Classifieds, those black on white print ads were once the only way you advertised real estate for sale.
I remember a story about a property trader who used to wait for the NZ Herald in an Ellerslie service station every Saturday morning because that was the first place it was delivered to. Eagerly, he would scan the classifieds, locate some private deals and go knocking on doors at 7am.
Even though we still use classified ads as part of our property marketing mix I regarded them as the realm of bargain hunters and private sellers.
Until last Saturday when I went looking for properties myself.
I found the easiest thing was to pick up the NZ Herald, quicly scan the classifieds and type a shortlist into my iPhone. ( That would certainly change when New Zealand home buyers finally get an iPhone app).
Not all home finding efforts are well planned. It is common for a couple to sit at a cafe, decide to go house hunting and grab the local real estate publication, browse the classifieds section and head out to find their dream home.
I also believe out of town buyers and absentee owners use the classifieds to find properties or examine how active the real estate market is in a particular suburb.
Joshua Muriwai from Crockers, reported successful apartment open homes when colour classified ads were used.
In Summary:
They may have a two day shelf life but classified ads still work. What is your experience using them?
(This is part 2 of my 30 day blogging challenge. Written on my iPhone using the WordPress app)
Last Saturday I placed an advert in the classifieds column of the NZ Herald under the suburb of Westmere…It had around 60 groups through the Sat/Sun open homes…but still had many people state they had seen it in the classifieds.
So they do still work!
Thanks for your comment – we should keep using classified ads.
The classified ads can be where you can get a property seen by the ‘reading’ non internet buyers before you have an advert in the (Christchurch) Property Press. Buyers sometimes see the classifieds as a chance of hearing about properties before the rest.
Good Point Steve.