BAKERSFIELD, CA - With social networking and cell phones, getting a handwritten note doesn't happen often. Some real estate agents are scaling back on technology and reaching out in more traditional ways, hoping you'll sell your home.
With fewer homes on the market than this time last year, realtors are changing their strategy to reach clients. Surprisingly, it's not with a new app or flashy advertisement, instead they're going back to basics.
Housing experts say the number of homes for sale in Bakersfield is down, making the market more competitive for buyers, and creating less business for realtors.
Realtor Raymond Beasley said, "Right now, limited inventory is the problem with multiple offers, cash bids, outbidding everybody."
Because of the lower number of homes available on the market, realtors are going back to basics. They're even, in some cases, leaving hand written letters to solicit interest.
Broker Debbie Banducci said, "We're asking for the business. We're getting back to just asking people for the business."
The realtors we spoke with say the main reason they're changing their technique is to build trust and personal relationships with clients.
Beasley said, "You have to put yourself out there and think outside the box and just build those relationships to where they're strong and they can trust you."
"We want them to feel they can trust their realtor as they do their attorney, their doctor, anybody else that they are dealing with professionally," said Banducci.
A personal touch is just what some prospective clients are looking for.
"We're all just go, go, go. I think that whole art of that has been lost, in a Facebook kind of world, and everybody's enjoying it, it seems. They're actually kind of shocked when when they get a hand written note," said Banducci.
In most cases, realtors are selecting neighborhoods where they leave notes based on buyer demand in that area.
With fewer homes on the market than this time last year, realtors are changing their strategy to reach clients. Surprisingly, it's not with a new app or flashy advertisement, instead they're going back to basics.
Housing experts say the number of homes for sale in Bakersfield is down, making the market more competitive for buyers, and creating less business for realtors.
Realtor Raymond Beasley said, "Right now, limited inventory is the problem with multiple offers, cash bids, outbidding everybody."
Because of the lower number of homes available on the market, realtors are going back to basics. They're even, in some cases, leaving hand written letters to solicit interest.
Broker Debbie Banducci said, "We're asking for the business. We're getting back to just asking people for the business."
The realtors we spoke with say the main reason they're changing their technique is to build trust and personal relationships with clients.
Beasley said, "You have to put yourself out there and think outside the box and just build those relationships to where they're strong and they can trust you."
"We want them to feel they can trust their realtor as they do their attorney, their doctor, anybody else that they are dealing with professionally," said Banducci.
A personal touch is just what some prospective clients are looking for.
"We're all just go, go, go. I think that whole art of that has been lost, in a Facebook kind of world, and everybody's enjoying it, it seems. They're actually kind of shocked when when they get a hand written note," said Banducci.
In most cases, realtors are selecting neighborhoods where they leave notes based on buyer demand in that area.