Everyone seems to be aware of the weak real estate markets that currently exist in the US. These flat markets have prompted many sellers and agents to get extremely creative with their marketing schemes. We've heard that raffles, one-day-only sales and free weekend stays are becoming commonplace. With inventory and supply being at record highs, real estate listings have to stand out, and some of these tactics can be beneficial in making the property stand out.

A Raffle:
A couple in Edgewater, Maryland are selling $50 raffle tickets for their log cabin. If they sell 27,000 tickets, they'll be able to pay off the loan. More than 22,700 tickets have been sold for the drawing on January 26, 2008. A non-profit organization is handling the raffle and will share in any profits. We don't know how much of this sort of thing the market will support, but it's pretty innovative when you think about it. The seller gets out from under the home in the toughest of markets, and someone gets a new house for $50.

More Aggressive Incentives:
For higher-end homes, we've heard about luxury cars, RV's and Flat Screen TV's being offered as buyers incentives. One couple even promises a full refund of the purchase price later, when they die. Buy most accounts these incentives do tend to produce positive results, although the later example may be extreme.

Try-it-out
We've also heard about some sellers, particularly those located in resorts or tourist areas, are urging potential buyers to say at the home for as much as a week to try it out. One Resort in Oregon allows potential buyers to stay one or two nights in a fully-furnished $1,000,000 condo with gift certificates to restaurants, fully-stocked refrigerators, and passes to the local gym.

Have you tried anything innovative to market your listing(s) that you think has been effective? If so, we'd like to hear about them. But of course, if you've got something that works for you and would prefer to keep it a secret, we certainly understand.

You've got to get the potential buyer at least a little bit interested in the property before the other schemes can be effective, so as always, you need to take the time to make some good photos of your property(s), and display them prominently online. We highly recommend purchasing camera equipment that lends itself to real estate interior shooting, and making a commitment to learning how to use it effectively. It's no secret that great real estate photos will significantly reduce your time on the market (in any market).

Buildatour.com is an excellent option at $9.95 per online tour. Tours are hosted for 12 months and are renewable for $9.95 per additional 12 month period. When you consider the associated cost of some of the schemes above, an online tour is quite a bargain.