Special offer

If You Have Listings Flaunt Them-Here's One Reason Why

By
Real Estate Agent with Integrity Real Estate Group

Port Potomac Hold Sold by Cindy Jones 2010
This past week on a listing appointment the homeowners brought up my blog.  As many of us have discovered we have secret blog readers who lurk for months before they pick up the phone to schedule an appointment.

What they said was an eye opener.  They had been reading my blog but not exclusively.  They were reading a  selection of other local agents blogs as well.  I asked if they would be willing to share what made them call one agent over another and their answer surprised me.  It had nothing to do with writing style, it had a little to do with neighborhood knowledge but it had a lot to do with what agents said about their listings.

The agents they called to interview about listing their home were agents who were blogging about their listings.   They went on to explain that they read a lot of blogs where agents talked about "the business" or "neighborhoods" but they couldn't find where they were listing or selling homes.  The agents didn't mention any listings or current transactions leading them to believe the agent might not be ready to take on the challenges of selling a home in today's market.

That was not what I expected to hear at all.  We went on to discuss in more detail my marketing plan for their home and I left with a new view of what helped make my phone ring, at least for these homeowners.   If you haven't been using your blog to help promote your listings you might be missing an opportunity.  Make sure your target market knows you've got something going on.  Guess there goes my plan to just bit witty and charming.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by

                                   Real People*Real Lives*Real Estate

If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones and Integrity Real Estate Group a call at 703-346-2213.

Military Relocation Specialist serving military families relocating to and from the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico MCB and all of the Military District of Washington installations. 

Military Relocation Professional


Check out www.varealestatetalk.com and www.cjrealtygroup.com for more information.

Integrity Real Estate Group
 
Real People*Real Life*Real Estate

Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia



 

 

Comments(82)

Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Mike-I think the more we ask people who call us what they like or don't like about our blogs the more focused we can become.

Barbara-I love my lurkers when they finally pop up.  New listing today from another lurker.

Tom-I do the same. 

Dick and Dixie-thanks for your comment.


Tamara-I'll try:-)

 

Jan 31, 2011 01:52 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Virginia-glad it was a helpful one.

Dave-It also helps their ranking in google when we blog about them.

Margaret-you don't happen to have a relative by the name of Mitch in our area do you?

Bill-I ask whenever someone calls me how they found me.

Liane-as long as my slip isn't showing I'll be okay :-)

Jan 31, 2011 01:55 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Denver-blogging is a great business builder.

Judith thanks for your insight.  I try to keep my whining posts to members only.

Greg-certainly we all see agents who do nothing but put a string of flyers on their blog.

Jay-oh common charming cottage doesn't just draw you in?

Denny and Denise-thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week.

Jan 31, 2011 01:58 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Cynthia-I think we can tie a post about a listing to a post about a neighborhood.  Increases exposure.

Brad-good plan.

Lyn-I agree.  When you see agents who rarely suggest a listing or sale it makes you wonder if they have any.

Kathy-I think balance is important.

Barry-congratulations!

Jan 31, 2011 02:01 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Michael-yes it is.  I like to know that my efforts are paying off where it counts.  The bank account.

Dennis & teri-they are the ones that ultimately pay the bills.

Kristen-thanks for your comment.  I'll keep working on the witty and charming part.

Bob-the internet is a great equalizer.

Annie-thanks for your comment.  I think we have to listen carefully to what our readers tell us.

Jan 31, 2011 02:04 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Karen-it was a knock on the head for me too.

Karen-a good deal of my blogging is about attracting new clients.

Randall-you are correct.

Ann-thank you for stopping by.

Pete-I always ask the reason the person called me.  Most of the time it comes down to making the connection that they can identify with.

Marte-setting our listings apart from the generic MLS listings is important.

Jan 31, 2011 02:08 PM
Barbara Charlton
inactive - license is on ice with State of MN - Lakeville, MN

Cindy, this is my clarion call today! Thanks for opening our eyes.

Jan 31, 2011 11:28 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Barbara-thanks for stopping by.  Have fun promoting your listings.

Feb 01, 2011 12:06 AM
Rhonda Abbott
Howard Hanna - Wadsworth, OH
Wadsworth & Greater Akron, OH

Interesting, but makes total sense!  Thanks for turning on the light bulb over my head!

Feb 01, 2011 12:27 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Rhonda-one of the nice things about Active Rain is what we learn from our peers.

Feb 01, 2011 12:55 AM
Brenda Hughes
Evansville Home Staging & Re-Design - Evansville, IN
Home Staging & Re-Design Southern IN, KY

Cindy,

Good to hear, I post about the homes I stage and put up pictures and a u Tube video.  I post at least once a week about them til they are sold. I have often wondered why realtors don't blog or repost about their listings.

Feb 01, 2011 01:51 AM
Paul Armstrong
Realty Network - Laguna Hills, CA
Serving Orange County & The Long Beach Area

Great Tip Cindy,  Thank you for sharing!

Feb 01, 2011 04:49 AM
Elisa Uribe Realtor #01427070
Golden Gate Sotheby's International - Berkeley, CA
Opening the Doors to California Homes -East Bay

Thanks so much for the post. It's so true how we never know who's out there reading the blogs. I posted a video of my clients house for sale and they added it to their facebook page.

Feb 01, 2011 05:02 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I always put my listings up on Active Rain and where ever else I can find to get them out there.

Feb 01, 2011 11:44 AM
Renée Donohue~Home Photography
Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI
Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

Amen there sister~

If you want listings and you don't have any to flaunt - find an agent that will give you permission to "borrow" theirs!

Feb 01, 2011 01:29 PM
DeeDee Riley
Lyon Real Estate - El Dorado Hills CA - El Dorado Hills, CA
Realtor - El Dorado Hills & the Surrounding Areas

Thank Cindy for your input.  And congratulations on your listing!!!

Feb 01, 2011 02:48 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Brenda-if an agent or stager have a listing to show off they should. 

Paul-you're welcome.  Have a great day.

Elisa-I've had clients send them to family and friends.

Gene-the more exposure for our listings the better.

Renee-absolutely.  Just don't steal someone elses and try to pass it off as yours.


DeeDee-thank you.  I put up another one yesterday.

Feb 01, 2011 11:17 PM
Barry McCormack
Ultimate Homes - Autaugaville, AL
Homes in Spain for your dreams

And another client from way back has just contacted me after a comment I Tweeted sparked interest (which I thought was long ago dead) in his desire to run rural hotel in Spain!!

Long live social media - it really has taken a long time and a lot of effort for me to see results but finally I am starting to see them!!!

Have a great day

Feb 02, 2011 02:10 AM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

That is useful information Cindy. And that was a perceptive consumer.

Feb 13, 2011 12:52 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Barry-congratulations on reviving a lead!

 

Tigard-I'm often surprised by what I learn from blog readers.

Feb 13, 2011 11:24 PM