Dear Realtor Friends,

    Please don't waste money on advertising, unless it can actually be read.

    Try some of these ideas I mention in my videoblog, plus:

    1. If there is room in the ad, include a floor plan.

    2. Be as clear as possible. First time buyers often don't know about our abbreviations. BR, LR,BA and GA might look like a foreign language to them.

    3. Consider using an exterior shot and the living room of the home.

    4. Use great descriptive words, like "granite" and "stainless steel" which means the home is up to date. Stay away from words like cosy (translated sounds small), fabulous (usually an over-promise), and exclamation points which might seem like you are trying too hard to sell the property.

     5, Remember to ask for good placement. Right hand pages are best, and as close to the front of the publication as possible.

    Make sure the ad is easy to read. That means no white type dropped out of a dark backgound, and remember to take down everyone's name who calls about the property. Those prospects (as you know) are gold...maybe not for that property in the ad, and surely for some other one. Good luck.