HOW TO GO FROM 5% TO 60% MARKET SHARE & DOMINATE YOUR FARM IN 2022. A definitive report.
Contents 04
INTRODUCTION
05
5 SI M P L E ST R AT EG I E S
07
D I F F E R E N T I AT I O N
10
F A R M C U LT I VAT I O N
13
COMPOUND EFFECT
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CONSISTENCY + RELEVANCY
19
K E E P T H E S PA R K A L I V E
21
FINAL THOUGHTS
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NEXT STEPS
celebrity agent /no un/ an omnipresent agent that maintains a listing market share in their farm between 10%-60%
The Good News
Introduction The Goal Becoming the “go-to” agent in your farm and having a consistent inbound flow of listing leads month after month is one of the greatest feelings you can experience as a top producing agent. There is simply nothing else like it. That’s because when you have home sellers consistently reaching out to you and looking at you as the preeminent choice in your farm, you get more predictability in your business, which allows you to scale, and ultimately, create more freedom in your life.
The Challenges However, there are three main obstacles you have to overcome: 1. Identify the ways to get your brand in front of homeowners 2. Gain homeowner attention by sending the right content at the right time 3. Do it consistently When you are busy servicing clients, converting leads, and managing escrows, hitting each of the points above feels overwhelming. Especially the consistency part. As a result, you fall short of truly building your brand and scaling your business to Celebrity Agent status.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
Fortunately, though, becoming the Celebrity Agent in your farm doesn’t have to be as challenging as you think. Far from it, in fact. Simply by implementing the proper tried-and-tested techniques, you can become the go-to agent in your farm without drowning in Google and Facebook ad costs (which are unpredictable and often unreliable). How would we know? Because, at Celebrity Agent, we’re experts at helping top producing agents and teams achieve celebrity status in their farm much faster and more reliably than online methods. Over the past two years, we’ve helped 50 agents who were, at minimum, top 3% in their market, to achieve another level of growth. Many are on their way to Celebrity Agent status, and some are already there. We’ve written this report to share some of the powerful industry secrets we’ve accumulated. The information you’re about to read will help you become the preeminent listing agent in your farm while ensuring that your competitor isn’t taking over your market share.
What’s Coming You’re about to discover the 5 simple things you can do to become the Celebrity Agent in your farm without investing more money in online advertising like Google or Facebook. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll have all the information you need to kickstart your journey to becoming the Celebrity Agent in your market.
Let’s get started!
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5 Simple Strategies Celebrity Status Some days, attaining “Celebrity Status” might seem like a faraway dream. But, if you implement the right strategies, you can get there far sooner than you think. We’ve outlined 5 simple, tried-and-tested techniques you can use to automate and dominate and become the Celebrity Agent in your farm. Let’s first define what exactly a “Celebrity Agent” is. Our definition of a Celebrity Agent is one who has a listing market share in their farm between 10% and 60%. The farm can be as small as 500 homes, though farms in the 1,000 to 10,000 range are more typical. The way to gauge your “Celebrity” status would be if someone were to knock on a door in your farm, the person answers and I say “name a real estate agent”, do they say your name? Consumer psychologists call this knowledge “awareness.“ If your farm is not aware of you, you cannot be a Celebrity Agent. If you want to become a Celebrity Agent, or if you are one but want to increase your market share, read on.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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In differentiation, not uniformity, lies the path of progress - LO U IS D. B R A N D E IS
1
Differentiation
The Strategy
Differentiation
Anytime you have a new buyer lead that knows their search criteria (ex: specific area/ neighborhood, square footage, beds, baths, etc.), work with that buyer to find off-market listing opportunities. What is an off-market listing opportunity? Simply put, it’s any property in your farm that meets similar criteria to what your buyer is looking for.
Setting Yourself Apart
Once you have those off-market listing opportunities identified, simply send a handwritten letter to the current homeowner on the buyer’s behalf.
Buyers are working against an extremely competitive landscape in today’s real estate market, going toe-to-toe with multiple offers, all-cash buyers, and heavily backed investors.
Example Mailer
If you’re serious about becoming a Celebrity Agent in your farm and generating more listings, one of the first things you can do is provide a differentiated value proposition for buyers in your farm.
Dear Neighbor,
Doing so will attract more buyers to your business, at the same time generating off-market listings and expanding the brand awareness in your farm.
and we are very keen to purchase prior to the baby arriving.
Let me explain.
Is there any chance you may be interested in selling?
Every agent in your farm offers the same value proposition to generate buyer leads… …a home search. The exact home search they can get by going to Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, or your IDX website. There’s no value proposition for them to use you over your competitors. Sure, your site may allow them to “save their favorite homes,” “share properties with a friend,” or maybe “click one button to schedule a showing.”
My family is currently renting about two blocks from your home on Winston. My wife is pregnant We are finding nothing for sale that matches our needs. From what we can see, we love your home. You can reach me at (415) 555-1212 or, if you would prefer, you can reach my agent Max Lo (DRE#: 1192824), Green Banker, at 650-249-7991.
I would appreciate a response either way so I know you received my letter. You have a great home. Sincerely, Kevin S.
But if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s all the same thing. You’re still showing them the same properties that everyone else sees and will be competing for. But, what if you were able to give buyers a way to find the exact home they want without having to compete against anyone? Do you think an active buyer may be interested in hearing more?
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
PRO TIP: Select a phone number on the letter that goes to a voicemail that you, the agent, screens. Then simply engage that listing opportunity on the buyer’s behalf. When done consistently, you will not only have created a massive differentiated value proposition for the buyer, but you’ve now also generated a new listing opportunity with the off-market home seller.
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At Scale Using The Celebrity Agent platform, you’ll have a powerful tool called Buyer Concierge that will put this strategy on auto-pilot. You will have a custom Buyer Concierge website that you can send buyer leads to that will generate a custom list of off-market homes that match their preferences and are likely to sell based on several data points. We collaborate with you to generate a personal letter to send targeted homeowners on behalf of your buyer. The letter references you as the buyer’s agent. Homeowners respond by calling or texting you. You simply approve the proposed mailing with a single click. While actively working with buyers in your farm, you’ll find off-market listing opportunities and increase your brand awareness.
With Celebrity Agent’s Buyer Concierge, you have a truly differentiated value proposition that your competition doesn’t.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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Top of mind means tip of tongue. - JONAH BERGER
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Farm Cultivation
Example Mailer #1
Cultivation
Kathy, I just listed your neighbor’s home at 151 G Ave. If you would like info on the home, including price, pictures or open house schedule, please call or text me at (415) 542-6844.
Nurturing Your Farm & Establishing Your Celebrity
I’m thankful to have another listing here in Hillsborough and more sales than any other agent this year! Thomas Owen
As well as having differentiation with buyers to generate listings, you also need to maintain communication with your farm in a way that adds value and separates you from every other average agent if you’re ever going to become the Celebrity Agent in your farm. This strategy is compelling because it can help you gain the lion’s share of your farm in a MUCH shorter timeframe if done consistently.
The Strategy
License 273349
Owen Properties
PRO TIP: Inform all the neighbors every time you get a new listing. Owners pay great attention to real estate activity on their block. Seize this moment to reinforce that you are the Celebrity Agent.
Example Mailer #2
Inform neighbors of unusual activity in the community, whether it is your listing or not. Many agents may not have the resources to over-communicate with the neighborhood about listing updates. That’s where you come in. This strategy will help position you as the agent with a hand on the pulse of the real estate activity in their area. It’s information everyone wants to know but may not think about or have direct access to. Any unusual activity is an attention grabber and the prime opportunity to brand yourself as the Celebrity Agent and neighborhood expert.
Karen and Nate, As real estate slo ws with the holidays, I’m setting aside time to do custom home price updates for each of my clients. The reason is websites like Zillo w and Redfin can’t keep up, so my clients are underestimating their home value.
Please send me a text to 650-249-7991 if you would like my valuation of your home on Willow Lane. I can just text it to you. It is higher than you think.
I’m grateful that my family has been #1 in the Hillsborough area for over 30 years.
PRO TIP: Ask everyone in your farm annually if they want a personalized home value report including a value based reason of why it’s important. Also, all letters should be “hand written” for highest open rate and consumption.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
Max Lo
(DRE#: 119824) Green Banker
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At Scale Using the Celebrity Agent platform, you can consistently communicate with and generate listings from Your Farm. Every time an unusual activity occurs, the software will automatically generate and send direct mail to inform the neighbors. I.e. A home recently sold for 5x what it sold for 2 years ago. This consistent communication with your farm will exponentially increase your market share of your farm.
With Celebrity Agent’s robust platform, every letter will have the highest conversion with authentic handwritten letters on your behalf.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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Small, seemingly insignificant steps completed consistently over time will create a radical difference. - DA R R E N H A R DY
3
Compound Effect
The Strategy
Duplication Create A Compound Effect With Your Pending Listings Most top producers know that when you put a home into pending status, you should send some form of direct mail to nearby neighbors. Most agents don’t notify neighbors of their pending listings at all, and when they do, it’s done inconsistently and ineffectively. If they do, more often than not, it’s just a postcard that talks about how many homes they’ve sold and how great they are, which ends up being a very “vanilla” message with no direct relevance to the homeowners. Even the sold price won’t matter because the home may not be of similar size, bed, baths, etc. What if they’re renters? What if they just closed on their home? That direct mail is dead on arrival and a waste of money. It seems like a very loose strategy to spend money on.
Instead of sending to every home nearby, send a letter specifically to other homeowners in the neighborhood with similar houses to the one you listed and ask them if they’re interested in knowing the price or snagging the disappointed backup buyers. Teasing other parties interested in a home similar to theirs will pique their interest. This strategy will speak to the demand of their specific type of home. It will not only drive their interest in the selling price but communicate to them that they may be able to sell much faster than they think.
Example Mailer
Mike and Dawn, You own 1 of 38 homes on the bayside that are at least 2700 square feet. I will put into escrow
161 E. Ave in a few days and there were many disappointed buyers who wanted a large bayside home like yours.
Would you like me to bring you one of the disappointed buyers? I ’d appreciate you letting me know: 619-389-3462
I am grateful to be the #1 agent in Coronado these last 30 years. Scott Aurich
(DRE#: 00978974) Pacific Sothebys
PRO TIP: It’s important that you match your message to those you are sending communication to. When you blanket communicate the same message, the majority of recipients will disregard what you sent. Include information that is relevant to their current situation.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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At Scale Using the Celebrity Agent platform, every time you put a property into pending status, the software automatically generates and sends direct mail to owners of like homes and asks them if they are interested in knowing the price or connecting with a backup buyer. We call this feature Neighbors Of My Listings. It allows you to use your current listings to brand and get new listings. Neighbors are very interested in sales near them, so you have their attention to reinforce you are the top agent with Celebrity status.
According to NAR, 91% of all realtors never contact the buyer or seller of a home after closing.
With Celebrity Agent’s Neighbors of My Listings, your brand awareness will spread quickly throughout the farm with the help of effortless automation.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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Being persistent may lead you to the door but consistency is the key which unlocks it. - KENNY DASINGER
4
Consistency + Relevancy
The Strategy
Intention Past Client Consistency & Relevancy
Inform neighbors of unusual activity in the community, whether it is your listing or not. Many agents may not have the resources to over-communicate with the neighborhood about listing updates. That’s where you come in. This strategy will help position you as the agent with a hand on the pulse of the real estate activity in their area. It’s information everyone wants to know but may not think about or have direct access to. Any unusual activity is an attention grabber and the prime opportunity to brand yourself as the Celebrity Agent and neighborhood expert.
Per NAR, most transactions come f rom past clients and their referrals, yet 91% of agents never contact the buyer or seller after closing. Don’t fall into that trap, or it will cost you listings. There are few feelings as an agent worse than seeing your past client list their home with another agent. Staying relevant with your past clients is key, but communicating consistently is where many agents fall short. That ability to keep in touch on a regular basis is what will ensure you are first on their mind when it’s time to talk real estate.
Example Mailer
Tara and Shawn, I have a new listing at 1015 Ocean and I wanted to let you know in case you have a friend or family member who may be looking. If you would like to come by an open house or have a private tour, please text me at 619-389-3462.
I’m grateful to have you as a client and to be the #1 agent in Coronado these last 30 years. Scott Aurich
Pacific Sothebys
PRO TIP: Don’t make communication to past clients too formal. Addressing all parties involved by their first name is a nice touch. Also, short and sweet is the key. It should come across that you wanted to keep them in the loop but not take too much of their time!
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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At Scale
Up to 90% of direct mail gets opened, compared to only 20-30% of emails.
With the Celebrity Agent platform, staying top of mind with your past clients is simple using the Past Clients feature. When you get a new listing, the software automatically generates and sends a handwritten letter informing your past clients of your new listing. It includes a “VIP” offer to get a private tour or learn more about the property. These are owners in your service area who purchased through you. We keep you in touch with them because they are your repeat clients and the best referral sources with nurture. NAR 2020 report: “67% of sellers found their agent through a referral from a friend, neighbor, or relative or used an agent they had worked with before”. That means 2/3rds of all deals come from networking, NOT paid advertising. Show this group the love it deserves. This marketing strategy will reaffirm your market expertise and reinforce that you are the preeminent agent in that neighborhood. So when it’s time for your past client to sell, or the topic of real estate comes up, your name will the one they think of.
With Celebrity Agent’s Past Clients feature, you’ll be top of mind with the clients most likely to refer you even more business.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will... - EDGAR MITCHELL
5
Keep The Spark Alive
The Strategy
Execution Keeping The Spark Alive Let’s talk more about how “91% of buyer agents never talk with their buyer after closing.”
Send a note to the buyers who bought your previous listings whenever an event happens that impacts their home value. You already have their information, so you have the opportunity to add value to them. You can already assume that based on the statistics their past buyer agent is neglecting them. So it’s your chance to add value, consistently communicate, and establish yourself as the top agent in that neighborhood. You already were the listing agent once. You should be the listing agent again. You know the home already and have successfully sold it. If you stay in touch with these buyers of your listings, there’s a very high likelihood that you’ll get the listing when it’s time to sell because who’s better to sell their home than the person who sold it to them?
The industry average is that home buyers will sell and purchase a new property (two transactions!) every 7 years. Example Mailer
And yet, astonishingly, 91% of agents do not do the work to stay engaged during that 7-year period. The net result is that they work twice as hard to build a new relationship with someone else rather than enhance the one they already have. It’s imperative that you avoid losing touch with your actual past clients… and also use this statistic to your advantage…
Kate and Benny, I just listed 500 D Ave and I wanted to inform you in case you have a friend or family member interested. I can be reached at 619-389-3462.
I am grateful to have sold your home on 5th Street and to be the #1 agent in Coronado these last 30 years. Scott Aurich
(DRE#: 00978974) Pacific Southebys
PRO TIP: Don’t assume these orphan buyers will remember you were the person who sold them their home. Also, it’s important to word the letter how you would talk to someone in person. These little touches will add more validity to the communication.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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At Scale With the Celebrity Agent platform, you can take advantage of this untapped source of listings on auto-pilot. Using the Buyers Who Bought My Listings feature, the software broadcasts regular, personalized messages to the buyers who bought your previous listings. As we’ve discussed, you can easily generate 7-figures in commissions from this group. You are already the expert on selling that home. You must stay in contact with the new owner, or another agent (like the buyer agent) will muscle you out. Per NAR, most buyer agents never keep in touch with the buyer post-closing. Take advantage of this blunder. It’s inexpensive and will create future listings guaranteed.
Only 44% of people can recall a brand immediately after seeing a digital ad compared to 75% of people who receive direct mail.
With Celebrity Agent’s Buyers Who Bought My Listings, you’ll automatically stay in touch with orphan buyers most agents will never reach out to again.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
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Next Steps Let’s Connect Let’s connect for a no-obligation, 30-minute personalized demo of the Celebrity Agent platform, and we’ll show you how to become the Celebrity Agent in your farm. Here’s how it works. First, we’ll take a look at your business, analyze your target farm, and assess your goals with you. Then based on what you tell us, we’ll show you how the Celebrity Agent platform can be seamlessly integrated into your business to help automate and dominate your farm. There’s no catch.
Final Thoughts
You won’t be talking to some high-pressure salesperson. You’ll be speaking to one of our highly trained strategic advisors. They will show you behind the curtain into the Celebrity Agent platform and walk you through exactly what our platform can do for you to maximize your listing business at scale. At the end of the call, if you feel it’s a good fit, you can discuss what that opportunity would look like.
A sincere thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read this report. I hope you use what you’ve learned to not only increase your listing business but also become a dominant force in your farm while avoiding the common mistakes that most top producers make when trying to scale their listing business.
Copyright 2022 Celebrity Agent®
B O O K YO U R D E M O N OW
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g o.c e l e b r i t y a g e n t .c o m
In my first 90 days using [Celebrity Agent’s] Buyer Concierge I found an off-market home for one buyer, and converted another buyer who had been working with an out-of-town agent into my client simply because I offered to send letters for her. I also generated new conversations with 25 homeowners in my farm who I had never previously spoken with, 8 of whom I am now actively working as new listing opportunities. I could not be more excited! - M A R Y J O M O R G A N | R E A LTO R OWEN PROPERTIES, CORONADO, CA