To Market We Go | Home Is Where Hartley Is
Are You In The Market For A Home?
Dennis Hartley is a longtime South Bay Realtor who knows this area inside and out. People turn to him when they are looking to become homeowners or they need to sell their homes because he is about as true blue as they get. He’s knowledgable, a straight shooter and has a keen eye for design. And if you read the testimonials from past clients, I think you’ll understand why people love to work with him on this very important life decision.
True Fact
Want to know how Dennis became a client of mine?! He’s been on my email list for several years, I want to say after I wrote this article highlighting some other realtors. When I became committed to writing my weekly newsletter again this past Spring, he became a loyal reader of them and got in touch to see if I could give him some social media pointers. When we had our initial Zoom I asked him what made him choose me. He gave a little smile and said, “I really like your newsletters.” So see? Newsletters do work! If you put in the time, you are authentic and passionate about your message, people notice and opportunities are created.
My Q & A With Dennis
You have lived in the South Bay your entire life, what has kept you here?
I’ve lived in three South Bay cities; Torrance, where I was born, Redondo Beach and Rolling Hills Estates. Each city has its own vibe. I think the South Bay is great because of the climate, proximity to the beach and relatively low density considering its location.
My family is all here and my business, selling local real estate is here.
Having been in the realty business for over 30 years, I’m guessing you’ve come across some interesting things in houses. Can you share about some of your finds?
I love to remodel houses. It’s very satisfying to take a home that needs repair and updating and make beautiful again. I was a graphic design major in my early college days and that training carries over to real estate. I’ve remodeled or built many homes over the years. Most people find the process of remodeling or building stressful but I really enjoy it. Solving problems and being creative comes naturally.
You have many repeat clients, how have you kept their business over time?
Repeat clients and referrals are what every real estate agent strives for. I gain and keep my clients, first by doing the best job I can representing their interests when they buy or sell. And then after the transaction is complete, I stay in touch and let them know that I’m available, not just to buy or sell, but to answer any questions or solve any problems that come along. It’s just good business and it’s wonderful when a past client calls and says they need help again. There isn’t anything better than having the validation that they feel I’m capable and honest and want to repeat the experience. I live for that!
In a recent Instagram post you mentioned virtual staging of homes and I have seen some of the incredible images. Can you explain what this is?
Staging in general has really taken off in the last few years. I guess it’s the HGTV effect. Everyone likes to watch a house being transformed. I stage almost all of my listings even when they are occupied. I consult with my sellers and explain how a home should be presented, buyers are shopping online and make decisions about which homes to view based on the photos they see. We help a homeowner make their home more appealing. Staging helps the buyer visualize how they will live in a home rather than being distracted by how the current owner lives in the home.
Virtual staging is used if we can’t do actual staging, usually because of the cost factor. It’s also helpful for vacant homes which can appear lifeless and uninteresting online. There are actually companies that will take our professional photos of vacant rooms and insert furniture into the rooms. It is pretty amazing and really difficult to tell the difference.
The housing market has been seeing a sizable uptick, how are you handling showings at this time?
The real estate market has been very active since 2012, that’s over eight years. But this year during the shut down, the market slowed considerably for those few months. For a time, we weren’t even allowed to show property in person. In June, the market opened back up and the delayed Spring market combined with the Summer market to create a feeding frenzy that is continuing into Fall.
We show property by following a legally prescribed protocol designed to protect everyone from the virus. Masks, gloves, booties, hand sanitizer and limiting the number of people who can be in a house during a showing helps protect all parties. Owners are required to leave the home during a showing. After a few months of doing this, we’ve all gotten used to the required measures and it now feels like second nature.
Recently you reached out to me to see how I could help fine tune your digital marketing. Can you discuss what you were hoping to achieve?
We want to expand our reach on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. What’s the point of posting content if no one sees it? I wanted to understand best practices and the most effective methods for growing our following. It’s time consuming to post content and it needs to be compelling so that people will read it. This is definitely a work in progress!
You reach potential clients in many ways, through traditional print and digitally. What have been the most effective digital strategies you use?
We send two e-newsletters each month which feature a quick update about the market, our newest listings and an article or two about local events. There are links to search for homes or get a quick home valuation. We get a great response and a very good open rate. I know everyone gets a lot of email but it really can be effective if you’re consistent and provide compelling content.
We use Google ads to attract home buyers to a website to search for local real estate. It’s taken a while to figure this out but it has become very successful lately and we are gaining customers from it.
People love to consume video content, how have you worked this to your advantage in selling homes?
Video is something I’m getting used to. I can’t say it comes naturally but the more I do it, the easier it gets. I use video to show my new listings, I do a “walk with me” tour of the home where I point out the main features and talk about what I like most about it. Being in the video and narrating it myself is much more compelling than something that is slick and highly produced with no humanity. The use of video in the real estate industry has increased exponentially.
Get In Touch With Dennis
The Hartley Team
310.717.2319
1720 South Elena Ave.,
Redondo Beach, California 90277
The Hartley Team Website
DennisHartley@Remax.net