Thursday, November 3, 2011
My Stockroom
Check it out ..... some of my Mandated properties. See anything you like? Let me know, call, email, all my details are on this blog or go to the following sites:
1. www.realpro4u.co.za
2. www.krugersdorprealestate.co.za
3. www.roodepoortrealestate.co.za
.... have a ball .... and if you are looking for property and you can't find what you are looking for, le me know, maybe I can help.
1. www.realpro4u.co.za
2. www.krugersdorprealestate.co.za
3. www.roodepoortrealestate.co.za
.... have a ball .... and if you are looking for property and you can't find what you are looking for, le me know, maybe I can help.
Q and A: Sellers
Post your questions to my Facbook profile or inbox me there (Link below) or email your questions to marnus@realpro4u.co.za and I will give you some feedback and possibly answer them for you right here on my blog.
My Facebook Profile
My Facebook Profile
Q and A: Buyers
Post your questions to my Facbook profile or inbox me there (Link below) or email your questions to marnus@realpro4u.co.za and I will give you some feedback and possibly answer them for you right here on my blog.
My Facebook Profile
My Facebook Profile
Friday, October 14, 2011
Stock in a Multi Listing Environment
Being part of a Multi Listing group of agencies we share our listings on a system with many agents where they can see the specifications of our stock and make appointments to take buyers through. Commission on successful transaction is then shared between Selling and Listing Agency.
The system works well and has a huge advantage for Sellers as it increases the exposure of the listed property to the buying market and agents selling in the area. The system works even better for those properties that are listed at the correct prices! The over priced become stale while all the other are moved from Listed to Sold.In a market where the stock is limited and qualified buyers are few, the listing price of a property has an even bigger impact as ever before. With all the multi listing agents trying to find properties for their buyers you will be much better off making sure your placed is priced in accordance to the competing stock in the specific area ....... your agent should advise you on resent sales prices and not marketing prices, if not, get another agent.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
QR Codes for the Real Estate Business
Some of you might have seen these funny looking blocks in some magazines and they are starting to be used more and more.
This funny looking block contains information, sometimes just a website URL (address) or maybe even text message or a link to a video clip etc and needs to be scanned with a Smartphone and then used. Many companies use this for advertising and this has real value for us as agents as this will probably one day replace the business card as we know it today.
BlackBerry has used this technology to great success with the BlackBerry Messenger application but the BBM application only works on BBM Pin number codes from one BBM contact to a next. My BBM code ...With one quick scan, clients can now scan my QR Code and save all my contact details directly as a new contact on there phone. These QR codes can be added to ads and boards where information about property can be given.
I am a BlackBerry user so I played around a bit and got to a good application called BeeTagg that allows me to do just that. This is a free Application but you need to find what application works the best for you. I specifically looked for something where I can scan and then save as a contact and this one works fine.
Look out for my QR Code and other codes on my ads where is will be parting with property related info to my current and prospective clients.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Exposure is everything .....
Dear Client, present, past or future ….
At some time or another you will want / need to BUY or SELL property or maybe you know someone who is in the market for BUYING or SELLING at the moment. Well, this email is merely an introduction to ME (Marnus) and my Agency (RealPro) and to let you know what we are up to lately. On the marketing side of the business we are always looking for new and innovative ways to assist our Sellers with more exposure and to attract more Buyers to our stock. One way of doing this is to widen the marketing we do through the internet and social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Blogging ……. “Sticking with the times” as they say.
I believe that the wider our footprint, the better for our business.
We have recently increased our web presence by adding two new local websites to the list which already includes the likes of http://www.realpro4u.co.za/, http://www.property24.co.za/, http://www.myproperty.co.za/, http://www.propertygenie.co.za/ and http://www.iolproperty.co.za/ to mention only a few. We have decided to go local with the two new sites being http://www.krugersdorprealestate.co.za/ and http://www.roodepoortrealestate.co.za/ and we will also be advertising these sites locally to the communities of Krugersdorp and Roodepoort.
We have also recently added some useful calculators and documentation for assisting with cost calculations to our website, please have a look at http://www.realpro4u.co.za/
You can also “follow” / “Like” us on facebook and twitter by clicking on the following links:
RealPro
Me (Marnus)
Krugersdorp Real Estate
Roodepoort Real Estate
Thank you for taking the time to read this mail, please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries with regard to the above.
Regards
Marnus – Your Agent
Monday, May 23, 2011
Municipal Elections and Real Estate
Seeing that the municipal elections just finished, I though of how this can assist, or not, in the whole Real Estate, buying and selling cycle. Being an agent I have to listen to buyers making all sorts of excuses for not buying because of weird and wonderful reasons but most of the important ones are concerns regarding safety and services delivery in the area, complex and or estate. It doesn’t help taking a prospective buyer into an area where the refuse hasn’t been removed for weeks and the municipal grounds or parks are littered with rubble and it looks like a dump site. On the way to the property you have to negotiate the potholes and hope that you don’t have to help your client change a tyre or worse.
I think people in general vote for change. They are unhappy with the way their tax Rands are being spent and they believe that another party might be the solution or at least assist to achieve more than the previous bunch. I’m not big into politics but I am big into finding properties for buyers and I would like to know that they are happy in their new home and neighbourhood …..
The math is simple, good area = higher value, bad area = lower value, and if you buy in a “GOOD AREA” and the municipality goes from good to bad, your prime property will loose value. Selling will only be an option if you are prepared to settle for less as in the current real estate market, property values take there time to increase so buying in the right area is very important. Making sure that the area where you stay is run and maintained properly by whoever is involved is just as important if you ever want to sell.
Oh well, the elections are over and all we can do now is to make sure that the work is done and the services are delivered. We should be involved as it is our money being used to clean up and maintain the streets where we want to be safe and happy.
……. Just a thought!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
More blogging to come ....
I have decided that I need to blog more ...... the life of an Estate Agent.
Being an Estate Agent has its ups and its downs ... get a bond = up and don't get a bond = down. While this is going on you are also updated with the whole inner workings of your clients personal and social life while spending a whole day on a flexi-time schedule. This sound all good and well but wanting to go to the gym and not getting there because of work is not always that nice.
But as with everything in life .... if it is important enough you will make time.
While we are on the point of sharing, I though of this internet hit I got yesterday and i could not do anything else but laugh! I loaded a brand new listing on the web of a really nice, upmarket property listed for just under R 3 000 000 with stunning pics and really good value. The next morning i got a hit on that property and called to find out when we can arrange for a viewing. We got talking and soon i realised that this was not what I expected ..... "I just wanted to know if you have something for +/- R 400 000?"
I am still trying to help .......
Being an Estate Agent has its ups and its downs ... get a bond = up and don't get a bond = down. While this is going on you are also updated with the whole inner workings of your clients personal and social life while spending a whole day on a flexi-time schedule. This sound all good and well but wanting to go to the gym and not getting there because of work is not always that nice.
But as with everything in life .... if it is important enough you will make time.
While we are on the point of sharing, I though of this internet hit I got yesterday and i could not do anything else but laugh! I loaded a brand new listing on the web of a really nice, upmarket property listed for just under R 3 000 000 with stunning pics and really good value. The next morning i got a hit on that property and called to find out when we can arrange for a viewing. We got talking and soon i realised that this was not what I expected ..... "I just wanted to know if you have something for +/- R 400 000?"
I am still trying to help .......
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
2011 Budget info
As far as the property market is concerned, buyers will, from 1 March 2011 need to fork out less for transfer duty as the costs associated with the transfer duty payable has been amended.
Most buyers already have to pay +/- 10% (or more) deposit to get the home loan approved so I guess every bit helps.
I came across this update on the Old Mutual website where you can download all the info you need etc.
Click Here For Update
Have fun ..... need to go sell some houses.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Online Property Marketing - 8 Tips
Article from http://www.immovableproperty.co.za/
It is trite knowledge that more owners, real estate agents and advertisers are opting for online ads over the traditional print media classifieds. The reasons for this are legion and include: ease of publishing online, lower costs and knowing there is a large audience looking for a property right at this very moment.
To get the most out of your online advertising efforts try these 8 pointers to help you create better ads and generate more leads:-
# 1 - The Title of your Ad
The title is often the first thing users will see. Make the right impression by having a snappy title that conveys your essential message - it could mean the difference between someone perusing your ad or moving on something else!
So what should you be putting in your title? Our view is that you should aim to put the most important and relevant information into this space and be to the point. We favour the following formula: Type of Property coupled with a description and information about the geographic area of the property e.g. " Stunning 4 bedroom house on Vaal River ".
Some advertisers prefer advertisements such as: "Cosy little house" or perhaps "Cute as a Button – don’t miss this". Whilst this approach works too, it to some extent ignores how search engines work and will probably limit the size of your potential audience. Keep in mind that Google, Yahoo and Bing not only ranks the property portal that you are listing, on it will also rank your individual listing separately within the search results on the engine. So if you want to catch the eyes of Google users who are looking for a property for sale in the Vaal River (our example) you stand a much better chance with "Stunning 4 bedroom house on Vaal River" than with "Gorgeous little place for the Family".
So what should you be putting in your title? Our view is that you should aim to put the most important and relevant information into this space and be to the point. We favour the following formula: Type of Property coupled with a description and information about the geographic area of the property e.g. " Stunning 4 bedroom house on Vaal River ".
Some advertisers prefer advertisements such as: "Cosy little house" or perhaps "Cute as a Button – don’t miss this". Whilst this approach works too, it to some extent ignores how search engines work and will probably limit the size of your potential audience. Keep in mind that Google, Yahoo and Bing not only ranks the property portal that you are listing, on it will also rank your individual listing separately within the search results on the engine. So if you want to catch the eyes of Google users who are looking for a property for sale in the Vaal River (our example) you stand a much better chance with "Stunning 4 bedroom house on Vaal River" than with "Gorgeous little place for the Family".
# 2 - Choose the right category
Most property websites allow users to choose a category for the placement of an ad. By making sure that you have picked the correct city, and sub-category you are giving consumers relevant and targeted information. After all someone looking for a house in the Vaal Area, to use our example, will not find your listing if it is incorrectly categorised and placed in the wrong section such as the "Business for Sale" section for Cape Town properties.
# 3 - Complete the forms appropriately
If the website makes use of any forms - take the time to list the information properly. For instance if the form asks for "Erf Size" enter the total size of the block in square meters and not the size of the building. There is a difference and consumers want to know about it.
Accuracy creates trust. Consumers typically avoid dealing with people who advertise in a misleading and incorrect fashion because then they have to tease the information out and that is always frustrating.
Accuracy creates trust. Consumers typically avoid dealing with people who advertise in a misleading and incorrect fashion because then they have to tease the information out and that is always frustrating.
# 4 - The Description
This is your chance to really shine and display your wares. Consumers are driven by aesthetic beauty. Make your advertisement look great and if you need some help look at this beautiful property ad in Durban for an example of something truly eye-catching.
Be sure to include all the essential features as they relate to the outside and inside of the property. Some users are also going to be interested in financials such as water rates and taxes.
Do your best to strike a balance between providing useful information and not going over-board. Keep in mind that most people scan for information so use lots of headings and bullet points to make your information easy on the eye - just like we have!
Be sure to include all the essential features as they relate to the outside and inside of the property. Some users are also going to be interested in financials such as water rates and taxes.
Do your best to strike a balance between providing useful information and not going over-board. Keep in mind that most people scan for information so use lots of headings and bullet points to make your information easy on the eye - just like we have!
# 5 - Use the Map Location
Lots of users look for listings by map location so if you don't have a map marker for your property it simply won't show up in the searches in which case you are missing out on traffic.
# 6 - Double Check your contact details
If you're going to go to all the trouble of creating a listing make sure you have entered the correct contact details for online enquiries. If you don't, the enquiries won’t end up on your desk.
#7 - Photos and Youtube
Use the best photos you have available and if you don’t have any go out and snap some right away. Users almost universally love photos so do your best to capture the look and feel of the property as best you can.
If you have video footage upload it to Youtube. You can then insert a link to the video on your portal site later on.
If you have video footage upload it to Youtube. You can then insert a link to the video on your portal site later on.
#8 - Face Book Like & Tweet Buttons
Once the listing is uploaded inspect it to make sure it displays properly and if not edit it in your user panel.
If you have a Facebook account or a Twitter account then promote your listing by way of a "Tweet" or "Facebook Like".
Facebook and Twitter you can dramatically improve the chances of your listing showing up higher on the search engines. To get even more bang for your buck send out an email asking your friends to “Like” your listings and to “Tweet” the info to their friends.
If you have a Facebook account or a Twitter account then promote your listing by way of a "Tweet" or "Facebook Like".
Facebook and Twitter you can dramatically improve the chances of your listing showing up higher on the search engines. To get even more bang for your buck send out an email asking your friends to “Like” your listings and to “Tweet” the info to their friends.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Technology, Social Networking and Real Estate Marketing
Marketing and advertising property has come a long way since agents use to take photos of properties and then they needed to get them developed ..... actually, I DON'T know how they did it.
These days you can advertise 100's of properties in the property publications (if you have the budget) and 1000's of properties on websites. Web development has also come a long way to assist "surfers" (no, not the tall, dark & bleached hair kind) in finding exactly what they are looking for, in the area of their choice and something that fits into the budget, a nice big garage for dad a modern kitchen and oh yes, a cupboard just for moms shoes.
Websites have widened the agents scope to buyers from other countries, being able to look at virtual tours of the property inside and with Google Street view you can now even have a look at the houses around you and see if the property is in good company or not .... now you can contact the agent who makes the appointment, shows you some of the details that are hidden from the net and the camera and there you go, before you know it the offer is signed and the rest as they say ......
In addition to the web, agents have realised that there are many ways of getting more traffic to your own stock on the website so, enter the dreaded SOCIAL NETWORKING sites and portals. See, the nice thing about facebook is that YOU can decide who YOU want to follow, have and invite as fiends so that when Mr "X" asks you on a date 5mins after accepting your friend request you can tell him to go and f ..... oh no, you just "BLOCK" or "UN FRIEND" or "UN FOLLOW" or whatever his ass and if you like you can report him to the facebook police.
Most of these social networking tools work on the same bases where you have people accepting you as a friend and they can then follow and or comment on what you have to say. You can even decide if you want return comments or not. More and more business are using facebook and twitter to reach their "fast fingered" target markets so why not for us, the agents.
These days, more than ever we need to be available and one way to do that is to be active, to facebook, to tweet and to blog.
Friday, January 28, 2011
My Stock
While there are many publications out in the market place where agents and agencies can advertise there listings (stock), I find that trying to create interest in a property through such a small ad is sometimes very hard. These ads do give buyers an idea of which agents are selling in which areas and what kind of property they have available.
On a personal note, I am changing my marketing strategy and focusing on getting as many people to the web where ALL the stock and ALL the photos with ALL the info is given to the buyer and they can then contact me from there ............ let's see how this works.
Here are some of the pics you will see on the web link ... anything from R 349 000 for a 2 bedroom flat in Krugersdorp CBD to a stunning R 4 995 000 property in Thorny Valley Estate and R 5 700 000 for a 700sqm exclusive property in La Rivierre Estate in Chancliff, Krugersdorp.
Monday, January 24, 2011
My first blogpost on blogger
Ok cool, so now we (me) are and will be blogging about anything to do with Real Estate, Property, Buyers, Sellers, Agents and Agencies and their pets in the South African Property Market ....... interesting and exciting stuff if you ask me. I also thought I would start his bogging process with a link to my website and my listings .... have a ball.
My Listings
My Listings
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