Marketing your property for sale

When moving house, one of the most important things to get right is marketing your property for sale so that that buyers take notice. 

The good news is that you don’t need to be a marketing expert to grab the attention of potential viewers. There are a few proven tactics you can use to help your home stand out and attract more viewings and offers. 

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about successfully marketing your property, from staging your home for sale to choosing the right photos, putting together a great property description, and getting an eye-catching listing up on Rightmove. 

Use the marketing services of an agent 

One of the biggest advantages of selling your property through an estate agent is the marketing expertise and support they can provide.  

A good agent will know what to prioritise and what to avoid to ensure your home gives the right first impression and has a better chance of securing viewings. By using a proven formula and getting the basics right, they’ll be able to help you in marketing your property for sale effectively all while making the selling process far less stressful.

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Good photos 

Photos are usually the first thing that buyers notice when scrolling through Rightmove, enticing potential buyers to take a closer look. Generally, the best listings will have around 10 images that show off your home’s best assets, making it look bright and inviting. Here, estate agents will generally work with professional photographers that know the angels that are most likely to pique viewer interest. Having them help when staging your home for sale can make a huge difference.  

Include a floor plan 

As well as imagery, many buyers will also want to see a floor plan to assess the property’s layout and get a better idea of whether the spaces and flow could fit their needs. When listing your home on Rightmove, it’s therefore critically important to provide a floorplan of the property. Many prospective purchasers will want to see this before they think seriously about a property, so having one may be the difference between securing viewings or not.  

For sale boards 

While many people now start their searches for potential homes online, traditional property marketing tactics are still surprisingly effective, helping to capture the attention of passers-by that are looking to move locally. Buyers in this category are usually serious – they generally already know the area, and have a good idea they’re looking for. 

Having a sales board outside your property can help to capture the attention of these high-potential buyers, acting as a round-the-clock advert. They may also be a helpful signal for buyers considering a move who aren’t actively monitoring online listings.  

Note: If you have a leasehold property, you’ll need to check whether sales boards are allowed. There are also parts of the country where the local authority has banned the use of for sale boards. Your agent will be able to advise you if this is the case. 

Agent window ads 

Agent window adverts can have similar impact to ‘For Sale’ signs, giving your property greater exposure among locals. Buyers actively scouting an area will stop and look through agents’ windows as part of their property search. With a good advert, you might secure some extra promising viewings. 

Tactics for marketing your home online 

With potential buyers usually comparing multiple listings at once, it’s never been more important to standout online when selling a property. To do so, there are a variety of tools and tactics that can be used to get viewers excited about the idea of booking a viewing.  

Think about the photos 

While agents will draft in professional photographers to help in staging your home for sale, there are several things you can do as the seller to ensure the images they take turn out great. Making time for photographers to come on a sunny day can help to make the property appealing, with photos flooded with natural light.  

It’s also important to consider what the property looks like, ensuring it’s clean and well kept. The furnishings – and time of year in which you’re looking to sell – should also be considered. A picture of your Christmas tree in Spring is not going to help sell your property. Equally, avoid including images of your personal photographs on the mantelpiece – other people want to picture themselves living there, rather than feeling like they’re moving into someone else’s home.  

Consider video or virtual tours 

In addition to well lit, thoughtful photos, video tours or virtual tours with interactive floor plans can also help your property to stand out when listing your home on Rightmove. Providing potential viewers with a more in-depth digital view of the property can help get them excited about a property, with greater perspective of the home’s flow and spaces. Giving buyers a better upfront understanding of what to expect can also help reduce the number of potentially wasted viewings. 

“Ensure your photos have the wow factor and say yes to a video or virtual tour. Properties with video or a tour receive 6% more enquiries than those without” – Cavendish Estate Agents 

Tell your story 

Beyond photos and videos, it’s also worth sharing any personal highlights. Describing some of your favourite features that an agent may not otherwise know about can provide them with additional details to incorporate into the listing and description. 

 “Tell your story – property descriptions including personal stories about living in your home or your favourite room pack a greater punch than just the basic property details” – Cavendish Estate agents 

Give your agent all the information upfront 

When selling a property, it pays to be organised. Gathering as much information as possible upfront will go a long way in ensuring that any potential sale is secured more easily and remove the potential for delays or unwanted issues arising for all parties. 

Buyers appreciate transparency. The more information they have, the more confident they will feel about booking a viewing or submitting an offer.  

Building works 

If any building works have been carried out, from renovations to extensions or other structural works, it’s important to have the right documentation to prove this has been done in a compliant manner. Building regulation certificates and planning permissions will go a long way in reassuring buyers and giving them confidence purchasing. It can also help your market to market any improvements, explaining how much additional square footage has been added in a kitchen extension, and how that has made a difference to the property’s natural light, for example. 

Leasehold info 

Buyers enquiring about a leasehold property will also want to know what obligations it the lease entails from a cost and administration perspective. The remaining length of the lease as well as annual charges and planned works are all details that should be shared transparently. Letting your agent know what’s involved will enable them to answer buyers questions and reduce the risk that sales could fall through due to unexpected surprises emerging down the line.  

Other important documents 

Buyers will also want to know council tax band a property is in, see its energy performance certificate (EPC), and have access to things like boiler service records, electrical safety certificates, and any appliance warranties. Some of these things might not seem important, but they will be for prospective buyers. Gathering documents upfront will help to answer any questions and show that you’re a prepared and reliable seller.  

How to sell your home on Rightmove 

Listing your home on Rightmove can make a huge difference for sellers hoping to achieve a swift and successful sale. Over 70% of all time spent on property portals is on Rightmove*, and more homes are successfully sold and let through Rightmove than any other portal. 

When looking at how to advertise on Rightmove, it’s important to consider that there are many different ways to sell your property. The most common method is by Private Treaty, but other methods exist, like selling by auction, that you could also consider. 

To sell your home on Rightmove, you will need to work with an agent who has an active membership with us. To check if an agent advertises with us, use our Find An Agent search.  

*Source: SimilarWeb

Staging your home for viewings 

Finally, when it comes to viewings, it’s important to make sure that your property is suitably prepared. 

Just as it made sense to tidy up the property and add in some thoughtful touches for the photoshoot, it equally is worth spending some time making sure your property looks appealing when potential buyers come round to take a look in person.  

This doesn’t have to be a costly or overwhelming exercise. A few small tweaks can help to ensure that the space looks calm and welcoming, ensuring that those walking around are left with a good impression.  

Tidying, decluttering and simple considerations such as the right lighting can go a long way. Ensuring that surfaces are clear and clean, and that beds are neatly made are small details that matter. Adding in a few additional touches like fresh flowers or a folded throw can also help to enhance the aesthetic, potentially swaying buyers to opt for your home over others.  

FAQs

• Can you sell a house yourself on Rightmove?

  No, sellers and landlords aren’t allowed to list properties themselves on Rightmove as a private seller – we only list homes from registered estate and letting agents. You can check here for agents near you that list their properties on Rightmove.  

  There are many benefits to using an estate agent to sell your home, such as: 

  • Finding a buyer for your property 

  • Handling viewings 

  • Negotiating the best price 

  • Chasing the many parties involved in getting a sale over the line, such as conveyancers, lenders and other estate agents, especially if you’re in a chain 

• Why is it important to have professional photography and a floorplan on a listing?

  Professional photography and a clear floorplan help buyers quickly understand a home’s layout, size and potential before taking the next step of booking and in-person viewing. High-quality images will help showcase your home in its best light, while a floorplan helps buyers decide whether the space works for their needs. 

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