July 31 2012
Have you been following our monthly blogging plans? If so, you've been leveraging some pretty cool topics (if we do say so ourselves) this Summer. If not, you can find the first two months here:
Most of these topics aren't too time sensitive, so you can use them now if you haven't already. Remember: these are consumer-facing topics, so they should be written to an audience of buyers, sellers, and/or homeowners.
You might also want to check out these great topics from Karli Larson of ePropertySites:
We're going to continue with this month's weekly blog topics (as well as additional/alternative topics). Most experts recommend blogging more than once a week, so don't be afraid to use all of the topics we've included here.
"Planning to sell your home in the near future? Here are _____ [your number goes here] improvements that will cost you money but won't increase your home value." So begins an easy-to-write post about home improvements that sellers should avoid. You know what these so-called improvements are from your own experience, but you may want to consider things like: fancy landscaping, new carpets (many people prefer hardwood floors), converting a spare room into a home office (many people don't work from home and would rather have the blank space).
Today's real estate market presents some interesting opportunities for investment, but there are a few questions that interested persons should consider first. For example:
Continue this list of questions, providing explanation for each. Then invite prospective investors to meet with you to clarify their options.
Let's use Katie Holmes as an example here. According to reports, after filing for divorce, she's moved out of the large home she shared with Tom Cruise and into a smaller apartment near her daughter's dance studio. Your blog post can suggest current properties on the market in your local community that might meet similar needs: kid-friendly apartments or homes near dance studios, schools, or other community highlights. Frame the discussion as: if these are Katie's priorities, and she lived here, these are the sorts of properties she might be looking at.
If this sort of celebrity gossip feels cheap to you, keep away from it! It's tough not to sound insincere if something rubs you the wrong way and insincerity is a tone that's better kept out of your real estate blog.
If a potential buyer is considering purchasing a condo, what are the main factors they should consider? Give some examples of current condo listings.
Are you a runner, a cyclist, swimmer, or beach volleyball enthusiast? Share your active lifestyle and insider knowledge with your readers. If I were writing this blog post, I'd share a few of my favorite running routes around town as well as the public lap swimming hours at our local community college.
Once you've found your expert, ask them for tips for landscaping in your unique climate/soil conditions/water conditions, etc. Ask for examples of plants that thrive in this environment. Then, take pictures of environmentally friendly landscaping and post them with the article.