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How Do I Get Through To You (The Realtor)

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with As Built Services

Oh wow the title sounds like my girlfriend complaining to me while I'm watching the hockey game on a saturday night with the guys.haha

I am not writing this post to complain at all, although I am seeking advice from any and all agents who are willing to give it.

I conduct a small company which produces three dimensional floor plans to be used for marketing purposes among the real estate industry.  In all honesty our client base is loyal and we have met our goals every year that we have been in business, although every time we introduce a new product or try to expand our existing services its like pulling teeth to get any realtor to listen to what we have to say.

Our products are innovative (please read my profile to go over each service provided), we feel they market and give the buying client as much or more information then existing services realtors have at their disposal, although still I would say 75% of Realtors we contact tell me to close up shop since the services are not needed in the real estate industry. Im sure the same thing was said to the person that came up with the virtual tour or home staging, or maybe even home inspections, and internet marketing although they perservered and now are staples among the industry, and knowing that those people made it gives me the strength to perservere myself to keep my business going.

So I guess that was my rant although i am still searching for the answer to the title of this post

How do I market my services to Realtors in a way that they will be accepting to them

OR

Am I wrong and the 75% of Realtors are right My services are terrible, their not needed and I should close up shop

Appreciate any comments

Comments (4)

April Greenwood
Greenwood Creatives Home Staging & Redesign - Lakewood, CO

Jason ~ If you are getting positive comments from 25% of your contacts, that is truly incredible! Most people would be happy to get *any* response from 10% or even 5%. The Real Estate industry is extremely tough to break into. My answer to your question, even though I am not a Realtor, would be the following:
* Be where the Realtors are. Join their Associations as an affiliate, go to their luncheons and events.
* Exhibit at your local Realtor Rallies, Home Shows, etc.
* Don't cold call. Create a weekly email opt-in newsletter with real-time information that the Realtors can use.
* List yourself and get a full profile on EVERY online network, directory, search engine, phonebook, etc. Your product is not limited to a geographic area, so make sure you are #1 on ALL the free networks available in North America.
* Create strategic alliances with other types of companies that work in or near the Real Estate Industry.
* Create other target markets: you can sell your product directly to homeowners (especially FSBOs), Builders, Remodelers, Designers, Decorators, even Home Stagers like me!
* NEVER give up! Saturate the market, and repeat often. Statistics show that buyers must see your advertising an average of 7 to 11 times before they will make a decision to buy.
Forgive me if you've heard all this before. I do think you have a great product, depending on price. Remember that the homeowner and agent can buy this software at Office Depot for less than $80.
P.S. You have a great website but the link from your ActiveRain profile is broken.

Mar 16, 2009 09:42 PM
Jason Dykstra
As Built Services - London, ON

April,

Thank you for all the helpful advice, you definitly give great insight into the avenues that need to be travelled.

It is true you really do need to hear the phrase never give up some times, Our latest service the virtual walkthrough has cost over 8000.00 in research and development and you get nervous some times that you have made the right decision to develop the product.

Thank you about the link I did not know it was broken I will look into getting it fixed.

 

P.S If you ever need any designs done, I am an architect by trade, and would be more than happy to help you out.

 

Jason Dykstra

Mar 17, 2009 12:10 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Jason, you have a great format in AR. Post a sample of your product in your blog! You can paste a demo on your settings page and it will appear beside your blogs every time someone reads one.

We stagers have been facing the same road blocks. Personally I find presentations at their offices the best way to get to a group of them. Shows can be pricey but if you have the budget you will certainly reach a lot of agents. Find out from their boards when they are and sign up for a booth. Try it in your area first and see what kind of response you get. Compare your pricing to the competition who do their virtual tours.

Basically you just have to keep trying until your product becomes the norm.

Mar 17, 2009 07:41 AM
Pangaea Interior Design Kitchen & Bath Design, Remodeling
Portland Oregon - Portland, OR

I would say a combination of the face to face networking mentioned above and continuing to blog about your service. I am continually amazed at the power of the internet to get information in front of people who are searching for it.

Mar 25, 2009 11:20 AM