Quickie Xmas Cash

Originally Posted by langdon0555

So if someone doesn't know the house is for sale in the first place... how does this bring much value to the agent?

How often do people go to google to search for an exact address when looking to buy a house? I would think only if they saw it was for sell, through either driving buy the house or seeing it advertised somewhere else.

I'm going to believe that the realtor would be smart enough to put the web address on his/her for sale sign and on the flyers in the attached box. Since realtors still use the local paper to sell houses I would imagine putting the web addresses of all their properties in their ads would be another way to get the word out.

Other realtors may even send the link to their prospective buyers. This could be risky but if they are sure the client will make the offer through them it almost zeroes out the risk.

Some people search Zillow. I don't know if Don's agents interact with Zillow but many do so that opens a whole new world. There are other real estate niche websites that could be used.

That's just off the top of my head. If anybody has more ideas/info, please post.

Originally Posted by ron lafuddy

Don,

I've found realtors to be a little on the
"cheap" side when it comes to spending money

However, there are some who list the higher end
properties and pay for full color ads in local
publications.

That type of realtor might be just the one to
approach with this idea.

Ron

Yes, you're spot on Ron. Realtors are generally cheap but like most businesses, 20% of realtors are doing 80% of the business I found out.

Locating the 20% is the key. Those are the 'movers-n-shakers' who will generally spend money to make money and have some longevity.

About 6-7 yrs ago I was doing what Don has described only with a different twist.

I found 99% of the realtors in my general vicinity didn't want to spend any money marketing houses other than relying on sticking a sign in the yard and the MLS (multiple listing service).

And the average house in my area that was listed was for under $100k.

So, I thought about targeting FSBO's (for sale by owners) instead.
Figuring they didn't want to list their house with a realtor to save the 6% commission or they were close to foreclosure and didn't have any equity in the house anyways to pay 6%.

I'd call or drop in on a FSBO - they initially assume I'm interested in their house, I am, but not as a buyer.

I'd take photos inside and out, use WMM video and put them up on their own website -their house address 747NMain.com with a description just like a realtor would normally do. As an upsell I'd even do the marketing for them. I tell them all they have to do is answer their phone.

I put their phone # in the video and on the website, NOT in the ad. That way if their phone rang about the house they'd know whoever was calling had already seen the video and would be more interested than just a random caller from the sign in the yard.

I replaced the FSBO sign in the yard with the website address only, no ph # on it, ex: FSBO Visit www.747NMain.com w/ black and red lettering on a white background.

I charged $249 for the video and website and another $50 to market it on various websites for up to 6 weeks, using mostly Craigslist.

I'd tell them $249 or $299 is a ton cheaper than 6% of their selling price and a realtor isn't going to do what I'm willing to do to help them sell their home for a fraction of that. A realtor is just going to stick a sign in the yard, list it on the MLS and that's it, and wait for the phone to ring. Maybe a classified ad.

I've dealt with realtors for years and that's how 99% of them operate. They figure 3% is better than nothing after they split the 6% with another realtor who brings a buyer to the table. Then that 3% gets split again when they have to pay their brokerage 1 1/2 %.

Anyways, it was a struggle mostly due to the fact that the ave house in my area is under $100k. Trying to convince a homeowner with $4000 equity in a $71,000 house is nearly impossible whereas a homeowner in a $150,000 house thinks it's a bargain. But I had to travel a distance looking for $150k FSBO's with no guarantee burning gas and time in search.

I did sell a half dozen FSBO's for homeowners using this technique over 3-4 months. Just not enough $ to sustain me and I eventually lost interest. I tried raising the price, lowering the price and settled on the $249.

I received great compliments from every homeowner whose house 'I sold' with the video and website and they all said without that they'd still be trying to sell it.

I also did several of these on top of what I did on my own with Jason Hatchett, a member of this forum. I'd secure the property, take the pics, description and pass them on to Jason and he'd build the site and we split the fee. Again, not enough biz to sustain us.

Remember, this was quite a few years ago and video was in it's infancy compared to today where it's almost a necessity when marketing a property.

Maybe Don's idea today would fly better for realtors in higher end listings compared to several years back. I never had much success dealing with realtors period, as a wholesale investor or selling them video marketing.

Glenn

Originally Posted by clawJAMMER

Yes, you're spot on Ron. Realtors are generally cheap but like most businesses, 20% of realtors are doing 80% of the business I found out.

Locating the 20% is the key. Those are the 'movers-n-shakers' who will generally spend money to make money and have some longevity.

About 6-7 yrs ago I was doing what Don has described only with a different twist.

I found 99% of the realtors in my general vicinity didn't want to spend any money marketing houses other than relying on sticking a sign in the yard and the MLS (multiple listing service).

And the average house in my area that was listed was for under $100k.

So, I thought about targeting FSBO's (for sale by owners) instead.
Figuring they didn't want to list their house with a realtor to save the 6% commission or they were close to foreclosure and didn't have any equity in the house anyways to pay 6%.

I'd call or drop in on a FSBO - they initially assume I'm interested in their house, I am, but not as a buyer.

I'd take photos inside and out, use WMM video and put them up on their own website -their house address 747NMain.com with a description just like a realtor would normally do. As an upsell I'd even do the marketing for them. I tell them all they have to do is answer their phone.

I put their phone # in the video and on the website, NOT in the ad. That way if their phone rang about the house they'd know whoever was calling had already seen the video and would be more interested than just a random caller from the sign in the yard.

I replaced the FSBO sign in the yard with the website address only, no ph # on it, ex: FSBO Visit www.747NMain.com w/ black and red lettering on a white background.

I charged $249 for the video and website and another $50 to market it on various websites for up to 6 weeks, using mostly Craigslist.

I'd tell them $249 or $299 is a ton cheaper than 6% of their selling price and a realtor isn't going to do what I'm willing to do to help them sell their home for a fraction of that. A realtor is just going to stick a sign in the yard, list it on the MLS and that's it, and wait for the phone to ring. Maybe a classified ad.

I've dealt with realtors for years and that's how 99% of them operate. They figure 3% is better than nothing after they split the 6% with another realtor who brings a buyer to the table. Then that 3% gets split again when they have to pay their brokerage 1 1/2 %.

Anyways, it was a struggle mostly due to the fact that the ave house in my area is under $100k. Trying to convince a homeowner with $4000 equity in a $71,000 house is nearly impossible whereas a homeowner in a $150,000 house thinks it's a bargain. But I had to travel a distance looking for $150k FSBO's with no guarantee burning gas and time in search.

I did sell a half dozen FSBO's for homeowners using this technique over 3-4 months. Just not enough $ to sustain me and I eventually lost interest. I tried raising the price, lowering the price and settled on the $249.

I received great compliments from every homeowner whose house 'I sold' with the video and website and they all said without that they'd still be trying to sell it.

I also did several of these on top of what I did on my own with Jason Hatchett, a member of this forum. I'd secure the property, take the pics, description and pass them on to Jason and he'd build the site and we split the fee. Again, not enough biz to sustain us.

Remember, this was quite a few years ago and video was in it's infancy compared to today where it's almost a necessity when marketing a property.

Maybe Don's idea today would fly better for realtors in higher end listings compared to several years back. I never had much success dealing with realtors period, as a wholesale investor or selling them video marketing.

Glenn

Glenn,

Thanks for giving some thoughts on this idea based on your experiences.

I think this might work well in the $200K and up market but I'd have to
test it.

Tell you what I like about your approach with the FSBO's. It got you in
the door talking to them about price, terms, equity and their financial
position. It'd be pretty easy to slide an option agreement across the
table, (where it's not illegal) if they had some equity to work with.

You could then market the house, just like you'd be doing with the video
& website, but you'd stand to profit in the thousands of dollars from your
endeavors, instead of a couple of hundred.

Yes, you'd have to search for these opportunities, but they are out there.
And, you'd have NO competition.

Ron

I'm going to tackle this method. As I have a couple of guys I went to high school with back in the day that are RE agents.

I have a quick question Don...

When I go search for their current listings, which one should I pick to make the video for? Should I go with an older listing that's has been sitting, or go with their more recent listing?

Also a add on question. I was going to create a QR code for them as well after they make a purchase. What's your favorite QR code creator?

Cheers

Originally Posted by Don Alm

OK.....someone came up to me yesterday after Church and said; "Hey Don! I hear that YOU have many ideas on how to make money".

"I REALLY NEED to find a way to make some (he called it) "Quickie Xmas Cash".

So.....we sat down at a table and I asked him what his experience has been.

He told me he had been a "RE Agent" for a local realtor.....and, the "Housing Market" has been.....SLOOOW!

So....he had a few listings BUT ...nothing was selling AND....he told me an "inside secret" (which I already knew).....he makes money when one of HIS Listings sells!

So....."How can he get MORE listings or MORE Sales?"

So.....I asked him to give me the "Addresses" of his present Listings. I then went to a free Microsoft Program called "Front Page 3"......right-clicked on the photos of his first listing (he had 12 photos of the house for sale) Put them into a file and brought them up into FP3......and made a Video (What I like about FP3 is, I can Zoom In or Out on each photo, giving the impression of "movement") (which house buyers like)

So....I made a video of his 3 Listings and.......here comes the "Bonanza-Secret"......I RANKED THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR ADDRESS!"

WOW! I don't know whether you can understand the POWER of what I just said BUT...let's say the Address of the Listing is....."1324 S Main Jackson OR"

I upload the video to my YT Channel and get the video to be at the Top of Page One for the Address (which is easy-peasy) since there's NO competition for THIS KeyWord!

Now....that's OK...BUT My reason for making a Video and Ranking it for the "Address" of the property is to....."Get Other Re Agents To PAY ME for; 1) making a video of THEIR listings
and
2) ranking them for the Addresses

So.....what I do is......
1) go to Zillio.....
2) find houses for sale by RE Agents who have many listings.

3) grab 8 or 10 photos from one of their listings
4) make a video
5) send the RE Agent an email with the ADDRESS of their Listing in the "SUBJECT" line (to get them to OPEN the email)

ex: "RE: 1324 SE Jackson"

"Howdy! My name is Don Alm. I have a local Video Marketing business and I just made a Video of your listing at 1324 SE Jackson. (Here's the Link......xyz123novdbl) (Take a look see yourself. Just go to Google and type in "1324 SE Jackson Roseburg OR")

This Video will cause Many "House Hunters" to SEE your Listing in FULL Color and get them interested in YOUR Listing!.....bringing MORE inquiries!

Call me for more info on how your Listings can get more exposure and provide quicker sales!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note: I charge $247 for 1 Listing and $591 ($197 ea) for 3 Listings.

So........my experience has been, when I get RE Agents to see the video/s I created and ranked for their "ADDRESS"......I get most to pay me $197 x 3 ($591)

So......Make a Video for a RE Listing.....upload to YT......get it ranked for the ADDRESS ......email or phone the Agent and sell the RE AGent.....$247 for 1 or $591 for 3.

Last year I helped 3 guys and 1 gal make over $5,000 each doing what I just ex-plained.

Give it a try

Don Alm

I've found that because a Listing is old.....the Agents feel they have already spent too much on marketing so.....I've had best results with new listings and, I've had the best of the best results by getting listings off Craig's List.

Agents have already taken the Time to get photos and post them.....so their Interest is HIGH for the Listings they post there.

I use a free program from Microsoft called PhotoStory 3 to make the videos ..... (I grab 8 or 10 photos)...then brand them using Windows Live Movie Maker.

And the QR Code I use is in a "Mobile Marketing" package I bought from David Cisneros ("MSM-QR-CREATOR") however.....there's all kinds of free QR Makers. Here's one; http://www.qrstuff.com/

Don Alm

Since you're thinking about getting into QR Codes with Realtors.....you might want to consider selling them Business Cards with QR Codes printed on them.

Take a look at this site;...
http://www.plasticprinters.com/QR_Code_Business_Cards/

You don't have to do Plastic Cards. You can get Biz Cards printed OnLine for less than $35 per 500 and.....charge $185 for 500 WITH the QR Code....for a nice profit of $150 for you Time!

So lets say I create a QR Code for one of their properties...they sell it. Is there a way to use that same QR code but just link to a new property video I create, or do I have to create a new and unique QR code for each video I link to?

Originally Posted by Don Alm

Since you're thinking about getting into QR Codes with Realtors.....you might want to consider selling them Business Cards with QR Codes printed on them.

Take a look at this site;...
http://www.plasticprinters.com/QR_Code_Business_Cards/

You don't have to do Plastic Cards. You can get Biz Cards printed OnLine for less than $35 per 500 and.....charge $185 for 500 WITH the QR Code....for a nice profit of $150 for you Time!

Re: Using QR Code for other Videos; Depends on the Creation Co. Some allow you to "Re-Connect" to a new video.....others you must create each Code to ONE Video only.

Now....while you're getting into QR Codes, consider the following

1) Offer to provide a "Sign" that Agents can hang below their regular sign (For more Info on this property - SCAN HERE!)

2) Offer to build Mobil Sites for each property WITH your video .....so when the QR Code is scanned.....up comes YOUR Video .....ON THEIR CELL!

3) Register a "Directory" Domain and create a Property Directory..... so cell phone users can see other properties on their phones. (This should be worth at least $100 a Month from EACH Agent)

Don Alm

Yes I was planning on having a sign made with the QR code that they could put on the sign they already have there.

What's the best/cheapest place to get a sign like that made, Or am I going to have to look for somewhere local?

Originally Posted by Don Alm

Re: Using QR Code for other Videos; Depends on the Creation Co. Some allow you to "Re-Connect" to a new video.....others you must create each Code to ONE Video only.

Now....while you're getting into QR Codes, consider the following

1) Offer to provide a "Sign" that Agents can hang below their regular sign (For more Info on this property - SCAN HERE!)

2) Offer to build Mobil Sites for each property WITH your video .....so when the QR Code is scanned.....up comes YOUR Video .....ON THEIR CELL!

3) Register a "Directory" Domain and create a Property Directory..... so cell phone users can see other properties on their phones. (This should be worth at least $100 a Month from EACH Agent)

Don Alm

Don,
Do you know of anywhere I would be able to buy one at a time... as far as the add on sign with the QR code on it?

Somewhere that's going to allow me to only create one, and it also being custom since I would be creating a unique QR code for it.

Originally Posted by Don Alm

Re: Using QR Code for other Videos; Depends on the Creation Co. Some allow you to "Re-Connect" to a new video.....others you must create each Code to ONE Video only.

Now....while you're getting into QR Codes, consider the following

1) Offer to provide a "Sign" that Agents can hang below their regular sign (For more Info on this property - SCAN HERE!)

2) Offer to build Mobil Sites for each property WITH your video .....so when the QR Code is scanned.....up comes YOUR Video .....ON THEIR CELL!

3) Register a "Directory" Domain and create a Property Directory..... so cell phone users can see other properties on their phones. (This should be worth at least $100 a Month from EACH Agent)

Don Alm