Easy Ways to Increase Your Home's Screen Appeal

Even when we're not in the midst of a global pandemic, research has shown that most home buyers begin their home search online before looking at homes in person. Because of that, it's more important than ever to make sure your home as the best "screen appeal" possible.

Here are 6 easy tips that will increase your home's screen appeal and help it stand out from the competition online.

#1: Update your space

When a buyer is looking at your home online, it's really easy for them to compare it to a bunch of other houses also on the market. So we recommend updating and neutralizing your space as much as possible before listing it so it's easy for buyers to imagine themselves living there.

Give the interior a fresh coat of paint, remove personal photos, de-clutter. Still have linoleum floors or counters? You may want to invest in updating those to get more interest and higher offers.         

#2: Hire a stager

We always recommend a stager to our sellers - even if it's just to consult on what to remove and what to keep inside the home to help it show and photograph the best it can. They'll help you rearrange furniture so it makes the most sense to prospective buyers and will help your home look as clean and attractive as possible.

If you're planning on selling a vacant home, stagers are also great for bringing in furniture and accessories to warm up the home.                   

#3: Use professional photography

While smart phone cameras are getting better, they are still no match for professional real estate photography. Professional photos will help any home look 100x better online. Photographers know how to get the best lighting and the best angles to show off your home.                  

#4: Light up your house

When our sellers are getting ready for showings, we always tell them to open up the blinds and turn all the lights on in the house. So, when you're preparing your house for photos, we recommend the same thing! Make the house as light and bright as possible because you're more likely to get more positive attention with a home that's bright than a home that's dark.

#5: Call out unique home details

There's a lot that people can tell from looking at photos, but it's also a good idea to specifically call out any special or unique details about your home. Maybe you did make some updates before selling - list those out! Are your kitchen counters made from ancient Grecian marble? Call attention to that as well! You can include details like those in the property description, photo caption, or you can attach marketing to the listing that details those special features for prospective buyers.             

#6: Utilize video and 3D tours

As we've transitioned to more of a "virtual" approach when working with our sellers and buyers, we've really doubled-down on property tour videos and 3D Matterport tours. Both of these give prospective buyers the option to see the flow of the home without ever having to step foot inside the actual home. This comes in very handy when marketing to out-of-state buyers who don't have the opportunity to come see homes in person before purchasing.