The real estate market in Atlanta has, like many areas of the country, experienced changes in the last year. Prior to 2007 it seemed as though all a seller need to do in order to sell their home was put a sign in the yard, have the home reasonably priced and make an effort to have it in somewhat show ready condition. Times have certainly changed!

Properly marketing a home for sale is the top priority. Last week I attended a seminar on home sales and marketing and found out some interesting facts. 500% more buyers are likely to find their new home on the internet than in the newspaper and 2400% are more likely to find their new home on the internet than in the free home books. What are these numbers telling us? I think the main thing to be learned from them is that buyers want to look at pictures to see if a prosective home may meet their criteria. Not just one picture but multiple pictures.

This is not to say that homes don’t need to be properly priced and in show ready condition, in addition they must be marketed in innovative ways on the internet with as many pictures as possible. One way to accomplish this is by using an interactive floor plan with “mouse over” icons that show photos of individual rooms as well as a front and rear view of a home. We all remember the old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”, in today’s Atlanta real estate market multiple pictures are worth thousands of words. Without having the right pictures and the right avenues to display them sellers will no doubt experience frustrations with extended time on the market as well as expired listings and then be faced with what some determine as their main marketing advantage, a price reduction.