Long Term Change

Recently the Globe and Mail published a story describing the tentative agreement reached between the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and the Competition Bureau regarding the MLS listings site. ( http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/housing/real-estate-group-reaches-tentative-agreement-on-mls-listings/article1736411/ )

The article seems to confirm the fact that the residential real estate industry is going to become more crowded and competitive, and that this change will be long term. The article states that once the new agreement is "ratified, the new rules will take effect immediately and be in effect for 10 years."

These forthcoming changes only solidify the need for Realtors to add as much value throughout the buying/listing experience as possible in order to remain competitive.

Another section of the article predicts that "consumers are going to have the ability to choose what services they want from a real estate agent, and pay only for those services." This prophecy, paired with the already evident rise in popularity of discount brokerages, indicate that in any event agents at all firms will see commission fees squeezed while realtor's profit margins decrease.

Icon can help you address these changes in the industry for a number of reasons. Firstly, our advertisements create extra value to the customer not only because the ads are loaded with information and look nice, but also because our ads use current technologies and trends regarding the Internet in the most efficient and effective ways possible.

Secondly, Icon's services can help with your profit margins, since you only pay a low one time fee for each ad. Print media and more expensive forms of advertising are not only less effective and contain less information, but they also cost more in relation to the product Icon provides.

Call today for a meeting! 604-831-7508

The Contemporary Nature of Internet Marketing For Realtors

With everything that has gone on regarding the MLS service in the last 18 months, a lot has changed when considering Internet marketing and Realtors. The time when the only way of viewing home listings on the internet was by accessing the MLS has come and gone, and new opportunities and advertising methods in relation to this internet are now abundant.

The Globe and Mail recently published an article entitled "Big-name Realtors plot rival listings site" ( http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/big-name-realtors-plot-rival-listings-site/article1690739/ ),which describes how brokerages are attempting to counter the changes in the MLS rules. The article talks about how real estate firms are going to build private listing sites that have more features and information than the MLS has ever had. Some of the knowledge to be included on the new private sites are items such as average house price in the area, school information and information about the region. Providing this type of information is absolutely beneficial to the buyer, however, by creating a range of independent listings sites the industry seems to take a step backwards by creating a more segregated listing network. The main benefit of the MLS was that you could view almost all listings in Canada at one central listings network, which is now what makes Craigslist so exciting.

Craigslist has the potential to be an even bigger network for listings because both realtors and owners can post their home listings on the same site for no fee. As for the abundance of information? Well that is where Icon Marketing comes in! Icon ads include a variety of pictures and information regarding the surrounding region, maps showing where schools are, organized tables displaying pricing information, and customized headers and text, all on your Craigslist advertisement! Since each ad is highly customizable and made especially for that certain listing, we can include any type of visual or written information the realtor deems valuable. This may be school board information, city hall news, or tax information.

Have the best looking and most informative Craigslist advertisements on the Web! Call Today and let's get started! 604.831.7508.

Go In-Depth When Marketing Major Selling Features!

Sometimes when listing a property, there are certain features that can almost sell a home all by themselves. An example of this is White Rock Beach. White Rock Beach is a very beautiful area and can be thought of as a little piece of California lost in Canada.

Such a beautiful area deserves special marketing treatment, and when listing a property in the White Rock region or near the water, it is important to highlight the natural appeal of the area; in this case an area that typically leaves new visitors and even life long residents speechless.

Below are screenshots of a photo gallery with 40+ images, all depicting the beauty of White Rock Beach, along with the dining and entertainment that surrounds it. When listing a home near a major selling feature such as White Rock Beach, it is essential to market this benefit to the fullest extent. Keep in mind, what is seen below can be featured within ONE ADVERTISEMENT!

Post Building Plans and Zoning Maps!

When an agent is listing a vacant lot ready for development, or is marketing a home that is currently under construction, it is beneficial to post a zoning map or some floor plans.

Since there are no crown mouldings and marble counters to market when listing a half built home, it is beneficial to show as much information about the property as possible. By showing floor maps a buyer can get an idea for the layout of the house, and the suitability of the home relating to their needs.

For a developer, a zoning map says a lot. Not only will it show the size of the lot and the type of building it is zoned for, but it can also show the builder what the newly developed area may look like a couple of years down the road.

These types of images can be posted to any type of advertisement done with Icon!

Flyer Style Advertisements!

Some agents prefer the look of a compact "Flyer Style" advertisement which, obviously, looks like your typical flyer that one might find in their mailbox or in their newspaper.

These types of ads are compact and very customizable in terms of text and colour. If an agent prefers the use of a text style that Craigslist does not support, we can then design the ad as one image using the preferred text type, and create a Flyer Style advertisement. We can still post an unlimited amount of pictures to these types of advertisements. An example of this type of advertisement can be seen below.

Use Different Text Options to Highlight Important Statements

Icon can use a number of different text options, not available to creators of a typical Craigslist advertisement. As seen below, we can make text a number of different sizes, and a variety of colors. We can also have the text underlined, italicised, made bold, or any combination of the two.

Headers, as well as text, can be left, right, or center justified, and both can have any of the 9 colors supported by Craigslist as either text or back-ground color. Using colourful headers works to introduce a new topic, as well as to improve the clarity and readability of your descriptions, and are paramount to a good Cragislist advertisements.

Typical Craigslist Advertisements Are Not Good Enough!

Craigslist, along with other online marketing vehicles, has helped to grow the popularity of discount brokers and pushed more individuals to become owner-sellers. Firms such as Myrealty.ca, and other flat fee brokerages, along with the new rules regarding MLS listings, have made the industry more competitive than ever. Never before has the real estate industry had so many options and been so competitive when a principal is considering buying a home, or listing their current home.

Craigslist is one of the major reasons why clients feel that they can sell their home without the use of the realtor, and it doesn’t help when Realtors create Craigslist advertisements that look comparable (and in some cases actually worse) then the ads that the owners prepare for themselves. It is simply unacceptable for Realtors to be providing Craigslist advertisements, such as the one seen below, that contain very little information, as well as just 1 – 4 pictures of the asset.

Icon advertisements not only look professional in that they are organized and easy to read, but they also provide a smorgasbord of pictures, not only of the asset, but also of the area the viewer is looking to buy in, as well as other features to promote the unique aspects of each home. I personally have been with individuals while they are searching Craigslist, shopping for a new home, and have heard first hand the complaints they have about the lack of pictures and information presented on the Craigslist ads.

So; both the market conditions and the clients alike are calling for better Real Estate Craigslist ads. Producing GREAT advertisements is only one call away. Please contact John at iconmarketingbc@gmail.com or call him at 604.831.7508.

The South Surrey/White Rock Area and Amenities are a Major Selling Point!

Everyone that visits South Surrey/White Rock leaves with the impression that they have just left a beautiful seaside area, some even describe it as "a little piece of California." This should not come as a surprise to anyone that either lives in or visits the area regularly.

The area boasts two beaches, several parks and green spaces, and has great outdoor recreational facilities. On top of that, we have seen a large growth in the amount and quality of retail space in the area, and have maintained the wide variety of local dining. We also have numerous elementary schools, three public and two private secondary schools in the area, a hospital with a great reputation, and several golf courses. All of these features are attractive to home buyers and should be used as selling points!

In our Craigslist ads, we not only provide written descriptions of the area, but we also provide a wide range of pictures depicting the extensive amount of local amenities. Below you see a visual area summary for a home near 144th and 30th, in Elgin Estates.

We Can Use a Number of Different Tools to Highlight Location and Proximity

Different properties are attractive to different buyers because of the fact that each individual will have unique preferences and requirements. For example, there may be some buyers who absolutely require a property that is within walking distance of an elementary school, while there may be others who desire a home that is in close proximity to a public transportation hub. Each property has different benefits, and these different benefits determine the type of buyer that is most likely to be interested in the property. A house on the beach will most likely be bought by someone who is seeking a relaxing environment near the water, while an apartment unit in a busy area may likely be purchased by an individual who prefers to walk and bike places.

The first example below is a Google Earth image that is advertising the fact that this apartment listing is in close proximity to a major public transportation hub. The second example shows a listing that is within walking distance to both an elementary school and a secondary school. Tools such as Google Earth help us to better market the benefits presented by each listing, especially when considering location and proximity.

The images seen below would be viewed directly from your advertisement!

Custom Headers Create Brand Recognition!

Not only do headers help your ad to look visually appealing and professional, but they also create brand recognition.

The same or similar header should be used on all your web-based advertising vehicles such as your website, your monthly e-mails, and your Craigslist ads.

Icon can help create individual headers, but we can also use pre-existing headers from your website or otherwise if the agent chooses to do so. A few made up examples can be seen below.

Attract More Clients with High Quality Service Ads!

Icon has solutions for Agents looking to advertise their listing/buyer representation services on Craigslist!

Craigslist is a FANTASTIC way to attract new clients whether an agent is looking for properties to list, or buyers to represent.

Every client wants to work with a knowledgeable, reputable, and ambitious realtor, and Icon has solutions that can communicate these attributes to perspective clients.

The service advertisements that Icon generates are customizable and can include anything from pictures of recently sold houses (below), to monthly housing statistics, interest rates news, or any other insider knowledge that can be used to sell the realtor as knowledgeable and reputable.

Service advertisements are a great way to find leads and should be used by every realtor!

We Have Many Different Levels of Service!

Icon Marketing has a number of different solutions for creating Real Estate Craigslist advertisements. Since different realtors have different practices, preferences, and procedures when making advertisements, Icon has developed flexible services to cater to these differences.

When considering photos, Icon is available to come on site and take all the pictures necessary to make a descriptive and visually appealing advertisement. However, some realtors prefer to take their own pictures or use those of a specialist in advertisements, which is absolutely fine because these photos can just as easily be used in the Craigslist ad. Icon is prepared to gather all relevant information and visuals for a site (full service), but is also prepared to work out custom and individual procedures with each realtor who may have unique preferences. Also note that Icon has a large picture bank of local amenities including malls, parks, beaches, and schools located throughout the South Surrey region.

Not only will each advertisement contain an abundance of photographs, but there will also be written descriptions accompanying these galleries. We have a number of ways to efficiently create written descriptions to the liking of the realtor.

Icon knows that many Realtors are very adamant about using certain adjectives and nouns when describing a listing in an advertisement. Icon provides a full range of options when considering this scenario. Firstly, in the situation that the Realtor does not feel the need to be involved in the ad generation process, Icon is able to generate full written descriptions of all necessary areas of the area and property. On the other side of the spectrum, if the Realtor has high preferences for certain descriptive words, one of the options available is the use of a voice recorder, which would be used as follows: The Realtor does a walk through of the property, verbally describing the listing using all their favourite selling words, and Icon will incorporate these phrases or statements directly into the advertisement. There are also other options to facilitate this descriptive process, flexible to any and all personal preferences.

Contact John for more details!

Four Pictures Just isn't Enough!

Craigslist allows only four pictures to be uploaded per advertisment, which is obviously insufficient when listing any sort of property. By designing each ad like a web page, we can construct the type of picture galleries that are necessary to show the viewer the full benefits of the property.

Icon Marketing does everything possible to provide quality advertisments, which includes coming to each property site and taking all the photos necassary to make an extensive ad. Here we see an advertisment for a large home in Ocean Park, which is organized into different sections based on each functional area of the property.

Use the Location to Sell the Property!

Many properties in the White Rock/South Surrey/Surrey area in close proximity to beaches, parks, schools, and retail shopping centers. These features are valuable to home owners and should be used as selling points when listing a property on Craigslist.

Here we see an advertisment for an apartment located in the Grandview Corners area of South Surrey. The advertisment has an entire section dedicated to highlighting the surrounding area, complete with written descripton and extensive visuals. Presenting in-depth information about the most desirable features of a property helps us create more interest for the listing and helps attract more leads.