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real estate advice

drones-how-are-they-used-for-real-estate

For various industries, drones have been used for other roles, especially when working that humans can’t typically do. In the shipping industry, drones are used for traversing through demanding terrain while delivering packages to clients. Drones have also been used by different security forces worldwide for surveillance and even warfare. Since drones have been used to help ease up on labor in various industries, it’s also logical that the real estate industry would also follow suit.

Since drones are the craze these days, it’s one of the industry’s newest trends. Taking breath-taking aerial views and images has been a tried and tested way of getting the public’s attention. Most wedding and event photographers know this and have incorporated drones in capturing landscape images. In addition to getting a better lay of the land, it’s easier to get shots on places that people won’t usually see, which can come in handy if there are potential buyers.

But does how do these real estate drones help real estate agents? How does this help attract more potential buyers into the scene? Here’s what you’ll need to know.

How Do Drones Help with the Industry?

Before anything else, we have to first look at how drones help real estate agents and most industry workers.There are essentially two types of drones that are incorporated in the industry:

Residential drones – These types of drones are used by property clients (real estate agents) looking for aerial shots. Compared to the commercial drone, these shots won’t necessarily include the land around the property. Most expert photographers and drone operators would say that an altitude of 30 to 70 feet high while the drone is fixated on the main structure is known for captivating most potential buyers.

Commercial drones -On the other end, commercial drones are used by real estate investors and land development companies to sell the land in the area usually. That will typically have a larger site.

If you’re looking for real estate agents that can effectively market and take breath-taking snapshots of your home with or without drones, you must take a step back and take some time on whom you’re planning on hiring for the business process. Most real estate agents, such as real estate agents, are known for using key marketing strategies in selling homes.

Accuracy of Shots

As most of us know, aerial shots are quite different from images on the ground. There’s no problem when most real estate firms upload photos of homes and properties on social media platforms and sites but will often use traditional

cameras. However, it might “dupe” sellers into coming to the property with their expectations not being met.

While traditional shots still do work, it’s going to be a challenge in getting to different areas that most people can’t go to. Drone shots are a great way of getting a more “realistic” feel of the property and the land.

Storytelling

A part of marketing a home is looking into the rich history of a particular home. Most buyers want to know the type of hole that they’re getting into. Being able to tell a compelling story is a determining factor that can usually win listings.

Most websites that sell properties that have aerial views can easily attract a technologically savvy clientele while also bringing an edge over the sites of other competitors.

Commercial Licensing and Exams

We understand that most people are excited to fly their own drones, but it’s crucial to remember that most will need a commercial license when flying drones. When you’re getting your license, this will involve exams that will cover different aviation and airspace regulations. These exams will also cover various aviation restrictions and the capabilities of drones in terms of physical characteristics.

Drone operators will also have to remember that local restrictions can stop individuals and commercial users from flying drones in a particular area, especially in state parks and close to public infrastructure. Most of the time, regulations will come to vary from one city to another.

Some drones are also programmed to not fly over restricted and unsafe areas through geofencing.

Some firms also specialize in providing insurance requirements for drones that are used in real estate. Most of the time, general liabilities will be extended to include drone accidents. Still, most real estate firms should consider investing in this type of insurance, especially when drones are prone to accidents.

In summary, using drones can give real estate agents an advantage in marketing by showing realistic images of different aspects of the home. Most real estate buyers love knowing the geography and topography of the land. Drones are the best way of giving an in-depth view of the property.

Besides, who wouldn’t want a drone, anyway? They’re easy to operate, can be used in various activities, and can be practical for a variety of different events and industries. Still, it’s important to note that real estate agents don’t necessarily need a drone to sell their home. However, having these types of drones can efficiently expedite the process, especially when aerial shots easily lure people in.

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home-staging-advice

“I’m in need of some Home Staging Advice. I know I need to stage my home but where do I start and what do I need to do?”

Home Staging Advice is my speciality! I love staging homes and I love helping sellers get their home ready for the resale market.  It’s amazing to hear everyone’s Home Staging success stories!

When it comes to home staging every property has different needs but the basics that you need to address are the same. Your relationship with your real estate agent (if you are using one) is also really important.  You want to make sure that your agent understands your competition in the market place and that your home is positioned in a competitive way.

 

My Home Staging Advice is to address theses 7 basics:

  1. CLEAN AND DECLUTTER
  2. MAINTAIN
  3. REPAIR
  4. DE-PERSONALIZE
  5. NEUTRAL
  6. UPDATE
  7. STYLE

Start at the top of this list and work your way down.

Let’s start with Clean and Declutter –

Give the house a really good up and down thorough cleaning.  This is a good start.  A clean house feels amazing and everyone loves the feeling of a clean house.  You can do this yourself or hire a professional.  But this is a must! Go through all of your junk – old clothes, old boxes of random things, books and more….unload what you no longer need – this will lighten up the feeling in your space (and your mind, too – clutter is a source of stress), make moving easier and less expensive and the overall look of your home and storage spaces will improve (buyers are looking for storage so you don’t want the closets to be chaotic!)

 

Maintain

This is important because a maintained house is a house that has been cared for. When a house is cared for buyers sense that and they have some real peace of mind. So start with small things like leaky faucets, loose door knobs, burnt out light bulbs….Go through your house (or ask a close friend or a professional home stager) with a fine tooth comb and tackle those details!

Repair

So this falls under the same umbrella as ‘maintain’ but this is for larger issues like a broken appliance, a cracked floor tile, electrical outlets that don’t work.  A home in disrepair tells buyers that this home is a mess and needs attention (and if there is an offer, it won’t be a good one). So be sure to take on those repairs before hitting the real estate market!

De-personalize

By removing your personal items, memorabilia and style from the house – this really allows buyers to ‘mentally move in’.  You will be taking your personal items like family photos, religious pieces and collectables with you anyway…so think of this as a pre-pack. You don’t want buyers to feel like visitors during a private viewing or open house, you want them to feel at home.

Neutral

This is closely connected to De-personalizing the space.  When we move into our home we get creative with colours, wall paper and other decorative elements but when it comes to home staging you really need to tone that all down and go neutral. Especially on the walls! Paint makes a huge impact on the look (and feel of a house) so a fresh paint job in a neutral tone is a great idea (and a good investment).

 

Update

Please don’t be thrown off by this….update doesn’t mean renovate. Small updates can make a whole home feel fresh and new again. How many updates and what you update- well that’s a conversation to have with your real estate agent. Remember what we said about being competitive? Your real estate agent can let you know what your competition is offering in the price point, so certain updates may or may not being worth it. Changing up light fixtures can make a huge difference in a home, new hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms, new carpet (or professionally cleaned carpet), stone counter tops….be sure to have a chat with your agent so you are competitive!

Style

This is a the pretty part and it makes a huge difference it how the house present in your photos. A house without any style or decoration just looks sad. You want your buyers to feel happy when they are walking in the property. So proper scale and positioning of furniture is important and then add a little something.  For some of my favourite Home Staging props, Click here.  But add some accent pillows to the sofa (new ones that you can use at your new place!), a few decor items on coffee tables and/ or fireplace mantle, art and fresh flowers and/ or bowl of fruit.  And be sure to always make the bed.  You don’t need all new furniture or decorative accents to make your home look it’s best, just follow our home staging advice.

 

Remember that home buying is an emotional experience so make buyers feel at home and at ease. Let them mentally move-in … Home Staging shows off the potential of the home and helps your property stand out from the rest. A staged home never sits for long! 

Good luck,

 


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we-answer-wednesday-how-to-create-curb

“My house is hitting the real estate market very soon.  I know we have a great house on the inside but right now in this early spring weather, it’s not looking great.  What can we do to increase our curb appeal when our gardens aren’t in bloom?”

 

You are so right!

Depending on where you live this time of year isn’t the prettiest.  The good news is there are simple things that you can do to show off your great outdoor space. But your home is on the market now and you don’t want to wait until the gardens are in full bloom.

 

The gardens aren’t quite in bloom yet and the garden centers are gearing up for the season but in some areas it is still a bit early for planting.  But the grass is green, so use what you have and make the best of it.  So start with giving your yards (front and back) a good raking.  There is always some dead leaves and branches on the ground – just getting those off the grass will give the exterior a clean look.  Depending on your area you grass might be a bit on the long side.  So give it a mow and you will notice how much neater everything looks.

 

Flowers are a great way to add a splash of colour but because you are selling you might not want to make a huge investment in flowers this spring season plus it is still a bit early for planting.  A great alternative is planters at the front of the house and if you have a great deck space, some planters at the back are a nice touch too. So in these early spring days which flowers can handle this fresher weather? Potted Pansies are a great option – they are sturdy and colourful and if you take care of them, they will last all summer.  A bit of height is a good idea when creating your planters – in the spring we love forsythia – the pop of yellow draws the eye in!

 

Remember these 3 words when creating a planter:

Spill, Fill and Thrill

 

– in other works, have some greenery or flowers that hang over the edge of the planter, have some plants and flowers that fill the majority of the pot (of medium height) and some height – the image below is a great example of a spring planter.

 

Create a welcoming vignette at the front door – this is the buyers first impression of the home so make it count! If you have a porch put out a bench with a pillow for a pop of colour.  Try a wreath on the front door.

Just because it isn’t summer yet doesn’t mean you can’t set the scene for buyers.  So pull out and dust off that patio furniture – maybe this is a bit early than usual but remember you are show casing your home for buyers so you want them to see how they would enjoy summer BBQs and get togethers outside.  So place the furniture like you would if you were entertaining so have a dining area and a seating area. Roll out the BBQ and take off the cover.  Now that the furniture is set up and clean, make it pretty with some outdoor pillows and maybe even an outdoor rug – it creates a welcoming scene for buyers.

 

 

Want to take it to the next level?

For the photos you can set the dining table or at the seating area, set up a tray with a pitcher  – this will help make that emotional connection with the potential buyers who are looking online.

If you have a pool, make sure to have it open and running.  A pool always looks better (and photographs better) when it is blue and beautiful!

If you have incredible gardens or a beautiful flowering tree look through your photos and see if you have some beautiful ‘full bloom’ summer photos to share with your agent – these would be great to show buyers as well.

Other curb appeal factors to look into:

– check all exterior lighting are the bulbs in working order ?
– brush away any cobwebs or other debris that may have collected over the winter
– check the mailbox, is it rusted or loosely affixed to the house?
– does your doorbell work?
– how is the paint on the front door?
– how is the roof?
– sweep the walkways, driveway, porch and decks

Buyers are looking to buy their new home not your old one – so take the time to set the scene and get it sold quickly!

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