For sellers that had their homes on the market during the busy spring season without a closed transaction, the lazy days of summer are not exactly a welcome treat. Traffic gets lighter with prospective buyers away on vacation or out enjoying the warm weather, making clients even more anxious about the process of selling their homes.

At the same time, sellers just putting their homes on the market may still expect the quick sale times and multiple offers that the industry experienced not so long ago. The weather may be heating up, but the market is cooling. Sellers may not always understand why people aren't lining up to buy their homes, especially when news stories used to give incredible accounts of multiple offers pouring in on the same day that a listing went on the market.

To combat sellers' angst and get that sold sign out on the lawn, try these tips:

• Think Outside the Box. Open Houses on beautiful summer weekends aren't going to work if the buyers aren't in town to attend them. Try a virtual open house with virtual tours and attractive photos to reach buyers when it's convenient for them.
  
• Make sure your sellers get their homes in tip-top shape for summer showing. Make recommendations about enhancing outdoor areas like pools and patios, and be sure that the landscape is up to par with green grass and thriving plants. Even an ideal home without summer curb appeal is a tough sell.
  
• Educate your sellers to manage expectations. Give them statistics and trend information from your local market about how long homes are taking to sell, and also about how much they're going for. Work with your sellers to set a reasonable listing price, and make sure you manage their expectations by giving them a realistic sale time. Don't let them expect something that's impossible or improbable. They will appreciate your straightforwardness, and it will start your working relationship on solid footing.
  
• Revitalize and show off your marketing plan. How are you working to ensure that your sellers' homes are marketed properly? Are you taking advantage of cutting-edge marketing strategies to reach a complete audience of prospective buyers? Find cost-effective ways to increase your reach, and be sure that you keep your sellers up to date on how their homes are being marketed.
  

"A balanced approach is always the most effective way for real estate professionals to market their listings and reach more buyers. You have to meet your target audience where they are, in whatever way is right for them. Some demographics use mostly print when searching for homes, and they don't really use the Internet. Some demographics use just Internet and not much print. Some use print and Internet together. You've got to be in both to reach a complete audience of buyers and sellers so you don't miss an opportunity," says Dave Mangold, Harmon Media Group's Vice President of Business Development.

Harmon Media Group offers their advertisers a solution called PrinterNet^TM , an integrated combination of print and Internet marketing to reach consumers of all age groups and demographics, regardless of media preferences. This PrinterNet^TM strategy epitomizes the balanced approach that Mangold referenced.

"When sellers get nervous during a slower time like the summer, real estate professionals unfortunately have the bear the brunt of their frustration. By being prepared to deal with these issues through a solid integrated marketing plan that touches all the segments of your target market, you can avoid displeasing your sellers or losing the listing," says Ernie Blood, Executive Vice President for Harmon Media Group.

Components of Harmon Media Group's PrinterNet^TM solution include a network of over print 250 targeted print publications, a range of Internet tools including digitally interactive eBooks at www.eharmonhomes.com, www.harmonhomes.com and www.homes.com, and the custom PrinterNet^TM Hybrid solution for brokers. By combining print and Internet for high-response marketing results, Harmon Media Group helps real estate professionals add an integrated competitive advantage to their marketing plans to reach more buyers and demonstrate return on investment to impress sellers.

To connect with a Harmon Media Group representative in your area, call 1-877-9-HARMON or e-mail results@harmonhomes.com.

Harmon Media Group, a division of the Trader Publishing Company, provides innovative marketing solutions for real estate professionals across the country. With a nationwide network of more than 250 targeted print publications and a dynamic range of complementary Internet offerings including HarmonHomes.com, Homes.com and eBooks at eHarmonHomes.com, Harmon Media Group provides homebuyers with the tools they need to find a new home and serves as a convenient and effective advertising forum for real estate professionals. For more information about Harmon Media Group, visit HarmonHomes.com or call 1-877-9-HARMON.