Summer is hot and so is the real estate market throughout much of the country.  Interest rates are exceptionally low, and the market is booming.  Given our strange circumstances due to COVID-19, a huge percentage of house hunting is being conducted online. Use Agent Insight to show home buyers what they will find in your community during the warm weather months. Use written insights and photos to give your prospective clients an idea of your area’s summertime fun and beauty.

Although the coronavirus has limited many of the usual activities, you can still find plenty of opportunities to showcase summertime in your city. Photos of outside dining at your favorite restaurants or a socially distanced crowd watching July 4th fireworks may already be in your camera. Flowers are everywhere, shops have water bowls out front for thirsty pets, and there are long lines at ice cream stands. Find the places where people are still participating in their favorite summer pastimes. (As always, remember that we can’t use images showing recognizable faces.)

All things water make great summer shots. Fountains, lakes, boating, neighborhood pools, creeks, and beaches are all ideal candidates. Water pictures are often the most photogenic and appealing.

Describe what you see in your community with written insights, too. This is a unique summer so you will find many subjects to discuss that have been influenced by social distancing and masking. Craig Lively, RE/MAX Lighthouse in Petoskey, MI, states in a touching article that despite unforeseen changes, the natural beauty of his area remains constant. Here’s an excerpt:

A Different Summer
The past couple of months have been challenging and extraordinary for sure, but if there is a ray of hope in these times, it is the beauty of Northern Michigan. While a lot of things have changed, the consistency of the beauty of our surroundings has not been phased….sunrises, sunsets, and seasonal changes remind us that life is too short to go without the beauty and bounty of God’s creation.

Tasha Smith, RE/MAX Truman Lake in Clinton, MO, posted an excellent article on hiking the Katy Trail. The wildlife and vistas seen along the trail come to life with her first-person description. Click on the headline below to read the entire insight.

Exploring the Wonderful Katy Trail
I would be a very rich woman if I had a nickel for every time one of our kids said, “Mom, I’m bored! There’s nothing to do.” Here is one of my favorite go-to responses: “Let’s go for a walk on the Katy Trail.” You never know what you will find – birds, snakes, squirrels, flowers, insects, travelers, and more! As wild as it sounds, my husband and I once met a team training their sled-dogs for the Iditarod right there on the Katy Trail.

All these examples should inspire you, whether you choose to post insights about summer activities impacted by COVID-19 or just the regular sunny season pleasures of your community. Agent Insight is likely the easiest and most fun  piece of your marketing plan.

Photo credits:  Jennifer Winkelman, RE/MAX Jefferson City, MO; Robert Phillips, RE/MAX Results, Bartlesville, OK; Julie Williams, RE/MAX Bayshore, Frankfort, MI;  Gabrielle O’Hearn, RE/MAX Platinum, Fenton, MI; Signature Realty Group, RE/MAX Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, MO.