we have offered maid service for a year and marketed it as a self cleaning house

Tony and Suzanne,

Like real estate, marketing is a function of knowing the locals, and talking in their language.  What works in Napa, will not work in Santa Barbara.  What works in AZ will not work in Florida...Every house is special, every market is special.  We handled architectural marvels in office design, and standard office space...both marketed differently to different clients.  A

I never sell on price.

Always sell the attributes and feelings that will be gained by the buyer after owning this fine property.

Tony and Suzanne,
I think it partly depends on the size of your market. In a major market (mine is Houston) you may have to pull out all the stops with extravagant broker open houses, give aways, etc.

In a smaller market like Colorado Springs (population 600,000) it is all about absolute execution of the basics, excellent staging, pictures, etc.

High quality photographs, copy that tells a story, marketing the lifestyle here, leveraging social media, contacting my network to promote word-of-mouth.

Good quality photographs and attention to staging are important elements after all of the physical concerns are given attention.

I am still big on print ads and they are getting more popular in my area

Online marketing. YouTube has been huge for us. 

I had a REALTOR friend make a HUGE Facebook ad for Black Friday to sell a home that had been on the market for too long.  It worked, it sold.

Top Five Creative Ideas.

None of the following are creative, just practical and do not include the rudimentary needs associated with what ALL agents do.

1. List of benefits 

2. Underline prestige if present

3. Profile preferred buyer

4. Author back story

5. Offer privilege

There should be good desciption in the mls and many photos. I have seen some listings where they have just one photo.

These are not necessarily "creative," just the basics of what gets my properties sold in a time frame that is usually half that of my mls:

1. Professional photography, video, etc. always, regardless of price.

2. Professional floor plan with room dimensions, detailed about walls, windows, etc.

3. Separate property website to act as an on-line "brochure."

4. Professional marketing brochures on each property, regardless of price.

 Good morning Tony and Suzanne. As I'm starting to get into real estate I find the answers very helpful.

Just getting it out there on the social and online sites to get it infront of as many eyeballs as possible, both consumer and realtor.

Ones in my market: drone video, virtual tour, evening sunset preview with wine and live music, auctions, auction style event with a floor price, invitations to the neighbors for a special "open house party",  prize giveaway such as nordstrom gift certificate, guess what final closing price is giveaway, (QR codes on signs don't work),  agent personal video in the home (use Suzanne and have her say something Disney rated funny and put on utube she's beautiful and could pull it off),   

The workaholic approach, market, market, market, market. market until it sells.