How many times have you heard that real estate is all about location, location, location?  You already know that every home listing should always include both details about the property as well information about the surrounding area.  But your blog is probably the best place to focus specifically on neighborhoods.

“Neighborhood blogging” can educate your buyers, and meanwhile attract prospective clients looking for credible but personal perspectives on the area.

Whether writing short, self-contained profiles, or simply reporting on events and other community news over time, a blog is an extremely compelling way to demonstrate your familiarity and expertise when it comes to a specific neighborhood.

For your next blog entry, try focusing on a neighborhood.  Pick an area in which you have one or more listings, or where you regularly do business, and introduce it as you would an old friend.  Don’t hesitate to infuse your entry with your personal views.  Here are a few points to consider:

  • Look: Is it a beach community, up in the mountains, resort, sparsely populated?  Is the neighborhood made up of single-family homes, condos, a mix?
  • Feel: Established, new, industrial, warm, family oriented?
  • Amenities: Parks, beaches, grocery stores, shops, fruit stands, farmers markets etc.
  • Special anecdotes: Your favorite things to do, insider tips (i.e. what is your favorite ice cream at the local shop you always go to), etc.
  • Schools: What schools are in the area, what options exist (private schools, preschools, etc.), and what you think about them.
  • Sales Activity: Of course you’ll want to highlight any listings you have in the area, but also speak to recent sales and other comparable or typical properties.
  • Close your entry with an offer to answer any additional questions people might have. Many will, so a call to action is a great way to make first contact.

Taking the time to really speak earnestly about the neighborhoods in which you do business in can go a long way in making a potential buyer feel more connected to a home, and to you.  If buyers are focusing on a specific area, you’ll become the de facto expert in their minds.

Chances are, you’ll be able to come up with a dozen neighborhoods for which you have some special insight to share.  And for each neighborhood, you’ll likely be able to come up with more than a few posts. Consider adding a blog category for these neighborhood entries, and make it easier for clients and prospective buyers to browse all the areas in your realm of expertise.

Happy blogging!