As more and more sellers consider selling their homes themselves and inventory becomes tight, it’s important to make every effort to secure listings.
One of the most effective ways to generate listing opportunities is through the use of handwritten notes. If you have a buyer looking for a home that’s not currently available on the market, why not use the situation as a means to generate new listings?
Take the following steps:
- Find out what your buyer is looking for and identify homes in the desired neighborhood that have the potential to meet their needs.
- Instead of sending a letter, write the homeowner of the desired property a short note that expresses your buyer’s interest in their home. For example:
“Dear Mr. and Mrs. _____, my buyer John Smith has an interest in purchasing a home in your neighborhood that is like yours. If the price were right, would you consider selling your home and compensating me for this one buyer? Call me at your earliest convenience at _______.”
Drop your handwritten note off at the residence. You should receive several responses for every 15 to 20 homes you identify.
When you get a response, ask to come and preview the home on behalf of your buyer. While visiting the home, build a relationship and establish rapport with the prospective sellers. Even if your buyers don’t purchase, you now know that the homeowner is thinking about selling and they become a top priority. You should plan on building a strategy around securing the listing with that homeowner.