Get your home out on the Internet
Fact: 85% of home buyers go to the Internet to do their primary research
(source: http://www.ip97.com/more_than_85_percent_of_first_time_home_buyers_start_their_search_bjei.aspx)
My Service: I showcase your home on more than half a dozen sites including: www.Realtor.com, www.HomePages.com, www.JustListed.com, www.BartonRealEstate.com, www.HomeHuntDenver.com, www.alldenvemetrohomes.com, www.mls.com (and affiliates), www.HQHomes.com, www.craigslist.org and post on a dozen more. I am consistently finding new venues where your home can be found.
Set reasonable expectations on the value of your property
Fact: A Competitive Market Analysis (CMA) will give you a realistic price you can set for the sale of your property
My Service: I will give you a free CMA and a realistic expectation. In the end, you set the price, but I will explain the risk of going for the top of the market in time and money and give you a fair suggested price for your property. If you are in a rush, you may want to lower the price, if you have time, you may want to shoot higher than the mid range. I won’t want to undersell; the purchase price decides how much I get paid. But I will not give you unrealistic expectations of the market value of your house. I want to help you sell and in the timeline you need to buy your new house or just get cash if it is not your primary residence.
Charge a fair commission for the listing service
Fact: Many full service brokers will discount anything but a standard full price listing as not full service.
My service: Just read this page. I am full service, and more, and I guarantee to sell your home in 30 days or I will LOWER MY COMMISSION. I also can help you get your first month mortgage paid with some lenders when you buy (always shop around for lenders). I’ll compare my service with any other full service company.
Why am I willing to lower my commissions on a long sale? I want you to know I am working for you, and if I can't move it fast, I want show you I am your partner in this transaction. I hope to get you to let me help you buy or sell your next home and hope you will tell your friends about my services.
Repeat business is my business. And a personal recommendation is worth several times mass mailing postcards.
Get quality brochures in front of your house with the for sale sign
Fact: People call to find out home prices from signage, and get out of the car to pick up the brochures. Homes with 4 color brochures get more attention. I have found I received at least 25 percent more responses to the same ad in color vs. black and white
My service: 4 color brochures for every home I list. I don’t use black and white anymore. I’ll need you to tell me when they run low so I can make sure you never run out.
Get pre approved for a loan
Fact: Pre-approved buyers have a better likelihood of having their offer accepted.
My Service: If you have already have this done, great. If not, I will bug you until you do. Pre-approval (better than prequalification) means you know how much the bank is willing to lend you. Talk to some of these mortgage lenders if you don't know where to start.
If you are looking for a home that needs work, you don’t want to max out, you want to make sure you use less than your maximum to buy the property so you can use other money to buy what you need. If you don’t have a lender and need help, we work with several companies to get you pre-approved. You should always shop around when it comes time to lock in a loan.
Get ready to move
Fact: Moving catches a lot of sellers by surprise.
My Service: I give you a moving truck to use for free. All my clients have access to a free moving truck. Schedule the truck with me as soon as possible to make sure it is available. One of the things I highly recommend you do is start emptying your house before the sale. Rent some storage and use my truck to get things there. At least use your garage, basement or attic space and get the living areas spacious.
Dedicate the time and effort
Fact: Many real estate agents are part timers
My service: I am full time and full on. I am not trying to make a couple of extra bucks or making money on a hobby. This is my job and my living and I am only as good as my last customer. That’s why when I sell your house, I want you to tell my next customer that I did everything I could for you. And it’s my goal to make sure you will.
Negotiate on behalf of you
Fact: A bid is not a sale until the day of the closing.
My service: Every real estate agent has to be ready to do this. I take a very personal approach to negotiation. I am a homeowner, I own a second home, and I have moved around Denver several times. When I am negotiating, I will be as straightforward and as concerned as if it were my very own property. I don’t know how else to do it.
Help you understand the contract
Fact: Real estate paperwork is bureaucratic in its volume.
My service: I want you to understand your contract. Too many people just check out when they are signing papers and agents often let them. I want you to know what is happening and I will spend as much time as it takes to keep you informed and educated. It’s great if you trust your agent to get the right thing done. I want you to know that is what happened.