There are two ways to launch a property: fast or right. Only one gets you the best results. It staggers that some Agents and sellers slap a “For Sale” sign up and call it a day. No photos, no effort – that’s crazy! If your agent tries to rush your listing without killer visuals, show them the door and find someone who gets it.
Case in point: I recently listed a house that had 9 viewing requests in just 4 days. The secret? Meticulous prep work over 2 weeks. Remember: fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
Here’s the blueprint we always use at Walters:
Step 1: The Appraisal – More Than Just a Number
A new client came via a referral (always a good sign!). He’d seen how I’d sold his friend’s house for full asking price, and he wanted the same. Walking through his property, I understood the features of his home and how best to highlight the unique characteristics.
Step 2: Photography & Videography – Invest in Professionals
Never underestimate the power of visuals. My golden rule? Estate agents shouldn’t be photographers. Hire a pro! We waited four days for my go-to videographer (he’s in high demand for a reason). He spent a day taking high resolution pictures, video and drone footage, to really show off the property and let potential buyers see the full plot footprint. He then spent a few days editing – worth every penny. We always invest our money upfront, to help our clients get the very best presentation and price.
Step 3: Crafting Killer Marketing
This is where the magic happens: We initially flood Social media with a very short “coming soon” video, to create interest, then our full launch on the Thursday.
- Write-up: Short, punchy, and benefit-driven, not a rambling essay.
- Video: Uploaded to all social media platforms and optimized for search.
- Photo selection: We chose the best of the best, highlighting the property’s strengths.
- “Money shot”: That one image that makes people stop scrolling and click.
Step 4: Strategic Pricing – Timing is Key
We set the price just before launch. Why? Because the market can shift in those few weeks of prep. In this case, we landed on a guide price of £400,000.
Step 5: Launch Day – Thursday is King
People browse for properties mid-week, planning their weekend viewings. We found Thursday was our sweet spot. This give us a few days to confirm the viewings for Saturday or Sunday. As most other Agents don’t work Sunday, viewers are not rushing from one house to another, so we get their full attention and can take time to sell the property’s features to them.
The Results Speak for Themselves
By Friday evening, we had 7 back-to-back viewings booked, this creates an air of urgency and buyer competition. Two additional viewings were booked for early the following week. The seller received 3 offers over the asking price and was able to pick the buyer in the strongest position to proceed and complete. This last part is especially important as year to date in 2024, only 48.4% of Lincolnshire homes coming to market actually exchange, the remaining 51.6% of Lincoln homeowners came off the market unsold.
The Takeaway?
Don’t rush the process. Invest the time and effort to present your property in its best light. It’s the key to generating serious buyer interest and achieving a fantastic sale price.
To ensure ALL our clients get the absolute best experience, and a total marketing strategy as unique as their homes, we only list twenty properties per month, our October and November market appraisal slots are now available to book, we ensure that you are always a name and not just a number, with Walters.
