Mobile Phones are Everywhere...

According to a new study by the National Association of Realtors, home buyers in this "digital era" utilize their mobile devices - i.e. smartphones - even when at home to search for properties. What does this mean to you? If you are selling your home, you really need to think seriously about what kind of marketing different companies do. Do they rely on newspaper ads and reputation to draw traffic to your home, or do they stay cutting edge and offer a mobile site that users can navigate simply and easily to see details, photos, etc.? Another reason I am proud to be with Tate... visit m.allentate.com! We are the #1 company in the Carolinas because we utilize ALL types of media and our agents embrace new trends. Statistics from the study: Places where new home buyers use their mobile devices  77% – At home  31% – At work  28% – While waiting in line  27% – At a restaurant  26% – At someone else’s home Lisa and I realize the importance of this as well. You may drive past a listing of ours and see a brochure box out front ("old school"), but when you get out to get a flier you will also see a QR code for that specific property on it. We realize that not everyone shops for homes the same way, so we haven't ruled out print ads altogether. We do, however, try to incorporate the "old" with the "new" in everything we do. Call/tweet/text/email us today for some examples!

Is Your Agent a Listing "Specialist"?

I have seen several ads lately emphasizing that this agent or that agent is a listing "specialist". While I agree it is important for your agent to have expertience listing properties, especially in a market like we are facing, I can't help but think a listing "specialist" is missing a key ingredient. If you don't regularly have buyers in your car, on the phone, texting you, etc. can you REALLY, as an agent, have a true understanding of what is important to today's buyer? How will you know that a QR code on a property flyer is a really good thing unless you see firsthand your own buyers utilizing this tool? With all the tools we have available today to advertise our listings, I need to interact with buyers regularly so that I can see what is most relevant to them, and therefore most likely to get your home shown. Just a thought...