How to Breathe New Life into Older Listings

by | Jan 8, 2019 | Home Warranty

Don’t dwell, AHS has the tips to help you refresh your listing!

When a real estate listing stays on the market for an extended period, it can be frustrating and disappointing for the agent and for the sellers. If other homes in the area are selling well, it can also be perplexing. As a real estate professional and expert, sellers will look to you for a solution. Here are some steps to consider when looking for ways to attract potential buyers for older listings.

  • Add an American Home Shield® Home Warranty.  An American Home Shield Home Warranty is a service agreement that covers the repair or replacement of many covered major home system components and appliances that break down over time due to normal wear and tear. It can provide valuable reassurance for prospective buyers, particularly if covered systems and appliances are older or in questionable shape. An American Home Shield Home Warranty can also help differentiate your home from the competition.
  • Drop the price.  Although this suggestion may not be a popular one with the sellers, it’s often an effective way to drum up interest in a home. A price decrease can put a home into a lower price bracket for searches and attract fresh lookers. Lowering the price on a home can also give you a good reason to send emails and text messages to other realtors, keeping the house on their radar for showings.
  • Take new photos and video.  In the rush to get a home listed, sometimes the online photos and video don’t get the attention they deserve.  Online listings are usually the first impression that potential buyers have of a listing, so spending the time to get good shots can pay dividends in additional showings. You might also consider rewriting the listing description to highlight some different features and benefits of the home.
  • Stage the home.  Having the home professionally staged can make a difference for showings. Some stagers will work with what’s already in the home, and some will bring in furniture and accessories to use temporarily. Talk to the stager about which features of the home you’d like to accentuate or spotlight for showings.
  • Bump up social media exposure.  Post information about the home on social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. Ask the sellers to post on their social media accounts, too, and to encourage friends and family to share the posts. Be sure to highlight what makes the home special and include links where interested buyers can find more information.
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  • Enhance the curb appeal. A fresh coat of paint, even if it’s just on the front door, and some new landscaping can attract attention. Consider sprucing up other exterior items such as the mailbox, shutters, window boxes, or railings to make the home look more appealing to those passing by.
  • Reconfigure the signage.  When a house has been on the market for a long time, people may get so accustomed to seeing the “For Sale” sign that they don’t even notice it anymore. Placing an American Home Shield Home Warranty sign rider on the property’s “For Sale” sign can also let potential buyers know there is a valuable American Home Shield Home Warranty included or available which can also help differentiate homes from others on the market, as well as add value to listings. Consider changing the sign out for a larger or more colorful one. Moving the sign to a more prominent location can also help, as can adding other signs on the corner or back of the lot if it’s visible from a road.  You might also add some directional signage pointing to the house on nearby corners.
  • Update your advertising strategy.  Running the same ads in the same publications or channels may have lost their effectiveness. Look for new advertising avenues such as theater, symphony, and sporting event programs or community bulletin boards. Send out mailers featuring the property to your contacts as well as to other homes in the zip code.
  • Get a fresh set of eyes. Sometimes agents and sellers become so familiar with a property that they can’t see it objectively anymore. Ask a real estate colleague to tour the home with you and to point out drawbacks or improvements that might make it more attractive to potential buyers. Ask for honest feedback about the asking price, too. Their perspective could give you and the sellers some helpful
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