Social media adds value

IT’S hard to turn around without hearing the words Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and Toowoomba’s real estate industry is embracing it.

Belle Property’s Matthew De Maid is an avid social media user and has harnessed the reach to benefit his clients.

Mr De Maid said he saw the use of social media as a complement to traditional property marketing.

“Social media is a relatively cost effective marketing medium that is easy to be very specific with in regards to targeting specific groups of people that suit different types of properties,” Mr De Maid said.

“I think social media marketing gives us a good approach to attract passive buyers and for word of mouth; more so than people actively looking for property which are most likely already reading The Chronicle’s weekly property lift-out and researching property on the online property portals.”

One of Mr De Maid’s listings recently went viral, 6 Egret Crt, attracting more than 12,500 reactions, comments and shares on Facebook and reached more than 500,000.

In fact there was almost 9000 comments made on the post and its shares.

The property is a modern home on half an acre at Meringandan West some amazing attributes for a family.

“(This) ‘viral’ post was an interesting experience to be involved with; the majority of the comments were from people in the southern states commenting on affordability in our region – which was interesting to read,” Mr De Maid said.

“From a marketing perspective we definitely saw an increase in buyer enquiry from investors in the southern states, not to mention local buyers who have physically inspected the property and had seen the social media post which adds confidence in the purchasing decision.

“Like anything though, we have to keep a level head —likes and comments don’t sell houses, offers to purchase do.”