Yesterday Jane and I were on our way back from the mountains.  At noon, we stopped in Columbia at Rush’s – our favorite bar-b-que hangout.  We always stop there when we go and come back from the mountains. 

When we got off the interstate, I noticed that there were two guys holding signs promoting business on the exit.  I thought it was interesting to “think outside the box”.  Obviously these businesses are slow and they are doing everything they can to try and stimulate some business.

I don’t necessarily think that you will see me standing on highway 278 with a sign promoting a house for sale, but it might not be a bad idea!  Maybe I need a sign that says “Buy Now, Great Values” or “We are having a 30% off sale!”  I was impressed that these businesses were willing to go the extra mile to try and get the business. 

We are continually trying to get the business at the James Wedgeworth Team.  We ask ourselves every day if there is a marketing idea we have not tried before.  We are trying to reach outside the normal areas of where our buyers come from.  This is why we have been doing promotions in Europe.

I recently listed a piece of property where the sellers had it priced quite a bit above what the comparative market analysis showed that the property was worth.  We had shown the property time and time again and most every prospect that we showed the home to said that the house was overpriced. 

When I talked with the seller they kept telling me that I was not trying hard enough.  They kept coming up with ideas, mail outs, and more advertising to try and get their property sold.  In other words, the reason their home had not sold had nothing to do with the price they put on it, but the lack of effort that James Wedgeworth was putting forth to get their property sold.  Daily, I would get a phone call from them suggesting another marketing idea. (more…)

A very experienced real estate agent once explained this to me, and the more you think about it, the more sense it makes.

When a house first comes on the market, a lot of agents will call people and tell them that the property is a great value, is in good condition in a great location with a great price.  The agent tells you that you better go and take a look at the house before someone else sees it, and sometimes they think they should make an offer before anyone else sees it because it would be such a great house for them. (more…)