|
Unlike much
of our competition, Birchler Realtors is a member of the two MLS services
covering our area: The Monmouth/Ocean
Multiple Listing Service and the New Jersey Shore Multiple Listing Service. We at Birchler Realtors find it important to
have access to both systems as it maximizes the sales and marketing of our
listings. As a member of both systems
our property inventory is accessible to many more agents, therefore, your
chances of getting shown are increased nearly two-fold.
Birchler Realtors prides themselves on maintaining an
excellent website. Our site has grown
over the years as more and more buyers turn to the internet to begin home
searches. BirchlerRealtors.com allows
buyers to run their own real-time searches of listed property and can register
to receive new home listings that match saved criteria. Prospective purchasers receive an e-mail
anytime a property that falls within their specifications hits the market. In an area widely sought after as ours,
buyers realize the importance of knowing about new listings as soon as they
become available. We have thousands of
registered users that receive these very useful e-mail alerts.
Birchler Realtors listings are displayed with interior
pictures but have virtual tours as well.
Virtual tours allow buyers a 360 degree view of each room. Using arrow buttons or a touch pad, shoppers
can look up, down and all around as if they were standing in the center of the
room. Current statistics show that
listings are 80% more likely to be viewed when this type of tour is
offered. Birchler Realtors employs two
staff members with the skills and technology to take these tours that are
renowned for moving property. Few agencies
offer this service as they rely on other companies to upload these complicated
photo files. Many brokerages purport
they offer virtual tours and then only follow through for customers selling
“big dollar” properties. Birchler
Realtors treats every listing the same.
We make good on our promise of virtual tours and clear pictures whether
your home is listed at $200,000 or $2,000,000.
Beyond our own site, Birchler Realtors listings are linked
directly to Realtor.com. Realtor.com is
nationally known as the hot spot to search real estate. The pictures and tours previously mentioned
automatically transfer to the Realtor.com site.
Birchler Realtors is designated an Enhanced Listing Realtor on
Realtor.com which means our listings will have multiple photo's and virtual
tours. Realtor.com allows buyers to
search for listings with only virtual tours. 80% of searches are completed
requesting listings with tours only.
This means the properties with tours are more likely to be viewed by the
public.
Understanding that more traditional buyers like to flip
through home sales publications, we continue to advertise in the Home Shopper
Magazine and Homes and Living Magazine.
These booklets are distributed to convenience stores and shopping
centers in the counties of Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, Atlantic, Cape May,
Bergen, Burlington and others as well as Staten Island. Given our long standing history with The Home
Shopper magazine, we’ve earned our way to prominence getting the page one spot.
All Birchler listings receive a customized color flyer. This flyer is available in our office as well
as at your property. Attached to our
yard signage is a clear box that entices buyers not only to slow down and look
at your home, but to stop and gather the information they need to see if your
property meets their needs. These “ad
boxes” are checked regularly to ensure your custom flyer is in good supply.
Finally, it’s important to find a broker that offers a
fifty-fifty commission split. Of late,
many agencies have decided to keep more of your commission fee for
themselves. For example, a 6% listing
may be advertised as only 2.5% to the buyer’s agency. This means that the listing broker is keeping
a full percent more than what they offer.
Although this practice is not illegal, it can be considered
unscrupulous. Most sellers are not even
made aware that a listing agency is aiming to retain the lion’s share of the
commissions set to be paid. Birchler
Realtors finds it important to offer fair splits with other agencies as they,
too, are working hard to bring buyers to your listing. Pay special attention to the split offered to
participating agencies. Equal splits
generate added interest in your home from the buyer’s agents’ perspective. Of course, the more prospective buyers shown
your home, the better chance you’ll have to sell it for top dollar.
Contact us at Birchler Realtors any day to discuss these and
other ways we ensure your home is being properly marketed.
Thank You,
The Staff of Birchler Realtors
|
