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Postcard feedback - for sale by owner niche

by mrcouchpotato
8 replies
I worked on a postcard that I'm thinking of sending out to people who are selling their houses on their own (For Sale By Owners) and I'd like some feedback please.

The business idea is to create a marketing package for FSBOs which includes taking photos, creating flyers, creating a listing video, creating a Craigslist ad, and adding them to my FSBO listing website.

This postcard is more for the taking of photos but will lead them to my website explaining all of the services.

Do you think the card is ok or is it too busy?

Thanks.

Mike
#feedback #nich #owner #postcard #sale
  • Profile picture of the author Scott Voss
    Mike,
    My gut is telling me that this is not the right lead in for you.

    As someone who sold my own home, I was doing it because I felt that I could do just as good as someone who was trained and licensed to sell a home in my state.

    With that mentality, everyone has access to a camera. So, if they can sell a home as good as an expert, why wouldn't they be able to take a picture just as well too?

    (I'm not arguing that their pictures would be as good, only that they are do-it-yourselfers at heart and would assume so)

    To get them to act on the photography, I just don't think that I would have looked twice at that offer.

    Now, that's just my two cents here.

    As with any mailing, just start out small to test it and to mitigate any losses early on.

    Good Luck!
    Scott
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    • Profile picture of the author mrcouchpotato
      Thanks for your honesty. Especially since you're the kind of target customer I'm looking for.

      Maybe hitting the photos as the main idea isn't the best approach. I'm trying to sell a whole package which includes flyers, listing websites, custom craigslist ads, and maybe even signs and sms codes.

      Maybe I just need a simple teaser card that sends people to my site which then explains what I can do and how it can help sell their house faster.

      Mike
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      • Profile picture of the author danielkanuck
        Originally Posted by mrcouchpotato View Post

        Maybe I just need a simple teaser card that sends people to my site which then explains what I can do and how it can help sell their house faster.

        Mike
        I like this approach better. Is there anyway that we can see the postcard you've designed?
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  • Profile picture of the author lewistrio2
    Mr CP since you asked. I think there is too much copy. You can use the address side for extra space. The best postcard is oversized 5x7 which might solve your copy problem. Ideally side 1 is an attention grabbing photo, side 2 your message.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bon508
    Hey Mike, I think that's a great market to go after.

    As has already been suggested, though, it would probably be more effective to change your pitch.

    Maybe your approach could be something like "We can help you sell your home -- using today's most highly effective & innovative marketing techniques -- for less than the price of a _______!"

    On your website, you could also talk about the problems of working with an agent (and not just saving the commission fees). As someone who recently went through the process of selling with an agent, it was clear to me that the agency's number-one priority was getting new listings, not selling the listings they already had. For instance, the sign they put in our yard said "Available" instead of "For Sale." Why? Because it might get phone calls from people interested in renting (which this agency also handled). People driving by who were looking to buy a house would probably think ours was NOT for sale because it didn't say "For Sale." I had to point this out and get them to change the sign. At our Open Houses, they were more interested in getting the names and phone numbers of visitors (potential new clients!) than pointing out the features and benefits of our house.

    Oops, got off on a tangent there -- sorry! (Can you tell I wasn't happy with the experience? ;-)

    Anyway, good luck with your niche!
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael D Forbes
      I don't know if this helps at all, but as a serial for sale by owner myself and former real estate sales dabbler, I think the one thing that FSBO's really don't have a good grasp on is the marketing aspect. Getting the word out can be tough. Not sure what you can do for them in that realm but something that draws their attention to that deficiency and promises a painless and relatively inexpensive solution would be a better draw, I think. Something that visually illustrates how lonely their poor house is with no showings, because that's usually the reality of it.

      Craigslist ads that lead to a well done landing page for the home are very effective. Flyers distributed to Realtors offices are a huge boost also. Call the office, ask how many Realtors there are and make a full color two-sided flyer for each Realtor there. Do this at every office that will let you (and most will).

      What? Go to the Realtors? Yep. Most FSBO's are willing to pay an agent that brings a buyer 2-3% The 3-4% they save is still very worth it in most cases. Some Realtors can bring you the right buyer TODAY.

      I've rambled and don't know if this helps at all.
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      • Profile picture of the author mrcouchpotato
        Originally Posted by Micheal D Forbes View Post

        Craigslist ads that lead to a well done landing page for the home are very effective. Flyers distributed to Realtors offices are a huge boost also. Call the office, ask how many Realtors there are and make a full color two-sided flyer for each Realtor there. Do this at every office that will let you (and most will).
        I actually get these types of flyers from other agents which is silly since I can see every agent's listings in the MLS anyway.

        But I've never received one from a FSBO, so you may have something there.

        Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author mrcouchpotato
      Originally Posted by Bon508 View Post

      As has already been suggested, though, it would probably be more effective to change your pitch.

      Maybe your approach could be something like "We can help you sell your home -- using today's most highly effective & innovative marketing techniques -- for less than the price of a _______!"

      On your website, you could also talk about the problems of working with an agent (and not just saving the commission fees). As someone who recently went through the process of selling with an agent, it was clear to me that the agency's number-one priority was getting new listings, not selling the listings they already had.
      As a part time real estate agent myself (full time for the last 6 years and part time this year), you're absolutely correct about this. Anytime I do an open house, it's for two reasons.

      1. To satisfy the homeowner showing that we are doing something that helps market their home.

      2. To pick up buyers who may not be interested in the house I'm sitting but maybe some other one instead.

      That's not to say that I haven't sold a home at an open house....or had someone buy it who came to an open house but already had an agent representing them. But it is very rare that this happens.

      The internet has definitely changed the way people purchase houses. Gone are the days where an agent will search out a house perfect for their buyers. In today's world, buyers have access to all the homes and they can do the searching themselves. This is why it's so important to have great photos and an online presense.

      So I think you guys are right. I'll change my approach and try to sell this as a full blown marketing package on the website (and maybe make some of the items ala carte too). But send out some sort of teaser postcard to current FSBOs which sends them to the site.

      Mike
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