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You're All The Same!

By Angela O'Brien

Home Builder with Tim O'Brien Homes

September 11, 2008 04:50 AM

Differentiation 101 Part Two

Last week I began a blog on getting back to basics in terms of DIFFERENTIATION. This article will expand on this topic.

Get Local!

Getting local is an easy way to get your name out around the communities in which you are selling. Many of us in New Home Construction work in communities that we don't live in. Instead of just visiting Realtor offices, consider these options:

Get your dry cleaning done locally
Occasionally do your grocery shopping locally
Find a local Barber/Salon
Sponsor a High School athletic program
Get your oil changed at a local garage
Be a host to a local book club or a Lia Sophia/Mary Kay type party in your model home

I'm sure you get the idea... Try a little something different! You'll be surprised at the response and this is just another simple way to set yourself apart from the pack.

Again, this article is very, very basic, but for the folks who are new to Real Estate or New Home Construction Sales this information can be helpful.

For you seasoned vets who've read this far, please feel free to share ideas on how you've "gotten local"!

Paul H. Ochtrup
Internet Sales Consultant
Tim O'Brien Homes of Wisconsin

N16 W24132 Prairie Ct. Suite 220
Waukesha, WI 53188
Office: (262) 542-5750
Mobile: (262) 312-8579

pochtrup@tobhomes.com
visit us on the web at www.tobhomes.com

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Comments(21)

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Anne Hensel

South Beaches Real Estate Professionals - Saint Petersburg, FL

Realtor - Broker - St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island

Paul, great post and I believe in this kind of real estate market it is important to realize how local Real Estate really is. Here in St. Petersburg Florida we have tons of little comunities and all of them are different.

I combine fun with work by going to Starbucks and making contacts there

Anne

Sep 11, 2008 04:58 AM

DJ Swanepoel

Real Estate Wiki - Los Angeles, CA

Paul, these are some really excellent ideas! To add to them, it can't hurt to bring a handful of business cards with you to either offer the people there or see if they'll set them out for you. Some businesses are pretty open, so it doesn't hurt to do some promotion while you're getting the feel of a community.

Sep 11, 2008 04:59 AM

James G. Pycha

James Pycha (R) - REMAX KAUAI - Princeville, HI

(R), REMAX Kauai Broker

Aloha Bill: What a great Post. Being "Local" is especially important here ih Hawaii. Being part of the community and developing legitate internal relationships with the "locals" means becoming part of the family (Ohana). Its a very very deep and abiding sense of the aloha spirit. All USA should be like this.

Mahalo

JIm

Sep 11, 2008 05:05 AM

Michael Wayne Jackson

Luxe Places International Realty - Novato, CA

Broker - Seniors Real Estate Specialist Novato

Great tips Paul. This could help a lot of new agents and seasoned agents as well.

Sep 11, 2008 05:31 AM

Li Read

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC

Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

I think a combination of "local loyalty" and national/international marketing is the 21st century model of biz, no matter the biz on is doing. The internet has erased geography, and buyers can come from "anywhere", now. Important, though, to be returning service to the community we live in, too.

Sep 11, 2008 05:47 AM

Yvette Smith

LONG & FOSTER - Williamsburg, VA

Realtor In Williamsburg VA, Homes for Sale

HI PAUL,

I like your ideas. How about buying your fruits & veggies from the local farmer's market? Here, during the summers, we have a local Farmer's Market every Thursday. It's also an opportunity to get to know the other folks in the community. Thanks for your thoughts!

Sep 11, 2008 06:18 PM

David Saks

Memphis, TN

Broker / Industry Analyst

Nice post, Paul. Sort of rings in with "buy American". It also keeps needed revenue in our neighborhoods and it's a good show of support for our respective communitities. I like that. Hope you have a fine weekend.

Sep 11, 2008 08:37 PM

Charles Stallions

Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL

850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

Paul nice article. We not only sponser a team we actually go to the games and set up drinks and snacks for after the game. We wear their colors and cheer as loud as the parents. We have a lot of fun with em and they seem to really get a kick out it. We also let them do car washes at the office to raise money etc.

Sep 12, 2008 05:57 AM

Karl Peidl

Moorestown, NJ

Accredited Loan Consultant

Great suggestions. My office is about 20 miles from my home. I already do much of what you suggest in this blog and it does help. Another thing I do is stop at the local downtown coffee shop every morning instead of cruising through the drive-thru at the chain store. This simple change has led to many great introductions.

Sep 12, 2008 09:13 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I sponsor a senior league bowling team every year. And I buy them shirts with my name on it. I see them all over town.

Sep 12, 2008 12:00 PM

Angela O'Brien

Tim O'Brien Homes - Waukesha, WI

Yvette: Terrific! Guess what?! Us Wisconsinites love food! Especially vegetables. There are so many "Farmer's Markets" near every community we build in. In Wisconsin we have a LARGE amount of vegetable growers (Farms that provide product for Del Monte, (at one time) Libby, etc.

I love your comment - Thanks!

Sep 12, 2008 03:51 PM

Greg Dallaire

Dallaire Realty - Green Bay, WI

Green Bay Homes

I'm a big supporter of local businesses. I try to do my best to support the home grown business in my local community. Stay tuned for my localism post's reviewing the best spots in Green Bay that not franchise owned.

Great Post!

Sep 12, 2008 06:09 PM

Chris Horton

Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI

Paul- Great ideas. Another great benifit of being local in this market is the gas you will save. The more things you do, and buy locally the less miles your driving to that place outside of town :-D

Sep 13, 2008 12:14 AM

Chuck Willman

Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT

NewHouseUtah.com

Paul- It's so true... it's important to support local business and to promote local events and activities.

Sep 13, 2008 07:30 AM

Patricia Kennedy

RLAH@properties - Washington, DC

Home in the Capital

Paul, terrific suggestions. Real estate is local, and so is prospecting.

Sep 13, 2008 11:19 AM

Pamela Elder

Gaines Realty - Inman, SC

I live in a small community and I believe that you must support your town 100%. Good karma always comes back around.

Sep 13, 2008 05:58 PM

LS Rogers Realty

LS Rogers Realty - Richardson, TX

No matter how long you've been in the industry, reminders are always welcomed.

Sep 14, 2008 01:30 PM

Gena Riede

Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA

Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Paul,those are certainly great ways to get local. Many of the new professionals have school aged children so by being local within the school and sport activities they too are getting local.

Frankly, I could use a little bit of your wisdom myself if only I had some extra time. With this market I am finding that there is little to no time to do anything but work. I do however agree with you and will hopefully get back to being more involved within the community. Thanks for the reminder.

Sep 14, 2008 05:08 PM

Gita Bantwal

RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA

REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Great tips. I like the idea of hosting a Mary Kay type of party at the model house.

Sep 18, 2008 11:55 PM

Jim Frimmer

HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA

Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

With persistent and consistent marketing, one can create a great local business, also known as a niche. I think it's kind of funny that the world right now seems to be geared to being #1 on Google. Well, there can only be #1. I've found success by having a web presence but not focusing on being #1 on Google. Rather, I'm #1 in my farm in providing timely, helpful, useful information each month.

Sep 27, 2008 03:46 AM