How you should market your home in Mexico depends a lot on the current state of the market. When a real estate market transitions from the seller’s advantage to the buyer’s, agents tend to put a lot more money and work into selling listings. In a seller’s market, good marketing can bring higher prices, but in a buyer’s market, it could mean the difference between sold or expired.
Most homebuyers begin their search online, so good photos are essential. Listings without a photo, or with only an exterior shot, are often passed over and ignored. Remember that buyers primarily are visual. Here’s how to make your photos look much better than your competitors:
Photograph the Front of Your Home
- Crop out sidewalks and streets.
- Remove vehicles from your driveway and the front of your home.
- Shoot close-ups and angled photos.
- Avoid shade on the house.
- Clear away vegetation blocking the front door or the path to your door.
Exterior Photographs
- If you own a condo or townhome without a yard, take pictures of the clubhouse, pool, spa or tennis courts.
- If you have a yard emphasize space.
- Remove evidence of pets.
- Put away children’s toys.
- Avoid shooting into the sun.
Interior Photographs
- Make sure you take photographs of every room even if you suspect the room won’t photograph well. The photo quality just might astonish you.
- Open drapes & blinds.
- Turn on lights.
- Focus on interesting details like the condition of a wood floor or a fireplace mantle.
- Remove trash cans and close toilet lids in bathrooms.
- Use floral arrangements in your kitchen and dining room.
In addition to excellent photographs, you should also use these time-proven marketing tactics:
Virtual Tours
Virtual tours aren’t just to showcase million-dollar homes anymore. Every home should have a virtual tour, even if it’s only two spins. Buyers love, love, love virtual tours! Remember, a good virtual tour will grab buyers by the hand and lead them from room to room, showing a 360-degree view.
Signage
Signage encourages home shoppers to immediately call you or your agent. It’s free advertising!
- Some homeowner associations prohibit real estate signs.
- Ask a neighbor whose home is located at the corner of a busy street for permission to put a sign in their yard with an arrow pointing in the direction of your home.
- Agent signs should include the phone number of the closest office.
Direct Mail
If you’re an unrepresented seller, you can buy mailing lists from list brokers. If an agent represents you, ask him/her about a direct mail program. I prefer oversized, four-color postcards because they are inexpensive to mail and eye-catching. Mail your postcards to:
- Neighbors, because just about everybody has friends and relatives who might want to move near them.
- Agents who represent buyers in your neighborhood.
- Buyers who live in other areas but may relocate to your neighborhood.
Open Houses
Not every home is suitable for an open house due to location or other factors. Sometimes the only way to determine if an open house is effective is to try it. If your home is located near a high-traffic area where buyers often swarm, then it’s a good candidate.
- Place open house signs throughout the area directing buyers.
- Advertise in the newspaper.
- Invite the neighbors!
This blog is based upon legal opinions, current practices and my personal experiences. I recommend that each potential buyer or seller conduct his/her own due diligence and review.
