Is the Flyer Box a Thing of the Past?

I see the boxes in Cape Coral and we use them, as well. Good to have if they have info in them, but frustrating, if not. While riding my bike the other day I saw a nice, waterfront lot for sale with a box so checked it to see the price...empty! Of course I could check the internet when I got home but having the info right in front of me would have been more ideal.

I can't remember the last time I use a flyer box. But I still have them in the basement. Maybe I will give it a try on my new listing.

Great subject but interesting responses. Sure I use technology to look at homes and yes I drive around neighborhoods just like other more motivated buyers. Why do I grab a flyer? because it is tangible and it is now in my car. How fast will I throw it away? Well, that depends on the flyer and the information on it. 

EMPTY flyer boxes are a thing of the past (like the picture above). Most boxes go unattended and are therefore useless. Next problem--crappy paper and lousy print--it's rare to find a quality-made flyer in the box, if one is in it at all. It's crazy how some agents do the minimum to maintain what should be a fantastic marketing opportunity that costs so little. Any opportunity an agent has to get their name, picture and phone number into the public should be thoroughly exploited--'specially when it's a low cost medium...

I rarely see flyer boxes anymore and when I do they are almost always empty.

I personally quit using them many years ago. Technology is one reason but the main reason is I found it very difficult to get sellers to help. Like the post said they empty quickly. Kids take them and I've even heard of potential buyers taking them all to prevent other buyers from seeing them. Regardless of the reason why my system to avoid getting cleaned out was to deliver a package of 50-75 flyers at a time to the seller and ask them to maintain the box by never letting it go empty but also never putting more than maybe five at a time in it. What I found happened about 90% of the time was I'd go to the house and see the flyer box empty and my package of flyers sitting unopened on the counter. Other times the seller would call within a couple days of listing saying they were out and I needed to resupply them. When pressed they'd admit they put the whole supply in the box because they "didn't want to hassle with checking it every day".

I don't have the time or desire to check flyer boxes everyday, and I got tired of pleading with lazy sellers to take two minutes a day to check and restock, so I tossed them.

Stopped using boxes long ago. Now use a text to rider driving buyers to virtual tour and I get the cell #. Why do anything else?

I have never used a flyer box!  What I am using now is my Mobile App!  It is given to our buyers at the first appointment and is geo coded and picks up everything around your location.  Get prices, pictures and find out if you want to pursur that one or not.    

I use flyers but sure wish somebody would invent one that was waterproof. It can't be that hard to do!! There are a lot of older people out there who are not tech saavy and enjoy the old fashioned way.

We have so many folks walking in our area.  They love going to the box and finding out what their neighbor is selling the house for.  They aren't going to go online to check out the market but they sure will tell family members and colleagues about the house on their block!

While doing an open house though, I always empty the box to encourage people to come in instead.

Do I still use a Flyer Box?  Yes!  Absolutely!  And for now ... I will continue to.  My husband and I have been using flyer/brochures since 1994 when it was unheard of.  Remember back then ... no one advertised the address or the price in their ads?  Well that was backwards.  I came from a marketing background and my husband was all sales.  The first thing we did when I got involved was I made a brochure and we posted it for prospective buyers walking or driving by.  Sold my first DOUBLE BUBBLE that way over 50 miles from my office.  As a marketer we always want to provide information and so on the backside of the brochure (which are usually blank) I listed all of my other lisitings by price.  I can tell you, when someone picks up a brochure from one house (all my other houses are advertised/marketed right there) ... and if they are shocked by the price of the house they stopped by the list on the back just might have the perfect match for that buyer.  And guess what they do?  They drive by those other homes and get a brochure or go on-line to my website and the next thing you know, I have a new buyer that I'm working with.  Yes sir, they work for me.  And if its working -- I'm not stopping!  Okay, there I said it.  

I agree with Diana, #110. More importantly, as Diana indicated, is the design, headline, and content of the flyer because if it's attractive, people will take it. It's an excellent tool especially for the neighbors to satisfy their curiosity about home values in their neighborhood.

Keep It Short and Simple, make it fast and easy for your market to get your information, would you look up the information or take a flyer if it's in front of you? It's a passive sales tool that has proven to be very effective and I believe will continue to be in the future.

If your listings are sold quickly, the homeowners within the neighborhood are more likely to call you for an opportunity to list their homes, so why would you discontinue using this tool? 

We do not see them very often in McHenry and Lake Counties in Northern IL.

Still use them. I don't pack the flyer box but do keep about 20 in along with business cards.

Yep, I still use them. It is a pain to refill them due to inclement weather but I do find them useful and I think others who pick up the flyers also appreciate them.

Hi Larry, Your blog has certainly generated a lot of comments.  Good work!  Just from personal observation, in Spokane I would say only half of the signs have boxes attached.  Unfortunately, the boxes are often empty.  I like to read the information but always return the flyer to the box knowing that I can get more info online.   I liked the comment above from Rita Harris that the reverse side of the paper is a good place to self promote.

I use them hit and miss. Depends on the client. Some want them up. I'm not going to not do it when it is a low cost thing that makes them happy. I also will use on my homes on acreage since they tend to get more drive bys

Lots of comments here - so you definitely hit a hot button.  I agree. I stopped installing flyer boxes years ago.  I have a paper-less sign rider hanging with a number for information.  It's actually a call capture system, but provides all the necessary info anyone might need, just in case they don't have an app!  

Hi Larry Johnston - I use them on most of my listings.  I have nice boxes that won't get rain on the inside. There is a holder for my waterproof business card as well!  I had a box STOLEN - so now I have SELLSEDONA.COM printed on the flip top with my name and phone number on the lip of the box. I use nice flyers and I gage the traffic through the area this way.  

In my office, the only homes that get flyers are the ones in Gated Communities with the Flyer boxes out at the gate. The others just get taken by the dog walkers. Their thought is that if they are interested, they will call. If the house is out of their budget or not the right fit, it may lead to a "lead" for another property... ~Lori 

We no longer use the flyer boxes in our office  In fact, seems  flyer boxes are a thing of the past and we have gone to various other types of marketing. In reading the above comments, do recognize the pros and cons.