Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Hey guys,

Have any of you done any SMS for real estate agents?

I just did my first rider sign for a real estate agent that says
"For More Info & Photos
Text Code to Number"

and then it has a QR on the right side if they like.

I've had it up for about 5 days and no hits, I'm pretty sure that it's just because it's about 5 minutes into a gated community. So if he doesn't get any hits I'll ask him to please move it to the next listing and I'll change landing page for free, just so he gives it another try.

Do you guys have any experience with this? Does anyone know how I can increase my chance of people opting-in? Or is this just a bunk idea in the first place...

Please let me know. I have 3 other big time Keller Williams agents interested but they wanted to see if this trial run with my client worked alright first.

Hope to hear from you,
Thanks

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

My thought would be to establish a baseline, in other words you are competing against the old flyers hanging on the sign. So, first I would have found out how many fliers a week they were giving out on this property then work from that number. If they were only using 5 per month, you are still in good shape.
This has to be a tough market as not much drive by traffic inside the gated community. You have an uphill battle until you get relocated.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

The agent needs to take it out of the gated community and
place it with a listing that actually gets drive by traffic.

He knows that... don't let him kid you.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Hey Tsnyder, he actually had his first prospect text in yesterday. I was really hoping for 1 or 2 just to show him that it could work even under these conditions. I know if he puts on an easier accessible house he'll get more prospects. The age of people buying houses right now is the same group that uses smart phones.

I told him though, I don't think more than 1 or 2 flyers would have been grabbed from this house regardless. The only way people could check it out is if they scheduled a time with the agent or they already lived in the neighborhood.

But he's in! Just gave me 2 more listings and okay to bill him. Also I went to this Keller Williams day in the park and met 3 agents that want to do listings because my client is a top dog there and he bragged it up to them.


Thanks. I'll update you in a week or two.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Hey darrett,

May I ask what is your pricing model? Would you be willing to share
What the listing looks like on a smart phone?

I'm thinking of approaching a local agent also. But dont know what to charge,

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Darrett:

I've been working with a few real estate agents on a software project that ties into QR codes - are you using standard riders that really can't be clearly seen from the street? There are vendors that can print to large riders making it possible for drivers and passengers to scan the QR Code without leaving their vehicle or at the very least, making it obvious what the options for getting more details about the property are.

We're testing each QR code to push house hunters to a mobile website featuring details of the property (images, video, specifications), push to text, push to email, push to call, download the property flyer, social media links and other listings.

Keep at it. The CA market is driving pretty good right now and realtors (as well as brokers) are investing more in marketing initiatives. You can get more information from CAR. Get a subscription to their magazine.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

@Kmalikis, I did my very first one for free because I wanted to get my foot in the door and of course for them to give it a trial run. Client did pay for the sign though. I have charged $30 for a single listing, and when the sign switches to a new property it will be $30 every time I update the mobile landing page to a new listing.

I know that seems cheap, but this guy is the head honcho at a large Keller Williams office here, and by winning his praise I may have set myself up for some real work.

Also I really can't see charging more than $30-$50 for this anyways, I mean these agents are nose to the grindstone and go through a LOT of listings.

Plus if I'm able to get enough of these going, it will be getting my name and rep out for mobile websites and other services so that I can make this full time.

@laird Thanks for the feedback! My rider sign is a 6x24 and does have a customized QR code on the side, but I do personally think the SMS is a more powerful feature. I offer both though because I would like to give as many opportunities as possible.

I'm not trying to replace a standard flyer, just want to provide an alternative for prospects that are interested. The "e-flyer" provides enough benefits for it to be worth it, especially for the price I'm doing it for.

Please keep me updated with your trials as well, definitely want to see what works best to improve.

Hope to hear from you,
Thanks

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

There's a company now where you can list your house on their Smart phone app and instead of pay $25,000 in commission to an agent you pay something like $500. It just launched in Spain and the UK

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Now that's an interesting angle...create a local FSBO app and offer individual sellers a complete mobile package to sell their home, complete with a mobile listing, including video, flyers, SMS, QR code, etc.

So many ideas from this forum...so little time!

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Hi Darrett,

OUr pricing strategy is pretty much right on. If i may offer 1 piece of advice... try this: It's $50 a listing...but sell them in packages of 5 and 10 and reduce the price to $30 each for a 10 pack and $40 each for a 5 pack.

After the head guy at keller williams gives you his endorsement.... try to get a presentation at the office sales meeting ( when most agents will be present and do a demo with the guys listing you did already)

Then take orders right then and there...with an "in office demo" special.... offer 12 listing QR codes for the price of 10 ( $300 ) but only while your still in the office...after that it's back to the normal pricing, 10 for $300

A couple of agents will plop down the coin to do this right away ( if your demo is exciting and makes sense to them)... after things calm down... one last sales tactic to entice action.... just say.... "okay! just for today.... i'll even let 2 agents to partner up to take advantage of the special pricing... meaning 2 agents can share the 10 pack for $150 each.

With a decent size office of 20+ agents... you should be able to walk out of there with $1000.

(to everyone reading this... i have not tried this myself yet...but this is the approach i plan to take.)

I welcome critique of the idea

Kam

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

@ Kamalikis, thanks for the reply.

That sounds spot on, I was going to do that as well, sell 1 for $30 or 3 for $25 or 5 for $20. Yours is obviously on a larger scale but I just wanted to get a few for people in the office to see that it works. I'm sure most will be a little skeptical and will be buying 1 or 2 listings as opposed to 5 or 10.

Yes I was actually going to try and do a quick presentation at Keller Williams, although I am a really bad speaker and it may do me more hurt than good. Haha I'm kidding, but definitely once I have a few agents I'll be comfortable enough to put something on for them.

Let me know how your efforts go, as will I.

Thanks

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Darrett,

Unless you report the spam posts nothing can be done about them.

Don't respond to them, instead hit the little red triangle next to the post and report it so the mods can delete it. We should all be doing this yet I still find so much spam in here that obviously people are seeing but just not reporting.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Its called Tipc... Pretty amazing, I see on the news they are getting death threats from real estate agents in the US.. Saying they will send agencys broke in the future. But thats the way things are going. Who wants to pay $25,000 for a overpriced agency when you can sell it for 500

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Wheres the spam? You have a link below your name LOL

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

@Will Thanks, I'll be reporting them all from now on.

@Eric, Are you saying that I'm a spammer for posting my website link in my signature, or that my link is what attracts spammers?

If you're talking about the former then I don't really care, plenty of people have their links in their signatures and it's there so at the least people can critique my site or let me know if they need my services. I'm not posting threads talking about my awesome new software everyone needs...

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Links in your signatures are allowed so long as they are not affiliate links.

Darrett was referring to some other tool who had posted spam. The spam was reported and has now gone, thus why you can't see it.

Back to more important things...

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

On we go...

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Darrett,

Sounds exciting! I recently started my own SMS marketing company as well and am very entertained in the thought of realtors using this.

Has your client started using this on any more of his properties or on a property with much more traffic?

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Hey bumkeun, yes he just set me up with 1 more property.

Also another client just ordered 3 so I gave him 3 for $25 each instead of the normal $30 per listing price.

I have a quick question that hopefully Will will look over, it seems to me like my main money to be made is with the real estate listings. Should I create a whole new website (something name related to mobile/real-estate) and just focus on that. Or just have my normal website that offers mobile marketing services in general.

Starting to think it would be better to specialize and just try to get known as the local "Mobile Listing Guy."

Thoughts?

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

What are the riders made up of? I had a printer that was going to print these but didn't know how so they would be waterproof?

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

I have been contacting realtors in my area and many of these that I have contacted has told me already that their company offers these QR codes/SMS software. I am still going to talk to more realtors as this is something I feel they should definitely be using.

I have created my pricing to be fit for any business, whether it is restaurants/entertainment/real estate.

I am no genius but I wouldn't only target one niche market or go about changing your whole website.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

It's better to find a quality agent who will bring potential buyers to you and be your go'fer for any issues that may arise. If your property is selling for over $400,000 and you want to save money, you simply tell any potential realtors that instead of 6% commission, you are offering 4% commission. That's what we did and the agent was great. That was her niche. She had 8 listings all paying her below the standard 6%.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

The company you are talking bout in the UK is selling to do it yourselfers. A realtor in the US does much more for their money. They advertise, do open houses, show houses when you are working and do all the contract stuff when it sells. Unless you can do all of that, a realtor is better for you.

You will make more money selling to realtors than to individuals for mobile. Realtors will end up being recurring income, not one shot.

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Would love some stats on how SMS has helped realtors ?. Anyone care to share ?

Thanks

Si

Re: Real Estate Listing SMS
 

Lots of great info here... thank you all for sharing.
I am just stepping in to the realtor niche for mobile marketing. Can anyone share with the group how you approach individual realtors? Cold call, email?

Thanks, much appreaciated!
Barb