When I was packing for my recent trip to the Toronto Film Festival there were two things I had to take with me – my passport and a digital camera. The first, for entry into the country, and the second, for all my potential celebrity encounters. If by some chance I found myself mere inches from Brad Pitt at the premiere of Burn After Reading and I didn’t capture it on film to show friends, I would never forgive myself.
Unfortunately, I never bumped into Brad, but I did have some other star sightings that I documented (see right). Now the chances of a celebrity walking into your new real estate development are pretty slim, but that’s no reason why every sales or leasing professional or property manager shouldn’t be armed with a digital camera.
The list of great real estate stories that could have been covered by the media or shared with potential customers, if only there had been a camera around to document what happened, is still fresh in my mind…
The couple that got engaged in a new-home sales model
The night the power went out, so a sales agent took buyers on a final walk-thru and helped them sign their contract by flashlight
The construction crew that celebrated a high-rise topping off with a rooftop barbeque
Rarely does a project rendering or photo tell the whole story. The media wants to go beyond the bricks and mortar to understand what makes each development and each company different from the rest. They’re looking for a human element. So give it to them in Kodachrome. But also keep in mind that in today’s world you don’t have to wait for the media to tell your story; you can tell it yourself. Post photos to your website or Facebook page; add them to your blog; print them in your newsletter; and use them for press releases, direct mail, or any other marketing materials.
Just remember that some of the best stories pop up when you least expect them, so keep that camera close.
Case in point, the other week I found myself on top of Trump International Hotel & Tower
Chicago with Eric Trump and Don Jr. The Trumps were in town to celebrate the building’s topping off. While a professional photographer was making his way up in the skip, I thought, ‘When am I ever going to be in this situation again? Uh, never.’ So I dug out my Treo and started taking photos (see right).
It was no Brad Pitt sighting, but it was still pretty darn cool.
Unfortunately, I never bumped into Brad, but I did have some other star sightings that I documented (see right). Now the chances of a celebrity walking into your new real estate development are pretty slim, but that’s no reason why every sales or leasing professional or property manager shouldn’t be armed with a digital camera.
The list of great real estate stories that could have been covered by the media or shared with potential customers, if only there had been a camera around to document what happened, is still fresh in my mind…
The couple that got engaged in a new-home sales model
The night the power went out, so a sales agent took buyers on a final walk-thru and helped them sign their contract by flashlight
The construction crew that celebrated a high-rise topping off with a rooftop barbeque
Rarely does a project rendering or photo tell the whole story. The media wants to go beyond the bricks and mortar to understand what makes each development and each company different from the rest. They’re looking for a human element. So give it to them in Kodachrome. But also keep in mind that in today’s world you don’t have to wait for the media to tell your story; you can tell it yourself. Post photos to your website or Facebook page; add them to your blog; print them in your newsletter; and use them for press releases, direct mail, or any other marketing materials.
Just remember that some of the best stories pop up when you least expect them, so keep that camera close.
Case in point, the other week I found myself on top of Trump International Hotel & Tower
Chicago with Eric Trump and Don Jr. The Trumps were in town to celebrate the building’s topping off. While a professional photographer was making his way up in the skip, I thought, ‘When am I ever going to be in this situation again? Uh, never.’ So I dug out my Treo and started taking photos (see right).It was no Brad Pitt sighting, but it was still pretty darn cool.
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