Marking Territory
April 6, 2009 by By Owner University
Filed under Marketing
Since 1998 we’ve had a recurring issue that a couple of local agents bring up over and over again. We used to get letters and emails about it. It’s been years since it has come up, so I was a bit surprised to hear about it again, but perhaps old habits die hard. Or maybe the slow market has given these agents enough time on their hands to audit the Spokanebyowner.com website for me (instead of servicing their clients). Either way, you look at it, there is stubbornness involved on both sides. And since it’s my website, I have the final say in the matter. But since the concept is hilarious, we’ll discuss it here.
It seems that when a home owner sells their home to someone that is represented by an agent, they feel the home wasn’t sold “by owner”. These guys consider it sold by an agent! They think that it should be marked as such on my website! You’ve got to be kidding me! Only in real estate does the buyers’ side want to take credit for the sale.
Let’s look at this from a different marketing perspective. When you see an ad in the paper for a (fill in the blank) _______ you want, you go to the store and buy it. Who sold it? The paper? Should they take the credit? Or should credit go to the store for researching price points and knowing where to place print ads for the best response?
When a home owner takes the time to research their price range, and spends money on advertising to the general public and/or agents, and someone (with or without an agent) sees the advertising and buys the house, the Home Owner is the one that sold it and deserves the recognition for a job well done.
