• Sale prices don’t lie, and they are all available for you online.
  • Get in the car, and explore the neighborhood -- in person beats online to get the real scoop.
  • Pull demographics to get a sense of who lives there to determine how best to reach prospective clients.

Whether a client is buying or selling — everyone wants to work with an expert who knows a neighborhood inside and out. No one wants a know-nothing-newbie.

So, what do you do if you’re new to the business and want to build clientele in a neighborhood that you might not know well? It’s time to dig in. Here are three tips to help you become a neighborhood expert.

1. Look at comps, comps, comps

The best and quickest way to get up to speed and find out the most valuable information for a prospective client is to pull comps.

Get on the MLS and your local property appraiser’s website to check out sale prices, listing photos and other important details, so you can get a good sense of what homes are selling for, how long they take to sell, price points within the neighborhood, etc.

While you’re doing your research online, go ahead and check out the school ratings, which could be crucial for a buyer.

2. Do a drive-by

Another surefire way to become a neighborhood expert is to channel your inner stalker and drive it — up and down every street at different times of the day and night.

There’s no better way to find out how walkable the area is, the condition of the housing inventory, traffic patterns and how many parks, coffee shops, grocery stores and other amenities are in the area.

Get fanatic about the neighborhood, and you’ll know where to find the prettiest views and the best restaurants.

If you’re hungry, go to dinner in that neighborhood. Live like a local, and discover the best spots so you can help buyers find the perfect home and help sellers best market their place.

[Tweet “Live like a local, and discover the best spots so you can help buyers find the perfect home.”]

3. Pull the demographic info

Don’t take your stalker hat off just yet — demographic information is widely available by ZIP code through several websites, including the U.S. Census Bureau.

By knowing the basic breakdown of a neighborhood by facts such as population, age, sex and other factors, you’ll have a good idea how to best market to people who live there.

For example, if property owners’ ages skew younger, you might want to use social media to market to prospective clients. If it skews older or more affluent, you might want to use more traditional printed postcard mailers or lifestyle magazines.

Religiously use these tips and you will surely be a neighborhood expert in no time at all.

Sam DeBianchi is Estate Agent and founder of DeBianchi Real Estate in Miami, Florida, as well as coach and founder of SamSpeaks Coaching. Follow @SamDeBianchi on Twitter and Instagram or on Facebook.

Email Sam DeBianchi.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×