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Best Farming Advice
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Hello all!! I am loving the new site so far. I have a question. I am pretty new to real estate (almost a year now) and now that I feel more comfortable and confident, I am ready to start getting my own listings. I have decided the area I want to start farming in, but now I am not really sure what to do next. There is so much material and so many different postcards/brochures/mailers to send out. I was wondering what options worked best for other agents. What products did you find were most worth it? How often did you send material? Did you make house calls and if so, did you find the results were worth it? Any advice would be great.
Thanks and hoping this year is a successful year for all.
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Hello Marie...I just joined here! I'm almost two years in, had listings from the first week being licensed..however the confidence is still a work in progress.
I just now am farming properly. It is costly. I'm focusing on my comforts (styles of homes) and areas. Try and have a catchy slogan or what you offer or are about...and focus on that. I use my slogan as part of me, my brand, who I am...keep it simple. And I've been told farm the areas consistently. Doesn't have to be weekly, but be consistent. That is tough honestly especially when you start to get busy. Good luck! -
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I agree with Jean Paul Peron, when you first start make your farming area or group a small one, one you can manage that does not cost you too much and get some business first....
Those who have been in the business for longer, they may want to farm around their past clients, neighbors talk to each other and so they already have someone speaking well of them... and also the number is somewhat smaller and a bit more personal. Just my thought. Of course if a Realtor is especially active in an area, subdivision etc. then by all means they should regularly farm their area of expertise.
Edith YourRealtor4Life! and your Chicago and Northern Illinois Connection
http://www.tinyurl.com/MeetEdithHere -
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Sort your farm by the date of purchase. There is no point mailing people who bought last year. I like to delete everybody who has not owned more than 7 years. Those left over have equity and they are primed to sell. 7 years is the national average time of ownership.
This post was edited by Greg Cremia at April 24, 2012 1:44:48 PM MDT -
I am learning how to Farm out and sometimes use CraigsL to add to it as well as this Great Site, since I need a reliable Mortgage Broker to Screen My Buyer's List on FSBO's deals with lease options is what I am studying & want to share with another Person who wants to do Pro deals.
This post was edited by Jonathon Freeland at June 24, 2012 11:51:13 AM MDT -
Your question is "what technique should I use?" or "what technique works best?"
That depends a little on the "farm" itself, who are they and what they respond to. There is a difference between farmers and condo owners.
The key isn't really the technique. The key is what you are going to say. I totally disagree with April, catchy slogans don't work at all and are a waste of money. You want your prospects to think "I'd be an idiot to choose any agent other than Marie Barakat". If they think that they will call you. They won't start to think that because you have a "catchy slogan". They will think that if the technique you use has information that positions you as an "expert".
What "expert" information do the people in your farm need?
Right here in the home owners association that I live in there has been at least one house in foreclosure or short sale on every street for the last 4 years. Yet no agents have farmed it with info that would be helpful to people who would need to short sell their house. If you were that "expert" on short sales they would think "I'd be an idiot to call a different agent".