In most housing markets, the home that sold down the street gives you a reasonable sense of what yours might fetch. In Greater Boston right now, that logic has broken down. Two nearly identi...
The End of Traditional Real Estate Marketing: Sacramento Broker Explains the Shift




Sacramento real estate leader Johnny Jennings says the traditional ‘three P’s’ approach to selling homes, ‘put a sign in the yard, put it on MLS, and pray,’ is failing sellers in today’s market, leading his team to develop an aggressive proactive marketing strategy that’s changing how properties are sold.
Beyond Passive Marketing
“We take it a step further with proactive marketing,” says Jennings, co-founder of Made 4 More Realty. His team employs dedicated staff who actively hunt for buyers rather than waiting for them to find listings. “Rather than passively waiting for our phone to ring, we proactively hunt down buyers for our clients.”
The Data-Driven Approach
Jennings’s team maintains a database of over 15,000 potential buyers, leveraging this resource through sophisticated segmentation. “All 15,000 people are not going to be interested in your home, but we’ll segment it down and call those people,” Jennings explains.
The strategy extends beyond simple database management. The team analyzes migration patterns and buyer movement trends, particularly focusing on the lucrative Bay Area market. “About 15 to 18% of home purchasers in our market come from the Bay Area, they’re selling a home that’s a fraction the size of ours for many times the amount. And so they make for great buyers.”
Community-Based Marketing Innovation
One of the most effective elements of their approach involves engaging the local community. “Four out of 10 homes that sell have sold because a friend, family member or coworker recommended that property to them,” Jennings notes. His team systematically contacts neighbors of listed properties, effectively creating a network of informal real estate agents.
“It’s not just me, it’s not just me and the 20 agents on my team, it’s going to be me, the 20 agents, plus 100 of your closest neighbors now are looking for their next neighbor,” Jennings explains.
Technology-Enhanced Agent Networking
The team employs specialized tools to identify other realtors with active buyers in the market. “Sometimes buyers move in, they get frustrated they can’t find what they’re looking for so they move in and out of the market,” Jennings says. His team proactively reaches out to these agents to match buyers with available properties.
Made 4 More Realty’s Solution
Made 4 More Realty implements this comprehensive approach through a structured process designed to maximize buyer engagement and property appeal. Their strategy begins with professional home readiness consultations to ensure each listing is market-ready. Targeted advertising focuses on key feeder markets, reaching potential buyers where they are most active. The firm actively manages its buyer database to maintain timely communication and identify prospective matches quickly. Additionally, community engagement strategies help build local awareness and foster connections that can accelerate the sales process.
“We provide a home readiness consultation upfront,” Jennings says, addressing a critical market need. “The number one question I get is, ‘How do I get my house picture ready?’ Because everybody knows houses that are staged correctly take better photos and show better online.”
This article was sourced from a live expert interview.
Every month we conduct hundreds of interviews with
active market practitioners - thousands to date.
Similar Articles
Explore similar articles from Our Team of Experts.




First-Floor Primary Suites Take Center Stage as Accessibility Features Drive Mainstream Buyer Demand
Buyer preferences are changing rapidly in residential real estate, with first-floor primary suites—bedroom, bathroom, and closet space located on the main level—now driving demand among ...


Below the luxury tier, Manhattan’s condo and co-op market has a mismatch problem. Buyers under $2 million overwhelmingly want units that are updated, low-cost to maintain, and ready to...


Beverly Hills Luxury Sellers Accept Bigger Discounts as Data-Savvy Agents Outperform Lowball Tactics
The luxury real estate market has undergone a fundamental shift that most agents haven’t fully grasped, according to Rod Watson, founder of Distinct Concierge Real Estate. His recent $...


For years, real estate observers in the Philadelphia metro region described South Jersey as undervalued – a suburban stretch with beach access and lower taxes that hadn’t caught up t...

