This goes against what most of us have been taught. We are taught at a very young age to get along with everyone and just follow the rules of life and we all played "Follow the Leader".
As Realtors we are taught:
- This is the way we obtain our real estate license
- It will take 2 years to make any money in real estate
- You need to take floor time
- You need to do open houses
- You need to do every type of print advertising
- You need to send out recipe postcards to your sphere of influence
In other words just "Follow the Leader" which leads me to my point. Everyone in my market area is advertising on their real estate signs, print/internet advertising and MLS printouts: "Price Reduced" "Price slashed" "Owner Anxious" "Bring Offers" and on and on.
And because just about every Realtor is doing it many jump on the band wagon and do the same thing because we have not been taught any different. In my humble opinion this kind of advertising fuels the already negative news media that is telling everyone in the United States how bad the real estate market is.
I have written about this in past posts but I need to share yet another success story. I spoke to a good friend of mine that is a Realtor in the midwest and I encouraged her to try two things.
1st Find out what the strongest selling price range is in your market area and how many homes are available. Write an ad similar to this:
- 150 homes from $150-$200,000
- Great seller incentives with buyer paid costs
- Near record low interest rates
- Call for your FREE list of homes now!
2nd I then told her about a service that is available to everyone that allows us to obtain names of anyone USA. I told her to get a list of all the renters in a certain area. The website I am referring to allows one to search by income, age, job tenure etc. I told her to send this kind of ad to this group of renters:
"You can't afford not to buy. I will show you how to buy a home with payments just 28% higher than what you are paying in rent but you won't pay in real dollars more than you are paying in rent due to tax benefits. Your choice has never been better and interest rates may never be this low again. Those that wait for prices to bottom out will likely miss out on this great opportunity".
My friend ran the 1st ad in the local newspaper, Thrifty Nickel and posted repeating ads on Craig's List. She sent out the 2nd ad to a group of 350 renters in a middle calls rental community.
She started running both ads on October 22, 2007 and by the end of business 11/5/2007 she had 3 signed offers and 4 buyers in the approval pipeline.
My point is stop playing "Follow the Leader" and start "Creating Opportunities"
 |  |
George-
Excellent advice!
Amy - Very true. Don't follow what everyone is doing!
Sara - Thank you and good luck to you
Hey,
I'm getting by on my looks and having canned beans for the third night in a row.
LOL
I love it, George. Make yourself stand out.
With several years' inventory of Million dollar listings here, it takes a trooper to hang his hat there. The $350,000 and under market is fairly hot yet.
Mike - Good for you..."Think outside the box" and watch your world change
Heather - Thank you and good luck to you
Missy - Thank you my dear friend
Diana - You are very welcome. In our area Sellers are paying for buy downs and buyers closing costs
Randy - Thanks my friend
Craigslist is good, so is hoobly, and about 98 other free websites, if you like I can post my list, Grat idea about the ad copy tho... thx!
Paul in New Jersey\\
http://www.granorprice.com
George - You are just full of great ideas. I'm so glad I subscrive to your blog. Thanks for the tips and I will try them.
Judy T
Hi George - great thinking outside the box, and many thanks for sharing this with us. You always have some awesome ideas!
Paul - I'd love to see your list, if you want to share it!
Ann
Paul - Thanks for the comment
Bill - Thanks and have a great evening
Judy - You are very welcome
Ann - Thanks my friend and I hope all is well
Faina - It's my pleasure my friend
George,
Again - thank you for sharing this wonderful information. You are an amazing resource and the willingness to share your ideas is very much appreciated.
I'm more of the trend setter than follower. I've made lots of mistakes and stopped before I went over the cliff. I've watched while others followed right a long like lemmings (sp?) and just kept on going....
On another note....I gave you a plug in one of my Posts today.
Hope you are doing great!
Jessica - I know you are a trend setter and have told you more than once that you and I could do a lot of damage if we ever teamed up!
Matt - Thanks and I will help you in any way I can.
Vicky - We need to encourage each other...thank you
Ardell - Thanks for the "Two Thumbs Up"!
George,
You sound like my daughter. She is in the business with me and all the way through school she said, "i'm doing things different from the rest. I don't want to be like everyone else." Well here we are, agents are asking who did our sign designs, how did we get the website on the post, wow what a marketing brochure and on and on.....
It's funny the leaders are now asking us for information.... It's great
kru
Great post George!
Lanrae - Go for it my friend and good luck to you
Kevin - Good for your daughter. I love it when people rise to the occasion and get ahead of the pack!
Roberta - I wish you the best and if I can help you in any way please let me know
Great idea! I love it & am thinking about trying something similar.
Thank you very much for sharing!
Good suggestions, George. Where is Craigslist did she post her ad? In the real estate? Seems to me that they will not let you just post that type of ad unless you are also offering specific housing, since it is just offering a service. I think they may view this as a form of spam and not approrpiate for the real estate section. I know I ran something similar and it got pulled the first day as it was not coupled with a home or condo for sale. I would check the guidelines carefully. I may be wrong but...
Jeff
George, Thank you for the info, however as Jeff mentioned above, could you share which part of Carigslist this ad was posted?
Thank you
Thank you George... I read your post twice.
http://www.gregorygarver.com/
http://www.motelbrokersusa.com/
George - Great advice as always!! You are very creative for sure.
George, I bucked the "advice" from my first day. I didn't do floor time, I hated "cold calling" and refused to do it, and I didn't like listings. From the first I preferred working with buyers.
I'm still here, 11 years later, and will continue to be here 11 years from now. I found my "niche" and it works for me. Awesome post George.
George,
Again... an insightful blog. How do you keep doing it! I agree that one has to create their own opportunities rather than always following the leader and waiting for things to happen. Same old-same old just won't do it. Be creative and make it happen.
HIP HIP HOORAY George! My broker has encouraged me to do something similar but easier. I find the product when I am out working with clients or making phone calls for them or doing BPOs. I keep what my clients wants and needs are in mind. I match that product to my clients wants or needs and give them a call. The highly motivated end up buying and I have sold this year this way!
Also, those free lists, GREAT IDEA! I have been doing it on my website and AR without really saying "FREE LIST" but people randomly go on my website and all of a sudden they are looking at my hand picked properties. Easiest phone calls to convert in my life. Maybe I should be so bold to say "FREE LIST" and get more lookers rather than people who stumble.
Brenda - Go for it and good luck!
Jeff - I told her to post it in the real estate for sale and in the real estate services section. I have been doing this for 2 years without any problems.
Lanre - Don't give up and when you think outside the box you world will start to change
Mana - Look at my response to Jeff and good luck
Candace - Thanks
Kris - I love a person that has "Passion" and stands up for what they believe in!
Martin - You can follow the masses or blaze your own trail my friend
Christina - Youv'e got the rigtht idean and "Just do it!"
Al - Thanks and have a great day
Renee - With the right ideas we can create ready willing and ready buyers while the rest of the agents are setting at their desk waiting for miracles to happen!
Sean - Thanks and I hope you reap many benefits from this idea!
I have been telling my broker and others in the office for a year or so if you aren't the lead dog the scenery never changes. If you do what company X and Y are doing, it won't keep working. Come up with your own new ideas.
This is a great idea and I am going to look into it today!
This reminds me of the saying, "During times of change, "learners" will inherit the earth while "knowers" will find themselves perfectly equipped for a world that no longer exists." As real estate agents (and human beings) we must continually evolve and reinvent ourselves or else risk becoming extinct.
George- Super idea! I'm always trying to go outside the box myself and I think this is a great idea. I needed this. THANKS!
George.... those are some great tips. Basically, you thought outside the box and didn't jump off the bridge when others did. You seem to have a keen eye for being different and positive. Nice job...
Pamela - Good for you and have a great day
Jeff - Thanks for the compliment my friend and good luck to you
Ryan - So very true...thank you
Sorry - I don't know what your name is. You asked "Getting the names and addresses of renters......" Let me know who you are and I can send you the information.
Rebecca - Blaze your own trails my friend and watch your world change!
Vero - Thank you and go out and get er done!
George - GREAT post. An inspiration to us all!!
Georgia Real Estate - Thank you very much
Linda - You are very welcome and good luck
Lane - Thanks and have a great evening
Great post George.
It must be an epidemic. I just wrote a post about working the present market. Bobby Carroll wrote one too.
What is it they say about great minds???
Lenn - Thanks, I just wanted to share this idea I shared with my midwest Realtor friend and she is doing jumping jacks. She is so excited about this idea I shared with her that brought her the first sales in 60 days.
I have visited your site describing and providing good information on real estate marketing postcards.Especially i liked some points that you said on real estate marketing post cards. The article that you have provided is useful to every visitor. When i was searching information on real estate marketing postcards i have visited one site it may be useful to you and your visitors for more information you visit this site <a href=”http://www.realestatepostcardsonline.com/”>real estate marketing postcards</a>
George,
Another great post! It seems like every time I read one of you posts, I get motivated! The reason I read this one was because I was looking for the blog you wrote about the Point2 Agent website... Oh well, I'll continue on and pickup a few more nuggets of your insight!
Thanks,
Rick - Someone out there likes me! LOL I am glad you are finding them informative my friend.
Vanessa - Thank you and snag whatever you want!