My motto for the past 3 years has been ‘Life Is Better When You Share.” I have been blessed in so many ways by my mentors across the country who share their ideas, bountiful energy, optimism and strategies with me. I have also been blessed with great friends and family who share their time, love, encouragement, resources and “things” with me.
Having “things” is wonderful, but what do we really need to survive? How can we help each other right now and help our clients acquire the things they need and get rid of things they don’t? I have a few ideas for you that could help you in your “good-will,” marketing and leads generating adventures.
This past weekend I moved for the 4th time in 18 months. Life changes and circumstances kept me on the move and, in the process, I accumulated a ton of stuff. My first move I hauled a simple load of my personal belongings and a sofa. I was fine traveling light but; it seems, my friends felt I needed more “stuff.” Within 6 months I had, resulting from everyone’s donations, a 2,600 sq ft totally furnished patio home. I told them all, “I know you love me but…. you better be ready to help me move when the time comes.”
Thankfully, when I moved out of that patio home, my eldest daughter had just bought her first home so I was able to pawn some of it off on her and, the new occupant of the patio home needed a few pieces to help her complete her home.
The cool thing about all of this is that no money exchanged hands. I am now comfortably moved into another home with all my “stuff.” I look around and am reminded of all the people who care about me and I feel blessed. Of course, I still pay for a storage unit, which houses all the “stuff” I couldn’t accommodate, but I have a great resolution for that. A friend’s son just moved into his own place and needs “things” so I will happily open the storage for him to experience a “free” shopping spree. If he wasn’t in need, I would post it all on Craigslist for FREE. I have this thought process now that if I haven’t touched it in 6 months, I am giving it away (excluding memorabilia and formal wear). I have even organized my closet where, when I wear something, I will hang it on the right side of the closet after wearing and in 6 months (or less) anything still hanging on the left I will give away.
Here is my idea of a perfect way to help clients get and get rid of stuff. Why not a Real Estate Association “Craigslist FREE THINGS” postings on the association website which brokers and agents can then post on their sites as well? How about a monthly/quarterly “give away, drop off” parking lot party at the association or a local rotating business? Invite all your clients and their family and friends and just give and take. What ever is left over, can be picked up by The Salvation Army or any other charity. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You don’t need tables etc. Just put it out there for people to find stuff and leave space for people to drop off what they want to donate. The only thing you will want is to have a few people responsible for receipts for taxes. I would have been in heaven if that was available to me over the past 18 months. If you are able to do so, I would even suggest buying a used moving truck, having it wrapped with your branding and calling it “Helping Everyone Get What They Need and Get Rid Of What They Don’t!”
For those of you who want more marketing advantage out of this, generate news, radio and print coverage of these events. You can also send postcards to your farm areas and contact database, efarm your contacts and have directional signs made up saying “FREE STUFF” Brought to you by ABC Brokerage/Agent.
Invite restaurants to set up sample booths and offer table space….for FREE… to other local business owners. Doing this in a parking lot where there is no fee involved makes all the difference. I know some people will come and pick stuff up and then re-sell on Craigslist etc. but I do believe that the majority of humanity is honorable and trust worthy. Take what you need and leave the rest…. keep what you need and give the rest.
If you have a program similar to this in your area, please share the details with me and the other readers. I would love to know what is going on around the country where donations etc. are concerned. Lord knows so many people are having to move, and in most circumstances it is a smaller dwelling. Let’s help our clients and each other.