar counter, set that as well. Fill vases with fresh flowers right before a showing and for photos) Also, have fun walking through model homes. These are professionally staged. If you see an idea that you’d like to duplicate in your own home, use your phone to take a pic to refer to later. All these sources offer lots of ideas. Just make them your own!

DE-CLUTTER TO CREATE A STARTING POINT: The obvious starting point to all of this is to declutter and clean. Sometimes, that alone will change the entire ambiance of your home. Even if you don’t have a ‘decorator’ friend, you probably have one who will honestly walk through your home with you and let you know what jumps out to them as ‘issues’. Just like I said previously, it’s hard to be objective about your own home so keep your mind open to their suggestions. Go room to room with a note pad jotting down what needs to be removed, moved, cleaned or enhanced. This way you’ll have a list to work from once you get started. This will save you from roaming from one space to another without focus causing you frustration instead of satisfaction.

FOCUS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES: Try rearranging your furniture to create a more spacious layout. If your furniture looks worn, purchase a sofa or chair cover to freshen up their appearance & add a throw across the back. Dining table beat up? Add a nice tablecloth and then set as described above. Clear off your counters, shine your windows and mirrors, dust or wash your window treatments, minimize personal photos but retain artwork, stage your coffee table with design magazines & a candle setting, organize closets & closet floors. Instead of putting down new carpeting or wood floors, clean what you have. If they need to be replaced, consider offering an allowance instead of putting the money out of pocket. There’s nothing worse than seeing all that new carpeting out at the curb because your buyer wanted hardwood floors. Make sure your listing notes the allowance being offered so the buyer can get excited about getting the floors they want instead of focusing on the ones that are there.

REMEMBER WHAT THEY’RE BUYING: Remember, they’re buying your home, not your stuff. When they arrive or view it online, it’s just another house. Your goal is to create the setting that causes them to walk through and believe that this could be ‘their home‘.