TIPS TO TAKING A GOOD PHOTO click here

TIPS TO WRITING AN EFFECTIVE AD

Much care should be taken in writing an ad so that you may attract the largest possible number of potential buyers.  

We recommend the following guidelines to assist you in writing your ad text:

• Look at advertisements for homes to learn how other sellers write their ads. A good resource is your local For Sale By Owner magazine.

• List the 10 most positive things about your home; then use them.

• Develop an attention-getting headline.

• Be aware of your homes' vital statistics other than number of bedrooms and baths: such as total square footage, tax value, schools, churches, bus stops, and other community features.

• List several of the most desirable features of your home. Don't forget to include features such as: family room (FR), rec. room, dining room (DR), garage or carport, fireplaces (FP's), decks, fencing, storage building(s), landscaping, trees, stream, etc. Since many buyers purchase homes for emotional reasons, such descriptions as “cozy” fireplace, “sunny” deck, or “sparkling” stream are very effective.

• Emphasize any features or desirable financing that your home may have.

• Mention any Open Houses that you hold including the hours the home will be open. Normal Open House time periods are Sunday 1-3pm. This affords buyers the opportunity to attend church or any other weekend function during the morning, have lunch and then go to your open house.

• There is no need to specify the city, square footage, or number of bedrooms and baths in the ad. You'll notice that ForSaleByOwner.com magazine has placed this information where it is easy for the buyer to find.

• Disclose the home's approximate location (neighborhood).

• Consider a theme of urgency in the ad- such as “RELOCATING”, or “MUST SELL BY” to attract more interest. Only use accurate and honest information.

• Home prices are usually advertised with either $500 or $900 at the end (eg. $149,900 or $215,500) Property that is priced at $199,900 will look $10,000 cheaper than one marketed at $200,000.

• Don’t use confusing abbreviations just to save space. It is annoying and difficult to read.

• In the magazine, your ad is restricted by the size ad you purchase. 

• A 1 Block ad allows for 1 Photo + 450 characters (including spaces) of description.

• A 2 Block ad allows for 2 or 3 Photos + 600 characters (including spaces) of description.

• A 3 Block ad allows for 1 Photo + 450 characters (including spaces) of description.

• The websites allows for 3000 characters (including spaces) of description.  HINT: Most word processing programs have a “word count” option on the tools menu, which will allow you to count your characters quickly and easily.

First Impressions are Lasting Ones…

TAKE THE BEST PHOTOS

A fabulous photo is key in getting your home noticed and making that all-important first and lasting impression to your prospective buyer.

DO IT RIGHT!

(CLICK HERE FOR BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS)

1. Be aware of what direction (N, S, E, W), the front of your home faces!!!

2. Take photos when the sun is shining on the FRONT of the home (i.e. the sun should be “behind” you).

3. Try to take photos on a blue-sky sunny day or without too many clouds.

4. Make sure the front of the home is “picture perfect”

• Garage doors closed 

•  No cars, toys or garbage cans in the photo

• Enhance the front of your home with large flowers or flowerpots

5. Try to take at least 3-6 photos of the front of your home - from different angles and distances: Pick the best. Photographs taken from the opposite side of the driveway usually look best because the focal point is the house and landscaping - not the driveway and garage door.

WHAT KIND OF CAMERA?

Digital

A good quality digital camera will yield very good photos. Set the camera on the highest resolution setting. If you don't own a digital camera, try to borrow one from a friend, neighbor or employer. Email up to 6 photos as jpg attachments to: detroit@forsalebyowner.com or bring them to one of our offices on a CD.  The file size on such jpgs should be 200K or higher.  (Many drugstores / photo centers now offer services to help you to put photos from a digital camera or flashcard onto a CD for you.)

35 mm

Take your best shots and mail/bring in to one of our offices. We will scan your photos at our office to convert them to digital files. If you have a scanner, you may scan your photos at 300 dpi and email to: detroit@forsalebyowner.com

What not to do…

• No Polaroid /Instamatic prints

• No color printer pictures

• No “camera-phone” images

• No images taken with a video camera

In marketing your house, our goal is to make your home look as attractive as possible with full color photo advertising.  A low quality photo will not show your home in it’s best light and will ultimately slow or stifle the sale of your home.