Why settle for buyers in your area when you could attract high-paying international real estate clients? Catering to international buyers can be highly profitable for your real estate business.
Agents who work with international clients often make around 50 percent more than agents who work only with domestic real estate clients. If you’re interested in tapping into this niche and highly profitable market, keep reading to learn how.
1. Make Connections
Before you can attract international real estate clients, you need to connect with them first. How can you connect with this niche market of clients? Connect with people who have a similar clientele base. International real estate clients are often well-off and enjoy the finer things in life.
Get in touch with luxury car dealers and jewelry designers who handle the same type of clients you want to work with. When it comes to closing a deal, make sure you’re ready with recommendations for interior designers, attornies, bankers, title insurers, or other professionals.
2. Know and Understand Your Customer
When you receive a referral, it’s important that before meeting with your client, you do your research. Learn as much as possible about your client, their country of origin, their business, or any other important aspects of their life.
Knowing their property requirements sometimes involves understanding their hobbies or culture. Knowing your client and their needs and lifestyle is the heart of every connection.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the luxury and international real estate market is competitive. Other agents are competing aggressively, pursuing high-net-worth foreign buyers. If your clients are flying in from out of town or abroad, keep them by your side until they sign an offer.
3. Be Their Guide and Expert
International home buyers need your advice. Be their guide and expert that helps them with the complex process of purchasing in the U.S. This is where your connections come in. Be prepared with a lineup of anyone your client may need when closing the transaction.
Your international real estate clients want to know that they can rely on you to handle all aspects of the transaction. These foreign buyers are often limited on time, so they want someone who is an expert and can do it all.
Build a reputation for stellar service and being an expert in your field as well as what’s happening internationally. Foreign buyers not only compare between cities but often between countries as well.
4. Speak Their Language
One of the best ways to show respect for your buyer when it comes to international real estate marketing is by speaking their language. If you don’t speak their language, make sure search engines can translate your website. Another thing you can consider is hiring a translator or sale agents that speak more than one language.
If you can speak their language, start by adding a video in their language to your website to instantly impress foreign clients. When it comes to advertising in your potential buyer’s home country or foreign-language newspapers, be sure it’s in their language.
5. Post Online
An attractive website allows you to connect with buyers all over the world. Don’t skimp on the photos and videos of the property because, in any language, a picture is worth a thousand words. Especially when most of these buyers are in another country, they want to be able to see as much of the property as possible before flying out to see it in person.
International buyers may also not have as much time to view properties in person, so there’s a chance they may send an agent to view it for them. Entice them with professional photos and videos if you want to lure interest from abroad.
Another important tip is making sure you have an email where international real estate clients can contact you. A Telegram or WhatsApp account is another great way to make it easier for international clients to get a hold of you.
6. Going Global? Go Mobile
Nowadays, international real estate clients are more likely to use their phones over a desktop computer or laptop. It is vital that your website is responsive for mobile viewing.
Nothing will make potential buyers exit out of your page faster than photos that take ages to load or an overall unresponsive design.
7. Avoid Abbreviations
When marketing to international real estate clients, it’s best to leave out the acronyms and abbreviations. Spell out terms such as bathroom, bedroom, etc.
It’s also important to note that most of the world runs on the metric system instead of the imperial. When you sell property internationally, have your listing information in both square feet and square meters to cut down on any confusion.
8. First Impressions are Key
When the time finally comes for showing your client properties, make sure the homes make a great first positive impact. The front face of the property will be the first thing your clients see, so be sure it wows. Before your client views the property, take a step back and view the home as if you were seeing it for the first time.
Maybe you’ll notice an entry door replacement would do the house justice, or even a little landscaping TLC. Whatever the necessary home improvements may be, take care of them ASAP because the little details can make or break a potential deal.
Appealing to International Real Estate Clients
In a recent one year span, foreign buyers have invested over $41 billion in the U.S. housing market. Why settle for buyers in your area when you could attract high-paying international real estate clients?
If you want a piece of this multi-billion dollar pie, follow our tips on how to appeal to international real estate clients. If you found this post helpful, check out our blog for more!
