Author: Brian Ashworth April 4, 2023

Guest Post By Arnold Rogers

The key is to use some simple marketing principles to choose which home improvement projects to undertake, and how to sell these features to prospective buyers.

One great way to do that is with digital marketing, including ads.

This page has everything you need to know, whether you are selling your improved home or selling home improvement products to homeowners.

1. Understand The Market

Owning a home is a personal thing.

When it comes to selling a house, you need to understand what people are looking for.

Although you might love stained glass windows, if they turn off potential buyers, they can lower the value of your home.

To understand the market better, take a look at local real estate listings – especially those in your suburb or neighborhood.

Which listings sell quickly? . . . . Which stays up for years without selling?

What you’ll discover is that some homes fit an average person’s needs better than others.

The more your home suits the needs of the people who are shopping for houses in your area, the quicker it will sell and the higher you can price it.

What kind of home improvement projects are people looking for in your area?

What kind of home improvements or features do you see in listings that sell quickly?

2. Turn Your Home Into a Brand

If you understand what people like most about your home, you can build an identity around it.

For example, a house with a beautiful backyard, swimming pool, and games room is likely to attract a family that loves play and the outdoors.

A minimalistic house in an artsy style might be more attractive to couples without children, or art lovers.

Imagine the kind of person who looks at your house and says “it’s what I’ve always wanted.” This is the person you should try to appeal to.

When deciding on home improvements, ask yourself if it fits with your home’s brand.

Installing a basketball court might be a good decision for a family fun house, but a poor one for a minimalist artsy villa.

Likewise, adding a wine cellar might increase the value of a small upscale home, but might not be a selling point for families.

3. Use Visuals

When it’s time to sell your home, visuals express more than words can.

The improvements you make to your home won’t increase its value unless you can show potential buyers what they look like.

Professional photography and videography can make a big difference.

However, you don’t necessarily need a big budget to use visuals effectively in your listings, especially if you have a good eye for photos.

All you need is a basic camera or even a decent smartphone.

Ensure that all photos are clear and bright, and that video isn’t too shaky or noisy.

Ask other people for feedback on which photos look best in the listing.

4. Fix What’s Broken

Renovating parts of your home that are functional is usually a bad investment.

It might create a better living space, but the cost will outweigh the increase in value.

Instead, focus on renovating or improving the weak points in your home – the areas that turn off potential buyers.

Unfinished areas, exposed insulation or wiring, or stained or damaged areas are prime candidates for renovations.

If you restore these areas, you get a double benefit. You eliminate a drawback and add a benefit.

This can also help you avoid a critical mistake that many home renovators make: pricing themselves out of the market.

If you spend so much on renovating your home that you need to raise the sale price above what most people are willing to pay, you may end up waiting longer to sell or lowering the price and losing money.

5. Use Multiple Marketing Channels

These days, buyers are more discerning than ever and they often need more than a couple of “nudges” to take action on a great deal.

You can reach more potential buyers and give out more “nudges” by being on multiple platforms.

Use every form of marketing at your disposal to sell your home, from social media and word of mouth to real estate listing sites and brokers.

Smart marketers never rely on just one source of traffic.

Tell everyone you know that you’re selling your home, and if some time passes – remind them!

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or send an email to someone you think might be interested, especially if you know they are in the market and they appreciate the kind of renovations you have done.

Make Money Improving Your Home

You can undertake home renovations and pass most of the costs along to the next buyer – but only if you know how to market your home effectively.

Following some simple marketing principles can put you ahead of 80% of other sellers on the market.

• • Renovate your home to fit what buyers are looking for
  • Understand your home’s “brand” and selling points
  • Use good photos and videos that illustrate your home’s renovations
  • Renovate your home’s weak points – don’t spend too much improving what already works
  • Use social media, word of mouth, and every platform possible to spread the word

With these tips and the help of digital marketing professionals and realtors, you can leverage home renovations to sell your house faster, and at a higher price.