Selling property on social media – That’s just pink elephants!

“If you have been paying attention to how people communicate these days, you’ll no doubt recognise the important part that social media plays in how people connect with families and friends as well as new ways businesses attract new customers.”

Just these important words will set lights flashing in the minds of many estate agents as they are usually the ones who are looking to appeal to the friends and families of their own customers as well as their local community and those researching living in their community. If there is a new way to find more potential clients and importantly, new valuations / rentals then in today’s current market conditions, it should appear at the top of an agents list of things ‘to investigate’ and ‘to do’.

Is social media really a marketing tool that should be taken seriously by estate agents and is it really worth either the time commitment it requires or the investment in money if it is outsourced? Importantly, can social media help you to sell property and find new listings to put on to the market?

Surely, as an estate agent, you want to share success stories, surprise and delight, share new listings, listen to, advise and reply to your current customers and importantlypotential customers? Social media will offer all these opportunities and more…

  • Social media has advanced tremendously and you can now target your marketing campaigns to local people only on the likes of Facebook / LinkedIn.
  • Your clients or the connections of your clients will be using social media so you have a direct channel to find them and engage with them.
  • Property listings can be displayed on social media and if correctly described, can be just as easily found compared to listing on the major property portals or being found via Google.
  • Posting on social media with the likes of ‘special promotion of 0.75% commission on all sales in June‘ can reach just as wide of audience compared to leaflet drops or local newspaper advertising.
  • Enquiries are now being generated via social media from estate agents who are putting in the effort to build and engage their audiences correctly and many are sharing their success stories online.
  • Being clever on social media will gain you great results, hardly likely that ‘visit our website and see all our listings‘ will attract much attention or engagement from other users whereas ‘which colour is the best / most popular for the front doors of our English homes‘ will generate better results which in turn builds brand awareness to increase enquiries, valuation requests and ultimately, sales!

All forms of marketing are important, that is without question and it can be very hard to say which of the marketing tools being used by an estate agent is the one that has actually ‘sold that house’ or ‘acquired that new valuation’. Some agents use codes on marketing such as on leaflets or newspaper advertising, ie HalfPriceJune05,  which helps to pick out where an initiation of a sale can commence, but to pick out if it was a for sale board, a listing on Rightmove, the shop front or an update on Facebook can be difficult to monitor… I mean, most estate agents will have business cards without fail and when’s the last time they can say they sold a house directly with one of them?

All I say to estate agents is that imagine you have the same audience in your control that advertising in your local newspaper holds – Would this interest you? You can build a page on Facebook or an account on Twitter than can give you this by targeting local members. I can say this is important as I own a few similar groups myself which hold members of five figures plus and I have been asked to sell them and usually by the local estate agent (these are ‘buy, sell and swap groups’ which are easier to build and more likely to contain local members).

It would be good to know from Estate and Letting Agents if you have had success in using social media to sell property or claim new valuations either directly or indirectly, please leave your comments below:

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove rental tracker: 50,000 rental properties needed to bring supply back to pre-pandemic levels

Average advertised rents outside of London rise to a new record of £1,291 per calendar month (pcm), though the pace of rent growth continues to slow, with average rents now 8.5% higher than last year London rents reach a new record by two pounds, rising to £2,633 per calendar month. Average advertised rents in the…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Half of Renters Don’t Know Where to Turn When Something Goes Wrong

Results come as TDS Charitable Foundation develops new service to support tenants to uphold their rights. HALF of all private renters would not know where to turn to if a landlord or letting agent failed to address a problem in a property. That’s according to interim results from a new representative survey of over 2,000…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Liverpool’s Real Estate Market: What You Need to Know

Liverpool’s real estate sector presents a dynamic environment for investors, homebuyers, and tenants alike. As the city continues to expand and develop, understanding the nuances of this market is crucial for anyone looking to engage with property in the area. This article provides a comprehensive look at the current trends, investment opportunities, and potential challenges…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Identifying Common Structural Issues in Balconies

Living in a city like Sydney, where a breathtaking view of the cityscape and ocean can be the crowning jewel of your property, it’s no surprise that balconies are key features sought after by homeowners. However, over time, these aesthetically pleasing elements can become a structural nightmare due to a range of issues that compromise…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Stay Safe With Aluminum Ladders: 5 Facts About Lightning Attraction

Whether redecorating, putting items away in storage, or cleaning windows, there are many reasons why you may need ladders. They’re likely an item you have tucked away in your garage or, if a contractor, a tool you carry to and from work. Although highly beneficial, it’s essential to use this device correctly. Why? Aluminum is…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Some Instances Where Landlords Are Liable for Slip and Fall Accidents

In bustling urban environments, slip-and-fall accidents can disrupt lives, leading to injuries and legal complexities; landlords are responsible for maintaining safe premises. From icy sidewalks to poorly maintained staircases, instances where landlords may be held accountable for slip and fall accidents are diverse and nuanced. Understanding these scenarios is a matter of legal obligation and…
Read More