Help-U-Sell Updates – Page 13 – Help-U-Sell® Connect

Working with FSBOs

According to an article on CNNMoney last week, the number of homeowners selling their properties without a broker or agent has increased over the past year. One of the reasons FSBOs (for sale by owners) cite for going it on their own is to save the large commissions most brokers and agents charge.

Of course, at Help-U-Sell Real Estate, our low set fee can save FSBOs money and time and still be involved in the selling process, which is a compelling offer for some FSBOs. Others can successfully manage the sale of their homes on their own. This is something to keep in mind if you choose to market to FSBOs. The approach we advocate taking is that of a friendly resource, free of charge, unless we find a buyer for the FSBO. We are not trying to list the FSBO’s house.

Help-U-Sell Real Estate's approach to FSBOs is as a friendly resource who wants to help the seller, not to land a listing.

To assist the seller, we recommend offering the following items or services of value:
* a suggested listing price
* advice
* showing the seller’s house to buyers
* monthly sales statistics from the MLS
* following up with open house visitors

This approach goes right along with the Help-U-Sell Real Estate founding principle of serving the consumer. Even if the broker or agent never gets the FSBO’s listing, he or she could acquire buyers’ names, be hired to help the FSBO with closing, and gain a new brand advocate.

For more advice and suggested dialogue when working with FSBOs, watch Help-U-Sell University video Module 4: Lesson 1.

How have you reached out to FSBOs successfully in the past? Share your experiences with us.

Help-U-Sell in October

The theme for this year's Success Summit is Making Connections.

We have an exciting and busy October planned! We look forward to seeing you at one or both of our big events.

* The California Realtor Expo will be held October 8-10 in Long Beach. We will be exhibiting, and our booth number is 217. Please stop by if you will be there. CAR members can attend some sessions and the expo for free. Just register online to get access.

* Our annual Success Summit will be better and bigger than ever this October 22-24 in Las Vegas. With a theme of Making Connections, the event will have four general sessions and four blocks of breakout sessions that are separated into Coaching/Training, Marketing, and Technology tracks. Attendees can choose to concentrate on one track or mix and match. Many of the breakout sessions will have hands-on portions so that everyone can leave the Summit having accomplished tasks such as setting up a drip email campaign and creating a marketing plan for next year.

In addition to staff, John Powell and Jack Bailey will be presenting, and there will be a panel discussion along with opportunities to network with fellow franchisees. Our representative from Excel Printing & Mailing will present new marketing materials and hear the results of our brainstorming session we’ll have during the Summit. We have a few surprises up our sleeves, too!

Almost 60 Help-U-Sell family members are already planning to attend. If you are a franchisee or an agent in a Help-U-Sell office and want to join us in Las Vegas, please register today and make your hotel and transportation arrangements.

Use the hashtag #SuccessSummit13 on Twitter to follow and get involved in the Summit, even if you’re not with us.

The Power of Community Involvement

Help-U-Sell Options Unlimited sponsored the Terre Haute South Little League team this past spring.

Real estate is ultimately a people business and a local business. So getting involved in your community makes a lot of sense from a marketing standpoint, and, of course, it can be emotionally rewarding and fun, too.

This past spring, Bob and Brenda Fischer of Help-U-Sell Options Unlimited sponsored the Terre Haute South Little League team, knowing the area was impoverished and, therefore, not attractive to other marketers. The Fischers attended games so regularly, Brenda was recognized by a team parent as a Help-U-Sell broker while she was at the supermarket. Sponsorship achieved brand recognition, but more importantly helped kids in the community get to play a game they love. Options Unlimited is sponsoring a team this fall, too.

Help-U-Sell Options Unlimited's Army of Red getting ready to march in the Terre Haute Labor Day Parade

Options Unlimited’s support from the community showed earlier this month at the Terre Haute Labor Day Parade. The biggest Labor Day parade in Indiana, it was televised throughout the state. The Fischers mustered up 25 walkers. Besides family, agents and friends, the “Army of Red” contained previous clients who were “more than willing to participate,” says Bob. The Army passed out candy and promotional cards along the parade route.

Options Unlimited has closed 23 sides so far this year in a metropolitan area of only 170,000.

How are you involved in your community? What are your plans to get more involved?

Help-U-Sell Real Estate Featured in Investing Publication

John Powell of Help-U-Sell Galleria Realty was interviewed for the Investing in Real Estate publication.

Help-U-Sell Real Estate is featured in a new publication called “Investing in Real Estate.” Produced as an independent supplement to USA Today, it was distributed in select markets, including Phoenix, the Carolinas, Los Angeles and DC/Baltimore.

Help-U-Sell Galleria Realty‘s John Powell offered advice for investors who are looking for a representative in the article titled “Game of Homes: Finding Your Agent.” One of Powell’s pieces of wisdom: “Remember that your Realtor’s market knowledge affects whether or not you make a good investment.”

We also have an advertisement in the publication that promotes Market Sketch, our new real-time, local data tool.

Regardless of your location, you can view and download the entire publication online. Feel free to share it on your social media accounts and with your clients.

Help-U-Sell Real Estate Develops Real-Time Market Statistics Tool

Help-U-Sell Real Estate has launched a new tool that provides home buyers and sellers real-time information about their local real estate markets.

Called Market Sketch, the tool uses local Multiple Listing Service data to display statistics such as median list prices, average square footage, days on market, and total inventory for the selected city. Users can also choose to view statistics by property type, including land, multifamily and single-family. Once enough data have been collected, users will be able to customize the time frame. Charts compare the number of properties sold per month and the median price per square foot, among other facts.

Help-U-Sell Real Estate's new Market Sketch statistics tool — Help-U-Sell Real Estate's new Market Sketch tool displays real-time local real estate information, including days on market and total inventory.

In addition to graphs and charts, written sections explain the status of the local real estate market. Brokers can personalize certain elements, and the office’s contact information is included.

Brokers will be able to send the information to their buyers and sellers via a direct link, and users can register to receive their local Market Sketch via a monthly email. If the broker wishes to use Market Sketch as a lead-generation registration tool, he or she can opt to require registration before a user can view the most recent statistics.

The broker’s current listings are displayed in the right-hand column to encourage users to browse properties for sale. Dynamic interest rate charts, and daily mortgage and interest rate news show up below the current listings.

See an example of Market Sketch on Help-U-Sell Honolulu Properties’ site.