As a Realtor, you’re already aware that having a professional and visually appealing website is crucial to your success. You know that social media, online connections, and networking are also important. However, have you ever considered that the pictures on your site are just as crucial to your overall success as the quality of the site itself?
Home staging is about so much more than just impressing potential homebuyers during a showing. Realtor.com estimates more than 90% of homebuyers start a home search online. Those homebuyers are going to spend just a few seconds looking at each listing, and their first impressions are based mainly on the quality of pictures. Staging your clients’ homes can make all the difference between a quick sale and a long stint on the market.
But home staging is about more than just selling your clients’ home. Staging can increase your business and boost your online visibility, too. Here’s how.
Visual Appeal Sells Homes Faster
What makes a website stand out? Well, why did you choose a WinningAgent WordPress theme? (What? You haven’t seen our visually stunning website products? Check them out here). You were probably drawn to the optically appealing images and designs, right? Your buyers are no different: they are visually driven.
When buyers are scrolling through your website, Facebook page, or a home buying service, they are drawn in by one thing: photos. When you provide pictures that make the home look irresistible, buyers are much more likely to click the link, schedule a showing, and submit an offer. In fact, CBS News found that homes with quality real estate photos had a 47% higher price per square foot and had an increased likelihood of selling.
A great residential photographer who has all the fanciest cameras won’t make any difference, though, if the home is a mess. That’s where home staging comes in, making those photographs look like they’re straight out of a magazine. And what home buyer would pass by those photos?
Once potential buyers enter a perfectly-staged home, they’ll be much more willing to make an offer.
Home Staging Drives Up Your Page Views
By posting quality photos of available properties on your website, you can drive up your website page views. Potential buyers are more likely to click on an MLS listing with gorgeous photography, and that can lead them directly to your website or social media page.
Why do page views matter? Search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, and others use this information to sort through relevant search results. For instance, when a user searches for a term like “best Realtors in my area,” the search engine sorts through hundreds or even thousands of pages of results to deliver the sites most likely to be relevant to the user. A website’s relevance is based partly on its traffic, the quality of its content, and how often that site is mentioned elsewhere.
Including quality photographs and expertly-written content on your page can skyrocket your business to the coveted first page of search results. That’s where you’re going to get noticed, and where you’ll see a marked increase in visits to your page and interaction with potential clients.
By staging the home you’re selling, you’re not only investing in the sale of that particular home: you’re also investing in the future of your business. The more clicks and visits you get to your website and social media, the easier it will be for prospective clients to find you.
Sellers Want a Detail-Oriented Realtor
Sellers also notice when a Realtor takes extra effort on behalf of a homeowner. Staging a home for sale shows attention to detail and speaks volumes about you as Realtor. Those carefully-crafted real estate pictures might be the determining factor for a seller who’s looking for an agent.
Perhaps this extra effort doesn’t lead to new business right away, but all this additional web traffic results in more followers on your other marketing pages. New followers on social media, readers for your blog (yes, you should have a business blog!), and new email contacts are all vital to your overall marketing strategy. Eventually, these followers will be ready to sell, and when they do, they will remember your detail-oriented strategy for selling homes. Every seller wants a real estate agent who will go the extra mile to get the best price for their home.
The Bottom Line
Home staging is a useful tool for Realtors for many reasons. Organized and staged homes look better in pictures and on MLS listings, increasing the likelihood of selling a home faster and at a higher price. Not only can staging a home help the sellers, but it can also help your real estate business thrive.
Using home staging and professional photography as a part of your overall marketing strategy will increase your visibility online and improve your search engine optimization (SEO)—the likelihood of your business appearing on the first page of search results. Plus, all this increased exposure can lead to new clients and will solidify your reputation as a detail-oriented and meticulous real estate agent.
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