Since receiving my real estate license in 1992, I have witnessed a profound shift in how real estate agents market homes. Before the internet there were only a few steps to getting a listing exposed to potential Buyers. We used to fill out the paperwork, plant our yard sign, screw in a keybox next to the front door, process the paperwork, and advertise in the newspaper or real estate magazine for the weekend flurry of open house activity. Oh, and we would type out a fact sheet of the features of the home. The list and wait method was the only way real estate work was done! We waited for the buyer to either drive by and see the yard sign, show up at an open house, or have another agent bring them to the house.
Fast forward to today….Now we…..
- Meet with the homeowner and fill out paperwork for processing
- Take up to 25 or more pictures of the home inside and out
- Process the pictures for optimum lighting, balance, and sharpness of detail
- Place 16 pictures on the Tulsa MLS for other agents to view and forward to their buyers along with copy of each photo explaining how that room is used
- Place 24 photos on the McGraw web site again with appropriate copy
- Place up to 25 photos on the Realtor.com web site
- Place up to 12 photos on the Gordon Shelton web site
- Produce a color flyer or 4 page brochure with features of the home
- Create a virtual tour using sound, motion, and a “story” about the home and it’s environment
- Send a cyber flyer to all of my sphere of influence clients to advertise the new listing. Hopefully, they will forward it to their network of friends.
- Place an ad in the Tulsa World of Homes for an open house only if the house does not sell in the first month!
- Coming soon will be video tours with voice over that will be posted to all web sites
Whew! Now we are amateur photographers and movie moguls with a strong bit of journalism thrown in! We know that 80+% of all Buyers use the internet to find their new home, so it is vitally important to know how to use the internet for effective advertising. The ability to send a message to potential buyers around the world is now possible!
