How to Prepare for the Spring House-Hunting Rush By John Pullega

Spring is primetime for house hunting. That means that fall and winter are great times to prepare yourself for the spring house-hunting rush. Here are a few easy-to-implement tips to get yourself ahead of the curve as people begin to hunker down for the holidays!

Start contacting warm leads.

If you have leads that you've been working with but haven't yet earned business from, start meaningful conversations with them. Whether you've talked to them directly or someone referred you, now is the time to engage. Reach out to these leads and offer them something of value. If they're a first-time homeowner, you might send them tips on how to apply for a mortgage. Providing something of value shows these leads that you're looking out for them and that you're trustworthy. When appropriate, make that phone call!

Promote yourself online through social media and direct mail.

Online promotion is crucial to your success. While the possibilities for online promotion are endless, you should focus on establishing a presence in at least three places online—Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Providing easily consumable, engaging content can get people thinking about you, planting the seed for when they are ready to buy a house. This will help you expand your footprint before the spring house-hunting rush.

You should also use direct mail to promote your services. Include a picture of yourself, a brief story about you, and how you can help Buyers and Sellers succeed. The rumors about direct mail's death are greatly exaggerated, and it's a good way to stay top of mind.

Engage past clients

Past clients can be a good source of referrals for you. And there's no better time to reach out than the holidays. You can start by sending a friendly email asking how they're liking their home. Again, it's a good idea to offer something of value, such as a tip sheet, to show that you want to help them succeed as homeowners, even after the sale is complete. Then, politely remind your clients that referrals are essential to your success.

If you'd like to go the extra mile, you can write a thoughtful, handwritten note to past clients. Personalizing your communications is a proven way to build relationships. It may also encourage past clients to go the extra mile to help you in time for the spring house-hunting rush, too.

Reaffirm existing commercial partnerships and seek new ones.

Commercial alliances are a great way to get in front of prospects. If you've established commercial alliances in the past, reaffirm them. This may include partnering with local businesses to bring prospects a special offer through you. Whether it's a discount on a service or a buy-one-get-one deal, partnering with a local business can get your name out there and start building trust.

Just as important is forging new alliances with local businesses. This does two good things for you. First, these partnerships can build trust with both local businesses and your prospects. When you and your partner can offer something valuable, everyone wins. Second, it keeps you in the loop about what's going on in the neighborhoods you work in. Since most Buyers want to know the nuances of where they'll be buying, having strong neighborhood knowledge is a good way to impress them.