• SELLING INFORMATION

    VISTA REALTORS

    MARKETING PLAN FOR YOUR HOME

    MLS FOR LESS

    PLAN

    4%

    PLAN

    Upfront Fee - Deduct (Not Add) From % Commission - Cancel At Anytime! $495 $495
    Total Commission:  Seller Sells & Cancels Listing $495 Pre-Paid $495 Pre-Paid
    Total Commission:  Seller Provides Buyer To VISTA Realtors 2.5% 2.5%
    Total Commission:  VISTA Realtors Sells 3% 3%
    Total Commission:  Another Broker Sells (Includes 3% to Co-Op) 4.5% 4%
    ADS:  2" x 2.5" Photo Ad in 'Community Press' (Add 'Real Estate Week' Ad If Desired) Optional Optional
    BROCHURES

    Highly Detailed

    Basic

    BROCHURES:  170 B&W Brochures In Yard Sign Box

    Yes

    Yes

    BROCHURES:  35 Color Brochures In Inside Display

    Yes

    Yes

    Internet Interior & Exterior Photos

    MLS: 15, VISTA: 15 - 65

    15 & Link To MLS

    Internet Sites:  VISTA, CincyMLS, Realtor.com & 28 More! Yes Yes
    Listed Realtors' Multiple Listing Service - 3% To Co-Op Broker Yes Yes
    Minimum Commission To VISTA $1,000 $1,000
    Yard and Directional Signs Where Permitted

    Yes

    $30 Deposit Each

    Electronic Lock Box For Realtor Showings Yes Yes
    On-Going Comparative Market Analysis - Automated E-Mails Yes Yes
    Showings and Appointments Handled By VISTA Yes Yes
    Unlimited Open Houses By Seller - Obtain The Buyer & Save! Yes Yes
    Showing Feedback Provided To Seller By VISTA Yes Yes
    Pre-Qualify Buyer and Provide Financing Referrals Yes Yes
    Third Party Negotiation Via Offers Presented At Your Home Yes Yes
    Transport or Send Offers, Counter Offers, Inspection Addendums To Seller Yes Yes
    State Of Ohio & Cincinnati Board Of Realtors Contracts & Forms Yes Yes
    Negotiation Advice & Assistance With Problem Solving Yes Yes
    Earnest Money Trust Account Yes Yes
    Coordinate Housing Inspections Yes Yes
    Order Loan Payoffs, Review Settlement Statement, Attend Closing Yes Yes
    Home Warranties Available At A Low Cost - Free Listing Coverage Yes Yes
    Minimum Listing Period / Extension of Listing - Cancel At Any Time 18 Months / Free 18 Months / Free
    VISTA Sellers Save 1% Of Sales Price When Buying Home In SW Ohio Save 1% Save 1%

    Print Chart Only

     

    Selling Your Home?

    Print Comparison Info Only


    Buying A Home?
    Use VISTA Realtors As Your Buyer Broker!
     

    No, It's Not Too Good To Be True!


    Why List Your Real Estate With A Realtor?


    FINALLY...

    A Way To Sell Your Home Without Selling It At A Low Price 'BY OWNER' or Giving Away Profit With A High Real Estate Commission!

    Selling real estate yourself can be a challenge, and I would like to introduce myself, Mike Connelly, and VISTA REALTORS®' common sense approach to selling real estate through a Realtor! Most property owners realize that the more people who know that their property is for sale, the more likely that it will sell more quickly and at a higher price. Listing with a Realtor and placing the property for sale in the Multiple Listing Service of Cincinnati, Inc. (MLS), a subsidiary of the Cincinnati Board of Realtors, Inc., provides access to your property by thousands of Realtors nationwide and the buyers they are working with. Buyers can also do their own shopping via the internet!

    A buyer of a 'For Sale By Owner' property is usually looking for a bargain, so many times the buyer ends up saving the real estate commission instead of the seller! The best of all worlds would to be able to list the property in the Multiple Listing Service and get great exposure, yet pay a lower commission to retain more of the sales price - and still be able to sell the property yourself and pay a cancellation fee of $495.!

    Now there is a way to do this! List your home with Mike Connelly and VISTA REALTORS® and get your home exposed to nearly 4,000 Realtors in the MLS, have professional brochures in a box attached to the yard sign, directional signs if permitted, a lock box for showings when you are not home and receive the professional services of an experienced Realtor at a very low cost. See the chart of services I provide to my sellers! MLS For Less Plan: If VISTA REALTORS® sells the home, you pay a commission of only 3% of the sales price! If one of the other nearly 4,000 Realtors sell the home, you will pay a total commission of only 4.5% - 3% co-op commission to the selling realtor and 1.5% to VISTA REALTORS®. If you happen to sell the home yourself to someone walking by, a co-worker or someone you meet at an Open House, you may cancel the listing at any time and pay a fee of only $495! If you want VISTA Realtors to handle the transaction with the buyer the seller provides to VISTA Realtors, the commission is only 2.5%.

    The 4% Plan addresses the need for the lowest commission possible if another broker sells the property.  The commissions are identical to The MLS For Less plan except the 4.5% commission is ONLY 4%, but the seller pays a $495 upfront fee (WHICH IS PART OF THE % COMMISSION (Do Not add the $495 to the % Commissions, it is already part of it) - YOU MAY CANCEL AT ANY TIME SINCE THE $495 IS ALSO THE CANCELLATION FEE). 

     If you are a 'For Sale By Owner' that already has a buyer, and you want VISTA Realtors to handle the transaction, the commission is only 1% of the sales price. This is almost unheard of in the real estate industry, but I feel that if you find the buyer, why should you pay a 3%, 4%, 5%, 6% or 7% commission!

    I do not have Open Houses personally, since studies have shown that under 5% of home sales originate from an Open House at that home! If you think Open Houses are productive, you may have as many Open Houses as you desire, since you'll save money if you sell it yourself! I can offer Open House ads, internet notices on the MLS & VistaRealtors.com, signs and sign-in sheets to assist you.

    The MLS exposes your property to thousands of Realtors who want to earn a commission by selling a home or other property. Many brokers advertise heavily, and so receive many phone calls from potential buyers. It is likely that this one broker will not have the one home that fits this buyer's needs and wants, and so the broker will search the thousands of listings in the MLS to find homes that meet this buyer's situation. With your home listed in the MLS, the broker/agent will call me for an appointment to show your home to this buyer. Since more than 70% of homes are sold by a broker other than the listing broker, the listing company isn't as important as the fact that the property is in the MLS!

    The MLS is the best possible source of exposing your property. Advertising may be purchased if you desire. You may advertise in the Sunday Enquirer at $7.00 per line, but a monthly ad in the 'Real Estate Weekly' Photo Magazine is included at no charge. This combination of MLS, Photo Magazine ads, brochures and optional advertising will get results!

     

    'FOR SALE BY OWNER'

    ADVANTAGES

    DISADVANTAGES


    REALTOR & MLS

    DISADVANTAGES

    ADVANTAGES

  • Comparative Market Analysis helps price the property correctly using the vast MLS database and the courthouse records. Call for a FREE evaluation!

  • Buyer Qualification by a Realtor assures only serious and qualified buyers will tour your home. Many buyers are reluctant to disclose their name, phone number and personal financial information to a 'For Sale By Owner'.

  • Third Party Negotiation avoids face-to-face negotiation and the emotions that can disrupt a business-like negotiation

  • Urge Buyer To Take Action - Realtors have more than one property to sell and follow up is a natural. Many 'For Sale By Owners' feel uncomfortable calling back lookers - "if they wanted the property, they would have made an offer"

  • Financing Assistance - Most buyers do not pay cash for their purchase, and Realtors have the advantage of a computerized Lender Database, contacts with many lenders and the professional expertise to help find financing

  • Problem Solving can be very important when today's sales and closings seem to be more complicated by new consumer protection legislation, environmental rules and federal, state and local concerns

  • Home Warranty offers peace of mind to both the seller while the property is on the market and to the buyer for one year after the closing. A warranty for the buyer may 'tip the scales' in your favor and also protect you during the sale and after the closing.

     

    FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

    Q: Why should I list with a Realtor and pay all that money in commissions? Wouldn't I be better off selling my property myself 'By Owner'?

    A: Yes it is true you don't pay commissions when you sell 'By Owner', and some owners have sold their properties themselves. Most owners realize that the more people who know that their property is for sale, the more likely that it will sell more quickly and at a higher price. Listing with a Realtor and placing the property in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) provides access to your property by over 4,000 Realtors and the qualified buyers they are working with! Many times an owner will net more with a Realtor even when paying commissions because more buyers will be viewing and bidding on the property. Imagine an auction with 5 people attending versus 100 people bidding - which would probably result in a higher price?

    Imagine that YOU are looking for a property that is 'By Owner' - you drive around looking for signs, scour the newspaper, search the Internet sites, negotiate directly with the owner, worry about contracts, inspections, state forms, etc. - YOU want to get a good deal and save what the owner would have paid in commissions if the property had been listed. At the same time, the owner places his own expensive ads, holds Open Houses, handles the calls, qualifies buyers, assists in obtaining financing, etc. - the owner wants to save the commissions if the property had been listed - the SAME commissions that the buyer wanted to save!

    Q: How can this program be real - why aren't other brokers doing it?

    A: Many Real Estate Brokers have been doing the same routine with minor changes year after year. What has changed is the attitude of Sellers and Buyers. Being very educated about the market and the value of properties much more than in years past, Sellers and Buyers are demanding more service but want more value for their money. With the prices of real estate going up, they question the fairness of still paying 7% of the sales price! Many feel that a $10,500. commission on a $150,000. home is way too much! VISTA REALTORS' discount commissions reflect the need for value in real estate fees, much like the rapid growth of the less glamorous Wal-Mart stores across America - providing quality products & services at a fair cost!

    Q: How can you make any money at such low commissions?

    A: A business can make a profit if income is greater than expenses. If VISTA REALTORS builds multi-million dollar offices, has hot air balloons, gives out costly trinkets and has TV shows, we will have to raise the sales commissions as high as everyone else. Most sellers realize that as long as their property is listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and exposed to nearly 4,000 Realtors, and the broker can answer the phone and set appointments, be professional and knowledgeable and can provide marketing expertise and have problem solving capabilities, they don't care about all of the expensive overhead!
     

    Q: I have never heard of VISTA REALTORS. Shouldn't I list with one of the large Real Estate Brokers?

    A: Some consumers are 'Brand Conscious' and like to buy a product or service with a name they recognize. For some items this may be wise, but in Real Estate, all Realtors who are a member of the MLS must list every property for sale in the MLS database. This means that every broker, whether they are one of the handful of large brokers or one of the hundreds of lesser-known brokers have the same ability to sell any property. In fact, over 70% of homes listed are sold by a broker other than the listing broker. So, as long as the home is in the MLS, all nearly 4,000 Realtors will be trying to sell a home that their buyer is looking for - not just their own listings!

    Q: I can sell my home myself - why should I list with a Realtor?

    A: The reasons to list your property for sale with a Realtor are many - but many agree that exposure in the MLS is one of the most important! Having over 4,000 Realtors to help sell a vast database of properties for sale is powerful - on one day, the Greater Cincinnati MLS had 22,686 listings: 17,608 Homes & Condos, 1,344 Multi-Families, 2,870 Lots and 864 Commercial properties - at some times of the year, there are over 24,000+ properties listed for sale. If a property is not listed for sale in the MLS, you are missing the exposure to the Realtors who are working with qualified buyers. Many buyers think the Realtor is free - look at homes, get updated information and service by a Buyer Broker - all with the commission being paid by the seller! If YOU are looking for a home, will you just look at FSBO's, or will YOU use a Realtor?

    Q: If I list with VISTA REALTORS, will you just put me in the MLS, stick a sign in my yard & forget me?

    A: One comment I often hear is that the owners can't believe how much work I do for such a low commission. See my Chart of Services for a list of what I provide. When listing a property that has expired with another Realtor, many owners comment that they appreciate my communication, feedback from showings & follow-up. You will know what buyers think of your property - good & bad - so that you can possibly eliminate any objections before the next showing. MLS notices of Open Houses, e-mail to other agents, brochures, directional signs, mailings (postal or email) of neighborhood activity & much more are all part of my service to you! Remember, if the property doesn't sell, I don't make any money! I have had only a few listings expire that were not re-listed with me . I don't feel it is right to charge another owner for the cost of an expired listing - that is one way I can keep the commissions so low! Approximately half of all listings in the MLS expire in the original listing period - I can't afford that cost - and neither can you!

    Q: I've heard of a broker that has a lower commission than VISTA REALTORS - why shouldn't I just list with them?

    A: Selling a property can be easy or hard - if your property will sell to the first person who looks at it, the Seller probably should just hire a real estate attorney to do the paper work. But, if there is any doubt as to what the price should be, a Realtor can provide many more services than just handling the paper work! To get the property exposed to as many people as possible to get the best price and the quickest sale, a combination of Multiple Listing Service, yard signs, yard brochures, optional ads, internet photos, etc. can get you the most exposure. Also ask what percentage the Realtor sells directly themselves - Mike Connelly sells 17 - 28% of his listings - if another Realtor hardly sells any of their own listings, you don't have much of a chance of getting their LOW commission! If they sell nearly ALL of their listings, are they properly exposing the home to the whole market - and are they answering their phone when another agent calls to show it? Compare & ask questions!

    Q: Will other brokers show my home if I list with VISTA REALTORS?

    A: As long as a Realtor has a Buyer looking for a home of a certain size, features and location, and the home in the MLS meets these needs, the Realtor would be doing a disservice to the buyer by not showing it. As long as the Realtor still receives the co-op commission and the listing broker can confirm an appointment, they will show the home. I have set thousands of co-op showings - as many as 78 appointments in one week!

    Q: Do you do Open Houses and provide advertising?

    A: I will do as much or more than the typical Realtor and I firmly believe the internet provides the best exposure. Print advertising was formerly the best exposure before the internet. Not everyone has internet access in their home or work, so I do offer optional photo ads in the 'Community Press' or the Enquirer's "Real Estate Week" photo magazine. This combination of MLS, optional photo ads and brochures will get results! See my Chart of Services for more information!

    Q: How long can I list my property in your marketing plans?

    A: The minimum listing period is 4 months. Since my commissions are so low, I cannot afford to take a listing for a short time, have the listing expire and lose money. Most properties in MLS sell in less than 3 months, but if it is a difficult property to sell because of condition, location, price or general market conditions, it may take longer. If I lose money on one listing, it is logical that I would have to make up the loss on another listing - which I don't think is fair! You may cancel the listing at any time for any reason (unless there is a contract pending) and pay only a cancellation fee of $495. So you can have the advantage of selling the property yourself while at the same time exposing it to nearly 4,000 Realtors - the best of both worlds!

    Q: Is this a bare-bones, do-it-yourself program?

    A: Ask any of my 250+ happy sellers - they will probably say they can't believe how much work I do for such a low commission! I provide a yard sign, directional signs where permitted, detailed brochures, lockbox, input the listing into the computer within hours, e-mail other Realtors about changes, handle all calls, help with problems, attend closing, and more! I am always accessible: 24 phones, MLS access, 4 computers, 5 printers, e-mail, Web Site, fax, E-fax, voice mail & a mobile phone! I am available 24/7, which is one advantage of a smaller company!

    Q: What about selling Multi-Families, Condos, Vacant Land and unusual properties?

    A: The marketing plans are for typical single family homes. Depending on the difficulty of selling a particular property, I can either use one of my standard plans or custom design a plan just for you! I may not list all properties because they are too far from my office on the east side of Greater Cincinnati.

    Q: I have a home or other property that will sell for over $400,000. ...

    A: My philosophy is not to have one listing pay for another listing's loss. It is only fair that if a listing is in a very high price range, I would be making more that it was costing me. Give me a call and I can give you a quote of an even lower commission or additional services based on the probability of a quick or lengthy sale.

    Q: How do you compare to those companies in which I show my own home?

    A: VISTA REALTORS is like most other full service Realtors except I don't do Open Houses and I offer many personal services and discount commissions. You, the seller, don't get buyer calls or have to show the property yourself - I handle it all! You will also get very personal service: I won't ask you to stop by my office to sign papers - I will come to your home. When a buyer calls on your property, I will be talking to them, not an agent who hasn't even been to your property!
     

    Q: If I can get all of this for as little as $495., and still be able to sell the property myself, why would I want to pay 5%, 6% or even 7%?

    A: To be honest, I don't know!

     
     
    References

    "This letter is to confirm our complete satisfaction with the services of Mike Connelly. Mike was responsible for listing and selling our house. ...saved us thousands of dollars on commission costs. Mr. Connelly helped us in every aspect from deciding on listing price, ideas for enhancing interior and exterior appeal, coordinating showings, and final price negotiations. Mike was quick to respond to questions or concerns that arose throughout the time that the house was listed. After trying to sell the house ourselves we had come to the conclusion that without the Multiple Listing Service we were at a marketing disadvantage. Within one week of listing we had several showings, and within 31 days we had two offers. We offer our highest recommendations for Mike." Brad & Sandy, Loveland, OH

    ..."Before discovering your service, we repeatedly experienced the hassles and inconvenience associated with selling property ourselves. Until now, we thought that was the only way to mitigate the expenses of a full service agency."...William & Denise, Eastgate, OH

    "I can't believe how much work Mike did for such a low commission!"

  •  For More Information, Call Mike Connelly (513) 317-3170

    VISTA REALTORS®

    MIKE CONNELLY

    Comments or Suggestions?  E-Mail me at MikeC@VistaRealtors.com Web: http://VistaRealtors.com Privacy Statement
    If your Real Estate is currently listed with a Real Estate Broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other Real Estate Brokers. We are happy to work with them and co-operate fully. Information is believed to be accurate, but is subject to change without notice and is not guaranteed. VISTA Realtors and Mike Connelly abide by the Equal Housing Opportunity Guidelines, and any information herein does not constitute an endorsement of any product, service, company, person or institution. You are encouraged to perform your own investigation and not rely on any statements of VISTA Realtors & Mike Connelly, implied or not implied.
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