Here is what to expect in 2017. According to Realtor.com, available home inventory is down an average of 11% in the top 100 U.S. metropolitan areas. Within these top 100 metro areas, it takes an average of 68 days to sell a home. What this tells us is, despite inventory being down, the market continues to be fast moving.

With that said, the best way to approach a new year is to develop a plan to be more efficient and productive. But old tips, trick and tactics won’t work anymore. Your 2017 marketing plan should consist of new tactics to attract more homebuyers. Start the year off in the right direction by doing things a bit differently.

Here are 3 tips for 2017 real estate marketing success:

Stage in the virtual age

There are several new ways to impress homebuyers and make your listing stand out. One of the hottest tactics agents are tapping into is virtual staging.

Virtual staging is a great tool that allows you to digitally stage a home by choosing furniture, décor and even a new wall color and modifying professional listing photos. Unlike traditional staging, virtual staging makes a great first impression at a fraction of the cost. In fact, according to the Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes spend 73% less time on the market than non-staged home. 

Experiment with new “high-tech” tools

There are a lot of new tactics that are considered “high-tech” that have recently made a splash in the industry. The most recent new real estate tool to hit the market is drone photography and video. This high-tech tool gives homebuyers a unique perspective of a property. It captures not only the property itself but also its surroundings and landscape.

Another great high-tech tool is interactive floor plans. Going interactive replaces traditional floors plans by combining professional real estate photography with a realistic illustration of a property.

Although these high-tech tools are available for agents, it doesn’t mean agents have to become an expert on them. The only requirement is to understand their value.

Partner with the experts

All these new and advanced real estate tools are value-added services agents can use to attract more homebuyers, but they’re also meant to help agents focus on selling. To save time and money, busy agents like you can access these tools by partnering with a professional who has the expertise. The two biggest benefits of hiring an expert are (a) you don’t have to be an expert yourself, and (b) you save time by delegating a task to someone else.

In 2017, give yourself some slack. Partner with experts who can help take your listings to the next level. Focus more on the selling and let an expert take care of the rest!

For more tips on how to succeed in 2017, be sure to download VHT Studios’ 2017 Guide to High-Tech Trends in Real Estate.