8 Tips to Position Yourself as a Real Estate Expert in Your Local Area

There are numerous things you can do to position yourself as a real estate expert in the general sense, such as becoming a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the largest trade association in the United States and exclusively for those who work in the real estate industry, or earning one of the dozens of additional certifications and designations available to real estate professionals. While these are both wonderful avenues to advance your real estate prospects, establishing yourself as a real estate expert within your local area takes much more legwork. To help you along, we’ve got plenty of tips specifically designed to help you position yourself as the real estate expert in your local area. 

The more time and effort you put into getting to know your local area, the better equipped you will be to buy and sell your clients’ homes. From understanding the particulars of the local market to building relationships within the community or even utilizing real estate farming postcard ideas to get your name out in the neighborhood, you can establish your local area expertise in numerous ways. Read on to discover our top eight tips!

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1. Research the Market

First and foremost, even if you’ve been living in the area for decades, be sure to research the current market conditions in your area, including selling and buying trends, and average selling prices of homes. Being aware of average home prices based on lot and house size will position you as one of the area’s most knowledgeable real estate professionals. There are likely a few “hotspots” within your local area, such as a highly sought-after neighborhood, a particular street that is quiet but conveniently placed close to the interstate, or an area of homes within walking distance of your local area’s most popular features. Being aware of these hotspots and trends will assist you in helping new clients find their perfect new home. 

2. Attend Meetings in the Local Area

Most communities hold consistent meetings for their local governing agencies, such as school board meetings, zoning and planning commissions, city council, and meetings for the chamber of commerce. Though these meetings can be time-consuming, they provide the most up-to-date information on decisions likely to affect your market and local area. Staying active within the community and attending these meetings is an excellent way to ensure you have the most current information to relay to your clients. In addition to these meetings providing a wealth of information, they are also a fantastic opportunity to connect and network with leaders within your community. 

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3. Connect with Local Business Owners

Don’t be afraid to frequent the local businesses in your area and build rapport there, too. Having a wealth of knowledge surrounding the local businesses allows you to know all the “go-to” spots in town, which are great tips to pass on to your clientele. Networking and establishing good relationships with local business owners can also help send potential clients your way. If you’re consistently attending meetings in the local area, many of these local business owners will likely recognize you as being active within the community and may be more willing to network.

4. Use Social Media and Technology to Your Advantage

Social media, when used correctly, is one of the best marketing tools available. Don’t just stick to posting on your own Facebook or Instagram profiles – think outside the box! Consider joining local community groups on Facebook, as it can be an incredibly lucrative place to share new home listings or find potential clients looking to move to the area. Starting an Instagram page solely dedicated to your listings is a great way to attract new clients. Nextdoor is another social media application that is rising in popularity, as it helps connect those within the same neighborhood or community and allows them to share information and organize local events. 

When utilizing social media, it’s helpful to stay aware of the current posting trends. A well-designed Boomerang or video clip with the correct audio overlay posted at one of the “peak times” of the day can potentially draw thousands of views. Apart from social media, email marketing is one of the most underutilized forms of outreach in real estate. Emailing newsletters, including your newest listings or promoting open houses, is a great way to keep in touch with old clients and potentially gain new ones, as emails are incredibly easy to forward. Remember – the more you get your name and information out there, the more clients you will attract, especially if you’ve positioned yourself as a local expert!

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5. Get Creative with Marketing Outside of Social Media

While social media is an incredible marketing tool, there are still many marketing options that aren’t strictly technology-based. Not every client will be technologically savvy, and there are always benefits to utilizing the tried-and-true marketing methods. Sending out paper mailers is a great way to stay in touch with old clients and draw new ones. Consider beefing up your mailers with home maintenance tips or market trends to help keep your local area up to date with the current housing market. If you’ve built up a good rapport with some of the local businesses in your community, you may be able to post one of your real estate fliers in their business or leave business cards for potential clients to grab. 

6. Build Credentials as the “Neighborhood Expert” with the Help of Local News

Teaming up with local news stations is an excellent way to cement your position as a local real estate expert. Don’t be afraid to get to know the local reporters and journalists in your area and research what sort of segments or content they most regularly feature. Many news stations feature “ask the expert” segments, allowing professionals within the community with different areas of expertise to answer questions from viewers. 

Some news stations also offer professionals the opportunity to provide expert commentary regarding their areas of expertise. As a real estate agent, you can provide insight into market forecasts, neighborhood updates, and current trends. If public speaking isn’t your forte, most newspapers offer column opportunities for locals to take advantage of, and they have excellent marketing tools, such as display ads or classifieds. Even if you don’t regularly peruse the newspaper, plenty of people still do!

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7. Create a Neighborhood Guide

Disseminating a neighborhood guide is an excellent way to reinforce your credibility as a real estate expert in your local area. Not only is this a great way to share a wealth of information, but it can even end up working with the local business in a way that benefits both you and the business. An example would be featuring a local restaurant or shop within your neighborhood guide and coordinating with the restaurant or shop to allow your flyer or business cards to be displayed. 

A neighborhood guide can also be a great way to share new or upcoming listings with the local area and potential clients. If you’re utilizing a digital neighborhood guide, feature updated photos and videos of your listings. This can also be a great way to share testimonials from previous clients, which will help build the community’s confidence in your brand. 

8. Get Involved in the Community

Finding a way to intertwine your passion with your community will help you meet like-minded individuals within your local area – it can also help you meet potential clients. If you’re an animal lover, consider working with one of the local shelters to sponsor an adoption event within the community. Most towns or cities have a central gathering area, which could be a great place to host live music events in the summer. Block parties within smaller communities are a fantastic way to get to know the neighborhood, the people living within it, and friends of community members who may be looking to move to your neighborhood. Volunteering at the local shelter, food pantry, or soup kitchen is another excellent way to give back while learning more about your local area and its challenges, which may help you brainstorm potential solutions. As such, community involvement is a surefire way to further cement your position as a real estate expert in your local area.

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Final Thoughts:

Becoming an expert in real estate, especially in a specific neighborhood, is no simple task. While building rapport within a community takes significant time and energy, the benefits far outweigh the effort you’ll put in. Trying even just a few of these tips will assist you in positioning yourself as a real estate expert in your local area.