Want to start a business were you don't have to sell anything to
anybody?
If so an Apartment Finder Service may be right up your alley.
What you need to do is contact all the managers of apartment
complexes in your area and explain that you specialize in finding
apartments for corporate employees in your area.
Ask how much their referral fee is.
This fee typically ranges from 50 to 75 dollars but if they say they
don't offer a referral fee thank them for their time and go on to
the next complex on your list.
Now, what you want to do with each of the contacts (the ones
that do offer a referral fee) is make an appointment for the next
week to come by and pick up a copy of their floor plans.
Apartment complexes will generally have a brochure with 3 or 4
floor plans their renters can choose from.
Before you go to your appointments you should have 2 sets of
business cards printed. Both sets will have the name of your
business and telephone number. One set will have the slogan,
"Specializing in apartments referrals for corporate clients."
These are the business cards you give to the apartment managers
and leasing agents.
On the other set of business cards your slogan should be
"No fee apartment finder service." These are the cards you give
to people needing an apartment.
When you go to your appointments, in addition to getting a copy
of the floor plan, you also want to find out what they charge
renters for each of the layouts. This information is not always on
the brochure.
Also, be sure to give the manager and all the leasing agents
several of your business cards.
Now, take the information from the brochures and enter every
layout from every apartment complex into your computer by
category. Any database application can handle this task.
You will want to have a category for every amenety the
apartment offers along with the price, name of complex, etc.
Here is an example:
Northstar Apartments
704-555-5555
Area: Northwest
Floor Plan: A
Number of bedrooms: 2
Number of bathrooms: 2
Square Footage: 945
Swimming Pool: Yes
Tennis Courts: No
Club House: Yes
Pets Allowed: No
Fireplace: Yes
Washer/Dryer Connections: No
Laundry Facility: Yes
Price/Month: 795
Now, it's time to drum up some business.
Have 200 one-page flyers printed in black bold letters on goldenrod
(colored) paper that say:
Looking For an Apartment?
We have the scoop on the best and most affordable apartments
in town. And best of all, we won't charge you a fee.
Our service is absolutely free.
Call 555-5555 and let us find you the apartment you want at
the price you can afford.
Remember: this service is free and you are under no obligation.
Staple several business cards to the bottom of the flyers.
Next, take your flyers to every manufacturing, retail and
restaurant business in town and ask the manager if he would
mind posting one on his employee bulletin board.
Most will be glad to. Some will refuse.
Who cares, this is a numbers game.
Don't stop until you have all 200 flyers posted, then get ready
to start taking calls.
When a prospect calls, get all the information about the type of
apartment he is looking for and tell him you will call him back
within the hour.
Run his criteria through your computer database and print
out a list of all the apartments that match.
Call one of the matching apartment complexes and tell them
you have a client for them, give them the clients telephone number
and let them call the client to make the appointment.
Call your client back, give him the name and number of the
apartment complex and tell him they will call to set up an
appointment. Tell him that after he's seen the apartment if it
is not what he is looking for to call you back and you will find another.
Call the client a few days later and find out if he rented the apartment.
If not repeat the process until you find something he likes.
When he signs the lease, send the apartment complex an invoice for your agreed upon fee.
-------------------------------------------------
James J. Jones, Publisher
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