I came across an interesting marketing technique the other day and I thought I’d share it with you guys today. The real estate market in Vancouver is just as busy as it’s ever been, but it can still be very difficult for any given real estate agent to grow their client base and get those properties listed (and sold). There have been many different strategies deployed by realtors to attract our attention, but I think this is the first time that I saw something like this.
Next door to my girlfriend’s house, a family was moving into their new house and the moving truck was parked outside. However, it wasn’t a rental truck or a moving truck from a professional moving company. Instead, it was a moving truck provided by the real estate team. On the back, they plastered on a huge advertisement for their real estate firm, complete with pictures of the two main realtors. Naturally, key contact information like a phone number and email address was provided, but more important than this was a single message shown near the bottom.
I don’t recall the exact words, but it effectively told you that if you bought a home from them, you’d get to use this moving truck for free. This is quite the clever marketing technique, because if someone is buying a new home, they necessarily need to move their things from their previous home. By providing them with the truck, they don’t have to worry about finding a deal on a rental or with a professional moving company. The exact details of this deal are unclear to me — I never inquired — but it does seem like it could be “little something extra” that could separate them from the competition.
The cost of renting a moving truck pales in comparison to buying a new home, but it is still a nice gesture, don’t you think?
webgarden.ca
November 1, 2007 3:26 pm
I think that’s a great idea! You don’t necessarilyhave to offer a moving truck, you could offer free house cleaning, or offer to host a huge garage sale or even provide storage solutions for your client’s junk (of course don’t call it junk… )
Matt
November 3, 2007 12:02 am
Is this the same realtor as in this post:
http://blog.bluefur.com/2007/08/14/keys-to-success-nice-case-3/
blogadmin
November 3, 2007 12:11 am
Sounds like a different one. Maybe they were inspired by the realtor in my post.
Matt
November 3, 2007 12:13 am
Maybe… I’ve seen this done before too, I don’t remember what it said on the truck though.
Michael Kwan
November 3, 2007 11:58 am
No, it’s a different one. I forget the name of the one I saw, but it was in East Vancouver. I totally forgot about that other post.
Bikespot
November 3, 2007 6:36 pm
That is a great idea…. not only is a free service for the owners of the house , but its a good advertising …… because well its a moving truck…. gets around. Plus neighbors like to see whats going on in there neighborhood.
Vancouver realtor
November 5, 2007 9:33 am
Nowadays a decent (and used!) truck will cost you at least $30,000. So I don’t think many real estate agents would folllow this example. But I have to admit, this is a great idea.
blogadmin
November 5, 2007 9:43 am
How much do you roughly spend on advertising a year?
Matt
November 5, 2007 4:55 pm
…And how much is realtor’s commission again? :P
Ranka Burzan
November 7, 2007 5:08 am
I would appreciate more info on these creative realtors. I am a professional organizer and stager offering services in packing/unpcking, cleaning and more. Can people advertise on your site?
Thanks
Ranka
Ranka Burzan
November 7, 2007 5:14 am
Very creative idea. I am a professional organizer and home stager. We offer services in organizing, staging home for sale, packing,unpacking. cleaning and more. Would like to hear a creative ideas how to educate people about my services. I need to reach realtors, small business owners, families, seniors and other professionals.
Thanks
Ranka
Vancouver realtor
November 8, 2007 2:15 am
All right, you have got me on that :)