If you have ever considered starting a farm territory for your real estate business, here are some things to consider:
- Choose an area that you want to work in. You will be investing countless hours of time in the area so make it one that you enjoy and hopefully one that is close to your home or work.
- Don't pick a neighborhood that is such a great neighborhood that nobody moves. You will starve while waiting for your next paycheck.
- Walk the area door to door. Tell them you are considering starting a newsletter of happenings for their area and ask if they would find value in that. You will then find out if someone else has been working that area hard already and you may want to pass. Ask them if they would prefer to receive the information via e-mail or delivered. You also will find out who to leave off your list if you get a bad response.
- No matter what you choose to do, do it consistently! You must have frequent (preferably at least monthly) contact with your area or it won't be as effective.
- You also don't have to limit yourself to just one farm area. I used to farm 3 areas. It works out great, kind-of like a farmer who is a multiple producer. It diversifies your portfolio. If one farm doesn't produce it's likely one of the others will.
- If you aren't going to keep after this for at least two years, don't bother starting it. You must win people over in time and the results are usually not quick. If they happen quickly, great! But don't count on it. It's like anything else, the best results are through hard work and persistence.
- If you want to produce your own neighborhood newsletter, good items to put it are recipes, dates of local events, information about things to do socially in the area, maybe even consider sponsoring a neighborhood event such as a game night. For instance, trivia contests are still very popular.
- There are several great marketing companies out there who will do newsletters for you. One I like is Realty Times. Here is my latest newsletter that they produced. All you have to do is e-mail it, print it and mail it out, or hand deliver it. If you have the time, the hand delivery will be more effective for you as you will be able to have two-way communication with the people that you catch home.
Well, there it is! The starter kit for beginners at farming. Go ahead, try it! You can do it! See you at the finish line!
Anyone have suggestions to add to this list?
Lucky Lang
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