Over 97% of Home Buyers use the internet for their home search.
The profile of Home Buyers in the early 1980’s when I first started selling real estate, indicated that yard signs were one of the most effective forms of the buyers’ home search. Â Buyers drove around neighborhoods when they started their home search, chose the areas they liked, and then would frequent these neighborhoods looking for yard signs. Then came the 21st century.
The National Association of Realtors 2021 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers shows that over 97% of buyers use the Internet in their home search.
Eight percent of buyers in 2001 found their home on the World Wide Web. NAR research shows that 42 percent of buyers found the home they ultimately purchased on the Internet in 2012. All other sources, such as yard signs, word of mouth, or relatives, have declined.
These statistics and other indicators in the market have made it clear to me that the online presence of every one of my listings is the most important part of selling homes today. In order to give the best service to my seller clients, I have adjusted my marketing to meet the current trends of buyers. I offer the following services for every home seller that I represent.
- A minimum of 25 photos are taken of every listing. Photos are one of the most important aspects of marketing your home. Â About eight in 10 buyers rated photos and detailed information about properties for sale the most useful website features.
- A minimum of 2 video/slideshows are made for each listing. Â One is posted on the Multiple Listing Service and another on YouTube. Â These video/slideshows have tags and addresses so that they can be found on the internet.
- Each property has at least one blog written about it that is posted on barbheise.com and promoted via social media, email, and newsletter.
- Each listing is on the RE/MAX website and also featured on my own website, barbheise.com.
- Through the Keller Williams Listing System, each listed property is marketed online 24/7 through more than 350 of the most popular search websites, including but not limited to Trulia, Zillow and Realtor.com.
- Every home is listed on the St. Louis Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service with details about the property and a minimum of 25 pictures.
- Each listing has its own page on Pinterest. Â Also, if the home has special amenities, posts will be made on some of our other Pinterest boards.
- Each listing is advertised on my Facebook page.
- Each listing is advertised regularly on Twitter.
The bottom line: with the profile of home buyers indicating that over 99% of home buyers are using the internet to find a home, we must be diligent in the quality and quantity of our internet marketing. The other bottom line is that good service, still and always, will come from the heart. I strongly encourage face-to-face (if possible) consultations to lay out a strategy and discuss goals and time frames. My motto continues to be Unique Needs/Unique Solutions. Each and every one of us faces different issues in our quest for quality of life. My goal as an agent is to be respectful of this at all times.
National Association of Realtors
Online Curb Appeal is a Modern Necessity
