Home buying course

[Scott.Hack]

I'm in the final stages of planning a home buying course. The course will be aimed at first time home buyers. If you've done one before, I'd appreciate some insight.

1. So far I've registered a domain. I'm working on the website today actually. So far all I have done is gotten Wordpress installed. For those that want to follow the progress though -- the domain is www.homebuyingacademy.com
2. I've secured 3 different locations on 3 different days in the same general time frame.
3. I've lined up a mortgage broker, a home inspector and closing attorney to discuss what they do during the process.

The plan is today to get the website in place to start registrations and then to get the marketing in place. The dates are coming up quick (October 16th is the first one) Anyone have some good ideas on getting the word out? I plan to use a facebook ad. I've had good success with them and I a can target a younger audience.

Any info and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[REW Angela]

a facebook ad is a GREAT idea

a cute 'lil ad in a community newspaper is usually a good way to get the word out

[Discover Davis Homes]

I haven't done seminars myself, but I know one local office here besides the typical, lender, home inspector, title/attorney rep advertises that they take them on a small tour of homes. I think they schedule three houses. They spin this to the shortsale/foreclosure market but I think it could work for whatever your typical entry level home is.

[DMG]

First, I like the domain you got. I have seen agents do things like;
Local paper
Web
Mailer
Sign in front of office if you have the exposure
Mailer to local business
Have the inspector & mortgage broker invite people too
facebook
craigs list
night of have a arrow sign directing them in (pick up others that way possibly)
Good old calling

I like the idea by Discover Davis Homes, a little tour to give the insight on how it all works from that side would be cool!

[Scott.Hack]

I'm walking in the dark on this one. This class right now is kind of a test. We are going to try 3 or 4 different media outlets, and the 3 different times/locations and see what works best. Then we are going to do it again a few times in spring, using what we learned this time around.

Just like with all advertising. Concept, Design, Test, Measure Results, Tweak, Repeat.

[gregharaksin]

wow what a great idea. The website and info covered is great.

Would putting door hangers on apartments be too old-school?

[Scott.Hack]

I'll keep that in mind for next time Greg. I used to own a pizza shop, so I thought I was done door hanging. I doubt I'll have the time to get them printed and hung this time around though. Good idea though, I'll keep it in mind for next time.

[gregharaksin]

Too funny. I've owned a couple of pizza shops myself. But your first-time buyers are going to be coming from somewhere.


Fullerton Homes Hermosa School
Fullerton Homes for Sale in Hermosa School Boundaries

[judyo]

I did some buying seminars many years ago before the Do Not Call registry. We placed an ad in the local paper and purchased a phone dialing machine that we could put our message on and had it dialing for days! Each seminar was full and I did it with at least another agent or two (inviting a mortgage broker & real estate attorney). I got one client each for 2 of the seminars and none for the third (which was an investment seminar held many years ago before flipping or the crazy seller's market).

To tell the truth, to me it was more work than it was worth and I've never done one since and don't plan on it. Best of luck and keep us informed!

[Scott.Hack]

I just wanted to update everyone on this. It hasn't gone that smooth. Like I said, this time around we are really just working out the bugs for a big push this spring, but I still expected things to better than this.

My Facebook ad has done horribly. I've tried to rework it. Part of the problem is that the content of the ad SOUNDs spammy and doesn't have a local feel to it. I've put one of my listings on their before, with a local address and gotten 20 clicks a day. So I'm trying to figure out how to redo this ad.

I also got surprised that a lot of the media event calendars require 3 or 4 weeks of lead time for an entry.