Nice hat Lee.  Who's that behind you?  :)

Price your listings in EURO's instead of dollars $1.65 + - Euro to a dollar.

$200,000 dollar house would be about $130,000 Euro's.

Is that crazy enough?

Ha ha I just checked my MLS and it won't let me, but I can on P2.. So put price for sale in Euro's and sold in US dollars.  

Sorry Lee I know you are serious.  Especially with the cost of marketing, you want to do the best job possible for your clients but you can't afford to brake the bank.  Where are buyers looking when they want to buy a home.  More and more are looking first on the Internet.  In my opinion Internet dollars are better spent then print dollars.  With P2 just adding your listing automatically puts it out there on several search engines and gives you the choice of adding them to New York Times, Craigslist and EBay too.  You just need to work what you already have.  And follow up with any inquires.  Internet people expect a immediate response.  

Inexpensive ways to market yourself, wear a badge (I know the guys hate this but I just picked up a client at the Vet yesterday because I forgot I had my badge on).  Hand our your card everywhere.  One of our buds leaves it on the table when she leaves her tip.  I hadn't thought of that, why not.  Get involved in your community.  Door knock.  Most people will use an agent they have met over one they just receive fliers from.

And Lee I do like your hat too.  :)

Jana

Put a business card in with every payment you mail out: Credit card payments, utility bills, car payments, mortgage, phone bill payments, medical bills, etc., everything.  They usually send you advertising with the bill so send them your advertising with your payment.

Do it even if the payment goes to another city or state.  You might get a referral or relocation.

Here is a link to a previous thread that had LOTS of great ideas!

http://tinyurl.com/6fox9e

Lee, actually one of my sellers had a great idea and I am working on it right now. We just had a big high school renunion in our small town and one of my sellers with a unique property, gave me the list of names of reunion attendees. I am doing a specific mailing on one of my properties.

It has been in one family for years so the house is the "old whatshisname place" so I am trying to appeal to people who have moved out of the area and want to come back.

Just another thought.

I make business cards for each of my listings to hand out.  Full color both sides, glossy ... has website address on it (not mine) but a dedicated one for the property.  Clients love it.

Go to builders models and socialize with the builders reps.  They can be a great source of leads for people with homes to sell and you will learn about what they have to offer so that you can help clients from the ground up.  Builders reps have always been a win/win for me from day 1 of my career.

Hi Lee,

A lot of sellers "give" their listing to the agent that "offers" them the highest listing price AND a lot agents accept the faulty pricing of these owners and take the listing! List at a realistic price or pass on the listing and if the price you take it at doesn't move the property in 2 weeks... get a substancial reduction and start over. Properly priced homes sell in virtually any market.

Also a chap by the name of Steve Stewart had an axiom I liked for buyers... "Buy from me today or get out of my car!"... sounds rough but are we tour bus operators or sales agents?

Also, don't use a "pre-authorized" mortgage approval without a credit check... it costs the prospective lender about $10 to do this and you have to know how many "pre-approved" lookie-loos have wasted your valuable time only to have the credit check blow them out the door later.

No magic formula or tricks... sorry Lee!

Good Selling!

Francis Dryden

(Anastasia's web guy and hubby... licensed assistant so to speak)

Hi All!

It's Summer Time! BBQ's & Community Garage sales are fabulous marketing tools!

Purchase Client Appreciation Gifts & make Money!:

Personalized Bottles of Wine order...you can make your own label & order online from http://www.MyWineAppeal.com

****Join and make your own commission off of your purchases. Send gifts to clients, friends, family, in various cities & states...etc call

619-985-3362 for more information.

Send Out Cards! Same as above yet with Thank you, Anniversary, Birthday, etc, greeting cards...send online and make commission.

Website: http://www.SanDiegoGreetingcards.com

Call 619-985-3362 with any questions. I hope this helps!

Enjoy your Summer....From San Diego, Ca,

Laura "San Diego" Kelley

www.LauraSanDiego.com

[Jana sez: Hand our your card everywhere.  One of our buds leaves it on the table when she leaves her tip.  I hadn't thought of that]

Abba-looley, Princess J!

One of the best things I think I do in terms of all around benefit is leave my business card anywhere I (generously, always) tip - restaurant, hairstylist etc.

It always seems to elicit some type of response.

Also, real estate's local - servicepeople know people who need services!

Lee,

Something that I have just started is to have my web site embroidered on the back of golf shirts. My clients tend to be casual, so I dress accordingly, and these type of shirts form a big part of my wardrobe. I have picked up a number of the dry weave type shirts over the last little bit, took them to a local company, and for less than $10.00 per shirt (not including the cost of the shirt of course), they put my site on them. The font isn't too big as to be seen across the room, but if someone is waiting behind me in a lineup or walking behind me, they are going to see it. I went to a golf tournament this past weekend and had a couple of people ask what the site was about. As I said, I just did this, so I don't have any idea if it will work, but if I can get at least one deal out of it, it pays for itself. If it doesn't work, I still have decent shirts to wear...