It feels good to be recognized for your hard work! Land O' Lots Realty Inc. was nominated and also a finalist for the Best Business Awards hosted by the Melbourne Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce.        

Land O' Lots Realty Inc.

It started over 3 years ago for us here in Brevard County Florida. We saw a boom beyond compare turn into total silence. We at Land O’ Lots Realty Inc. have worked very hard to sell all of our listings, but it takes time for the market to fully comprehend when it has changed so drastically. I believe that Brevard County Florida felt a clear “pop” of the bubble by January 1st 2006. Three years of recession is time enough for people to get tired of waiting and to come out looking for deals.

Financing is still hard to come by, so only those who have cash or in some cases sellers who are willing to finance are making the deals work. Even “contract for deed” can work in this market. The good news is that since January 1st 2009 we have had about 4 closings a week, and literally hundreds of leads to follow up on. We also have 200 vacant land listings right now, as well has residential houses and commercial and industrial properties. Just as clearly as we felt as if someone had flipped a switch in January 2006, so we have noticed someone flipping another switch in January 2009. Not a boom by any means, but still a silent message to people that it’s ok to buy real estate. I don’t need to read the newspaper to understand this change any more than the media needed to tell me that something was up in 2006. When you are in the trenches, and working closely with buyers, you feel these things at least 6 months before the media even changes their tune. They try to hype up the news to sell a story. We feel the reality almost immediately. I’m hoping that the concept in the book Shift by Gary Keller is going to come true in my case. That this 3 years has starved out many of the other Realtors who would have otherwise been eating a piece of my pie, and once this market begins to turn, those of us who have survived will be in a strong position to really make some money. Those of you reading this are probably among the survivors. I am hoping that some time in 2009 that Shift takes place. Based on the signals of the past weeks, that could be the case. I’m not looking to the media to tell me whether or not the time has come. They will again be 6 months late. Instead I’m checking my voicemail and my inbox. I’m streamlining my systems and automating everything to be ready to cash in when the next little upswing takes place. I’m tired of the recession and I’ve decided that I don’t want to be in it any more……. I’m sure some of you are feeling the same way.

Here are some of the sites we advertise on:

Some Sellers believe that when real estate agents get a listing, all they do is put it on the MLS, put a sign up and then sit back with their feet up doing nothing. And that may be the case with some agents. You may have dealt with an agent that did just that. But please be assured that at Land O’ Lots Realty Inc. we work full time trying to sell our listings and take care of our Buyers. In fact we work more than full time. But since you may not see all the activities taking place to market your property, it can be hard to understand what it takes. That’s why I made this list available to show you some of the things we do with each and every listing to take it all the way to the closing table.

Land O’ Lots Realty LISTING CHECKLIST

1. Create file in office

2. Further research the property (comps, zoning & environmental issues, and more)

3. Create full color aerial Flyer

4. Create faxable plot map Flyer

5. Insert listing on www.BrevardMLS.com

6. Insert listing on www.LandOLotsRealty.com

7. Insert listing on www.trulia.com

8. Automated insert onto www.Realtor.com

9. Automated insert onto IDX (other agent’s sites)

10. Insert onto other agent’s sites in office

11. Insert listing on www.Craigslist.com

12. Insert listing on www.Lycos.com

13. Insert listing on www.Loopnet.com

14. Install sign or fax sign placement order to sign guy

15. Note GPS coordinates for corners of lot if necessary (load GPS)

16. Visit property – walk it – mark the corners

17. Take photos – upload photos to sites

18. Distribute flyer to agents in office and many cooperating agents

19. Mail out letters offering property to all surrounding property owners

20. Approach specific buyers from our database that may have an interest in the property

21. Look up in database and contact everyone that has bought similar property recently

22. Continue to monitor all actual sales and other listings in the section

23. Some properties are auctioned on www.eBay.com

Land O’ Lots Realty MARKETING PLAN

• www.LandOLots.com is my main marketing tool (in 2009 the majority of real estate searches begin online)
• We own an increasing number of other real estate domain names relating to the Brevard County land market (www.MALABARLOTS.com, www.VACANTLANDBREVARD.com, www.LANDINMALABAR.com, and more)
• Printed advertising in Chamber of Commerce Area Maps for 2008 & 2009 (can be given to all prospects when showing property and listings can be located and marked on their copy of the map.)
• We strive to maintain optimum position on all search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.) for our key words (Search Engine Optimization)
• We also do paid advertising on the Google and Yahoo sites
• We regularly send letters, or by other means contact owners in our target farm area, defining ourselves as the clear choice of agents to list with or buy through
• We use good signs with clear web address for automated info for buyers, sellers and agents alike (our newest order was super clear 4’X4’ signs)
• We distribute plenty of sharp and effective business cards that people will keep & spread around
• We can make banners and specialty signs for special listings (we have a vinyl cutter in our office). (We have signs and banners on main highways including I-95)
• We mail out glossy post cards with a simple greeting and pitch Land O' Lots Realty or present recently SOLD listings or NEW LISTINGS
• We try to have one contact per month (phone, letter, email, or other) with farm area property owners, as well as previous buyers, sellers, and leads.
• Our entire farm area receives a personal letter with what we deem a fair price for their property every six months. The most desired property owners will receive occasional give-aways also.

Land O’ Lots Realty PROSPECTING PROCEDURE

1. Our hundreds of real estate signs out in the field generate most calls into the office and leads. We like to leave signs up if possible even after closing if the owner is agreeable to it.
2. Leads from the web page are increasing daily. People from all over the USA call based on Google searches, Realtor.com, etc.
3. Letters to property owners in farm area – often with a specific price offer generate “leads” as they call in response to the letter to list or sell the property.
4. Letters sent to all surrounding property owners when we get a new listing generate “leads” on that listing, or possibly interest on something else
5. Regular attendance at Chamber of Commerce leads group and events (hand out property listing flyers and business cards)
6. I attend the County Tax deed auctions and make bids as well as passing out my business cards to everyone at the end. Interesting people are there.
7. I sometimes email all 4,000 Realtors® in Brevard County (since I purchased a list with all of their contact info) with new listings, or great deals
8. New marketing avenue (in the works): presenting property video clip on YouTube

Land O’ Lots Realty FOLLOW UP METHOD

We use “Action Plans” in TopProducer 8i software for all aspects of real estate transactions and the sales process.

Past clients may be contacted for many reasons:

- to let them know about new listings in their area

- to thank them shortly after the deal closes

- to update them on recent similar sales

- to suggest what their property may be worth right now

- to inform them when adjacent property goes up for sale

- to inform them of changes in the rules and regulations

- to say hello and try to generate a referral

- to mention a prize drawing I will be having

- many, many more reasons

Contact methods for our business include:

- cell phone / office phone

- e-fax / office fax

- text message/ IM / Skype

- e-mail

- lead form on my web page or other web page

- overnight package / snail mail / post card

- walk-in