And you don’t want your photos used by the next Realtor? Seeing as how once the photos are submitted to the MLS, the listing agent relinquishes all rights to those photos … take all the photos out and replace them with something like this – I found this this morning while researching a residential property’s market history…. Not quite the “Bad MLS Photo of the Day,” but still quite amusing.
Browsing Category Marketing
The changing news cycle
What about you?That’s how news breaks and then takes in my world. I am sure most of you who read this blog do it the same way I do. I am equally sure that we are the minority and that most people are going to read the news for the first time this morning in their local paper. But I think the way it goes down in our world is the way of the future and services like Techmeme are going to be the new arbiters of how news takes.Recognizing that most do not yet live this way is key for marketing to that large segment (boomers).
For all Charlottesville agents, buyers and sellers
When I look at MLS photos I want to see the front of the house, the kitchen, some pasture and a barn if there is one…. Unless it’s an award winning designer bathroom we really only need one shot but not in place of the kitchen.In Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson, there are 2,597 properties currently listed as “active” in the MLS. Of these:2140 – Have more than one photo391 – Have only one photo67 – Have no photos at allFrom my perspective, it sure seems that there are more properties with only one photos or terrible photos…. For those of you buying or selling in the Charlottesville/Central Virginia area – do you have any advice for those marketing properties that you want to share?
Newspapers remain (somewhat) dead
Perhaps my favorite line:I also agree with John’s premise that newspaper advertising is more about promotion of the real estate agent than bringing qualified buyers to see the home. Imagine the absurdity of telling a home seller, “I am going to advertise your home in our local newspaper with a grainy photo and five column lines of type.”The story is particularly serendipitous, as next week I will be advertising in the local print media for the first time in well over a year, at the behest of a client and out of my own curiosity – does it work?… Should one use print media, which is none of the above, to maybe reach that remaining ~20%?And, my favorite comment from the 3Oceans article she referenced:It’s sad to think that the second largest group of persons needing to read this won’t see it. Of the largest group – sellers – many will see it because savvy real estate agents like you, Kevin and other web 2.0 agents will show it to them.The second largest group – traditional real estate.
Signs, signs, everywhere there are signs
A sting operation, if you will. The City of Charlottesville (and the County of Albemarle, other localities and the VDOT are letting it be known that signs are not to be displayed in their rights-of-way. See this letter from the City. This ordinance applies to Unrepresented Sellers as well.Coincidentally, the Real Estate Bloggers noted a similar strategy being undertaken in their market.Believe it or not, signs are one of the most important part of a marketing strategy.
Traditional versus Internet buyers
Aren’t we at the point now where “internet advertising” is “traditional” advertising?From Broker Agent News the other day:92% of Internet buyers found their agent on a web site; 63% found them through an Internet search engine; 0% of Internet buyers found their agent through brochures, flyers, yard signs or mailers to their home (does this tell you to spend more on Internet marketing and less on print?);…You need to take most of the money you are spending on newspaper ads, brochures, glossy marketing pieces, etc., and invest it in your Online Marketing…. It will be tough not seeing your comforting listings in the paper, but think of all the money you’ll be saving! (And as more fuel for that fire, consider this: Ms. Appleton-Young’s data also show that over 70% of people 65 and older read a daily newspaper, but only 35% of 24 year olds do…. Those who regard print advertising as “traditional” may as well call themselves “antiquated.”I have said it before; if I cannot measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign, how useful is it?
How to market a very personal property
First, it is a unique house in several ways: first and foremost, it is a contemporary home that has been renovated with extraordinary detail – the list of which is extensive…. They have re-landscaped with dry-set stones, poured aggregate spillways flank the house, there is tiered landscaping, erosion control, new trees, shrubs, ground cover, they resealed the foundation installed new copper gutters & downspouts – a virtual check-list of what to do to defend a home against water…. The renovations were made with that mindset, which is quite different than so many other “renovations” – made solely to recapture that cost when the property is ultimately sold.While preparing to market this property, I started to study real estate photography a bit (and discovered this great site in the process). It is shocking that I have been in the business for six years and am just now educating myself on real estate photography (other than the wide-angle lens I purchased several years ago).