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| "Here’s one more difference in a crowded marketplace"
The Talking Houses have been absolutely incredible for me. Being in a rural area, yet within 45 minutes of Downtown Toronto, we get loads of people cruising around on Sunday afternoons (my phone rings off the hook on Monday morning between 8 & 10 a.m.). The Talking House is great for getting people to take the next step and pick-up the phone. The people who call from Talking Houses are already pre-qualified. One reason the Talking House works so well for me is that no one else uses them around here. I’ve used them for over a year, and no one else has copied me. (There was a similar product about 12 years ago, and they didn’t work well at all. Fortunately for me, the competition thinks it is still that way!) One thing that I have found in my business, and it applies to all aspects of the business, is that the way things are presented to people counts for a whole lot. Everyone has had sellers who think they know the marketing aspect of our job better than we do. Around here, where Talking Houses are a novelty, I sometimes had a problem getting people to agree with my using them. It was unfamiliar, and an unproven marketing method. Now, I don’t ask people if I can use them; I tell them that I will be coming around to install their Talking House the next day. Then, they ask me what a Talking House is, and I tell them it is a way of qualifying potential buyers and of providing on-the-spot information to people. No one since has ever questioned my use of them, and my sellers love the extra exposure. The only time I ever took one out of a listing was when a seller complained that she didn’t like all the people sitting in their cars listening to a message about her home (can you guess that she was the "seller-from-hell" all through the listing period?). When I removed the Talking House, the number of showings dropped off significantly, and within a week of it being reinstalled, at her husbands insistence, the house sold. Another bonus of Talking House is that they give me one more way to promote my 800 lines, with all the various free reports (a short blurb at the end of the message tells the prospect to call my # for a faxback of the pertinent details on the property). The only situation where Talking House has not always worked for me is at night. Of course, this isn’t a problem, since people don’t typically look for houses after dark. I view the Talking House as one more point of difference in a crowded marketplace. Chris Newell |
| How to get a quick listing, and a sponsor. . .
I am so excited! I received my Talking House Transmitters at 11:00 am on January 13th. I had a listing appointment scheduled for later that day, and of course I planned on taking a Transmitter with me when I did my presentation.We were in the middle of an ice storm, but I had already rescheduled this appointment once because I wanted to wait until I had my Transmitters to take one along. So I braved the elements and slipped and slid all the way to my appointment. When I took the Talking House Transmitter out of the carrying case, I could see how impressed these potential listers were. They tried to mask their enthusiasm, but it was pretty hard to cover up, and I could see them sharing secret smiles when they thought I wasn’t looking. Long story short -- I now have a $300,000 listing! Before I ordered my Transmitters, I did some extensive research. I wanted to be sure this was a good marketing tool. First, I called a lender, and told them what I was doing, and asked if they would be willing to sponsor a Talking House. In less than five minutes, I had a promise of $750. The lender gets a short message on three of Transmitters for 1 year. The lender agreed to pay up-front, so those 3 Transmitters are fully paid for. (This same lender said they would probably sponsor the remaining four Transmitters too, but if they don’t, I have a list of other interested parties.) One of the best things that has happened because of Talking House is that I now have a network of Real Estate Agents to share ideas with. I found Garry Packer of Realty USA in Glenville NY, in the Talking House Newsletter. I called him to see what he thought of Talking House. I also called Socar Chatmon-Thomas with Keller Williams Realty in Austin. Both of these people, as well as three others, told me how great Talking House is and how helpful and professional your staff is. I not only have a marketing network with these Real Estate Agents, I also feel like I have a network of new friends. Kelly Ellerbrake |
| Amazing Free Press
I thought you might like some feedback. Your efforts at getting me free press have gotten me 4 newspaper stories so far! In a 30 day period, I had big stories in the Salem Evening News, the North Shore Sunday, the Daily Evening Item, and the Swampscott Reporter.The stories included photos of me, my signs, and the transmitters. They were all very positive stories, and one of them took up the entire front page of the Real Estate section! I deem this project a big success! Thanks. Jody Magee |
| Instant success, times two
"I’ve had my Transmitters for about a month now, and they’ve gotten me 2 sales so far!!! One couple called, and then purchased the home within a week after the Transmitter was installed! Chris Newell, CRES RMM CEI, |
| Great Open House Results!
"I had an open house last Sunday. I set up a Talking House Transmitter, but from 2:00 to 3:00 I didn't put out the Talking House sign next to my open house sign -- just to see. I had 1 person come in. The first hour is usually the busiest here. Then at 3:00 I put out the Talking House sign. From 3:00 to 5:00 I had 14 people come in. People loved it, and commented on it. I had a nice message about the home, but I also had fun -- at the end of my message I said ‘I'm looking at you, why not come in and talk with me?' These things really get attention." Burt Page |
| Triple your listings...
"Hey, Y'all, this is Mickey from Abelene, where ‘we don't do any of that funny high-tech stuff . . .' UNTIL NOW! You said I would triple my listings, and indeed I have! I started with 3 listings, and now all 7 of my Talking Houses are out, and I owe some to listings! Talking House even got me a land listing. The owners said, ‘Any agent who would use Talking House to sell houses would be willing to do whatever it takes to get a property sold, so we'll list with you." I have $600,000 in listing inventory, and commitments for over $800,000 more, in a town where the average sale is $71,000. Not bad for seven months in the business, I'd say. When I first got my Talking Houses, I had 2 listings sell in two weeks, even though they had both been on the market with limited showing before I made them ‘talk.' I'm a happy camper! My only problem is I need more Transmitters. Please ship this order for my next 7 out as soon as possible. Thanks. Mickey Lackey |
| Lending Out a Transmitter got Me a
Sale
I had a prospect moving to my area, whose home back in Arkansas was not selling. It had been on the market for many months, with only 1 showing. It sat on a rural road, and the sign was not getting calls. They needed to sell it to buy a home from me, and were very frustrated. I decided to help this poor soul out! I loaned him a Transmitter, and helped him write a good script. I sent it back to Arkansas with him, with instructions for his agent. He arrived home on Monday, and they set the Transmitter up some time that week. On Friday, a man drove up, and sat out front of their home for 30 minutes, listening to the Talking House. Then he knocked on the door. When they opened the door, he pulled out his check book and said ‘I think I want to buy your home.' And he did! The sellers were absolutely ecstatic! They were bubbling with enthusiasm -- ‘Your Talking House Sold Our Home!!' Here's the best part. Yesterday I made my first listing presentation since that ‘impossible' home sold. When I told this story to the prospects, they were very impressed with me and Talking House. Of course I got the listing. Wouldn't you list with the agent who had that experience to share? It's a great ‘war story.' Thanks again." Mike Drummond |
| Draw prospects to your Talking Houses
"To lead cars to your listings from several streets away, you can write the address on the Red Arrow of the Dirrectional Signs. If you use a black Dry Erase Marker, it won't rub off until you are ready! Stick the signs out on busier streets, to draw people to your listings on less-traveled streets. Sellers will be impressed with your efforts. To get the address off the sign, rub in the red area only with Non-Adetone fingernale polish remover. The Signs will be ready to customize for your next listing." Mickey Lackey |
Talking House
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