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Proactive Ways on how to Educate the Media and the Consumer on the Local Housing Market

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Lakeland Real Estate Group, Inc. BK646565

Proactive Ways on how to Educate the Media and the Consumer on the Local Housing Market

Lori Cain's featured blog "Members of the Media reporting on the housing market - would you shut the hell up?!!" inspired me to tell you about being proactive on how to educate the local media and the consumer on the local housing market.  

Local MediaA couple of years ago I was approached by the local newspaper after they have found my market reports on my Active Rain blog asking me if I could write up market reports for Polk County Florida for Saturday's issue of Polk Homes published as an insert of the Ledger.  I replied that I would be happy to do so.  However, Polk Homes is just an insert when compared to the local newspaper reporting on Lakeland FL local housing in the Ledger. 

A few month ago I received emails from readers who are reading my market reports asking me to justify my market reports vs. the reports of the local newspaper.  I could only reply to my readers that I have the facts and that I can proof it.  I don't not know how the local newspaper receive their statistics.    Since I enjoy doing market reports and read the local newspaper, I decided to simply email the local housing reporter and asked him how he came up with his numbers, which were very inconsistent with my market reports for Lakeland Florida.   He was very kind to respond quickly and after I provided him with a link to my market reports and he did some more investigating, he replied that they only pull the numbers from various real estate association within Polk County. Ha!

You see, Polk County is very centrally located in Florida between Orlando which is not located in Polk County, and Tampa, which is also not located in Polk County.  However, all being serviced by Mid-Florida Regional MLS.  Realtors® do not have to belong to an association in Polk County and sell homes.  I can be a member at the Orlando Association or the Tampa Association and sell homes in Lakeland FL and any other city throughout Polk County.  A member of the Tampa or Orlando Association can sell homes in Lakeland or anywhere else in Polk County.

As a result of this, the local housing market reported by the local newspaper was, in my opinion, done in error because we have Realtors® from the aforementioned associations selling homes in Polk County and these sales are not being accounted for by the local media reports, since they only look at the statistics from the Polk County Association.

I explained that to the local housing reporter and now there is a caveat of where the numbers came from, "The sales figures reflect transactions reported by Realtor associations based in Polk County."

Being proactive by educating consumers and the media, especially our local media by writing local market reports and submitting them to the local newspaper is a great way to help consumers and reporters understand the local housing market.  If you are not in agreement with the local housing report, email the reporter and ask him if you could help, after all you are the Expert and you have one of the best resources available to provide them with the most accurate report - the Multiple Listing Service. It certainly will get you more exposure when reporting and writing local housing reports constantly.

As a result of my market reports and market reports in Polk Homes, people recognize me and ask questions about the local housing market. So stop complaining about the media - be proactive and let your voices be heard by writing to the local newspaper and educate them. You are already writing blogs - market reports don't have to be boring, plus studying statistics gives you an edge over your competition and more importantly you become the consumer's best source. 




I hope you found this post useful! If you need help finding or selling your Lakeland, Florida home, please contact Petra Norris - REALTOR(R) at 863-619-6918. If you’re new to Lakeland, I’d especially like to extend a warm welcome. I value my clients and provide them with honest, reliable service. Allow me to introduce you to the Lakeland FL real estate landscape and all it has to offer.

 

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Copyright © 2011 By Petra Norris * Proactive Ways on how to Educate the Media and the Consumer on the Local Housing Market*

 

Comments (17)

Ted Baker
Carmody and Associates LLC - Winter Haven, FL
MidFloridaMediation.com

Ha !  Garbage In - Garbage Out.  

I will take your numbers any day, Petra.  

(although the Ledger did publish my letter to the Editor the other day concerning the High Speed Rail issue)

Keep up the good work.  

 

 

Feb 23, 2011 11:27 AM
Petra Norris
Lakeland Real Estate Group, Inc. - Lakeland, FL
Realtor, Lakeland FL Homes for Sale

Hi Ted - LOL, thanks.  I did offer to the writer that I would provide him with facts for their report.  

I did read the "letter", although was not sure if it was you since there was another name by. I do love to read the letters to the editor, including your's :)

Feb 23, 2011 12:02 PM
Anonymous
Bill Williams

Educate the media?  This is a joke, right????  The media already knows all.....

Feb 23, 2011 09:48 PM
#3
Mike Morrison
Will & Will Real Estate Brokers, The Woodlands, Texas - Houston, TX

Petra what's worse, is now the media has figured out that NAR has been monkeying with the mo. sales numbers. Overstated by 10-25% per mo. since 2006. Now, the Fed,Fannie,Freddie,MBA and CoreLogic are stating that inventory numbers were reported low.

Just one more thing we have to overcome.

Feb 24, 2011 06:10 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Petra, very cool with bullseye targeting of Polk County which is DIFFERENT than the neighboring counties. You are definitely the expert there.

Feb 24, 2011 09:03 AM
Scott Fogleman
Richmond, VA

great example of becoming the expert in your area. Keep it up!

Feb 24, 2011 09:39 AM
Don Hintz
2D-enterprises / HAUS Design, LLC - Anderson, IN

Petra,

Know that the media reads press releases.  I used to work for a regional franchise support office who would send out press releases.  Once they got some "traction" on it, then it was a matter of finding an agent "usually a favorite" that the regional office would then facilitate with the media to do some live coverage.

It's all very contrived, unless you, as the agent have and know where to get the facts.

Great job on presenting accurate reports.  Wait for the media?  No, just get it on your blog first.  Want to spend money in print advertising?  Put a small ad in the realestate section of your newspaper with link information to your blog.  Use a tracking code and I'm sure you'll get some responses.

Feb 24, 2011 12:08 PM
Petra Norris
Lakeland Real Estate Group, Inc. - Lakeland, FL
Realtor, Lakeland FL Homes for Sale

Bill Williams - no joke at all; to me it's about paying forward :)

Mike - I'm more focused on my local market as real estate is and always be local :)

Gary - thank you - Polk County is also the largest county of Florida :)

Scott - Will do :)

Erica - Market reports are my passion and when it comes to the media I always try to convey to most accurate statistics. :)

Feb 24, 2011 12:09 PM
Lana Robbins Realtor ® Licensed Real Estate Broker
Aloha Kai Real Estate - Clearwater, FL
Licensed in Florida, Washington, and Hawai'i

Hi Petra. I like the angle that you've addressed. It gives me some ideas.

Feb 24, 2011 12:26 PM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Hi Petra -- Sound logic and being proactive is always a good thing.  It's so important to report accurate data.

Feb 24, 2011 01:19 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Congratulations, Petra.  It sounds like you're making waves with your market reports.  I've had good results with my market reports, but I've never posted them anywhere but my blogs.

Feb 24, 2011 01:28 PM
Jeanne Kozak
RE/MAX In Action - Martinsburg, WV
REALTOR and Broker/Owner in WV and VA

You would think the media would recognize the expert 

Feb 24, 2011 03:19 PM
Tamara Schuster
Naperville Glen Ellyn Lisle Plainfield Wheaton Illinois - Naperville, IL
Realtor Broker - Naperville

Great idea to share. Reporting accurately is so important.

Feb 24, 2011 03:24 PM
Ryan Case
SCA Real Estate - Anaheim, CA
877-828-0710

All I see in the media as of late is doom gloom bs!

Feb 24, 2011 03:31 PM
Elliott S. Topkins
Topkins & Bevans-etopkins@topbev.com - Boston, MA
Massachusetts Real Estate and Title Atty

Anytime you are the expert, you are listened to and followed. I may start writing market reports in my weekly blog feature in the Milton TIMES

Feb 24, 2011 10:38 PM
Petra Norris
Lakeland Real Estate Group, Inc. - Lakeland, FL
Realtor, Lakeland FL Homes for Sale

Lana - I'm glad I enlightened you :)

Chris - I always strive to provide accurate information, I feel it is my duty :)

Margaret - thanks, for me it gives me additional exposure :)

Jeanne - I think we still have a way to go, but being proactive is a great start :)

Tamara - Absolutely :)

SCA Real Estate - that gives me all the more reason to provide accurate data :)

Elliot - Give it a try and share your expertise in your local market :)

Feb 24, 2011 10:49 PM