I am kicking around an idea.  Shocker, huh?

I was sitting in the living room of one of my sellers.  We were talking about his condo which I have had listed.  An idea just fell out of my mouth.  And then it just kind of stuck to me…

I have written different types of copy for this property.  We have had descriptions of the property.  We have tried lifestyle marketing.  There are lots of great pictures (if I say so myself…).  In each stage, I have gone to my “usual suspects” and asked them about the copy.  Each time they have thought that the place sounded great…

But they aren’t active buyers.

And that is the problem.  I need to spend some time with real, active, in the market buyers… that aren’t currently my clients.

What I am thinking about is doing a panel.  Providing drinks and snacks, and some other inducements in order to sit down a panel of buyers and talk to them about their motivations.  To get it straight from the real buyers.  What is exciting?  What would drive them to see a listing?  Contact a certain agent?

Honestly, the NAR does this every couple of years… but their results aren’t local.  I want to hear from people in THIS market.  Buyers in LA or NYC aren’t buyers in Gwinnett County.

So, two questions:

As a buyer, what would get you interested in participating?

Do you think a round-table discussion or survey would be more conducive to open transfer of information?

I am pretty sure I could get some input from a mortgage guru so that the information transfer wouldn’t be just one way or just about the sales part of the equation for buyers.