Newspaper Ads Do Not Sell Houses

Will you post my house in the Dallas Morning News?

NO!

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, people don't read the newspaper like they used to. Many people have switched from the actual news paper to the online version of the paper. Yes, with the online version of the paper, your ad will appear in the online portion of the classifieds section, however, that's not where you want to be, as there is a new and separate online section for listings that are automatically fed from the MLS.

First, when an ad is placed in the paper, you're getting about 3-4 short lines to grab someone's attention. If I get absolutely no calls, does that mean that no one saw the ad? So, problem number one is that I can't track how many people the ad was put in front of like I can with my internet ads.

Second, do you really think serious buyers are looking in the paper with today's technology? The people who are looking in the paper are typically lower income and they're looking for rentals. They might call on your ad just to see if you would consider renting it, but they are not a qualified buyer inquiring on your house.

I say serious buyers aren't looking in the paper because there is a National statistic that shows about 80% of buyers are looking online when searching for a house. However, Texas has done their own research, and they show that over 94% of buyers are looking online for houses... that means only 6% of buyers are looking in the paper and at open houses and other "old school" methods of house hunting.

Mr. and Mrs. Seller, would you rather me spend my marketing money and efforts on capturing 94% of the Buying population, or would you like me to spend my time marketing your house to only 6% of buyers?

Third, people want information and they want it now. A short 3-4 line in a paper does not offer pictures or tours, or any details about the house. The typical interactive buyer is not interested in any information where they can't see a little more details before inquiring further about it.

Did newspaper ads work a few years ago, yes, of course they did. Do they work in today's market? No, they do not. Will I post an ad in the paper just to appease you? No, I will not. I can use that $100 on something more productive.

Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

ARE YOU PACKED YET?!

Texas- 2006 Profiles for Buyers and Sellers

NAR (National Association of REALTORS®) has their own number saying 79% of buyers use the internet when looking for a home. However, Texas has done their own research. The 2006 Profile of Texas Homebuyers and Sellers has some astonishing numbers.

According to the profile, 94% of Buyers were using the internet to look for properties. That's a huge difference from the National number! 25% of Buyers were using the internet to get information about a particular area. This is where Localism will come in more handy in my market. I'm still waiting for the grass to turn green before I enter more photos.

Here's something interesting. There are still agents that think all they need to do it enter a property in the MLS and it'll sell, as 10% of Sellers said that's all their agent did. On the flip side, 77% of Sellers said their agent provided more services throughout the selling process. I wonder what happened to the remaining 13%??

Overall, I guess I would conclude that the Texas Buyer is above the curve with using the Internet for their home searches! It's a good thing I jumped on this bandwagon long ago!

If you're a Buyer and/or Seller, and you're reading my Blog, congratualations on putting the newspaper down and saving some gas from driving around neighborhoods aimlessly. Remember, I work all of North Dallas County and Collin County including Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco, Carrollton, Garland, Rowlett, McKinney, etc... my car will take us anywhere you need to go!!

Dallas Real Estate- Internet Marketing

Have you wondered what it would take to sell your home for the highest price, in the shortest amount of time, and with a minimum of inconvenience?

Besides accurate pricing and an effective marketing campaign, posting your home on the Internet can make a huge difference. The Internet has largely replaced newspapers as the advertising medium of choice for real estate listings.

Why? Posting listings online costs almost nothing, information can be changed or updated almost instantly, listings can be screened by price or area, and the information is available to prospective buyers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

According to a recent survey, almost 88% of all buyers use the Internet to search for a new home. They like the ability to see pictures and obtain additional information. Plus, buyers who search on the Web spend an average of $22,600 more for their new home than other buyers. To accomplish my goal of selling your home for the best price in the least amount of time, let’s use one of the most effective marketing techniques--the Internet.

Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if you would like additional information.