Sellers Need to See to Buy

In my morning perusal of the “hotsheet” ( a daily update of market activity )  I came across an amazingly all too common occurrence that continues to boggle my mind.   Expired listings with long market times. . .240 days plus. . .with one sad exterior picture and that is it!  No interior pictures at all, nothing, zip, zero, nada!  In this sluggish market, how do these listing agents expect to attract buyers?!?  Home seekers are out there surfing the web looking for a new place to hang their hat and they want to see the assets that a home offers.

Listing agents have a serious responsibility.  I know sellers are relying on me to market their homes.  With all of the fabulous technology available, there is simply no excuse for not providing as much information about a property as possible.  Amazing photos, virtual tours, fabulous descriptions, online flyers. . .the tools are there, the technology is our friend. 

As a Realtor and home stager, I am keenly aware that presentation draws them in or turns them away.  From first virtual contact to first physical visit, the merchandising and marketing of a property can give it a leg up on the competition.  And in Will County the competition is fierce.  In Joliet alone, where these particular listings are located, there are currently 1020 detached single family homes on the market.  Guess how many have closed in the last 30 days?. . . .14. . .yep 14 single family closings in 30 days in a city of 140,000 people.  If that isn’t competition, I don’t know what is.

So as a real estate professional, I am off to offer these poor homeowners a competitive advantage.  Can I promise a home sale?  Obviously, the market isn’t looking too rosy, but I can offer them every weapon in my arsenal. 

Incidentally, in real estate, price is king, and these homes look to be priced pretty well.  Good location and good price . . .these homes need some fabulous marketing and I’m up to that challenge.