We talk a lot about creating content for marketing your services and your listings. Another great reason to create content is to encapsulate some of the standard advice you give to your clients.
Whether you’re providing step-by-step instructions for buyers to facilitate their search and their escrow period or working with sellers to get their homes ready to go on the market, you probably find yourself repeating a lot of the same information.
Whether you choose written content or video content, creating a library of resources on your website or YouTube channel allows you to build your digital presence while also providing valuable insights and information — and saving you time on repetitive tasks. Here’s how:
Put together a list of your frequently asked questions and the information you find yourself repeating for all of your buyers and sellers.
Create content that breaks the information down into bite-sized pieces. Provide content for sellers about pricing, preparing their home for the market, elements of the transaction, and move-out requirements. Provide content for buyers about choosing the right neighborhood, working with a lender, mortgage documentation requirements, elements of an effective home search, home inspection and closing.
Drill down even further and put together content that explains commonly used terms, required documents, and other items your clients may not be familiar with.
Create a content library that’s well organized. Use tags and categories to organize your blog posts. Create playlists for your video content in the order it’s most often needed.
Consider automation through your CRM or an email provider like Mailchimp to feed your content to clients as needed. There may be content that automatically goes out when they make first contact, when they sign a listing or buyer agreement, when they go under contract, and throughout the contract period all the way to closing (and beyond).
For nurturing your SOI, consider creating content that’s helpful for homeowners even when they’re not looking to sell. Home maintenance information, refinancing or tax information, landscaping or home design trends — any of these can be regularly provided to homeowners to keep you top of mind for referrals and repeat clients.
One user-friendly type of content that you may find particularly valuable is a checklist. Giving clients a step-by-step, easy-to-follow list of items helps ensure clear communication and breaks down sometimes overwhelming information into manageable categories.
You can provide printed checklists as part of your listing package, provide a link to needed checklist downloads at your website; in a video description or on social media; or use QR codes to direct clients to the right checklist for their particular question or issue.
To get you started, I asked ChatGPT to help me compile some useful checklists for sellers and homeowners and organize them into categories. Below, you’ll see some general information about the lists, then links to very simple pdf samples that I generated in Canva.
Download and use these yourself, or make them the jumping-off point for the type of information you’d like to have on hand to share with your sellers.
1. Pre-Listing Preparation Checklist
This checklist helps sellers get their home ready for the market before listing it.
Items might include:
Declutter each room.
Deep clean the entire house.
Complete necessary repairs (e.g., leaky faucets, squeaky doors).
Neutralize the home (e.g., depersonalize spaces, repaint bold walls).
Enhance curb appeal (e.g., landscaping, fresh paint).
2. Staging Checklist
This checklist focuses on making the home look appealing to potential buyers through strategic staging.
Items might include:
Arrange furniture to maximize space and flow.
Add fresh flowers or plants.
Use neutral decor and remove personal items.
Ensure good lighting in all rooms.
Set the dining table with attractive place settings.
3. Open House Preparation Checklist
This checklist ensures the home is in top condition for open houses and showings.
Items might include:
Clean all surfaces, including countertops and floors.
Ensure the home is odor-free (use candles or air fresheners if necessary).
Organize closets and storage spaces.
Set a comfortable temperature (adjust HVAC as needed).
4. Moving Out Checklist
This checklist helps sellers transition smoothly out of their home once it’s sold.
Items might include:
Schedule moving services and arrange for packing supplies.
Transfer or cancel utilities (e.g., electricity, water, internet).
Change address with USPS and notify relevant parties (banks, subscriptions).
Clean the home thoroughly after moving out.
Remove all personal belongings and ensure nothing is left behind.
5. Seasonal Maintenance Checklist
This checklist includes seasonal tasks to keep the home in good condition while it’s on the market.
Items might include:
Spring: Clean gutters, check the roof for damage, and start gardening.
Summer: Maintain the lawn, clean air conditioning units, and check for pest issues.
Fall: Rake leaves, clean the fireplace, and check heating systems.
Winter: Clear snow from walkways, protect pipes from freezing, and ensure proper insulation.
Providing these checklists and other easy-to-use content can help you demonstrate your value and expertise while making the selling process easier and more organized for your clients. It also saves you time while still allowing you to help clients navigate every step of the home selling journey.
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