Tag Archives: Real estate broker

Homes for Heroes Celebrating 12th Anniversary

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Indianapolis, Indiana – Homes for Heroes is celebrating its 12th year of bringing savings to our nation’s heroes. The program was created to honor those that serve our communities every day and ensure a legacy of remembrance for those that lost their lives that tragic day.Ruth Johnson, President and CEO of Homes for Heroes, is one of the five founding members who started Homes for Heroes, Inc. in 2002. “We all remember where we were. We all recall how we felt. WE decided to do something about it!  We created a forever remembrance, a never ending thank you, to all the Heroes that day. We all share admiration for the people who serve our community, often selflessly and wanted to recognize and show our appreciation in a meaningful way, “said Johnson.The Homes for Heroes program has grown to become the nation’s largest hero savings program with over 1,000 affiliates in 47 states. It is comprised of realtors, lenders, and other real estate-related providers who are willing to offer substantial savings and discounts to when buying, selling or even refinancing their home. Nationally, the program has given back well over $3 million to heroes all over the country, a total that continues to grow on a daily basis.Homes for Heroes has served thousands of heroes across the country including Minneapolis Police Sergeant, Tim Hatchner, “This is not a gimmick. There is no extra paper work or special guidelines or income limits. Homes for Heroes is comprised of full service real estate, mortgage and title company professionals, who have long established reputations in the Twin Cities. Both the sale and the purchase of my home went off without a hitch. Homes for Heroes saved us nearly $5000.00 at closing. When raising a young family, every penny counts! I would definitely recommend this program to my fellow officers.”

If you would like more information about Homes for Heroes or to see other relative media regarding the national program go to www.homesforheroes.com.  

I have partnered with this program in the Indianapolis region and would love to talk more about the program.  Please visit my website vlrrealestate.com and visit the Featured Partner page.
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Vicki Reed

Wow…I’m an App!

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Believe it or not, my chosen career and the tools of my trade date back to the late 1800’s, when real estate brokers would gathered at the offices of their local associations to share information about properties they were trying to sell. They agreed to compensate other brokers who helped sell those properties, and the first Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was born, based on the principle that’s unique to organized real estate: Help me sell my inventory and I’ll help you sell yours.

The MLS became a National Organization in the early 1960’s and “The Book” would be delivered weekly to the local Realtor’s offices and was generally out dated by the time it arrived!  If you were a buyer, you had to go to the Realtor’s office and look through the Book to find a home and hope it was still available.  Contracts were typed on a manual typewriter or hand written and you physically had to sit down with each other to get the job done!

It wasn’t until about 1994 that home searches began to be publicly available on the internet!  That is less than 20 years ago!  Technology has moved very quickly in the last 19 years…

1999 – the first Internet Lead Generation programs started making an appearance

Early 2000’s – Internet Data Exchanges (IDX) were launched for website

2005 – Google and MOTOVO brought map and neighborhood searches to a new level

2006 – Zillow begins the Zestimate for home value…BEWARE…the zestimate is not based on anything of value, it is an ESTIMATE and wrong 99.999% of the time.

2007 – Trulia adds Trulia Voices, their question and answer section.

The advent of the internet and it’s tools changed how we all live our lives, I now have websites, a blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and regularly Google myself to see where I show up and what information is accurate and try to change what isn’t.  These are my two primary websites:

Contracts are completed online, electronic signatures are commonplace, our office is striving to be paperless, everything lives in the cloud, “i” stuff, tablets, e-readers are becoming more commonplace than books and we have “smart” phones that I still feel to dumb to own!

And now I have an App?  This is an amazing thing for me, computers were just coming into play when I started my career at Bank One, I had one of only two in our office!  By the time I left the corporate world behind, the iPads and Tablets were becoming popular and now look at me…I’m an App!

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Vicki Reed

This life is hard enough…

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First, let me qualify this post by saying that I chose to be a REALTOR®…I love my job, I love “Turning your dreams into an Address…”, it’s more than a tagline, I truly love working with buyers and sellers, my clients have become friends and this means so much, however, several things have happened this year that I would like to address…

1.  A fellow agent called, he had received a call from someone who saw his sign in front of a house.  The potential buyer told him that he was not represented and the agent, who was out of town, contacted me to show the property.  I arranged to show him the property and during our meeting, I again asked if he was working with an agent and he said that he was, but he “didn’t want to bother him to show him the home“.  My advice to buyers – BOTHER US!  Commit to working with one Realtor, showing you homes is what we are paid for, to show you homes and represent your BEST interests in YOUR home purchase, please do not lie to other agents, we will eventually find out.

2.  Realtors… treat each other with respect and kindness, we are all trying to do what is best for our clients. During the course of a recent transaction, the Seller’s agent maligned my clients character during the course of a number of delays, was hateful and demanding of me, including trying to get me to give up part of my commission.  I’m sorry, I work really hard for my clients, I am upfront and honest with other agents during the course of every transaction.  Regarding delays…sometimes things happen and we do the best we can, but please, be patient, be kind and just talk to each other with some modicum of respect.  The end result is someone wants to sell a house, someone wants to buy that house and its up to us to make it happen and make both our clients happy.

3.  Last week I received a call from an agent showing one of my listings.  The home is unoccupied, yet when she arrived, the lockbox was open, the key in the door, door wide open, lights on…and no one there!  What if there hadn’t been another showing scheduled that day?  How long would it have stayed that way?  I called the agent who had shown it earlier and left a voicemail asking how he left the home, just to find out if someone showed the home and wasn’t scheduled (they still haven’t called me back!).  Agents, please leave the home secured when you leave and if you did it, own up to it.  My favorite thing an agent did at another unoccupied listing was leave the gas fireplace burning…it was over 4 days before the home was viewed again, next agent came into a 95 degree temp…in February!  Buyers, help us make certain the homes you are viewing are locked up tight and it was as you found it when you leave!

4.  Buying a home?  During a recent transaction for a client selling a home, we were on the way to closing and received a call from the Buyer’s agent...there was a large spot on the master bedroom carpet and they hadn’t seen it before…it had been there all along, never hidden, but apparently never seen by the buyer or their agent.  Now, the seller was getting money back from the sale of the home, a reward for home ownership if you will, and had already agreed to pay $3,000 toward the Buyer’s closing costs as well as pay for a home warranty of $400.  The Buyer’s agent screams at me that they wanted $500 to replace the carpet or they would be pulling out of the transaction.  First, there is no reason to scream at me, second, just  because you can see on the HUD statement that my client is receiving money doesn’t mean your client “deserves” money for something you hadn’t asked for previously.  My client was using this money in the purchase of their next home, it was not the Buyers to take.  We did close, but what should have been a joyful day for both parties turned contentious and stressful.

5.  Selling your home?  Pay attention to the terms of your contract.  When  are you to turn over possession of the home?  What items are to remain with the home?  Realtors, communicate with them on how the home should be left for the new owners and remind them of what appliances, etc. are to remain.  In addition to my own experience, I hear a lot from other agents about washers and dryers being taken when they were clearly on the Purchase Agreement, what about that fridge in the garage?  Sellers, don’t take the light fixtures and replace them with the builder grade brass one that was there when you moved in UNLESS you disclosed that you were taking the fixture.  During a recent transaction, we arrived to do a final walk-through 30 minutes before closing and they were still moving out!  This is the first time the Sellers had sold a home and they had no idea that this was unacceptable.  Sellers, your home needs to be “broom clean” when you leave, you should also make certain that you aren’t still trying to move as you are headed to the closing table and Agents…communicate with your Sellers!

Okay, enough of my rants/life lessons or whatever you would like to call this, but truly, life is tough, the key is to treat one another with RESPECT…in negotiations, in delays, in closings and even in follow-ups after the fact.  It doesn’t just apply to real estate transactions, but our everyday lives.  I strive to be a Realtor® that other agents want to work with and that my clients want to refer their friends to…it’s working so far and I look forward to a long prosperous career!  Now…if you are ready to buy or sell a home…CALL ME!

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Vicki Reed

Homes for Heroes®

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Do you know about Homes for Heroes®?  Their mission is to provide extraordinary savings to local heroes who provide extraordinary services to our community every day.

Homes for Heroes® is a company that affiliates with Realtors® (like me!), lenders and other real estate-related service providers who offer substantial rebates and discounts to the Heroes who serve our nation and its communities every day. Our Heroes include military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers and others who make our communities a better place to live.

This program was created after the tragic events of 9/11 as a “Thank you” to the men and women who have given so much. Heroes across the country register on the website every day looking for the savings. They are matched with Homes for Heroes® Affiliates in their area. Homes for Heroes® is now expanding its discounts beyond the home buying and selling process with the Friends of Heroes® program.

Thanks to Don Shanley and The Shanley Team at Inlanta Mortgage, this program is available in the Indianapolis area and I am so proud to one of the Realtor® Affiliates available to help our Heros achieve their dreams!

So how does the program work?  The key to the program is that there is NO COST TO THE HERO!  Here’s an example of how the program is working with Inlanta Mortgage:

Buy a $125,000 Home:
Average Realtor Commission (3.5%)*  = $4,375.00
Realtor (again…that would be me!) credits 25% BACK TO HERO AT CLOSING = $1,094.00
CREDITED TO YOU FROM INLANTA MORTGAGE = $1,350.00
TOTAL CREDITS AT CLOSING = $2,444.00
*Based on a 3.5% Commission. Credit is off actual commission paid to the Buying or Selling Agent

It’s a lot of information to take in, stop by the Indiana State Fair and meet me and The Shanley Team to talk about what we are doing for our local Hero’s as well as what we can do for YOU!

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Vicki Reed

Think you are ready to sell?

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When selling your house, remember when you put it on the market, it is no longer your home, there are certain improvements that pay and others that don’t.

Check out this seller secret to understand why making costly improvements isn’t always your best bet.

Turning Your Dream into an Address

Want to know which updates will make your property most marketable?  Call me today to set up your free consultation.

Vicki Reed

Opportunity is Knocking…

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Research tells us that real estate may very well be at its most affordable level, RIGHT NOW.

Check out this quick video to find out why home buying is more budget friendly than it’s been in decades.

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History is being made. When you look back, will you say, “I wish I had …” or “I’m so glad I did”?

Now is the time to BUY!  Let’s talk!

Vicki Reed

What is a FSBO?

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For Sale By Owner, or FSBO (pron.: /ˈfɪzboʊ/), is the process of selling real estate without the representation of a real estate broker or real estate agent. Homeowners may employ the services of marketing or online listing companies or market their own property but do not pay a commission and represent themselves with the help of a lawyer throughout the sale.  Okay, so you know I’m a Realtor…what do I think of this practice?

As a home seller, do you know what your home is worth?  My job as a Licensed Real Estate Professional is to know the answer to that question.  Are you overpricing your home?  Underpricing?  How are people finding your home?  How are you managing showings?  Telephone inquiries?  Is it interfering with your job?

With the prevalence of the internet, you can easily advertise your home but for many FSBO’s, you will likely get one of 4 types of buyers:

1.  Serious and in a hurry.  They may be moving here and have three days to find a home, or maybe they just sold theirs and need to get into another or they will lose their contract.

2.  Serious, but not in a hurry.  They can qualify; they may be a first-time home buyer proceeding cautiously or looking for that special home.  Are you willing to hold their hand through the process?

3.  Investors.  They want to buy everything ten cents on the dollar.  These folks are easily identifiable…they are going to quickly make you an offer way under your asking.

4.  Looky Lous.  They really aren’t buyers, they can’t qualify for a mortgage and Agents won’t work with them so they go out and prey on FSBO’s.

If a buyer is serious, they are going to be working with an agent…it doesn’t cost them anything!  Agents are searching the Multiple Listing Service for homes that meet their clients criteria…not Craigslist which is where a lot of FSBO’s advertise.

I will handle all these issues for you…and get your home sold for the best possible price in the shortest amount of time!  The market is moving in Indianapolis, let me serve you and get your home sold!

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Vicki Reed

Why is your home not selling?

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Why do some homes linger on the market for months (or years) while others are snapped up in a matter of days?  Much has to do with price, but a lot of factors can conspire to keep your home sitting…

Let’s talk about price…this is usually the largest factor in any home that doesn’t sell.  Did you meet with several Realtors?  Let me guess, you chose the one who said they would price it the highest and now here you sit.  As your agent, it is my job to price your home to sell, not just put a sign in your yard and garner new buyer clients from sign calls, yes, that’s what happens when your home doesn’t sell, we just get new buyer clients from you while your home languishes!  I watch the market, watch the trends and provide you with the best possible price to get you to your next home, be it in the same city or across the country.  A great rule of thumb is 10 showings no offers or 2 weeks no offers means your home is overpriced.

Now about that decor…everybody’s taste is different, so less is more when it comes to decor at sale time.  Declutter, move away from the 80’s (or even 70’s?) and do everything you can to make the home seem clean and fresh…change out those “builder brass” light fixtures for brushed nickel or bronze, you’ll increase your bottom line!  Paint the walls a light neutral shade and the trim white, pack away the knick knacks and make the home as clutter free as possible: too much clutter = not enough storage in the buyer’s minds!

Make certain you have finished all those little home repair projects, if a home looks as if it’s going to cost half as much to repair or renovate as it does to purchase, it’s going to take a long time to sell.  Don’t forget to deal with the cooking, pet or mold odors!  You may have to consider replacing carpet or painting walls to get rid of the odor, your home should smell clean and fresh, but don’t overdo it!  If potential buyers notice a heavy scent of air freshener, they will wonder what you are trying to cover up!

I have turned down listings because the homeowner was not willing to listen to me regarding price – they listed with another agent at a higher price and sat on the market for 6 months until their listing expired with that agent…then called me, listed at my suggested price and sold in 30 days.  Will you listen to me?  Call me today and let’s talk about it!

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Vicki Reed

Want to move to Irvington?

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I have a client very interested in moving to Irvington – this area is ever evolving and very walkable which is on a lot of people’s wish lists these days!  Housing is reasonably priced, including some really good deals on 1700 square feet townhomes in a Coop neighborhood – I know, you say a “coop” my thoughts automatically goes to New York and those expensive apartments on Central Park!  If you google “co-ops in Indiana“, you get grain and bean coop or food coop.  This will be a learning experience that I will happy share with you as we move through the process…but now back to Irvington.

Irvington was originally a suburban town in 1870 but was annexed into the City of Indianapolis in the early 1900’s.  The original plat of Irvington includes a winding picturesque street plan, very different from Indianapolis’ grid layout.  Irvington today has more lineal blocks of brick streets than any neighborhood in the city, and its naturalistic plan is considered Indianapolis’ largest and most developed example of Victorian Romantic landscape design.

In 1873, the area was selected as the new location for Northwestern Christian University, later renamed Butler University.  From 1875-1928, Butler developed a campus in Irvington, which subsequently promoted a college town atmosphere throughout the community. Although most of the campus buildings are gone, except the Bona Thompson Memorial Library, the intellectual spirit is still reflected in Irvington’s many association and groups.

Want to move to Irvington?  Click here to check out available homes everything from $8,000 to $260,000, sign up on my website and let’s get started!

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Vicki Reed

Multiple Offers on the Home of your Dreams?

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Oh No!  You’ve found the home of your dreams and so did someone else!  We are starting to see multiple offers on homes in the Indianapolis area…why you ask?  Inventory is low and homeowners are listening to their Realtor about the true Fair Market Value of their home and pricing it to sell!  What can you do to be ready to win the bidding war?   Here are a few boot camp tips to prepare you to win:

Pre-Qualify with a Lender who will be available when you need them

To compete, Buyers need to be prepared financially for the home purchase. Offering the most money might seem like the best way to win, however, Sellers don’t always choose the highest offer. Instead, they often prefer offers that are most likely to go through and that meet their conditions. You need a Lender who doesn’t work Monday through Friday and turn off the telephone and email at the end of the business day.

The Shanley Team at Inlanta Mortgage is just such a lender, take a look at my post “The Power in the Pre-Qual” to get a real understanding of their level of Customer Service AND they work when I do, which means they are available when YOU need them!  Having that pre-qualification is almost as good as cash in multiple offer situations.

Offer Higher Earnest Money 

Earnest Money in Indiana is typically .75% to 1% of list price, so if you are offering on a $200,000 home, $1,500 or $2,000 would be normal…but if you offered a $5,000 check (remember, it will be cashed!) AND you were pre-qualified this can sometimes impress the Sellers.  Just make sure you are able to fully meet all deadlines and terms of the contract so you don’t lose your deposit.

Be Flexible!

If the Sellers are building a home or waiting for the school year to end before moving and thought it would take longer to sell their home, consider offering to allow them to stay – a post closing rent back can put you ahead of the pack if you can be flexible!  I represented a Seller who was building a home and because the  Buyer was flexible with possession date (Sellers were able to close and continue to live in their home for 3 additional weeks) the Sellers agreed to a purchase price $5,000 less than they wanted because they didn’t have to move twice and find short term housing!

Listen to your Realtor!

As your Agent, I am working for you to make certain you don’t get caught up in the excitement of a bidding war and overpay for a home…let me do the best job possible for you!  Think you are ready to head out and start looking?  Let’s talk!

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Vicki Reed