Any one use USP (unique selling propositions), call to action, squeeze pages etc.
Obviously they are designed to flush out the motivated easy going hot leads.

Samples are;

>MOVE UP to this home and I will buy your home for cash,
>FREE ON LINE MARKET EVALUATIONS speak to no salesperson,
>sell or buy with me and receive a FREE CARRIBEAN CRUISE,
>FREE REPORT, 10 common mistakes Sellers make that costs thousands,
>Your home SOLD in 30 days or I'll buy it for cash,
>Call for free recorded message (call capture)
>press I'd # for free recorded message ( call capture )
feel Free to share some more PROVEN ideas.

What do you think of these?
Do they really work?
Are they too slimy?
Too unprofessional?
Too risky?
Do they invite litigation?
Are they unethical?

I think they dig out the the easy deals, the easy clients, the easy going clients etc.
I am looking for ideas to make my data base postecards more effective and produce more fruit, more leads, more deals, more $$$$$!

I'd like to foster intelligent conversation on proven anecdotal experiences and observations of realtors using these an better ideas!

The biggest trick with the ones where you are going to buy their home is that you will have to purchase it at such a low price that most people won't be interested. If the put it on the MLS at even a slightly higher amount it would probaly sell pretty quickly and for more money. The question then would be would they just drop that part and still do business with you or feel that you are trying to rip them off and go to another agent.

We have an agent here that has been advertising something about guaranteeing they will sell your home in 7 days. Which is pretty fast for here. I have been tracking the number of listings they are taking and they are certainly not cleaning up considering they have been doing it for months. I think they have like 14 listings now. Considering the money they are spending on the display ads it isn't much.

We also had a guy who claimed on radio ads that he outsells the average realtor 12 to 1. I looked him up. He sold 3 properties last year. Really? You're putting that in your ad? LOL

Free Reports - in this market no one is interested. I had that on my website for years and no one ever asked for any.

Lucky,

I've always used the above in my business..CRAIG PROCTOR,,...
is the originator of the realtor USP..

Best ones are..

Your Home SOLD in 60 Days GUARANTEED Or I'll Buy IT!

Your Home SOLD In 30days or Less Or I PAY YOU $1,000 Cash

Fast Free Over The Net Home Evaluation

Free Over The Phone Home Evaluation

Find Out What your Home Is Worth Online

Yes mention Talk To NO AGENT
Mention

Fast Free No Cost Or Obligation..

This is What my Direct Mail And PPc Campaigns are..

its called Direct Response..

they come to your site and leave thier info..

though I prefer they call my hotline..those leads are much hotter..

then you follow up within 24 hours..

Right Now we run the Love it or Leave it guarantee for buyers..

Buy Any home through us..And if you Dont Love it..
We will sell it free...Buyer satisfaction Guarantee,..


here are some that Craig and other members run..
here are some samples from my wall st top 250 buddies..


http://www.sloanrealtygroup.net/guarantee.asp

http://www.jaykindersales.com/custompages_reports/sellerguarantee.htm

http://www.bustamanterealestate.com/guaranteed-sold.asp


http://www.sellerschallenge.com/


and here is where they learned it..you can pick up ideas for free...

http://quantumleapsystem.com/training_materials.html

hope this helps

Thanks for posting Lindenmoe!

I have used Craig Proctor's postcards and they work. One broker that I worked for in California required me to put in small font a disclaimer on the card. Something, like; "Subject to an agreement between all parties"

But, one postcard that worked the best for me was "I am working with 2 or 5 buyers very motatived who want to move into your neighbourhood they have 3 children who need to attend the _____ school. Depending on the neighbourhood one should adjust it, to fit those folks. Could be a neighbourhood with older folks, just adjust it. There is one letter that was given me and it gets their attention, I use it with Expireds, and FSBO, (it would work with others too) I have seen a 500% response

If one is busy, one is going to have some possible buyers. Plus, IF it's priced to sell one will one have buyers?

This B.S. will not fly in a semi educated area.
Anyone who doesn't see that somethings up with the old 'I'll buy your home if....' routine is mentally deficient.
This is the kind of used car salesman schtick that gives realtors a very bad name.
Sad.

If your running the "I will buy your home" ad, make sure you have a line of credit or financing in place to show you are serious and able to back up that claim.

I read a story about a REALTOR once who got sued because the home seller claimed he wasn't serious about the purchase offer.

chris,

you dont know much..and probably dont sell much real estate..

im no used car salesman..

and my clients who buy 500k-2 million dollar waterfront condos..

are surgeons, corporate lawyers, it consultants..most my clients make over 200k a year..they are educated..
and it works well with them..

here is why..lame agents..will never offer a performance guarantee..

and here is how I would phrase it..

mr buyer or seller..did any realtors offer you a performance guarantee...No? (feigns shock and digust)

well why not? because dont you think..if they were good they would be willing to put thier big money where they big mouth is?

Cause we do..

then Im going to make them agree why its better to use agents who offer performance guarantees..

risk free , hassle free, sells faster for more money..

watch what you say chris s...because you just totally made that up with no proofs or facts..

im only a realtor full time 4 years..all 4 years earned over 100k using these.

how much you made this year buddy? I have over 150 past clients who used this sytem to buy or sell..

How will YOU differentiate yourself from the other 1,000 realtors in your market?

cause you'll work hard?
cause your number 1?

any cute slogans?

what will you say when a savvy buyer or seller..

ask you
'
'How are you different..what makes you so special?

insert cute-THEY DONT CARE-slogan here...

Nice website you have, linden. If y'all haven't checked out linden's website, you should. Whether you agree with him or not.

(P.S., linden, I did chuckle over how much it looks just like Jay's. But nothing wrong with that - you both have good sites.)

Several times each year, we as agents (even in a big sophisticated city) do business with a dream client. One that is easy going, one that is naive, one that follows our advice 100% either because of high motivation or naivety or both. In my opinion these are the best clients. The ones that make the business easy. Makes the business fun and worthwhile.

It's my belief or my thought that these are the type of clients that respond to these types of guarantees, gimmicks, strategies.

And isn't this exactly the clients we want the most? Do we really want the know it all clients that feel they are smarter than we are?

The question is, how do we attract 50 to 100 such clients per year without it costing a fortune? This is why I am considering incorporating these ideas in my dstabase postcards, a marketing program which is already proven and already in place.

[quote=chrisS]This B.S. will not fly in a semi educated area.
Anyone who doesn't see that somethings up with the old 'I'll buy your home if....' routine is mentally deficient.
This is the kind of used car salesman schtick that gives realtors a very bad name.
Sad. [/quote]

If your "schtick" is B.S. than it won't work, and its mostly because you don't believe it. Lindenmoe can make this offer because he knows what it is going to take to sell your home in 30-60 days and he knows he will do it. The key to making a guarantee work is being able to present it with confidence. "I know what it takes to sell your home and that's what I will do, and if I don't I will (buy it, pay $1,000 etc)" The "call to action" makes the phone ring, but your presentation closes the deal.

Its only a gimmick if you don't intend on following through with it, and the potential client can see through that. I have used a performance guarantee for ten years and have only had one client call me on it. I told them up front what it would take to sell there home, and than I did just that, and if it didn't work I paid out.

Interesting! Does the "Guaranteed sold or I pay you $1000 CASH!" work just as good as the "I'll buy your home for CASH!"

After all, you just want to generate a selling lead.

The different offers work for different people. Over a small period of time I have sent several different offers to the same sellers. Just a way to get people to call you. I have had sellers tell me you must be confident to make such an offers, yes, I do stand behind those offers. As you probaby know I will ONLY take listings that is priced correctly!!! Believe it or not sellers have said "We just want the bloody house sold, I don't care about the guarantees." But it was the guarantee that made them call me. If there is a question which ones work best do a split test of the guarantees, also use them in a combo. How many stores offer guarantees? Remember, some people used that guarantee to get a Large Screen T.V. for the Superbowl, then take it take back for a full refund. Could I do that when I have a seller to impress, go get a really nice car for the day??? Naw!

Lucky, I may have been misunderstood. My intent was to tell the OP that these are effective tools, but they only work if you stand behind them. an empty promise is easily seen through. If you can't buy the house don't say you will.

I think $1000.00 cash, or I will buy your home would both be equally effective. The home seller that responds to this kind of thing wants his home sold, and is looking for a guarantee that you will do what you say you will do.

My clients and customers are people, leads are just data in my computer

here is how the best of the best due it without spending a fortune..

extremely targeted stealth direct mail..to small targeted list
1. Homeowner age 24-44 years old
owned the home 3-7 years
earning at least combined 100k

so notice im targeting the demographic that moves most often..
like has some equity in the home
and can afford to move

1000 of these guys cost $400 printed shipped and mailed
for every 1000 on this targeted list
1-20 leads per month

100-200 leads for the year..total investment 4800
this year I bought in about 63k or so..
off a $4800 investment..

and I still get calls from someone who had my postcard in a draw since february.

Nothing works better than or I will buy it..

First its no gimmick..Im an investor..

Here is what i tell homeowners.. THE TRUTH..

Mr seller here is what your home is worth..
as a realtor I can sell it for X.

As an investor.,.if you make me put my investor hat on..
here is what we will buy it for..
so for your 300k home..
would you rather get 300k
or would you like us to buy it for 200k.

As an investor I wouldnt pay a penny over 60% market value..its too risky in todays market.

I also fully disclose Im gonna get it at 200k and sell it at 300k.

Now mr seller ..whats better for you?

200k or 300k?
never once in 4 years..has a seller chosen the 60% option.

actually 1 did..and was a short sale..my guarantee does not apply to short sales. period.

There are rules, conditions to my program..

In craig proctor case..

In order to get the guarantee..you had to be buying one of his listings..it had to be at 7% commission and you had to automatically reduce the price 10% every 30 days.

Or you are disqualified from the program..

this is discussed up front and in writing..

Oh yeah..by the way.. I dont discuss my Exclusive and PROPRIETARY system over the phone. ever.period.

seller- Im interested in this program..can I know the details..

me-sure when can we get together?

seller-can you just please tell me now..over the phone what you will buy it for

me-impossible..I havent seen your home and can in no way ethically tell you what its worth..

seller- well can you share details..

me -Im sorry..but my program is exclusive and PROPRIETARY..and we cant let it get into the hands of our competitors..

but I would be more than happy to come share it with you..
today at 5pm? or tommorrow at 6pm?


all the truth..im not gonna share my program over the phone..
nor can I make them an ethical offer without seeing the home. PERIOD. END of story.

I always offer them some kind of performance guarantee..

Then I say..Has any other realtor EVER put thier money where their mouth is?

then i ask ..why not? why wouldnt they guarantee the wild promises. Ask the other realtor will they offer you a GUARANTEE or just wild promises...


Its a loaded question..and puts the other competitor realtors to shame..they usually says.. "my broker wont let me"

which of course really makes them look bad.