homeproz/contract/Contracts/WordPress-Website/_scratch/INTERVIEW-QUESTIONS-FOR-CLIENT.txt

HOMEPROZ CONTRACT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
======================================
Date: October 29, 2025

Purpose: Gather information needed to finalize contract and ensure accurate scope


INSTRUCTIONS FOR INTERVIEW
===========================

These questions are organized by priority and topic. You don't need to ask all
questions in order - use your judgment based on conversation flow. The most
critical questions are marked [CRITICAL].

Take notes during the conversation and use responses to fill in contract
placeholders and adjust scope as needed.


SECTION 1: BUDGET AND PAYMENT
==============================

[CRITICAL] Q1.1: Budget Confirmation
"I've drafted a proposal showing $6,000 for website development and $600 for
the first year of managed hosting, for a total first-year investment of $6,600.
Is this within your budget?"

Follow-up if yes:
- Confirm payment schedule: $2,000 upfront, $4,000 on completion acceptable?

Follow-up if budget is tight:
- Would you prefer a phased approach? (basic site first, then add features)
- Would monthly payment plan help? ($500/month for 12 months plus hosting?)
- Which features are must-have vs nice-to-have?

[CRITICAL] Q1.2: Hosting Billing Preference
"For hosting, I've proposed annual billing at $600/year, but I can also do
monthly at $50/month. Which would you prefer?"

Note the difference:
- Annual: One invoice per year, $600 total
- Monthly: 12 invoices per year, $50 each = $600 total

[CRITICAL] Q1.3: Ongoing Cost Acceptance
"Beyond the website development, there are ongoing annual costs:
- Managed hosting: $600/year
- MLS subscription (if you choose to use it): $660/year
- Google Workspace (if you migrate email): ~$72+/year per user
Total recurring: approximately $1,300-2,000/year depending on choices.
Are you comfortable with these ongoing costs?"

Q1.4: ACF Pro License
"The Advanced Custom Fields Pro plugin costs $49/year for the license. I can
either include this in the development cost and manage renewals for you, or
you can purchase it directly in your name and handle renewals yourself. Which
would you prefer?"

Option A: I include it ($6,000 covers it, I handle renewals, bill annually)
Option B: You purchase it (your license, your renewal responsibility)


SECTION 2: MLS INTEGRATION SCOPE
=================================

[CRITICAL] Q2.1: MLS Subscription Decision
"Are you planning to subscribe to Northstar MLS? This would cost $100 setup
plus $55/month ($660/year)."

If YES, proceed with Q2.2-2.4
If NO or UNSURE, skip to Q2.5

[CRITICAL] Q2.2: MLS Integration Level
"For MLS integration, there are different levels of sophistication:

Option A - Manual MLS Entry ($0 additional, included in base price):
- You manually enter the MLS number into a field
- Website displays it, but you still enter all property details manually
- Simple and included in current scope

Option B - IDX Property Display ($2,000-3,000 additional, rough estimate):
- Properties automatically import from MLS when you enter MLS number
- Pulls description, photos, pricing automatically
- Requires third-party IDX service (additional monthly fees $50-200/month)
- Requires additional development time

Option C - Full IDX with Search ($5,000-10,000 additional, rough estimate):
- Entire MLS database searchable on your site
- Automated updates when listings change
- Advanced search and filtering
- Requires premium IDX service (expensive monthly fees)
- Significant additional development

Which level matches your needs and budget?"

Q2.3: MLS Property Types
"What types of properties will you be listing from MLS?"
- Residential only?
- Commercial?
- Land/lots?
- All types?

Q2.4: MLS vs Custom Listings Ratio
"Roughly what percentage of your properties will be:
- MLS listings: ____%
- Custom/non-MLS listings (commercial, private): ____%"

This helps determine if MLS integration is worth the cost.

Q2.5: If Not Using MLS
"If you're not using MLS initially, do you want us to plan the site structure
so that MLS can be added later without major rework?"


SECTION 3: PROPERTY LISTING REQUIREMENTS
=========================================

Q3.1: Property Fields and Data
"Let's talk about what information you need to track for each property. Beyond
the basics like address and price, what else do you need?"

Common fields (confirm which are needed):
- Property type (residential, commercial, land)
- Price
- Bedrooms / Bathrooms
- Square footage (living space, lot size)
- Year built
- Property features (fireplace, garage, pool, etc.)
- School district
- HOA fees
- Tax information
- Property status (active, pending, sold, off-market)
- Days on market
- Open house dates/times
- Agent/listing contact information
- MLS number
- Parcel/tax ID number

Less common fields (ask if needed):
- Virtual tour link
- Video tour link
- 3D walkthrough
- Floor plans
- Plat/survey documents
- Property disclosures
- Financing options
- Rental income (for investment properties)
- Zoning information (for commercial/land)
- Utilities available (for land)
- Development rights (for commercial)

[CRITICAL] Q3.2: Photo Gallery Requirements
"How many photos do you typically need per property listing?"
- Minimum: ___
- Maximum: ___
- Average: ___

"Do you need the ability to:
- Reorder photos?
- Set a featured/main photo?
- Add captions to photos?
- Organize photos by room/category?"

Q3.3: Property Search and Filtering
"How do you want visitors to find properties on your site?"

Basic options (probably needed):
- List all properties on one page
- Filter by property type (residential, commercial, land)
- Filter by price range
- Filter by bedrooms/bathrooms
- Sort by price, date added, etc.

Advanced options (ask if desired):
- Map-based search
- Radius/location search (within X miles of address)
- Filter by specific features (pool, garage, etc.)
- Saved searches for registered users
- Email alerts when matching properties are added

Q3.4: Featured/Highlighted Properties
"Do you want the ability to feature certain properties on the homepage or in
special sections?"

Q3.5: Sold/Past Properties
"Do you want to display sold properties as a portfolio/track record, or only
show active listings?"


SECTION 4: EMAIL MIGRATION
===========================

[CRITICAL] Q4.1: Current Email Setup
"What's your current email situation?"
- How many email addresses do you have?
- What provider? (GoDaddy, Gmail, other?)
- Mailbox sizes? (helps estimate migration time)
- Do you need to preserve existing emails or start fresh?

Q4.2: Google Workspace vs Alternatives
"For Gmail, there are a few options:

Option A - Google Workspace ($6-12/user/month):
- Professional email @homeproz.com through Gmail
- Includes Google Drive, Calendar, Docs, etc.
- Best for business use

Option B - Gmail Forwarding (free):
- Keep email hosted where it is
- Forward to personal Gmail accounts
- Less professional, but free

Option C - Keep existing email setup:
- No migration needed
- May be fine if current setup works

Which direction are you leaning?"

Q4.3: Migration Timing
"When would you like the email migration to happen?"
- During website development?
- After website launch?
- Separate timeline?

Note: Contract includes 2 hours of email migration support. Based on Q4.1
answers, determine if this is sufficient or if additional hours needed.


SECTION 5: DESIGN AND BRANDING
===============================

[CRITICAL] Q5.1: Existing Design Materials
"You mentioned there's an existing HomeProz design aesthetic. Can you show me
or send me:
- Logo (in vector format if possible: AI, EPS, SVG, or at minimum high-res PNG)
- Color scheme / brand colors (hex codes if you have them)
- The current GoDaddy splash page
- Any other marketing materials, business cards, signage, etc."

Q5.2: HomeProz vs Landproz Branding
"HomeProz is separate from Landproz - does that mean completely different
branding, or do they share some visual elements?"

Q5.3: Design Expectations
"For the website design, are you expecting:
- A completely custom design from scratch?
- Adaptation of the existing splash page design?
- A professional but template-based design customized to your brand?
- Something similar to another website? (if so, examples help)"

Q5.4: Design Preferences
"Any specific design preferences or requirements?"
- Modern/minimalist vs traditional/detailed?
- Bright colors vs subdued/professional?
- Photo-heavy vs text-focused?
- Any websites you like as inspiration?
- Any websites you dislike that we should avoid?


SECTION 6: CONTENT AND MIGRATION
=================================

Q6.1: Existing Content
"What content exists currently that we can use?"
- Company description/about text
- Service descriptions
- Team member bios
- Any existing property listings and photos
- Testimonials or reviews
- Contact information

Q6.2: Content Creation Responsibility
"For any content that doesn't exist yet, who will write it?"
- You'll provide all text?
- You need help with copywriting? (would be additional cost)
- We can use placeholder text to start?

Q6.3: Photography
"For property photos:
- You'll provide all photos?
- You have a photographer?
- You need stock photos? (some included, specify how many)
- For non-property images (team photos, office, etc.), do those exist?"

Q6.4: Domain and Current Site
"Your domain is with GoDaddy currently showing a splash page. Correct?"
- Domain name: _____________ (confirm exact spelling)
- GoDaddy account access: who has login credentials?
- Do you want to keep domain with GoDaddy or transfer to another registrar?
- Anything on the splash page you want to preserve?


SECTION 7: USERS AND TRAINING
==============================

Q7.1: Who Will Use the System?
"Who will be responsible for managing the website day-to-day?"
- How many people?
- Names/roles:
  - _______________ (role: _________)
  - _______________ (role: _________)

Q7.2: Technical Skill Level
"On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable is your team with technology and websites?"
1 = Never used a computer
5 = Comfortable with Facebook, email, basic tasks
10 = Web developer

This helps determine training depth and documentation detail needed.

Q7.3: Training Preferences
"For training on how to add and manage property listings, would you prefer:"
- In-person session (if local)?
- Video call/screen sharing?
- Recorded video tutorials you can reference later?
- Written documentation?
- All of the above?

Q7.4: Ongoing Support Expectations
"After the 60-day warranty period, if you need help or have questions, what
would you expect?"
- Included in hosting fee (up to 2 hours/month support included)?
- Pay-as-you-go at $175/hour?
- Monthly retainer for X hours?


SECTION 8: TIMELINE AND URGENCY
================================

[CRITICAL] Q8.1: Launch Urgency
"How soon do you need this website live?"
- ASAP / urgent business need?
- By a specific date? (if so, what date and why?)
- Flexible timeline, whenever it's ready?

Q8.2: Queue Time Acceptance
"Based on current commitments (Auction Cast, Kodex, Ascent), I can't start
development for 3-4 weeks. Realistically, you're looking at:
- Contract signing: [date]
- Development start: [date, 3-4 weeks later]
- Estimated launch: [date, 4-5 weeks from signing]

Does this timeline work for you, or is the launch urgency high enough that we
need to discuss alternatives?"

Alternatives if urgent:
- Pay rush fee for prioritization (20% additional)?
- Reduce scope to launch faster, add features later?
- Wait until schedule opens up?

Q8.3: Content/Asset Provision Timeline
"When can you provide:"
- Logo and branding assets: ___________
- Content/text for pages: ___________
- Property listing data for testing: ___________
- Access to GoDaddy account: ___________
- Any other required materials: ___________


SECTION 9: BUSINESS AND LEGAL
==============================

[CRITICAL] Q9.1: Legal Business Name
"For the contract, what is your legal business entity name?"
- "HomeProz" exactly?
- "HomeProz LLC"?
- "HomeProz Inc"?
- Operating under a different legal entity?
- DBA/doing business as?

Q9.2: Signing Authority
"Who will be signing the contract?"
- Name: _______________
- Title: _______________
- Email: _______________
- Phone: _______________

Q9.3: Billing Information
"Where should invoices be sent?"
- Email: _______________
- Mailing address (if paying by check): _______________
- Preferred payment method: _______________

Q9.4: Business Structure
"Just for my records, what type of business entity is HomeProz?"
- LLC?
- Corporation?
- Sole proprietorship?
- Partnership?

Q9.5: Tax ID
"Do you have an EIN/Tax ID for the business?"
(Needed for proper invoicing if they request it)


SECTION 10: TECHNICAL DETAILS
==============================

Q10.1: Domain Name Confirmation
"Confirm exact domain name: _______________"

Q10.2: Email Addresses Needed
"What email addresses do you need set up?"
- info@homeproz.com?
- [name]@homeproz.com?
- List all needed addresses: _______________

Q10.3: Third-Party Integrations
"Are there any other systems or tools you need the website to integrate with?"
- CRM system?
- Email marketing (Mailchimp, Constant Contact, etc.)?
- Social media auto-posting?
- Analytics (Google Analytics)?
- Other?

Q10.4: Compliance Requirements
"Are there any specific compliance or legal requirements for your industry?"
- Fair Housing Act compliance (real estate specific)?
- Accessibility standards (ADA/WCAG)?
- Privacy policy requirements?
- Terms of service?

I can include basic fair housing and privacy policy templates if needed.


SECTION 11: FUTURE PLANNING
============================

Q11.1: Expected Growth
"Thinking ahead:
- How many properties do you expect to list in Year 1? ___
- How many properties in Year 2-3? ___
- How many team members in Year 1? ___
- How many team members in Year 2-3? ___"

This helps plan hosting resources and system scalability.

Q11.2: Future Features Wishlist
"What features might you want to add in the future?"
(Helps ensure we build the foundation to support future expansion)

Common future additions:
- Blog for market updates/news
- Client portal for buyers/sellers
- Document upload/signing
- Mortgage calculator
- Market statistics/reports
- Neighborhood guides
- Agent profiles (if growing team)
- Office locations map (if multiple offices)

Q11.3: Success Metrics
"How will you measure if this website is successful?"
- Number of properties listed?
- Lead inquiries per month?
- Direct property sales from website?
- Professional appearance?
- Ease of property management?
- Other metrics?

Understanding success criteria helps ensure we build the right solution.


SECTION 12: LANDPROZ RELATIONSHIP
==================================

Q12.1: Shared Resources
"Since HomeProz is separate from Landproz, will there be any shared resources?"
- Shared staff?
- Shared office?
- Shared marketing?
- Cross-referrals?
- Completely independent?

Q12.2: System Similarities
"Would you like the HomeProz website to work similarly to any Landproz systems,
or should it be completely different?"

This helps determine if we can reuse any patterns or if fresh approach is better.


WRAP-UP QUESTIONS
=================

Q13.1: Questions for Me?
"What questions do you have about the proposal, timeline, or process?"

Q13.2: Concerns or Hesitations?
"Is there anything about the project that concerns you or makes you hesitate?"

Address any concerns directly and honestly.

Q13.3: Additional Considerations
"Is there anything important I haven't asked about that I should know?"

Q13.4: Next Steps Agreement
"If everything looks good, here are the next steps:
1. I'll finalize the contract with the details from this conversation
2. I'll send you the contract for review
3. You review and send back any questions or changes
4. We sign the contract
5. You send the $2,000 initial payment
6. I queue the project to start in 3-4 weeks
7. I keep you updated on progress
8. We launch in approximately 4-5 weeks total

Does this process work for you?"


POST-INTERVIEW CHECKLIST
=========================

After the interview, use responses to:

□ Update contract PROJECT OVERVIEW with accurate description
□ Finalize PROJECT DELIVERABLES based on confirmed features
□ Adjust EXCLUSIONS based on confirmed scope
□ Update CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES with specific requirements
□ Set real dates in TIMELINE AND MILESTONES
□ Confirm BUDGET AND PAYMENT TERMS match agreement
□ Add any additional clarifications needed
□ Update legal entity name throughout contract
□ Add specific milestone dates to calendar
□ Create project folder with client-provided materials
□ Document any verbal agreements in writing (email summary)
□ Prepare final contract for client review
□ Prepare invoice for initial payment (once contract signed)


INTERVIEW NOTES TEMPLATE
=========================

Use this template to organize notes during interview:

BUDGET & PAYMENT
- Total budget acceptable: Y/N
- Payment schedule preference: Upfront split / Monthly / Other: _______
- Hosting billing preference: Annual / Monthly
- ACF Pro license: Include / Client purchases
- Ongoing costs acceptable: Y/N

MLS INTEGRATION
- Subscribing to MLS: Y/N
- Integration level: Manual / IDX Display / Full IDX / None
- Property types: _______
- MLS vs custom ratio: ___% MLS, ___% custom

PROPERTY FIELDS
- Required fields: _______
- Photos per listing: Min ___ Max ___ Avg ___
- Search features needed: _______
- Featured properties: Y/N
- Show sold properties: Y/N

EMAIL
- Current setup: _______
- Number of accounts: ___
- Migration option: Google Workspace / Forwarding / Keep current
- Timing: _______

DESIGN
- Logo available: Y/N (format: _______)
- Brand colors: _______
- Design direction: Custom / Template / Splash page adaptation
- Inspiration sites: _______

CONTENT
- Existing content: _______
- Content creation: Client provides / Need help
- Photos: Client provides / Need stock
- Domain: _______

USERS & TRAINING
- Team members: _______
- Tech skill level (1-10): ___
- Training preference: _______
- Support expectations: _______

TIMELINE
- Launch urgency: Urgent / Date: _____ / Flexible
- Queue time acceptable: Y/N
- Content ready by: _______

BUSINESS INFO
- Legal name: _______
- Signer name: _______ Title: _______
- Contact email: _______
- Payment method: _______
- Business type: _______

TECHNICAL
- Domain: _______
- Email addresses needed: _______
- Integrations: _______
- Compliance needs: _______

FUTURE
- Year 1 property volume: ___
- Future features: _______
- Success metrics: _______

NOTES & ACTION ITEMS
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