Real estate farming is an excellent way to generate leads and referrals.  You must, however, have a plan, use some or all of the ideas below and implement a solid system if you want to dominate a particular area or niche.

Farming a neighborhood takes intention, focus, and consistent execution.  It's worth the effort to learn to farm effectively in 2023.   It'll pay you great dividends for years to come.

Implement some or all of the below farming ideas and strategies, watch the video, and get your REAL ESTATE FARMING PDF Guide.

Be the GO-TO REALTOR® in your chosen farming area.  

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Real Estate Farming PDF eBook

Easy Real Estate Farming Tips For Real Estate Agents

You do not need to implement all nine at once.  In fact, that can be overwhelming.  Start with one idea and over the forthcoming weeks and months implement another strategy.

These work synergistically, however, you should focus on one at a time before tackling all of them at once.  Be sure to watch the video below.  Sally shares how she generated $226,000 GCI with her real estate farming techniques.

Before you know it you'll be THE GO TO REAL ESTATE NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERT.

Farming Ideas For Real Estate Agents

1. Real Estate Farming: Use Neighborhood Hashtags  

Neighborhood hashtags help you be seen in a multitude of social media forums.  When you post on social media use hashtags so your posts will show up in the appropriate threads and neighborhood feeds.

These posts sit out there forever so they'll be constantly working for you.

Research and use common tags for the community you're farming.  Using hashtags effectively in social media is a great way to expose people in the neighborhoods you're farming to you and it builds your brand awareness.

2.  Attend Your Farming Area's City and County Meetings

Be the consummate community expert by attending the city and county meetings. 

You can do this online or in person.

Stay apprised of upcoming changes and challenges the city is facing.  Take local decision makers out for lunch or coffee and get the real story on what's going on in the area.

Report pertinent information in your market updates and your Real Estate E-Zine.

Become a real estate data nerd for your area. 

3. Mail 4″ x 6″ Real Estate Farming Postcards To Stand Out

If you're going to spend time and money on postcards make sure you grab their attention.

Use a 4″ x 6″ size for your real estate farming postcards.  Postcards get noticed more than a letter.  Often, people don't even open an envelope but a 4″ x 6″ postcard certainly captures the recipients attention.

Speak with your preferred title companies and lenders and ask if they'll subsidize some of the investment.  Some may partner with you on these postcards. Many title companies will provide the addresses and mailing labels.

Mail real estate farming postcards at least quarterly to the same address.  Mail more often if possible.  This is a strategy that works if you stay committed to it.

One mailing won't do much for you.  STAY CONSISTENT with your mailings.   

The real estate agents who stay consistent with mailing postcards to the same community year after year see results and a nice return.

Use These Tips and Strategies From the Real Estate Farming PDF Guide

4.  Create A Community Facebook Group For Your Farming Area

Become a knowledgeable resource when real estate farming.

Creating and growing a community facebook group is a great way to become known in a particular geographic area.

Follow these tip for the best ways to market and grow your own community group. 

5. Always Get Email Addresses When Farming

When you speak with someone in the area you're farming,  simply say “Would you mind if I send you market updates, sales activities and events going on in the neighborhood?…What's your email address.” 

While you're at it get their phone number too.  After they give you their email simply say “and your phone number is?”  and wait for them to respond.

Make sure you follow up with a personal email soon afterward. Send them your most recent  Strategic E-Zine (Strategic Real Estate Newsletter.)

If you've left a swag bag at their home, follow up with a personal email.  Use these tips to locate email addresses.

How To Farm An Area In Real Estate: Get Your PDF Guide

6.  Give Swag Bags To Your Real Estate Farming Community

Include items in your swag bag in which homeowners find useful. 

Partner with local businesses and ask them to include items for your swag bag. 

Include information on your business, testimonials and other information to acquaint the homeowner with you and your business.

Check out these promotional real estate swag items.

7.  Host Community Events For Your Real Estate Farming Area

Host neighborhood and community events for your farming area.  Team up with the local fire department in October for Fire Safety month and create an event around this theme.

Help the local HOA and sponsor their next meeting.  Everyone loves great food and desserts.  Enlist the help of a local business and provide excellent refreshments at the next meeting.

Use these 10 Tips To Hosting A Great Community Event

8. Take Neighborhood Walks To Farm An Area Effectively

Walking a neighborhood is a great way to become known in a neighborhood and pick up listings.  Be prepared as you're walking the community. Doorknock.

Be sure to watch the video below for ideas on your approach. 

Have your cell phone or tablet on hand and consider dropping off some swag bags.

Connect with the homeowners and be ready with the RPR Neighborhood Activity Report.

Ensure you get their emails.  Simply say “Would you mind if I sent you the neighborhood market updates? 

It keeps you informed of the current market value of the homes in the neighborhood and the sales activity.” 

You'll find most people will reply with a “sure” and they'll give you their email. 

9. Email Market Updates To Your Real Estate Farming Community

People love to hear how the real estate market is doing in there area.  Is the market appreciating, depreciating?  How long do homes stay on the market?  What's going on in the local real estate market?

Email quality market updates.  Learn how to create impressive real estate reports. 

Be sure to include this information on your real estate website.  Include a link to your website from your emailed market report.  Encourage them to use your branded website.

10. Excel At Digital Farming 

Digital farming in real estate is the strategic use of digital tools and platforms to identify, engage, and build relationships with potential buyers and sellers in a specific geographic area or niche.

The aim is to become the go-to real estate expert for that area and/or niche and generate leads for future transactions using digital farming techniques.

Steps To Digitally Farm In Real Estate:

1. Define your target geographic area or niche: Choose a specific neighborhood, community, geographic area or niche you want to focus on. Research the area's demographics, housing trends, and local amenities to better understand your target audience.

2. Have a website: Develop a professional website with valuable information about the target area or niche. Include details about the community, market trends, local schools, and amenities. You can also create a blog to share updates and insights about the local real estate market.

3. Utilize search engine optimization (SEO): Optimize your website's content for relevant keywords to improve its visibility on search engines. This helps potential clients find you when they search for real estate agents or properties in your target area.

4. Use social media: Establish a presence on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Share local news, events, and real estate updates to engage your audience and demonstrate your expertise in the area.

5. Invest in online advertising: Use targeted online ads on platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads to reach potential clients in your target area. These platforms allow you to customize your audience by factors such as location, interests, and demographic information.

6. Utilize email marketing: Build a mailing list by offering valuable resources, such as market reports or homebuyer guides, in exchange for visitors' contact information. Send regular email newsletters with relevant content, including local news, market updates, and recent listings or sales in the area.

7. Host virtual events: Offer webinars, virtual tours, or live Q&A sessions about the local real estate market. This can help you showcase your knowledge and engage with potential clients remotely.

8. Engage with local organizations: Offer online zoom meetings and seminars to their audience and members. Offer to contribute articles to their online marketing media and emails to their community and audience.

9. Monitor and analyze data: Keep track of your digital farming efforts by monitoring website traffic, social media engagement, email open rates, and ad performance. Use this data to refine your strategies and optimize your efforts.

10. Maintain a consistent online presence: Regularly update your website, blog, and social media accounts with fresh content.

Stay Consistent In Your Farming Efforts

Innovative real estate farming ideas are crucial for agents who want to grow their real estate business and establish themselves as local experts in a specific area.

By focusing on geographic farming, demographic farming, and niche farming, agents can target potential clients and tailor their marketing efforts.

Techniques such as door direct mail, farming postcards, and distributing business cards at local events help increase visibility and generate leads.

Hosting open houses and engaging in geo farming strategies allow agents to connect with prospects and showcase their expertise in the local market.

Consistent marketing efforts and attending local events not only help agents gain a higher market share in their real estate farm area but also contribute to their success as a trusted and reliable real estate professional.

She Generated $226,000 GCI From Her Real Estate Farm

This agent generated $226,000 GCI from her real estate farming strategy.  Watch the video below and see how she did this.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Real Estate Farming?

Real estate farming is a marketing and prospecting strategy used by real estate agents and brokers to identify, target, and establish themselves as the go-to professionals within a specific geographic area or niche market. This approach involves consistently engaging with and nurturing relationships within the chosen community to become the primary resource for real estate services and information.

What Are The Different Types Of Farming In Real Estate?

Real estate farming can be categorized based on the target audience or the marketing approach. The different types of real estate farming include geographic, demographic, niche, digital, and sphere of influence farming.

What Is Digital Farming In Real Estate?

Digital farming in real estate is a marketing and prospecting strategy that leverages digital channels, tools, and platforms to identify, target, and engage with potential clients within a specific geographic area, niche market, or demographic group. Digital farming can be a highly effective strategy for real estate agents and brokers, allowing them to reach a larger audience, showcase their expertise, and generate leads more efficiently than traditional methods.

How Big Should A Real Estate Farm Area Be?

The ideal size of a real estate farm area depends on multiple factors, such as the local real estate market, your resources, and your marketing strategy. Generally, for a residential real estate agent, a farm area of around 500-2,500 homes is considered manageable and effective. However, if you have more resources or a team, you might be able to manage a larger farm area effectively.

What Are The Benefits Of Real Estate Farming?

Real estate farming benefits the agent in the growth of their real estate business by helping establish the agent as a local expert, thereby attracting more clients within the designated geographic area. This expertise and enhanced brand recognition often lead to increased transaction volumes and, therefore, higher commission income. Furthermore, it can improve profitability as concentrated, targeted marketing strategies are generally more cost-effective, reducing unnecessary expenditure and maximizing return on investment.

What Is Geo Farming In Real Estate?

Geo farming in real estate is a strategy where a real estate agent focuses their marketing and sales efforts on a specific geographic area, often a neighborhood or subdivision. The goal is to become the go-to real estate expert in that area, familiar with the local market trends, property values, and community specifics. This approach allows the agent to build a strong reputation and relationship within the community, leading to a higher likelihood of repeat business and referrals.

How Long Does It Take For Real Estate Farming To Produce Results?

Real estate farming is a long-term strategy, and typically it can take anywhere from six months to two years to start seeing significant results. Several factors, including market conditions, the competitive landscape, and the consistency and effectiveness of your marketing efforts, influence the timeline. Persistence, with regular, relevant communication, is crucial to building trust and rapport within your community to reap real estate farming's benefits.

Be sure to get your “How To Dominate and Farm An Area In Real Estate” PDF eBook below.  You can access it anytime.

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