Buying and Selling Equestrian Properties is a Whole Different Animal

Compared to typical single family homes, buying and selling equestrian properties presents a unique set of challenges. These distinctive listings require unique marketing strategies aimed at very specific markets. In order to assure that the entire process goes as smoothly as possible, it's important to work with someone who specializes in these types of properties. 

Here at Residential Properties Ltd., we take pride in our agents having a variety of expertise and being able to effectively represent a wide range of properties. RPL Sales Associate, Denise D'Amico of our East Greenwich office is one such agent. D'Amico specializes in equestrian properties and has even been selected by equinehomes.com–an equestrian and country property firm–to represent our area.

Equestrian and Country Property Specialist

For more than 30 years, horses have been a part of Denise D’Amico’s life, whether it be competing or riding for leisure. Being in real estate since 2004, Denise has been able to combine both passions and has become a preferred Realtor for equinehomes.com and RPL's consultant for everything equestrian property related. Equinehomes.com is a real estate firm that specializes in equestrian and country properties throughout New England and Florida. About two-and-a-half years ago, Denise was contacted by the firm because they were seeking a Realtor  at a highly respected real estate company in the Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts area with an equine background to service their buyers and sellers with horse properties. With Denise’s background in the “A” circuit of horse shows throughout New England and Florida in Hunters and Equitation, they knew they wanted Denise to represent our area. Unique Advertising Approaches

Horse properties differ from the average single family home, therefore the marketing is a bit different. “When marketing an equestrian property, you are dealing with a select, distinct audience,” Denise says.

She explains that people looking at these types of properties typically spend more time looking at the actual land, barns, indoor or outdoor riding arenas, paddocks, pastures and other out buildings than they do looking at the actual house – if there even is one on the property.

“A horse property needs additional targeted marketing beyond the normal MLS, real estate sites and print advertising that would be done on say a single family home,” she says.

“You can’t just put [the properties] in MLS and on a few real estate sites and then sit and wait,” Denise continues. “I am constantly talking with horse people and have a continuing list of potential buyers from one farm to another that I stay in communication with.”

For sellers advertising an equestrian property, Denise recommends highlighting the type of barn and its amenities, the number and type of stalls, pasture/paddock size and locations, as well as the footing and the layouts of buildings. “Having an expansive network of equine professionals is a huge asset,” she says. “A lot that goes on in the horse community is word of mouth.”

Personal Marketing Denise spreads the word about properties to people in the community by handing out flyers to large animal veterinarians, farriers, horse transport companies, and equine insurance agents. A group of these professionals travel with her property flyers in case they know of someone who’s in need of a property.

Denise also travels to horse events and competitions throughout New England and Florida where she posts flyers of her listings on farms.

Aside from word of mouth, the other marketing tool is the internet–like  equinehomes.com, that has a base of 12,000 horse people that receive e-flyers on Denise's listings.  “There is so much more marketing than what is done with a single family home,” she says.

Advice on Buying and Selling Equestrian Properties

If you’re looking to sell a horse farm, Denise says: “You need an agent that is passionate about selling your farm and horses in general–that's me! The agent needs to “talk the talk” and understand what a horse person is looking for in a farm.  When buying and selling an equestrian property, there’s also a bit of extra research and legwork to be done. It’s important to go to the town hall and look into the zoning, business use of the property, and acreage needed per horse."

How can RPL help?

“Residential Properties is the first line of marketing with just the best videos of the farms highlighting the amenities offered and with great photography,” says Denise. “Everyone is always impressed and complimentary of our videos!”

Check out Denise D'Amico's equestrian properties on her Active Listings  page.