I have run into prospective buyers in the last week that have had a bad experience with a real estate agent in the past. One said they were being pushed in a direction they did not want to go in. The second didn't like their agents personality and was being pushed into looking at  three families which they were not interested in.They wanted a one family and did not want to be landlords. I give my buyers my professional opinion backed up by facts and give them certain suggestions they might not be thinking of but  they of course make the decision on what they want and what is best for them. I would never push someone in a direction they did not want to go in. When somone buys property they should get what they want. First impressions are everything. When buyers have had a bad experience with a fellow real estate agent i think  they see that agents face for the first few minutes of my conversation with them. I never bash their past agent. I don't tell them what that individual didn't do for them only what i will do for them. More importantly. I show them. What are some complaints other agents have encountered regarding prospects past agent? How do you deal with them?

Are you familiar with the talking house? It is a marketing tool which allows people driving by your listing to tune into a radio station and hear all the details about that listing. I believe it costs a few hundred dollars but i could be wrong. There is no yearly fee which is great just one time flat price. You can buy them cheap on certain auction websites.I have no personal experience with the talking house but the one thing i did notice is the sign saying what radio station to tune in to is always to small and hard to notice in my opinion. I would get bigger signs if i decide to use this tool. I do think it is a good idea and i considering trying it out. I would like to learn your experience first if you will be so kind.  What has your experience been like? What is your opinion on the whole concept?  

I am here in Connecticut an open house is great for finding buyers to represent but they do not seem to sell the actual listing  very often.Is this due to bad marketing or is it just geography? I think both play a part. I have heard certain percentages of sales due to open houses but i don't know if they are accurate so i won't post them. It seems to me that in Connecticut an open house is great for marketing yourself but not the listing. How well do open house's work where you do business? Does anyone use a unique form of marketing for  open houses? 

  Some incentives i have come up with to attract business are free Home warranties, Gift cards, cash back at closing and even a big screen t.v. I would just like some feedback from real estate professionals on incentives you have given and how well they worked as far as client satisfaction and added business. I would also like to hear from the consumer on this subject. What kind of incentives have you seen advertised that you thought were  good idea's and vice versa? Do you have any idea's that would attract your business as a consumer?

 

Nick Caisse, Agent/Realtor
Century 21 Access America
Wolcott, Connecticut