The National Association of Realtors® reported a drop in membership. From January 2008 through January 2009, the number of Realtors® dropped in the United States by over 136,000 or 10.61%. While this news may seem negative, it may also be the best time for active Realtors®. 

This means, as a real estate agent, you need to get your name in front of your contacts. The best way to do this is to have a great Contact Management system (CRM). There are a number of Contact Management systems on the market that target real estate agents. It is basically a matter of deciding which system will work best for you.  (I will be addressing some of the various Contact Management systems in a later blog post.)

According to the “2008 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Buyers and Sellers,” 87% of homebuyers searched for their home online. Your website is the first place a potential client may find you and your listings. If you have a good CRM system, they will also contact you from your website.

The negative aspect to these statistics, again provided by the “2008 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Buyers and Sellers,” only 18% of repeat buyers used an agent from a previous transaction. This indicates that Realtors® are not staying in touch with their past clients.  

One way to stay in touch with past clients is through action plans or e-mail drip campaigns. These can be as simple as birthday and holiday e-mails. Who doesn’t love to be remembered on these occasions?

A simple newsletter once a month will again, keep you fresh in a past client’s mind when they are considering selling their home or buying a new one. These simple reminders will also keep your name at the forefront when a neighbor or relative talks about buying a home or even selling their existing home.  

You worked hard for these clients and you should let them know you remember them. Simple action plans or e-mail drip campaigns can be your best friend. Don’t be a statistic that indicates you do not follow-up with your clients.

Here’s Another Feather In Your Hat!