When I was a kid there was a show on TV about a magician called MR. X. The premise of the show was that he would go around revealing every single magic trick out there. This is what this post is about for Real Estate.
What they say: We have an AD on the Caravan magazine, LA Times and other magazines.
The Fact: Print advertising does not work to sell your place. It works to help the agent get more listings/clients. Print advertising is slow and outdated You can’t search, you can’t save to your phone/computer, you can’t see a map, more pictures, schools and many other things that you can do online. Then there is the other issue: updating. You can change the price, add extra pictures or change description online is less than one minute. With print you have to design the AD again and go by printing dealines, it can take a month to make one simple change.
What they say: We are going to do Open Houses.
The Fact: Open houses are another way for the agent to get more listings/clients. Open houses work better in some areas than others, but the like-ability that you are going to miss a sale if you don’t do an open house is very slim. Most buyers that are looking in your area know that your place is on the market and will make an appointment to see it if they are interested. Most buyers that only want to go to the open houses are on the looking phase and are not ready to buy yet. Open Houses put unnecessary wear and tear on your place and can even be dangerous.
What they say: Is better to list with a big franchise (Keller Williams, REMAX, Coldwell Banker, etc).
The Facts: The only thing the big companies do better is advertise their name, they don’t do anything for the agent or the client. They are about quantity, not quality. What matters is the agent and what he/she will do for you.
Bottom line is: Find an agent that is keeping up with the times and invested money in technology and attracting buyers online. Most buyers start there. Have him take professional pictures and prepare your place before taking them. Staging is another big thing and makes all the difference in the world. Its not about finding your place, once you put in the MLS it goes viral. Its about showcasing your place under the best light and its about an agent that knows the product.
