Why do relators advertise to other homeowners?

[SiValleySteph]

My neighbor is selling their townhouse. We live in the same small complex (16 townhouses). Yesterday when I was trying to feed my DS dinner, the doorbell rang. I ran down there and looked out the peephole, I didn't recognize the woman, so I didn't answer since my baby was in the highchair. When DH came down from upstairs, I told him what happened so he went out and found she had left a flyer advertising the neighbor's house.

Is the relator advertising to us in the hope that we will be motivated to sell our house with her? That's what I'm guessing, but now I just have one more piece of paper to recycle.

[Katie1]

I did this when I was a realtor. You're right- she is trying to get you to list your house with her if you decide to sell. Also, very often the neighbors will know someone who wants to move into the neighborhood, so it's a good way for her to find buyers for the house.

I always got a good response from neighbors when I did this, and it did bring me some business. One of the houses I had listed I ended up selling to the people who lived across the street, and then they had me sell their house for them.

[lml41981]

It annoys me when realtors do this. We had a house in our neighborhood up for sale a couple months ago. Their realtor sent postcards out weekly to the neighbors. We also had stuff taped to our door about cocktail parties and the like. The things taped to my door annoy me more because we don't use our front door, so if stuff gets taped there and we don't check our door for solicitations, it will often look like we're not home...which invites someone to break in.

If it is just that they hope we'll tell our friends about the house for sale, well...I have a small neighborhood...I know when houses go on the market. If a friend wants to move in, I'll know if there's something available or not without needing a postcard. And I'd refer my friend to my realtor, not the seller's agent (I'm very against using the same realtor for both sides of a transaction...my parents got burned doing that).

What was worse was that when we bought our house, the seller's agent put us on his mailing list and would send us things asking for referrals and stuff. I ended up calling his office and asking him to take me off his mailing list because if I were going to refer someone to a realtor, it would be the realtor I used.

[justHB]

We don't have people visiting our front doors, but we do often receive postcards. Truthfully, I like to get them because I can see what other units in our building/neighborhood are going for and can decide whether to go to the open house. I've found the last three postcards I've gotten to be quite educational in that I've learned people are selling units that aren't nearly as nice as ours for way more than I expected.

[julietchicago]

It annoys me when realtors do this. We had a house in our neighborhood up for sale a couple months ago. Their realtor sent postcards out weekly to the neighbors. We also had stuff taped to our door about cocktail parties and the like. The things taped to my door annoy me more because we don't use our front door, so if stuff gets taped there and we don't check our door for solicitations, it will often look like we're not home...which invites someone to break in.

If it is just that they hope we'll tell our friends about the house for sale, well...I have a small neighborhood...I know when houses go on the market. If a friend wants to move in, I'll know if there's something available or not without needing a postcard. And I'd refer my friend to my realtor, not the seller's agent (I'm very against using the same realtor for both sides of a transaction...my parents got burned doing that).

What was worse was that when we bought our house, the seller's agent put us on his mailing list and would send us things asking for referrals and stuff. I ended up calling his office and asking him to take me off his mailing list because if I were going to refer someone to a realtor, it would be the realtor I used.

Trust me, our goal is not to annoy you! :( Sorry you feel this way.
Realtors will do this to get their name out in the area and because it's nice to give the neighbors an opportunity to "pick their new neighbor", if they happen to know someone.

In regards to referring a friend to the "seller's agent"...aka Listing Agent, that is most likely not the agents objective. The agent doesn't care what Realtor you use, they just want to get the home sold for their client. Here in Illinois, Dual Agency (same agent for both sides of the deal) is allowed, with the proper disclosures, but many agents stay away from it. It is too risky and it is too easy for one side to become upset and sometimes seek legal action.

Sorry for the blabbering, I am very passionate about what I do. ;)

[SiValleySteph]

I've found the last three postcards I've gotten to be quite educational in that I've learned people are selling units that aren't nearly as nice as ours for way more than I expected.

Same here. :p

I didn't mind really and in fact I'm sure I would have picked one up (I picked one up from the other neighbors) if one hadn't been brought to my door. I already attended open houses at the other two townhouses for sell and would have gone to this one except we were busy this weekend. :)

I was a bit surprised that the agent actually rang the bell, though!

[lml41981]

Trust me, our goal is not to annoy you! :( Sorry you feel this way.
It is more or less the repeated postcards for the same property that bug me. I don't like junk mail, in general, and really hate repeated junk mail (what a waste of trees!). I can appreciate trying to get business for yourself, but there are certain situations I think it is uncalled for (e.g. when the seller's agent sends me newsletters hoping I'll refer people to him instead of to my own realtor...when he wasn't even a great realtor or when it is repetitive. :)

[Reenie]

I think a lot of times, too, as SiValleySteph and justHB said, the neighbors want to know how much the property is going for; it sort of protects the seller and/or selling agent from lots of "just wondering" questions/calls/visits. :)

[greenbunny]

We have been getting realtor cards non-stop since we moved in in February. We are the only new people in our cul-de-sac, and they say things like "welcome to the neighborhood! If you're interested in purchasing a home, please call me". Um, yeah, I was interested six months ago, that's why I moved! It's so stupid.

[Asha]

we never get this sort of thing, but i wouldn't mind bc it would interest me to know how much people are trying to get for their homes. some people have asked if our place has appreciated since we bought it, and i have no clue bc i don't know how much similar units have sold for.

[Aug2002Bride]

I dont mind it either, only because I want to know whats going on around the neighborhood...there are over 500 houses in my neighborhood so I dont see all of them that are for sale. I will always use my own agent but I do like seeing the price the house is going for, compared to mine and the details of the house. Even if they arent delivered to my door, newspaper box whatever, when my DH and I are out walking and they have the info sheets in the little boxes we almost ALWAYS pick one up! So I wouldnt mind if they were delivered to my door or box for me

[SiValleySteph]

Well, whatever those agents were doing worked because the house sold in under a week. We have the exact same house (just a few cosmetic differences), so it's good to know what we could sell our house for. It almost makes it tempting to cash out and go buy a house in a cheaper part of the coutry. Almost...

:D

[justHB]

We have been getting realtor cards non-stop since we moved in in February. We are the only new people in our cul-de-sac, and they say things like "welcome to the neighborhood! If you're interested in purchasing a home, please call me". Um, yeah, I was interested six months ago, that's why I moved! It's so stupid. This one always makes me laugh (in a "you stoopid moron!" type of way).