Why Do Estate Agents Need A Floorplan?

Or more importantly, why do buyers need one? You see, floorplans are actually quite a recent addition to property listings, only having been introduced around 30 years ago. And even then, they were only really made for particularly grand homes, or for new builds to showcase the difference. But nowadays, you log into any property app and you will see almost every listing boasting a floorplan, from the 8-bed mansion to the humble studio flat. But why is this, and why are they so valuable to buyers and renters?

Helps People see how the House ‘Works’

Sometimes photos just can’t express how a house is put together, and what walking through it would be like. Unless the landlord splurges for a full 3D tour, it can be difficult to imagine the way the house ‘works’ – which is a key part of choosing the right property. Room flow, relative room sizes and layouts are all things a buyer will take into consideration, and being able to see them ahead of time means they can decide if the property is suitable for them. That means less wasted time for them, the estate agent and you if the house isn’t right for them.

Mentally Moving in

If a buyer can see themselves living in a property, then an estate agent’s job is already half done before they walk in the door. Surveys suggest that buyers want to be able to see a detailed floorplan showing room layout, how the rooms fit in relation to the rest of the property, and most importantly, the dimensions of all of the rooms. If you have a good floorplan that shows room measurements, window and door placements, potential buyers can start to imagine where their own furniture will go and how they can use the space. They might even start thinking about decorating, or how they would alter the building to suit their own needs. A floorplan helps them in this process, and once they’ve started down that road, the emotional connection to the property has been formed and a decision to buy is not far behind.

Makes the Property Seem Bigger

It’s very easy once you’ve viewed a house to forget the rooms you saw, or even overlook a part of the house altogether – especially if you’ve been viewing a few properties close together. Things like box rooms and airing cupboards, or even rooms the current owner isn’t utilising fully, can be forgotten, leaving the buyer with an impression that the property is smaller than it actually is. A floorplan brings all of that back into perspective, and helps add perceived value at the same time. This is also a reason your floorplan should be as detailed and accurate as you can make it – the more information, the better.

Improved Memorability

Buyers are often looking at more than one property at a time, comparing them to decide which is the best fit. So you want yours to stand out when they’re looking over the listings again later to make their decision. Helping a buyer visualise your property’s potential before and during a viewing is one thing, but a floorplan can help you do this afterwards as well. Including a floorplan in your marketing materials helps your property stick in a buyers mind, and avoids the dreaded ‘which house was that again?’ conversations.

At Northwood, it’s our job to make sure your property sells fast, to the right buyer, and for the right price. That means understanding what a buyer is looking for not only in your property, but in the way it’s presented too. Our team of estate agents take a lot of pride in making sure we use professional photographers to create images of your property, and detailed, accurate floorplans are generated for every area of the property. This helps improve viewings and buying rate, and is a key part of our great service. To find out more, just get in touch with the team today.