FARPM Conference in the Keys Has Good Attendance

Dave,

Hawkscay was gorgeous indeed and the FARPM Members are always very receptive to the Vendors. From our industry MyNewPlace, Rent2Buy, Rentals, and RentalHomesPlus all had booths. Next year the convention will be in Panama City. So make sure your ‘Marketing Dept’ is looking into it.

Some highlights from the show included Rentals showing off their newest feature. Basically on the free window signs they send PMs there will be a code/phone number for a prospective tennant to text to. Then within seconds they will get the information on the home sent to their cell phone( i.e. price/beds/bath/etc.) It was really hilarious when they tried to do the demonstration and only a couple PMs could figure it out. At one point somebody even screamed out ‘How do you text message?’ So we’ll see how this feature works out for them, but I am thinking it would be just as easy to print the information on the sign and send that to the PMs.

Another highlight included the announcement that RentalHomesPlus will be the ‘Official 07-08 Annual Partner’ for FARPM. So we will see how that goes. It is nice to see somebody else stepping up for once and FARPM is receptive to it.

See you in the Scottsdale!

In The Industry,

Thank you for your update on the FARPM Conference.

Who was there from Rentals.com? Did any of their new management team show up? Who gave the talk for them at the luncheon?

Did Rentals.com explain what they are doing with Rentclicks, rentahouses and homerentalads? Any news on pricing? Any quantity discounts?

Just curious!

Thanks

SAB

SAB,

Since Rentals was the Platinum Sponsor for the Convention, Robert Turnboll and Rob Massey got up and talked during the opening ceremonies. They were the highest ranking members of the Rentals team that were there. Which I counted at least 5 other sales people at their booth. Rob and Bob talked about the history of ApartmentGuide allegedly starting back in 70’s and also briefly explained the consolidations/acquisitions we have witnessed in the last year and a half. Ultimately leading up to the branding of Rentals.com.

For some reason though I don’t recall hearing about any kind of blow marketing campaigns though. Last year at the FARPM Convention I think it was Jim Caroll got up and said RentClicks was going to launch this major marketing campaign including TV, radio, and billboads advertisements. Has anybody heard or seen any of these advertisements?

I dont recall them mentioning pricing or anything like that. Just the new texting feature.

Which 4-5 markets did they advertise in?