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Effectively Listing Farm & Ranch Properties

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Beam & Branch Realty TREC #547752

 

Horses

As we all know in this business, a Farm & Ranch listing is quite different from a single family listing.  Too often I find that agents listing a farm or ranch has little or no experience out on the range!  It is super important to know what you are selling and how to properly represent the property.

 

Here are my top ten tips to Effectively Listing Farm & Ranch Properties:

 

1.  Know what type of farm or ranch you are listing.  Is it for horse breeding, boarding, showing?  What type of cattle or livestock?  Is it a working ranch or leisure?  

 

2.  Understanding the type of farm or ranch is key in then knowing to whom you are going to "target" your marketing to!  Horse people?  Cattle folks?  Marketing this type of property will require you to get creative in capturing the correct target market for the property.

 

3.  Take time to really know and understand the property.  Take great notes when doing the

     listing presentation.  Highlight the equipment, structures and other distinctions that add value to the

     property.

 

4.  Make sure you have a photographer who understands country property.  You might even

     want to be present when they take the pictures to make sure they are capturing special structures, etc.

 

5.  Prepare your listing documents properly.  Septic?  Well?  Minerals?  Equipment list?  Ingress &

     egress?  Gates, fences, chute's, feeding troughs, irrigation, ponds, streams, types of hay grown, other

     crops,  agricultural exemptions?  

 

6.  Widen your marketing net!  Go outside of your MLS and look into Farm & Ranch, Lands of

     America,local large veterinarians, horse clubs, local Agricultural Extension Agents.  In order to reach

     specialty clients you will need to think outside of your typical marketing box.

 

7.  Know the lingo!  There will be an entirely new language for the specialty country properties.  

     Understanding the terminology when selling these types of properties is critical.  

 

8.  Be well-versed in how to traverse the property.  Will you be taking clients in a special vehicle

     to see the property?  Do you know how to drive and operate the vehicle?  Where it will be parked?  

     How to navigate the property?

 

9.  Prepare a notebook with detailed information about the property for other agents to use

     when they are showing.  This will help the other agents know the amenities and other important

      features of the property!  Emailing them this before they show is also a great idea!

 

10.  And for heaven's sake, dress accordingly when showing these types of properties.  

      This is no place for stiletto heels, Italian shoes or clothing that you don't want to get

Mud

      dirty!  Nothing worse than an agent showing up to show a country

      property dressed to the nines and coming away filthy dirty!  

      Keeping a spare pair of mud boots in your car or truck is big-time

      important!

 

Farms and ranches are exciting properties to sell.  Just know that these types of properties require different methods to show and sell them.  Being prepared is the key!

 

I love selling farms and ranches and can assist you in finding the perfect place or helping you to market your place!  Call me today if I can assist you with your farm and ranch needs!  Chevaux Group is your choice when considering a farm or ranch property!

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Comments(18)

Karen Mathers - REALTOR®
Keller Williams Vero Beach - Vero Beach, FL
When it Matters, Choose Mathers! 772-532-3221

It sounds like you have thought of everything.  I think you do have to think in a different way when it comes to selling or buying land.  I think you are a powerful resource for a potental client to have.  Great form and images in your blog, it was full of great information but not overwhelming to read.

Feb 06, 2015 02:52 AM
Cindy Hallas
Amerifirst Financial, Inc. - Scottsdale, AZ
Sr. Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS # 334571

Well done Paula!  Great content! :)

Feb 06, 2015 02:59 AM
Suzanne De Vita
RISMedia
Online Associate Editor

Paula, congrats on this well-deserved feature! I had to chuckle at your last point. Seems like a no-brainer, but you never know!

Feb 06, 2015 03:02 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Thank you Karen Mathers - YOUR Vero Beach, FL Realtor I so appreciate your kind words.  I love your tag line too!

Feb 06, 2015 03:02 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Suzanne De Vita I know right?  However, you would be amazed at some of the agents I have seen showing country property.  They most likely have some great tales to tell of their adventures in the mud.

Feb 06, 2015 03:03 AM
John Mosier
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
Prescott's Patriot Agent 928 533-8142

Thanks for your post, Paula McDonald. I sell recreational land in Northern Arizona. You are right, selling land and remote properties is quite different from what most big city real estate people see. I have not had direct experience in selling farms and ranches but I have a lot of experience selling land with hauled water and solar power. We have a lot of ground that is rocky here, so many of the sites have alternative septic systems.  

Feb 06, 2015 03:04 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

I love this.  Loudoun County Virginia isn't Texas but we have an impressive horse property market. 

Feb 06, 2015 03:22 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

John Mosier what a cool specialty!  You do have a very specific market!  Sounds like you are the go-to man for this!

Feb 06, 2015 03:38 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Lenn Harley yes I have heard that your area has some mighty fine stables and facilities.  I need to come up that way and if I do, I will be calling you!

Feb 06, 2015 03:39 AM
John Mosier
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
Prescott's Patriot Agent 928 533-8142

 Lenn Harley -- I think my Buyer for a lot I have in escrow is from Loudoun County, VA. Check this out.  Lot 662 in Sierra Verde Ranch

This lot is 76 acres and is mostly canyon. It adjoins two sections of Arizona State Trust (government) Land.

 

Feb 06, 2015 04:06 AM
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

Those are very specific descriptions to include.  Allows you to provide enough information for someone searching to know with certainty that this property would suit them.  

Feb 06, 2015 05:36 AM
BILLY CRITTENDEN
Missoula Valley Properties, LLC - Missoula, MT
Broker/Owner,ABR,CRS,CNE,CNHS,GRI,RCC,SFR,SRS,SRES

Paula, Valuable information here! Thanks for sharing your expertise.

Feb 06, 2015 06:04 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Paula - this is a very good post for those agents who want to list and sell farm and ranch properties.

Feb 06, 2015 11:31 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

People are not looking for the usual write up when they are looking for farms.  Good reminder when we are listing farms or land.

Feb 06, 2015 07:38 PM
Jeanne Dufort
Coldwell Banker Lake Country - Madison, GA
Madison and Lake Oconee GA

Great advice, Paula - I would add, be sure to create an accurate aerial view, and label key structures or attributes of the property.  The aerial is super useful when driving potential buyers around the property.

Feb 06, 2015 09:46 PM
Kim Boekholder Utah Real Estate/ PECO
Results Real Estate 801.580.5624 - Draper, UT
Broker Results Real Estate/Leasing Specialist PECO

Great tips! I grew up in the rain and mud so I always keep a spare pair of shoes and jacket etc in my trunk.  You never know when you'll need to show land or walk some property.  Its always nice to know you are able to change quickly and not look like a fool to your clients.... in your heels sinking into the ground ....   

Feb 06, 2015 10:30 PM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Paula McDonald All excellent tips for the uniqueness of these types of property listings. You cannot under-emphasize the importance of walking the property , since every plot is different and there can be areas of great value or concern.

 

Feb 07, 2015 01:24 AM
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

Thanks for the tips on listing farms and ranches.  We have a few but not many in our area

Feb 07, 2015 07:16 AM