I'm starting a new marketing idea

[OregonLO]

I'm going to hold a raffle at open houses for FSBO's that allow me to come. I'm setting up a raffle drawing at the end of each month for 1 of 3 $50 gift cards to dinner at a restaurant around town.

It's a basic form that just has their name and number and whether or not they have financing. the last section asks them if they do not do they mind if I contact them. I'm starting this next weekend and looking forward to seeing the response. I think it'll be a good way to generate some leads and if I get a couple of people out of it then it was worth it. I'd like to make it more of a long term project and eventually hold a raffle every 3 months for something like a 3 night get away somewhere. everyone from the last 3 months gets entered and then I'll file the entry forms away.

I think it'll be a great way to get names and numbers then its just a matter of closing them and getting their financing.

I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

[promortplanner]

In addition to your new idea about the raffle for your FSBO listings, consider call capture and free recorded messages for the listing to track and generate leads. By providing value to the for sale by owner with signage that includes call capture and free recorded message regarding the listing you will definitely add value to both buyer and seller. I have some great resources for call capture services that have very reasonable rates.

Keep us posted on the your results of the raffle.

[OregonLO]

I will, I'm starting it as of July to see how well it works out for me. I'm interested in hearing a little more about the call capture services. who should I contact to get some information and pricing?

[promortplanner]

The 2 service providers that I found most useful are the following.

ringcentral.com and informationnow.com

ringcentral.com is the most affordable if you want to completely manage your own campaigns.

informationnow.com is more expensive but definitely cator more to you the client. They have over 90 pre-recorded message regarding real estate and real estate finance and have a service set up where you can text in the property information and a professional voice will record the message for your listings. Super trick.

email me if you have additional questions.

[OregonLO]

great, I'll definitely check into them and see what I can do.

Thanks for the info!

[mortgage Consultant]

How did your raffle work out??

[Business_with_Greg]

Yeah did you end up doing it? My first thought was open houses are just not busy in my market. How about yours?

[mortgage Consultant]

There are quite a few, but first need to get hooked up with the Realtors.

[OregonLO]

to be honest I haven't even had time to get it going. I have everything I need to get it started. Raffle tickets, drawing bowls, even sign in sheets....but I've been pretty busy trying to maintain my current clients and keeping me in mind of my past clients I haven't had much time to focus on it.

I'm going to write up an 07 business plan for myself and try to really focus on it. I was closing 5-7 clients a month and now I'm down to 3-4 (which sucks) so I've put getting an assistant on hold until maybe spring time when I think I'll be getting back up there again, plus it'll be my 2nd calender year in the business.

So I said all that to say this...I haven't had enough time to get it going! haha...so I really have no update for you.

[mortgage Consultant]

You may want to take the time and listen to a time management program.
Take one day of of the week, set time aside, and get started. You will be amazed at how liitle time it will take.

[Business_with_Greg]

to be honest I haven't even had time to get it going. I have everything I need to get it started. Raffle tickets, drawing bowls, even sign in sheets....but I've been pretty busy trying to maintain my current clients and keeping me in mind of my past clients I haven't had much time to focus on it.

As soon as I read this I thought I would say it again.. GET THAT ASSISTANT!!! :-) Then you said it yourself. Stop procrastinating and make that your next best priority to closing your deals.

Have you ever tried to time block your day? Write it down and get into a routine. You are busy. You are closing deals. You are making money. Go get that assistant today. What are you still typing? Go now!!!

lol

Anyway.. Who says the realtor has to invite you? This weekend I am visiting as many as I can find. I walk in and ask if they need on the spot pre-approvals. I have a wireless laptop though for this. Most agents here are bored at open houses so they like the opportunity to find someone new to talk too. I have 2 or 3 that bug me all the time. They do not even want me to come for business. They are just lonely sitting there all by themselves. lol

Try that out. Maybe you will find one to partner with. They are never at their brokerages anyway! If they are doing an open house then they have listings!

[OregonLO]

haha...very good points. I'd love to go out and get that assistant but I do want to wait a couple of months to have some money saved. I just paid for my fiance to get into real estate so that took a lot of money from me.

But I'd be nervous to hire an assistant at this very moment. I'd like to wait until sales picked up around the area and I am getting some more deals from my agents..I think that would help me do it and be confident it would be cost effective.

[Business_with_Greg]

I understand..

But, you need to train the assistant. So get one before you get to busy. If you hire one when you are busy I fear what happened to 2 people in my office will happen to you. They throw stuff at them and did not have the time to invest in training them because they got too busy. Start them on minimum wage if you have too.

Try to find one who will accept the commission only plan. You really cannot do that though. (people do unfortunately and are asking for trouble) They are supposed to get minimum wage.

[OregonLO]

Yeah,

I see your point and that'll probably be the case. I really just want someone to focus on my marketing stuff for now and then ease them into handling portions of the loan.

but it sounds like I'll have to do it sooner than later type of thing.

[Business_with_Greg]

Oh so use them for your marketing..

I wish I had one to input my loans, turn in my packages to processing, send my stuff to lenders for pre-qual/approval, and get my lunch when I do not have time lol

[mortgage Consultant]

Start out by hiring part-time

[OregonLO]

haha...That's where I want them to start. I want them to work part time handling my marketing ideas so that I can focus on the loans. And then when I'm improve my closings to a higher amount I'd like to have them start learning the stuff that needs to be done once I take the loan app so that they are the contact person and I can focus on just taking loan apps, placing the loan then pass it to them.


that's when I'd start paying them commission instead of just an hourly pay.

[mortgage Consultant]

You have your plan mapped out.

JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[meka2005a]

just wondering if anyone here has actually ever tried these or anything in that nature? Im still trying to think of new ideas