Reviewing Your Home
Promoting Your Home
Promoting your home is a vital. During the first stage of the process, your listing will enter the Multiple Listing Services, also known as the MLS. MLS data feeds to both the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of the Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) and the Real Estate Transaction Standard (RETS). However, in today’s market, it’s not enough to just list with an agent who will place your home in the MLS. Properties can be promoted in multiple other ways to receive maximum exposure, through online syndication, print media and in-person networking between other area agents.
Stage 1 – Syndication
Upon entering into the MLS, your home is automatically syndicated to some of the most visited real estate websites online. As a REALTOR®, my properties are featured on REALTOR.com®, the official site of the National Association of REALTORS®. As a RE/MAX® agent, my properties appear at REMAX.com®. My listings also appear on Zillow.com® and Trulia.com®.
Realtor.com – Receives more than 7.7 million unique visitors per month
REMAX.com – Receives more than 2 million unique visitors per month
Zillow.com – Receives more than 8.5 million unique visitors per month
Trulia.com – Receives more than 6.3 million unique visitors per month
In addition to the above, my listings are syndicated to hundreds of other websites, including:
GoogleMaps.com, Yahoo Real Estate, MSN Real Estate, AOL Real Estate, RealEstateBook.com, Real Estate Showcase Online, Move.com, Craigslist, Myspace, Bellsouth.net, BobVila.com, Great Homes, HomeGain, HomePages.com, House.com, HSCAPES, Impaqt, Concept MultiMedia, Lending Tree, LiveDeal, Luxury Collections, MyAreaGuide, the New York Times, RealityTrac, TotalMove, Uniqie Gobal Estates, US Condo Exchange, Wall Street Journal, TCPalm, ListHub, TweetLister, Walmart.com, Homes.com, Local.com, Lycos, Oodle, Scripps, Homefinder.com, OpenHouse.com, HomesDatabase, FrontDoor, Condo.com, Vast, HotPads, PropertyShark, OpenHousesInc, Cyberhomes, CLRSearch.com, Backpage.com, LakeHomesUSA.com, LandWatch, ResortScape, MyReality.com, Enormo, Overstock.com, Investorloft, SecondSpace, MyNewPlace, HomeAway Real Estate, eRealInvestor.com, USAHomeSearch.org, HomeFinderGuides.net and their related affiliates.
STAGE 2 – Social Media Marketing
Social media has become a major marketing tool for real estate listings, yet many agents are not utilizing it to its fullest extent. During stage two, my listings are syndicated to a variety of highly trafficked social media websites, as well as my own blog on my website. My blog features an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, which allows visitors to subscribe to my posts to automatically receive my latest listings and updates.
ColleenSample.com – My personal website
Facebook – 750 million monthly active users
Twitter – 100 million active users
Google+ – 10 million active users with maximum web exposure
LinkedIn – 120 million members
ActiveRain – Over 200,000 members
YouTube – Exceeds 3 billion views per day
STAGE 3 – Print media
Utilizing print media is still an important step in the process of promoting your home. Many of my listings will appear in print the Real Estate Showcase and Real Estate Book magazines.
Real Estate Showcase – over 44,000 copies distributed in South Florida, through over 600 distribution points
Real Estate Book – over 12,000 copies distributed in Martin County, though over 380 local distribution locations
The Stuart News – over 20,000 copies distributed in Martin and St. Lucie counties
STAGE 4 – In-person Networking
The next step in the process is reaching out to other agents in the area to develop in person business relationships, with the end goal of further promoting your home within the community.
Realtor Association of Martin County – The weekly Residential Marketing Tour at the Board of Realtors highlights listings within a rotating series of areas throughout Martin County. There, your property is promoted to 300 area realtors. An open house is scheduled for the Realtor members as well, so they may tour your home.
RE/MAX of Stuart – During the weekly office meeting at RE/MAX of Stuart, your home is promoted to over 40 other RE/MAX agents. Your home will also be shown on the RE/MAX of Stuart home tour. RE/MAX of Stuart has been the number one single office in Martin County since 1998 and RE/MAX Associates have more real estate sales experience than other real estate agents.
Showings – The number of home buyers who shop for properties online are increasing, however showing your home is still an important part of the process. Open houses can offer buyers a more hands on look and feel for prospective purchases than the best virtual tours. Open houses and private showings can be discussed and scheduled.
Business Meetings – I frequently attend various local business networking meetings which I use as an opportunity to further promote my listings. Many non for profit functions that I attend offer the opportunity to network and meet with local residents.
Updates
The daily answering of phone inquiries by Realtors and customers is an ongoing effort. I will call or mail updates on my daily activities weekly. I have a direct phone line for all my customers that call on my properties. This line is transferred to my cell phone at night and on weekends. I am never out of touch. I have voice mail service at my office, on my advertising phone line and cell phone. If you need to reach me during the day please call 772-288-7419 and after business hours, please leave me a voice mail. I will return the phone call as soon as possible. I work weekends as well. I plan most of my showings on Saturdays (if possible) as not to interfere with family Sundays.
Showings
RE/MAX of Stuart office personnel: 772-288-1111
Sandy M. and Sandy R. – Receptionist (primary employees to set up showings)
Diedra – Data input computer technician
Elizabeth – Office Manager
Any one of the employees above may call to set up a showing. When a showing is set up for me, an email notification is sent to me. I promptly call the agents back after they have shown the property for feedback. Sometimes other agents call back one or two days later. I will update you within a couple of days, if there was some interest in your property. Otherwise, you will have a weekly update, which will include a phone call or written correspondence.
Contracts
The first presentation of contracts will be done in person. If necessary and you are out of town then they will be conducted over the phone and via fax. I do not communicate the price of contracts over the phone unless it is necessary to do so. It is very important that we meet together and decide the best course of action for you. Negotiations of counter offers can be conducted by phone will be decided as needed.
Contact Colleen Anytime
I look forward to working with you. My goal is to always provide you with top quality service. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions or comments. Communication is the key to us working together and marketing your property with satisfaction. Together we will get the job done! Thank you for your business and remember, I am never too busy for your referrals!
Get ready to Sample The Good Life, with your Treasure Coast Real Estate Expert! Colleen Sample, REALTOR®, GRI, CDPE, RE/MAX® Hall of Fame, proudly serving Martin, St. Lucie & Palm Beach Counties!
