Well Bill,

I leave the price off because I use marketing to acquire sign/ad calls.  If you give away all the goods, there is no reason to come into the store...   

It is of no benefit to the seller if I don't try and get in front of buyers.  If I were simply to "advertise" the way most agents/companies do, I would put an ad with a photo and a price and not worry about attracting buyers.  If I have a listing, my job is to attract the most buyers, period.  Buyers need a trigger, a reason to call.  This is called Trigger Marketing.  It has purpose.  Advertising is usually to appease the sellers who want to see their home in print or online or to show their friends.  (Which I do to a point, but that type of advertising is used to attract other sellers and that's another story.) 

Appeasement advertising is not the best use of marketing and advertising dollars if your purpose is to gather buyers.  Did you know that ads without photos make the phone ring more often than those with photos?   Why is that?  Because shopping is a process of elimination.  If you want a ranch style home, you won't call on a two story and vice-versa.  No chance of contact with that buyer!

Did you know that people who are calling on ads are usually 3-6 months away from buying a home?  And they spend 20% more when they actually do buy?  (They were bargain hunting.)

What does this mean for sellers?   Do you want your agent to run your home in an appeasement ad (designed to attract other sellers) or do you want your agent to have been running ads over the last 3-6 months at 80% of your price?   An agent who has buyers that are ripe for your home NOW?   

That's just a small piece to the puzzle, I haven't even started on our call capture system, so if you want to know more, call, email or comment.   I love, love, LOVE marketing and advertising questions.

Thanks for bringing that up, because it is one of the most often asked question when people CALL ME...  :)

Excellent question!

Now for the shameless plug.   The company I have chosen to be the marketing and advertising machine for my clients, is the ONLY company that runs this type of marketing and advertising program!  Don't you want want an agent who looked into what their company could offer their clients?  Call me to find out how we have already been working to expose your home to the most buyers...  (949) 278-4807