from Florida Realtor Magazine, December 2007 | page 37

5 Ways to Cut Costs

Looking for a few ways to cut costs out of your budget? Try using some of these suggestions from the real estate professionals and financial experts interviewed for this article:

1. Use technology.   In today’s tech-savvy world, you probably don’t have to trek across town to pick up those documents. Instead, have the sender scan them into a PC and e-mail them to you in PDF format.

2. Stop running back to the office.   Another way to cut back on travel costs is to invest in a wireless-enabled laptop that allows you to work while on the road, rather than having to drive back to the office every time you need to send a fax or e-mail an important document to a customer.

3. Ask your broker to chip in.    Many brokers will share the cost of advertising and marketing, so ask yours just what he or she is willing to do. Some will help pay for the layout, printing and mailing of marketing materials, for example, or for the cost of print advertising.

4. Do your own marketing.    Some real estate professionals farm out their marketing, while others handle it themselves. If the DIY approach sounds enticing, invest in a good laser printer, a program like Microsoft Publisher, and some brochure and presentation paper and become your own self-publisher.

5. Maximize e-mail.    Unlike direct mail, e-mail marketing is fast and cheap, and allows real estate professionals to quickly get the word out about a new listing or price reduction to a large number of people. Use this to your advantage.