Farming in Real Estate-What’s Missing in Your Strategy
I hear it all the time when I meet with Realtors. “I don’t do a lot of Farming in Real Estate because I tried it once before and it was costly and didn’t work.” You might even be nodding your head in agreement as you read that statement. I agree, that Farming is not for everyone but I will tell you this…it does work. Just like in anything else, its not about the quantity of the what your sending…its the message and to whom. Let me tell you a story:
2012 has ended and a new year has began. People like to create New Years resolutions and hopefully stick with them. It seems that more and more new years resolutions revolve around saving money, adding more to the IRA or 401K, paying off debt(s) and becoming more financially secure. Makes sense especially after our country went through a huge economic down turn at the end of 2007 that we are still feeling the effects. There is one New Years resolution you can get out of the way in January that not only will help you lower you bills but make you more financially secure. What is it you ask? Refinancing your Northern Virginia home….your largest asset. The process is not difficult…lets walk through how to get started to lower monthly expenses:
Going forward in your Real Estate business one way to start growing your business is to do one simple thing that will take you only a couple of minutes. That one thing is setting up a Gmail account…if you haven’t done so already. I know…I know, you are probably wondering why you should do that and how does that make you a better Realtor, or how does that help my business? Here’s how:
Christmas is here, as is the end of 2012. Every year for Christmas people ask to be with friends, family, gifts, and other things that bring them joy and celebrate the year. Ever ask Santa for a NEW Real Estate marketing strategy…and HOW to implement it correctly so you attract buyers, sellers, and other people that are trying to do business with you? It would be great if Santa could just bring that answer to you in your stocking! You see, in today’s Real Estate world it is not who the best Real Estate agent is…it is WHO is the best marketer. Consumers don’t search for Real Estate agents or companies in newspapers, phone books or on grocery store shopping carts. What consumers do is search for homes in certain subdivisions, near schools, amenities, in price ranges. Consumers then contact the Realtor who is “found” after that search. The scary statistic is that roughly 80% of consumers will use the first Real Estate agent they find that can answer their questions or solve their problems. You want to get on the right track of growing your Real Estate business? Be that first agent! So…do you need a NEW Real Estate Marketing plan?
The Field of Dreams…remember that movie? The one with Kevin Costner in Iowa (where I am from) and he hears these voices that say “Build it and he will come”? Then Kevin Costner proceeds to destroy a chunk of his crops and everyone around him thinks he is crazy for doing such a thing! Well, you will have to watch the movie to find out how it ends but let’s just say that what Kevin Costner did, and the sacrifices he made worked out amidst the disapproval of those around him.
Christmas time is here. The end of 2012 and Realtors and Lenders alike are looking back at what they did or didn’t do in 2012 and also set goals and aspirations for the year to come. As the Director of Sales and Marketing for Stewart Title in Northern Virginia/Washington DC I meet with Real Estate agents pretty much on a daily basis. I have heard and do hear everything in terms of needs, wants, and goals. The one saying in the Real Estate business that has always held true is “List to Last!” What that means is…to be a long term, successful Realtor you need to list properties. Buyers are nice…take them when you can, but Listings is where it’s at. Almost all the Realtors that I meet with ask me HOW can I get more listings? NEW Real Estate listings can be hard to obtain. How do you know WHO is ready to make move? What can be done to find out? What if I told you that I can not only tell you exactly WHO needs to sell their home but WHERE they are? Also…these people have an immediate need for a Realtor. Would you be interested? 
