Why guides matter
People who are thinking about a move search for the area before they search for a house. A guide page that answers their first questions is a reason to find your site and a reason to come back. It also shows you know the place, which a listing page alone can't do.
What a guide covers
Housing
The kinds of homes you find there: older bungalows, newer subdivisions, townhomes, condos, duplexes.
Getting around
The main roads, the commute directions people tend to drive, and transit where it runs.
Outdoors
Parks, trails and green space, described in general terms you can keep current.
Seasons
What heat, snow or storms mean for a house there, such as yard care, roofs or heating.
Places, never people
Every guide we write describes the place. We leave out who lives there, words that hint at the kind of family a place suits, and anything about safety or school quality we can't stand behind. Fair housing advertising rules point the same way, and readers get more from facts about homes and streets anyway. If you have a broker who reviews marketing, we send the guide for their sign-off before it goes live.
How a guide is built
- You pick the areas and send notes, photos and anything you tell clients in person.
- We plan the guide pages and how they link to listings in the same area.
- We write a first draft, you correct the local details, and we revise.
- The guide goes live with its own address, title and description for search.
Photos
Your own photos of streets, parks and typical homes do far more than stock images. Avoid shots where people's faces are clear or house numbers can be read. If you don't have photos yet, we publish with a simple layout and add them later.
Questions
How many guides should I start with?
Start with the two or three areas where you do the most business. A short guide that's accurate beats ten thin ones, and you can add more later.
Can guides list homes for sale in that area?
Yes. Listings you've tagged with an area can show at the bottom of that guide.