My best method has not changed, dialing my clients and colleagues for referrals.

But the cost of a phone call has gotten much less expensive.

The big MLS book was the Bible and prior to that we had clipboards of bad photo copies that had a smell that inspired many a flower child    We also used Polaroids which also had an interesting aroma!

The Real Estate Book & Homes and Land could have bankrupted me when the market crashed.

Mailers, newspaper and the MLS book.

Newspaper advertising was very effective.

Wasn't in the biz before the Internet! But I'd say print ads (costly), directing marketing, referrals, networking, open houses

Newspapers were very popular. Also, consumers used to frequent Broker Offices and ask to tour properties...

I remember driving brochures to each office in my town. It took 3-4 hours usually.

Newspaper ads

direct mail marketing, newspaper advertising, open house events and MLS...and I had plenty of deals.... very expensive....

Looks like others beat me to the A's.  Have a good day Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers 

Top Method - those big fat MLS books

#2. In office sales

#3. There were pages and pages and pages of 'HOUSE FOR SALE' in the newspaper.

How expensive? Be aware, those were 1982 dollars with 18% interest rates.

Even then, it was so costly that newspaper ads were part of the service the brokerage had to provide.

So, today it $1,000 a month to pay the dark lord. Then $80/mo for each house ad. on Friday, Sat, Sun.  $8 per line exceeding 8 lines, 4 of which identified the broker.

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers Newspaper Ads, Local Home and Garden Magazine, Regional Real Estate Books, Open Houses, Bill Boards, etc. Except for Open Houses, all were pretty expensive.