For many buyers, the first showing happens on a phone.
Most buyers search on a phone, and national survey data rates photos as the most useful part of a listing. Here is how photos, video and floor plans can help a Dublin home earn a showing, with current Dublin numbers.
For many Dublin buyers, the first showing happens on a phone screen. People relocating from out of state may never see the house in person until they have already decided it is worth the trip. That makes photos and video the real front door of a listing. Here is what national data says about how buyers search, what Dublin's market looks like right now, and how to present a home well.
How Do Buyers Actually Search for Homes?
According to a BAM summary of the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, every buyer used the internet during their search, and 70% relied on a mobile device or tablet. About 46% started their search online, while 20% started by contacting an agent. I am relying on a secondary summary of the report here, so check NAR's own highlights page for the full figures.
This is a national survey, not a Dublin-specific study. It describes buyers in general, and local behavior may differ. Still, it points in a clear direction: your listing will probably be judged on a screen first.
Which Listing Features Do Buyers Find Most Useful?
The same summary reports the share of buyers who found each online feature useful: photos at 81%, detailed property information at 77%, floor plans at 57%, and virtual tours at 38%. Photos led the list, and detailed information was close behind.
Notice what that means for sellers. Photos get the click, but the written details and floor plan help buyers decide. A listing with strong photos and thin information may lose the buyer's attention, and the reverse is also true.
What Does the Dublin Market Look Like Right Now?
According to Resideline, updated October 3, 2026, Dublin's median sold price over the last six months was $630,000 across 479 closings, at a median of $227 per square foot. The middle half of sales ranged from $500,000 to $766,000.
The same source reports a median of 10 days from listing to contract, based on 177 closings, and 25 days from contract to closing, based on 109. For regional context, The Columbus Team's August 2026 report put the Central Ohio median at $345,500, with a median of 30 days on market. Dublin sits well above that, and a median of 10 days suggests that many homes move quickly, though a median does not describe any single home.
What Makes a Good Listing Photo?
Good photos are bright, level and honest. Open every blind, turn on the lights, and remove personal items, cords and clutter. Shoot each room from a corner to show its size, and keep vertical lines straight. Photograph the exterior in good light, and consider a twilight shot if the home looks inviting with the lights on.
Honesty matters as much as polish. Advertising must be truthful, so avoid heavy editing that changes the home's features, color or condition. A buyer who feels misled in person will not forgive a photo that promised too much.
When Does Video Help?
A short walkthrough video shows how rooms connect, which photos cannot do. It helps out-of-town buyers understand the flow, the light and the scale. Keep it steady, brief and well lit, and include a clear sequence from the front door to the back yard.
The survey summary I found does not break out video as a separate feature rating, so I would not promise a specific effect. Video is a useful tool for some homes and buyers, not a guaranteed advantage.
What About Floor Plans and Virtual Tours?
Floor plans were rated useful by 57% of buyers in the summary, and they are inexpensive compared with the clarity they add. A clear plan with room dimensions answers many questions before a buyer ever calls. Virtual tours were rated useful by 38%, so they help some buyers and may be less important to others.
Match the tools to the home. A larger or more complex layout may benefit most from a floor plan and a video, while a straightforward home may need excellent photos and a strong description.
How Should You Prepare the Home Before the Photographer Arrives?
Preparation does most of the work. Clean thoroughly, declutter counters and shelves, make beds and put away toys and pet items. Replace burned-out bulbs, open the curtains, and tidy the yard and entry. Put cars out of the driveway, and turn off ceiling fans and televisions.
Walk through each room as if you were a buyer seeing it for the first time, and fix what catches your eye. A short list of repairs and a few hours of cleaning often make a bigger difference than any equipment.
What Should the Listing Description Say?
Write specific, truthful details: room counts, updates, lot features and nearby amenities, described by distance and fact. Avoid wording that suggests who would or would not suit the home or the neighborhood, since fair housing rules ask us to describe the property, not the buyer.
Add the details out-of-town buyers cannot see in photos, such as the age of major systems, utility costs and association information. Clear information builds trust and cuts down on repeat questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do most buyers search for homes? According to a BAM summary of NAR's 2025 Profile, every buyer used the internet and 70% relied on a mobile device or tablet. This is national data, not Dublin-specific.
Which listing features do buyers find most useful? The summary reports photos at 81%, detailed property information at 77%, floor plans at 57% and virtual tours at 38%.
What is the median sold price in Dublin? Resideline reported a six-month median sold price of $630,000 across 479 closings as of October 3, 2026, with a middle half from $500,000 to $766,000.
How fast do Dublin homes reach contract? Resideline reported a median of 10 days from listing to contract and 25 days from contract to closing. Any individual home may differ.
Does video make a home sell faster? The data I reviewed does not rate video as a separate feature, so I would not promise an effect. It can help out-of-town buyers understand a home's flow and scale.
If you are planning to sell in Dublin, I would be glad to walk through the home with you and talk about how to present it online. No pressure, just a plan.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. All real estate services are provided in compliance with Fair Housing laws, RESPA, TCPA, the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, and Ohio Real Estate Commission advertising regulations. Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan, Collins Lassiter Group, Red 1 Realty.
