Top Three Ways Buyers Find a Home

(And How to Capture Their Attention)

1.  The Internet.   The 2007 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers indicate 84% of buyers are searching online.

This is HUGE!  What this means is your online presence is extremely important.  Make sure that your listing is available in the local MLS.  Your home listing should also have: 

Ø      Professional quality photos taken with a wide-angle lens

Ø      Virtual Tour

      Many Realtors also post your listing on other search driven websites such as Realtor.com, Trulia, Yahoo HomeSeekers, their brokerage website, and their personal websites.  Be sure to ask about your online exposure during a listing consultation.

2.  Realtors.  Nine out of 10 buyers use a real estate agent in the search process.

Ø    Agents communicate to each other through the Multiple Listing System (MLS).  Be sure that your home is listed in MLS with a Realtor.

Ø Make sure your Realtor belongs to a larger brokerage.  Often these agents will talk to one another about upcoming listings and make announcements at office meetings.

Ø     Your Realtor should be able to send out emails regarding your home listing to other agents to alert them of the new listing and price changes.

Ø     The Realtor Tour will expose your listing to newer agents and to a Realtor that has a particular client in mind.

Ø  Choose a Realtor that is actively working with buyers and sellers.  These Realtors are more likely to show and sell your home.

3.  Yard Signs / Driving Neighborhoods.  15% of buyers first learned of their home through a yard sign.

Be sure to capture a buyer's attention by having these featues curbside:

Ø      Color brochures with plenty of photos.

Ø  Reference to how the buyer can find out more information online (View a Virtual Tour at JeffandMary.com)

Ø  A Realtor cell phone number that is available for answering questions, prequalifying a buyer, and scheduling a showing.