CENTURY 21 S.G.R., Inc. Founded in 1989 as Specialty Group Realty, the company joined the CENTURY 21 system later that year. It has grown from five agents in one office to over one hundred agents in three offices. It is well-known in Chicago, not only for its new developments, but also for sales of existing and rehabbed properties. Many top-producing agents hang their hats there, while many other agents are building successful careers there, thanks in part to the extensive training that the company offers. CENTURY 21 S.G.R. Award-Winning Office Since 1994, CENTURY 21 S.G.R. has received numerous production awards: Centurion Office 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003,2004; Double Centurion, 2004, & 2005. Presidents Award 2002, VIP office 2001, and the Quality Service Award 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, & 2005. S.G.R. s sales figures are in the very top echelon of CENTURY 21 companies worldwide. They have consistently received the Quality Service Award, which signifies that over 95% of clients rate their experience with CENTURY 21 S.G.R. as highly positive. These awards are a direct outgrowth of the firm s commitment to always placing the client s interests first. Of course, the company s success is due to the quality work of its exceptional agents. In the last five years, its agents have won numerous CENTURY 21 production and service awards. Their exceptional volume of business is a direct result of hard work and a commitment to exceptional client service.
The Power of Century 21 The CENTURY 21 brand name is the most recognizable in the real estate industry. More importantly, the company backs up its reputation with superior service and powerful tools. Beyond the standard real estate services that all agencies provide, CENTURY 21 gives you: -Customized Marketing System -Leading Internet Marketing Program -National Advertising -Global Referral Network -Seller/Buyer Service Pledge -Superior Agents CENTURY 21 S.G.R. Real Estate Service As a full-service agency, CENTURY 21 S.G.R. provides all manner of services for buyers and sellers. Below are some of the services that our highly trained agents offer. For sellers Assessment of value; Professional marketing advice; Print, Internet and virtual tour advertising; Contract preparation; Pre-qualification of buyers. For buyers Needs evaluation; Property searches; Acute inventory awareness; Property showings; Contract negotiation; Consistent follow through.
The Selling Process Step One: Step Two: Why are you selling? Price as a derivative of time. Step Three: Defining a price range. Step Four: Step Five: Step Six: Talking to brokerage firms. How to hire the right firm; price as a derivative of services A to Z Pricing Timing Marketing Negotiating offers Contract to closing Customer follow-up after the closing
Step One: Why are you selling? Is this an optional move or a mandated one? The Rubicon with respect to delineating this question is whether you could remain in your home, rent it, or must cash out to make the required move. It is important for you to answer this question because there is not simply a price for your property but a pricing continuum which is a derivative of time and marketing services. This nexus influencing price will be addressed in the following steps. Energy Professionalism Teamwork Commitment Follow Through
Step Two: Price as a derivative of time Factors Influencing Price: Location Size Condition The Economy Interest Rates Each neighborhood and property type within a neighborhood have a historic appreciation rate that can be expressed in multiple segments of time: months, semi-annually, annually, five years, ten years, etc. There is no guarantee that a historic pattern will extend into the present or future. But to ignore consistent historical trends in favor of unsupported conjecture is not a wise move. Therefore, we are forced to look cautiously at the past for present guidance. If you can wait four months, it is logical and historically accurate to conclude that you can price your property higher and receive a greater net dollar amount than if 30 days were your outside selling imperative. Step Three: Defining a Price Range: As stated in step 2 there is not a single price for a property. If a person must sell in 30 days or less, there is one range. If a person has 90-120 days to sell, there is a second range. If a seller s time horizon extends beyond 120 days, it is best to wait and keep the property off the market until the seller s time horizon has collapsed to within 120 days or less. It is not in a seller s interest to expose a property to the market too long. Such a property often times becomes stigmatized by the realtor community, and realizes less money, not more. Step Four: Talking To A Brokerage Firm Before you talk to any brokerage firm, it is critical that you have a general idea what your property is worth. Information about pricing can be gleaned from an array of sources: sold prices reported in local newspapers; the assessor s office; local realtors newsletters; neighbors; open houses. It is critical that you are informed so that you can evaluate the integrity and usefulness of the information a realtor presents to you. In pricing your property - it is important that you see it through a buyer s eyes. What a buyer is normally paying for is a property type, in a specific location, consisting of so many square feet, in an ascertainable condition. By far the location of the property is the most significant factor affecting its value. Neighborhoods rise in value not individual properties. Next in pricing importance comes physical size and then condition. When a realtor presents his comps, properties similar to yours in the broad areas defined above, it is important to question him about the validity of these comps. Are the comps within the true boundaries of your neighborhood? Are they physically the same or quite similar in size? Are they finished equal to, inferior to, or superior to your home? Are there any ancillary factors, such as lot size, zoning, quality of construction, or terms and conditions of sale that should be factored into the equation to truly arrive at the proper pricing equation?
Written, Verifiable Marketing Plan Step Five: How to Hire the Right Firm; price as a derivative of marketing services The Essential Services: Pricing Timing Marketing Negotiating offers Contract to closing During the initial brokerage interview, it is critical to get a written guarantee from the agent and his firm about the marketing system they will employ that is independently verifiable by you. The marketing services performed in a systematic, repetitive fashion will strongly affect the price you eventually get for your property. As noted before, price must be viewed as a continuum. Every property has at least two major prices: wholesale and retail. Wholesale represents what an investor would pay for your property in cash today. Retail is the price a buyer will pay if fully informed about and given adequate time to see the properties that could fulfill her needs. It is important to remember that there is not one buyer for your property but potentially many. The brokerage firm you hire must get information about your property to as many of these potential buyers as quickly as possible. Within the retail price range there are at least three values: low, medium, and high fair market value. How many of these potential buyers a brokerage agency can reach with information about your property, along with time, will determine which one of these retail values you will receive. Step Six: A to Z Make absolutely certain that the brokerage firm you hire will direct the marketing of your home from initial pricing consultation through the implementation of a guaranteed, written step-by-step marketing system that is independently verifiable by you, through all showings, contract negotiations, affirmation of inspection, appraisal, and legal approvals, to confirmation of financing and clearance to close.
I have never met a group of people like the S.G.R. team who possess such a wealth of creative energy. They kept every promise ever made and exceeded all my expectations in every way imaginable. Stephen Talty West Loop
LakeView: 3813 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60613 West Loop: 1161 W. Madison St. Chicago, IL 60607 South Loop: 1819 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60616
Why list with Century 21 S.G.R., Inc.? We Will Effect The Outcome You Want! Almost every seller has three objectives when selling their home: Objective 1: To obtain the highest possible price. Objective 2: To sell in the shortest time period which is feasible. Objective 3: To sell with the least amount of inconvenience and encounter no legal liability before or after the closing. THE CONTOURS OF OUR MARKETING SYSTEM I. The Plan: The Categorical Imperative. A. The Agent B. The Team C. Price As a Derivative of Services and Frequency D. Demand Driven Pricing E. The Marketing Plan in Detail F. Negotiating the Deal G. Contract to Closing and Beyond
A. The Agent CRS GRI ABR CCIM Our marketing system and the professional competence of our agents and managers will give you, the seller, the greatest chance to realize all three objectives. At the core of our system is the agent. They are the quarterbacks whose primary job is to effect the results you want by executing the S.G.R. marketing system on your behalf. Every one of our agents is among the best trained in the industry. It normally takes an S.G.R. agent two full years to achieve associate status with the firm because of its rigorous curriculum and production standards. The training program involves extensive classroom exercises and field activities. Full associate status is only attained after an agent has achieved the CRS, GRI, and ABR designations, or they may substitute the CRB or CCIM for one of the above. Less than three percent of all Realtors in the United States have earned all three of these coveted designations.