We’re facing an epic listing 🏘 shortage in real estate markets across the US, Canada, and around the world 🌎 It’s causing intense bidding wars and rapidly increasing purchase prices.

During a recent mastermind session I listened to numerous top agents who, one after the next, explained how they’d been procuring listings lately. Remarkably, every tactic they shared involved straight-up hustle. I suppose that figures. After all, there’s no such thing as a 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚-𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩-𝙢𝙚 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹. In other words, acquiring listings isn’t 𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒎; it’s 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒅. So, if you’re willing to give it some elbow grease (so to speak), here’s an idea for you to consider!

Send a plain-text email (meaning, it should simple and unadorned—no HTML fancy stuff, etc.) to your database:  friends, family, acquaintances, past clients, old/new leads, et al.

🚨🚨I’ve linked to a sample email script at the bottom of this post. 🚨🚨

Part 1:

Begin by acknowledging the inherent challenges of this market. Once again:  multiple offers, escalating price points, limited inventory, etc.

Part 2: (Optional)

Share some market context. After all, only a limited set of events historically shift real estate markets:  foreclosures, new construction, interest rates, and so forth. Give a snapshot overview of what’s happening at large because would-be sellers may be waiting for purchase conditions to change in the short-term, when, realistically, it could take longer than anticipated.

Part 3:

State the point that there are likely myriad sellers who would list their homes IF the ideal purchase opportunity were to present itself. If that describes anyone receiving 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 email, ask if there’s a type of home they’d like for you to seek out on their behalf. Then, proceed to circle-prospect, door-knock, and/or bulk mail off-market homes, subject to all applicable rules/regulations, with the intention of scheduling “one-time showings.” (Oh yes, you knew we’d eventually hit the “hustle” part, LOL.)

Collect their wish-list criteria via a Google Form. In that same Form, ask if they have a property to sell and gather data about it. Basically, by the way, you’re amassing a registry of pocket listings.

Pro Tip:  when contacting off-market homeowners, if you hear, “Well sure I’d be open to selling my home to one of your buyers—only, where am I supposed to go once it’s sold?” Say, “Tell me about the type of home you’re looking for. It may already be in my off-market registry [i.e., your Google Form] and, if not, I’d be happy to add you to my list of buyers for whom I’m actively seeking out suitable purchase opportunities.”

Remember:  𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕.

I’ve composed a sample email script. Feel free to use it, edit it, turn it into a video, or whatever -- at your own discretion, of course. Just complete the form below.