Viroqua Wisconsin: They're always empty on Holidays

We agents all have them & it seems like they are also always, always empty! No matter how many flyers you placed inside that info box at the time of installation or how many extra flyers are left behind inside the home for replenishments, it's never enough.  How come they routinely run out on Sunday mornings, on Holidays like today, or when you are way too busy to immediately, drop everything and come' a running?

Info boxes aren't anything new and have been a fixture in selling real estate just about as long as the For Sale sign. Sellers like them; Buyers like them but many Realtors don't like them.  The reason is easy to understand, they yield few calls and the box is a chore to keep full. You are hiring a realtor to "sell" that home and without the opportunity to speak directly with potential buyers they won't be able to do their job effectively. If an agent uses a brochure box, then they probably leave some information off the flyer (like the price) so if there is a serious buyer they will call the agent. Then the agent can start the communication process of selling the home or sell them something else that fits their needs. Also there must be a system to keep the box filled. They're just a simple, low tech, low cost marketing tools to get the buyer's to call us.  Buyers pick them up so they won't forget the address or won't forget the number on the sign. They pick them up expecting to see the price and basic info on it, or so they can go to our website address for more info and pictures at a more convenient time for them. Other reasons the boxes are often empty are: Many of the flyers are taken by neighbors, sometimes children taking them for the fun of it and throwing them away, not to mention when it rains, the flyers get ruined.

So... Whose job is it to keep it full? The Realtors?  Well that's debatable or should I say negotiable.  Often the seller will agree to refill them when the home is far away from the Realtors office; if the property is nearby the Realtor's office then the Realtor will do it. Nonetheless, no matter who agrees to be charged with the duty of refilling the empty box, it is a task that often slips through the cracks. When the crack gets wide enough for the seller to look into it; in their mind, it is always the Realtor job, the Realtor is not servicing them correctly and/or it can become a source of irritation for the homeowner. So here are a few ideas how to keep them full and keep your seller happy.

One:There are services that will check and refill Your Real Estate Brochure Boxes Once, Twice, Or Three Times Per Week for a fee.  Larger market places may have this service, but it's predictably not in a small market like mine. I personally think this is a very pricey service, which typically cost between $25-to-29.00 per listing brochure box per month, plus a cost per numbers of flyer placed. 

Two:Another method would be to automatically snail-mail out directly to the seller's homes that have info boxes once a week no matter what. This way you always have flyers at least at the property for them to re-fill when needed. If you don't have an assistant, it can be managed by placing this task on your scheduler as a repeating task until the home is sold. 

Three:Almost all Realtor websites have a print out a flyer tab; so the seller can always get a few extra. Many sellers may feel you are not doing your job when the box is empty if they have to print them out and fill the box, this is just for the in-between time until supplies reach the box via mail or hand delivery.

Are you searching for homes to buy in Viroqua or Vernon County Wisconsin

call Mary Strang  therteam.com  RE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-606-2999

About the author:

Mary Strang is the Broker-owner of RE/MAX Hill Country Realty located in Viroqua, WI. Home to Organic farming, a small rural city population of about 4000 and a great place to live! Copyright © 2009 by Mary Strang.  All rights reserved... "They're always empty on Holidays:  the blog post was written by Mary Strang is believed accurate but may not be guaranteed.