subject: Use A Direct Mailing To Increase Your Base Of Potential Home Buyers [print this page] One of my favorite techniques for reaching out to possible home buyers in my neighborhood, including friends and family of my neighbors is mailing simple postcards to them. That's right, I mail ordinary postcards from the post office. A postcard mailing is a great technique for use anywhere in the country, so give it a try when you need to sell a house.
While sending out postcards may appear to be an activity that only real estate agents pursue, there's no reason a seller cannot send out pos cards, too. The truth is that agents are often selective about their marketing activities, and they usually mail postcards only in neighborhoods with higher-priced homes. Any seller can research the names and mailing address of neighboring property owners, since it is public information and usually available online. Actually, due to the fact that real estate agents often overlook mailing for houses in average-priced areas, you will find you have an advantage if you mail postcards yourself when you want to sell a house.
It's effective to hand-write ordinary pos cards, the ones that come pre-printed with a stamp and can be purchased at any US post office. Time was when lots of people used hand-written postcards, but now the practice is somewhat unusual, and that's what virtually guarantees it will be read. Do you remember the last time you received a hand-written postcard in the mail? Chances are good that you took the time to read it.
You don't need to write a long message, and that's why a postcard offers plenty of space for this message: "Hi, my name is Leo and I'm selling my home at (fill in the street address). Since you have a home in the neighborhood I thought might you might know someone interested in living here, too."
Then I include my cell phone number because I feel that anyone who's calling from my postcard deserves to speak to me personally as soon as possible. Some friends have commented that my personal communication with sellers and buyers is one of the keys to my success. Of course if I always return calls from voice messages promptly as well.
From many postcard mailings over the years I've learned to mail in small batches, not dozens of cards all at one time. I mail a few cards each day I so that I can handle the phone calls professionally and fairly, providing attention to each caller. You will undoubtedly have good results from mailing small batches of postcards to neighboring property owners when you sell a house, too.
You already know that neighbors talk to each other, so imagine what happens when one homeowner happens to mention my postcard it's quite the topic of conversation. Of course people are curious about the price and they have to give me a call to hear my price. Basically, the postcards are working to make people curious and get them talking when I sell a house, which is my goal. They have been an efficient, effective marketing tool for me many times.
