Laura,

Good information and I have it bookmarked for future reference.

Thank you

Don R.

Good luck with your move, and I love your advice as a consumer. 

Laura, so sorry you have to move - YUCK!! I think it's perfectly okay to contact someone in your new city to ask all of those important questions. Depending on the size of the city, you could only expect scraps of information, but if you check with them - they/he/she might be able to help you narrow it down. Here in the Phoenix Valley, there are myriad good places to live as well as schools - so it would "depend" on the particular buyer's needs. I had one call me today that wanted from this street to that and that street and in that neighborhood. She doesn't want to move her son out of the school he's in. We'll have to see how much she can qualify for in order to assess the area she CAN live in. ;-)  Best of luck......let us know where you land! ;-)

P.S. Why do you move so often? Good thing you're a "virtual" assistant. ;-)

RES, Flickr and Flip are three very underutilized tools for me. It will be 100+ in Las Vegas this weekend, but if Laura says people needs pics, I'll brave the heat. Good luck with your move!

Hi Don~ Thanks bunches:)

Hi Steve!  Oh yes, I will need it thanks!

Hi Teri~ Oh Man, Phoenix would be a piece of cake..I already know that town:) It would be nice to be able to find the info, then have someone be able to elaborate on the info and get specific. And yes, beng a virtual assistant means my job goes with me..one less thing to worry about..LOVE IT!

Hi John~ LOL! I  know the heat...but we know how good Vegas looks in the evening sometimes too. I would especially like to know good dog-parks..ones that are clean and have fun stuff and fun doggies like Sundance..I would move in in a heart-beat!

Laura,

Thanks for the good info.  Any good Realtor would welcome a call where you are asking questions about the neighborhood, schools, jobs, entertainment, etc.  That is how we help folks and build relationships that become lifelong clients.  

So where the heck are you going? And what makes you move so much.  Is it military?    One of the assistants in our office is going military to Germany.  I told her she should become virtual from over there.

Moving sucks, but is a much better time when you have good info, a great new home and are sure you are making the great move.

List and Sell (and build relationships ... even virtually)  Gary @ RentonHomeFinder

Laura - Come to Fairfrield!!  MWA! :-)  BTW - Are you coming to RE Connect?  LMK

Laura,

Great post and I remember that same dillema very well when I made my last move to an area I did not know very well. I was looking through agent websites and could find little information on the actual community.

It made me wake up and realize that anybody can put homes listed for sale on a RE site. We certainly take it for granted because more often then not... people (especially relocating) are searching the web for information.

Thanks for reminding of the importance to getting back to my grand project that I've had planned!

Adding a full relocation package on my website is at the top of my list for 2008.  I think that the REal Estate Show is great (I just signed up) and I have also created an Intown Atlanta "Cheat Sheet" that helps buyers select a neighborhood that is a good fit for them -- based on schools, average home prices, etc. 

Having moved over 40, (yes 40) times in my life, I get it! For the last 17 years, the moves have been to small towns, between 500 and 10,000 people. Our most recent move, just 1 year ago, was to a city. We were able to visit the city often, before the move, and drove the streets and tried to get a feel for neighborhoods.  I think we might have done better, in our case, to rent for a bit, to get a better feel for what the drive to work would be like, which side of town we gravitated to for dinner out, where the Drs. and dentists that took our insurance were located, and in which neighborhood did we "feel at home". We are very adaptable, ;o) , but we likely have at least one more move in our future....Best of luck in your research!

Laura - this is really good advice. Pictures and video build website credibility and have SEO value. Win-win.

LAURA - I knew that we got along so well for a reason.  I too, have moved several times over the years.  This post is the exact reason that I created the relocation package contest in the group Local Expert.  The people that embraced it, and realized that it could be a great business tool, have already started to benefit from it. 

I'm not sure where you're looking, but I would do a tag search for the words "relocation package."  You might find what you're looking for.  Thanks for the tips on how to make it even better.  Good luck with everything.

By the way, if someone called me wanting to know more about the area, it would be my pleasure to help them.  Any agent that only wants to sell homes, should not work with relocation, and quite frankly, should not consider themselves a local expert.  Congrats on the feature, Laura.  Well-deserved.

Hi Laura, are you really moving? where? or just posting to tell us Realtors what you need? Anyway if moving, let us know. I have less than pleasant experiences with relo companies.

Laura - try LOCALISM!!!  In some areas, there are bloggers writing great articles with lots and lots of photos, highlighting all their favorite finds.  I think this will continue to grow. 

Hello Laura,

     As our business is more than 50% relocation, we speak with clients about the area we live in. If we have similar needs and wants, they realize we could live anywhere we want and we chose the location we reside. It is not so much as selling a location as it is providing the information a client would want. Our websites are set up for folks to see different subdivisions to get a feel for neighborhoods. The term we hear most often is "family friendly" and here in North Metro Atlanta everyone is from another state!

Yours,
Frank & Jodi Orlando 
Get Us A Home Realty Inc & Atlanta Relocate  Toll Free 1-888-500-5040
Frank Direct 678-758-7895
Jodi Direct 678-758-8271
Our Web Sites: www.GetUsAHome.com
                         www.AtlantaRelocate.com
E-Mail: FrankOrlando@bellsouth.net

I as a realtor use the web site city data to look for poeple looking to move,

Great Blog,

Perfect example of why I try to come to the Rain at least once a day.

I'm bookmarking this because I want to see more of your site on virtual assistant. Mine is leaving in a few months.

I appreciate the thoughts on our websites' usefulness.

Good advice...we will have to move it or lose it...we always send a ton of information to those who request kits...and personalize them with specific areas. The video, etc., would be a great update. This blog makes it to my "to do" pile !

Hi Laura,

Best of luck with your move! Thanks for the thought provoking post! No doubt there are many consumers out there that also can't find the info, as is your experience. As an earlier commenter said, I also have a goal to get this kind of info on my site. And as an agent, I would welcome a call such as yours. Not only is it part of my job, but I enjoy it, and hopefully it is the start of a good relationship. Make the call!

Good point!

I was sure to put links on my website homepage to our beautiful park downtown, and the Greenville Drive baseball team & stadium. Things like this help people feel closer to my town, on an emotional level. Looking at houses online is fine, but it can become mind-numbing after a while. You need to stop and smell the roses and my goal is to make those roses a little more easily accessible for prospective clients!

Great blog, Laura!  My partner and I are beginning to revamp our website, and your blog gave me lots of good ideas.

Thanks!

great post..thanks for sharing these wnderful ideas..I will start using them..can you give me an idea of your rates that you charge.

Excellent blog! Good luck in your move and hope you will successfully locate all that is important to you in your new location.

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Laura,

Great post and advice for all of us. I do spend a lot of time getting that information out there on the internet. My wife thinks I am wasting time but I assure her people like you are looking for information and if I am the supplier of that information then I am the perceived expert for that area.

Congrats on the Activerain feature. You earned it with this post! And, good luck with your move again!

Great ideas! And great comments from your readers. Thank you the tips and advice.

Wow! Thanks everyone, what a way to start my morning! I am a a bit more inspired to pack!

Gary~ My husband is a general manager in restaurant business and has opened restaurants all around CA, so we tend to follow him around a bit:) He works lots of hours, hence my virtual choice of business:) Its great that you are open to helping people out..many choose to rent first before deciding to buy, but still need a helping hand, and that goes a long way in picking an agent to make their home purchase.

Hey Brad! We are moving to Clovis, in Fresno, so I will be a little bit further away from you now! But, yes, I am still planning on making it to Connect! I will see you there!!

Paul~ It sounds like you've been there too:) I think the agents who understand the process will know more about what to put on their sites, and it really helps so much!!

Kerry~ I think that is a great goal to add the relocation package to your site. People move around so much these days, it's a great relief to find the information in a nice little package!

Cheryl~ You get it too!! We are renting for a year or so, as well, but with kids in school we still are trying to make the best choice for the long run. (sigh)

IMNJ~ Yes, using the text links to areas of your city are a great way to boost good content, and help with SEO.

Adam~ You and I are totally in synch with alot of stuff:)  I will defeintly come over and check out how the contest is doing. I think it would be a good service as a virtual assistant to offer really help put together a good comprehensive relocation packages...online versions:)

Missy~ Yes, I am moving:( I'm moving halfway between LA and the SF Bay Area to a town called Clovis....its about an hour away from Yosemitie Natioanl park:) The good thing is the schools are REALLY good!  We have a relo company moving us...we'll see how  that goes..

Penny~ Localism is a good place, and one of the first places I started to llok for photos and info. Clovis does not have a good presense there yet...

Frank~ I love it, its a great service to provide, keep it up!

Sharon~ Thanks I'll check that out too!

Derenda~ You are welcome, AR is awesome!

Connie~ Feel free to contact me anytime!

Sally & David~ You're welcome, I think video really helps make a connection

Richard~ Thanks! I think I would feel better now about picking up the phone now

Kirk~ Its awesome that you have very local information like that...it really does help to make those personal decisions.

Christy~ Great, I would love to know what you put together!

Michael~ Thanks! I will contact you with my rates and info in just a bit:)

Lucy~ Thank you for the well wishes..these things usually all work out, but it does take its toll sometimes!

Mike~ I know sometimes its hard to know if all the time we spend on out sites/blogs is a waste of time, but if it is good content, highly local, and makes a connection..its all worth it!!!  You will be known as the expert.

Teri~ You are welcome..:)

Real Estate Shows has played a large role in my blogging success.  People DO want those pictures and it isn't hard to put one together!

Looking forward to seeing you at RE Connect, thanks Laura, should be a blast!!  :-))  Good luck with your move!  If you need anything, you know where to find me. 

Laura....i'm so glad its you and not me. The only place I would think of moving would be Flordia. Hopefully when I retire. I've looked at the real estate shows and I think I'm going to do video's of every new subdivision in my area. thanks for the good info...

Wow Laura,

What a coincidence. I'm in Clovis ! Moved here just last year from Fresno where I've lived all 54 years. Not much about the area I don't know, schools, shopping et. My wife teaches at Clovis Elementary and our daughter was just named Clark Middle School Girl Student of the year. Very proud of her.

I'm not one to do a bunch of stuff on my website, but if you need info, I'll get it to you. I also just attended the Clovis Citizens Academy where we learned about the city and all it's departments. I can lend you the binder.

I left Coldwell Banker a couple of weeks ago to return to London Properties where I started in 92'. A little hectic, though not moving type hectic. I won't be hooked up with your relo company, but I'll be happy to meet you and help you with whatever you need.

Check me out at www.getbobv.com     Just getting the site changed over so not too detailed yet.

Laura, thanks of the post.

Some really great ideas.....this is one thing I need to work on more

By the way Laura,

You can live in areas of Fresno and have the Clovis School System. Take a look at zip codes 93611,93619,93720,93711. The 937's are Fresno. Take a look at www.visitclovis.com

Thanks for the add also.

Your moving history reminds me of my youth during and after college...sometimes moving 6 times in two years. 

Your tips are great and much appreciated.  Thank you for sharing.

Laura, Good luck with your move to your new city. Your post has encouraged me to go out and do what you have suggested on video. Thank you.

Laura,  I've had tremendous results actually building out a community portal for a community.  If you do a search on Google for Birch Bay or Birch Bay Washington you'll see a site http://www.birchbay.net/ show up as the number 1 site for community information.  This is our community portal which leads to our real estate website http://realestate.birchbay.net/ .  So my hat is off to you on making the connection with relocation info.  It should be part of any overall marketing plan.

All the Best,

Glenn Sanford
--
Founder / CEO
BuyerTours Realty LLC &
Working The Magic LLC

I started posting photos on Flickr..but then a couple of agents somehow (google ad words?) got LINKS on the sidebar....so they are sponging off the photos that I would post...Just as an ordinary consumer, would you be tempted to click on those ads?  To counteract this virtually every photo would then have to mention that I'm a Realtor...I guess I'm looking for input.  I simply DON'T want to help my competition who never goes out to do localism posts etc.  And no, I can't afford adwords in my area just Waaaaaay to expensive.

Great post, super info.

Thanks for sharing.

Jim

This was very helpful information, Laura. It is food for thought in my business as I expect we will be moving senors from "up north" to live near their family here in Florida. There's so much more to Florida than Disney, particularly here in Central Florida with our excellent colleges and universities and the Morse Museum.

Good food for thought as to putting together a package which speaks to them...

Thanks much,

Ann Hutchens, MDIV, CRTS, Senior Move Manager with Creating Divine Order, serving greater Orlando.

Wow, I had no idea this sort of thing existed. The future is definitely here!

Laura, I'm so thankful I stumbled on your blog. You have a new subscriber, for sure!  I just made a video of a new listing and interviewed the current home owners, and all the neighbors. It really turned out great, I thought and personalized it.  The new owners spoke quickly about what they loved in their home. Great post!