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It Took 35 Years To Get The Experience - It Has Been "Internet Adapted"

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Executives
When you've been in the real estate business for 35 years (36 in July) you realize that many of those things you have done years ago have application today and in the future.

Sometime in the mid 90's my husband and I developed a comprehensive in-home listing packet, We learned after many years buyers who were tired mentally took the porch from one home, the garage from a second one and the kitchen from a third home and called us wanting to make an offer on a "home" they had not seen and may not even exist.

Our packet was and still is acetate bound with a minimum of 4 pages.

The cover had and still does
  • Address
  • Glossy photo of the home - this was the pre-digital period. Nowadays they have multiple digital photos printed on our color laser printer
  • My contact information
The second page had and still does
  • Anything we felt was a special feature
  • Listing of recent major improvements
The third page had and still does detailed information about
  • Transportation - location and time from the home
  • Schools - the schools children would attend
  • Shopping - location and time from the home
  • Recreation - description and time from the home
Take a quick look at my local post about Meadowbrook Woods. It has the same information - transportation, schools, shopping and recreation. The only difference is that it is now online

The graphic below is from a 12 year old in-home packet developed for a home in Springfield VA



As for the fourth page it is entitled "Vital Statistics". It includes legal and tax information, conveyances, HOA fees, etc.

Finally, there are many agents who don't put a listing packet in the home, because "it's all in the MLS" - the MLS has very limited information and is not always reliable.

I hope mine is the only detailed listing packet buyers have available to review at the end of the day. They may not write an offer on my listing, but I know I gave it my best shot.

I also know my Meadowbrook Woods posts come up twice in the top 10 on Google behind the HOA plus my YouTube video is on the front page, also..

If you plan to buy or sell a Prince William County home we'll put that experience to work for you.


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My Team has 35 years experience in Woodbridge, Dumfries, Manassas, Bristow, Gainesville, Haymarket Prince William County

Experience Isn’t Expensive – It’s PRICELESS

If you plan to buy or sell an Old Bridge Estates or other Prince William County home or property contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-499-9279. Put our record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

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Comments(22)

William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Karen, Kate said it best. Some practices don't outlive their usefulness. Technology has not changed many of the Buyer's needs, only the ways it is possible to deliver the information.

May 26, 2011 04:15 PM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Karen, I'm thankful that I'm one of your faithful blog subscribers because I learned another new thing from you...listing packets! I am going to create one for each of my upcoming listings. Thanks again, Karen!!! :)

Leilani

May 26, 2011 04:38 PM
The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties
Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Karen,

Sounds like you have the experience and flexibility to grow with the times but keep what works.  Congrats on almost 36 years in real estate!  You must be doing something right.

Lisa

May 27, 2011 01:10 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Kate  "Only" 25 years - you passed the 5 year test a long time ago.  In-home packets are both a listing tool and marketing tool.  We also had a 1-hr photo shop near our office in Mount Vernon

May 27, 2011 01:17 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Rebecca  Thank you for the good wishes

May 27, 2011 01:19 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

William  Many people think their "new" idea is just that when it had been around before they "discovered" it

May 27, 2011 01:22 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Leilani  If it will help I'll send you one of mine as an example

May 27, 2011 01:23 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Lisa  The key is to not stop - thank you for the encouragement

May 27, 2011 01:24 AM
Kathryn Acciari
Central One Federal Credit Union - Shrewsbury, MA
Mortgage Loan Originator

Karen, there are so many agents who just leave a pile of flyers on the kitchen counter.  The information you put together is truly useful, for both buyers and their agents.  Congratulations on your upcoming 36th anniversary, and thank you for sharing your wisdom.

May 27, 2011 02:26 AM
Wayne Johnson
Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper REALTORS® - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio REALTOR, San Antonio Homes For Sale

Karen, If you've been doing this for 35-years and it still works, that's good enough for me. Thanks for the tip.

May 27, 2011 02:45 AM
Dick and Dixie Sells
Sells Real Estate, LLC - Trinity, FL
Realtors, Tampa Bay Florida Homes For Sale

Yep, have a listing booklet in the homes, and have it also in pdf format so we can email it to on line buyers too! Excellent idea and post.

May 27, 2011 03:10 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Kathryn  Thank you - I enjoy sharing

May 27, 2011 04:26 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Wayne  It is a fantastic listing tool

May 27, 2011 04:26 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Dick and Dixie  Thank you - that is an excellent idea.  I will use it as well

May 27, 2011 04:28 AM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Karen, I just love reading your incredibly helpful posts on everything you write about! Such a fan :) You are really giving the buyers a mini-relocation package for the area that the home is in. Brilliant!

Sharon

May 28, 2011 03:44 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Sharon  Over the years many agents have adopted the system

May 28, 2011 05:56 AM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Karen, thank you for your generous offer! I'd love to see yours as an example, you can send it to: leilani@souzarealty.com. I'm going to re-blog this post! :)

Leilani

May 30, 2011 07:54 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Leilani  Thank you - it's on its' way

May 30, 2011 09:27 AM
Bob & Leilani Souza
Souza Realty 916.408.5500 - Roseville, CA
Greater Sacramento Area Homes, Land & Investments

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Karen! I got it and will be putting together mine this week! :)

Leilani

May 31, 2011 10:24 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Leilani  I am really glad I was able to help

May 31, 2011 11:20 AM