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Door-knocking Toolkit: 16 Tips to Get More Leads in 2023

These tips were put together to become an all-start at door-knocking.
Door-knocking is one of the most powerful tools for leads because it puts you right in front of potential clients!

Here are some tips for making the most out of your door-knocking activities:

1. Don’t Ask for Business, Offer to Help 

Serve, don’t sell. Present yourself as the local real estate expert, you are also coming from contribution. By providing valuable information or even something small as a token of appreciation, you are serving others and building relationships rather than simply trying to convince them into buying from you.

2. Don’t Forget to Bring Your Door Hangers

Door hangers are a great way to make your mark when door knocking – they offer an unbeatable return on investment and leave potential customers with a lasting impression.

3. Don’t Try to Close the Deal on Their Doorstep

If you’re out door-knocking, your goal shouldn’t be to close the deal right then and there. Instead, concentrate on taking one small step toward providing a service or benefit that will win trust before anything else can happen. Keep it low pressure – don’t try to sell them something at their doorstep! Make sure they know what’s next in terms of interaction with you: give them an example like setting up a phone call or visiting your open house so they can learn more about working with you as their real estate agent; this is key for successful door-knocking results.

4. A Small Compliment Can Go a Long Way in Building Rapport

Compliments are timeless tools that help break the ice and foster positive relationships. Whether you’re meeting new people or reconnecting with old ones, be sure to share an honest compliment – it will go a long way in creating meaningful connections!

5. Leverage Your Brokerage’s Success if You’re a Newer Agent

A rule of thumb with lead generation is that you need to have something on the table that your leads actually want. That could be something like a conversation or advice, or maybe a well-researched comparative market analysis (CMA) or market report. 

Tap into your data-driven advantage! With the power of MLS at your fingertips, it’s up to you how you present that information. Statistics can be used strategically as a part of an effective marketing plan – identify market trends in real estate reports and use those insights to reach people who may not have otherwise taken notice. It’s essential for agents today to leverage their access knowledgeably; after all, great data makes all the difference when providing value for clients looking for help making decisions about buying or selling homes. 

6. Allow Yourself to Fail in Order to Get Better

Move away from fear. Don’t let the fear of rejection stop you, challenge yourself to knock on more doors. Even if it doesn’t work out perfectly every time – remember that failure can be part of success! Take care of your mental health – practice mindfulness, establish a regular morning routine, etc. Remind yourself that nothing is impossible – you are just trying to close some deals after all! Give yourself permission for mistakes as long as you keep pushing forward; this will help create positive successes in the future.

7. Dress for Success, but Don’t Forget Comfort

Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. If you want to be successful as a door-knocker, it is essential that you’re prepared to be out and have the things you need – water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes! The reality is that your appearance does matter. It may not feel fair, but people will judge harshly based on how neat or sloppy you look even if all they are looking for at first glance are house listings. Dress nicely yet also comfortably enough so that the focus can be solely on building relationships. 

8. Make Some Fun Pop-by Gifts & Bring Them With You

Give a memorable ‘pop-by’ to homeowners that will make them smile – think outside the box with small surprises! Sweet treats like candy, or giving back by gifting flower seeds are great ways of showing appreciation and reminding customers of your business. Add in some fun quips and cheesy jokes for bonus points!

9. Learn the Best Days & Times to Door Knock in Your Farm Area

Everyone has a different opinion on this, but there is a general consensus from people who use door-knocking as their primary strategy:

Saturdays between 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.

While Saturday may be an ideal time to knock on doors in some neighborhoods, it’s important to remember that all communities are unique. If you’re knocking in a neighborhood where observant Jewish people live, Sunday would probably yield better results as Saturdays constitute their day of rest. Similarly, if the majority religion is devout Christianity then Sundays should generally be avoided out of respect for religious beliefs and private family time. Being aware of cultural nuances can go a long way toward making sure your door-knocking efforts stay within the bounds of appropriate behavior!

8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. during the week

Door knocking during the week can be a great opportunity to engage with homeowners and business professionals. Early in the morning, when many people are beginning their day and they may have more time for conversations regarding important matters—a potentially successful strategy that is often overlooked!

10. Invite Them to the First Open House at a New Listing 

Convert More Buyers: Tips From High Producing Agents for a Successful Open House

Have you ever wondered what lies behind your neighbor’s perfectly-manicured facade? To satisfy that curiosity, why not take the time to door knock before hosting an open house at a new listing! Not only will it put smiles on those neighbors’ faces, but they’ll also be sure to keep talking about you and your services.

11. Avoid Burnout: Don’t Try to Knock Too Many Doors in One Day

To ensure a successful door-knocking campaign, it’s important to start off your day with the best mindset. While feeling stressed and tired may indicate that you’ve worked hard, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve been effective in reaching your goals. To help avoid burnout while keeping motivation high, set yourself short-term achievable objectives like knocking on 20 doors before heading into the office or before an open house! Keep in mind that if time runs out on these smaller tasks then some much bigger opportunities may be missed – such as connecting with someone who is a millionaire and looking for assistance selling their home!

12. Track Your Progress: That Which Gets Measured, Gets Improved

Make a commitment. Door-knocking is a great way to generate leads, but it takes time and energy. Make yourself accountable by committing to knocking on a certain number of houses each day; have an accountability partner such as your coach or market center leadership hold you responsible for reaching that goal. Additionally, keep track of your progress with notes or use technology like notepad apps so you can measure performance improvement over time!

Progress Questions:

How many doors did you knock?  How many doors got slammed in your face? Which doors should you absolutely avoid next time? Which seemed kind of promising? Who seems like a decent candidate for a direct mail campaign?

Performance Questions: 

What went right? What went wrong? Does your script need tweaking? Are you getting less nervous or more nervous?

13. Ask Open-ended Questions: Avoid Yes or No Questions

– See scripts below – 

Successful door-knocking requires more than just charm and a friendly attitude. To truly engage with the person you are speaking to, be sure not to ask yes or no questions that can easily lead them into an excuse for getting back inside. Instead, pose open-ended inquiries that will encourage conversation and give yourself the opportunity to really listen – it’s key! Show your enthusiasm by talking about relevant topics in order to mix sincerity with raw energy — ensuring they understand why making their acquaintance matters so much!

14. Stay Safe: Knock With a Partner

Think safety first. Be aware of your surroundings, have a buddy, and always let someone know where you are. 

When taking to the streets for door-knocking, safety is paramount! To ensure yours, there’s nothing quite like having someone next to you. With junior agents needing practice or experienced colleagues by your side; don’t take the risk of going alone – no matter how ‘safe’ a neighborhood may appear on surface level. After all, you never know who might be behind that door when it opens and having an extra set of eyes across the street offers invaluable assurance. Of course, things rarely go wrong but why tempt fate? Get in touch with others and team up – true peace of mind comes from knowing help is right around the corner.

(As an added bonus, you’ll have a margarita partner if you decide to knock off early!)

15. Don’t Be Afraid of Luxury Neighborhoods

Let’s talk about super-attractive people – The one thing they say over and over again, it’s that fewer, not more, people hit on them. While this might seem counterintuitive, it makes sense when you think about it. After all, most people assume they have no chance, so they don’t even bother.

Let’s relate that to wealthy neighborhoods! It can seem intimidating to break into a wealthy neighborhood, but don’t let that stop you! Taking the initiative and introducing yourself may offer rewards beyond what meets the eye. Not only could it spark a conversation with someone intriguing – there’s also potential for entrepreneurial opportunities too. After all, many of those in affluent circles are self-made entrepreneurs who very well might be looking for some ambition and drive like yours to mix things up! So why not take your chances? You never know where – or whom – opportunity will knock at until you try!

16. Good Deeds Can Help Build Good Will in Your Farm Area

Making yourself a part of the local community is an easy and rewarding endeavor. An act as simple as volunteering or doing something kind for your neighbors can help you to make meaningful connections that foster strong relationships – not only will it lift others up, but it’ll also attract people’s admiration towards you!

SCRIPTS

General Door-knocking Script:

“Your house is amazing. If there is any possibility of bringing a buyer your way, would you be interested in selling?”

Drive Knocking Script:

“Sorry to bother you, but my client saw your property on Google Maps and you can’t see it from the street. You probably don’t want to sell it but maybe you do, she is a serial entrepreneur you’ve seen on TV. She’s looking for a property in the range of XX-XX. Maybe you can let me see your property to see if it might work for her.”

“Hello, sorry to bother you. My name is [your name] and I am the listing agent for the property down the street [point in the direction of the property]. We received multiple offers [waive the printed contracts in front of them] and, of course, we can only accept one. The home sold well above asking price and these other buyers are still looking for a home in [neighborhood]. Who do you know who would like to sell their home in this HOT MARKET?”

“Hi, I’m YOUR NAME. Your neighbor just sold their home for $$$$. What did you think of that price? Did you get a chance to see it at the open house? That one sold for multiple offers. There are still people out there who want to live in your neighborhood. For the right price, would you consider selling your home?”

“Hi, it’s YOUR NAME, I’m with YOR BROKERAGE and I’m stopping by with a housing update on [your farm area], keeping you dialed in with what’s going on with quarter one versus quarter four, and I’m stopping by to see if you have any questions or interest in moving anytime soon.”

“Hi, my name is YOUR NAME from YOUR BROKERAGE. I promise I won’t take much of your time, I just want a couple of seconds—did you realize that a home just a few houses down just sold for $$$ over asking price? I don’t know if you have any interest, but I am an expert in the area if you’d like a free valuation of your home.”