Worthwhile expenditures to make when selling your home

Marketing a real estate listing shouldn’t be seen as an expenditure. It is an investment. Marketing funds directed to the right efforts can net a substantial return in the form of a higher final sale price.

It’s no secret that 2022 has been a tremendous seller’s market. So many homes are receiving immediate offers, in many cases without the potential buyer even seeing the home in person.

Don’t let that fool you, though — that doesn’t mean it’s OK to cut corners on marketing a listing. A 2021 National Association of Realtors report said 97 percent of buyers use the internet in the process. It also noted that more than 40 percent look at homes for sale online before they do anything else. 

At the end of the day, it’s about making a good first impression. Sellers want an exceptional exterior shot to lead off the photo gallery for their listing. They need aerial images to show off the property and everything that surrounds it. Virtual tours are the gold standard when it comes to offering convenience and accessibility. 

Go the extra mile. Here are a few investments you can make that will pay off in the end:

Extra digital content

Photos are the bread and butter of any real estate marketing package. They’re often the first thing that people see when they come across a listing. 

However, additional services are becoming more commonplace. Virtual tours were gaining traction before, but that trend went into overdrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. Buyers now demand the convenience offered by them.

Promotional videos have a similar use as 3D tours in that they can give a guided look through a home, but they’re different in that they give sellers better control over what features to highlight. Sellers can contact a Lighthouse Visuals consultant to determine which may be a better fit.

Investing in these visuals isn’t just for the listing itself. Agents can use them to market a home on social media, in email campaigns, and more. You can get a lot of mileage out of them.

Professional cleaners and landscapers

While 3D tours and buying a house without ever setting foot inside it have become more common, many homebuyers still prefer to see the property firsthand before making such a commitment. 

It’s already been said that first impressions are integral. Sellers want potential buyers to be wowed when they first pull up to the house. One way to ensure they are is by bringing in a professional landscaper to spruce up the exterior. 

The same goes for hiring a crew to do a deep cleaning inside. Doing this will also make sure you get the best quality from photos and other visuals that are taken. That’s especially true with virtual tours. Homes need to be as clean as possible because the Matterport cameras will capture anything and everything in eyesight. 

Staging consultants

Well-done staging can make the difference both to those who see a house in person and those who are scrolling through photos. There is a delicate balance to strike when it comes to keeping the look simple while also working in accents that draw eyes. 

Professionals are well-equipped to find that balance in each room. They also keep up with trends. Investing in their services means having access to that knowledge that will make certain your house is as appealing as possible to as many people as possible. 

Virtual staging is a service offered by Lighthouse Visuals that simplifies the process for sellers. It’s a post-production editing process in which furniture and decorations are virtually added to images. 

Contact Lighthouse Visuals today to discuss what investments are best suited for your specific listing.