It is time to start thinking about getting things ready for another great year in Real Estate. Usually before the end of the year, I start planning some new things before the spring market and while I am shopping for the holidays, cooking for the holidays, I am still thinking Real Estate and how can my business grow and what can I do to improve. Every year we have to improve something otherwise we don’t grow. I try to come up with 5 new ways to advertise this year that I did not do the previous year to attract new prospects. So this year I thought I would share some ideas with everyone
1. If you are trying to prospect short sales, then look up upcoming foreclosure sales in the local paper and send them a note asking if you can help them in any way. There is always ways to stop a foreclosure, including bankruptcy and sometimes if you just pick up the phone and ask the bank (80% of the time they say yes) so that there is time to sell their home and keep them in the home longer especially through the winter while you sell it. No one wants to move out in the winter, but banks don’t care if someone is left out in the cold (literally) so we have to care.
2. If you are attempting to get expired listings, then check for them daily, and send the prospect a postcard letting them know that you would like to give their home sale a try. Most of the time, people just want someone different (even though the previous agent probably did everything they could).
3. After the Holidays are over, people are thinking of the new year so it is a good time to send out calendars (have your picture somewhere on the calendar) to some of your favorite neighborhoods then after those are sent out, either by mail or hand deliver, then be seen in the neighborhood, drive around with your sign on your vehicle so people know you exist, waive to people outside, show your face, talk to people, and they may remember that you sent them a calendar and you may get a call.
4. Organize your database. Send out Christmas cards to your old clients and let them know referrals are always the best gift and this is a time of giving.
5. Bake some cookies and put them in tins and take them to businesses near your business so they know you are right around the corner. Drop off some cookies with a list of real estate services you provide including short sales, and let them know you are always looking for referrals and you love staying busy during the Winter. You never know, they may remember that someone they know needs an Agent.
Well there you have it, 5 new ideas that I came up with pretty quickly. I am sure that everyone could add to this and we could come up with a great list of ways to improve business to help everyone improve. We should all be doing well in this business if we put some effort into it. The more effort the more success we will have.
I wish everyone much success this year and every year after.
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