Marketing Your Home for Sale

Marketing Your Home for Sale – How Much Is Too Much?

As the real estate market continues to shift to one where buyers have more of the upper hand, the way you market your home for sale has become more important than ever. Years ago, your Realtor could snap a few pictures with their phone or digital camera, but now that house hunters expect tons of clear, detailed images, we Realtors have had to step it up.

Professional listing photographs have become pretty standard in the last decade in most real estate markets. But now, with technology advancing, new tools are being introduced to home buyers and sellers. While some of them seem like great ideas, others could get you and your Realtor into some trouble. Let’s take a look at some of the marketing tools available for home sellers.

Professional Photography

High-quality images that accurately showcase your home are an absolute must. Since most home shoppers start their home search online, these images are the most important piece of marketing. Bottom line - if your pictures aren’t good, people won’t come to look at your house in person.

Your Realtor should have a trusted photographer who helps them with all of their listing images, so you shouldn’t need to find one on your own. However, it’s a good idea to let your Realtor know which features of the home are your favorite; that way, they can let the photographer know to really focus on those spots since there’s a good chance the next buyer of your home will love them too. You should also make sure they’re aware of any special upgrades, no matter how small, you made so that those can be featured.

AI Enhanced Images

AI is something else! I think it was designed to make our lives easier, but the way it’s being used these days, it’s hard to tell! Some Realtors have started using AI to enhance their listing photos and get more attention online. They can be used to do things like remove clutter or clean up a messy yard if the photos are taken before the house is 100% ready to hit the market. While I think it could be a great idea, it needs to be done in a way that doesn’t change the way the house actually looks or else the buyer could regret buying their home.

The National Association of Realtors agrees—here is what they have to say about AI-enhanced images: “Agents should take care not to misrepresent a property and should ensure that potential buyers fully understand how photos that are generated using AI have been enhanced.” So, it kind of leaves some gray area – maybe just adding a disclosure that photos are AI-enhanced will protect you in the event that you make major changes to photos. Even doing something as seemingly innocent as removing a stain from a carpet or ceiling could equal big trouble for everyone involved. So, if your Realtor and photographer suggest using AI enhancement, make sure to do it in a responsible way.

3D Virtual Tours

Another great tool home sellers could use to market their homes is a 3D virtual tour. This is especially helpful in homes that are on the larger side or that have unique floorplans. Plus, nearly half of recent homeowners made an offer on their house before seeing it in person, a 3D walkthrough will make that process easier and is another great tool for marketing your home for sale.

Virtual Staging

Home staging is a great way to make your home more marketable. It’s when you rent furniture and home decorations to dress up your home and appeal to buyers. Think of it like turning your home into a model home. However, now that so much of the real estate search and buying process is done online, physical furniture may not be necessary. Instead, many home sellers are using virtual staging.

Virtual Staging AI is one example of websites and apps offering generative AI services that real estate professionals can use to highlight and market properties. The AI algorithm can scan a photo and add elements such as furniture, lighting fixtures, and landscaping. Something that could also be done is that it can show potential buyers how the house could look if it were decorated in different styles. For example, If the potential buyer is set on a white kitchen, but yours has dark wood and laminate counters, virtual staging could create an image of the kitchen designed the way the buyer wants it so they can see the potential. Again, I think if this tool is used and disclosed in a way that is not deceptive, it is a great tool for home sellers.

Are You Getting Ready to Sell a Home in New Mexico?

If you plan to sell your home in New Mexico, the NM Home Team is here to help! We will look at what marketing tools will make your home stand out without being misleading. We also make sure the process gets done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Let’s talk! Alfonzo Salazar 505.450.3779