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Today’s buyers are savvy, digital, and doing their homework long before they step through the front door. That means the way you market your home matters. A lot. From eye-catching online tactics to on-the-ground strategies that spark curiosity, here’s how to give your listing the attention it deserves.
Spoiler alert: Working with an experienced team (hi, that’s us) can make all the difference.
At Cross Street, we believe a successful home sale comes down to four essential pillars:
+ Smart pricing grounded in hyper-local market data.
+ Thoughtful staging that highlights your home’s best features.
+ Strategic marketing across multiple platforms.
+ Personalized representation that puts your needs first.
That third pillar, marketing, is where we bring your home to life for buyers. We use a mix of digital tools, targeted campaigns, and real-world tactics to ensure your listing gets in front of the right people at the right time. Here are our top tips:
Professional, well-lit photography is the non-negotiable first impression. Most buyers browse online listings first, so make yours stand out. Highlight your home’s best features and make it scroll-stopping.
Photos should showcase clean lines, natural light, and spaciousness—decluttering and staging beforehand makes a huge difference. A professional real estate photographer understands angles, composition, and editing techniques that make your space feel warm and inviting while staying true to reality.
Pro tip: At Cross Street, we work with professional photographers who know how to tell a visual story.
The MLS is the gold standard, but syndication to sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com is crucial. Don’t just post and pray—strategically list your home where buyers are already searching.
Make sure your listing is accurate, up-to-date, and formatted correctly for each platform. Every detail matters. Listings that rank higher in search results are those with complete info, keyword-rich descriptions, and frequent updates.
For more information on how the impact of the 2025 Redfin and Zillow Policy Changes will impact your home sale, check out our blog.
When you work with Cross Street, we’ll guide you through the best options to maximize your home’s exposure, whether that includes the MLS, syndication to top sites like Zillow and Redfin, or alternative listing strategies. With new policies creating more flexibility for sellers, we tailor our approach based on your goals and what’s most effective for your property.
Our team stays current on industry shifts so you don’t have to.
Your listing copy should both inform and entice. Think lifestyle, not just layout. Help buyers imagine hosting Sunday brunch in the dining room or working from the sunny screen porch.
A great description blends emotional appeal with practical details. Best practice is to highlight upgrades, recent renovations, and unique features like a walk-in pantry or soaking tub. Use high-intent phrases like “move-in ready,” “walkable to downtown,” or “ideal for entertaining” to match what buyers are searching for.
We write compelling narratives that make your home feel like “the one.”
Share your listing on Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok. Creative captions, behind-the-scenes reels, and neighborhood highlights can grab the attention of passive (but interested) buyers.
Social media lets you tap into your network for organic exposure beyond traditional listing sites. When you list your home with Cross Street, we tap into our network of brokers to promote your home across socials. Between our corporate accounts and our brokers’ accounts, our team has the attention of tens of thousands of cumulative followers, getting your home in front of the right audiences.
Cross Street’s marketing team can help turn your home into the talk of the town.
Add a theme, a snack, or a local vendor pop-up to your open house. Make it an event, not a chore. The more memorable, the better.
Think: coffee and croissants on Saturday morning or a candlelit wine night preview. The goal is to help buyers linger, picture themselves living there, and associate positive feelings with your space.
We’ve hosted everything from coffee cart mornings to happy hour showings. Let’s get creative.
A guided video tour or 3D walkthrough can offer a better sense of layout and aesthetic than simple photography.
Virtual tours also give buyers the flexibility to explore your home on their schedule, from anywhere in the world. Especially in markets where relocation is common, this can make or break their decision to visit in person.
Cross Street listings include modern marketing tools like video and Matterport, making your home accessible 24/7.
Digital ads let you zero in on likely buyers by zip code, income, interests, and more. A small budget can go a long way with the right strategy.
Whether it’s Google Ads, Facebook, or Instagram, we can retarget users who’ve already shown interest in homes like yours, keeping your property top of mind. The best campaigns include high-quality visuals, relevant copy, and a clear call to action.
Our in-house team runs smart ad campaigns that deliver qualified leads to your listing.
Apps like Nextdoor, community Facebook groups, or even a well-placed flyer at a favorite coffee shop can generate real buzz. Tell your friend in a run club, and next thing you know, you’ll have people in HOKAs touring your home.
Local word-of-mouth still carries weight, especially in tight-knit neighborhoods or school districts where people are eager to recommend listings to friends. We also leverage broker-to-broker communication to spark early interest before listings even hit the market.
As locals ourselves, we know how to connect with people right where they are.
Marketing starts before the front door. A freshly mowed lawn, potted plants, and a friendly welcome mat can set the tone before anyone even rings the bell.
Exterior photos are often the thumbnail image buyers see first, so make sure the curb appeal reflects the same care as the interior. Small investments like new house numbers, a porch light, or a seasonal wreath can make a surprisingly big impression.
We’ll give you a pre-listing prep checklist to make your home shine from sidewalk to kitchen island.
You can DIY a lot of things, but a successful home sale isn’t one of them. From pricing to presentation, a strategic partner ensures your home sells faster and for more.
We understand what buyers in your specific neighborhood are looking for and how to position your home to match current trends. We are true neighborhood experts, and have proprietary data at our fingertips that will help you get the most return for your home. With data-backed pricing strategies and a creative marketing engine, Cross Street turns listings into closings.
At Cross Street, we combine deep local knowledge with modern marketing to get you results. No stress, no guesswork, just expert guidance.
Very. Staged homes not only photograph better but also help buyers envision themselves in the space. Even small tweaks, like rearranging furniture or neutralizing decor, can lead to faster offers and higher sale prices.
Spring is traditionally the most active season for real estate, but in 2025, digital marketing has softened seasonal trends. With the right strategy, you can sell successfully year-round, especially in competitive markets like Chicago and Denver.
Yes! Homes with professional photos sell faster and for more money. Smartphone snapshots can’t compete with wide-angle lenses, proper lighting, and thoughtful editing. This is the basic building block that the rest of your marketing relies on. Marketing a home without professional photography is like trying to drive a car with an empty gas tank.
The most effective marketing strategies combine professional photography, exposure on the MLS and ILS platforms, social media engagement, and guidance from an experienced agent. At Cross Street, we also leverage pre-market channels like Top Agent Network (TAN), available only to the top 10% of agents in Chicago, to generate early buzz before your home hits the broader market.
Today’s market demands strong digital presence, video tours, and pricing that reflects local data. A faster sale in 2025 hinges on pricing strategically, standing out online, and using modern marketing tools like video walkthroughs and targeted ads. Working with a brokerage like Cross Street ensures you have a digital-forward, data-informed plan that resonates with today’s buyers.
Every home we represent gets a customized marketing plan based on its strengths, audience, and market conditions. This can include professional photos, MLS exposure, social media promotion, and more. For some properties, we may recommend additional strategies like video tours, broker events, or paid campaigns. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. We know your home is one-of-one, and we market it as such.
Let’s chat. Whether you’re listing next month or next year, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
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