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DISCONNECTS ABOUND!!!!

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Services for Real Estate Pros with RealEstate Planet powered by TourFactory

So please people, tell me something.  Why is it that (now these are NAR numbers BTW) 86% of all consumers find their homes on the net ----66% of all consumers ONLY click on virtual media buttons like the spinning house.....BUT!  only 2.67% of all listings have virtual media? NATIONWIDE!

That's like me deciding to put my billboard out on a small rural road because there are a bunch of rich mucky-mucks that live off that road, as opposed to putting my billboard on the main freeway in Southern California???  It costs me a few bucks more but the exposure is staggeringly better and my ROI becomes obvious after a shorter span of time.

Here's another one:

When I am ready to sell an old car of mine that's been sitting around gathering rust in my 3rd car garage.  I think OH YEAH!  LA TIMES!!!  So I call them up and they tell me it will cost 65 or 85 bucks a week for a 3 line NO PICTURE ad.  1 week later....Hmmm why am I getting only kids calling.....2 weeks later...hmmmmm why does everyone have their own MECHANIC that they need to take MY car to, to see if it's ok (here's the keys "guy" I don't know...) 3 weeks.... 4 weeks...WAIT!! screeeeeeeeeech  I am now into a marketing budget of over 300 bucks on my 4000 dollar car and I realize MY PRICE is WAY off!  So I reduce the price to , say $3300. 

What I should have done is called, AutoTrader and had them come out for 135 beans to take a few pictures (crappy pictures unfortunately) and they would expose it until it ---get this.........SELLS!!  WHAT A CONCEPT!

That is why I am discombobulated with so many agents NOT getting on the stick and marketing their properties..ummmmm how shall I say this?  CORRECTLY? And it doesn't matter of the market is good or bad because we heard in the killer markets from the same people..."OH I don't NEED to market, in fact I pride myself on spending the least amount in this entire brokerage"  I AM NOT KIDDING ---an agent told me that exactly and many others in different words. Now the excuse is; "I don't (whinnnnne) have the money".  Well then perhaps when the cycle turns again you might consider stashing away a bit of that so you can actually keep you business running in the dire times which are guaranteed to happen again. Either that or go get a job washing cars because then --you don't need to spend money to make money. 

One last thing.....Since print ads have virtually gone the way of the do-do bird there is NO excuse not to have a budget that is specific to the needs of YOUR CLIENTS!

Please 'SPLAIN this to me so I am not such an overt dinglefritz next time I talk to a prospect.

Comments(4)

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Tom Davis
Harrington ERA,DE Homes For Sale, $$ Save $$ Buy Today ! - Dover, DE
FREE Delaware Homes Search!, $$ Save $$ - Find Homes! Delaware Realtor

You hammered out some interesting points/concept....suprised more realtors have not commented on it yet.

Thanks

Tom Davis

DE Realtor

Jun 05, 2008 11:59 AM
Joe Virnig
RE/MAX Gold Coast REALTORS, Ventura County, California - Ventura, CA
No Ordinary Joe

66% of consumers will only click on virtual media tours?  I find that pretty hard to believe.

Jun 05, 2008 01:53 PM
David Brayton
RealEstate Planet powered by TourFactory - Valencia, CA

Well then I suggest you go to the marketing matrix from NAR and find out.  Of course many times, the "smell-test" works in life however in this case it is true.  Anyone that can't make sure they are giving the prospects what they want is in dire need of finding a new profession in any business at all.  Hollywood is finding that out the hard way------ergo, so are many many real estate agents.

Jun 06, 2008 05:50 AM
David Brayton
RealEstate Planet powered by TourFactory - Valencia, CA

One additional note, Joe.  When the clients generally know more about the overall need for an internet marketing "strategy" as opposed to just a web presence than agents do when the listing presentation comes up......what does one do when whomever they are up against in the listing presentation plays the strategy card and that agent HAS no strategy and portfolio of internet marketing success to show them?  A complete and succinct strategy is paramount in closing the deal.  I was told many years ago that many salespeople in any given sales profession make a categoric mistake almost always and over and over to boot....that is...they forget to ask for the deal.  In todays internet climate the same goes for someone that doesn't prepare for all the potential shortfalls that can make them lose the deal.  Leverage-Leverage-Leverage has taken the place of Location, etc.  today for the agent which demands the best and succeeds even in a tough marketplace.  What on earth will make a prospect stand up on their feet and realize the agent is worth the 6% commission?  Just because they like that agent?  If all things being equal are there in the presentation technically and marketing-wise...........the prospect HAS to make the decision based on who they like better---now THAT is what we want the decision based on simply because they are a better client then.  Right? Give 'em what they want. And what do they want? A smaller commission is not the answer when you have proven yourself something well beyond a commodity!

Jun 06, 2008 06:04 AM