Creating a Name to Remember

 Print Article

By Paige Tepping

RISMEDIA, Dec. 13, 2007-In just two years, Bob Cenk has created both a name and brand for himself within the real estate industry, thanks in large part to aligning himself with industry leaders like Harmon Homes, now known as Homes.com. Cenk has found continued success in his print advertising program since coming onto the real estate scene in 2005.

From the beginning, Cenk, an agent with RE/MAX Select Realty in Wexford, Pennsylvania, knew that he needed to brand himself in his local marketplace and get his name recognized among the “big names” in the real estate industry. Cenk decided to partner with the local print publication, Harmon Homes (now Homes.com) because of their presence in the real estate industry and the exposure with which they could provide him.

“Being a new agent and seeing them in the industry, I decided to give them a shot.” And his success has grown from there.

“Working with Harmon Homes and Homes.com has been easy,” says Cenk. The company brings everything to him in addition to offering him someone to talk through his ideas and questions with. “They make it easy to work with them, from providing me with new ideas and then implementing them, to listening to my own ideas.

“I do a lot of my advertising online at Homes.com and HarmonHomes.com. They do a good job of promoting my Web site,” drawing prospective buyers his way. Cenk goes on to say that he likes the way in which Homes.com focuses on both print and online material and ties the two together very well in order to drive more home buyers to him. “They create a perception of quality, size and experience for me.”

In addition to bringing business directly to Cenk, the Homes.com customer service department provides Cenk with the help and assurance he needs. “They understand the position that I am in and they support me so that they can do the best job for me.” When Cenk decided to advertise with Harmon Homes and Homes.com, he felt as though he was forming a partnership with the company, rather than simply paying someone to do a service.

Almost all of Cenk’s print leads come from the Homes.com magazine, where he advertises four to five pages each week, so he is not surprised by its success. Homes.com gives Cenk the ability to track his leads as well. “Homes.com has the ability to track each and every property they list,” making it easy for Cenk to track where his leads come from.

Cenk says that he is impressed with the timely manner in which Homes.com responds to his marketing needs. His full-time marketing assistant works closely with Homes.com to ensure that things get done quickly. Cenk will finish off this year having sold between 150-175 homes, and he attributes much of his success to Homes.com.

“Homes.com does the best job of branding me in my local market in order to reach targeted home buyers who are looking for real estate. Homes.com magazines target home buyers directly where they shop, work, live and play, so that they do not have to go out of their way to pick up a copy-that makes a huge difference. Homes.com has helped me get my name out there, and now it is one that people recognize and remember.”

For more information, visit www.Homes.com.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.