Most consumers think that selling a home involves nothing more than placement on the MLS, sign in the front yard, maybe an open house, and a random ad. Nothing can be further from the truth! The internet is first choice to start the home buying or selling process for over 75% of sellers and buyers. The use of the Internet in households and businesses continues to rapidly grow. The number of people on the Internet has increased to around 80 million, an increase of around 100% over the last year. Worldwide nearly 300 million people are estimated to be online.

What does this mean for consumers and Realtors? For the consumer it means they should make sure their real estate professional is tech savvy and cyber connected continuously. You should take this very seriously.  Following is an outline of a basic marketing strategy which goes as follows:

1. Advertising your homes List the home on the World Wide Web - Any buyer with a computer can access your homes from anywhere. This includes but not limited to, WWW access and many other online services.

2. 24-Hour Information Hotlines List the home through advertised 24/7 toll free telephone information lines.  Buyers can receive free information about their home and can leave their name and address requesting information about a home. 

3. Virtual Tours   

4. E-Mail Additional information and access to the home should be a mouse click away. Check your E-Mail several times daily.

5. High Visibility Signage The Company sign is easy to spot and clearly let's the neighbors and people driving by know that a home is available.

6. E-Mail/Fax to Top Agents E-mail or fax your listing information to the top 100 buyer's agents.

7. Personal Contact Talk to potential buyers every day to let them know a home is for sale.  Additionally, if you have an assistant let them contact potential buyers each week asking them if they are interested in a home.  Finally, see if your brokerage team members make outbound calls looking for the right buyer for a home.

8. Homes-For-Sale Magazines Maintain a strong presence in the most effective, high distribution, free-to-the-public homes for sale magazines.

9. Flyers, Postcards and Property Profile Brochures Print and distribute high quality color and black & white flyers and postcards throughout the seller's neighborhood, to your business mailing list of past clients, to the top 100 buyer's agents, and to target market areas.  

10. Bus Tour After a home has been on the market for a reasonable amount of time, arrange for bus tours to stop by and visit the home.  Which means the home will be exposed to many of the top Realtors in the area and they will offer their opinions regarding the home's price and amenities.

Set yourself apart from the average Realtor by getting your name out there in your market area and make sure you are not a "Secret Agent."

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