How should an agent market my home?
Updated October 9, 2026
Watch Larry’s explanation
Captions are included.
Marketing should give the right buyers a clear reason to take a closer look. Putting a home online is one part of the job. The plan should explain how we will present your property, reach buyers, make showings practical, and use the response to guide our next steps.
Ten ways to strengthen your marketing plan
Start with your goals
Before deciding how to market your home or scheduling photographs, discuss your timeline, the home’s condition, your budget, and the result you are trying to achieve. The marketing plan should serve your situation.
Connect marketing with the asking price
A polished campaign needs a price buyers can understand in relation to competing homes. Discuss comparable sales and current listings before listing. Marketing and pricing should support each other.
Prepare the home before creating the materials
Clean, declutter, address priority repairs, and review curb appeal before photography. Decide which work is worth doing and what can reasonably be completed on your schedule.
Use clear, accurate photography
Ask how photographs will show the layout, light, and useful features of your home. Images should invite a visit and give buyers an honest expectation of what they will see.
Choose useful supporting media
A floor plan, video, virtual tour, or drone view may help explain a particular home. Ask what each item adds for buyers and which items are included in the plan.
Describe what makes the property useful
The description should explain the home’s features clearly: room arrangement, outdoor space, updates, and other relevant details. Verify facts rather than relying on broad claims or exaggerated language.
Explain where the listing will appear
Ask about MLS entry, distribution to property search sites, agent outreach, and any planned social or paid promotion. Understand what is included, what costs extra, and when each step will happen.
Make inquiries and showings easy to handle
Agree on who responds to inquiries, how appointments are arranged, and workable showing windows. Buyers who want a closer look need a clear path to get one.
Set a communication schedule
We’ll agree on when you will hear from me and what each update will cover. Useful updates connect buyer activity, showing feedback, competing listings, and any recommended next step.
Agree on how the plan will be reviewed
Discuss what we will examine if the response is weaker than expected. We should look at presentation, exposure, access, price, and competition together rather than repeating the same plan indefinitely.
Questions to ask before you sign
Get all the details, including your financial commitment (commission or other brokerage fees) and what type of media will be used to market the property (photography, video, or drone). What’s the plan? Don’t be shy about asking me what my plan is to get you the highest possible price for your home, because in the end, that is the ultimate goal in most cases. Make sure you are on board with the plan, or you’ll always be second-guessing it.
A practical example: exposure without a clear presentation
A seller canceled a listing because they felt their agent wasn’t doing enough advertising. The home had been marketed with dim photographs, a vague description, and limited showing windows. When I reviewed the listing with the seller, I pointed out those other deficiencies that may have contributed to the disappointing results.
More advertising would have put the same presentation in front of more people. We discussed the importance of clear photographs, useful property details, and workable showing access, along with reviewing the asking price against competing homes. The lesson: look at the entire plan before deciding that any one aspect alone is the problem.
Before your home goes live
- Agree on your goals, initial list (or “launch”) price, and timing.
- Complete the preparation needed for photographs.
- Review the listing details and planned marketing materials.
- Confirm the listing schedule and showing arrangements.
- Set a regular update and early review plan.
Common questions
Does every home need every type of marketing?
No. Choose the tools that help buyers understand your property and fit your goals. I’ll explain the purpose and cost of each part of the plan.
Will more advertising overcome an asking price that is too high?
The short answer is no. Advertising can create exposure, but buyers still compare value. If showings or offers are weak, review price alongside presentation, access, and the competing homes.
What should I look for when comparing agents?
Hire an agent you know, like, and trust. Make certain you are all in agreement on list price, showing access, open houses, marketing, and review schedule. Have goals set and a schedule to review results.
“Your Marketing Matters”
Before you make your next move…
Let’s build a marketing plan that presents your home clearly, makes it easy to show, and supports the result you want.
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