How Can I Advertise For International Real Estate?

When it comes to real estate, sky’s the limit. So, there’s no reason why you should only market for new launch condos and listings in Singapore when you can broker internationally to earn more comms. Marketing overseas will also look good on your agent’s portfolio, which will then even help build good rapport among locals.  

Sounds promising right? 

But advertising internationally doesn’t come without its downsides. When marketing real estate abroad, there are many things to take into account like, time zone differences (there’s no point in promoting something when your buyers are asleep) or expenses spent travelling back and forth from Singapore to the country of your listing (unless it’s sponsored). 

So, how do you exactly know when a property is worth the effort? And what should you do once you’ve found it? 

We’re here to answer your questions! 

There are some conditions you should look out for to ensure you invest your time and effort in the right place. The first includes understanding you might not be as successful in closing sales overseas as you might be in Singapore. You’re more likely to sell and get your comms when marketing for a new condo launch in Singapore than you are trying to sell a home that’s in Cambodia while living in Singapore. But your chances for earning those comms increase if you’re in Cambodia yourself. 

Why? 

Because since technology can only get you so far, it’s easier to properly decide and advertise on high potential properties when you’re physically able to see the home as well as connect with the locals in the area in person. 

But it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. 

If you have already decided on going down this road, then make sure to look out for the following; 

• A decent developer. Knowing your property was in the right hands means also knowing the completed home would be in good condition. It’s simple really – the best developers have lots of experience in delivering quality projects. This means you're much more likely to end up with impressive results because they'll have strong connections with top architects, suppliers, and construction firms. 
• A good project. For example, you’ll want to make sure the project is built in a great neighbourhood with plenty of schools, grocery stores, and restaurants around. Another thing to keep an eye out for is for quality public or private amenities. You would be surprised with the number of times we’ve seen brokers getting real estate leads just because of convenient location and desirable amenities. 

Pro tip: Don’t make the mistake of getting your hands on a new launch project if it's already past that ‘golden selling’ timeframe. By then the novelty of the house would have run out and along with it, the attention of potential leads. This will make lead gen efforts from then on, a little harder – especially for a real estate agent trying to sell all the way from another country.

Also make sure your marketing budget is reasonable. Remember, since you’re not physically there you have to rely on advertising to do the heavy lifting for you. Shallow pockets will limit your reach. 

Let’s say you have your eye on a solid property that ticks all the boxes we mentioned above. What should you do to boost your chances at selling? 

Real estate agents are no strangers to the importance of networking. In fact, building connections can be considered a fool-proof method to help you gather a list of clients with high buying intent. But the key here isn’t just to go around gathering the information of everyone you come across, but to network with those who come in contact with your target market. 

For example, if you’re selling a luxury condo, you can try getting in touch with well-known jewellery, antique designers, and luxury car dealers who cater to your target market. These groups of people are more likely to come across your target audience on a daily basis and will be able to help open up more lead gen opportunities for you. 

Catching the attention of international buyers means learning how to speak their language – literally. Now, we’re not expecting you to take up classes on foreign languages until you’re fluent enough to make a sale. It’s just the little things that count to make your clients feel respected as well as welcomed – like uploading a video in their language to your agency’s website. You can also try newspaper or magazine advertising, where you present your services or listing information in their native tongue. 

Pro tip: Another smart way to break any language barrier is by making sure your website can be translated by search engines. This way you won’t have to do any of the heavy-lifting yourself. However, it’s important to note that these translations might not be 100% accurate. So, if you have the budget to spare, try hiring a translator yourself! 

We can’t stress this enough: Homeowners in different countries may want different things. Don’t expect them to need what the locals here in Singapore look for. 

For example, is it a norm to have vacation homes in their country? If so, would a beach-front or mountain view home sell better? Is buying a 3-bedder apartment a big deal in their country? Would location or size be more important to them? 

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you sell homes quicker in a foreign country. 

Pro tip: Going in blind is never a good idea – make sure to also learn about their marketing nuances. You can start by familiarizing yourself with any currency issues, laws, local political situation, cross-cultural interactions, and global issues. Being well-informed is key to impressing your client!

It’s no secret that we love a good microsite and when marketing internationally, nothing works better to your favour like having a site that’s easily reachable at all hours. Your microsite is basically a place where you can showcase any previous projects you’ve worked on, ongoing listings, and satisfied client testimonials for prospects to see. This will help you connect with clients worldwide while also helping build trust in your services. 

Pro tip: If you have worked with international clients to help successfully close a deal, make sure to get them to include a little testimonial on your website in their native tongue. This is a great way to let future clients know they’re not the first foreign customer you’ve had. 

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Considering marketing overseas properties with the help of your very own microsite? How about contacting your local experts for attractive, user-friendly designs and quality copywriting! With years of property lead generation under our belt, SellMoreCondos (SMC) is the perfect choice to help take your property marketing agency to the next level. Besides microsite design and copy, we can also help you create attractive property google ads as well as real estate landing pages. So, be sure to  get in touch  with our friendly team today! 

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