.......................I want to thank you for inviting me over to look at your house and talk with you about selling it.
Before I get started talking about what I'm going to be doing to get your house sold as quickly as possible, let's take just a few minutes to talk about the things I'm not going to be doing and why I'm not going to be doing them.
First and foremost; don't pick up your daily newspaper and start looking for a 3 line ad that looks just like everyone Else's 3 line ad and also, don't be looking for a small color photo in the glossy, color magazines that you pick up at the bank or grocery because you won't be in them either.
The reason is simple; print ads are not as effective, both from a cost standpoint and being effective. According to a National Association of Realtors (NAR) study, ";87 percent used the Internet";, way over twice the number that said they looked at print ads. NAR's study went on to say: ";Fewer buyers rely on a home book or magazine, home builders, television, billboards and relocation companies. Buyers most commonly start their search process online and then contact a real estate agent.";
As the statistics and buyers very clearly say; give us an online location where we can see all the homes for sale in an area, lots of photos, and area information as well as information about the homes for sale.
Number two, don't be getting ready for a traditional Sunday open house because we are not going to be doing one. There are several reasons. First and foremost, open houses don't work to sell a particular house. Typically brokers put their new agents out sitting open houses to pick up buyers for other listings.
Personally I don't feel that it's fair to use your house as basically 'bait' to lure buyers in to buy another house. Secondly, open houses usually only attract only lookers, ";tire kickers";, and unfortunately also criminals looking for a house to rob now or later, often when you and your family are at home. There have also been incidents of visitors to open houses caught looking through medicine cabinets and other location for prescription drugs to steal to feed their habit.
Here's a partial excerpt from REALTOR magaine about holding open houses:
";Nix open houses—they are neither worthwhile nor safe The article on safety, “ Protect your life ” (September 2003), reminds me that the most dangerous part of real estate is open houses. Besides attracting neighbors, the curious, and unqualified “lookie-loos,” opens draw weirdos of varying degrees.
In the past few months, right here in Minnesota, there’ve been practitioner abductions and attacks: One salesperson was invited to conduct a market analysis on a home and was sexually assaulted by a man and his sister-in-law. Another was holding an open house at a model home when a man came in, took off all his clothes, and helped himself to the shower. Yet another salesperson had her purse stolen. Two female salespeople were robbed at gunpoint while showing a vacant property last spring.
It’s time for professionals to prevent these kinds of crimes by eliminating the vulnerability: Stand up and educate your clients about the dangers and pointlessness of open houses. They’ll understand that reducing their liability is a great benefit and that you are professional and creative enough to bring the very best buyer—without the risks.";
So there you have it; two things I don't do and the reasons I don't do them. Would you like me to continue with my presentation at this time and show and tell you the many things I do to get your house sold; many of them exclusive to me?
Thanks, I'm glad you' agree with me; now let's talk about what works in today's tougher, more competative, seller's market to get your house sold.
FYI; here's a copy of some buyer data from NAR's 2008 ";Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers";
This great resource is available free of charge to members (Realtors) at www.Realtor.org
