There was a great article on the Fast Money website today by David Teten and Scott Allen entitled "One persons network is another person's spam". This problem is one that is much discussed among technology savvy Real Estate agents. Misunderstanding about what spam is abounds and of course as the housing market continues to change and growth slows many spam companies move in on desperate or uninformed agents to sell their services. I have said in previous posts that it seems that Prescott area agents have just discovered the email flyer for their listing and are spamming at incredible rates. Our local association of Realtors is complicit in this practice by providing access to email addresses without guidelines matching today's technology.
But what was more interesting about this article were the points made in how we will use our social networking platforms such as faceboook, linkdin, twitter, etc. to promote ourselves and our businesses. I am involved with all of these social networking sites but am proceeding cautiously in how I develop these relationships in regards to business. If you are not authentic in your approach by establishing connections with people you will be seen as nothing but a huckster (did I just say that?) and quickly lose credibility. A problem that already plagues this industry.
Although a little lengthy this article is worth a read to anyone interested in using social networking for business relationship building/strengthening, especially the suggestions on how to approach your social network regarding newsletters and other bulk email.
Social Networks aren't the quick fix relationship builders that some seem to think. All relationships worth anything take time to build especially when trying to establish trust and loyalty. It has always been that way and why operating your own business successfully requires time and effort. If you don't love your business and enjoy the non-monetary rewards of building relationships with others and providing them with education and information you will quickly become frustrated and when this happens you lose your perspective as to what is appropriate. If you don't know what your clients/associates definition of Spam is maybe it's time to ask.
I was privileged to attend PodCampAZ this weekend with some of the innovators on blogging, video and podcasting. It was not only informative but fun!
For those of you with homes on the market it has given me marketing ideas for ways to sell your homes and for those of you looking to buy, ways to help you find the perfect house for you. The sessions also confirmed to me that while the Real Estate industry is embracing some of the new technology out there it has a long way to go to really maximize its use in helping clients achieve their goals.
If you have your home listed with me expect some communication regarding new marketing techniques that we will be implementing over the next few weeks.
If you are looking for a home to purchase stay tuned, we will be rolling out better ways to help you in your search. In the mean time please feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions or would like to talk about what we can do to help maximize your exposure in this market.
In this market we must take
advantage of every opportunity to set your house apart from all the
others. This includes making sure that your virtual tour and photo
shots prompt buyers and agents to take a closer look at your home
and schedule a showing appointment.
Below are a few of the common
things homeowners forget about when preparing for a photo
shoot.
Inside:
Make sure that most everything is
off your counter tops. Pay special attention to clutter like
letters, keys and dishes. Try to put small appliances out of sight
for the shots.
Look at bathrooms and remove
makeup, toothbrushes etc. from countertops.
Try to hide cords as much as
possible. You can even temporarily unplug some things if cords are
too visible.
Make sure all children’s toys are
put out of sight.
Put your pet bowls away
Outside:
Remove ANY debris from around the
house. Put all toys and bicycles out of sight.
Wash your entryway, patio
etc.
Remove any dead plants (not
dormant).
Stage your patio furniture, how
you use your living space does not necessarily translate well in a
photo.
Try to look at everything as if
through a camera lens, you may even want to have a friend come over
and take a look.
I provide my clients with a
pre-photo shoot inspection by a professional photographer. He uses
a checklist to inspect the home and makes recommendations for
corrections. When you are ready you just schedule your appointment
for your video/virtual tour. For more information about this
program and other ways you can get your home sell ready contact me
at: sellmyhome@Prescott-RE.com
Aug. 16, 2007 - Marketing Green Materials in Housing
There are many features that buyers look for in purchasing a home. One of the most interesting is the “green” materials. Materials are considered "green," when they generally help reduce energy use more than conventional materials or are manufactured in a way that has less of an impact on the environment. Energy efficiency has come in to focus recently with rising costs and concerns about global warming. It doesn’t matter anymore whether you personally believe it or not, people are talking about it everyday and I am seeing more clients asking informed questions regarding construction and use of materials.
Sales of such materials such as foam insulation and faux wood shingles are stronger than ever and a survey last June from the National Association of Home Builders and McGraw-Hill Construction projected increases of green homes to be between 5% and 10% of US housing starts by 2010, up from 2% in 2005. (Source:RealEstateJournal.com).
This trend is not going away so now is the time to familiarize ourselves with these products and their benefits. Highlighting the use of green materials when selling a house can make an impact and provide an edge in this market.
Dishing it up- information and opinons on market trends, issues, technology and advances in Real Estate and related industries by Vicki Brannock, e-pro, ABR.
Comments are Encouraged! Please note comment area below each post.
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