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New post card gets people show up at open house!

I was watching TV the other day and there was a teaser for the news and they were talking about the real estate market and how these post cards were going out, that had a line around the block of potential takers at this open house.

What I got from the teaser as I forgot to actually watch the news, was that they were advertising two bed, one bath places free for a minimum of one year if you qualified and it worked on a first come, first serve basis.

Well, the line at this new apartment complex was around the block and it worked amazingly well. These post cards were sent to only the lucky few and everyone got their free room and board. If you have figured out what the pitch was and who they were mailing to, you are smarter than those who got the post card and showed up.

You see, the people that showed up had warrants out for their arrest and when they showed up, fill out the application, the application was reviewed, it verified who they were. They were escorted to one of the units to check it out and that is when they were taken out to the back door to their new place that had two beds, one bath and was free for them to stay at for the next year plus. They were hauled off to the local jail to spend some time, but they got exactly what the card promised.

So, how good is your postcard? Do you get that kind of turn out at your open houses? Maybe we should learn from the local sheriff how to drive traffic to our homes that we have for sale, they seemed to have it figured out!

Todd Clark - broker
Kastings & Associates
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

Posted by Todd Clark (Broker) (503)524-9494 (Beaverton, Oregon Real Estate Expert) on 03/21/2008 09:19 PM

Comments (33)

Post Cards in the ActiveRain Channel

post cards to criminals, howto get more business from your post cards

Originally posted at: Living Beaverton - Your guide to everything Beaverton: New post card gets people show up at open house!

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33 Comments on New post card gets people show up at open house!

MAR

2008

That's a funny one!

Todd, wow!!! My postcards aren't that good! Maybe I should forward your post to my local law enforcement and see if it can help them. That's great.

That's funny...I have heard of these events before and they always work so well. I am not sure I want that type of person for a client, however.

I have heard about this being done with wedding invitations but never with free housing for a year

Wow Todd - the police in your area are smarter than the average bear! Way to go. Too bad our postcards don't work so well but I still use them. If I get one appointment from a batch then it was worth the mailing.

Those types of stings are always so funny.

Were those people really in the market to buy a new home? Hmmmm.

OMG, that is too great!!! That's like those Dateline NBC online child pornography stings...funny post!

Hmm - now how can we make that work for our open houses ??? We are going to have to brain storm.

criminals are stupid. thats why their criminals

I love this! I saw on Court TV (now TruTv but I prefer Court TV) that some cops did this with offering to give away free DVD players and plasma TV's.

Now that is funny!

OMG, I am laughing so hard right now! I was expectig another "Wow, why don't I so that" moment, and the one I got was not what I was expecting. I agree with Joan, though, we should brainstorm this one!

MAR

2008

Todd,

Now that's a funny post...wish I thought about something like that!!! LOL Thanks, Fran

Todd - That is too funny! We had something similar here in Houston.

Todd

Man, that sounds like a rather ingeniuos way to round up people

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

WOW!!! Now talk about clever!

If that were me I couldn't help but laugh and say "that's a good one! You got me!"

Todd, I'd heard about that -- they also sometimes nab these criminals by offering free tickets to major sporting events. Amazing that a fugitive from the law will be lured out of hiding for such a small offering.

Funny post! Last year in Milwaukee - letters were sent out inviting people to a free ballgame. Same program as the postcards you talked about. It was amazing how many criminals were rounded up!

Todd, I have never seen this except on to catch a pedafile. Smart police, I'll keep my eyes open to see if it is done in my area.

MAR

2008

I love things like this - saw one where there were 25 large plasma TVs to be given away...just before the SuperBowl.

NOV

2008

APR

David - I thought is was really smart and I am glad these people now have their free room and board as promised.

Ray - It sure would free up a lot of housing for our clients, wouldn't it?

Linda - But, why can't we come up with a idea that can be just as inviting without having that type of client show up.

Rob - It was great, I think they snagged over 500 people with warrants.

Judy - I'm thinking of ways to do something similar, maybe no mortgage for 3 months.

Ron - No, they just wanted the free rent for a year, but we can find similar ways to attract those who want a home if we just think outside the box.

Karen - The "Who me" ones? (ROFL)

Joan - I'm working on one still a year later and I may have to give it a try this summer on a luxury home.

Brian - Yes it is, but now they are off the street, that is all I care about!

Karen - Wow, something that small got them to show up... What idiots!

Steve - It really is, isn't it!

Marlene - My brain is in a big storm!

Fran - I'm just glad the sherrif did and these idiots off our streets and no longer have a chance to breed.

Candy - I think more and more police are figuring this one out, I'm just glad the criminals haven't.

Tom - I think later they said it saved them over $400,000 in overtime costs to go hunt these people down, since they came to them.

Ricardo - A lot did, there really was no fight from anyone, I think they were just too surprised.

Brian - One years free rent isn't small, but I think it also depends on the sporting event. Superbowl would get a lot of people out of hiding.

April - Why oh why... Milwaukie? Come on the bucks? Poor criminals, deserve to be in jail for taking those tickets. (LOL)

Missy - The pedafile thing they bait them with kids online though and one after another those guys show up... So sad and such a shame that they ever get out of jail. I SAY LET THEM ROT!

Kent - See now I could see that working. Just before a huge sporting event and they could show their friends what they had won.

I heard about this before.

Karen - It is just too funny, but if we can get that kind of result with an open house, wouldn't that make our day?

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