As I read other real estate blogs I realize why people are skeptical of REALTORS. Only the good information is presentend and the only interpretation is a positive spin. We try to present a balanced picture on this blog, but by nature we’re positive. No matter who you read, one thing for sure is the Edmonton real estate market is tough right now in comparison to previous years, especially if you're trying to sell your home.
So in this tough market, we're spending more on marketing our listings than ever. Our philosophy is that when the going gets tough, the tough get better, do more, dig deeper and spend more. While many advocate cutting back on spending in this environment we’ve been increasing the number of places we’re putting our properties, the quality of the marketing and the quality of our ads.
Why? Its simple, really. You’ve got to get noticed in order to sell. If you are one of the thousands of home owners trying to sell right now you have to ask yourself: what details am I taking care of to give me the best opportunity to showcase my property to potential buyers?
In certain markets better marketing can result in a higher net to the seller. In this market it can be the difference between a sale, or no sale. That can mean the difference between getting something or nothing. You have to decide what’s important to you.
A few things to consider are:
- When you see your ads, are they advertising your property or are they more geared to advertising the agent who has your listing? Are the pictures good quality and does it represent your property positively?
- When people find your listing on the MLS and want more information, are they going directly to your listing when they click for more pictures and information or are they going to your agents site?
- When you Google your area does your property come up on the first page? Does your property come up on broader searches?
- Have you been updated regularly on what is happening in the market specific to your home? Have you viewed and analyzed the sales of other homes in your area?
- What is your picture quality online like? Really crappy, crappy, just o.k., good, great or phenomenal?
If you’re selling on your own the answers to the above questions are not good. So then you have to ask yourself are you really saving the commission or just losing equity?
Homeowner solutions:
- Hire someone who knows how to properly advertise when they do advertise and make sure its geared to marketing your home
- Direct links on your listing are a must. Don’t hire an agent who links your listing back to their home page. It's preferrable to hire someone who will use a custom domain for your property like, www.edmonton-condo.com , www.StAlbert-Home.com or www.edmontontownhome.com. What is your address online?
- Ask for examples of everything – ads, photos, web sites, updates. Find out before you list what information would be included in your updates and how often you’ll receive them.
- Check out www.sellmyedmontonhome.com for more suggestions.
