Getting the Word Out about Your Home for Sale Using Online Tools

Social media is an extremely useful, versatile platform. While social media is well known for a wide variety of feats, including everything from reuniting long lost loves to improving the bottom line of a business, it’s becoming increasingly better known for something different altogether: helping people sell their homes and move.

In a sluggish housing market, more and more homeowners are successfully using social media to get the word out and get their homes sold. But how?

Get a New Address…

Web address, that is. No matter how many social networking sites and platforms you utilize, it’s crucial to have a website to link back to and direct potential buyers to. That website can be as simple or elaborate as you feel comfortable with. However, there several key ingredients that will make your site more successful: 

·        A blog. People are drawn in a by a good story. Not only are blogs a good place to talk about events like moving and an upcoming open house, but they are also great for expanding on what’s special about your property. What renovations, upgrades or additions have you done on your home? A blog gives you plenty of space to elaborate on the details that set your home apart from the rest.

·        Videos. Photos are great, but videos are even better. Video tours of your home are an easy, inexpensive, and effective way to showcase your home. You can also post those videos on social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook or link to them via Twitter.

·        Calls to action. It’s important to have your contact information available on your website, including information, such as your e-mail address and phone number. However, go one step further by including the opportunity for visitors to share your website via Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.

There’s No Place Like My Home

A recent article on MSN Real Estate included a clever use of Twitter by a homeowner in a prime neighborhood. Ruta Fox just happened to live near several celebrities and used that fact to fuel Tweets and gain interest in her home.

Even if you don’t happen to live two blocks down from Madonna, you can still feature the best aspects of your home and its location as incentives for potential buyers. Aspects, such as top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods or proximity to attractions like museums and performing arts venues, can all be worth mentioning in Tweets and status updates. And, don’t forget to include that link back to your website.

Going Viral

Crowdsourcing is one of the great advantages of using social media to get the word about your home for sale. Updates to your social media platforms not only let your friends know you’re selling your home, but these also allow your friends to let their friends know, and so on. Sending out moving announcements also help spread the word.

…But, Not Too Viral

It may be easier than ever to share information and updates about the home you’re trying to sell. However, it’s also just as easy to overdo it. Avoid overkill by pacing your posts and by not repeating the same posts ad nauseum. Do update your social networks with new information and do use your contacts to help you through the selling process by soliciting helpful comments and advice. Before you know it, your next status update will be: “Sold!”