BATTLECALL GUEST EXPERT: Christine Hancock, Get A New Home

When marketing a home, most Realtor's do the 3 P's, Put it in the MLS, Put up a sign & pray. You do not need to re-invent the wheel,, just be 5% better than most Realtors to be in top 10% of all the realtors in your market . You need to develop strong marketing skills, both online as well as offline. You need to constantly market your listings.

Consider investing some money in Search Engine Optimization and/or placement. It is now known that 75% of consumers start their home search on the internet. A strong Web presence is no longer a novelty it is a necessity to anyone who wants to be a successful realtor. If you are serious about being a successful realtor, you owe it to yourself to look to become a marketing professional

Here are some suggestions for marketing your listings.

Create a marketing proposal, customize your proposal to each client.

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

As soon as you receive a signed listing agreement, enter it into the your Multiple Listing Service service, making it instantly available to other real estate professionals.

Virtual Tour

Have a professional photographer photograph the home and create a Virtual Tour. When marketing your homes, pictures speak a thousand words!

The Sign--Your Personal Billboard

Since exposure is the key to selling a home, use signage whenever possible. As people pass by, day or night, they see from the sign that the home is for sale, and see immediately who to call to get more information or to view the property.

Custom Property Brochures

Use the photographs that the professional photographer took to create an eye catching custom property brochure. Many people look at 10 or more homes in a day, you want your home to stand out at the end of the day.

Newspaper Advertising

Newspaper advertising enables you to introduce the property to more than 1,000,000 interested, prospective buyers each Friday and Sunday. Feature your property in these publications, and continue to have a presence in your local newspaper until the property is sold.

Custom Mailers

Distribute mailers to over all local brokers and everyone in your farming area. Again using the professional photos that you took.

Website

By accessing a website, potential buyers from all over your local area will see information and photographs of the property, and will be able to receive a fast response to their inquiries regarding it. This is where you need to do some research and possibly spend some money on Search Engine Optimization/Placement.

RELO

No marketing plan would be complete without considering the rich potential for relocation sales. Each year thousands of people relocate. Membership in a Relocation company, gives you immediate access to ready homebuyers.

Open Houses

Some home sellers want them, some do not. Your can discuss the possible advantages of an open house, and the best way to conduct one with the least inconvenience to your client.

Remember 17% of Real Estate agents make 80% of the money. Use these suggestions consistently and you will soon be in the 17%!