Comments on: Real Estate Farming: How to Become the Go-to Agent in Your Neighborhood in 2022

By: Brad

Brad — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 12:38:56 +0000

Hi Antionette – where is your farm area? Love to stay up to date on how it’s working for you 😉

By: Chris Linsell

Chris Linsell — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 10:16:03 +0000

Hi Kim –

Thanks for the questions. Yes, I think your strategy sounds like a good one. While these owners are spread out across Canada, this is still geographic marketing. If I were you, I would get as personalized as possible with my marketing to each owner. The more you can speak to their specific home and their specific scenario, the better. And remember, owners of second homes are often wealthier than the average homeowner, and are regularly willing to pay for convenience. Create a message in your value prop that lays out the convenience of selling their home with you, and the opportunities that would afford them.

Good luck!

Chris

By: Kim Keller

Kim Keller — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:26:33 +0000

Hi. I have a question. I am CANADIAN, but live in Scottsdale AZ and am a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. We have a lot of snowbirds and I am looking to farm my neighborhood that has so many Canadian home owners. With the current situation, Canadians have been selling their 2nd homes due to restrictions and high US dollar. Any recommendations? I have sent personal letters, and would like to market to these homeowners that live in Canada. Regular postcard is what I will do. Should I include a market update? Info about selling in the US? Me? Coldwell Banker? Help is needed. Thanks.

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:01:57 +0000

In reply to Canadian Agent.

Hello Dan,

Fellow Canadian agent here. We are looking at setting up a farm and would love the opportunity to pick your brain since you’ve been successful at it for the last 20 years in Canada.

I can be contacted at info@primepropertieson.com

By: Chris Linsell

Chris Linsell — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 10:30:45 +0000

In reply to Canadian Agent.

Hi Dan –

Great tips! Glad to hear you’re hitting farming hard, it’s fun to hear about how it’s working for agents.

Keep up the good work!

Chris

By: Canadian Agent

Canadian Agent — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 02:04:06 +0000

Some good info here. I’ve been a successful geographic farmer for over 20 years, it really works but consistency is extremely important. I suggest at least 1,000 homes to start, in an area with at least 7% turnover per year. Of those 70 listings a great farmer can get 25-50% of the listings. Expect a 5-10% market share by year two if you hit it hard. I send out 6 x9 postcards with color on both sides from eprint fast. I typically have 2 designs that look almost identical except for different background photos and message- Call Me Today for Top Dollar! on the front. A short bio about my love for the area on the back. Brand yourself as the “Highland Creek Specialist” or “The Maple Green School Neighborhood Specialist” or whatever is a recognizable small community in your area. Don’t call yourself the Florida Specialist etc as it is way too broad. You are going to have to send out your postcard every ten days for the first 3 months. Yup. Repetition is the key to success. Personally I don’t think you need to send an item of value. Just keep pounding your name out there to gain top of mind awareness in your farm. Don’t worry about the weirdos that may call to say take me off your list. It just shows people are noticing your marketing. After 3 months you can back off to every 15 days for the rest of your life. When you list something send out a black and white flyer ( but same branding and look) to keep costs down. Same when you sell something. Every 90 days send out a scratchpad/ notepad instead of your postcard. There are lots of places online that print these- typically these are 20-25 cents per unit. Put branding on your car and drive slowly thru the area every day on every street. People notice you. Park at the local coffee shop and look busy while having a coffee. Wear a nametag. When you get a listing use a branded for sale sign and 10 branded house for sale arrows throughout the neighborhood. Do open houses as often as you can and use branded directional arrow signs. I have 20 and put at least 2 on every corner. These are the basics and they really work. It is not cheap I know- I typically spend about 15-20% of income on my farm in an area with an avg price of 1.6 million. Good Luck!

By: Stan

Stan — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 19:58:50 +0000

Hi.
You wrote an article on Farming and mentioned Geographic Farming.
I called Geographic Farming and entered “1” to reach sales. It rang, then went silent and finally a voice said “It’s not convenient for me to answer the phone” I believe that is Verbatim.
That was a big put off – using the word “convenient”.
Isn’t greatness achieved when people come out of their comfort zone (i.e. convenient)?

Maybe they need sales training 101.
Is their service any good?
Maybe they need competition to up their game?

FYI.

Thanks,
Stan

By: Chris Linsell

Chris Linsell — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 13:45:03 +0000

In reply to Antoinette.

Hi Antoinette –

Thanks for the comment, glad we could help. Keep up the hard work!

Chris

By: Antoinette

Antoinette — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 08:49:52 +0000

I am a new agent, actually we are a new property company. I find your comments very useful as I was falling around from one area to the other and did not establish a farming area. I will use your advise and use my closest area where I live as my farming area.

By: Chris Linsell

Chris Linsell — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 14:24:18 +0000

In reply to BS.

Thanks for the comment. Farming a large building is a great idea, especially since the price per square foot is pretty consistent, making it relatively easier to get an accurate prediction of the projected price per unit (which makes you look like a real estate wizard!).

If I were you, I would consider how you could get in good with the HOA. The boards of these buildings wield a fair amount of power; offer to sponsor events, be the official provider of free, premium, hard-to-get information, that sort of thing. I’ve heard of agents that offer to “sponsor” HOA meetings, providing snacks and drinks and offering free advice. You’ll make a lot of connections there in a short amount of time!

Good luck!

Chris