3 Ways Agents Can Attract Buyers to Open Houses?
Posted By beth On July 4, 2009 @ 1:02 pm In Today's Top Story Comments Disabled
[1]RISMEDIA, July 4, 2009-Do you advertise your open houses in your local newspaper? Do you advertise them online? According to a recent Trulia survey conducted by Harris Interactive, home buyers are twice as likely to look for open house listings online than in print newspapers. When asked what sources they use, 62% of U.S. home buyers reported using online sites, compared to less than one-third who use print sources, including newspapers and local flyers, to find open houses.
For serious home buyers, the quality and comprehensiveness of online information is a major reason they turn to the Internet to help them with their open house search. Unlike newspapers that generally show just one photo and a basic property description, online real estate sites provide much richer information. From multiple photos, to neighborhood and school data, to local price trends, today’s savvy consumers want to do their homework and get a more comprehensive view of a listing before they make a decision to visit. From an agent’s perspective, these are more qualified home buyers than newspaper visitors who stroll into open houses based on the number of beds and baths alone.
Another major reason consumers search for open houses online: convenience. Trulia recently partnered with McGuire Real Estate in San Francisco to find out why their open house attendees used the sources they did to find open house information. Many buyers reported ease of use as a major reason they search for open houses online. As San Francisco home buyer, Cammy, wrote, “I search online because I usually only have time to do my research late at night. I don’t do newspapers!” Similarly, Danny, another buyer who searches for open houses online, responded with just one word: “easy.”
And, let’s not forget about mobile phones. Since launching Trulia’s iPhone application with open house search last summer, we consistently see spikes in usage on Sundays-the most popular open house day of the week. Consumers want to search “on the fly” for information and, as nationwide adoption of smart phones increases, we expect to see mobile devices become a major source of open house information.
So, how can you target serious home buyers online to make sure you’re maximizing your open house attendance?
1. Post open house information on your personal website, your broker’s site and highly trafficked, national real estate sites. (Bonus for sites that offer mobile open house search).
2. Pique consumer interest in your listings by showing multiple photos, detailed property descriptions and links to more information. Serious home buyers want comprehensive information before they make the decision to visit.
3. Ask each and every open house attendee where they found your open house and focus your marketing efforts on the most popular results. After all, if an open house is advertised in the newspaper and nobody reads it, did it happen? RE
Sami Inkinen is COO and co-founder of Trulia. For more information, visit www.trulia.com [2].
RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com [3].
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Now is THE TIME to buy!
Basic investment strategy that has stood the test of time is....Buy Low, Sell High. This holds true for real estate as well. Now is the best time in many years to be able to buy real estate at its lowest!
Actually, we are seeing signs that real estate is starting to pick up. Interest rates are at a 50 year low, high inventory has caused better values and more options, and throw in stimulus programs such as the $8000 tax credit and down payment assistance (yes, there are programs still out there that help with your down payment) all contribute to this being the best time to buy real estate. Whether you are looking for your personal residence or investing in real estate. Don't delay! This is the perfect storm!
This means don't delay if you want the biggest return on your investment. Today it could cost you hundreds of dollars LESS each month to own a bigger house than you have now..and definitely if you are currently renting. Why not participate in the American Dream of home ownership when you can own for less than you are renting (remember renting is just you paying someone else's mortgage and providing for THEIR investment - you are putting your money into their retirement, family vacations, etc).
Even if you currently own a home and are scared to sell...NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY! If you are thinking of moving up in size and price of a home, think about this! If you currently own a $100,000 home, and you are sitting there believing the 'doom & gloom' media and wanting to hold onto your home what happens if you wait until next year when we see a 10% increase in home values? Great...your $100,000 home is now worth $110,000! Excellent right! You made $10,000 more on the sell of your home. Aren't you glad you waited!? But wait!
What has just happened to the $200,000 house you wanted to upgrade to? It also increased by 10% so the $200,000 house from 2009 is now selling for $220,000 in 2010. That is $20,000 MORE! WOW! You just waited to make $10,000 so you could spend $20,000. I'm no Economist, but something doesn't sound right. Making $10,000 in order to spend $20,000 doesn't like a good investment. Get the picture?
Actually, we are seeing signs that real estate is starting to pick up. Interest rates are at a 50 year low, high inventory has caused better values and more options, and throw in stimulus programs such as the $8000 tax credit and down payment assistance (yes, there are programs still out there that help with your down payment) all contribute to this being the best time to buy real estate. Whether you are looking for your personal residence or investing in real estate. Don't delay! This is the perfect storm!
This means don't delay if you want the biggest return on your investment. Today it could cost you hundreds of dollars LESS each month to own a bigger house than you have now..and definitely if you are currently renting. Why not participate in the American Dream of home ownership when you can own for less than you are renting (remember renting is just you paying someone else's mortgage and providing for THEIR investment - you are putting your money into their retirement, family vacations, etc).
Even if you currently own a home and are scared to sell...NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY! If you are thinking of moving up in size and price of a home, think about this! If you currently own a $100,000 home, and you are sitting there believing the 'doom & gloom' media and wanting to hold onto your home what happens if you wait until next year when we see a 10% increase in home values? Great...your $100,000 home is now worth $110,000! Excellent right! You made $10,000 more on the sell of your home. Aren't you glad you waited!? But wait!
What has just happened to the $200,000 house you wanted to upgrade to? It also increased by 10% so the $200,000 house from 2009 is now selling for $220,000 in 2010. That is $20,000 MORE! WOW! You just waited to make $10,000 so you could spend $20,000. I'm no Economist, but something doesn't sound right. Making $10,000 in order to spend $20,000 doesn't like a good investment. Get the picture?
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