Recently a friend of mine was introduced to a real estate agent (from a national ‘franchise’ office) at a backyard BBQ who had gone on to tell an audience of friends and colleagues that when you list your home with Jan Jones Real Estate you can’t possibly expect a high level of service as our commissions were only 2% of the sale price (plus gst of course) – and well… “you need to pay more if you expect the best service”.
My friend related the story of how this agent then went on with a list of odd and off-the-wall rumours about Jan Jones Real Estate and how we conduct business.
Well, while it’s true that, yes, we are a ‘different’ office in many ways - it’s certainly not for the bizarre reasons this individual outlined.
So I thought I’d take this opportunity to dispel a few myths and put them quietly to rest…!
- People who list their properties with us DONT run their own open homes… ever. “How ludicrous is that – asking Clients to conduct their own Open Homes!”, I thought when I heard that. But the icing on the cake was when this person actually suggested we charge people for open homes! The truth is… we take pride in the way we conduct our Open Homes. We insist that everyone who visits the home must provide their name, phone number and other contact details. No ifs. No buts. Security is a priority. And unless agreed to with you as the owner, we remove our shoes and respectfully ask all attendees to do likewise whilst inside – and to show absolute respect for your property at all times. There is always a professional, fully qualified and registered agent at Open Home at all times, and of course there is no charge to conduct an Open Home…! Additionally you will always receive full feedback from your agent in respect of the activity undertaken at the open home because communication with our Clients is paramount at every step of the process.
- Our Clients DO NOT have to pay for advertising. Unless you want advertising exposure in the press over and above our standard campaigns – the advertising we undertake to expose your property to eager buyers is absolutely free. You see, traditionally real estate agencies will try to encourage you to pay for advertising. What you’re really paying for (in addition to obviously the marketing of your own property) – is the selling agent’s brand recognition. Many agents won’t even take a listing unless advertising money is paid, and most won’t pay a red cent of their own money for the advertising. But the way we see – it is that it’s our job to sell your property and we won’t ask for a cent until your home sells – and then it’s only by way of our sensible 2% capped commission, which is much less than ‘industry standard’. It’s about bringing fairness back into real estate.
- We WON’T CHARGE you for your listing on the internet via RealEstate.com.au and Domain.com.au - once again, unless you decide you would like to take advantage of a feature listing or some other type of campaign that incurs an extra charge, your listing on these sites is given to you as a valued Client entirely free of charge.
- We WILL run auctions, contrary to what some people believe. Sometimes in looking after your best interest we’ll definitely recommend an auction campaign. However we will outline to you what we believe will be the best way to list and sell your home for the best price, in the least time, with the least hassles…. and mostly we find private treaty in this market, for the vast majority of homes, simply works best. Have you ever stopped to think that by encouraging auction sales, some agents are simply guaranteeing themselves weeks of ‘advertising money’ and therefore ‘brand exposure’ for their office in the lead up to the actual auction? It’s a clever ploy when you think about it, isn’t it?
- We do offer the best in service, meaning honest, up-front and regular communication – and yes, because of our low overheads we can afford to provide this level of service WITHOUT the need for ‘industry standard’ commissions (ours is just 2% of the sale price plus GST) nor asking for additional marketing dollars or other expenses. Every single Queensland real estate agent has undergone extensive training in Industry Best Practice in order to be registered. The difference between a good agent and a great one, really boils down to how well they communicate with you – and at Jan Jones Real Estate, communication is paramount.
- We can and do reach buyers just as effectively as (probably far more so than…) the major agencies. How? In this day and age all agencies are on a level playing field thanks to the internet. Largely, as long as you are on the major internet portals RealEstate.com.au and Domain.com.au – and given exposure in the local marketplace in the media and via prominent signage, buyers will find your property. But in addition to the benefits of the massive explosion in technology – let’s not forget the humble office location! Because we’re the first port of call upon entering the Redcliffe Peninsula from Brisbane, our office gets a high volume of ‘walk in’ traffic compared to many offices in this day and age. We’re very fortunate to be able to exploit this with our highly visible ‘window cards’. Plus we’ll use other sites and technology where appropriate to market your property - things like Twitter and our regular e-newsletter to inform interested buyers about your property.
- Our marketing of your home IS absolutely second-to-none. Don’t let anyone fool you – at Jan Jones Real Estate we have two highly experienced media professionals working full time on marketing properties. The way we describe your home in our words for the websites, press advertising and flyers, the way we photograph your home, the way we talk to buyers about your property… it’s all utterly professional and with a commitment to delivering excellence.
This office is built on the success of Principal Jan Jones, who continues to receive calls on a daily basis from people who have bought and sold homes on the Peninsula over the years gone by – people who recognise that her and her entire team will work tirelessly to deliver the best possible results.
I trust these points help dispel any of the myths you may have heard…
The reality is that the proof of our success is in the many hundreds of delighted buyers and sellers Jan, Jeff and the team have assisted in real estate through the years.
If you would like further clarification on anything I’ve outlined above, by all means give us a call at the office on 07 3283 6737. We’d love to hear from you.
