The Basics of Marketing Your Equestrian Property

As your REALTOR® my marketing efforts and considerations will include marketing and showing the property as well as following up on all inquiries and assisting you with negotiations.

Advertising and Promotion

  • Properties are commonly advertised through real estate agent Web sites, Internet home search/listing services, classified advertising and real estate guides. My specific equestrian marketing programs include not only presence on this website but on several equestrian related websites. Of course the standard sources such as Realtor.com, Prudential.com as YahooRealEstate.com are included. Promotion efforts on the internet prove to be more and more effective as is evidenced by you reading this information. Today’s internet savvy buyers and sellers expect a strong presence via the internet.
  • Direct e-mail blasts promoting only your property are sent directly to most local agents and a large group of agents throughout the North San Diego County communities that specialize in equestrian properties . Some bulk distribution services seem impressive with the quantity of e-mails sent but these cover a wider geographic area and are of little or no use to out-of-area agents. My proven system of alerting all local agents ensures that the people who matter are informed of your listing.
  • Live pitch sessions throughout surrounding communities offer opportunities to promote your listing. Local Realtors attend Association sponsored caravans on Wednesday mornings where they have an opportunity to walk through properties and speak with the listing agent. Additional office caravans are used to ensure visibility to agents.
  • Standard print publications are not nearly as effective as equestrian focused newspapers and magazines. Often times these type of publications offer positioning on their websites with print advertising purchases. I have several promotional packages which include various publications based on the value of your ranch or equestrian estate.
  • Even with all these advertising avenues, " For Sale" signs on front lawns are still remarkably effective. I promote my Web site and my direct contact number on the sign and use brochure boxes with the signs to market the property. When appropriate, and with your permission, I may send a mailing about your property to neighbors. Sometimes one of them has a friend or relative who always wanted to live near them. You never know how far reaching the benefits of word-of-mouth advertising by friends, relatives and neighbors can be.

Showings and Open Houses

To prepare your property for viewing, make it as bright, clean, cheerful and serene as possible. Always look at your home from the buyer's point of view. I usually find a tactful way to suggest that you be absent while the house is being shown to prospective buyers, because your presence will inhibit their actions and conversations. They won’t feel free to open closets and cabinets, test out the plumbing and discuss their observations objectively as they walk through the house. It goes without saying that your children and pets should not be on the premises either. If I schedule an open house, I will notify the neighbors, and assure them that they'll be welcome. They'll jump at the chance to poke around in your house, and sometimes they can turn up a buyer among their friends.

 

Quick tips for showings and open houses:

  • Clean or replace dirty or worn carpets.
  • Open all curtains and blinds.
  • Replace any burned out light bulbs and turn on all lights.
  • Clear all clutter and/or debris.
  • Clear all countertops and work areas.
  • Wash and put away any dirty dishes.
  • Set the dining room or kitchen table if you have particularly nice linen or china.
  • Utilize aroma creation with new microwave accessories.
  • Put on soft music.
  • Burn wood in the fireplace if its cool enough, otherwise, clean the fireplace.
  • Put fresh towels in the bathroom.
  • Take any laundry out of the washer and dryer.
  • Leave the house so your REALTOR® is free to deal with prospective buyers in a professional manner.
  • Put house pets in cages or take them to a neighbor.

How Long Has Your House Been on the Market?

Professional appraisers sum up their entire body of knowledge in three words: " Buyers make value." Your home is worth as much as a buyer will pay for it.

If your home has been on the market for months, it’s a clear message that the property may not be worth what you're asking for it. This is particularly true if there haven't been many prospects coming to see it. What you do at that point depends on whether you really need to sell, and whether you're working with a time limit.

If you're not really motivated to move soon, you can always wait - years if necessary - and hope inflation will catch up with the price you want. Buyers become suspicious of a house that's been for sale for a long time.

If you really do need to sell, discuss a schedule with your REALTOR® for gradually dropping your price until you find a level that attracts buyers. There's no point in saying, " We simply can't sell our house." Anything will sell if the price is right.

If You’re Buying Another Home

What happens when you're selling one home and buying another – how will all the details work out? This is a common situation and REALTORS® ,title and escrow companies have plenty of experience in arranging contracts and loans so that the two transactions dovetail smoothly.

And should you sell your home first then buy or buy first then sell? Ideally, it’s best to sell your home first rather than making an offer subject to selling your current home. Under most market conditions sellers do not want to accept a "subject to sale" offer. The ideal scenario is to buy a new home in the interim period between selling and vacating your house.

If you find that you need to buy the next house before you've received the proceeds from the present one, lending institutions can sometimes make you a short-term " bridge" loan to tide you over between the two transactions. You should make sure you fully understand the exposure and emotional investment before proceeding with this type of loan but they are a viable method to avoid having to move twice. This is especially important when you need to move yourselves and your animals.