I do not door knock.  If I may be frank about this ... it does not help our industries reputation. 

I don't door-knock.

I don't consider myself a door-to-door salesman.  I am a real estate consultant.  I help people who already want to buy, or sell, accomplish their goal.  I don't go hunting for people to fund my retirement.

I don't go hunting for people to fund my retirement.  I'm fortunate that I don't have to.  I do know agents who door-knock, and I have a lot of respect for them.  But it's a hell of a tough way to make a living.

    What's in it for them?  What can you offer that isn't all over the internet, for free?  Also, beware of "no soliciting" signs... you can be cited for trespass in Florida if you ignore those signs.

   Door knocking has to be part of your "Farm".   Handing out B-cards one time won't provide an ROI.

   FWIW, I door knocked back in the 1980's.  I agree with Wayne Martin; I believe that door knocking's time has come and gone.

To be glib, a fast getaway. I look at this type of door knocking like have a Jehovah's Witness come to the door.

If you door knock around here, one of your tools better hold six bullets.

I believe in strategic door knocking, I mainly prospected default properties in my t-shirt and jeans, hide my luxury car around the corner. The touch points and the process would actually take a book length explanation.

Different techniques for other situations like expired listings, probate, divorce or just meeting some prospects in your "farm" etc. Door knocking can work when done strategically with the right touch points.

 For tools; having the right words is the best tool ever. The impression you would want to make with a particular type of prospect is another tool to consider (tooling or re-tooling the impression you give off)...the reason why I dressed down and hide my car when hunting for prospects with a NOD or a court ordered auction date.

Door knocking can be difficult, but that didn't stop me from being a highly paid door knocker.

Hope you're not knocking for those "offshore" prospects that I've seen you mention in your past posting. 

Do you open your door to door knockers?

Run Forest Run!

Dress professional, have a gift to give & a leave behind sheet or card. Be aware of the whats in it for me dynamic everyone thinks about. Answer it

What you leave when there is no answer is really important.

Not a fan of door knocking. It's time has come and gone like the Fuller Brush Man.

I no longer door knock, due to safety and changing times, people get very angry. 

I love Richie Alan Naggar's answer but, also agree with Kathleen Daniels! 

Please listen to Kathleen Daniels what she says is true!

If you are going to door knock and give them something, make it valuable information that they will want to know. Notepads and ink pens are not good enough. 

Heidi,

I would do door knocking by getting involved in the community in some fashion or other.  Get known as a real estate agent, whether it is the Rotary club, or the PTA if you have children, or any other group that you have interest in.  Face to face is what very few are willing to do, and this is your advantage.  A

One of our clients here in Santa Barbara farms on the luxury areas.  He door knocks regularly among the estates and gates.  Everyone knows him as the market expert, and they are happy to talk to him.  He has already established himself, and when he drops in with his branded pads of paper, it works for him.  A

It has been  while since I did one, but when I did it just involved a targeted brochure and my friendly smile.

If you are a fairly new agent I would go heavy on printed information about your brokerage info along with your personal bio Heidi Theodore .

Hopefully some people will have some advice. I won't do it. But I would think you would need a very succinct introduction that will capture their attentionwith something of value to offer them 

I've never knocked on a door in my life and don't intend to.

Personally I am not a fan of door knocking as I feel it is too intrusive of one's lifestyle.  I don't like "surprise visits" and I guess I don't want to be the who just shows up on someones door thinking they really want to know all about me and what I can do for them ... IMHO

Little gifts and a solid pair of shoes. If they slam the door you can can your solid shoe as door stopper........

None... in 25 years I have never door knocked and don't plan to start now. I don't like people knocking on my door... why would I subject someone else to it?

I do not.

You just go there and do it. I just watched very inspirational video of a realtor who started door knocking with nothing ( just her business card, but she did not even have money to print any other marketing) and just in few years now she is very successful realtor of luxury homes. Just go there, do something, do not give up. 

Good luck. 

I start with a smile

My hand last time I did that, but that was well over 20 years ago.

I had a buyer a few years ago that specifically wanted one neighborhood, but only the ones backing to open space.  I put together a flyer and put them in sleeves.  I knocked, but if they were not home, I left it on their door.  I found a home for her and got two other listings.

I do not door knock, too dangerous 

It still works out here.  One of my friends does it in his farm area and he has gotten several listings from it and found a few buyers too!

Only tools you need is mace/pepper spray in case a loose dog comes after you.

I aways have a door hanger bag with me if there is no answer, it has 6 items in.  If they answer they always like them.

If I were inclined to door knock it would be with a big smile and a business card in my hand.

Heidi Theodore - just think about what they would want from a Real Estate Professional - and GIVE, unconditionally.

sneakers, water and be ready for rejection

I do not door knock.

I don't like door knockers coming to my door so I never did it.   

a 380

Heidi Theodore Bare knuckles. It probably isn't worth the effort unless it is a farm area where you are well established.

Not a fan of this marketing technique - I did it once years ago when I started and did not get very warm receptions.

Not to mention finding out 6 of my potential farm area were licensed agents LOL - put the brakes on that area real quick

I knocked on doors for one week during my first year in the business, 39 years ago..... never did it again... from that point on, it was USPS for me....

I don't do this.

A confirmed appointment with the occupant!! 

We don't door knock.

Well, you are going to hear a pile of hogwash regarding door knocking.

A whole bunch of 'raise the bar', our fragile image and my favorite, "I don't like getting my fat a$$ out of the recliner so I don't want to do that to others."

This is a business not a hobby. Sometimes being an adult means doing things we really don't want to do, like changing diapers, taking out the trash, paying the bills and meeting the owners in your geo farm.

Here is what I've done (and I will extend the opportunity to you) recently. Send a post card announcing the owner empowerment of CIS Score.  Followed by, 'I'll be on your street Sat at 1 pm to deliver your  access code."

Now, you can also enter into a collaboration with a local yogurt shop, new business or service, and deliver the 'welcome to the neighborhood' promotion.

EBM and scheduled and purposed Open House invitations are door openers also. 

When you actually do this door knocking, it will become clear that what you hear on Active Rain is the biased voices of those who long ago forgot how they got started.

Now, go have fun and start building your list of welcoming home owners.

A very thick skin.