CENTURY 21 Scheetz - Blog

The Facts About Senior Downsizing

Lisa@IndyREExperts.com — Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT

“I was very nervous,” Helen said about her decision to downsize into low maintenance living in Indianapolis, Indiana. “I knew I had to sell my house,” she said, but there were so many more things to consider than just the actual sale of her Indianapolis home.

First, Helen knew she had to find a place to downsize to. After settling on an Independent Living apartment in Clearwater Commons, Helen began the daunting task of deciding which items she was going to take with her and which items wouldn’t make the cut. Helen had a lifetime of memories tucked into her home, and choosing what to move, what to donate, what to sell, and what to leave behind was a bit overwhelming and sad. Helen found herself wondering which items would fit into her new apartment, how it would be positioned, what she should do with her collections, extra pots and pans, lawn furniture, etc.

While Helen was visiting the sales associate, at Clearwater Commons, I received the call. Helen, one of her daughters, and the sales associate were all on speaker phone and wanted to schedule a free downsizing consultation with me. We got Helen set up for an appointment at Helen’s house to discuss the downsizing process and how my team, the Indy Real Estate Experts, at Century 21 Scheetz would walk her through the entire downsizing process, from beginning to end.

Once Helen and her daughter reviewed our downsizing packages, they began to relax instantly. I explained how my team would take care of helping Helen select the items she wanted to take with her to her apartment, space plan with her to make sure it all fit, pack, move, liquidate the items she wasn’t taking with her, unpack her new apartment, hang curtains, make her bed, clean and stage her old place, take professional photos, and list and sell her house. They were amazed that one team could take care of all the details of the downsizing process for them. I said, “This is what we do! This is our passion!” Helen and her daughter explained, “Sign us up for it all!”

As real estate and downsizing specialists, our goal is to help make each client’s new space feel enough like the property they downsized from that, even though its new, it still feels like home to them. Our clients can relax right away and not worry about unpacking, disposing of boxes, or anything else as it relates to moving and downsizing.

As our real estate team enters it’s 10^th year in existence, we are proud to have honed our focus on what we love to do and what we’re good at, which is taking seniors and their loved ones from feeling stressed and overwhelmed to being decisive and hopeful. We understand how overwhelming moving can be in and of itself. Add the stress of moving from a home that a client has lived in for 20, 30, or even 50 years…that can be emotional and overwhelming. When we show our clients that Indy Real Estate Experts will handle it all, their facial expressions change immediately. They feel relaxed right away, and we live for this!

As for the overall downsizing experience, Helen says she loved the fact that Indy Real Estate Experts took care of the details, so she didn’t have to. “There’s no way I could have done it myself,” said Helen. “The help Indy Real Estate Experts provided me was indescribable…I consider them my friends now.”

Helen was so excited to see her new place completely unpacked that she even cried. I must admit, I got a little teary-eyed myself! Getting a front row seat into people’s lives while we’re helping them downsize, de-clutter, pack, move, unpack, and sell their property is a blessing.

If you or someone you know is considering a downsize soon, contact our team immediately for a free downsizing consultation.

LISA TREADWELL
ASSOCIATE BROKER, SRES, CSHP
INDY REAL ESTATE EXPERTS, LLC
CENTURY 21 SCHEETZ | 317.246.9966
4929 E 96TH ST | INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240
FIND YOUR NEXT HOME HERE

5 Things You Need To Know When Purchasing A New Construction Home

jshertzer@c21scheetz.com — Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT

New home construction continues to be very strong in Central Indiana meeting the demands of buyers who want a new home vs. purchasing an existing home on the market.

According to the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI), single-family construction permits filed were up 30% in the first quarter compared to 2017 and this is the most permits filed in the same period since 2006.

When buying new construction homes, there are a few tips you should consider which have served my clients well in our experience.

Hire Your Own Agent at the Start of Your Hunt to Buy New Construction

Hire a Real Estate agent to represent you. Most of the time, your agent will be paid by the builder, but sometimes the responsibility for the agent's fee is open for discussion.

Your own agent will represent you, be your fiduciary and is required to disclose the positives as well as the negatives about the transaction. Builder's agents don't discuss drawbacks. Your own agent is required to put your interests first.
If your contract contains a contingency to sell your existing home before buying, again, hire your own listing agent to list your home. Be aware that buying before selling is not always in your best interest because hard bargaining often goes out the window when you've emotionally moved out of your home.

Don't Automatically Use the Builder's Lender

Builders often prefer their own lender because the builder will be kept fully informed of your personal progress; it's one-stop shopping for a builder. But a builder's lender might not offer you the best deal. Moreover, the builder may own the lending company. Ask if there is an incentive to use the builder's lender. Sometimes you will get a break.
Consider alternate sources to find a lender. Your own bank or credit union might offer you very attractive rates and terms, based on your banking history with that institution. Your agent may refer you to his or her private list of wholesale lenders.

Obtain Legal Advice Before Buying a Brand New Home

Before you sign a purchase contract, you might want to talk to a real estate lawyer. Standard purchase agreements are designed to keep everybody out of court, but they don't necessarily contain language that protects the buyer.

Ask questions about removal of contingencies and your cancellation rights. Make sure you understand your liability and commitments.
Find out if the materials used by the builder contain chemicals that are hazardous to your health. If your contract contains a warning about health issues, it's probably because it's a valid concern and other buyers have gone to court over it.

Verify Options and Upgrades Prices

Determine which options and upgrades you want. Bear in mind that for many builders, the profit margin is highest in upgrades. Some builders can sell a home for almost bare construction cost because they make the bulk of their profit in the upgrades.

Ask about cancellations and whether you will be held liable for items the builder cannot return to a vendor.
To save money, consider which upgrades you could purchase and install yourself after the escrow closes. However, realize that some upgrades such as CAT-V, DSS or security wiring inside the walls are easier to do before construction.

Hire a Home Inspector When Buying New Construction

Always, always, always get a home inspection when you buy. And hire an accredited individual to perform the inspection -- not your dad or your buddy contractor, get a real inspector. Be there for the inspection and ask questions because a new home can contain defects. The HVAC system might be too small or the plumbing could be installed backwards. Construction workers make mistakes.

The Facts About Senior Downsizing

Lisa@IndyREExperts.com — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT

If you or someone you know is considering a downsize soon, contact our team immediately for a free downsizing consultation.

LISA TREADWELL
ASSOCIATE BROKER, SRES, CSHP
INDY REAL ESTATE EXPERTS, LLC
CENTURY 21 SCHEETZ | 317.246.9966
4929 E 96TH ST | INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240
FIND YOUR NEXT HOME HERE

College grad to successful real estate agent

joedelise@gmail.com — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Few college graduates make the leap directly out of college into a full-time sales career in real estate. Zander Elston had his own career path in mind. Zander knew selling real estate was the choice for his future after he completed an internship with an Indianapolis REALTOR® the summer before his senior year in college.

Upon graduating from Ball State University, Zander moved back to his hometown of Carmel, Indiana. He chose to affiliate with CENTURY 21 Scheetz and hit the ground running. He knew his age might be an obstacle that he had to overcome. Many REALTORS choose real estate sales as a second or third career, bringing with them past experiences and connections.

“There can be an advantage to entering into real estate from a previous career. You likely have the experience of going through the buying and selling process of your own home. However, when you enter the business straight out of college like I did, you don’t have that personal real estate perspective to bring with you into the business,” says Zander.

Zander is defying the odds. Each year his business has grown. This past year, his success led him into buying his first home!

Zander recommends millennial agents focus on these six tips for success:

Show up early everyday – be at the office by 8 am. The perceived flexibility of a REALTOR can destroy momentum if you don’t establish a morning discipline from the beginning.
Spend time with agents that are successful—listen and learn from the experiences of top producers. (And avoid listening to those that don’t produce.) Buying a cup of coffee for a successful agent is a fabulous investment.
Agents can be tough on young millennials right out of college more so than savvy consumers. It’s important to stand your ground.
Believe in yourself. Don’t be fearful. Avoid looking back.
Dress like you are a success.
Have fun with the challenging career in real estate!

Not only has Zander launched a successful and growing career he is creating clients that sing his praises!

“Zander was always available no matter the day or time. He was flexible and able to work with my schedule. He was very helpful in the entire process from beginning to end. Explaining every aspect of the process to me. I would definitely recommend him to my family and friends.” Ashley F.