Claire Bisignano Chesnoff has been in the real estate business for 18 years. Recently named the President of the Staten Island Board of REALTORS® for 2016, Chesnoff is the owner of Claire Properties, a boutique real estate firm with two offices in Staten Island and Brooklyn. The best part of Chesnoff’s job? “Meeting people and helping them achieve their goals and dreams by bringing tech-savvy agents to the table with a plethora of tools to get the job done.”
In early 2015, Chesnoff came up with a farming technique that has proven to be extremely successful. Armed with data and branded reports from Realtors Property Resource® (RPR®), Chesnoff and her agents hit the streets of their targeted neighborhoods, going door-to-door to mingle with potential clients, offering up targeted stats on comparable neighboring houses.
So how does Chesnoff’s farming technique work? In a team of two. “In our Brooklyn market, two agents will knock on a door. One will do an RPR report on the house, while the other engages the consumer, asking questions like ‘do you know anyone who wants to sell?’ or ‘did you know your neighbors are selling for X amount?’ Typically, the consumer will ask what their home is worth, and the second agent can pull up the RPR app on their mobile device to provide a realistic number on the spot.” Chesnoff notes that this method has been very successful. “It’s an inventive way to farm,” she says. “It’s efficient, and non-threatening.”
Using the app in-person, instead of simply pulling info and sending it digitally, helps forge a bond between agent and potential client. After six months of going door-to-door, Chesnoff’s agents have gotten to know their local neighborhoods from the ground level. But perhaps most important is the fact that the neighbors have gotten to know the agents. “It’s a relationship-building tool, and that’s what this is: a relationship business,” says Chesnoff.
In addition to building relationships and simplifying the farming process, Chesnoff is impressed with the platform’s ease of use. The branded reports are extremely professional, yet take very little time to pull. This ups the wow factor when you’re standing on the doorstep of a potential client. “You can get a home value on-the-go and prospective clients are amazed. You don’t need to go to the office to do research on multiple sites. Everything is in one place, and the data is specific to property or zip code.”
Most agents can give estimates of value, but not on-the-spot, and according to Chesnoff, that’s one of RPR’s most crucial perks. “To be able to give prospects a close number right away is important; it builds trust and strong relationships, and that’s what this business is all about.”
For more information, visit www.narrpr.com.
