According to the 2020 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 51% of buyers found the home they purchased on the Internet. Indeed, selling your home through online platforms can help you attract more potential buyers because of the broader reach and added value for both sellers and buyers. Your prospects can easily preview photos of the property with just a few clicks, and you, as a seller, can tap various markets for your divestment.
However, it’s important to note that, on average, homes listed directly by their owners sell for 26% less than agent-listed homes. This means that asking a real estate agent to do it for you could be more beneficial. If you are selling your abode without a realtor, advertising it where potential buyers can see it is crucial.
If you’re ready to list your home for sale but don’t know where to get started, here are some websites you can go to:
Founded in 2006, Zillow has the largest database of properties with over 135 million properties listed. It offers the most extensive suite of tools for home buyers, sellers, landlords, renters, agents, and other home professionals. It sources postings from both multiple listing services (MLS) and non-MLS sources. Zillow provides links to get pre-qualified financing. It’s free to list your property on Zillow, and your listing automatically goes into its sister site.
However, their Zestimate algorithm is only as good as the information loaded into the database, so you still have to be cautious with your house-hunting process. Zillow also has an app available for iOS and Android users, making it more flexible and feasible for you to do your property search anywhere and anytime.
Sponsored by the National Association of Realtors, this site has been offering professional help to homebuyers and sellers since 1994. Realtor.com provides access to Remodelista, a source for renovation and remodeling ideas, as well as ListHub, a real estate syndication service.
As soon as you sign up, a partner agent will work directly with you until your home is sold. These agents are familiar with the buyer pool in the neighborhood and community where your property is located. Users can also track their home valuation, equity, and mortgage through the website.
A sister site of Zillow, Trulia promises its users that it “goes beyond the typical listings” to inform them about properties they might want to purchase. What sets Trulia apart is that it also gathers data on other lifestyle factors in a community like school districts, commute estimates, demographics, and even crime rate, which helps a lot of buyers who are relocating to unfamiliar places. Like Zillow, Trulia has a user-friendly interface, making navigation much more of a breeze.
This site has been in the business since 1999 and lists residential properties such as single-family homes, condos, and townhouses. Advertising your property on ForSaleByOwner.com is free, and you can also access helpful features like their home pricing calculator and legal forms. This site has partnered with Rocket Homes Real Estate LLC and Rocket Mortgage to help address various home buying and selling needs.
The downside is that your property won’t show up on the MLS, and your for-sale ad won’t be syndicated on other real estate websites. This means your listing will only be accessible by buyers who visit the website, minimizing your chances of divestment.
Gone are the days when Facebook was just a tool for seeing how your friends were doing in the online world. Facebook’s Marketplace is doing wonders in the online world, even in real estate. It’s an excellent place to start if you want to sell your home and give your listing plenty of exposure. With this platform, you can showcase every inch of your home, and you can even give potential buyers a virtual tour. It also allows buyers to get in touch with you quickly to ask about the property.
However, you won’t have any help when it comes to marketing your place, so you have to step everything up on your own, with photos of your home and the information buyers need to capture their interest. If you have the bandwidth to DIY your property listing, then Facebook Marketplace is at your disposal. If you tapped an agent to help you, make sure your agent is updated on social media algorithm trends to land you a buyer.
Instagram is another great avenue to post about your home. It allows you to upload photos and videos, and provide as much details as possible about the sale. Be sure to use appropriate hashtags though to reach your target audience on this platform. Instagram users who buy things on the platform, including homes, use localized hashtags to find exactly what they’re looking for. So if you’re selling a home in New York, use the hashtag #HomeForSaleNewYork or #HomeForSaleNY.
The Bottom Line
Online platforms have changed the game of real estate. Sellers can now list homes with just a few clicks, and buyers can have access to homes beyond their reach.
Selling your home is an important financial decision in your life, and choosing the correct website to post a listing can land you a great agent, buyer, and quite possibly the perfect deal. Check and compare websites and see what works for you. Tap professional agents when in doubt so they can guide you properly for a smooth home selling journey.
Meanwhile, if you’re eager to sell your home as soon as possible, you can reach out to us here at Shorefront Investments. We buy houses in any condition and location, which means you don’t have to spend time, energy and money on refurbishments, repairs, or other home upgrades. At the same time, we close deals within one to two weeks and provide a real cash offer within 24 hours. If you’re interested, please fill out a form or call (850) 713-4866 to get a no-obligation cash offer free of charge and without commissions involved.