Compass Greater NY, LLC
Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES, Compass Greater NY, LLCPhone: (917) 623-0624
Email: [email protected]

Prioritize Your Listing for Millennial Buyers

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 10/11/2020

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

The home selling trends for 2020 are predicted to skew toward the millennial generation given the most recent statistics of age demographics. While the exact definition of millennial varies, the term usually refers to anyone born between 1980 and 2000 (give or take a few years in either direction).

Given the relatively large time span of this generation, there's a fairly wide gap when it comes to how they search for homes. We'll give you more information on how home sellers can capitalize on this trend rather than fall victim to it. 

Prioritize Your Listing 

Millennials aren't usually wandering around their dream neighborhoods just hoping to catch a glimpse of an Open House sign. In fact, chances are they're doing a lot of research online before they even consider hiring a real estate agent.

When more than 80% find their home on a mobile device and nearly 100% find their home through an internet search, you need to have an online listing that really speaks to them. Your photos need to be impeccable and your descriptions need to be chockful of the most popular keywords. You may even want to take some high-quality video footage of the inside and outside of the home. 

Bigger Isn't Always Better 

Millennials do care about how big the home is, but they may be more interested in how close the home is to a good school system (especially the older millennials). They may be looking for reassurance as to the quality of the neighborhood or how long the standard rush hour will delay them.

Making Improvements 

If you're planning on doing a little renovating before you put the home up for sale, concentrate on the design flow of the home. For most sellers, it's recommended you put an emphasis on the home's patio, pantry, and garage space as a way to attract more buyers.  It's the functionality that millennials are concerned with, which would explain why things like laundry rooms are more exciting to them than a huge master bedroom.

You may also want to invest a little money in your exterior lighting, as it can be a good way to improve both the look and safety of the home. And if you want to keep your price tag down, millennials are besotted with Style on a Budget decorating, giving you a chance to flex your creativity without having to buy spend too much money. 

Home sellers can talk with a real estate agent to find out if their home is likely to be coveted by millennials or not. It just helps to know what they're looking for before you start inviting people on the property. 

About the Author
Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.