Top 7 Listing Presentation Tips
These listing presentation tips show you how
to excel
during
listing appointments and presentations.
Real Estate Listing Presentation Tip #1
How To Win The Listing Every Time!
Sounds Impossible?
Not if you understand how a seller thinks. Once you do you will have found the secret to closing virtually every listing appointment you attend for a listing presentation.
How Do Sellers Think?
That's easy to know if you will simply step into the shoes of a home seller.
A. Will The Agent Be Honest?
This is their #1 concern. You must prove your honestly through the presentation itself and through the use on testimonies.
B. Will The Agent Price My Home Properly?
Most agents think sellers want to overprice their homes. This is why on the average MLS board, 33% of the listings are overpriced and do not sell.
If an agent would only understand that most sellers are prepared to price their homes at market value.
C. Will The Agent Follow Through?
Sellers want to know if you will do what you said you would do when on the listing appointment.
So having a follow through plan is essential as it proves to the seller you are doing what you said you would do and this leads to more referrals.
D. Will The Agent Follow Up?
This means service. It is essential you communicate with a seller at least 2 times per week and immediately after every showing.
Summary...
These are the top 4 concerns the seller has and it would be wise for an agent to develop a real estate listing presentation that addresses and resolves these issues.
And of course you will need to include your Internet talent as well, clearly outlining how you will use the Internet to harvest buyer leads.
Real Estate Listing Presentation Tip #2
Making A Good First Impression!
So you have booked the listing appointment and now the day has arrived to meet the sellers and conduct your listing presentation.
To increase your odds for success, follow these critical first 7 seconds steps called 'Impression Selling".
What Is Impression Selling?
The goal of gaining personal like-ability with the seller. Sales research suggests that 70% of your success is determined within the first 7 seconds of walking into the door of the prospect. That's not a lot of time so you must have a plan to impress them, failing which you put yourself behind the 8-ball.
1. About 24 to 48 Hours Before You Arrive
You must send to the seller, by email or drop off, the following ice-breakers. (Often called a Pre-listing presentation.)
A. Personal Portfolio
This is a professional summary of you as a professional.
B. Testimonies
It's just a fact of life that people do not 100% believe salespeople when it comes to self-promotion. So you will need to use testimonies, since they will be much more likely to believe what a satisfied client has to say compared to what you have to say about yourself.
2. As Soon As You Arrive
It is strongly recommended that you bring at least one gift to the sellers as a way of saying thank you for allowing you to come to their home.
1. Chocolates.
2. Flowers.
3. Gift Cards.
And remember the kids by bringing them crayons and a few coloring books!
Summary...
You will find by using these ideas you will gain a favorable impression and make the absolute best use of those first 7 impression seconds!
Real Estate Listing Presentation Tip #3
Why Top Agents Are Always Top Listers!
In every market across North America you will find a common thread among agents… those agents who make the most amount of money are also the same agents with the most amount of listings.
Why Is This So?
Why is it that great listing agents are normally the ones who are the top earners in the territory?
These "top earning" listing agents focus their efforts towards getting listings rather than buyers and also use advanced tools like a professional listing presentation to close more listing appointments.
It’s How This Business Works!
Every buyer must buy a home. The agents who have the listings earn the income regardless if they are working with the buyer or not.
It’s Called The MLS!
Thanks to the MLS, a listing agent does not need to find the buyer to make the income. All that has to happen is for another agent to show the home and the listing agent makes the cash too!
Listings Virtually Guaranteed Your Income!
There’s only three ways a listing will not sell.
1. Overpriced within prevailing market.
2. Poor condition compared to competition.
3. Listing term too short to realize a sale.
Simply address these issues with the seller, particularly during your listing presentation, and it will guarantee your own income.
Listing Agents Have An Army of Agents!
Think about it this way and you will discover why you need to become an expert at listing homes. The typical broker has 17 agents working for them. This means the broker makes income when one of these agents secures a sale.
Well, you are in the same boat as the broker but even better. Instead of having just 17 agents working for you, thanks to the MLS you have every agent on the board working for you and they’re all focused on the same task - selling your listings.
Your Benefits for Becoming A Listing Expert!
1. Guaranteed income.
2. Prospecting focus.
3. Neighborhood expert.
4. Prospecting time reduction.
5. Contractual performance.
Contrast all of this with how agents who work with buyers often end up spending their time. Buyer agents typically are not in contract, wasting time and money showing properties. This process can take weeks to months before a buyer decides to make an offer.
But a listing agent can, during that same period of time, attend listing appointments and secure 3, 5 or even 10 new listings while the buyer agent is stuck trying to get that 1 buyer to make a decision.
Plus Listing Agents Know What Makes A Real Buyer!
When that listing sells, in almost every case the seller has to buy another home. Therefore the seller is converted into a buyer. So listing agents know that their sellers are also buyers. So by focusing their attention on sellers, they actually are also focusing attention on buyers.
There’s no better buyer than a seller who just sold their home and is in the ‘must buy’ rather than the ‘like to buy’ position.
Add to this urgency to buy, since if they don't they will be on the streets, or even worse, living at the in-laws, and you are in for a nice payday.
Summary...
If you are wanting to significantly increase your income, then focus your attention on becoming a listing expert.
Of course you will need a listing presentation that showroom shines your talent. We recommend you consider a PowerPoint listing presentation such as on our website.
Real Estate Listing Presentation Tip #4
Step-By-Step Through The Listing Presentation!
1. Arrive 15 minutes early to view the curb appeal of the home and to take notes on it to discuss with seller.
2. When meeting seller at door, say something positive about the curb appeal or landscaping.
3. When inside, introduce yourself and shake the hands of the sellers.
4. Ask seller if you can tour the home.
5. During tour ask seller to highlight what seller thinks are the main features of the home.
6. Ask seller during tour if any improvements have been made and if so what are they.
7. During tour ask seller why he/she is moving.
8. During tour ask seller if they have ever sold before.
9. After tour go to kitchen table and do the listing presentation.
10. Simply go through the listing presentation and answer all questions.
11. Make sure you only discuss price after you have concluded your listing presentation.
12. Proceed to your pricing presentation.
Real Estate Listing Presentation Tip #5
Value Range Marketing Pricing!
The concept, which was first born in Australia in the early 1990's and years later brought to the United States by Gregg Toyoma for Prudential California Realty's convention, is changing the real estate industry.
Example of VRM
A home has a fixed listing price of $199,999. When using value range marketing a range of 10% to 12% is used. So in this example, the home would be priced, with the 10% rate, $179,999 to $219,999. A good rule of thumb is to place the market value of the home in the center point of the range. IN this example, if the true value was $190,000, then the range would be $171,000 to $209,000.
Benefits of VRM
1. The home is exposed to more buyers. A buyer shopping for a $180,000 home would have the opportunity to view the home. The same applies to buyers willing to invest $200,000 to $210,000.
2. Buyers are more willing to begin the offer process. After all everyone loves to get a deal!
Real Life VRM Example
In San Diego, California, agents using Value Range Marketing recently had closed transactions of almost 21,000 homes, while approximately 15,800 homes were marketed at a fixed price.
VRM Tip:
If your board does not support VRM, then use '876' as the last three digits on the top end of your VRM price point. The 876 [spells out] V-R-M on the [keypad] of a phone … it just gives another identifying factor to an agent that's knowledgeable that the listing is a range price listing. Then simply make additional comments in the 'remarks' section of your listing.
Real Estate Listing Presentation Tip #6
How To Do A Short Sale Listing Presentation!
Reason For A Short Sale
It is to protect and preserve the credit of the seller.
The Presentation
You must have a presentation purposely designed for this seller type. A short sale presentation is very different from a traditional listing presentation.
In a short sale presentation you will be simply informing the seller about the short sale process and not outlining your marketing plan.
Outside The Scope of Your License
You must disclose to the seller that there are many issues of a short sale that falls outside of your real estate license. These issues include accounting and legal. Therefore you must ensure your seller is fully aware of these issues and that you never offer any professional recommendations on these issues.
Mitigation Company
Perhaps the best kept secret in the business. A mitigation company works directly with the lender and can often speed up the approval and sale process.
Never Market As Short Sale Until It Is A Short Sale
Many agents are risking lawsuits from both sellers and buyers by marketing a listing as a short sale when the seller has yet to receive short sale status from the lender.
This amounts to false and misleading advertising. The seller can come back on an agent for any and all shortfalls while the buyer can sue the agent for misleading information.
Disclosure Is Essential
The more you disclose the better off you are as an agent. Full disclosure of the short sale on the listing and offer is essential to guarantee you will not face potential lawsuits. Therefore your short sale listing presentation must include full disclosure.
Approval Package
Lenders require sellers to provide about 20 items to them, including a Hardship Letter, when applying for short sale status.
Qualifications
The seller must prove hardship. Any and all assets must be declared to the lender as part and parcel of the approval process. Additional assets the seller has over and above the home will be at risk.
Real Estate Listing Presentation Tip #7
Focused Internet Listing Presentation!
83% of People Look At Homes Online!
Now that is a fact virtually every seller will agree to when you are on a listing presentation. Therefore it just makes sense for you to have a section in your listing presentation dedicated to Internet marketing.
What Must You Include?
All of the following.
(1) Your Drip Email marketing system.
(2) Your Fixed Date email marketing system.
(3) Your Instant Auto-Responder system.
(4) Your lead harvesting sites.
(5) Your follow up sites.
(6) Your StartPage site.
(7) Your MLS site.
(8) Your agent site.
(9) Your national site.
(10) Your Google Adword account.
(11) Your Google site ranking.
(12) Your Just Listed site.
(13) Your Just Sold site.
(14) Your Testimonies site.
(15) Your newsletter website.
Summary...
Now that would make for an awesome Internet marketing section for your professionally designed listing presentation!
16 More Real Estate Listing Presentation Tips!
Here are a few ideas on how to stack the odds in your favor before you even arrive at the seller's home for the listing presentation.
1. Pre-Listing Presentation
Always drop off your pre-listing presentation package at least 2 days before the actual listing appointment.
2. Testimony Presentation
Make sure you have a stand alone testimony presentation. Have at least 5 testimonies in your testimony presentation. Include it in your pre-listing presentation package.
3. The 30 Day Marketing Plan
Always include your 30 day marketing plan within your pre-listing presentation package.
4. Listing Website
Also create a listing website for your potential new listing client. At the very least have a copy of your listing sites of previous clientele for them to view.
5. Public Open House Plan
There's more to an open house than simply putting up a few open house signs on the day of the open house. Always include your detailed open house marketing plan within your pre-listing package.
6. Office Open House
Once again, provide details of your office open house to the seller in the pre-listing package.
7. Agent Open House
Simply a must for the seller. The seller wants to know you will be promoting his/her home to other MLS agents. Therefore have a detailed agent open house plan included with the pre-listing package.
8. MLS Listing Agreement
Always a good idea to include a copy of the MLS listing agreement the seller must sign. By including it in your pre-listing package you are giving the seller the opportunity to get familiar with the agreement.
9. Offer Agreement Forms
This simply sends the right message to the seller about your commitment to sell his/her home. Include this within your pre-listing package.
10. Recent Market News
Always a good idea to give 'local' news about the local real estate market to the seller. This prepares the seller for intelligent conversation. Include this within your pre-listing package.
11. Sales Statistics
Once again, informs the seller of the market prior to your arrival. Your data should include past sales, expired sales and current competition. Include this within your pre-listing package.
12. Broker Letter
Ask your Broker to give you an 'official letter' from him/her and include it within your pre-listing package. The letter should state service terms and service guarantees.
13. Company Overview
The seller needs to have confidence in your company's track record of successful sales. Therefore give the seller this information by including it within your pre-listing package.
14. Your Personal Guarantee
Sellers also want to know they are placing their homes into the hands of an agent who is going to follow through on their various promises. Include this within your pre-listing package.
15. Stay-In-Touch Service During Listing Term
Feedback during the listing term is definitely something a seller wants and values. For this reason you will want to outline your service term by letting your seller know exactly how you will keep him/her up-to-date during the listing term. Include this within your pre-listing package.
16. Internet Marketing
Give the seller a detailed outline on how you will market his/her home online. Include this within your pre-listing package.
Take A Listing Presentation Skills Quiz !
1. What Is Your Goal When On A Listing Appointment?
A. To get the listing. (Yes or No)
Answer
Your goal must be to gain the sellers trust and confidence in your abilities. This is accomplished by discussing testimonies from happy clients and your 100% service guarantee.
2. What Presentation Do You Use First When Sitting With The Seller?
A. Your listing Presentation. (Yes or No)
Answer
You must use your testimony presentation first so that you can establish credibility and provide the evidence to the seller of your experience.
3. What Is The Goal of the Testimony Presentation?
A. To impress the seller. (Yes or No)
Answer
No, your goal is to have the seller agree that you have both the talent and experience required to list and sell his home.
4. Should Your Listing Presentation Include Price Discussion?
A. (Yes or No)
Answer
No! Your listing presentation must be separate from your pricing presentation. The purpose of a listing presentation is to outline your services and to show to the seller how you will market and sell his home. Therefore you must gain acceptance from the seller at the close of your listing presentation about your marketing plan BEFORE you discuss price.
5. What Is The Most Important Part of Your Pricing Presentation?
A. The seller signs. (Yes or No)
Answer
No! It is to ensure the seller understands how price is determined by discussing the three components of the CMA. (1. The Competition: Homes currently listed for sale. 2. Recent Past Sales: Similar homes recently sold. 3. Expired Listings: Homes that did not sell.)
6. What Is The #1 Reason Why The Seller Invited You To The Appointment?
A. He wants me to sell his home. (Yes or No)
Answer
No! The reason is that he does not have a buyer for his home. If he did have a buyer he would not have invited you to the meeting. Therefore the seller's #1 reason for inviting you over to his home is the LACK of a buyer.
7. How Do You Prove To Sellers That You Do Have Buyers?
A. Brag about my company. (Yes or No)
Answer
No! There is only one way and that is the fully understand MLS 'Targeted Buyers' marketing strategy. You then must produce a list of these targeted buyers and then 'do the math' with the seller to confirm this list.
8. Outside of Having A Buyer, What Is The 2nd Most Important Concern of the Seller?
A. That his home sells in a reason amount of time. (Yes or No)
Answer
No! The seller wants ongoing communication during the listing term. There is nothing worse for a seller than to hire an agent and then to never hear from the agent. If you want referrals after the listing sellers... stay-in-touch communication with the seller while you had the listing is what generates referrals.
9. What Is The Best Sales Close With A Seller?
A. I am the best agent in town. (Yes or No)
Answer
No! Sales closes serve only a very tiny role when it comes to having a seller decide to hire you to sell his home. Trust, evidence, buyers and guaranteed service when combined together within a professional presentation is what closes the seller.
10. How Are Referrals Generated From A Seller?
A. I sell his home therefore he sends me referrals. (Yes or No)
Answer
No! By staying in tough during the listing term qualifies you to ask the seller for help in your business by referring family and friends to you.
Basic Ingredients of a Listing Presentation
1. Make sure your listing presentation is in full color.
2. Focus on solds.
3. Focus on days on market before sold.
4. Highlight expired listings.
5. Show how many days before expired.
6. Show net sales price after deductions.
7. Include a letter from your Broker.
8. Display your current listings.
9. Testimonies a must.
10. Listings under contract.
11. Current market data.
12. Market absorption analysis.
13. Samples of Just Listed and Just Sold marketing.
14. Your Internet marketing plan.
15. Your 'share the listing with other agents' marketing plan.
16. Your personal designations, recognitions and awards.
17. Newspaper articles about you.
18. CMA
19. Pricing presentation
20. Staging strategy
21. In-House selling display cards
22. Open House strategy
23. Sign strategy
24. Update listing strategy
25. Open house for office and MLS agents
26. Business marketing strategy
27. Seller assisted marketing efforts.
28. Communication with seller plan.
29. Feedback after showings plan.
30. Google and Facebook marketing plan.
Listing Presentation Article - Top Listing Presentation & Appointment Tips
There’s no better buyer than a seller who just sold their home and is in the ‘must buy’ rather than the ‘like to buy’ position. |
