I read an article in Broker Agent News that even though now is the perfect time to buy, buyers are still hesitant because they want to see "... what the market does" hoping for even lower prices.  Buyers are "nibbling" now and not really buying too much.

My area, Jacksonville FL, HAS the incoming growth, but it just seems that there's not a whole lot of activity as far as buyers go.  Listings???  Lots of those and I don't even work to get listings right now.  We have a 14 MONTH inventory.  I'd rather have buyers in this market :)

Most of my local colleages have made about 1/3 what they made last year or the year before and we are all scrambling to find ways to convert "shoppers" into "buyers."

To encourage buyers to buy through me, I am offering a rebate of my commission to be used towards their closing costs.  That's all I can do right now... give them some money back.  

I'd like to hear from other agents what they are doing to "bump" their business using innovative ideas.  

Are you doing anything different?

Let's leave the web site pay-per-click stuff out of this as I'm fine with my web site placement for certain key word searches.  BUT... once a visitor lands on my page, what can I do to entice them to start shopping with me and hopefully buy through me?  Register for a free LCD TV???  Free vacaion giveaway?  (Where it's legal).

I'm ready to try anything!

I need a rain check on innovations for the moment, it's still early here LOL!

BUT, in any market:

1. Stay connected to that shopper with all the value you can provide. People need to buy in their timeframe, not ours.

2. And take steps to attract the maximum number of shoppers possible. The more in the fish pond, the more you can eventually catch.

The classic answer is to create urgency - but that is tough in this market (maybe not yours if prices are still appreciating?).

The right price on the right house still does the trick.  Read that again. It's simple, but powerful.    

To turn lookey lous into buyers is tough.  With price depreciation it is even hard to turn shoppers into buyers.  In most parts of the country there just might be a better deal next spring...

Have you ever heard the phrase, it's easier to ride north on a northbound horse?

Selling real estate right now can feel a lot like trying to ride north on a southbound horse <LOL>

So....  What's all the horsing around mean?  Maybe it's Better to find people who really need to buy / sell / move

I have been focusing on investors, growing families, those relocating for jobs, downsizers who have health issues or arthur in the knees.  These last need to sell their two story homes and buy a ranch or a condo.

As the listing agent, you have to price right to attract real buyers.  More than ever.  As a buyer agent you have to spend more time with people in needs analysis to find out what they really want (IN THEIR HEART - IF THEIR WILDEST DREAMS CAME TRUE).

I am starting to recommend DOORWAY SITES to coaching clients, focused on special needs, indicating your understanding of those needs and special services for such needs.

Candice... It's true...  bigger funnels produce more deals.

But those bigger funnels also take more money and energy and time to support...

I have been doing the opposite, working with fewer but better qualified buyers and sellers.  

Anybody else?

That's my story and I'm sticking to it, Mark!  :)