Establishing Yourself as a LOCAL AREA EXPERT
3 EASY AT-HOME DIY PROJECTS to Increase Property Value WHAT THE FIRST THING YOU DO AFTER WORK Says About You Agents with Heart
Graham Harrop
Easy Blog Topics for Your Real Estate Blog
Today, blogging looks a lot different than it did back in 2007, when the platform was just beginning to take off. Successful bloggers don’t choose blog topics on a whim. They think strategically and develop pillar content that their target audience will come back to again and again.
Real estate bloggers should be less concerned with whether the same post already exists (it does)
than with how they can be more informative and helpful than their competition. Your personality is likely the thing that your clients connect with, and your blog is another place where you can let it shine.
Pillar content refers to those evergreen posts that never get old because they are always timely. Think about those questions that you’ve had to
answer a hundred, if not thousands of times— that’s your pillar content. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could direct your clients to a blog post or, better yet, they discovered the answer on your website rather than you having to constantly repeat yourself?
Evergreen Content
This should really make up the bulk of your content. The possibilities are endless, and you could easily come up with an entire year’s worth of content with only a few hours of brainstorming.
Here are some examples: You could provide your readers with a list of questions they should ask when interviewing a realtor, the steps to becoming a real estate investor, real estate facts all first-time homeowners should know, steps new parents should take to prepare their home for a baby, recommended vendors for home maintenance, or common real estate terms defined.
You could explain to your readers what they need to know about home staging, which home renovations add the most value to their home, how to research schools or crime rates in specific neighborhoods, what a home association is, or how to start flipping houses and buying foreclosures.
Case Studies
Sometimes realtors work with a client for years before they are ready to buy a home. Personal finance blogs are a thing for a reason. People want to see exactly how someone else achieved a shared goal. If you have a close relationship with a client who you helped become a homeowner, consider interviewing this client and writing up a case study that shows exactly how the two of you worked together to achieve this goal.
Or maybe you helped a client sell their house for much more than they were expecting by conducting a series of small and inexpensive renovations. Tell your readers how you did it.
Stay Local
Your clients are likely new to the area. Inform them about upcoming community events or mom-and-pop shops they may have never heard of. Are there hiking trails or parks nearby? What’s the best place to grab a cup of coffee before work or a beer after? You can spotlight these places regularly as a monthly series.
There are plenty of real estate news outlets that will be posting about the state of the market—but they won’t be talking about your specific community, and that’s where your blog comes in.
Of course, if you only blog about community functions or properties on the market, then as soon as that event is over or that listing is sold, your content ceases being useful.
The best real estate blogs balance their content by posting a little about all the above. Maintaining a high-quality blog means your prospective clients don’t need to visit several websites to have their questions answered because you’ve done the work for them. It’s a tool that helps you make a great first impression.
If you still need help coming up with blog topics for your real estate blog, consider sending a survey out to your clients. You can send it via email and post it on social media. Ask your clients what real estate problems they need help solving and write your content with their responses in mind.
Establishing Yourself as a LOCAL AREA EXPERT
For real estate agents and local business professionals, carving out a reputation as a go-to local expert is invaluable.
Below are tailored strategies for real estate professionals eager to become their community’s trusted authority.
Deep Dive into Local Insights
Gain an intimate understanding of your community’s pulse—its history, cultural nuances, and what makes it tick. Keep abreast of housing trends, economic shifts, and unique local attributes that influence the market.
Hone Your Specialty
Pinpoint a market niche that aligns with your community’s specific needs. Whether it’s a focus on historic homes, luxury properties, or first-time homebuyers, specializing sets you apart.
Forge Local Connections
Immerse yourself in the community by attending events, joining local organizations, and engaging in activities that matter to your neighbors. Cultivating relationships with fellow businesses and professionals enhances your network and referral potential.
Boost Your Digital Footprint
Craft a compelling online presence with a professional website and active social media channels. Share insights on local happenings, market updates, and valuable content that positions you as the local expert.
Collaborate with Neighborhood Businesses
Partner with area businesses and groups for mutual promotion. These partnerships can broaden your visibility and reinforce your community ties.
Commit to Community Service
Demonstrate your dedication to your area through volunteering and supporting local causes. Authentic engagement with your community can significantly bolster your personal brand.
Educate Your Audience
Offer your expertise through informative content that addresses the local market’s nuances. Publishing guides, articles, or videos can make you the go-to source for real estate advice in your area.
Leverage Client Success Stories
Utilize testimonials from local clients to underscore your impact. Encouraging satisfied clients to share their experiences online can further solidify your reputation.
Engage with Local Media
Position yourself as a local real estate authority by contributing to local publications and websites. Offering insights on real estate trends or market forecasts can increase your visibility and credibility.
Maintain Cohesive Branding
Ensure your branding is consistent across all platforms. A recognizable brand identity makes you easily identifiable and strengthens your market presence.
Stay on the Pulse of Your Community
Keep informed about local developments, news, and events. Sharing your perspective on how these could affect the local real estate scene showcases your expertise and keeps you relevant.
By diligently applying these strategies, you can establish yourself as the definitive real estate authority in your local market, enhancing both your credibility and your opportunity for growth within the community.
JAMILLE HERNANDEZ
Top Agent Jamille Hernandez started her own brokerage, Realty Xpress Group, in 2024. It now consists of 16 agents that serve Union, Essex, Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson counties in New Jersey,
With a determined nature and a love for helping others, Jamille Hernandez has reached great heights in the real estate industry. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Human Resources Management, she worked in the banking and financial sector. Eight years ago, she decided to start on a new path, earning her real estate license and hitting the ground running. In 2024, she started her own brokerage, Realty Xpress Group, which now consists of 16 agents. Serving Union, Essex, Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson counties in New Jersey, Jamille has been recognized for the NJ Circle of Excellence several years for the last five years. Nearly all of her business derives from repeat clients and referrals, thanks to her respected reputation and deep-rooted connections in the community.
Jamille stands out in the real estate market through a personalized approach that
nurtures client loyalty. Her ability to handle both Residential and Commercial transactions allows her to serve a broad range of needs, from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors. She is also a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in the states of New Jersey, Florida and Puerto Rico, allowing her to provide a streamlined experience.
“Whether they are buying, selling, or investing, they frequently refer me to their family members,” Jamille explains. Since she has
such vast experience, Jamille’s clients know they can trust her to help their loved ones.
After working with Jamille, clients love to share their experience with others. She has dozens of five-star reviews, including one which says, “This was our first experience in buying a house. Jamille was hand to hand with us throughout the process and was very educational on every part of it. Sometimes, I felt like losing faith about the possibility of
Jamille’s ability to handle both Residential and Commercial transactions allows her to serve a broad range of needs, from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors. She is also a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator in the states of New Jersey, Florida and Puerto Rico.
getting that goal, but she was very encouraging about it. I can personally say that if sellers work to the rhythm Jamille does anyone may get a house in at least three days; she works like a machine to get the house that you could not even dream about. If you need an agent you can trust, do not hesitate to
contact her, she will never disappoint you.” When it comes to marketing, Jamille takes advantage of social media to market her real estate listings effectively, reaching a wide and varied audience. “Most of my listings are from social media, referrals and past clients,” she explains. “I use Canva for
designing eye-catching visuals that attract potential buyers and have a sophisticated CRM system which features automated marketing tools and AI capabilities.” This system boosts her listings and also helps her maintain consistent communication with her sphere and clients.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, community plays a strong role in Jamille’s life. She serves as the treasurer on the board of the Puerto Rican Day Parade of New Jersey, where she’s now in her second term. She’s engaged in local non-profit organizations
and municipal councils to provide essential services like food for those in need and support for families affected by disasters like fires. Outside of her professional and community commitments, Jamille spends time with her two children.
In the coming years, Jamille aims to expand her team, which will also include mentoring new agents and teaching them the importance of excellent service. “We are making our clients’ dreams come true, and that’s what I love most about this career.”
3 Easy At-Home DIY Projects to Increase Property Value
Most homeowners have a lengthy list of chores and bit projects they intend to accomplish around the house. Oftentimes, those to-do items are completed piecemeal over a long stretch of time, or else sometimes not at all. However, when it comes time to prepare a home for market, all those tasks begin to pile-up and overwhelm. The
list of things to do before the photographer comes or the first open house is held might seem endless, but not if you tackle just a few things here and there as you go. These sorts of projects—easy, DIY, at-home tasks you can accomplish in a few hours or less, with tools you most likely have on hand— go a long way with marginal effort.
Complete a quick rehab of closets and storage areas
Many agents advise clients to declutter and depersonalize their spaces ahead of professional photography and home showings. The idea is to provide prospective buyers with a neutral palette. Not only does this allow them to imagine their own lives unfolding within those four walls, but it also helps make a home’s square footage stand out. One way to add visual space to your home without calling in the contractor is to declutter common storage areas and closets. When buyers can get a complete look at a closet’s capacity, or a pantry’s depth, or the garage’s full functional potential, they get a better sense of a home’s potential and thus, its value. In that vein, consider decluttering and cleaning your high-traffic storage spaces: the garage, pantries, closets, attics, and basements. Besides, organizing and discarding unwanted items help you prep for a move anyway, while giving potential buyers a peak at how spacious your home really is.
Add easy curb appeal with a bit of sweat equity
Sure, curb appeal can arrive in the form of a new mailbox, pathway lighting, or updated house numbers, but it can also come cheaper than that. Curb extends to the upkeep of your lawn, landscaping, and home’s façade, and there are plenty of ways
you can give these zones a refresh without spending anything but time. Keeping your front and back yard green and uniform adds a lux layer to exterior square footage. Likewise, polishing the outside of your windows, trimming hedges, and sweeping the walkway can make a tidy and wellcared for first impression. There are other measures you can take too. Planting wildflower seeds in empty beds, or collecting some landscaping rocks to frame mulched areas can add a bit of character to your residence. Repainting the front door, ensuring trees are trimmed, and keeping back patios
neat and uncluttered also underscore a home at its finest, which is ripe for buyers to snatch up.
Transform tiled spaces into sparkling clean surfaces.
Bathrooms and kitchens are where sellers can stand to add plenty of value in the process of selling a home. While pricey renovations might be out of the question for some, there are still affordable and time-effective ways you can transform for these spaces for the better. Cleaning,
bleaching, or redoing your tile grout—in either kitchens, bathrooms, or other tiled spaces—can give these high-trafficked areas a new lease on life. Ensuring windows, mirrors, stainless steel appliances and backsplashes are streak-free and polished also demonstrate to buyers that your home is well-cared for and practically move-in ready. Sometimes, the devil is in the details. You might consider relining drawers, changing out knobs and fixtures,
or else decluttering cabinets and shelves for a fresher look.
No matter the challenges ahead as you prepare your home for sale, completing a few small tasks every weekend or so can put you miles ahead of the competition. Without spending a dime, you can add serious value to your home’s bottom line, setting you up for success as you begin your own home-shopping adventure.
AGENTS WITH HEART
A pivotal question we pose to featured agents in Top Agent Magazine is, ‘Tell us about your community involvement.’ This query holds immense significance, not only as a benchmark for nominees but also as a crucial factor contributing to the success and prestige of top agents.
Top Agent Magazine defines community involvement based on three key factors: Events, Associations, and Charities. Beyond serving clients, top agents demonstrate an outstanding commitment to their communities and the place they call home. Their measures involve volunteering time,
Community involvement is not just an extracurricular activity for top agents; it’s an essential element that molds their individuality and professional ethos.
financial contributions to organizations helping those in need, and active participation in community events. This distinctive trait is a testament to how their generosity extends beyond clients, enhancing the lives of those in their surrounding communities.
most fulfilling part of my career is knowing that I will change somebody’s life.”
Take Cindy Ambuehl, a former actress and model who has evolved into one of LA’s most sought-after luxury real estate agents, gracing the cover of Top Agent Magazine. Cindy passionately supports PS Arts, a foundation reinstating arts education in schools. Through events and fundraising initiatives, she’s contributed to maintaining art education for an entire year to 30,000 students.
Consider Josh Flagg, whose enormous rise in real estate landed him a spot on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing and a cover feature in Top Agent Magazine. Despite his stardom, Josh travels throughout America, mentoring brokers, agents, and students, sharing insights on achieving success. He finds fulfillment in transforming lives through his career and shares, “The
These examples are just a peek at how agents engage with their communities. Whether gathering Christmas gifts for underprivileged children, supporting children’s hospitals financially, advocating to end homelessness, or volunteering at local animal shelters, these agents extend their reputation beyond transactions. They’re known not only for their professional success but also for their unwavering support of community causes.
Community involvement is not just an extracurricular activity for top agents; it’s an essential element that molds their individuality and professional ethos. In the real estate landscape, where relationships and integrity are central, active participation in the community builds credibility and fosters meaningful connections. Beyond boosting their reputations, community involvement mirrors a profound commitment to the areas they serve. Agents invested in their communities acquire a deep understanding of local needs and through active engagement, these agents become vital parts of the social tapestry, earning the regard and trust of the community.
“Agents with Heart” displays how top agents have left a mark on the real estate landscape by imbuing their work with heart and soul, influencing lives outside of transactions.
CINDY AMBUEHL
JOSH FLAGG
What the First Thing You Do After Work Says About You
We all have our routines. From that morning cup of coffee to a jog at the gym, it’s common to establish touchstones for our daily lives. But have you ever considered what these habits tell us about ourselves? Our actions reveal much about our motivations and emotional life, so taking a second look at your first move at the end of the day can be telling. With that in mind, see how you fare when it comes to post-workday habits...
Break a Sweat
After a long day of work, is your first instinct to strap on your sneakers and take off on a run? Do you stop off at the local yoga studio for an extended stretch? Maybe you head to the weight room to pump some iron. Whatever your exercise pick, if you’re inclined to sweat it out at the end of a long day, you’re likely a routine-oriented profes-
sional who internalizes work-related stress. Of course, you’ve chosen a healthy release for all that pent-up tension, and you’ve discovered the power of endorphins. Once work hours are over, not everyone finds the motivation to stay active. This means you’re driven by routine, conscious of your emotional and physical health, and prefer to leave your cares at the gym, rather than bring them into your home oasis. However, it’s important to give your body a rest now and again, as recuperation time is not only beneficial for physical health, but can help prevent burnout for the long haul. Flexibility is a skill, and one just as important to cultivate as rigid commitment. If you find yourself out of sorts if you miss just one day of working out, you might want to pay some attention to your routines and motivations, and rebalance your commitments and fitness routine accordingly.
Round-the-Clock Hustle
If you’re the type to bring work home with you, you aren’t alone. While your motivation to work nonstop is admirable, it’s also important to make the mental transition from workplace to home, establishing the time to hustle and the time to relax. Just like those that hit the gym without fail after a long day, sometimes you’ll need to practice saying no. If your work life is indistinguishable from your personal life, it’ll be hard to catch a break and recharge. This means burnout, frayed nerves, and missed details will soon be on the horizon. Of course, round-the-clock hustle is a strength, too. You’re passionate about your work, care deeply about doing things right, and failure is not an option. Just make sure that you establish some foundational boundaries so that you maintain an
appropriate, healthy balance between your time at work and your time at home with the loved ones and hobbies you cherish. If making way for downtime isn’t easy, try penciling it in the way you would a work engagement. Dinner with a friend, a date night with a significant other, or a solo movie fest can be readily added to your calendar, and thus built in to your regimented schedule.
Turn to Food
If your first instinct after work is to eat, it can say a few different things about your routine. Perhaps you’ve been so on-the-go all the day that you haven’t had time for lunch. In this case, you might need to regiment your schedule with more purpose aimed towards downtime and self-care; food is fuel, after all. If you head home and gorge after an average day, you may be turning to food as a way to relieve stress. In this case, you may need to reassess some of your post-work habits and find a healthier balance and outlet for your tension. Taking a walk, grabbing fresh ingredients for dinner, hitting the gym, or decompressing by catching up with a friend or a good book—all are healthier, more balanced ways of executing the transition from the office to the home. Pay attention to your consumption post-work. Determine how hungry or satiated you really are before making a grab for the nearest sustenance.
People decompress in all different ways after getting home from the office, but always remember that routines are telling. Don’t take your daily actions and impulses for granted. Examine the root behind your well-worn practices, and you may detect nuances at play beneath the surface that can you help you recalibrate for the better.
