In Temecula, Ca, we meet weekly for our board "marketing" meeting where we share listings on the movie screen at a local theater and plug for " wants and needs", etc....  Usually there are bout 100 agents/affiliates at these meetings.   Along with that, there has always been homes that you could go see that day on caravan...self guided tour. 

The problem was that if you were holding your home open for that self guided tour, you had to hope and pray that agents would go check out the homes and you could look good for your client.  However only a couple agents were sparcely go and then it was for the food or drawings, you could only hope that these same random people had buyers they were working for.  Then it was just dwindled to no one going....

A couple realtors & affiliates took it upon themselves to start the coolest thing.  They hired an Air conditioned bus (sometimes 2) and after the meeting, we all pile in for a caravan.                         

Usually the trips are hosted by an affiliate who has cold water, snacks, drawing etc... This affiliate has the opportunity and the microphone to talk about their product, joke and build relationships with agents because they reserved their spot to do do so.  We are hostage for 2-2.5 hrs with someone else driving and using their gas (Ca. gas is off the charts I might add) ....great for everyone!  I love listening to the affiliates because its better then meeting them for lunch or having them in your office when you are so busy.  This is also an opportunity when other people ask questions that you wouldn't have otherwise thought of for them...great netowrking!!!

 We don't see more then 10 homes that are close or about 7 if they are spread out and only agents are allowed to go on the bus.  This insures that agents that can be selling your home, were looking at it and we weren't showing homes to affiliates that didn't have buyers and were only there to network with the agents on the bus (that's good to, but not when your telling your seller that agents are coming to see their home) 

If your interested in starting something like that in your town, you can see the website they use which is http://www.homebustour.com/ 

These days, there are so many homes on the market that compete with your listings, you have to do things taht stand out and your clients home can be showcased.  Marketing is key and part of that marketing should consist of "thinking outside the box".  I love this bus tour!  FYI, I had nothing to do with it's existence but am happy to participate. 

It's pretty cool!  Oh by the way, it costs us $60/house to have it on tour. However,  you just paid $60 for about 30 agents to come visit your listing, sometimes there are 60 agents there which requires 2 buses, so its only $1-2 per person, but making your client happy because other agents, from every local real estate company, are seeing their home and they may have a buyer...!!?  Priceless!