September 2020

YOUR SEPTEMBER CONTENT LIBRARY

Welcome to your SEPTEMBER content calendar! ✨ This month you'll notice a couple of themes throughout the calendar: fall home buying + preparing your sellers. The fall market is still hot in many areas, while some home sellers will be gearing up to sell their home this spring. Of course, there are other tips and types of content on the calendar so that there is something for everyone regardless of your local market is like.

**COMING SOON: I am adding something new to this month's issue, and that is your first-ever Social Broker Freebie. This month, I have a fall home buyer checklist for you to offer to your clients and followers. Simply click on the button below to customize your freebie in Canva with your own headshot and contact information. From there, you can download it as a PDF to send to your clients via email and/or upload it to a Dropbox folder to share as a link.

Your posts on September 15 and September 29 mention the fall freebie, so please feel free to utilize it or omit the last sentence of each post.

This is meant to provide you with one more way to connect with your clients and add value through social media. I'll have it up on the dashboard shorty.**

CUSTOMIZE YOUR CONTENT

As always, I've given you a recommended posting order, but please feel free to switch things up however you like.
On most days there are multiple images that correspond with the day's post topic or in some cases, images and customizable graphics. Choose the image or graphic that best suits your brand!
If a particular day's post doesn't feel like a match for your brand, share a listing, a client testimonial, or a brand personality post (click here for suggestions!).
Each image is accompanied by a suggested caption. Some can be copy and pasted right into your social media posts, others require some customization/personalization. Next to the date are some instructions so that you'll know which captions need to be edited and which ones are good to go. Of course, you are always encouraged to personalize the captions in your own voice!

Be sure to supplement the content with your own personal posts: photos of you, of your family, your pets, hobbies, behind-the-scenes real estate photos, listings, deals, client success stories.

TECHNICAL NOTES

You can open the templates in Canva, click "Use Template" and modify the graphic designs in your brand colors, fonts, logo, etc.
To save each image individually, right click and save to your desktop. Then, copy and paste the captions into FB or Instagram.
- From your phone, tap and hold to save the photo to your camera roll.
To download all of the content at once, click "Download Your Images" and the gallery will download in a Zip folder.
- Important Note! Some operating systems are not compatible with ZIP folders. If you open the folder and it is empty, it is recommended that you save each image individually.
- It is recommended that you work from the website whenever possible as some of the formatting (like emojis and line breaks) may not translate from the PDF/Excel page.

Questions? Visit our FAQs! If you can't find your answer, head to our Facebook Group or send us a DM on Instagram @the.social.broker.

AGENT RESOURCES

CONTENT CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 1 - FILL IN THE BLANK

Can you believe it's already September? I __________ [love summer and wish it would last forever/am so happy that it's officially pumpkin spice season 🎃🍂].

The market has definitely been unpredictable this year, but the fall is shaping up to be strong in __________ [your city or town].

Inventory is still solid, interest rates are still way low, and there are some great deals to be had yet in 2020.

Here are a few highlights from the past month:

*__________ homes are under contract.
*__________ homes are were sold.
*__________ is the average sale price.

Get in touch if you have any questions about the market. You know where to find me 📲

ALTERNATE PHOTO IDEA: Snap a photo of yourself outdoors enjoying the last days of summer, or prepping for fall: wearing a scarf, holding a latte, something seasonal that feels on-brand for you.

SEPTEMBER 2 - FILL IN THE BLANK

Yes, there is a lot to celebrate in September. National __________ [pick your favorite day on the list] Day? I'm totally in! Take a peek at this month's holidays and noteworthy dates.

Tell me in the comments what you are most looking forward to 👇🏼

ALTERNATE PHOTO IDEA: Pick one September "holiday" that feels on brand for you and take a photo of yourself enjoying that holiday.

For example: on National Grandparents Day, post a photo of your kids with their grandparents, or a photo of you with a favorite grandparents.

On National Coffee Day, post a photo from your favorite coffee shop to show the local business some love,

These holidays are meant to be fun fodder for your followers or occasional inspiration for you, but you should never feel like you have to bend over backwards to make them relevant!

SEPTEMBER 3 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Let's play one of my favorite games: would you rather? If you could choose between a sleek all-white kitchen and a contemporary contrasting color scheme, which one would you pick?

SEPTEMBER 4 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

I am not just your real estate agent. I am your advocate.

If you're buying a home, my job is to listen to your wants and needs, absorb the information, and guide you through the process.

If you're selling a home, I will help you price your home competitively, get the best possible offer and look out for your best interest throughout the negotiations.

YOU are always in the driver's seat and I am here to help you navigate.

SEPTEMBER 5 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Here's the truth about this fall: there are currently more buyers looking for homes than there are homes for sale.

This means that if you're looking to buy, you might find yourself in a competitive situation when you find the home you love.

Here are a few things that I want you to keep in mind as you think about starting your search:

✨ You should always have a pre-approval letter in hand before you start house hunting. If you find something you love, the seller will probably not wait for you to go through the pre-approval process and you're likely to miss out.
✨ Decide in advance what you are willing to compromise on. If a backyard, attached garage and fireplace are non negotiable, will you settle for a smaller kitchen and no basement?
✨Think about what you will do if you find yourself in a multiple offer situation. Will you be comfortable offering over asking? Are you flexible on close date? How much earnest money are you prepared to offer?

These are all questions I can help you answer during a buyer consultation. If you'd like to start planning your upcoming home search, DM me and I'll send you my complimentary fall home buyer check list to help you get started!

SEPTEMBER 6 - FILL IN THE BLANK

If you won the lottery and could afford anything you wanted, what is one small convenience that you would treat yourself to?

For example I would __________ [hire someone to make my coffee for me/have a housekeeper who put fresh sheets on my bed every day, never pump my own gas again]. Tell me what you would do!

SEPTEMBER 7 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Happy Labor Day 🇺🇸

SEPTEMBER 8 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

I know it's not even technically fall yet, but I know that some of my sellers are already thinking spring. I know it's hard to believe, but if you're planning to put your home on the market next year, now is the time to start prepping.

Here are a few things to start doing:

📸 Get your home photos taken now! Homes show better when the sky is blue, landscaping lush and your driveway or outdoor space is free from snow. I can't stress this one enough!
📦 Start decluttering. This isn't something you want to save until the last minute. Clean the closets, drawers and remove those personal items like family photos so that when it comes time to clean for showings or open houses, you have already done the hard part.
🧰 Tackle those outdoor repairs now. It's much easier to do exterior painting, roof repairs and window replacements in the fall before the winter weather hits! I promise, you'll thank me in January!
🏡 Finally, request a comparative market analysis. We can take a look at what your home may be worth in the current market to come up with the best sale strategy for the spring.

DM me anytime to start an initial conversation.

SEPTEMBER 9 - FILL IN THE BLANKS

Let's talk apple picking: it's outdoors, easy to social distance, and did you say apple cider doughnuts? 😋

My favorite spots for apple picking are __________, __________ and __________ because I love __________ [the gorgeous view from the orchard/being outside as the leaves change/it's a family-run farm and they have the best farm stand/bringing home dozens of apples to make my famous dutch apple pie].

Where do you love to go to pick apples and indulge in all of the fall fun?

ALTERNATE PHOTO IDEA: Post a photo of you and/or your loved ones out apple picking or share a photo from a local apple orchard -- be sure to tag them!

SEPTEMBER 10 - COPY/PASTE

TRUE OR FALSE: A listing price is just a suggestion.

Answer: TRUE!

The market is pretty competitive for home buyers right now and in some cases, properties sell anywhere between 1% and 5% above listing price.

In some situations, I might ask my clients to define a budget and then a "real" budget. For example: if your home budget is $550,000, I might start by capping your search at $500,000 so that we have room to go above asking in a multiple offer situation.

Of course, the market is always fluctuating and sometimes sellers are super motivated, so there are also times when you may very well be able to offer under asking price and get a great deal.

SEPTEMBER 11 - FILL IN THE BLANKS

Describe your home using only emojis. Here are mine: __________ [pick five emojis: such as, 🏡🛁🌺🐕☀️]. Now it's your turn 👇🏼

SEPTEMBER 12 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Tell me in the comments: what do you set up first when you move into a new home: the kitchen or the bathrooms?

SEPTEMBER 13 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Listen up, sellers!

This might be the most important thing I post all year: if you're thinking of listing your home in the winter, spring or even early summer in 2021, you must get your photography taken now.

Homes show so much better when there is natural light beaming through the windows, leaves on the trees and lush landscaping in the yard.

This is even more crucial this year, when most buyers are having that first showing online.

If you are even considering putting a for sale sign in that yard this spring, shoot me a DM so we can get your photography scheduled and be ready to make the best first impression on your future buyers.

SEPTEMBER 14 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Isn't this the truth? Tag your most positive friend who always sees the bright side in the comments below!

SEPTEMBER 15 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

When you're buying a home, you are going to have to make a lot of choices. So let's start at the very beginning: what kind of home do you want to buy?

Depending on where you live, you might have to choose between a new construction home and a home that already exists.

🏡 With new construction, you have the benefit of choosing your own finishes and having everything custom made for you (no one else has sat on those toilet seats!) but often, building new construction can mean lots of extra costs and upgrades.

Sometimes unanticipated construction delays can push your closing date back, which is not always ideal, especially if you're also selling a home. New homes are typically more modern and contemporary.

🏡 In an existing home, most of the choices will already be made for you. You won't get to choose the paint colors, kitchen cabinets, or hardwood flooring, but you may wind up getting more house for your budget.

If you want to make updates, you can renovate the home to your liking, and if it's a real fixer-upper, you might qualify for a type of mortgage that factors in the costs of a home renovation. Existing homes typically have a lot of charm and character, too!

If you're considering buying a home but haven't yet decided which direction, send me a DM and ask me for my complimentary fall home buyer checklist and I can help you narrow down your options 🍂

SEPTEMBER 16 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Something to think about when you buy a home in a competitive market is whether or not to include an escalation clause in your offer.

Here's an example: you fall in love with a home listed at $500,000 and decide to offer $490,000.

The seller receives multiple offers on the home, the highest of which is $495,000. If you have a $2,000 escalation clause in your offer, it means that you agree to pay $2,000 more than the highest offer, and your offer will "escalate" to $497,000.

Escalation clauses can definitely be helpful in a multiple offer situation, but before you decide to sign an escalation clause, you'll need to decide how high you are willing to go for the specific home in the event of a bidding war!

Have you ever used an escalation clause as a buyer or seller? Would you use one again?

SEPTEMBER 17 - FILL IN THE BLANKS

WOULD YOU RATHER: Move into a single-family home that is further away from work/school/friends or a smaller townhome in the perfect neighborhood?

I would __________ [pick the bigger home because I am totally a homebody and I would love to have a movie room and a big backyard/I'd definitely pick the better location because I'm all about our downtown shops and restaurants!].

What would you choose? Tell me in the comments!

SEPTEMBER 18 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Please tell me I'm not the only person who does this after cleaning out the closets 😆

While we're on the topic though, where do you like to donate your gently used clothing, toys and home goods?

I get this question a lot from clients and would love to add some wonderful new organizations to my list!

SEPTEMBER 19 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

I am all about a beautiful dining table 🤩 Tell me, where did you buy yours? Do you love it? Leave some inspiration for me in the comments!

SEPTEMBER 20 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Is it just me, or are you also seeing these chunky beads everywhere? I love how they add a little bit of boho elegance to any home decor. How would you style them in your own home?

SEPTEMBER 21 - FILL IN THE BLANK

Happy first day of Fall! Autumn is __________ [my favorite season because I love all things pumpkin spice/bittersweet for me because I love the summer so much/so sad because I hate the colder weather, but I am looking forward to the holidays/tell us how you feel about the changing season].

How about you -- do you love fall or are you a summer person through and through?

SEPTEMBER 22 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

I'm spilling one of my juiciest seller tips today... you're going to want to save this one.

One of the most important things I do for my home sellers is develop a strong pricing strategy.

To open your home up to the broadest potential pool of buyers, we might price your home on the bridge. This means that instead of pricing at, say, $499,990 (and missing all of the buyers who have started their search at $500,000) we would price it right at $500,000.

This way you capture all of the potential buyers on "the bridge" - buyers who have started their search at $500,000 AND buyers who have capped their search at $500,000.

Of course, there are so many factors that go into determining the proper price for your home, but this is definitely one hot tip that I take into consideration when recommending the best possible price.

PS: If you're wondering what your home is worth right now, DM me! I'd love to run a completely free CMA/comparative market analysis for you!

SEPTEMBER 23 - FILL IN THE BLANK

Do you love to see the fall leaves changing colors?

Here's my tip: take a drive to __________ [wherever you can go nearby to see beautiful fall foliage].

Where do you like to go to see the beautiful fall colors?

SEPTEMBER 24 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

TRUE OR FALSE: A home seller will always accept the highest and best offer.

Answer: FALSE!

There are a lot of factors that impact whether or not a home seller will accept an offer on their home.

For example: if your offer is contingent on the sale of your own home, the sellers may choose to accept a lower, all-cash offer.

Sellers may also look at a variety of other factors: concessions (like asking the seller to pay additional closing costs), earnest money, loan type, or even a buyer's flexibility on timing.

Remember: you can always message me if you have questions about the process of buying or selling! 📲

SEPTEMBER 25 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

If you're finally feeling those fall vibes, then it's time for your home to look the part, too!

Here are a few of my favorite fall home decor tips:

🍂 Light some autumn scented candles -- I love the Brown Sugar Chestnut from Chesapeake Bay Candle Co.
🍂 Layer up your chairs and couches with cozy throws.
🍂 Swap your linen and cotton summer bedding for flannel sheets and a down blanket.
🍂 Bring on the fall florals. Swap the summer blooms for mums and line your mantel heirloom pumpkins and and rich autumn hued flowers.
🍂 Take the sweaters out of storage! If you have to swap your winter and summer clothes, it's time to take out the sweaters and warmer wear. Even if you don't need it *quite* yet, you'll be glad you did as soon as those chilly mornings arrive.

Comment below how you like to make your home cozier for fall 👇🏼

SEPTEMBER 26 - FILL IN THE BLANK

For me it's always __________ [me - I love to get dressed up and look professional for my clients!/I have been dressing way more casual now that I am meeting clients at home instead of the office/I can't relax when my home is cluttered!].

How about you: is it you or the house? 😆

SEPTEMBER 27 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

Let's talk about a day in the life of a real estate agent: in short, there is no typical day! But there is a lot that goes on beyond the for sale sign, including:

✨ Meeting with buyers and sellers to understand their goals and priorities
✨ Writing offers for my buyer clients!
✨ Showing homes for my sellers -- I'm kind of an expert at opening doors! 😉
✨ Searching the MLS -- whether it's to find comps for my sellers or potential homes for my buyers, I spend A LOT of time on the Multiple Listing Service!
✨ Shopping for closing gifts - one of my favorite parts is visiting my clients in their new home and dropping off my signature __________ [bottle of champagne/housewarming gift basket/whatever you give your clients].

Tell me: what is the most helpful thing your agent did for you during your last home sale or purchase?

ALTERNATE PHOTO IDEA: Post a photo of you doing something at work: at an open house, working on your laptop, etc.

SEPTEMBER 28 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

There is a little bit of Chip & Joanna in all of us, don't you think? 😉

SEPTEMBER 29 - COPY/PASTE OR PARAPHRASE

The market is hot this fall and I have one more tip for you if you're planning to buy: it's all about what actually goes into that offer letter once you find the perfect home.

✨ A mortgage pre-approval letter (that's why it's so important to get it before you start house-hunting). Without a pre-approval letter, the seller probably won't even look at your offer. The actual offer letter. I can help you compose an offer that addresses all of the basics, such as the price, terms, target closing date and other legal requirements.
✨ Contingencies. If your offer is contingent on the sale of your current property, we must state that up front.
✨ Earnest money. You must prepare to submit an earnest money deposit with your offer and also stipulate how it will be returned to you in the event that your offer is not accepted.
✨ A personal note to the seller. Some buyers opt to include a personal letter to the seller to help increase the odds of acceptance and present yourself as a stable buyer who will have no problem closing the purchase. In your letter you might include a personal anecdote and a few things you love about the home, but keep it short and sweet.
✨ An escalation cause. If you decide to add an escalation clause, these help increase the likelihood of an offer being accepted.

In today's market, buying a home is all about being prepared up front.

The more we can prepare in advance, the faster we can move once we find the one and the quicker we can get to the closing table.

If you want to start preparing for your home search, shoot me a DM and ask me for my complimentary fall home buyer checklist so you can get started! 🍂

SEPTEMBER 30 - FILL IN THE BLANK

Earnest money is an amount of money you put down to show you’re serious about purchasing a home. It’s also known as a good faith deposit.

Think about it: when a buyer and seller enter into a contract, the seller takes the home off the market as the transaction move forward. If the deal falls through, the seller has to re-list the home and start all over again, which could have a significant financial impact for the seller.

Earnest money is typically around 1% - 3% of the sale price and is held in an escrow account until the deal is complete. If all goes smoothly, the earnest money is applied to the buyer’s down payment or closing costs.

If for some reason the buyer backs out, the typically forfeit the earnest money to the seller.