Ms. Lloyd notes that real estate professionals have long focused on niche markets to make themselves stand out from the crowd – with some agents focusing on buyers in search of an eco-friendly home, or those interested in purchasing a historic home, for instance. Now, you can also find an agent who targets dog lovers, or nudists.
For instance, one Menlo Park, Calif., agent’s Web site, Peninsula Househound, says that dog-owning sellers should use a “dog-friendly” agent like herself to secure the best price possible, since “the presence of a dog lowers the value of the home.” Buyers would also want to consider her services for the “comfort of your dog,” she says: The selling process can often be quite disruptive for “pooches.”
Meanwhile, an agent in the Tampa, Fla., area focuses on nudist buyers and sellers. Her slogan: “Skip the outfit, wear the lifestyle.”
“The evolution of the real estate agent as a lifestyle consultant makes sense,” Ms. Lloyd concludes, since a house is more than just real estate, it’s a home and can reflect your “passions and dreams.”
Readers, do you see this specialization as a useful trend for home buyers and sellers, or merely as a marketing ploy? For those of you who aren’t dog owners or nudists (are any of you actually nudists?), are there any particular market segments where the services of a niche Realtor would make sense? — Lauren Baier Kim
Enjoy our clothing free lifestyle!
http://www.naturistspace.org