How to Research a Neighborhood or Subdivision for a Blog
Bob Haywood from Tulsa, did a great job of pointing out how to blog about a specific neighborhood. So I wanted to pass this on. Keep in mind this is great for local subdivisions neighborhoods and/or cities. Such as in my area of Texas: Sugar Land, Pearland, Houston, The Woodlands, Conroe, would be great to write about.
Cheryl Ritchie asked me a question recently about doing research for when I blog about a neighborhood or subdivision. This was in response to my post, One Thing (Blogging Straight Talk). The point I was making in that piece was that I had a very good lead come in because I had spent time blogging about a listing in a particular neighborhood as well as blogging separately about the neighborhood itself.
Her question was what steps does one take when researching a neighborhood? So here they are...I think you'll be surprised at how simple they actually are!
1. Do a Google search by name of the neighborhood. Has someone already written something about the area? Is there anything out there on the web about that subdivision? This is research you are doing here. If there are any blogs or websites, go read them. You want to educate yourself on the neighborhood as much as possible. The things I'm trying to find out (if possible) include the time frame for when the subdivision was developed, the beginning and ending years during which the homes were built, who developed the subdivision, who the home builders were or are and any amenities or features of the neighborhood.
2. Be sure to visit the Home Owners association website. Often, you will find pictures there and the covenants also (if there are any). One of the most helpful things you will find is who the president of the home owners association is. And why is that important? Well, a phone call to the person and a personal visit about their neighborhood can result in a wealth of information! And it can also result in developing a friendship that could turn into a top notch referral source. WARNING - be careful how much information you share with this person up front (about your blogging intentions.) They might be best friends with your competition and go share all your great blogging intentions with them!
3. Pull the covenants and read them. I am constantly amazed at the information I learn from HOA covenants.
4. Go visit, in person, with any original home owners who may still live in the neighborhood. I did this to find out about a listing I sold recently in Paradise Valley here in my town. I had a great time getting to know the folks. I learned all about the neighborhood. They even gave me an original plat and I felt like a well schooled "expert" in about an hour's time. I included their picture and gave them credit in my blog, which I think is the right thing to do. And besides, you never know, maybe they'll call me if they ever want to sell. They at least know me by name now! Click here to read that blog.
Needless to say, you might want to visit with the developer and/or any home builders if you can find them. This may be impossible in older neighborhoods, but you never know! Remember, you're doing research. The more people you can talk to, the better!
5. Go out to the neighborhood on a pretty day and take pictures. If you're going to blog about the subdivision, you're going to want to have good pictures. Also, actually visiting the area will give you a good feel for how the neighborhood is laid out. And be sure to take pictures of any amenities and/or local landmarks or parks. Here is an example of a blog I wrote on a listing that also included good amenities.
6. Dig into your MLS. If your MLS is like ours, you can go back...way back and find out all kinds of information about the neighborhood. You can pull market stats, find out if there are different sections of the neighborhood like I, II, III, etc, find out what the elementary school is, what the taxes are, and on and on. Much of what you will want to know is there if you'll do the research.
7. Finally, take all your information and write your blog. If you don't have a listing in the neighborhood, write a blog about the neighborhood itself. If you do have a listing in the neighborhood, you might include the neighborhood information in the blog. Either way, don't write just one blog. Write several...over time. The goal is for your blog to come up number one in the Google search results. And the more information you push out to Google, the more likely you will dominate the Google search results. Just don't go overboard and make yourself look like a SPAMMER. Remember, there is a line between spamming people and providing good, relevant content. And be sure to use your own pictures!
So there you go. Now you know how to research a neighborhood. Wait...what's that? It sounds like a lot of work you say. Well, you know what? It IS a lot of work. But it is the kind of work that I'm happy to do while other agents moan and b----- about how slow their business is. And I do the work because I know, at the end of the day, I'm working on the One Thing that is important in real estate.
I hope you are too!
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Information and content in this blog is original to Bob Haywood.Pictures provided by www.freephotos.com
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Bob Haywood
Tulsa, OK Realtor®/ McGraw Realtors
Bob@BobHaywood.com
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