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Remembering The Good Old Days...Using The Methods That Made The Phone Ring

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired 104763

After reading Richard Weisser’s featured post this morning about the “old days of real estate” it made me think about those “old timers” who are still making money in this business.  The old timers are making money and the younger members of our business are complaining that no one is calling!! 

Hmmmm….could it be that the old methods of making the phone ring are still working?  Could it be that some of the old methods of prospecting for new business will never stop working? 

I fully understand the frustration of receiving long faxed paperwork; having to wait for hand delivered contracts; and not having the ability to text the other agent for a quick response to a question.  I can fully understand all of that and agree that it’s frustrating.

Do you understand how important it is to learn and practice some of the “old school” methods of marketing?   Online marketing is critical today, but not everyone is online.  As an example, most of our active adult community transactions are a result of direct mail marketing; invitations to our open house events are from direct mail marketing; and we also advertise in a local homes magazine.  Believe it or not, people still read the newspaper and homes magazines. 

It’s important to know who your buyers will be and target that market.  It can’t always be done with modern online marketing.  Most of the "old timers" have business and will probably survive during this critical time.  We’ve seen many younger agents fall to the wayside and it’s mainly because they did not know how to make their phones ring.   Don’t eliminate the value of old timers and learning some of their old time methods.  Big Mistake!!

 

Posted by

 

 

Barbara Todaro, Great Grandmother to Caleb, Santino, Aiden and Gianni       

Todaro Team - Retired

508-918-9148

               

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Comments(112)

Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566
This makes me think if something old, I etching new, and something blue. I am working on the blue part of this idea, but new and old techniques both are valuable.
Mar 13, 2012 11:07 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Cheryl..... old and new are both valuable......true....

Mar 13, 2012 11:19 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Barbara, I agree! They are tried and true methods for getting business. Knowing your target audience is key.

Mar 13, 2012 11:27 PM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Congratulations on the feature Barbara. Old fashioned service, answering your phone, returning calls, prequalifying your own buyers and hard work pay off over sitting and waiting for technology to bring you a client.

Mar 13, 2012 11:31 PM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Barbara,

What you have said is sooo true. I just wish you would have given some examples of such old time methods in your post in order to make it more concrete.

Mar 14, 2012 12:05 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Michael..... the most important factor to start is to know your target audience.....then pick your poison...

Scott....that's the program...

William....my favorite is direct mail marketing, but there are many others.... cold calling, door knocking, networking are the most commonly used...

Mar 14, 2012 12:16 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Kim.... you can definitely consider yourself an old-timer..... I take my "power nap" around 2:00pm!!! you???

Mar 14, 2012 12:44 AM
Kim Skumanick
Keller Williams Real Estate - Tunkhannock, PA
So true Barbara! High tech will never completely replace high touch. Now that I've reincorporated much of the old school tactics into my business plan I can consider myself an old-timer!
Mar 14, 2012 12:50 AM
Marianne Infusino
RE/MAX HomeTowne Realty - Franklin Lakes, NJ
RE/MAX - FLOW Area - 201

I couldnt agree with ya MORE...we 'oldtimers' are fortunate to be able to incorporate the 'Feather' PEN into the computer/iphone world ... because we 'learned' them the HARD way - by experience ... and yet, are FORTUNATE enough to have been on the same road of NEW LEARNing as the computer world was starting.  I also wrote a small blog post on this - as a walk down memory lane ... given the fact that most of the technology is ONLY 25 or so years old ....

Gotta admit, I was feeling like I was in the 'right place' at the right time!

 

Mar 14, 2012 02:05 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Marianne..... I'll check out your post right now.....

Mar 14, 2012 02:18 AM
Pam Graham
All Real Estate Options - Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, Clay & St Johns Counties

I know of some agents who have been selling real estate for 20-30+ years and one thing that is key, is that they always give great customer service, which turns into referrals. They have so much referral business, that they don't need to prospect.

Mar 14, 2012 07:03 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Pam.... good customer service does result in future business.... but it's a grave error to not continue to prospect for new business.....there's no such thing as too much business.... that's when you form a team and refer the overflow...

Mar 14, 2012 07:12 AM
Ashley Connolly
Northeast Water Wells Inc - Jaffrey, NH

What a great reminder. Love reading your blogs Barbara your an inspiration to us all

Mar 14, 2012 12:37 PM
Anonymous
CeCe

Hi Barbara,    I totally agree with you ...  I too believe in the old fashion way of prospecting..   I know that marketing on the internet is pricless !!   but direct mail , open houses and all the things you mentioned is so important ..   I have even door knocked and given out scratch pads out ,  passed out flyers on cars in parking lots ,   the important point is you have to talk and meet people in this buisness , otherwise it won't work ..  So keep up the prospecting and pass it on .

 

    Great Post     loved it ..

 

Mar 15, 2012 12:06 AM
#106
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Thanks, Ashley...we all need to be reminded....

CeCe.... networking is the best method....face to face marketing....

 

Mar 15, 2012 12:15 AM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Barbara,

You just keep on keeping on.  Very nicely said  Hope all is well for you.

Mar 15, 2012 02:30 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi Richard.... thank you....all is well....are you still teaching CE along with working in the business??  busy guy...

Mar 15, 2012 02:42 AM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Barbara,

I am concentrating on getting this new venture  up and going so no teaching right now.

Mar 15, 2012 10:52 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good for you, Richard..... good luck with it....I'm sure you'll be very successful....the market's picking up now and homes that have been sitting are now selling.... I'm sure you use those old school methods to make your phones ring....

Mar 15, 2012 10:57 PM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

I spend my time with what makes the money and try one or two new things a year and cut out something when it no longer works. I just started sending out sold postcards three months ago they had faded out for me 4 years ago but this time it is coming back.

Mar 16, 2012 10:12 PM