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BIG SOUTH FORK TENNESSEE: You're Either Making Dust or Eating It!

By
Real Estate Agent with Tennessee Recreational Properties

Cowboy WisdomYou may have seen that slogan on a teeshirt; it's considered "Cowboy Wisdom." Well, it's pretty much of a true statement and can certainly be applied to the world of real estate.

Gone are the days when realtors went to a real estate office and waited for customers to walk in. Now it's all about getting the customers' attention through some form of media. I am literally a few minutes from Big South Fork National Park in Jamestown, Tennessee, which is a destination for trail riders. People who live within a few hours come on weekends and others trailer their horses 10 or 12 or 15 hours to spend their vacations here. Many of those people decide they'd like to look at horse properties while they're here and they're going to want to connect with a realtor...one who rides and who knows where equestrian listings are located in relation to trails and trailheads, how the land lays, what the barn is like, whether it's possible to park a big rig.

I put the first "billboard" on a stretch of road with good visibility for horse trailers headed for one of the area's numerous horse campgrounds.  Most of the listings in this area are horse properties, so it made sense to erect a second billboard in another location adjacent to the equestrian communities at Spruce Creek and Rockhouse Ranch. With a picture of a horse on it, it does get the attention of passing "horse people."

Almost all realtors in this area advertise themselves as "specializing in equestrian properties."  It's a constant struggle to stay abreast of the competition...and to figure out how to be making the dust!

Big South Fork Real Estate; Specializing In Equestrian Properties

Syreeta Saunders
Keller Williams Realty Centre - Randallstown, MD
Keys, MBA - The Keys2Day Team

Leslie - you are right.  We as agents have to be more creative than ever.  Today's business is for the true entrepreneur.  We do something similar to your billboards.  We use the signboard at my husbands fire company.  It's in our main farm area, it's highly visible and it lights up at night.

 

 

Oct 15, 2009 12:27 AM
John Mulkey
TheHousingGuru.com - Waleska, GA
Housing Guru

Leslie - This market calls for creative approaches to staying ahead of the competition and finding those elusive customers. Looks as if you're "making some dust."

Oct 15, 2009 12:33 AM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Syreeta, thanks for commenting. I read a post yesterday by Broker Bryant (http://activerain.com/blogsview/1281571/success-in-real-estate-requires-growing-a-pair-) that says, essentially, that it's easy to get into real estate and NOT easy to stay in it! That's the truth! Sounds like you used some creativity in finding a sign that you could put to your use...and a light up sign, at that!

Oct 15, 2009 04:09 AM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, John. Now I have something new to weed wack...LOL!

Oct 15, 2009 04:10 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Very impressive!  I love that picture and I'm sure it will get the attention of the riders.  Love the tag line you use too!

Oct 15, 2009 07:00 AM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Sharon. I wrote to the landowner a long time ago, asking for permission to put a sign on his property. I didn't hear back and I forgot about it. One day the letter came, just when I was thinking I needed to do something more. The question now is...what next??...LOL.

Oct 15, 2009 07:20 AM
Emily Lowe
RE/MAX Homes and Estates, Lipman Group - Nashville, TN
Nashville TN Realtor

I really like Big South Fork - and your signs are cool! Best of luck to you getting the horse business!

Oct 15, 2009 02:15 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Congratulations on the well deserved Feature!  Awesome title didn't go unnoticed!

Oct 15, 2009 02:31 PM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Leslie  Your specialty requires both knowledge and creativity - just like the rear of real estate :)  Karen

Oct 15, 2009 10:36 PM
David O'Doherty
Clayton, NC
Clayton NC Homes, Raleigh, NC

Sounds like you are combining your passion with your career, that is the dream of many. I worked with horses in Ireland when I got out of high school and almost made a career out of it. But life takes you on some turns and so now, I would like to get back around horses, they just smell so good!

Oct 15, 2009 10:49 PM
Jay Beckingham
Christensen Financial Mortgage - Port St Lucie, FL
Seniors ROCK!

what's the horse's name and it looks like your telling him/her a secret. what are you saying?

looking at the 2 signs i can't help but say the one with the photo just feels warmer.

Oct 15, 2009 11:01 PM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Emily, hi. I really like Nashville, too!

Sharon....I CANNOT take credit for the title! It made me laugh the first time I heard that because, horse wise, I've eaten my share of dust (and spit out some mud a time or two).

Hi, Karen. Thanks for commenting. I look for ways to have some form of advertising working when I'm not.

It's funny, David, how they all smell the same.I love that horse smell, too.

You're funny, Jay. It took 1,000 pictures to get one that was useable...what I might have been saying to that bad buckskin at that point probably can't be printed...he is way too clever!! By that point, he'd thankfully lost interest in the hat!

 

 

Oct 16, 2009 01:05 AM
Bill Gillhespy
16 Sunview Blvd - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Realtor, Fort Myers Beach Agent - Homes & Condos

Hi Leslie,  Good job of seizing what opportunities are available.  Do you include lots of related info ( trails, lodging, tack stores, emergency vet/farrier, etc ) on your site ?

Oct 16, 2009 05:38 AM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Bill. Some info but not enough...good suggestions! I will get right on that. APPRECIATE the input.

Oct 16, 2009 05:51 AM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

I have been to Big South Fork.  I ran the old rail right of way from Zephyr (I think that was the water crossing we started at) across the bridge. 

Gorgeous area...  And the horse people were all early risers.

Oct 16, 2009 12:38 PM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Lane. Not ALL horse people are early risers! I know the area you are describing; you would have crossed at Zenith and ridden the O&W. It's BEAUTIFUL, although the river crossings can be interesting. I carry a thin pair of cotton sweatpants and a thin pair of socks in my saddlebag JUST IN CASE. Also two plastic Walmart bags to slip on between dry socks and wet boots! I have never gone in but I've seen alot of people who have, including my riding buddy.

Oct 16, 2009 11:09 PM
Carrie Ann Higgs
Branson House Realty - Branson, MO
Your Key To The Ozarks

Hi Leslie, I like how you are marketing and being true to yourself. I love horses too, but have not been on one in years! It's a great lifestyle!

Oct 17, 2009 12:51 AM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Carrie. It is a great lifestyle because everyone here has a small barn and a couple of horses. Gaited horses are woven into the culture and fabric of Tennessee's history so, no matter whom you meet, you can always "talk horses."

Oct 17, 2009 08:09 AM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

There was a hole... water came up over the hood of the Jeep for a moment...  Popped out the other side.  The O&W bridge was pretty cool.  I just tried to find the article I wrote in 4 wheel drive & sport utility about those trips...

Oct 17, 2009 03:31 PM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders
Oct 18, 2009 01:04 AM