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Door knocking

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Realty West CalBRE #01458572

I was always one to go door knocking when I took on a new neighborhood so that I could get to know the houses and the people. It appears in reading through blog posts today that many people are either reverting to door knocking or taking it up for the first time.

Here are a couple of suggestions to make your door knocking experience better in terms of getting business.

  1. Make sure that your ActiveRain blog URL is on your business card and any other marketing materials that you hand out. Of course, make sure you have useful blog posts, too! Your blog post will also show them that you are in tune with modern technology and methods.
  2. Leave something at each address, something other than just your business card. Many of my most successful Clients leave a CD with many files on it about home maintenance tips and tricks, safety in your home, seasonal maintenance schedule, how to do recall research, etc. Once you have the documents together (put that time cost into your marketing budget), the CD and the CD envelope cost about a dime. You can use a little rubber cement to attach your business card to the envelope, and you can even make a cool CD cover for the CD that includes your picture, name, and other contact information. Total cost if you go the expensive route is about 20¢.
  3. If you want to decrease costs even further, and get more documents, get your Power Partners to go in with you.

Comments (17)

Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Russel: Some great marketing advice. Brand yourself in a very professional manner. You may want to read a blog I put out awhile ago about "defining your audience".

The DVD is something I need to try sometime.

Aug 13, 2010 03:37 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I love these ideas.  I haven't started doing door knocking, but this sounds like something I should try.

Aug 13, 2010 03:51 PM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Russel, Now that is a great idea.  Never thought of that. And cd's are cheap.

Thanks!  Gloria

Aug 13, 2010 04:08 PM
Ray Saenz
Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX
Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor

Russel,
thanks for all great information that you share, keep the good work and hope to see you more on the google and android side :)

Aug 13, 2010 04:13 PM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Russel, the cd is a great idea!  Thanks for sharing it!

Aug 13, 2010 04:46 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Russel - Another excellent post with many tips. Thank you for the helpful information.

Aug 13, 2010 05:24 PM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Russel -

Great advice on business cards.

How do you keep yours from your two businesses straight?

Aug 13, 2010 05:54 PM
Robin Dampier REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker King - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville & Western NC Real Estate Source

Great idea Russel re a CD.  Fortunately in my small community most folks know me, or of me, since I've been here since 1994.  If folks are cruising through and stop and ask any questions they are generally told to visit "the real estate lady" and provide my address.

P.S. Russel:  I have put some pics up using my new Nikon D3000 and lens on a new post.  I've got a ways to go but I think I'll enjoy learning and learn to love the upgrade.

Sue of Robin and Sue

Aug 13, 2010 07:26 PM
Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant
Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC
Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Russel....Great idea, another one is "when you get a New listing, go around the neighborhood with a info sheet on the home to hand out' Then when you make a sale go again and let the neighbors know you sold the home and ask if they are planing on selling their home.

Cheers

Aug 13, 2010 08:05 PM
Michele Miller ~ REALTOR®, LMC, HSE, CHS, SRES, CMRS
ERA Key Realty~Worcester County Realty Group - Worcester, MA
'Helping You Make the Best Move"

As always, great post! Thanks for the tips!

Aug 14, 2010 02:20 AM
Gerry Michaels
Glasswork Media Arts - Gettysburg, PA
GettysburgGerry Social Meida

Getting the shoe soles on the cement is something I love to do in the spring and fall. Marketing and exercise, a great combo. I like the CD idea, gonna have to give it a try...

Aug 14, 2010 02:43 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Russell, some great tips, and definitely like the idea on the CDs. Thanks,

Aug 14, 2010 05:13 AM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Russel, I had started to some door knocking, but I really started getting busy from other sources and was never able to get back to it...that's a good thing I think.  Anyway, I liked the CD idea.

Aug 14, 2010 04:43 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Everyone does what works....we talked to someone the other day who was "victim" of a door knocker...he thought it was intrusive and obnoxious...his words....we agree.

Aug 15, 2010 12:50 AM
Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain
Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Russel,

Some communities are very responsive to door knocking. It is a low budget marketing tool. If the community is high end and allows soliciting it can be very lucrative.

Steve

Aug 15, 2010 04:30 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Russel, the CD is interesting for marketing & it's different...door knocking is hard now here but it works for some people....it's consistency & perseverance..i personally prefer referrals

Aug 16, 2010 02:26 AM
Sonsie Conroy
I serve buyers and sellers everywhere in San Luis Obispo County - San Luis Obispo, CA
Energetic, Enthusiastic, Knowledgeable Realtor

Very cool idea! I hadn't thought of using modern technology in quite this way before, but it really sounds smart. I don't think I'll totally abandon paper, since so many folks still use it, but adding a CD to the mix is really cool.

Aug 16, 2010 08:16 AM