Harcourts Blog

A few years ago it was widely reported that thanks to the hyper-connected world of social media the average adult now has an attention span shorter than that of a goldfish. That’s since been debunked as a myth, but what is a fact is that in today’s busy life most people decide within the first few seconds whether they will watch your online marketing video or switch to one of a man being hit repeatedly by a soccer ball in the face.

A tastefully furnished home is easier to market and sell than an empty one.

These could be challenging times to sell high-end properties and should an estate agent find it in a mess or empty, then home staging might just be an option to consider.

Home staging has become the norm in the US, but in South Africa the upper end of the property market is fast catching onto the trend. A quick Google search reveals there are already 15 top home stagers to choose from just in the Cape Town area.

Digital disruption, coupled with the rapid, ongoing evolution of the real estate industry and property market, has meant that today’s real estate agents – particular those operating with the so-called traditional commission-based fee model – have to contend with a host of new competitive challenges. In order to be consistently successful, they need to step up to meet these challenges with a whole new set of skills and deliver a value proposition which meets the demands of modern consumers.

The decision to sell is made, but how do you ensure potential buyers know your house could be their dream home? Here are five top marketing tools to help you get the best possible result for your sale.

Online presence
More than 80 per cent of  Kiwis look online to find properties for sale[*], so it’s essential your property has a presence on the worldwide web. Consider how to get the most exposure, and include plenty of details so potential buyers can put serious thought in. Your real estate agent can run through the sites that will give the best bang for your buck and advise on how best to describe your property.

There’s a lot of focus on first home buyers, with Government incentives designed to help save a deposit and get a foot onto the property ladder.
Second-steppers – those who already own a home and are looking to upsize or upgrade – are sometimes overlooked. If you’re one of the second-steppers trying to move up the property ladder, here are a few ways to do that.

When selling a property, one of the most important steps is generating interest, and the best way to do this is through a focused marketing campaign. A strong marketing campaign will help you sell your property in the shortest amount of time, for the best price, with the least amount of aggravation. Here are our tips to help get you started.