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The Empty Brochure Box

By Jay McGillicuddy

Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty

September 01, 2007 04:17 AM

Trying to keep a brochure box full all the time can be a little taxing. This past spring our area was very rainy and one of our listings had the brochure box on our sign post and the brochures/flyers seemed to get wet all the time and the ink was blurring everything. This seemed very frustrating to me as I would have to replace them all too often. What a waste I thought and I was not really receiving a lot of calls as the home was priced very well and was very visible to the main road.

One day when visiting the property all the flyers were soaking wet again and I decided to leave it empty because we had more rain fore casted for the week. Well, lo and behold after a few days my cell phone started ringing, I actually had people calling me about our listing with the empty brochure box on the post.

The weather was still crappy and I kept getting phone calls and appointments to see the property. When I pulled in the driveway I noticed the box was still empty but I am still getting appointments what gives, I'm thinking.

Our market has been very slow but this property with an empty brochure box was creating a lot of activity with buyers calling me for more information.

Brochure Box We had another listing in a neighboring town priced real well and the sellers kept after me to fill the box but no calls or appointments off the box of flyers.

People take flyers and they now have all the information so why should they call us?

I am now leaving my boxes empty and receiving more calls than ever before.

Empty Brochure Box

Jay and Monika

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County

New Hampshire Real Estate with Jay McGillicuddy

NH Real Estate Blogs

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

603-548-7685

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Herb Hamilton

RE/MAX Preferred Inc. Realtors - Portland, OR

Real Estate Broker ,CDPE, Downtown Portland

Jay,

Congratulations. You have discovered what I discovered several years ago. I wrote a post or two about it and have commented about it as well. The usuall comments are that you have to put up a flyer box to keep the seller happy. Bull. Just sell the home and they will be happy.

Sep 01, 2007 04:38 AM

Nora Adkins

Realty Executives - Tucson, AZ

I'm with Rebecca...I don't like giving out all the informtion. I try to explain this to the sellers and they usually understand. I put up a call capture sign now. That seems to work.

Sep 01, 2007 04:43 AM

Judi Glamb

Coldwell Banker Hearthside - Hellertown, PA

Associate Broker, ABR

I had *two* boxes on my last listing that the seller insisted on having. I had to make sure *I* filled them otherwise he'd put my 10 page brochures in there! I figured if I had to have them out there, the were just getting a little flyer. I even tried not putting on the price:-) The new agents don't.... oh well!

Sep 01, 2007 04:50 AM

MarQuis Rhodes

MarQuis Real Estate Group/Boise River Properties - Boise, ID

I as well do not like the flyer's because I think it is a waste of money... but it pleases our sellers and that is why we do it. I have now opt to not have a fryer box on my signs because I don't want to give the impression that I am neglecting my obligations as a Realtor. So now they don't see a box and they do not expect my listing to have flyer's.

Seems to work very well for me.

Sep 01, 2007 04:57 AM

Larry Wright

nwRealty.Com - Tacoma, WA

Makes sense ... but you wouldn't expect those results. Thanks Jay

Sep 01, 2007 05:16 AM

Robert Hammerstein -

Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ

Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Hi Jay,

This is a very good point to bring to light. We had a sign with the box and rider stolen off of one of our listings this Summer. The sign came back eventually minus the box. But we truly do give the public more information than we should because in so doing, they require our assistance less. Thanks for this post on a very important subject.

Sep 01, 2007 05:29 AM

Esko Kiuru

Bethesda, MD

Jay,

That's an interesting development. When the box is kept full to please the seller, the calls are not coming in. And vice versa. So, the seller is best served with the box empty and you can then carry a meaningful conversation with prospects who call, hopefully selling the property much faster than otherwise. Whatever works best.

Sep 01, 2007 06:01 AM

George Souto

George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT

Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jay, I agree with you, I would rather have my phone ringing and get the chance to talk to Buyers, then have them just take flyers and not get to talk to them about the property.

Sep 01, 2007 06:03 AM

Carole Cohen

Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH

Realtor, ePRO

Taxing yes that is the word; we had an information box on a listing that was on the direct path to a school. Kids emptied it almost daily! When we put flyers in a box we don't put all the info, just enough to get people to call us. But sometimes they are frustrating! The kids even started, at the same listing, taking them out and setting them on fire! lolol. Needless to say we took THAT box down.

Sep 01, 2007 01:44 PM

Jay McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH

Real Estate Broker

Thank you all for responding as I think the consensus is that the more information the buyers have the less likely they will call.

Thanks again, Jay

Sep 05, 2007 10:59 PM

Chris Griffith

Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL

Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent

I don't usually use flyer boxes, but I have a listing that is really priced well and I'm worried it's lost in the crowed so I put flyers with prices for the first week so the neighbors would see it when the snagged the first batch.

Sep 08, 2007 09:47 AM

Gena Riede

Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA

Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Jay, smart cookie! I have never used fliers in the box for that very reason. However, I broke my own rule with my own rental listing and put fliers in with some Lending info on the back. I may rethink that...no calls!

Sep 09, 2007 05:11 AM

1SG (Ret.) David Kucic

Hawaii Military Realty, Inc. - Ewa Beach, HI

President and Owner

Jay-I was really hoping to find somebody in this string that said they liked the flyer boxes but I guess I have to be the first. Before I get bashed as the oddball, I want to point out why I like them. First of all, I am in agreement with the rest that say the flyers dont bring in a buyer. However, the flyers are a great tool to show the rest of the neighborhood which realtor is on top of their game enough to keep a flyer box full. When they are looking for a listing agent in the future they will hopefully remember that agent. Thats just my take on it. Aloha,

David Kucic RA, GRI, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO
First Sergeant, USA (Retired)
Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii

Sep 09, 2007 05:39 PM

Monika McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH

Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

David...I like those boxes too...just do better with them empty. As long as the seller know what you're doing and they don't think you're simply a lazy agent not filling the box up...

Sep 10, 2007 01:59 PM

1SG (Ret.) David Kucic

Hawaii Military Realty, Inc. - Ewa Beach, HI

President and Owner

Monika/Jay-That is important for the seller to know for sure otherwise they would be wondering you even bother putting the box out there. I guess the philosophy of using the box depends on if you are currently looking for buyers or sellers. In this market, it would make sense to leave it empty to pick up some potential buyers. Is Jay out playing golf today? Aloha,

David Kucic RA, GRI, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO
First Sergeant, USA (Retired)
Tropic Lightning Real Estate, Oahu, Hawaii

Sep 11, 2007 05:42 AM

Jay McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH

Real Estate Broker

Dave, it's pouring rain here which we really need. Tomorrow I play in my league and it is supposed to be very windy out. Sounds like fun to me...

Sep 11, 2007 07:48 AM

"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.

President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Jay and Monika...

I just stopped by to see what all those "Blog Updated" emails were about :)

Now I know. They look very pretty :)

TLW...ROAR!

Sep 11, 2007 10:41 AM

Jay McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH

Real Estate Broker

TLW, I have been working on updating my "tags". No woff to work on Monika's. Have a great day and say hi to Blog Boy and Bertha.

Sep 12, 2007 01:04 AM

Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist

Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hey Jay,
Sounds good to me, I can't keep the brochure boxes filled. I sometimes think people in the neighborhood just enjoy seeing me run around stuffing them in.

Sep 14, 2007 06:07 AM

Jay McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH

Real Estate Broker

The key, I think, is are you getting any calls from the brohures that were in the box. If not, then it's time to think about NOT replenishing them. My theory is buyers take the flyers and then they have the info and then they don't need to call us. A lot of buyers hate to be hounded on the phone.

Sep 14, 2007 09:22 AM