Dallas & Fort Worth Real Estate Blog

You stare at bills piling up, frustrated your house hasn't sold in months.

Your house has been listed for months yet not a single offer—you must sell, and you must sell now. You scroll through real estate listings, seeing homes that sold in mere days while yours sits untouched.

What are they doing that you're not? How did they generate so much buzz for their properties while yours languishes in silence? The difference? Unconventional tactics realtors downplay.

Sellers using these secrets often sell weeks faster for higher prices. Tired of passively waiting? The following 8 tips show you how to market your home, generate buzz, and sell fast.

Contact us today if you need assistance with your next real estate transaction and allow our real estate experts to guide you.

Key takeaways

• List your Home on the MLS
• Proper Pricing
• Make Quick Repairs
• Competitive Buyer's Agent Commission
• Respond to Showings and Offers
• Professional Photos
• Internet Marketing
• YouTube Video

Related: 10 Marketing Ideas for Real Estate Agents

1) List your Home on the MLS

Real estate agents search through the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), a database of properties, to find houses for their clients. In a survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 92% of agents stated that the MLS was crucial to their business. 90% of buyers searched for homes on the MLS, according to another study by the WAV Group.

The MLS contains details about the property, including its address, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, as well as price. Some of the benefits of listing your house on the MLS include more exposure to a bigger pool of possible buyers, a higher selling price, and a faster sale.

2) Proper Pricing

Researching the local market is the first step in setting the price of your house for sale. This involves looking at the prices at which comparable houses in your neighborhood are selling, as well as the length of time listings spend on the market.

You can accomplish this with the aid of several resources and tools, such as:

• Online real estate websites including VIP Realty, Redfin, and Zillow.
• Local real estate agents and brokers.
• Appraisers who specialize in your area.

Once you have a solid grasp of the neighborhood market, you should now think about the numerous variables that may have an impact on home pricing.

These include:

• Location
• Market conditions
• Size and condition
• Upgrades and amenities

Once you have considered each of these factors, it's time to decide on a fair asking price for your house.

Tips to keep in mind include:

• Price to sell – Overpricing your property may discourage interested buyers and make selling more difficult.
• Don't leave money on the table - On the other hand, you don't want to underprice your home at the expense of leaving money on the table.
• Use the right pricing strategy - Price your home slightly below market value to attract many offers, or slightly above market value to allow for negotiation.

3) Make Quick Repairs

Have a pre-home inspection before placing your home on the market if you're trying to sell it. Making quick repairs to ensure everything is in working order is one approach to achieving this.

The following are some quick repairs you can make to your home to get it ready for sale:

• Fix any leaks
• Touch-up paint
• Deep clean your home
• Replace outdated light fixtures
• Repair squeaky doors and drawers
• Repair or replace damaged flooring
• Repair or replace broken appliances

4) Competitive Buyer's Agent Commission

Agents and potential buyers may be drawn to your home if you offer a higher buyer's agent commission. According to the NAR, the average buyer's agent commission in 2020 was 2.5% of the sales price. But some sellers offer 3% or more. Keep in mind that the commission you offer the buyer's agent is different from the commission you will pay your listing agent.

The following are some of the advantages of offering a competitive buyer's agent commission:

• Entice more agents that represent buyers to bring their clients to view your property.
• Encourage the buyer's agent to devote more time to showcase and advertise your property.
• Increase the marketability of your home to boost its potential for a quick sale.

It's equally important to consider the total expense of selling your house. This covers additional expenses such as closing fees, home repairs, and staging.

5) Respond to Showings and Offers

Time is of the essence in today's fast-paced real estate market. Buyers often want to view houses as soon as they become available, and if your home piques their attention, they might submit an offer fast.

According to NAR, houses that are sold within the first week of being listed have an average of only 36 days on the market, as opposed to 70 days for homes that are on the market for 2 months or more.

What's more, homes that have numerous offers often sell for 5% more than the asking price. A showing or offer could lead to missed opportunities or even lost sales if you fail to respond promptly.

Tips for responding to showing requests:

• Use an app for scheduling
• Be flexible with your schedule
• Make sure your house is ready

Tips for responding to offers:

• Be available
• Configure automated alerts
• Consider pre-approving offers

6) Professional Photos

Given the increase in online home listings, having appealing images can make all the difference in getting your home noticed. Use a high-quality camera or employ the services of a professional photographer to take pictures of your house.

The following are tips and techniques for taking high-quality pictures of your house:

• Edit and enhance
• Clean and declutter
• Highlight the best qualities
• Make use of the proper tools
• Choose the appropriate time of day

7) Internet Marketing

Given the majority of homebuyers’ first search for available listings online, a solid internet presence can make all the difference in attracting potential buyers and closing the deal.

The following are some of the advantages of Internet Marketing:

a) Reach a wider audience - The NAR estimates that 97% of homebuyers search for properties online.

b) Cost-effective - Online marketing tools such as social media, online classifieds, and email marketing are much less expensive than printing flyers, mailing postcards, or running print advertisements.

c) Faster sales - According to a recent survey, houses that are posted online sell on average 20 days faster than houses that are not.

d) Better targeting - You can make sure that your target market notices your listing. Use online advertising platforms such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads to target particular demographics, areas, behaviors, and hobbies.

e) High-Quality visuals - Homes with high-quality pictures and videos get 47% more views than those without.

f) Build trust - Establish yourself as a dependable and trustworthy seller by keeping an active online presence. Answer questions promptly, and provide accurate and thorough information about your home.

8) YouTube Videos

Given that video footage can be so engrossing and intriguing, it offers the perfect medium to highlight the best features of your house. The NAR observed that 74% of homeowners prefer to work with real estate agents that use video to sell their properties.

With more than 2 billion monthly active users and more than 1 billion hours of video watched every day, YouTube has established itself as the preferred platform for video content. Furthermore, YouTube is highly flexible as it allows you to produce a variety of video content.

You can create highlight reels, virtual tours, neighborhood tours, as well as how-to videos for home remodeling projects. The options are limitless, and your content will be more engaging the more creative you are.

The advantages of YouTube videos include:

• Cost-effective
• Increased exposure
• Increased engagement
• A better feature showcase
• Better connection with buyers

Final Thoughts

You're closer than ever to selling your house for a great price. Following the 8 tips above will maximize your chances of a speedy sale for top dollar. The keys? Making your home irresistible and unmissable. Outshine every comparable listing and you'll outsell them too. Soon motivated buyers will be pounding down your door, competing to make the purchase.

If a quick, guaranteed sale at top value is your goal, VIP Realty's exclusive marketplace gets you unmatched results. Our team handles all details so you can profit while relaxing. Let us put our expertise to work for you. Call or visit our website today to discuss your needs—whether a prompt listing, urgent sale, or simply answers to your questions.