Do most of you usually door knock or mail something to the neighbors of listings that you get to let them know that the property is for sale and to see whether they or anyone they know would be interested in buying the property? If so, how often do you get a sale through this method?

You remind me of something I should do more of . . . . but don't. Here's a link to a discussion we had a few months ago; containing advice that I know works, if taken:

Go Tell Ten People !

I have a nice listing about 15 miles from my Office. The Owners are in New Jersey.

I visited the neighbors and now they are mowing the lawn for me and informing me of any strange goings on.

We also exchanged dinner invitations and they tell me everything unusual about the neighborhood (and the people in it).

They say they'll be wanting to sell in a few years and want me to help them find a replacemment property.

No one has ever bitten my head off because I stopped by to say I'm the Listing Agent . . . . or I just sold your Neighbor's House, and thought I'd introduce the New Owners. Nothing could be easier . . . . you've got something that people want to know - gossip which is valid !

NOW, Go Tell Ten People !

Thanks for that info Verm. So, I guess to really cover all bases you'd actually want to contact the neighbors of your listings both before AND after selling a property huh?

I think door knocking them when first listing a property and then sending a post card after selling it sounds like a good combo.

I'm not too keen on mechanical communication; and I don't think many people in this neck of the woods would take too kindly to it. Any pre-printed Post Cards from me would probably just be added to the kindling pile.

This is a very sparsely populated area. If I take a listing, I may not have another house within eyesight. And if I can make eye contact with someone, my first objective is to explain what I'm doing there . . . . that I'm not a burglar, and have legitimate business being there. Then I can try to find some element of commonality, or someone that they know who I also know.

The Couple that I mentioned earlier is due to an eyeball to eyeball encounter, where I just drove into their driveway and approached them carefully so's not to get shot. They would not have been very good candidates for a Post Card; and I don't know how to write anything that fits on a post card. They deserve "the time of day". Now, if they go Ice Fishing, they call us up to see if we'll take some of their catch while it's still fresh. Surplus Zucchini and Venison are other items people want to share with me. I always get more out of these contacts than I expect; and I try to tailor my response to each set of circumstances.

Of course, I can't have 10 of these relationships with each listing . . . . but I can go and size up everyone who gives me the hairy eyeball when they see a stranger in the neighborhood. By the time I'm finished, they'll remember me, and I'll probably have a new friend . . . . never had too many of those !

And I don't mean making any special trips. At this time of year, I'll cruise by with a grass scythe, or weedwacker in my trunk and trim the grass or weeds around all of my signs while traveling by.

That's an ideal time to introduce myself to other people in the neighborhood, and it's usually them who drive up and approach me. I just try to get the name and phone number of at least one person within a reasonable proximity of every listing I have. People like to be made to feel useful.

You do what feels right (and productive) for you. Most important - be honest. People can smell a phoney from farther away than a rotten fish.

Very effective in my opinion. I have had some neighbors that were rude. Some people are just not nice, it takes all kinds and was water off a ducks back.

Well, I was thinking that if you talked to them in person when you first listed the neighboring property so you had that eye-to-eye contact with them first and then sent a postcard to them after you made the sale to just give them an update that would be effective. I don't live in a very rural area though. So, yes I agree the type of market you're in would dictate how to contact the neighbors.

I talk to them whenever I see them. If I show up early for an appointment . . . . I talk to them. If I have a few moments after a showing . . . . I talk to them. If I'm reading the electric meter . . . . I talk to them. I'd forget about the Post Cards and always carry plenty of Business Cards, and give them out liberally - postage free..

And when I talk to them, what do you think I talk about ? My last hunting or fishing trip ? Well sorta; except my brand of huntin' and fishin' is all real estate related. They never seem to get tired of talking about it. It's financial; it's gossippy; it seems simple enough that everyone knows a little bit about it; and besides . . . . they live in it !

I also like to talk to people for just 5 minutes or so at a time. It's far better to cut it short and be welcomed back the next time. Just like in comedy . . . . always leave them wanting more. Six little 5 minute conversations is probably worth 25 times one 30 minute conversation. I certainly don't ever want to appear to have nothing to do with my time !

(Urban and suburban people talk to one another too. I used to be one.)

I do mailings and have a saying "do you want to pick you neighbor" on the postcard.

Yeah I was thinking of leaving the "Choose Your Neighbor" door hangers on neighboring properties when no one is home.

I always send "just listed" cards to keep my face out there.

The most important thing about your listing is an EXCITING PRICE and/or EXCITING TERMS... period.

If your price is too high, NO BUYERS COME!
If the price is WONDERFUL (a great value because other similar homes are more expensive than yours) then all LOOKING BUYERS will try to snap up your listing!

Price/Terms are EVERYTHING!

Once your price is wonderful, EXPOSURE is the name of the game.
The BEST exposure is a yard sign, flyer box well stocked, and postcards/flyers to 100 - 1000 radius around the listed property.
The MLS is great too, but you have to word the descriptions and agent remarks sections so that your house is INVITING, not a turn off.

Do as many mailings around the home as you can.
Get your seller to spend extra money for advertising, or charge a higher commission to help defray costs.
If you don't know how, get to a coach or get to a brokerage
close to you that will teach you how!

Most of the advice I read on this board IS NOT from aggressive, yes-we-can agents. Too many chickens. Too many "nicey-nice" people who want to be liked. Not nearly enough MONEY MAKERS who understand that all sellers want is to GET SOLD FOR THE MOST MONEY THEY CAN, AS FAST AS THEY CAN - PERIOD.

Oh yeah, don't worry about pricing the home too low. If you try to sell it for even $1.00, guess how many offers you'll get? A million. That's what counter offers are for! Again, I'm not big on trying to make friends of all the other agents... I just want to help my seller GET SOLD FAST. Good luck.

Wanna know a secret?

Ask people what they do with stuff that they receive in the mail???

Listen to their answers.

I've asked hundreds, most say it goes into the trash.

It's amazing how many REASONS we can cook up for not picking up the phone or knocking on the door.

How long of a list do you think we could make?

Let me ask you this

If you were looking for a mate would you go leave stuff in 100 or a 1000 mail boxes?

Maybe some people would

But your lucky if they are keepers

Real sales is dealing with resistance and or objections

Learn to deal with rejection and have true grit,then you got it made BABY

Morris B

I sure as heck wouldn't cold call looking for a husband either!

Whatever you do, do it in VOLUME.
Do the math. Don't be afraid to actually do the numbers.

First start with your PERSONAL GOAL.
If your goal is to close one escrow per month (12 in a year), then it really doesn't matter WHAT you do, as long as you're doing something, because doing ONE requires minimal effort.

Now, on the other hand, if your goal is to close 10 per month, you need to OPEN at least 15 Escrows that month to be on the safe side, and THAT my friends requires reaching out to a lot more members of the public that you can ever do one-by-one-by-one-by-one. Unless, you're really to go BALLS OUT like a MACHINE like Froy Candelerio. Here's a link to his EXTREME DOOR KNOCKING TECHNIQUE I've posted on this board a few days ago:

Good luck. Hey, nobody is AFRAID to knock on a door or cold call a stranger. I earn my living on the phone. But I also don't belittle anyone who approaches this business like a REAL business, and has a budget for MARKETING (attracting business to come to you). It's 2009, people. Wake The **** Up! This ain't the 1950's where the stay-at-home mom is GLAD you came over unannounced to keep her company after the milk man popped over!

Find a way YOU enjoy doing IN VOLUME... then stick with THAT! Good luck.

Here's EXTREME DOOR KNOCKING (definately not for everyone):
http://www.agentsonline.net/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/239792/7.html