If I put out a brochure box, I put limited information....no price. Its a teaser...I want them to call.

Sun Jun 22 2008, 08:01

I am a realtor in Fredericksburg, TX and have recently encountered very much the same predicament. When the brochure box is up, there are fewer calls from "drive-by's". Typically these "drive-by" buyers are just starting to think about buying. They haven't gotten serious and gotten a realtor yet. On homes that I have listed without the box, the calls do lead about 1/4 of the time to showings. My home owner appreciated the box because it reduced showings to those who were really serious about the house. She felt lookers got the brochure and then after getting more information about the home where able to decide if the home was really right for them.

Sat Jun 21 2008, 15:25

The answer is MAYBE!

Exposure to the most amount of people is always key is selling a home. I typically use a brochure box at the beginning of the listing for the neighbors who are curious. Why not let them help me sell the property. I take it down later because my goal is to get them to call so I can verbally sell them on making an appointment with me to view the property. Give your agent a chance to present your property. So what’s your goal with the brochure box? If you or your agent isn’t available all the time to take calls then this might help but you’re GIVING UP the opportunity to present your home by talking to the potential buyer. Sure this is the easy way to eliminate calls, but that’s what you want isn’t it – Calls!

So what are you putting on the flyer? It better be full color photos and information and statistics if you expect them to follow up with you. More than 70% of buyers are searching on the internet with Virtual tours and multiple photos. Thinking that you’re going to get lucky that a buyer is driving by isn’t enough with all the properties available today. Yet to mention $4 plus a gallon a gas doesn’t leave many driving by. These are different times, if you have a good agent they will know what works. Good luck with your home sale and if I can help please contact me.
Dan Trembulak, licensed real estate broker, Buy-Sell Realty Inc. Seminole, Florida. E-Mail: RealtorDan@Juno.Com or 727-393-6500.

Fri Jun 6 2008, 02:15

I used them for a while, people just grab them, sometimes one for the whole family! Then you have to be sure that the box stays full. I have mixed feeling about it, like some said, if they grab the brochure and it has all the info, they don't need to call the realtor. After all, we do want them to call, make the contact. Guess you could have an abbreviated brochure in the box, but you'll still run into the problem where everyone is just grabbing them and you've got the challenge of keeping the box full. This could also get costly.

Tue May 13 2008, 13:09

I have always used brochure boxes for my flyers. I use inside photos to interest them in wanting to view the inside of the house for themselves and this allows me to meet them speak with them in person. I do however leave off the price so they will call me directly, and this gives me the opportunity to ask them questions and get a feel for what they are looking for. Ultimately the decision is made by the seller.

Fri May 9 2008, 11:55

You are hiring a realtor to "sell" your home and without the opportunity to speak directly with potential buyers they won't be able to do their job effectively. If an agent uses a brochure box, then they probably leave some information off the flyer (like the price) so if there is a serious buyer they will call the agent. Then the agent can start the communication process of selling the home or sell them something else that fits their needs. Also there must be a system to keep the box filled. Most of the flyers are taken by neighbors and sometimes children throwing them away.

Personally I use an 800 number on my signs with the talking ad hotline. It gives them the info and the system captures their info for me so I can follow up immediately... sometimes while they are still in front of the property.

Thu Apr 24 2008, 12:43

I prefer NOT to have a brochure box on the For Sale sign. In my flyers and Just Listed mailings I don't show the price, but rather I encourage interested parties to call me or go to my website. Calls received are most likely from people who may have a real interest in the property

Wed Apr 23 2008, 16:53

This has always caused a big debate. I think it is better to have a brochure with lots of pictures to make the potential buyer want to see inside.

Wed Apr 23 2008, 12:22

I definitely would put a flyer box on every property listing all the details of the property and plenty of pictures. What you might want to leave out is the price. That way when the buyer has seen the property and actually gotten some interest in it he will call for a price and then you will be able to actually capture your buyer's attention with your own enthusiam and hopefully arrange an appointment for a showing.

Wed Apr 23 2008, 09:30

I find that the brochure boxes are normally raided by the neighbors. I use Talking House and DOT COM the home address. Everyone's on the web, it saves paper, and can give a ton more information as well as being able to be forwarded. It helps brand "you" better as well as showing you have the technology on your side that most agents really need to catch up on!

Wed Apr 23 2008, 08:06

At my Company we do not normally place a brochure box unless the Seller specifically requests it. If we do place one, we do not give all the information on the property; we want the prospective Buyer to call us so we can have the opportunity to get the APPOINTMENT!

Wed Apr 23 2008, 08:05

I think this goes along with agents who don't list prices on flyers. The theory is that it will make people call to get more information. My take is that it intimidates people. I am all for a flyer box, as long as you are going to keep it filled!) and a price on the flyer.

Wed Apr 23 2008, 08:00

One of the problems with a brochure box is inability to follow up with potential customers. When someone takes a brochure, I can't contact them about Open Houses, answer questions about the home, help them establish value or any of the many things we do to sell you home. We need a way to communicate face to face or phone to phone to accomplish that. I use an information hotline on my signs (instead of a flyer box.) It provides my recorded narrative about the home, will connect directly to me if the customer wants more information and captures a telephone number for future follow-up. The recording tells the customer they may receive a follow up call and leads them through the process depending on their needs. I've had very good responses from customers using the "hotline." It really helps when we are having an Open House or in the case of a price reduction. It allows me to return to people who previously stopped by the home and re-introduce the possibilities. It's one of many tools in my tool box!

Wed Apr 23 2008, 07:56

I prefer not to use a brochure box. It seems that they are always empty the day after I fill them and yet I don't receive any calls. My sign has my cell phone number and my web site on it. I have also found that an 800 number is a good way to get buyers to call. They can listen to a recorded message and not feel uneasy about talking to an agent.

Tue Apr 22 2008, 11:07

I also agree with most to not have a box because you can't sell someone you can't talk to..

Tue Apr 22 2008, 10:37

Brochure boxes eliminate prospects too quickly. They can cross your house off the list based on limited info on brochure without seeing inside of property. If house shows well from outside- a buyer should take time to either call sign # or contact their buyers agent to find out more about the house. I feel that it peaks interest and procures more lookers as an end result.

Tue Apr 22 2008, 10:36

I believe in brochure boxes. A beautifully created bruchure, filled with the correct wording and pictures will a entice a buyer to want to come in and experience the feelings described in the brochure.

As a consumer I want as much info as possible before I make the decision to bother my Realtor and the seller with a showing. I'm annoyed by what I perceive to be "sales strategies " to make me call, so they can capture my number and try to sell me something else.

As a Realtor I don't want to waste my sellers time cleaning and making plans to remove themselves, their children and pets, so someone that drove by and liked the exterior, can come in only to find out it has everything they don't want and would never buy this home. I also know that by making the buyer call me to get the info on the home, I can then attempt to sell the buyer something else, if this home doesn't meet their needs, in essence using this tactict as a way to pick up new buyers.

I believe today's buyers are saavy and the days of Realtors being the holder of all information are long gone. Where I live, brochure boxes are standard practice and as long as they remain filled (big pet peeve, empty boxes) they benefit both the seller and the buyer, but not necessarily the Realtor. Just my opinion...

Tue Apr 22 2008, 10:32

You do not want to miss any opportunity to inform a potential buyer about your listing. The key is to include just enough information that the buyer will call if interested in knowing more. I create a flier with professional pictures of the home as well as general information such as "beautifully remodeled 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 3000 sq. ft of luxury complete with majestic views from magnificent master suite all on a large private lot, you have arrived!" Leave out the price! They will call.

Tue Apr 22 2008, 10:05

Having brochures gives potential buyers too much information and then they will come to their own conclusion about your home which is probably wrong! They may think it's too high price and the pictures can't show everything. If they are interested, they will call their agent to set a showing or call the sign and ask questions, if they call we can at least describe all the qualities and defend the price.

Tue Apr 22 2008, 09:51