Putting your lot’s inventory online, and keeping it current

Why the list has to be right

A shopper who drives out for a building that sold last week is unlikely to trust your website again. An online inventory is only worth as much as its last update, so plan how you’ll keep it current before you put it up.

Photos that sell a building

Take several photos of each building, in the same order every time, so shoppers know what to expect:

• The front, straight on, with the whole building in the frame
• Each side and the back
• The doors open, and the inside from the doorway
• Close-ups of what sets it apart: the loft, windows, porch, shelving or ramp
• The siding, trim and roof colors in daylight

Light and background

Bright overcast days are kindest to buildings: no harsh shadows and true colors. On a sunny day, shoot with the sun behind you. Move hoses, pallets and trucks out of the frame, and hold the phone level and sideways so the building fills the picture.

What to write for each building

Give every building the same details, in the same order:

• Size and style
• Siding, roof and colors
• The options it has: windows, doors, loft, shelving, ramp
• The cash price, and the rent-to-own price and term if you offer it
• Whether it’s new, a repo or used, and anything a buyer should know
• Your stock or serial number, so you and the shopper mean the same building
• Which lot it’s on, if you have more than one

Sold, on hold and new arrivals

Mark a building sold the day it sells. If you hold one for a customer, say so, rather than leaving it listed as available. When a building arrives, photograph it before it’s moved into a tight row, while you can still get a clear shot of every side.

A routine that keeps it current

Pick one person to own the list, and one time each week to walk the lot with a phone and check it against the website: what sold, what came in, what changed price. Little and often beats a big catch-up once a season.

Facebook and Marketplace

Post the same photos and details there, with a link back to the building’s page on your website, where the shopper can see the rest of your lot. When the building sells, take it down in both places.