By Sash Joveski and Andrew, Fearless Agents at Realest.com
A community shred day is a short Saturday morning event where you pay a mobile shredding company to destroy your neighbors’ old papers at no cost to them. To host one, book a licensed shred vendor, get written approval for the location from your broker and the property owner, and invite your whole sphere and the nearest neighborhood. On the day, unload boxes and say hello. Within 48 hours, thank everyone who came and follow up with anyone who asked about their home.
Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” A shred day is a simple way to do that. People have boxes of old statements in the basement and no good way to get rid of them. You can fix that in one morning.
Why does a shred day work for real estate agents?
Most marketing asks people for something. A shred day gives them something first. It solves a real chore. It is easy to explain in one sentence, and easy to invite people to without feeling pushy.
- It is useful. Nobody has to be talked into getting rid of old papers safely.
- It is face to face. When you lift boxes out of a trunk, you get a few minutes of real conversation.
- It repeats well. Run it once and you can run it again next year with the same plan.
- It gives you a reason to follow up. A thank-you note after a good morning feels natural.
It works for brand-new agents too. You do not need a big database. You need a date, a lot and a truck.
How far ahead should you start planning?
Start about six weeks out. That gives you time to get approvals in writing, compare vendor quotes and promote the event without rushing. Here is the timeline we teach.
Six weeks out
- Pick a Saturday morning and a two to three hour window.
- Pick a lot with easy drive-through traffic, like your office lot or a partner’s lot at a church, school, lender or title company.
- Get written approval from your broker and the property owner.
- Call two or three mobile shredding companies. Ask the price, how many boxes the truck holds, whether shredding happens on site and whether they provide a certificate of destruction. Get the quote in writing.
- If a lender, title or insurance partner wants to share the cost, ask your broker about co-marketing rules before you agree to anything.
Four weeks out
- Make a simple flyer with the date, time, location, a box limit per car and what the vendor accepts. Ask the vendor about staples, clips, binders and electronics.
- Set up a sign-up form so you know how many cars to expect. Ask people to opt in if they want event updates by email.
- Check with the city about permits and sign rules.
Two weeks out
- Invite your sphere by text or email, post on your social pages and share it in local groups where the group rules allow it.
- Mail or hand-deliver flyers to the nearest neighborhood, following your town’s rules on solicitation.
- Line up a tent, a table, signs, water and a sign-in sheet.
The Shred Day Game Plan
Lock it in
Date, lot, written approvals and a vendor quote.
Build it
Flyer, sign-up form and city sign rules.
Invite everyone
Sphere, social, local groups and nearby streets.
Follow up
Thank-you notes and calls to anyone who asked.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due. Proverbs 3:27
What do you say when you invite people?
Keep the invite short and clear. Here is the invite from our training. Put it in your own words:
“Hi [name]! We’re hosting a shred day on [date] from [time] at [place]. Bring up to [number] boxes of old papers and a professional shredding company will shred them on site. No cost to you. Tell your neighbors too!”
Invite everyone the same way. Do not pick streets or people based on who you think lives there. The goal is to serve the whole neighborhood.
What happens on the day of the event?
- Arrive an hour early. Put signs at every entrance so cars know where to go.
- Have one person greet each car and one person at the sign-in table.
- Unload the boxes for people. That is when the conversation happens.
- Never open, read or sort anyone’s papers. Hand the boxes straight to the vendor.
- Ask before you take a photo of anyone, and only post photos of people who said yes.
At the car, keep it friendly and simple:
“Morning! Thanks for coming out. Let me grab those boxes for you. I’m [your name] with [your brokerage]. Do you live close by? How long have you been in the neighborhood?”
That is it. You are not there to pitch. If someone brings up a move, a remodel or a question about their home, ask if you can follow up next week and write it down.
How do you follow up after a shred day?
The event is the start of the relationship. The follow-up is where it grows. Within 48 hours:
- Send a thank-you to everyone who signed in and agreed to hear from you.
- Add each contact to your CRM, tagged with the event and the date.
- Post a thank-you on your social pages with the photos you have permission to share.
- Call anyone who asked you to follow up about a move or a question.
A simple thank-you message:
“Thanks again for coming out to shred day. It was great meeting you. If you ever have a question about your home or the market, I’m happy to help. We’re planning to do it again next year.”
For more on staying in touch without being pushy, read our post on how to follow up with leads. If you like meeting people in person, our guide to hosting an open house that brings in buyers uses the same idea.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Do not promise identity theft protection or make security claims. Let the vendor describe its own process and certificate.
- Do not skip written approvals from your broker, the property owner and any co-sponsor.
- Do not add people to an email list unless they agreed to it.
- Do not turn the event into a sales pitch. Serve first.
- Do not forget the follow-up. Without it, you just paid for a truck.
Fearless Agents is the free training side of Realest.com. Inside Fearless Training, our Paper Shredding Event for the Community lesson has the full checklist, the vendor questions and every script. Join Fearless Training to get it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a community shred day?
A community shred day is a short event where a real estate agent pays a mobile shredding company to destroy neighbors’ old papers on site at no cost to them. It gives people a real reason to come out and meet you face to face.
How far in advance should I plan a shred day?
Start about six weeks ahead. That gives you time to get written approvals, compare vendor quotes, check city sign rules and promote the event to your sphere and nearby neighborhoods.
What should I ask a mobile shredding company?
Ask the price, how many boxes the truck holds, whether shredding happens on site and whether they provide a certificate of destruction. Get the quote in writing.
Can a lender or title company co-sponsor my shred day?
Possibly, but ask your broker about co-marketing rules before you agree to share costs or put a partner’s name on the flyer.
How do I follow up after a shred day?
Within 48 hours, thank everyone who agreed to hear from you, add each contact to your CRM with the event tag and call anyone who asked about a move or their home.
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