Frequently Asked
Questions

No, we do not require a contract binding you to purchase a fixed number of editions, but we do require agreement to our Terms and Conditions.

Easy! After all your questions are answered we'll have you complete our simple online form, where you will reserve your territory, place a $150 deposit, and agree to our terms in a single step. Shortly after you submit this form, we'll schedule a one-time setup call with you.

Your account manager will conduct a setup call with you and then introduce you to your designer. You'll work directly with your designer on your paper. Simply approve each paper via email, pay your invoice online, and we'll alert you when we need materials for your next edition.

Just three steps:

1. Send in your listings, current market stats (optional), and topic selections for your custom articles.
2. Approve your proof.
3. Pay your bill online.

We do everything else — from writing and design to printing and mailing.

After the first setup edition, most agents spend 15–30 minutes per paper — sending listings, approving the proof, and paying the bill. We provide all the content except your listings, including custom-written hyper-local articles in your name, designed cover to cover. You can spend more time if you'd like, but most agents leave the legwork to Discover.

That's up to you. Most agents plan to go 10 months per year on average — most choose monthly, some bi-monthly. We recommend no more than 60 days between mailings. Quarterly mailings are generally ineffective because too much time passes between touchpoints, though we do have some quarterly clients who fill off-months with other forms of direct mail.

Several ways. Consider a Fast Track Edition, which costs less. You can further reduce cost with our Advertising Program (most clients save 15–30%), with prepayment discounts, or with deep discounts for mailing at higher quantities. For example, you could stretch your farming and hit 5,000 homes bi-monthly for less than the cost of 2,500 homes monthly. Your account manager can custom-build a plan for your budget.

Clients are not obligated to complete or purchase any publications. However, your $150 deposit is non-refundable and your ZIP Codes are released if your first publication is not mailed within 60 days. Design time fees may apply if you begin a paper and don't finish it. See our Terms and Conditions for full details.

It's a surprisingly fast process. Once we have your materials, Discover designs, prints, and delivers your paper to the USPS in 3–5 business days. Depending on your location, papers are delivered within 2–3 weeks. On average, it takes about 2–3 weeks from when we receive your listings to when homeowners get your paper in the mailbox.

During setup we'll build a calendar together (adjustable anytime). Two weeks before each scheduled print date, you'll be alerted to provide your listings or materials. Consistency is key — we make sure you never miss a mailing, because a missed mailing could mean a missed listing opportunity.

Each publication must be paid in full before it can be printed. You'll receive an email invoice and can pay online with a credit/debit card, set up ACH bank withdrawals, or mail a check. You can also set up Auto-pay — your payment processes automatically upon proof approval. Discounts are available if you prepay for three or more publications.

Clients are not obligated to complete or purchase any publications. Your $150 deposit is non-refundable and ZIP Codes are released if your first publication is not mailed within 60 days. Design time fees may apply if you begin a paper and don't finish it.

Yes — our per-unit cost drops significantly at higher quantities. Mailing to more homes is often more cost-efficient per household than a smaller run. Your account manager can show you a full pricing breakdown based on your territory and goals.

No. Simply pick out your carrier routes from our online maps — we'll walk you through it. At no cost to you, we purchase a list based on your selections, then verify and scrub the addresses. Discover Publications is your full-service, turnkey marketing partner.

Discover removes all apartments and businesses automatically. Mobile homes are not automatically excluded — the USPS separates mailings by owned and rented properties, and most mobile homes are owned, appearing on the same lists as residential houses. They're included by default, but you can request their removal through your account manager.

We can mail to any special list you provide, though the cost goes up by $0.30 per address for added postage. Very few clients do this — most agents farm to build brand awareness across a whole geography over months and years. Special mailing is excellent for staying in close contact with your past client database.

Yes — many agents add their past client/SOI list to their mailings. Simply provide your list to Discover. The cost is your regular per-unit rate plus $0.30 for extra postage. Note: if your sphere list has fewer than 200 addresses, the additional cost rises to $1.02 for First Class postage.

We partner with the USPS to mail your publications and can send you a Postal Verification upon request. Once your papers are printed and USPS receipt is verified, our service has been provided. Over the last 25 years, 98.2% of orders were delivered within the expected timeframe. In the unlikely event of an issue, we'll open an investigation and work through our USPS channels to help resolve it.

The following sections are customized for you: both covers (with a local article, calls to action, listings/recent solds, and your branding), page 3 (stats and another local article), 4 large "Call to Action" boxes inside, 1 banner-style ad, and a Featured Home section on page 10. All custom areas include unlimited design and customization. We also personalize an "Ask the Agent" column for you on page 4.

Adjustments beyond the standard custom areas are available for a fee of $250 or $400. We generally discourage excessive customization — our layout is constantly reviewed by marketing experts using elements that have worked for our most successful clients. Trust the program, and don't overthink it. Overboard customization typically results in delayed marketing and diminishing returns.

We strongly advise against it. Over the years, many agents have attempted a fully custom paper — and nearly all have stopped marketing because of the extra time, cost, and complexity involved. Technically it's possible for an extra $400 in Full Custom fees, but it isn't worth your time or money. Our proven format works, and the more time you spend on it, the less time you spend on your actual business.

Discover provides all content. We write two custom hyper-local articles for you, in your name, in every publication. We also personalize your "Ask the Agent" section and provide articles from award-winning syndicates on real estate, finance, home improvement, and travel — plus Wolfgang Puck recipes, puzzles, and other lifestyle content.

For your first paper we need your logo, headshot, and company contact information, plus a few additional items determined on your setup call. Your designer will work with you to create Calls to Action that typically recur in future editions. During setup, we'll discuss your brand, market, and goals and build a checklist tailored to your publication.

Most agents choose to provide listings, recent solds, and market stats. Technically, that's all you need — we complete your entire paper with professional content. You're always welcome to send more, but the minimum effort is intentionally low.

Possibly. Samples of client papers are the best way for prospective agents to visualize our product. We send samples to interested agents and may use digital samples on our website, in blog posts, or in emails. This is detailed in our Terms & Conditions — if you're opposed to it, let us know and we'll honor your request.

You are guaranteed exclusive territory rights to each carrier route you mail to, as long as you maintain mailings at least every 60 days (or by special exception). If you mail to 1/3 or more of any ZIP Code, you will lock up the entire ZIP Code.

Mail to at least 1/3 of the ZIP Code at least once every 60 days, and you get exclusive rights to the entire ZIP Code — no other Discover agent can mail there.

We restrict this in our Terms & Conditions. To prevent it, we do not sell print-only orders, and we limit clients to no more than 500 office copies per 2,500 mailed. Any agent who hand-delivers papers in another agent's farm will lose the ability to purchase office copies or mail to a custom list — and may be prohibited from purchasing altogether.

Yes — you can mail to your own list of past clients, as long as it's a genuine house list (not a purchased list). We allow a small margin of error for market crossover. Most agents have 200–500 names on their sphere list spread across a wide area, so occasional crossover happens but doesn't materially affect another agent's results.

Yes — ask your account manager about our free Advertising Program. Most agents have one or two ads from referral partners who are often eager to participate. Two advertisers can cover your entire printing and mailing cost in some cases.

Discover will suggest rates and provide sales materials to help you sell ads — or we can sell ads for you to a list of up to 7 of your closest partners. We provide free design and placement for all ads, plus billing service for up to five ads (minimum $200 each). All ad fees we collect come directly off your bill as a credit.

Anyone — but we strongly encourage you to offer ads only to your close referral vendors. Discover's ad sales and billing service is limited to your vendors, and we encourage keeping it simple: one or two well-priced ads to your closest partners is a good goal.

Not easily. In over two decades, only a handful of clients have achieved this — and not a single one has maintained it. Businesses that don't directly benefit from your success are hard to convert and expect immediate ROI. Most agents save 15–30% by selling a few ads to close partners, and it takes almost no effort. Chasing more than that will cost you more in time than you save in ad revenue.

Not when handled correctly. Managing compliance is best handled between the advertiser and client to ensure it fits their specific needs. We recommend consulting legal professionals and monitoring changes in laws in your state.

We do. Discover can bill up to five advertisers per mailing (minimum $200 each — most pay $250–$500). We send invoices at least 10 days before the expected print date, provide two automatic reminders, and credit all payments directly to your bill. Ads below the $200 minimum or beyond five ads must be billed by you, but we still design and place them.

A paper must be paid in full before it prints. If an ad doesn't pay in time, that credit won't appear on your invoice — you can delay printing, remove the ad, or cover the difference yourself. We can pursue unpaid ads for 90 days and give you the credit (or cash reimbursement) when it's paid.

We suggest no more than five. Squeezing in more could result in additional customization fees, and Discover's billing service is limited to five advertisers. Most agents have just one or two well-priced ads to their closest partners.

We send invoices at least 10 days before print, with automatic reminders at 3 and 7 days past due. We allow up to 90 days for payment but stop collection efforts after that if the next print run arrives without payment. We strive to be as flexible as possible while keeping the process smooth for everyone.

Yes — we send at least 50 free copies to your office every time you mail. You can order more for only $0.60 each plus shipping, up to a limit of 500 office copies per 2,500 mailed copies.

Office copies are great for listing appointments ("Your home will be featured here!"), for including in prospecting and sales packets, and for leaving small stacks at local businesses that homeowners frequent. They reinforce your brand in a tactile, memorable way.

No — office-copy-only orders cannot be fulfilled. We do this to protect your exclusive territory: we don't want any agent hand-delivering papers into another agent's farm. Clients may order no more than 500 office copies per 2,500 mailed copies.

Yes, but the majority of your papers must still mail directly to homes (max 500 office copies per 2,500 mailed). Be aware: newsstands reach broad, inconsistent audiences — apartment dwellers, visitors, students — and require you to source, pay for, and continuously restock them. Dropping small stacks at local businesses is far more effective and forges better relationships with local business owners.