Special offer

OCTOBURRRRR :-)

By
Home Builder with Meadow Lakes Supply Co.

Only 3 weeks ago the view from our back deck was green, the sky was blue (well blueish) and there wasn't that bite in the air.

This morning I woke to ice on my car and a sudden chill... the kind that will make your nose hairs freeze. Don't pretend you don't know :-)

Just as the seasons change, so will our market ... again... so I am interested in knowing what Realtors around the country do during this inevitable lull in sales...

OR... maybe you don't have this experience in your area...

What do you do to bring up sales in the winter months? I'd truly like to know....

Comments (10)

Gary Bland R (S) E-Pro, ABR
Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers - Wailea, HI
Here in Maui it is always 85-95 year round standard temp.  If I was the weather man I would have the easiest job in the world.  All he ever says "Sunny and Hot"and "It looks like this will be the same tommorow and into the weekend".
Oct 13, 2007 05:23 PM
Anthon Pang
iPro Realty Ltd., Brokerage - Mississauga, ON
Broker
Catch up on professional improvement and mandatory continuing education credits.
Oct 13, 2007 05:39 PM
David Bennett
Tarbell, Realtors - Yorba Linda, CA
Yorba Linda Real Estate
Is that tractor poised to drive off the pier?  Waiting for the freeze so you can take the short route to the other side of the lake?  Well in Southern CA we never got the summer selling season so maybe buyers and sellers are backwards this year.  Maybe the fall and winter will be amazing for us.  We can only hope.
Oct 13, 2007 06:12 PM
Michael La Fay
Meadow Lakes Supply Co. - Wasilla, AK

Ah yes ... ideal climates... one can dream :-)

David: The tractor will soon be replaced with snowmachines which we like to "launch" off the dock in the winter :-) Good Luck this Fall/Winter :-)

Gary: been to Maui once.. loved the sporatic rain showers and horse back rides through the rain forest... would loooooooooove 85+ degree weather all year long!

Anthon: what types of professional improvement? business developement/planning?

Oct 13, 2007 06:22 PM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate

Sara Lee:  I imagine you have quite a challenge during these cold months in Alaska!  Right now I am focusing on my marketing materials like logo design, new business cards and of course, my personal blog.  If you want to get results from blogging you can get very involved in ActiveRain, Technorati, Trulia Voices and myriad others.  Also, I have a stack of articles about technology and blogging to read and learn.  There is so much good information here on AR you can find how-to articles on just about everything.  Have fun!

Oct 14, 2007 12:27 AM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Sara Lee, I have a rule: never go where it turns white. At least while it is white. It is why I live in San Diego.

Things slow down for us also over the winter months. It is a good time to re-write your business plan, change offices if you are going to, get everything (marketing efforts) ready for spring.

Good luck!

Bill Roberts

Oct 14, 2007 10:23 AM
Ruth Jacobs
Quantum One Realty - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
North Palm Beach, Real Estate Specialist, CDPE, SF
Sara Lee,  Don't envy you at all.  I have had the chilly days in fall and white on the ground.  I have had to remove the engine cover and wing covers and plow the runway before taking off my runway at Anchor Point.  I have had to use the snow shoes to look at a potential property to list or sell.  On the Peninsula, we worked year round.  Sales were more plentiful in the summer, but when a buyer wanted to buy, they wanted to buy there.  Here in the sunny south Florida, some times we are tour guides.  Alaska was great to me for the 22 years I was there, but never again do I want to shovel snow, scrape ice off the windshield of car or plane or heat the engine before starting, or slip and slide on the black ice.  Looks like you have a lovely place there in Wasilla to enjoy and I know you will.  We did.  Just love being below the coconut line now.  Best wishes to you.  Ruth Jacobs
Oct 14, 2007 11:09 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon
I guess I'm just lucky, for some reason my sales go up during the winter months. But, I do have a suggestion for you. Go after people who are looking to buy a home in a warmer climate and help them find a realtor in those other areas. A least start to get referral checks in the mail during those winter months in your area.
Oct 14, 2007 05:24 PM
Martinelli Caputi
Martinelli Caputi & Associates, Ltd. - Warwick, RI
& Associates, Ltd.
Todd and others have posted great ideas.  Blogging is always a great fall-back but you may also want to rethink your marketing strategy.  Christmas cards?  New Years cards?  It's always nice to be fresh in the minds of clients when they start to get those nice Spring (sales) thoughts!!!  :)  Or you can always interview for one of the TV weather-person jobs in Maui!!!  That would be my choice!  lol.
Oct 17, 2007 04:41 AM
Michael La Fay
Meadow Lakes Supply Co. - Wasilla, AK
LOL thank you all for your ideas... the TV Weather Person job sounds great! Especially if in Maui... It will be my fall back plan :-)
Oct 17, 2007 05:21 AM