I remember when I first started in this business and spent pain staking hours trying to make the ultimate feature sheet for my listings, only to have a couple walking through my open house and their child running around with another Agents feature sheet all crumpled and torn being used as amusement for the child while the parents looked around. You can guess my feelings when they asked for a feature sheet for my house, all that work, to end up as entertainment. In recent years I have not made It a priority to have $10.00 feature sheets for each listing,and the house still sells, I know that each house is unique and a listing for $500,000 or more deserves a feature sheet, but I am not sold on the practise that every house needs one. I know some people take one and have no interest in the house, and I really like the "runners" they run in and say "do you have a sheet" and than run out. If some one asks for one I tell them I ran out I had more people than I expected,I usually will tell them that all the information is on line, and if they need I will gladly e-mail them a copy, if I do not get an e-mail it is a good indication of their interest and when I do it is a great way to get a name of some one that is serious. In some instances I havemade a CD feature sheet and found these are cheaper, take less time and have a better impact, in addition I can include my profile and personal marketing. I find when there is no feature sheet the people are forced to talk to me and sometimes I can establish a relationship that leads to business. I have not lost a listing because they didn't have sheets, but I can say I have had sales with out them.
I like the CD feature sheet idea. Just wondering how you find these to be cheaper, though? Do tell...
I am sooooo burned out on making nice feature sheets. I used to spend so much time on multi page brochures, but I now figure - either they will like the house or they won't and the brochure is not going to cause them to buy the house. Now, my brochures are much simpler.
While I might be burned out on it, and keeping them in stock, it is more important for the showings....so info is there when NEEDED. And anyway, isn't that one of the things we get paid to do?
The only reason I use a feature sheet is if there are features about the home that the showing agent will have now clue about to tell their buyers...
I can pick up a spindle of 100 CDs for about $22.99, that works out to about 23 cents a piece, and I can put on over 10 pages of pictures and text, to do the same in print wouldcost several times more, in addition no big deal if there is a price change just edit them, once you get the hang of them you can add music and a personal message at the end.
Tibor: I like the idea that if they are not willing to give their email or address so you can forward one to them, they are probably not all that interested. I have heard other agents use the CD for their business cards, personal brochures and personal marketing. Is it having an impact with the feature sheets?
Michelle: The response from the owner is always positive, they feel they are receiving somthing extra that their friends that are selling are not, the nice thing is you can customize them any way you like, I use powerpoint to set up a slide show and it can be viewed on a PC or TV. Best of all I do not have to leave my office to reproduce them.
Wow. Like some others, I really like the CD idea. Although, I am not sure how eco-friendly it is. Of course, I guess they can re-use them! Thanks for the great tip.
I agree that feature sheets do take time, effort and money and it's always a great day when the property goes under contract before my brochures are in the box. Personally, I do brochures on most of my listings and I do generate calls off those brochures.
Hi Tobor . . . Your experience sounds familiar. I feel the same. It's tough in times like these. But, hey ... it builds character. Goo Post. Keep up the good work.
Aloha
Jim Pycha (R)
REMAX Kauai
I use a fairly standard feature sheet (price, 5 points about the house, 7 photos and my contact info)then print off "feature cards" with my logo and stick them to the wall to point out relevant things that may be missed.
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