But there\u2019s a catch.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Real estate agencies know the traffic that these real estate websites get, and swarm at any chance of a sale. That makes the marketplace extremely competitive.<\/p>\n If you want your home listing to stand out against the others on these real estate websites, you\u2019re going to have to put in some work and get creative.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve come up with a list of comprehensive steps that sellers should use that are guaranteed to make your listing stand out online.<\/p>\n One thing before we start.<\/strong><\/p>\n Your real estate agent should know how to do all of this. If they don\u2019t, you should think about finding a new one. We\u2019ve got data-driven top real estate agent recommendations at the ready.<\/a><\/p>\n On these three websites, the real estate listings are shown as thumbnails with the main picture, usually a curbside shot of the exterior, the number of bedrooms, and the price of the home.<\/p>\n Research shows that people are drawn to photos more than anything else. Check it out:<\/p>\n Bottom line? If your first photo isn\u2019t fantastic, your listing isn\u2019t going to stand a chance.<\/p>\n Go Pro or Go Home <\/strong> Use the Curb Shot Photo As the Featured Photo and the First Photo <\/strong> Clean the Home for Photos<\/strong> Show Your Home\u2019s Best Side<\/strong> Do a Little Touch Up<\/strong> Pictures are the 1st impression, pricing and features are the 2nd. Users spend over 20% of their time looking at this section!<\/p>\n Every real estate site gives you a simple form to provide house hunters with the following information:<\/p>\n We recommend that you fill out as many spaces as possible if you have the information. The more features you include, the more details you give, the more accurate the \u201cZestimate\u201d and the more appealing your real estate listing.<\/p>\n Congrats, you\u2019ve made it this far! Now what? The potential buyers have an idea of what the home looks like and they have the most important details, like price and location. At this point, they\u2019re probably juggling between which listings to follow up on, and yours could very well be on this list.<\/p>\n This is where you need to get creative.<\/p>\n These three sites allow you a space to write a personalized bit that shows up to viewers in the form of a paragraph. Assuming you\u2019ve already made it this far, things are looking good! Take the opportunity to really catch the buyer\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n Come Out Strong<\/strong> Stick to the Point<\/strong> If You\u2019ve Got It, Flaunt It<\/strong> Optimize It<\/strong> For instance, if a user specifies that they\u2019re looking for a waterfront condo with a balcony, and your listing has \u201cwaterfront,\u201d \u201cbalcony,\u201d and \u201ccondo\u201d in it, then it\u2019s likely going to pop up. Adding relevant keywords are going to help your listing become more visible.<\/p>\n We suggest that you stick to the rule of seven; people are acclimated to remember approximately seven items off of a list at a time.<\/a> Filler information for the sake of taking up space isn\u2019t going to take you very far at all.<\/p>\n Remember how we said that it\u2019s the age of the internet? Well, with the internet and it\u2019s widespread accessibility comes the inevitability of scammers. People are weary to give out information to sources that they don\u2019t trust, and this especially stands true for potential home buyers.<\/p>\n While Zillow, Realtor.com, and Homes.com are all trustworthy and highly regarded companies that do a great job of filtering out scammers and malicious content, scams will sometimes slip through the cracks.<\/p>\n Establishing that you\u2019re a trustworthy seller, and not a scammer, isn\u2019t that hard to prove, but people are primed to be cautious.<\/p>\n Adding in some information that shows legitimacy can go a long way in earning the trust of viewers. And, a trusty seller gets trusty buyers!<\/p>\n Provide a link to your real estate agency\u2019s website.<\/strong> Speaking of real estate agents, if you need a good one: we\u2019ve got recommendations.<\/a><\/p>\n Add a link to reviews on your agent\u2019s real estate agency.<\/strong>![\"one-story](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/one-storey-home-exterior_4460x4460.jpg\")
<\/a>A Picture is Worth (a couple) Thousand Dollars<\/h2>\n
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Here are some tips for those curbside front yard pictures that impress and attract potential buyers like flies:<\/h3>\n
\nAgain, this is a hugely competitive market. An iPhone Shot isn\u2019t going to cut it. Invest in either a professional photographer or some elite gear to take the photos on your own. Professional photos can increase the price the listing is sold at by about $19,000.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhat\u2019s even better is if you take the photo on a bright and sunny day.<\/p>\n
\nRid the space of clutter and add items, like flowers or artwork, that will add to the aesthetic of the home and make the listing seem both highly valuable and chic.<\/p>\n
\nTake photos of all important rooms, features, and amenities that make your home more appealing.<\/p>\n
\nEdit to increase the brightness and make your listing more visually appealing and easy to see.<\/p>\n![\"floor](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/architecture-1857175_1280.jpg\")
<\/a>Your Home’s Features are The Backbone that Holds it Together<\/h2>\n
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![\"kitchen](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/orange-cat-guards-kitchen_4460x4460.jpg\")
<\/a>Make Buyers Fall For Your Home Hook, Line, and Sinker<\/h2>\n
\nStart off by listing the most attractive feature. Perhaps the house is brand new, or was just recently remodeled, but begin with something that\u2019s going to impress the viewer.<\/p>\n
\nBe thorough, but don\u2019t overwhelm the reader with too much information. A good rule of thumb is to keep it around 100 words.<\/p>\n
\nAdd in anything important that will help sell your listing. Maybe there\u2019s a grocery store nearby or some running and biking trails. But, again, don\u2019t overwhelm viewers.<\/p>\n
\nWhatever you type into your listing is going to be recognized by the sites algorithm and is going to help it stand out according to the features that you add.<\/p>\n![\"search](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/desktop-search.jpg\")
<\/a>Prove You\u2019re Legit on Top Real Estate Websites<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s how you add that extra social proof:<\/h3>\n
\nZillow makes the link and agent information as clear as day, and Realtor.com and Homes.com provide a similar, but slightly smaller segment. Add whatever information you can!<\/p>\n
\n90% of home sales are influenced by the reviews<\/a> of previous customers. However, this is only going to work in your favor if your real estate agent has good reviews. If their reviews are great, use them to your advantage. If they\u2019re not so hot, maybe don\u2019t showcase them at the moment, and consider contacting a public relations firm to help you earn better reviews.<\/p>\n