Effectively Listing Farm & Ranch Properties

As we all know in this business, a Farm & Ranch listing is quite different from a single family listing.  Too often I find that agents listing a farm or ranch has little or no experience out on the range!  It is super important to know what you are selling and how to properly represent the property. Here are my top ten tips to Effectively Listing Farm & Ranch Properties: 1.  Know what type of farm or ranch you are listing.  Is it for horse breeding, boarding, showing?  What type of cattle or livestock?  Is it a working ranch or leisure? 2.  Understanding the type of farm or ranch is key in then knowing to whom you are going to "target" your marketing to!  Horse people?  Cattle folks?  Marketing this type of property will require you to get creative in capturing the correct target market for the property. 3.  Take time to really know and understand the property.  Take great notes when doing the listing presentation.  Highlight the equipment, structures and other distinctions that add value to the property. 4.  Make sure you have a photographer who understands country property.  You might even want to be present when they take the pictures to make sure they are capturing special structures, etc. 5.  Prepare your listing documents properly.  Septic?  Well?  Minerals?  Equipment list?  Ingress & egress?  Gates, fences, chute's, feeding troughs, irrigation, ponds, streams, types of hay grown, other crops,  agricultural exemptions? 6.  Widen your marketing net!  Go outside of your MLS and look into Farm & Ranch, Lands of America,local large veterinarians, horse clubs, local Agricultural Extension Agents.  In order to reach specialty clients you will need to think outside of your typical marketing box. 7.  Know the lingo!  There will be an entirely new language for the specialty country properties. Understanding the terminology when selling these types of properties is critical. 8.  Be well-versed in how to traverse the property.  Will you be taking clients in a special vehicle to see the property?  Do you know how to drive and operate the vehicle?  Where it will be parked? How to navigate the property? 9.  Prepare a notebook with detailed information about the property for other agents to use when they are showing.  This will help the other agents know the amenities and other important features of the property!  Emailing them this before they show is also a great idea! 10.  And for heaven's sake, dress accordingly when showing these types of properties. This is no place for stiletto heels, Italian shoes or clothing that you don't want to get dirty!  Nothing worse than an agent showing up to show a country property dressed to the nines and coming away filthy dirty! Keeping a spare pair of mud boots in your car or truck is big-time important! Farms and ranches are exciting properties to sell.  Just know that these types of properties require different methods to show and sell them.  Being prepared is the key! I love selling farms and ranches and can assist you in finding the perfect place or helping you to market your place!  Call me today if I can assist you with your farm and ranch needs!  Chevaux Group is your choice when considering a farm or ranch property!       "Have you fully lived today?" Paula L. McDonald ~ REALTOR® Broker ~ The Woodlands, Texas 936-203-0279 Direct Selling The Woodlands real estate and surrounding areas! Paula@ChevauxGroup.com               Copyright 2015 Paula McDonald