Why is a Floorplan So Important to Property Buyers and Why is it a Must If You Are Selling
Mov 8 Real Estate / July 28, 2014
When marketing a property, you might think that the most important aspects in presenting the property would be top-quality photographs and a beautifully-written description. However, recent research suggests that floorplans are also at the top of the list for buyers. So why, if you are selling, is getting a floorplan an absolute must?
A study by the UK’s largest property website, Rightmove, of around 10,000 respondents, showed that over one-third of buyers were less likely to enquire about a property without a floorplan. The research also showed that one in five potential buyers would ignore a listing that did not contain a floorplan, only going back to it if they were unable to find something else that caught their eye (http://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/property-news/maximise-chances-finding-buyer-floorplan).
In previous research by Rightmove it was shown that properties marketed with a floorplan created 30% more interest than properties without one.
These statistics highlight the importance of floorplans in today’s market and demonstrate that, quite simply, a floorplan increases your chances of selling your property!
Is a floorplan as important as photography?
The research carried out by Rightmove showed that other than the number of photographs that the property has, a floorplan is the most important when looking for property. It is the photographer’s job to make the property look desirable and take the best images possible to appeal to potential buyers. The floorplan supports these images by providing a definitive picture of the property layout.
Why do buyers want to see a floorplan?
Buyers stated that they want to see a floorplan so that they could visualise the room layout, to see where rooms fit in relation to others rooms and to understand the flow of the property.
Dimensions are an important aspect. Buyers want to see clear dimensions so that they can assess whether the property meets their needs. These dimensions can be noted on the floorplan itself or beside the room descriptions, giving sense to the floorplan.
This allows buyers to picture the property as their own, rather than someone else’s, as they can see how their own furniture would fit in the space and see how they would live with the actual, or potential, layout, for example if they were looking to knock-through a wall or reconfigure the space. Alternatively, if they need to purchase furniture for the property, they can use the floorplan as a template for designing their new interior layout.
On a practical level, using a floorplan saves time for both buyers and sellers. From a buyer’s perspective, they don’t end up wasting time viewing properties that they don’t like the layout of or that don’t have the space they require. In return, sellers don’t waste time showing the property to people who will lose interest as soon as they are inside the door.
Is a floorplan only useful before a viewing?
Floorplans aren’t only useful to buyers before a viewing: they can also help buyers to visualise the property after they have viewed it. This is particularly helpful where the potential buyers are considering making structural alterations to the property, such as knocking down walls or creating an additional room. A floorplan on a printed schedule can even allow a potential buyer to make notes and annotations when they are in the property, increasing ‘buy in’ from the potential buyer.
Floorplans can also make a property seem larger. It is possible to forget certain parts of the property after a viewing, especially lofts, basements, box rooms, pantries and cupboards where the space might be differently utilised by the potential buyer. By showing all the available space on the floor plan, this reinforces the overall size and the potential of the property with the result that perceived value is increased.
Conclusion
It is clear that floorplans are becoming increasingly important in the marketing of properties and that they provide a real advantage to sellers. The potential to increase interest and encourage viewings and sales means that, in our opinion, floorplans are a must when you are putting your property on the market..
Floorplans – do we need them?
Hometruths.co.uk
Floorplans are a relatively new addition to property details. Originally they were only made available for either very grand homes, or new builds. Now much more prevalent and even the humblest of studio flats usually have a floorplan on the details. But why are they so important?
There are three elements to a floorplan that are important in its usability; firstly, it needs to include measurements. Too many poorly-drawn floorplans often have the measurements missing, or else they are instead included in the written description where they lack context. The right place for room dimensions is in the floorplan, so that a buyer can easily ascertain their relative sizes. Secondly, it should include a compass market, so a buyer can tell which way the front of the house and more importantly, the garden, faces. The last element that should be detailed on a floorplan, is the overall square footage. This allows the house to be compared with other properties, so that a buyer can instantly see how much house he’s getting for his money. In the UK, we often sell houses on number of rooms only, and as a result, room sizes are getting smaller and smaller. These days, a four bedroomed house can take up the same footprint as a three bedroomed property would have done thirty years ago. To be able to see the total floor area gives a buyer the opportunity to ensure he is getting good value for money.
So why is a floorplan important? There are three main reasons:
1. It helps a buyer see how the house ‘works’, and therefore whether it is worth a viewing. Room flow, relative sizes and layout are all factors that a buyer will take into consideration, especially family buyers, and he won’t want to waste time by viewing properties which just aren’t suitable for his needs.
2. A floorplan can help a buyer to visualise the property after the viewing. This can become useful when he may be considering making layout changes, perhaps knocking down a wall or installing an ensuite, and a floorplan is vital for this kind of thought processing.
3. Floorplans can make a house seem larger. It’s very easy when you’ve viewed a house to forget rooms that you’ve seen, or overlook a part of the house altogether. This is especially true of boxrooms, or areas that aren’t being fully utilised, like storage rooms. By showing the house in its entirety on a floorplan, no area will be omitted and as a result, it can even add perceived value.
In summary, make sure you have a floorplan on your brochure, and preferably available as a separate download on the online property portals, ensure it is clear and informative, and that it includes the total floor area. Your buyer will thank you for it.
Floor plans – your best shot at a sale?
Realestate.com.au / July 2013
One of the most effective property marketing tools, which are much sought after by buyers, is a floor plan of your home. But not all floor plans are equal.
Pre-inspection, a professionally drawn floor plan helps buyers understand a property’s flow, and visualise how its spaces will work for them. Post-inspection, a plan is a great reminder of layout, allowing serious buyers to imagine living in the home by mapping out their own furniture placements.
Plans are also great for out-of-town buyers or those who miss the inspection, helping to bring an unseen property to life while maintaining their interest. Likewise, including a plan on a signboard can generate interest locally, driving inspection numbers and in turn competition.
How are floor plans created?
Most property photographers will also offer floor plans, taking accurate laser-measurements of a home before creating a clear plan featuring room dimensions and total property size. They can also include extra detail at you or your agent’s request such as an agency logo or other info.
Floor plan of a home
Which plan to choose?
With so many different types of floor plans available, it’s important to choose the one that will best highlight your home’s unique features.
The most basic plans are simply drawn in black and white. For something more eye-catching try a coloured plan, while a textured plan is great for showing off a home’s internal and external finishes, such as tiles or decking.
Furniture can also be added to any plan to give buyers an idea of potential furniture placements.
For larger properties, site plans feature a home’s floor plan relative to its gardens or grounds, including prominent external features and outbuildings. These plans are perfect for showcasing large blocks, sub-division potential or multiple dwellings.
The most sophisticated plans, 3D artist impressions, are generated from detailed building plans by special 3D software, and used for bringing yet-to-be-built properties to life in a highly realistic fashion.
An effective way to combine your photographs and floor plans is through an online interactive floor plan. Symbols on the plan indicate the angle a photo was taken from, allowing buyers to easily navigate through a home by clicking on each photo, giving them a great feel for its flow and layout.
Floor plans can bring an unseen property to life
Interactive floor plan
Don’t forget that if you already have a building or council plan, these are often too detailed and hard for buyers to follow. In this case ask if your floor plan supplier can redraw this plan to be more user-friendly.
Whichever floor plan you opt for, it goes without saying that a professionally drafted, accurately measured plan will give you the best shot at securing the right buyer for your home.
Maximise The Chances Of Finding A Buyer With A Floorplan
Property News, Rightmove News /June 14, 2013.
New Rightmove research suggests that floorplans are one of the most important aspects of property presentation to buyers.
Buyers are less likely to enquire about a property without a floorplan
Over a third of buyers said that they were less likely to enquire about a property without a floorplan. They stated that they want to see the room layout, to see where rooms fit in relation to others rooms and to understand the flow of the property and a floorplan is undoubtedly the best way to gather this information.
On the floorplan itself, buyers want to see room dimensions. Home-hunters rated room dimensions as the most important feature when looking at a floorplan. If you currently have a floorplan on your Rightmove property listing, ensure that it has the room dimensions included (or be sure to include them in the property details).
A floorplan is more important than the main image or the summary description
Our recent survey showed us that other than the number of images a property has, a floorplan is most important when looking for property. One buyer commented that “pictures can be deceptive, a floorplan is more definitive” and another said “I don’t want to waste unnecessary time being misled by good photos”.
This is probably one of the reasons that 1 in 5 buyers would ignore a property listing completely, or only re-visit it if there was nothing else that caught their eye, if a property was without a floorplan.
Home-hunters are less likely to arrange a viewing if there is no floorplan
“I am less likely to arrange to view without a floorplan”; this was common feedback from our users and time was shown to be a key factor why they avoid viewings of properties without floorplans. “Time is a commodity and there are normally many other properties with a floorplan whom I would rather contact” commented one respondent. In fact, 1 in 10 buyers said that they would never arrange view a property if they had not seen a floorplan first, with many more indicating that they would be less likely to view. “The absence of a floor plan is a barrier” summed up one home-hunter.
This research shows that floorplans form a vital part of many buyers research process… Are you missing out?
Speak to your agent today about including a floorplan of your property.
When marketing a property for sale, there are a number of attributes that buyers and sellers today expect ‘as standard’: one of which is floor plans.
A recent study by Rightmove, which was answered by 10,000 respondents, backs this up, having revealed that over half of the respondents would not instruct an agent if they did not provide a floor plan.
The survey also found that 78% of sellers rated the importance of having a floor plan when selling as “7/10” or higher, while 1 in 5 potential buyers or tenants said they would either “ignore the property advert completely” or “only re-visit it if nothing else caught their eye”, if a floor plan was not published.
The study is one of the largest into the influence of floor plans. The fact that agents may lose instructions if floor plans are not used highlights the role they today play in the property sales process.
The importance of floor plans for marketing property
A well written description can be informative and provide people with plenty of ideas of how to shape the property into a home including quality images of the property. There is even a lot to be said for estate agents to provide video content of the property, allowing people to move around the different rooms and get a feel for the home.
You would think that these options would be enough to market a property and give potential buyers a feel of a home but there is something else you should be looking to provide to potential buyers and tenants. A survey undertaken by Rightmove, where they spoke to 10,000 respondents, indicated that more than 33% of potential buyers would be less inclined to ask about a property if there was no floor plan. The same survey also suggested that 20% of potential buyers would ignore a listing if it didn’t provide a floor plan.
This means that there is a need to provide a floor plan for any property that you are looking to sell or rent for that matter. Given the difficulties and levels of competition involved with the property market, you need to take advantage of anything which stands your property apart from your rivals.
A floor plan provides people with facts
One reason why a floor plan is as important as images, if not more important, is because a floor plan is a fact that you can rely on. Images can be touched up or at least taken in a flattering light or at a flattering angle to make you feel that the property is more spacious or attractive than it actually is. With a floor plan, you have the truth detailed in front of you, which is essential if you want to make the most informed decision about a property. This means that buyers and tenants want to have this information which means that people marketing property need to provide this information.
A floor plan allows users to picture the layout of a room or the home in their mind and it provides them with a chance to determine the flow of the home. There is also a lot to be said for providing the actual dimensions of the property which will allow people to determine if the furniture they have will fit in certain rooms.The Roundhouse - 2D Floor Plan
At the most basic level, potential buyers and tenants want as much relevant information as possible and when it comes to vital information for a home, the dimensions of a floor plan are essential. Providing the floor plan is not just something that helps people to decide to buy or let a home, it will also provide them with benefits after they have secured the property, so making this available as early on in the process will see you, and your property, viewed in a positive light.
If you want to make sure that you create the best possible environment to sell or let your property, providing a floor plan will ensure that potential buyers and tenants receive everything they need to make a decision on your home
Using Floor Plans and Photography in Real Estate Ads
SEPTEMBER 2013 | BY IAN GRACE
Here's how to engage potential buyers with interactive floor plans and well thought out photos in your real estate marketing.
In my advertising sessions, both face-to-face and webinars, I’m often asked about use of floor plans and photography. I’d like to share a few of my thoughts.
Floor plans
When people are looking to buy a new home, floor plans are provided. These floor plans give potential purchasers a feeling for where their furniture might fit, where the study might be located compared to a bedroom or perhaps entertaining areas, or how close the children’s rooms might be to the parents’ bedroom (perhaps closer preferred when they are younger so they can be heard, and further away when they are older for everyone’s privacy).
However, the moment that property is sold and becomes a second-hand or lived-in property, the floor plans tend to disappear from the ads selling those properties. Why?
It would seem to make sense to include floor plans to sell existing properties because they get the potential purchasers involved, and many progressive agents and real estate groups are doing just that.
To get potential buyers really involved, you can use interactive floor plans with little icons in the rooms and outside. Then, every time an icon is clicked, it pulls up a photo of that room or video. It’s fantastic interaction.
Photography
Question: Should I use a professional photographer?
If you have the budget, it would seem to make sense to use a professional photographer as it should guarantee the quality of the photographs. Photographers are aware of things like shade and light, the angle of the sun, and the time of the day, and that will make a difference. However, with the cameras available these days, agents can take some excellent photographs themselves.
But whether you use a professional photographer or take the photos yourself, the content of the photographs is more important than the photographic quality.
All too often I see agents focusing on high-quality, professional photography, which makes their ads very pretty – but sadly, if you make bad advertising pretty, all you’re left with is “pretty bad advertising.”
So, my advice would be to emphasize correct advertising procedure first, then look at the photographic quality. That means writing the ad first and then taking the photographs to match, but all too often agents and their photographers are snapping away before the ad has been created.
As I teach, photos must match headlines, not the other way round. If the photo doesn’t match the headline, then whilst the photographic quality may be perfect, the advertising certainly isn’t.
Back to the original question about using a professional photographer – you’ll notice that most of the best agents and groups always use professional photography to maintain a professional consistency with their clients, so there may be a lesson in there for you.
If you do decide to engage a professional photographer, ideally, just include the cost in your seller advertising contribution proposal and you will always know that lighting, exposures, propping, and staging are correct.
But one more important thing to remember: Don’t let your professional photographers take photos as they see fit. Just as is done in an advertising agency, you have to direct them to ensure they know which photograph you need to match your headline and then your body text. Then, they can concentrate on the quality of each photograph, knowing what it is they have to capture and input their own ideas and creativity.
3 Ways a Floor Plan will Help Sell Your Next Property
Nov 18, 2015 LinkedIn
Many real estate agents see floor plans as not “necessary”.
If that’s how you feel, then technically, you’re right. Floor plans aren’t “necessary”. But then neither are real estate photos – and you won’t see many listings without those!
One of real estate’s greatest kept secrets is that buyers love floor plans. Floor plans help sell properties. And they make your listings stand out from your competitors’ property listings. Win-win, right?
If you’d like to discover 3 ways a floor plan will help sell your next property, this is the post for you. So go ahead – read on…
Piecing Things Together
When it comes to viewing real estate photos online, it can be difficult for buyers to see how the images fit together to represent the whole house. This is especially the case when the property is empty.
With a floor plan, buyers can piece together the photos and property in their mind. The floor plan helps buyers to see where rooms are located in context to one another, and how the property “flows”. It also gives the buyer an idea of important details, such as the number of windows in each room, the way in which the space is oriented, and how much storage space is available.
This is an important advantage, because buyers are more likely to choose to inspect a property that already “makes sense” to them thanks to the intersection between the photos and the floor plan.
And if you’re marketing to out-of-town buyers, floor plans are an invaluable tool for communicating how the property “comes together”, helping to make these buyers more comfortable with buying a property they haven’t inspected.
Being Memorable
Have you ever followed up a prospective buyer from an open home and asked them what they thought of your property, only to have them ask “which one was it again?”
Most buyers inspect multiple properties in a day, which is enough to make anyone’s head spin! The challenge for a real estate agent, then, is to make your property more memorable.
Incorporating a floor plan into the brochure you give to buyers at an open home helps to make the property you’re marketing more memorable. Equipped with a floor plan, prospective buyers can more easily remember the home’s layout, and, by extension, the home itself.
Adding floor plans to your open home property brochures also help you to stand out from the crowd, as you establish your listing as the most professional one the buyer came in contact with that day. We all know that it’s the little details that help to sell a home, and floor plans are one of the most powerful “little details” you can use.
Putting Buyers “in” the Home
Perhaps the greatest advantage to using floor plans – and one that cannot be underestimated – is that they allow buyers to draw and visualise their furniture in the home.
As a real estate agent, your job is to get buyers to fall in love with the property you’re selling. If buyers can “see” themselves in the home, their chances of falling in love with it are much higher.
With a floor plan, a buyer can lay out each room with their own furniture, and really visualise what it would be like if the home were theirs, they’re all the more likely to become emotionally attached to the property, and to give you the phone call you’ve been waiting for.
Floor Plans – Top Tips
If you’re sold on using floor plans in your property marketing, then here are a few top tips to help you get things right:
Always include dimensions and measurements on your floor plan so buyers can get an accurate idea of the property and can easily draw their furniture in it
Be sure to use simple and straightforward plans, not council or building plans, as these are much too complicated and detailed
In addition to a floor plan, add a site plan that includes the full property so buyers can see how the house fits into the larger picture
Invest in full colour plans, as these are more eye catching and professional
Always include all the windows and doors, as their location and size are an important detail
Comment Time
Do you use floor plans in your property marketing? What’s your top tip for floor plans that sell properties? I’d love to hear them, so let me know in the comments!
Your Next Floor Plan
If you want to start selling properties with professional real estate floor plans, Digital Real Estate can help. We provide full colour floor plans delivered by 12 pm the next business day.
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