SELLING YOUR HOME
Why work with us? We bring a fresh, effective combination of energy, creative intelligence and commitment to the sale of your home. We are a team of two. Our achievements are distinct and complementary. Between us, we offer the finely tuned skills and experience in management, marketing, design, negotiation and sales that make each step of your home sale a standout.
FIRST CONTACT
We respond quickly to inquiries. If we are with other clients, we will acknowledge your contact, and get back to you as quickly as possible, usually within the hour. Our goal is to ensure that all of our customers—active and prospective—feel our undivided attention and respect.
INITIAL APPOINTMENT
You deserve an informed, accurate opinion of the value of your home. For this reason, we prefer to preview your home prior to the formal listing appointment. Years of experience enable us to assess a home quickly. The appointment will be brief.
THE LISTING PRESENTATION
We have a powerful and proven approach to selling your home on the best possible terms. During the listing appointment, we will take the time to listen to you, then craft an approach tailor-cut to your needs and goals.
PRICING
Over the past 3 years, our listings have sold for an impressive 96.53% of their listing price with an average 97 Days on Market (DOM). Identifying the maximum realistic price for your home depends on a combination of market-knowledge and experience-born instinct. We have both. Overpricing means more time on market, less money in the end. We will never give you an inflated opinion of your home’s value just to get the listing. By pricing your home properly from the start, we help you reap the maximum return the market will provide.
PREPARATION
We work with you to prepare your home for market. First, we help you assess the best return for your time, energy and money. Should you fix the dishwasher, offer a credit at closing, or reduce your home’s price? Joshua has remodeled over a dozen homes. His extensive experience enables him to evaluate workmanship and materials with authority. Joshua’s knowledge gives our sellers an expert’s edge.
Once we determine a plan, we throw our own muscle and know-how into the mix, offering you a measure of our time and expertise to clean, organize, and repair your home. Very few agents are as willing to roll up their sleeves.
Decluttering is key. Every personal item that doesn’t enhance your home’s appeal translates to dollars lost. Work from the curb forward to trim and freshen your home and yard as if it were a five star resort. Even if your property is modest, loving care will set it apart from its peers. Once you’ve done your part, we’ll help you make the necessary adjustments to confirm your home’s a market winner.
PRESENTATION
Our staging strategy is a cut above. We start by working with your furnishings to create a clean and welcoming environment. Should you prefer, we can suggest a home stager to enhance your décor. Stagers come in a range of prices and on a variety of terms. In the case of vacant listings, they can make a vast difference in the speed of sale and dollars reaped.
The artful touch
We have established relationships with a stable of local, independent photographers, sculptors, and painters whose art we can use to enhance the colors, features and appeal of your home.
It’s whom you know
Between us, we have lived in Santa Fe over fifty years. We know quality plumbers, roofers, contractors, landscapers—the people you need to get your home in top shape. If we don’t know the right person, we know how to find them.
MARKETING
From paper to the Web, we make the most effective use of each medium to get your home in front of interested buyers.
In the virtual world, image is everything
We start with having your home photographed by a professional with the equipment, technical knowledge and work ethic to present your home in its best light. Our first-rate marketing department will meld photos and text into beautiful, informative brochures. All promotional copy is written by Malissa, an acclaimed writer, whose words have a professional’s force and vitality.
Bigger ‘Net, more fish
Since over 85% of buyers begin their search on the Internet, we focus our efforts there. Your home will be broadcast to nearly thirty search sites, including Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Oodle and many more. On the ‘Net, those stellar photos will ensure your home gets a closer look.
Trawling for fish v. sleeping in the boat
Syndication is critical, but largely passive, so we don’t stop there. In addition, we actively entice buyers through our dynamic web presence. We blog on several subjects including art and city neighborhoods. Our video blog gives viewers a ringside seat for local events, neighborhoods and homes. Both our blogs and website enjoy strong traffic. Several of our domain names rank on the first page of Google Searches sheerly as a result of content-driven traffic. The search feature of our own website is powerful and easy-to-use and draws buyers.
Changing Gallery
In homes we’ve staged with art, we hold art openings as Changing Gallery, a media-recognized independent art gallery. While showcasing the work of independent and emerging creatives, these openings bring unique visitors to view your home, each of whom leaves with a flyer. Since the artists receive 100% of the proceeds from any sale, these openings are a positive way to support local talent and contribute to the Santa Fe community.
Our Professional Network
After the Internet audience, the community most likely to bring you a buyer is real estate agents. Through in-house and MLS tours, brochures, email notifications and phone calls, we will get word of your home to this crucial demographic.
NEGOTIATING
A critical part of a successful transaction, negotiation is a skill that not all real estate agents have, or even value, but negotiation can make the difference between a closed sale and a lost sale. Contrary to the Hollywood spin, high-pressure tactics rarely yield the best results. Success comes through a calm demeanor, a focus on the facts, and a balance of give and take. Joshua has twelve years of experience as a negotiator. He holds transactions together when others cave. He’s even gotten hand-written thank you notes from agents for the other side.
SUPER-CHARGED SERVICE
Because much of our business comes through referrals, your satisfaction is essential to our success. We want to be known as the agents who “get it,” who go above and beyond, the standard by which all others are measured.
On Call
While your home is listed with us, we will be available for updates and questions as often as you want in the manner most comfortable and convenient for you: email, text or phone calls. We’ll give you feedback on Open Houses, showings and inquiries. Using scan e-mail or fax, we can handle transactions electronically—a convenience for out-of-town sellers. And we don’t disappear after the sale. Moving? We have a nationwide referral network. If you’re staying in town, our resources remain at your disposal. We hope you’ll turn to our blogs for market insights, neighborhood profiles, art news and more.
PROFESSIONALISM
In sum, we are committed to professionalism at every turn. We treat you and your concerns with respect. We respond to contacts promptly. If we don’t know the answer to something, we’ll say so, and do our best to direct you to someone who does. We’ll always tell you the truth, not what we think you want to hear.
We are the future of real estate. Expect more. Watch us deliver.
Please visit our website www.santaferealestatedowntown,com, or our blogs, Santa FeYouTube.com or SantaFeDowntown.com. Upon request, we’ll happily supply references and information on properties sold.
The home’s water feature, herbs and fruit trees provide an amiable environment for bees, on loan from the neighbor. Other homes have chickens and turkeys (though I’ve never smelled a whiff of farm.) The home enjoys a happy balance of rural removal and urban access, natural and handcrafted beauty.
