The real estate industry can be competitive, particularly in UK cities like London, Cambridge, and Edinburgh. So as an estate agent, what should you do when advertising a property to ensure it sells or lets as quickly as possible and for a great price?
Signs
Estate agent boards are a great way to advertise not just the property itself but also the estate agent business. Clear, eye-catching signage lets potential buyers or renters know that the property is available and how to contact your agency to arrange a viewing or find out more information.
However, you do need to be aware of the rules regarding estate agent boards and be sure not to leave them out too long or make them too large, otherwise, you could be at risk of violating the 2007 Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations Act.
Use Social Media
Social media is another great way to advertise a property and interact with potential buyers or tenants. In most cases, it’s free and easy to set up and use (unless you opt for paid ads), requiring just a little time each day to post content and respond to comments and messages.
You can use social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram to display pictures of the property’s exterior and interior to attract interest and respond to customer queries or requests for a viewing. 97% of estate agents think Facebook is the best platform for real estate.
Know Your Audience
When you advertise a property, you should consider want kind of buyer or tenant you are trying to attract. Knowing your audience will help you target your marketing efforts towards certain clients. Think about the property itself and what kind of owner or tenant it would suit. Is it a fully furnished flat, perfect for students or young professionals? Or is it a detached, four-bedroomed property with extensive gardens that would suit a growing family?
Deciding on your ideal buyer or tenant helps you focus your advert on their needs and wants. For example, if you are trying to sell a family home, drawing attention to the good-sized bedrooms or choice of local schools is a good idea and be sure to mention any extra details about the property that a family might appreciate, such as a downstairs WC, separate utility room or generous storage space. If you are advertising a student let, on the other hand, emphasise features that would be appealing to someone studying locally, such as great transport links, a high-spec finish, high-speed broadband, and any utilities or bills that are included in the rent to entice potential tenants to book a viewing.
Branded Website
75% of people admit that they judge the credibility of a business based on its website design so if you are planning to advertise property via your website, you will first need to make sure that your agency’s website is up to scratch.
These days, most people want to research something thoroughly online before deciding whether or not to make a purchase and that applies to property searches too. Ensure your property listings have all the information that a potential buyer or tenant will want before deciding to book a viewing. Great photographs are an absolute must-have and should showcase a property’s best features. You should also provide detailed and accurate descriptions, ideally with room sizes, and floorplans.
Your website also needs to be easy to navigate and pages should load quickly. Ensure that your site has a contact form with all the ways a customer can reach you, from a telephone number and email address through to social media channels and details of where and when they can visit your physical offices.