Sometime ago, Open Houses here began to feed Realtors just to get them to come to see a home. While that's quite nice and i enjoy the camaraderie, I think this practice is getting a bit out of hand. If you don't feed them an interesting meal with a pre-emailed menu, you are dead in the water before you start.
There has to be a better way. A happy medium. Not to mention the monetary prizes and gifts.
In this current slow market when there are oodles of homes to view to store away in my repertoire, it behooves me to visit as many as possible. Going to an Open House is the easiest way to do that. But I don't need a full course menu. A hearty snack or drink is good though. And visitng with other agents is alwasy a bonus.
I must admit, I just won a camera and I'll not turn that down!!! But the prizes were not my main reason for going to this particular 7 homes event. I discovered a new market for my clients.
We have a couple thousand homes listed in our small county, and I know much about many, but there is always something to be learned.
What are your thoughts on Open Houses? Love to hear them. And if you have done something special love to hear your suggestions as well.
God Bless.
Judy Anne
We've been discussing how to best allocate our advertising finds. Billboards get my vote. We did a digital for 6 weeks and got 100 comments from local friends and Realtors but No clients. I am thinking if we stayed "up and running" consistently, the buyer OR sellers would become familiar with our name. recently we taped local TV spots advertising weekend Weichert Open Houses. It remains to be seen if this will be effective or not.
HOW ARE YOU (and where) are you using your ad dollar?
What have you seen provides you the best bang for the buck?
Thanks for any suggestions and comments.
Why Green was a great success marketing and presenting local Green Thinking and acting folks.
Open to the public, a dozen presenters briefly explained what they had to offer and why it would be a good service or product, adding notice of tax Incentives to boot.
We had the following speakers donate their time and expertise:
Presenters and their topics:
Judy Wagner & Brian Rogers - NAR Green Designee REALTORS
- Green Designee REALTORS are the "Source of your Source"
Sam Zimmerman of Sunny Day Homes, Inc.
- Target Zero: Energy Focused Remodeling and Retrofitting
Travis Thompson of T-Square Solar Solutions,
- Solar Water Heating
Scott Suddreth of Building Performance Engineering
- HERS Certification, Blower Door Testing
Harold Gertner ASU Energy Center
- Western NC Renewable Energy Initiative: Renewable Energy
Resources and Education
Dwight Simmons of Mountain Lumber
- Green Vendor
Adrian Tait
- Greenman Studios - Green Home Design
Scott Eggers of Blue Ridge Energies
- CFL's and Water Heater Jacket Kit (Conservation)
Drew Petrey of Mountaineer Sheet Metal
- Green Heat & Air Geo-Thermal (Remodel)
Robert N. Oelberg ASLA PA
- Green Building Guidelines for Site Development and Landscaping
Dave Parks of Distinctive Kitchens & Baths
- Green Products for Kitchen & Bath
Landon Phillips- Green Appraisals and their Value
I was so inspired by the speakers and the reception they (we ) received.
Connections were made, jobs lined up and smiles abounded. I look forward to many more connect the vendor to the consumer in Building and Remodeling GREEN.
Thanks to one and all who worked on and attended the event.
Here is a very short survey entitled, Green Home,,,What I Want in Mine.
Take the survey if you have time. We'd love to have your opinions.
We'll report the results next month.
Come back soon.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xzW1ZpELLIZxAP5UzIsJ_2bw_3d_3d
I love to shop Locally, for myself as well as my client. I have tried to get info from any LOCAL ANY bank as to if they do any work witha green mortgage. Of those dozen i contacted REPEATEDLY, only two have responded, and they basically said "I don't think we do those."
And that was that.
Tonight i stumbled across two interestingsites online -Mortgage Green and My Energy loan- who seem to tout doing a great job and offer discounts to clients buying green homes. One even buys carbon offsets for each loan signed.
I like to shop locally. We are in a small town and support each other well. But maybe I'll have to venture out to find that special "deal" for my green clients.
Love to hear from NAR Green Realtors who have had local luck with finding a green mortgage in their area. And too, love to know if anyone has had success suing these two online sites, or are they buyer beware?
Have a spectacular summer.
Judy
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