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"Farming" from a Hard-Core SOI'er's Perspective

By
Education & Training with Sell with Soul

Geographic farming is a popular prospecting method where real estate agents choose a particular neighborhood in which to, shall we say, make their presence known. Typical farming activities include the mailing of postcards, the walking of streets and the painting of bus benches. The goal is to become a household name in the farm area, so that when anyone thinks of selling real estate, they race to their refrigerator, find the farmer's phone number from his fancy refrigerator magnet, and make the call.farm

Fair enough.

For years, I've advised new agents not to farm unless they're weighted down with way too much money and need to get rid of it efficiently. In my opinion, the only way farming is going to be effective is if you already HAVE a presence in the neighborhood - that is - you have For Sale signs around with your name on them! But that's just my opinion; I could be wrong.

And anyway, that's not the point of this blog, which I'll get to now.

In conjunction with my jump back into full time real estate sales, I've decided to FARM! But not with postcards, door hangers or advertising... No, I'm going to have way more fun (and spend way less money).

I specialize in Central Denver, specifically an area known as Northwest Denver. It's a trendy little spot near Downtown with parks and lakes and coffee shops and yoga studios. Lots of young singles & families, most with dogs.

That's where I live and, being a bit lazy, would really like to do all my business close to home!

The good news for me is that I have a lot of friends who live here, too.

So I'm planning to make my presence known in my favored ‘hood. I'll get my facials, my manicures, my haircuts and my massages here. I'll find a few nearby restaurants and make them my Cheers. My lawn service, my plumber and my dog-groomer will be my neighbors. If I advertise, it will be only in the local rags. If I'm invited to a social event in the ‘hood, I'll be sure to go. I'll show up at the First Friday Art Walk on Tennyson Street and the Highland Square Street Fair in June.

Will I show up with my salesman hat and I Love Referrals button? Uh, no. I'll show up as a local, a neighbor, as a generally nice gal... who happens to sell real estate for a living.

ja www.sellwithsoul.com

 

 

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It's Here!

 

The More Fun You Have Selling Real Estate, the More Real Estate You Will Sell! 
(True Story)
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Comments(13)

Scott Guay
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Ocean Pines, MD
Associate Broker. Ocean City and Ocean Pines MD
Being involved in your neighborhood by supporting the local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce is a great way of social networking.
Apr 13, 2008 11:06 PM
Chip Jefferson
Advanced Building LLC - Lexington, SC
Doing you spending in your community is a great move. I try and keep all mine with chapter memebers.
Apr 13, 2008 11:13 PM
Dennis Swartz
Full Circle Property Management - Columbus, OH
MBA, GRI...experience counts!
Nice ideas, and they will work....it just is a lot slower than active prospecting. I always tell my agents this is the way to go if you don't need to make any money for a while. Good luck, it will work.
Apr 13, 2008 11:14 PM
Scott Daniels Florida Real Estate 2.0. Agents Earn 100% Commission.
Florida List For Less Realty, Inc. Broker/Owner. - Cooper City, FL

JA,

Once a year we sponsor a "Garage Sale" for the community.

Great way to meet your neighbors.

Apr 13, 2008 11:23 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate
Jennifer, this sounds like a winner to me, meeting people where they are, not through a post card or door hanging thing. But, heck you knew I'd feel that way.
Apr 13, 2008 11:43 PM
Donna Marie Godfrey
Godfrey Properties - Pottstown, PA
Good advice.
Apr 13, 2008 11:54 PM
Kelly Sibilsky
Licensed Through Referral Connection, LTD. - Lake Zurich, IL
Great idea! You are one smart cookie! :)
Apr 14, 2008 01:26 AM
Elaine Stewart
Elaine Stewart is the #1 Individual RE/MAX Agent for 13 years straight in the Coachella Valley. (760) 668-2399 - Palm Desert, CA
RE/MAX All-Pro
I think you have got the right idea, get into the community and let everyone know what you are doing. Dont be a secret agent!
Apr 14, 2008 01:58 AM
Joshua & Kathy Schmidt
ERA Henley Real Estate - Cabot, AR
Now that sounds like my kind of farming!
Apr 14, 2008 02:52 AM
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate
I have participated in garage sales in my neighborhood too. I work in my neighborhood and do farm the neighborhood. I walk it on a regular basis, and at the opens I have gotten to know many more neighbors.
Apr 14, 2008 02:56 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Jennifer, your approach always seems to refreshing, non-salesy and natural. That's what I like about your technique.
Apr 14, 2008 02:58 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker
Besides blogging, the extent of my prospecting is about like yours, Jennifer.  I'd rather work close to home and with people that know and like me than anyone else - it just makes the relationships easier.
Apr 14, 2008 12:11 PM
Karin Cunningham
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Realty - San Bruno, CA
"Your San Bruno Real Estate Specialist!"
I have been part of my community's chamber of comerce for 8 years now. It's great networking and exposure. People come up to me all the time in San Bruno where I live and work and ask me about the market conditions, interest rates, and so on! I door knock and make "warm" calls to my farm to follow up on event invites that I send out or gifts I've left for people on their door steps. Mother's Day is coming and I usually buy 3 dozen or so roses and deliver one to each home where I know there is a mother and with them a great day! For the East Indian women in my farm, I have given rose incense!
Apr 16, 2008 06:02 AM