In the real estate world, things are constantly changing, and as agents, it’s our job to adapt and find better ways to serve our sellers. Not a day goes by that I don’t sit and ponder how I can improve the experience for those trusting me with the sale of their homes. The journey through these past few years, especially with the challenges brought by the pandemic, has been eye- opening, and it’s led to some exciting changes in how we approach the selling process.

Adapting During the Pandemic: New Tools for a New Market When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the real estate market was thrown into chaos. The demand for homes skyrocketed, and at the same time, many new agents flooded the market—often without the experience needed to handle the fast-paced, high-pressure environment. I quickly realized that to provide the best service for my sellers, I needed to get creative.

That’s when I discovered a fantastic tool—a customizable website template that I could tailor for each property I listed. What made this tool stand out was that each property had its own unique URL, featuring the property’s address. This made it so much easier for potential buyers to find these listings online. It was a simple, yet effective way to increase visibility and give each property the spotlight it deserved.

Proactive Solutions: Pre-Inspecting Homes to Avoid Last-Minute Surprises As the market continued to evolve during the pandemic, another challenge became apparent: deals were falling through more often than ever. In many cases, these deals collapsed after a home inspection. Too often, I’ve seen situations where an agent conducts an inspection, finds an issue, and immediately sends a termination notice—without any prior communication with the listing agent. This kind of surprise can be devastating for sellers.

To combat this, I started pre-inspecting homes before listing them. Home inspections can be a contentious issue for both buyers and sellers, and I wanted to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible. By having a thorough inspection completed upfront, I could address any potential problems early on. Moreover, I made it a point to ensure that any agent writing an offer on one of my listings reviewed the home inspection results with their buyers. This approach has significantly reduced the number of surprises and helped maintain smoother transactions.

Facing a New Market Reality: Supporting Sellers in a Slower Market Fast forward to today, and the market has shifted once again. Homes that used to sell in a matter of days can now sit on the market for three months or even longer. This shift has been frustrating for sellers, and understandably so. With higher expectations and longer wait times, the pressure is on to provide more support and reassurance.

So, what are we doing to address the stress our sellers are feeling? We’ve implemented several new strategies, particularly for homes priced over $500k, to keep our sellers informed, engaged, and confident throughout the process.

Our 24-Week Marketing Plan: Keeping Sellers Informed Every Step of the Way One of the biggest changes we’ve made is introducing a 24-week marketing plan. This plan is shared through a calendar that our sellers can access at any time. It details every step of our marketing  efforts, so there’s no guesswork involved. Sellers can see exactly what’s happening and when, giving them peace of mind and a sense of control over the process.

Professional Brochures and Digital Marketing: Presenting Your Home in the Best Light Presentation is everything in real estate, which is why we’ve taken extra steps to ensure your home is shown in the best possible light. For homes over $500k, we create 10 beautifully crafted, 12-page property brochures that are printed professionally through VistaPrint. These brochures are not just handed out during showings but are also a key part of our online marketing strategy.

In addition to the printed brochures, we share these pieces digitally through social media, using platforms like Issuu.com. This helps us reach a broader audience and keeps your property in front of potential buyers, whether they’re browsing online or in person.

Personalized Videos: Bringing Your Home to Life One of the most exciting additions to our marketing arsenal is the use of personalized short videos. Our new marketing person and I will visit your home and create these videos, showcasing its best features and unique character. These videos are then used across our marketing channels, providing a dynamic, engaging way to attract buyers.

Seller Videos: A Personal Touch to Encourage Buyers We’ve also started incorporating seller videos into our marketing strategy. These videos feature you, the seller, sharing what makes your home special. This personal touch adds a layer of authenticity and emotion that can resonate with buyers, encouraging them to take the next step.

We’re Here for You, Every Step of the Way

At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to market your home effectively and to keep you, our valued clients, happy and informed throughout the process. The real estate market may continue to change, but our commitment to you remains constant. We’re always looking for ways to improve and adapt, ensuring that you get the best possible experience when selling your home.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to chat about how we can make your selling experience even better, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!

FAQs
1. Why did you start pre-inspecting homes before listing them?
We began pre-inspecting homes to avoid last-minute surprises during the selling process. It helps address potential issues early and ensures a smoother transaction by providing transparency upfront.

2. How does the 24-week marketing plan work?
The 24-week marketing plan is a shared calendar that details every step of our marketing efforts. Sellers can access it at any time to see what’s happening with their property and what to expect next.

3. What is included in the property brochures?
The property brochures are 12-page professionally printed booklets that showcase your home’s best features. They include high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, and key selling points, presented in a visually appealing way.

4. How do the personalized videos help in selling my home?
Personalized videos bring your home to life by highlighting its unique features. They engage potential buyers more effectively than photos alone, helping your property stand out in a crowded market.

5. What are seller videos, and why are they important?
Seller videos feature you, the homeowner, sharing what makes your home special. They add a
personal, emotional element to our marketing strategy, which can help encourage buyers to
take action.