Need some expert advice

[ereavis]

I am new to the real estate business. I work for a company in 1 city but mainly work out of another. I am looking for tips on how to get more listings in a very small rural area that really has a hard time with real estate companies. I have done some listings in the area with a real good turn about and am in need of expert advice how to get more leads ecspecially with the do not call list in effect? Can any one please help me

[Wayne Griggs]

Try sending out mailers or postcards. They wont work right away but if you send out say 1000 to those areas you want to target then within 3 months they should pay off really well for you.

Try to include what some homes have sold for in that area that you would be sending to. If you can narrow it down to streets that you are sending to... that is even better.

Best Of Luck

[IGotRealEstate]

I would have to say persistence is key. Nothing happends over night. I started my career in a small town. Local papers were the best. Persistance in advertising, just one ad doesn't work. I also belive in keeping the same ad design and placement of where you put it "monthly".. Same concept of finding a horoscope in a paper, we all now where to find it.

[ereavis]

Try sending out mailers or postcards. They wont work right away but if you send out say 1000 to those areas you want to target then within 3 months they should pay off really well for you.

Try to include what some homes have sold for in that area that you would be sending to. If you can narrow it down to streets that you are sending to... that is even better.

Best Of Luck

Thank you for your help I am working on it slowly but surely

[IGotRealEstate]

Erevais- Another thing that wasn't mention was your Sphere. I'm assuming your friends and family and friends of faimily and friends are not going to turn you in on the do not call list.. Sphere takes time just like mailers. But its the core to repeat business.

[FavoriteAgent]

Working a sphere is a good way to go if no one else is already doing it.

If there is another old dog so to speak who has been farming for a while in the area it may take you a while to break his hold. Most rural communities I find have one or 2 good old boys who have been the seller out of neccesity for the area and it is hard for the young buck to break in.

Plenty of realtors try it every year, which is why there is a 30% turn over in our industry and most of those leave before making a sale.

If you are at the beginning point of your career and are trying to muscle in on your area and there is someone there I would recommend working the larger thriving town until you get enough sales that you can begin to alot a % of your budget to target the area.

If no one is in the area now and you simply want to saturate the market in that area and try to be the seller for that area then they are right. Sphere of influence assuming you know people in that area already or farming is the tradional method , and without competition you will succeed but it will be slow.

There are of course several ways you can try this method. Depending on the area of the US it is in and what the town size and demographics for the populous are there are varied methods to go about it.

If you could tell me maybe where it is, what the population is, landmarks, closest large city, racial density, average income, home price, land price, and if there are any interesting things or natural gathering points in the area i.e. parks, beaches, anything of that nature, where u could find yourself a naturally grouping section of the target area.

Other than that get ready to send letters/postcards and x mas cards and wait.

[jseamless]

I read somewhere that 20% of the realtors control 80% of the market. Why you ask? Because those realtors have mastered the art of word of mouth marketing and networking.

You must love your job and that will be evident to people. Tell everyone you know what you do and send referral business to other professionals in your area. By sending people business your referral network will really grow.

You also need to separate yourself from the crowd. Why should a potential client use your services as apposed to xyz realtor company?

Write some articles locally about your market. This keeps your name in front of people.

You may also get a list of home in the areas you want to work from list brokers. Send them a post card which introduces yourself and ask them if the would be interested in a free cma. People who are interested in a cma may be thinking of selling there homes.

Another big thing many people forget to do is keep in contact with there past clients. Even if you did a great job you should be keeping in contact with your past clients once a quarter or so. You can do this with e-mail for free. Sending a birthday card or holiday wishes really makes you stand out.

There is a great book on learning how to be a better networker.

Masters of Networking by Ivan R. Misner

Good Luck!