Virtual tours very important in selling your home

Forget about '21' in a card game

My extensive game plan consists of marketing in many ways

By Mark Schadenberg

While I have certainly printed my 'game plan' before. However, I have made some adjustments to this play book since its last appearance in this space.

Firstly, I want to leap in 2014 by reminding house hunters and sellers that I'm a full-time Realtor with now 15 years experience to my name.

I have modified my plan in the area of virtual tours as I recently switched a team member -- changed photographers. Please check out www.realtor.ca, and my condo listing at 507 Nova Scotia Court (MLS: 72416) -- both for the fact the multi-media tour is now narrated, but also some unique almost-aerial photos. 

If there is a checklist of 20 items in selling a home, be sure to hire a Realtor with a list of 22. 

22 Points To Consider 

1 The 'for sale' sign always works 24/7.

2. Never under-estimate the power of Multiple Listing Service and internet. Stats indicate 85% of home buyers are introduced to the house they will buy or the agent they will work with, through internet, mostly the first-looking site of www.realtor.ca.

3. The Royal LePage brand is automatic credibility and the many possible referrals through in-house promoting.

4. This complete full market analysis on home.

5. Market house through personal website of www.markroyallepage.blogspot.com, including several photos (as permitted by vendor).

6. Conduct extensive photo array by hiring a pro photographer -- a series of 'stitched-pictures' in a narrated virtual reality tour, and a 'web commercial' slide show.

7. Advertise additionally on company internet (wesellwoodstock.com, royallepagetriland.com, and royallepage.ca) with interior and exterior photos, and virtual multi-media tour

8. Social Media: Facebook (Group: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland), Twitter (markroyallepage) & Blog (markroyallepage.blogspot.com).

9. Thorough description of home in my email newsletter, which currently is circulated to about 300 people.

10. Place ad on Kijiji site. Again, we're covering all the bases.

11. Conduct open houses at least once every 3 weekends. No matter price range or location, open houses also gain extra awareness through ads and notation on realtor.ca, and in Oxford Review list. A lot of out-of-town people are wandering every weekend around Woodstock.

12. Advertise consistent basis in Oxford Review. Rotation is minimum alternating weeks. Despite my commission split with office -- I am required to pay for these ads.

13. Agents’ MLS tour (Wednesday morning) of new listings. Active agents with active buyers will preview the property. This gets full-time agents into your home to see the value.

14. Produce flyers (New Listing) delivered in mailboxes in same school zone and/or neighbourhood. Someone nearby may know a possible buyer. 'Postcards' produced by myself but our office has an in-house marketing dept.

15. Report on results of showings as conducted by the various sales reps.

16. Market analysis updates as competition changes - homes are listed, others adjust asking price, and some sell.

17. Qualifying buyers. Not possible at an open house, but other showings by myself would only be to qualified buyers.

18. Triland does have an in-house mortgage broker: Dominion Lending Services.

19. Always willing to assist with finding contractors, plus small chores like recycling, and opening up the house for out-of-town agents. Lockboxes are very common now with out-of-town Realtors selling in our market.

20. Represent you on all matters relating to an offer, especially negotiating and attending any formal home inspections.

21. Process successful offer through our office by distributing paper work to lawyers, banks, and others.

22. I am active in the community which I enjoy selling and promoting. As current chair of Woodstock Recreation Advisory Committee, member of Lions Club, and organizing committee for Cancer Society's Relay For Life, I continue to give back / volunteer within the community. In turn, this involvement certainly does supply sales leads. 

REMINDER

507 Nova Scotia Court, Woodstock

MLS: 72416

Asking: $244,500

Available for NOW possession !

A condominium is a choice for lifestyle and location.

A one-floor plan townhouse condominium (with a basement too) featuring a 2-car garage certainly provides for anyone seeking convenience and lifestyle, but the location of your relocation is also paramount.

This end unit with 3 (2+1) bedrooms in Cabot Lane (Off Finkle Street between Parkinson and Pember’s) also completes the neighbourhood aspect as its found near Southside Park (pool, lawn bowling, seniors centre, etc), the community complex arenas, hospital (brand new in November of 2011), Cedar Creek golf course, plus box mall shopping and restaurants. The city development office refers to it as the regional commercial node, but with Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire, Staples and a couple dozen more stores there is lots of reasons to shop on Norwich Avenue.

From the entrance, what is apparent quickly is the modern move-in decor including hardwood floors.

As it’s an end unit, there is a window in the dining room, which may seem like a small point but otherwise the only window in the living-dining room would be at the front.

You will also enjoy the eat-in kitchen with its peninsula countertop and spacious dinette. Garden doors out to a private back deck.

The spacious master bedroom with an ensuite and walk-in closet is also a selling point as is the main-floor laundry.

The expansive lower family room with a gas fireplace is great for holidays and family visits, as it the third bedroom. The unit also has ample storage for holiday visits as you need a place to store the photo albums when your granddaughter visits with her boyfriend.

I think the 2-car garage aspect is very important as almost all empty-nester couples own two cars.

Cabot Lane was built by Z-Group, which is based in London and has built several condo projects there.

Contact: 

Mark Schadenberg (sales rep) today at (519) 537-1553

Royal LePage Triland

757 Dundas St, Woodstock