Digital Curb Appeal: The Secret To Selling For More

July 2, 2024 | Staging Facts

What is digital curb appeal and why does it matter?

Curb appeal is a hot topic in Houston real estate. From painting entry doors a trendy color to expert landscaping, the details matter more than ever.

Digital curb appeal refers to the fact that most homebuyers in Houston begin their search for a home online, before even driving past a house they will potentially buy. The popularity of sites like Zillow have helped streamline the homebuying process like never before. Buyers can even take virtual walkthroughs of homes, making buying a home as simple as ordering takeout.

What does this mean for you as an agent? Much like anything done online, the homebuying process is now faster than ever. Buyers will scroll through photos and if they see something they don't like, they move on to the next listing, leaving yours in the dust.

So having photos that stand out and showcase a home in the best possible light is essential to selling a house in Houston in 2024.

How do you increase the digital curb appeal of a home?

There are many steps you need to take in order to improve the digital curb appeal of a home. The traditional curb appeal tactics are still important, as photos of the home's exterior will still be featured on Zillow. But it is equally important to make the interior of the home look great for potential buyers.

Step 1: Hire a professional Houston home staging company

Staging is an art, and is often more about what isn't in the home than what is. Professional stagers think about your listing in terms of how it will look in photos and videos as well as in person. Understanding spacing, lighting and color theory are just some of the elements that go into the staging of a home.

That being said, stagers do a lot of removal. They take old furniture, knickknacks and other items out of the home in order to show the spaciousness of a house, so buyers can focus more on how they'll live in the house rather than what kind of furniture the current owners have.

Step 2: Hire a professional photographer

Say this with us: iPhone photos are NOT acceptable. Even with the improvements in cell phone cameras over the years, using one to photograph your listings not only makes the home look small, it also tells potential listing clients that you don't invest in your listings. While professional photography used to be only done by some agents, it is now the norm in Houston real estate and those that don't hire a photographer for their listings aren't winning many contracts.

Step 3: Promote your listings

One of the main components of digital curb appeal is visibility. Some homebuyers don't go to Zillow to look around. You need to meet them where they want to be met. This means using social media to showcase your listings. Giving your listing more exposure will help sell it for more money. A well staged, beautifully photographed home that is properly promoted on all digital channels will sell for more money.

When it comes to selling Houston real estate, you can't afford NOT to stage your listings. Contact HFR today to get your next listing sold for top dollar.

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