Delaware Valley Real Estate - OnPoint with Letitia Stevenson

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words (Delaware Valley Real Estate)

They say a picture paints a thousand words and when it comes to selling your home, you want those words to end with "sold." It's no secret that better-presented homes get more traffic and more buyer interest, therefore selling faster.

That's why it is essential that you showcase your home through images in the best way possible.

According to the National Association of REALTORS^®, nearly 90% of all homebuyers begin shopping for homes online. Many flip through photos of the homes and send a list of those they want to see to their agent. In fact, homes with few or no photos are often passed over simply for that reason, even if the home's description matches a buyer's ideal listing.

Many agents believe that apart from staging, no other marketing investment is as important as professional photography in marketing a property effectively. So, to generate more buyer interest, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of professional real estate photographers in the past few years.

The best photographs are most likely to come from someone who has an eye for the underlying beauty of the home's structure and spaces; has specialized equipment and techniques for lighting and perspective control; and uses workflow processes for post-processing of the images for use on the Web and in publications.

Let's face it, as much as we all like to think we take great photos, a professional has an eye for seeing the best vantage points and lighting options and also has better equipment to make the photos bright, clear and sharp. A professional photographer will most likely use a 10mm lens that can capture up to 85% of a room and lighting that can illuminate the entire room.

The same holds true with taking video of your home to add to a website listing. An amateur can show what each room and yard looks like, but a video professional will make the strongest elements stand out and provide a much better video narrative of the home. Plus, you don't have to worry about any shakiness or dullness that someone not that experienced with a video camera may give you.

Before bringing in someone to photograph or video your home, it's essential that it is clean and de-cluttered so the pictures entice a buyer to want to see the home in person. You don't want clothes, pets or anything else distracting people from the photo at hand.

Indeed, homes showcased with the best photographs and videos will attract more sellers and help speed the home-sale process to a successful conclusion.

Are You Really Ready to Sell Your House?

Getting ready to sell your house? There are many reasons for selling a house. Perhaps your family is expanding and you need more space. Or, perhaps you're moving from the city to the suburbs (or vice versa). Whatever your reasons are for selling, here are some questions you should ask yourself before your decide to put your house on the market:

• Am I motivated to sell?
• Do I understand the current real estate market?
• Am I realistic about pricing?
• Am I prepared to clean, declutter and stage my house?
• Is my house in shape for a thorough home inspection?
• Am I prepared to make my house accessible, i.e., make it easy for agents to show my home to potential buyers?

If you’re ready to sell your house now, getting it sold will come down to how well your property competes with other homes on the market. Is Your House Ready to Compete in Today's Marketplace?

 Thinking of Selling Your Home? Get It Sold!

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The Chairman’s Report: A Message from Larry Flick, Chairman and CEO of Prudential Fox & Roach, REALTORS® and the Trident Group. The Winter 2011 edition of The Chairman’s Report answers the question “What about the seller?” in a buyer’s market.

GET YOUR OWN COPY! For a copy of this report, please contact me and it will be sent directly to your inbox.

Thinking of Selling Your Home in the Delaware Valley? (DE | MD | PA)

If you want maximum value for your home, request a no-obligation home marketing assessment!

Prudential Fox & Roach is not only the region's Market Leader, but we have a powerful connection to the world's outstanding real estate network. It's an unparalleled combination of professionals and resources at work for you.

As your Prudential Fox & Roach Real Estate Agent, I won't just facilitate the sale of your home. I will create value for you. I'm committed to providing you with more than just a successful real-estate transaction. I believe my clients are entitled to an experience that is convenient, stress-free and remarkably satisfying. If you want maximum value for your home, Contact Letitia Stevenson for a no-obligation home marketing assessment.

Prudential Real Estate Ranked Highest for Seller Satisfaction in J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study

Real Estate consumers have spoken. Prudential Real Estate Network ranks "Highest Overall Satisfaction for Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms," in J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Home Buyer/Seller Study.

The study measures customer satisfaction of home sellers and buyers with major national real estate companies and includes 3,096 evaluations from 2,817 respondents who bought or sold a home between March 2009 and April 2010.

Among home sellers, Prudential Real Estate scored highest on a 1,000-point scale. "This distinction underscores the satisfaction level and consistency of our network through challenging times in our industry," said Jim Mallozzi, chairman and CEO, Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services. "Affiliate to affiliate, our sales professionals are the local-market experts who market and price homes right, while providing attentive service. The more you know us, the more you love us."

For more information, please visit jdpower.com.