Once summer wraps up and school’s back in session, the real estate market tends to slow down. Parents don’t want to uproot their children mid-school year, and they’re just not looking to buy or sell a home in the near future.
This can be a frustrating time for real estate agents and brokers. There just aren’t that many leads to tap, and sales and customers begin to decline.
Fortunately, though it may be a little harder to see success this time of year, it’s not impossible. You just have to get a little more creative. Want to keep your leads coming in, even when the market slows down in the fall?
Here are a few ways to do it:
Keep in touch. Even if it’s been a few years, it’s important to stay in touch with your past clients. These are going to be your best ambassadors. They’ll recommend you to their friends, colleagues, family members and more, and they may even be repeat customers a few years down the line. Make sure to check in with them occasionally; send them a postcard, add them to your email list or just send them a LinkedIn message to say hello. Consider utilizing a targeted real estate mailing list to reach out past clients effectively. You never know when someone in their circle might be on the market. It could come at the perfect time.
Look for FSBOs. For-sale-by-owner properties offer a great opportunity. For one, the homeowners may be tiring of the sales process – the time, effort and money it’s taking to get their home noticed. They may be ready and waiting for professional help. If they’re not, they’re probably in need of help on the other side – the buying side. After all, once their home is sold, where will they live? You can help them find that new dream home, even if they don’t want your help with selling the property.
Get to know your clients’ neighbors. Become the go-to agent for neighborhoods in your area. Send postcards to the neighbors of all your clients – let them know of your recent listings and include a link to your website or social media profiles. They just may be ready to enter the market, too.
Establish relationships with others in the business. You’re probably not going to get referrals from other agents, but tap into other areas of the real estate market. Make friends with home inspectors, loan officers, contractors, builders and more. They all have a hand in your industry, and you never know when they might know a potential client on the market.
Get active in the community. If you want more clients, it’s important to keep your name out there. Attend community events, join local associations and groups and start making connections with others in your city. The more people you know, the more potential leads you’ll have.
Become a resource. To really earn trust with potential customers, you need to become a resource for them – a place to go for help or information. Start a blog and provide data they can use in their homebuying or selling journey. You can also start a newsletter, create brochures and provide other information someone buying or a selling a home might need.
A slower market doesn’t have to mean fewer sales and clients. Keep at it, get creative, and you can be just as successful year-round as you are in the busy summer months. Want more real estate advice? Need a great lender to work with? Contact Guardian Mortgage Company today.
