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You have to farm it!

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Coastal Realty

CornWhat good is setting up a farm if you don't actually FARM it?!? All that effort and time wasted. Well I guess you can comfort yourself by saying "It kept me busy for awhile" But did that do anything to increase your net worth? Did that put milk on the table and meat on the grill?

Farms take time to cultivate. The roots need a chance to grow. Real farmers know that they can't rush the process. It does no good to tug on the tomato plants and yell "GROW" You need to be prepared to not see anything come from your farm for 7-12 months in the beginning. Most agents give up after 3 or 4 months saying "I tried it but it doesn't work for me" Well, of course, it is not going to grow because you stopped watering it. This is also true if you stop farming your farm. You stopped watering, you killed it, and it is going to take time to bring it back to life.

How big does a farm have to be to be productive? I guess that depends on what you can afford to spend in money and time on marketing. I think your basic farm should be at least 200 people that you know and are in your sphere of influence. Why 200 you ask? Well, that's the basic number for being able to send out bulk mail. Figure the cost at approximately 50 cents per person. That means you need to commit to spending $100 a month on your farm or $1,200 a year.

So make a commitment to sending something to your farm every month. Commit to putting in that much effort to cultivate your farm or please, just stop wasting your money.

Comments(9)

Marian Pierre-Louis
Fieldstone Historic Research - Medway, MA
Metrowest Boston

Patient, steady and consistent - that's my motto and that's what you have to be with farming to see results.  You can't jump in and jump out as your schedule allows.  Schedule your farming and stick to it!

Nov 03, 2009 02:03 AM
Christine Hooks
Pino Agency - Pennsville, NJ
Celebrating 25 Years in Real Estate!

It's just like the race between the tortoise and the hare...........better to be the turtle.

Nov 03, 2009 02:09 AM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Shannon...

When we opened our business, 14 years ago, we selected a small community that had potential for growth. At that time there were only 20,000 residents. The population now is right around 70,000 and still growing. Back then I had my doubts as to whether or not we'd made the right decision for ourselves. But, we didn't. We worked it consistently for years and were rewarded for all our efforts. It seems that today everyone is looking for the magic real estate pill. There is no such pill. Anything that even remotely resembles magic came from hard work :)

TLW...ROAR!

Nov 03, 2009 03:03 AM
Rita Minion
O'Brien Realty - Solomons, MD

Hello Shannon,

Farming does work....one needs to be consistent & patient.  The hard work will pay off if one sticks to it.  Thanks for sharing!   

Rita

 

Nov 05, 2009 12:00 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

This is good sound advice Shannon, and timed perfectly as we start planning our next years activities.

Nov 07, 2009 05:13 PM
Walter Grewe III
Long and Foster Realtors - Roanoke, VA
Realtor, SFR, A-REO, Roanoke Homes and Real Estate

Farming works for me. I send out a newsletter every month, provide a quarterly market report and lo & behold I am getting business off of it.

Nov 15, 2009 12:11 AM
Matthew Naumann
Exit Realty Charleston Group - Goose Creek, SC
Goose Creek, SC Real Estate Agent

Shannon,

Great Post. Sometimes one more is all it takes for it to start working.

Thanks for sharing,

Matt Naumann

Jan 15, 2010 01:14 AM
Kevin Franklin
Keller Williams of Central PA East - Lancaster, PA

Thanks for sharing about neighborhood farming !!!!!!!!! My own development is a great place for me !

Mar 19, 2010 12:20 PM
Paul Gapski
Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Ca Realty - El Cajon, CA
619-504-8999,#1 Resource SD Relo

yeah that my problem is staying at it i must say.

Jun 07, 2012 05:15 AM