Realty Bites

Twenty years ago, when I was a tiny little Realtor®, my manager at Coldwell Banker thought it would be a good idea for me to suffer indignities. It would build character, she said. Carolyn sent me to sell homes in Baltimore’s worst neighborhoods. She had me work with the scariest customers. And she wanted me to make cold calls to drum up business.

The cold calls were by far the thing I objected to most. I’ve never liked pushy salespeople, and I didn’t want to become one. So, I did the other things. But to this day, I have not once picked up the phone to solicit business from strangers.

My low-key approach has served me well. More than 90% of my clients are referred by friends or relatives of theirs who have worked with me. I seldom advertise my business.

But when times are tough (now, for example), bringing in a few more clients makes me a happy Realtor®. So I decided to send out some postcards. It’s a kinder, gentler way to attract customers, in my opinion. They went out about a week ago. Here’s what they looked like.

What do you think? Would you mind receiving something like this in the mail? Would you be encouraged to call?

Leave your comments, and I’ll let you know what the response to the mailing was.