Last week our company held an open house at 4 different locally staged homes. It was a huge success! Fifteen minutes before the open house was due to open four agents appeared at the door. Agents came in small packs throughout the day, checking out the homes, asking lots of great staging (and home) related questions.
Since then we've scheduled several consultations and given out multiple quotes. I was advised today that we should be getting one of those contract back by the end of the week. We are already booked through the end of next week, back to back to back houses lined up. By showcasing the properties in this way we are able to show the quality of our work. Feedback has been overwhelming! It even jump started our lunch and learns that begin next Wednesday as we discussed these with interested parties at the open house. Bevin, who is hosting them, already has a full class with still a few days left for agents to sign up!
In case that's not enough, the goodwill factor with our current listing agents was fantastic. They are excited about the publicity, follow through and wanting to know when we are going to do another one!
Below is a copy of the flyer that went out:
For this flyer we actually opted to use a local professional e-blast service instead of our Constant Contact account because it goes to every agent in MLS. As you can see, it was well done and the photos gave the opportunity to show off the homes they were going to view, getting them excited about it!
If you are fortunate enough to have several staged properties all in the same general area, hosting an open house like this with your listing agents might be a great marketing tool for both you and the listing agent!
Additional editorial note: We were advised today that one of these properties received an offer today and were told that we could do open houses for this agent anytime with these results! I'll post which after the contract is ratified.
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
Why does my cursor always head for "Bookmarked" on your posts? Because you're so darn amazing that's why. Love all your marketing knowledge and I'm glad you are kind enough to share it with all of us. Thanks!!!
Awesome idea!! Congrats on your successfully event!
Glad the event was such a success for you Melissa! Your work is wonderful and sells itself, but it doesn't hurt that you are awesome at marketing your company. Continued success!
Donna - I'm honored! Sharing the positive message and skills is what we do here in Stage it Forward!
Margaret - Thanks! We are very excited about how well it went. Definately we will be doing it again!
Michele - Thank you! It does help a lot when agents can actually see what we do. Showing quality work is what wins them over time and time again. It is one of the secrets of why we are so busy! Showing it off is the fun part!
Great job Melissa - We are having a Wine & Cheese Open house tomorrow night at one of our staged homes in conjunction with the Realtor. I do have 3 homes staged in one subdivision, I may just have to try this concept - thanks for the great idea. How did you go about finding your e-blast company? I hope ours is as successful as yours.
Congrats on a great job! You guys are amazing......I am really glad it went well for you.
Debbie - check with an agent that you are friends with or do a lot of business with. There is bound to be a company that does these in your area. Chances are they already receive a lot of blasts from agents regarding open houses/price reductions, etc.
Wendy - Thank you! We try.... It's all about under-promise, over-deliver & getting actual results for our clients!
Melissa - what a great idea! So, let me get this straight...the Open House was for all local realtors, or open to the public as well? Did the listing agent do this O.H. with you?
I'm also not understanding the "e-blast"...can you explain this further to me..what it is, how it is created and sent out (mail or e-mail), etc. Does the e-blast only go to realtors? Did you advertise anywhere in addition?
Val
You never fail to amaze with your terrific marketing ideas. And congratulations on the fast sale!
Fantastic! One question, how did Bevin host four simultaneous events? That girl must have wings.
Val - The open house was an agent open house. We did not invite the public. All of the agents were present on the property at some point, but we held the house open for them. You do have to have a RE license to do this, at least in our state.
The e-blast looks exactly like the above image and is emailed to all of the agents in our MLS. There is a local company that does this. The fee for this was $50 and they put the presentation together and sent it out 3 times for this fee. We also advertised in our newsletter.
Michelle - Thanks! We are still waiting to hear if it was ratified or if they are still negotiating. Hopefully we'll officially know by the end of the long weekend.
Ginger - Bevin didn't! I was at one home, Bevin at another and Susan Hardin & David Moon were at two different homes. Four of us have our licenses (there are 5 of us in total right now) and we all manned a home for this event. Bevin is hosting the lunch & learn next week in our office. I am already staging a home that day so Susan will be helping her with that event as well.