I received proof today (Sunday, April 30, 2006), if only in a small way, that real estate agents have learned the value of “drip” e-mail.

A drip e-mail campaign is a way agents keep in contact with prospects until they declare themselves ready to become clients. Drip e-mails are prepared in advance, and delivered to their recipients in a consistent and persistent manner. Drip e-mails allow agents to stay in touch with future customers without being considered obnoxious or overbearing. In addition, the content of drip e-mails can be customized to reflect the needs and interests of specific prospects.

The proof came as my wife Debra Ann and I visited the “Malvern Blooms 2006” Home and Garden Show in Malvern PA. Malvern is a quaint village along the storied and wealthy Main Line residential area, west of Philadelphia. The day was beautiful … filled with bright sunshine, warm temperatures, and spring promises. The show – which stretched for several blocks on both sides of King Street in downtown Malvern – kept those promises: it was well organized, well presented, and well attended.

Among merchants with booths at Malvern Blooms, albeit blocks apart, were The Schemm Group of Keller Williams Real Estate in nearby Exton PA, and Malvern Realty Group. We identified ourselves to each as we stepped up to talk, and Debra Ann described our interest in downsizing homes sometime in the future. As she detailed our desires, Malvern Realty broker-owner Alex Coates, and Schemm Group member Adrienne Miele, both promptly offered to occasionally send us e-mails of recently listed properties that we might find interesting. Coates and Miele, in turn, took our e-mail address there on the spot, and I’m sure they’ll follow up, too.

Will we be a customer of either? Only time will tell. But I certainly will be able to gauge how hungry they are to serve us as their drip e-mails arrive.