Advertising Recreational Property With Postcards
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Advertising recreational property is different. Although there are many ways to advertise a home for sale, they do not all work in all areas. One method to advertise a recreational property for sale in a resort or cottage area, is to send out postcards.
Contact an escrow company or the county to get a list of nearby property owners. Send the postcards to those who live out of the area. These are people who may not see your For Sale sign because they visit their property only occasionally or rent their homes to others on a regular basis.
A postcard with a glossy color photo of the home on one side and basic information on the other will be less likely to be tossed into the trash the minute it arrives. You can search for companies on the Internet that will let you upload your photos and type in your text. Some are quite inexpensive.
Also, large office supply stores have departments that will work with you. Ask the clerk what format and size you should use for your photos. If you are a novice with computers and digital cameras, ask if they will let you bring in the photo so it can be scanned with their equipment.
The two approximate sizes of postcards are 4-1/4″ x 6-1/2″ (standard) and 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ (oversized). The standard size can be mailed with a postcard stamp, which is less expensive than normal first class mail. Or the postcard can be mailed in an envelope as first class mail. The oversized postcard requires a first class stamp. Check with the post office to be sure of acceptable sizes, postage rates, label attachments, etc.
For your text, consider adding one line on top of the photo. This works especially well if you have an area of sky at the top or sand at the bottom, but any medium-to-light colored area large enough to be a background for black letters will suffice. Words should say something to the effect, “If you like living in (name of area), so will your family and friends. Please pass this on to them.”
On the back of the postcard, print information about the home and possibly the area. You can use the whole postcard for text if you will be mailing it in an envelope. Otherwise, your text should fit on the left side, leaving room on the right side for the person’s name and mailing address. You can even incorporate your return address in a smaller font at the top left of the postcard, above the informational text.
Your content should state how many bedrooms and bathrooms the home has. Tell about appliances that are included in the sale. Add some specifics about any remodeling that was recently done. Let potential buyers know about the size of the home and lot. Does it have a garage, carport, and room for RV/boat parking?
Other important features you may want to mention are formal dining room, spa or pool, tree house, horse property, completely fenced, etc. With the location, state if it is close to shopping, schools, medical facilities, a lake or river, or anything else that can entice a potential buyer to take a look. Do not forget to include the price, and give the MLS number if the property is listed.
Give contact information at the bottom of the text so potential buyers will know how to get in touch with you. If the property is shown on a website or if there is a virtual tour set up on the Internet, be sure to list the address. You can make the address stand out by using a different colored font.
Do not get too fancy with fonts and colors, though. You do not want to detract from the purpose of the card, which is to provide information and a photo to potential buyers so they will want to take a look at the home and possibly make an offer.
To find a buyer for a listing, give postcards a try. Compare the cost of mailing postcards to the cost of a newspaper ad the same size and you will realize mailing postcards is an economical way to advertise. Letting owners of nearby property help pass out your postcards is a great way to get the word out. If it brings attention to the property, that is a step in the right direction.
