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Larry Johnston, Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN (Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC)

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Rainer
216,904
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

A handwritten note is always a nice surprise and usually well received.  Perhaps tell them about a new restaurant that opened, or some news that may prompt a phone call to you?

Sep 12, 2015 03:42 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I may be the worst at contacting anyone, most of mine are from running into them at professional gatherings or when they call me.

Sep 12, 2015 02:24 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

It depends on the client and their location, Larry. I contact my base more than once a month--monthly mailing, monthly email newsletter, monthly market snapshot on their neighborhood (although sometimes it's every other month for some clients), etc. I haven't found that I need to make a ton of calls or pop-by's because I'm always in touch with them in one form or another and that doesn't inclued birthday cards, home and wedding anniversary cards, etc.

Sep 12, 2015 09:55 PM
Rainmaker
2,363,566
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

phone - and not as often as I should. 

Sep 12, 2015 09:25 PM
Rainmaker
2,817,671
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

I'm not so good about the personal one on one time...I have sooooo many customers (and of course so little time).  I do, however, find that I run into some of them at Starbucks (and a few other places).  Someone made a suggestion last week to choose your Top 50 and try to do more w/ them.

Sometimes in the winter I have a bit more time to make phone calls.

Sep 12, 2015 08:13 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Larry. I do not do it with any consistency with past clients, but on a regular basis with referral partners.

Sep 12, 2015 07:01 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I email the last three years of clients at least once a month and stop by at least once a year.

Sep 12, 2015 02:17 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Larry, I am a huge fan of mailing, but I'm even a bigger fan of the telephone.  Like any excuse.  Drop of the hat.

Sep 12, 2015 02:13 PM
Rainmaker
1,726,096
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

We do not consistently send postcards, but try to make a 'touch' in other ways; email, call, or stop by at least a few times per year.

Sep 12, 2015 10:54 PM
Rainmaker
115,432
Jeanne Feenick
NextHome Premier - Basking Ridge, NJ
The Agent you choose REALLY does make a difference

This is definitely an area where I can improve as well - appreciate the reminder, will work on this.

Sep 12, 2015 10:33 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Mixing it up works best for me between email, phone call, face to face or letter about three to four touches per year. 

Sep 12, 2015 10:24 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I do not stay in touch either. I just mail out calendars once a year.

Sep 12, 2015 09:59 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Sunday morning Larry. I do my best to have either a member of the team are myself make personal contact with my mavens at least once a month.

Sep 12, 2015 07:27 PM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Larry - I don't make personal contact nearly enough with my past clients. That is something I am working on for sure.

Sep 12, 2015 04:24 PM
Rainer
231,224
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

is there a hand written note on the postcard? something more than ..How are you? 

Sep 12, 2015 03:07 PM
Rainmaker
784,786
The Woodland Team of Texas
The Woodland Companies - Austin, TX
Land Specialists

Should do it much more often than we do.

Jan 23, 2019 09:43 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Larry Johnston actually this is your great opportunity to contact them - to ask if they received the post card and if they liked the message in the card (if it is something similar to Item of Value from Buffini & Company .)

Calling them, meeting face to face are the best way to generate business - as long as you use 'referral dialogue' with them.

Sep 13, 2015 04:56 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

I don't phone unless there's a reason and would never stop by. That seems intrusive to me.

Sep 13, 2015 01:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,662,036
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Not often enough.  Friday I spent most of the day calling past clients just to touch base.

Sep 13, 2015 12:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Itry for twice a year in a personal contact; generally Birthday's and just before Thanksgiving.

 

Sep 13, 2015 12:04 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

There are three levels of past clients.

1. The past clients who has been the source of three referrals a year

2. The past client who has been the source of one referral.

3. The past cleint who has not referred anyone....yet.

Group one get a call every month and a impromptu text to join me at a location near them

Group two gets newsletter, a call every quarter and direct mail.

Group three (after six months) gets the newsletter and annual call.

Sep 12, 2015 11:00 PM
Rainer
3,944
J Wentzel
EFT Coaching and Consulting LLC - Denver, NC
Profit coaching, strategic marketing for realtors

Making personal contact with your S.O.I. every 4 - 6 weeks is critical to keep your name/services fresh in their mind and to encourage referrals.  I like to use (and also share with my real estate clients) unique, fun, easy and extremely effective strategies that get me out in person, bring me face to face with existing as well as potential clients, and deliver that personal touch which is sadly missing in a lot of real estate businesses today.  If you aren't having fun growing your business, you are using the wrong approach!

Sep 14, 2015 04:48 AM
Rainer
2,235
gloria Wade
Chamberlain Realty, LLC - Hendersonville, TN
Relocation Specialist, Pet Lovers, Historic, Renos

Facebook is fast and easy. 

Sep 14, 2015 02:38 AM
Rainer
1,185
Winston Hawkins
Premier Properties of the Outer Banks - Kitty Hawk, NC
Resort Property Sales, DUCK, KITTY HAWK, COROLLA

I think post cards are a great way to say hello and to keep the client engaged.  We will also follow up with an email drip program that highlights their particular market area.  Phone calls are key too catch up on special occasions, closing aniversaries, etc.

Sep 14, 2015 01:57 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,442
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Those phone calls and face to face contacts are always much more effective than post cards. You make more personal contacts when you need more business.

Sep 13, 2015 02:53 AM
Rainmaker
2,486,205
Captain Wayne - Rowlett Real Estate School
Rowlett Real Estate School - Panama City, FL
Rowlett Real Estate School / Owner and Instructor

I try to make at least one personal contact after a sale.  Usually by phone.

Sep 13, 2015 12:56 AM