MARKETING INFORMATION
Broker - ABR, - ABR, CRS, Broker Keith Cook Managing Rachael Wilson Broker CDPE, CRS, FSP, SRES CDPE, CNE, e-PRO Kara Cook
Whatcom County 360.739.5600 - Keith Cell 360.201.9994 - Kara Cell 360.319.2234 - Rachael Cell
MARKETING Getting your property sold:
ONLINE ADVERTISING
• Websites
See all the places online where your property will be advertised
CLIENT
PRINT MARKETING
• Flyers • Postcards • Echo
PARTNERSHIP What we can do together:
NETWORKING
• Agent Networking
How your property will be represented to local agents and brokers.
SELLER COMMUNICATION:
• Reports
Keeping you updated on the activity and status of your property
• Top Producer Pages • Feedback Improving your property’s market appeal through constructive feedback
OPTIONAL MARKETING STRATEGIES:
• Client’s Choice
Marketing emails, print marketing, open house, etc.
CLIENT PARTICIPATION:
• Preparing Your Home For Sale Maximizing the visual appeal of your property
www.buyer max.c o m
WHY CHOOSE US? What makes us qualified:
RESUMES:
• Keith Cook
• Kara Cook
Buyer’s Agent
• Rachael Wilson
• What’s in a Signature Block?
Managing Broker
Buyer’s Agent Experience & Understanding
RE/MAX:
• Outstanding Agents Oustanding Results
www.buyer max.c o m
ONLINE
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES
Websites:
Our online marketing maximizes the potential exposure your property receives, from the most comprehensive and effective real estate advertising sites on the web. Six of the sites on which we primarily advertise are the top six most visited real estate listing websites in as ranked by Hitwise*. Our secondary advertising venues provide a more personal approach, ranging from the simple classifieds on Craigslist to the virtual tours on Tourfactory.com. *Report from July 2011 www.buyer max.c o m
ONLINE
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES BuyerMax.com Our Buyermax website caters personally to interested buyers, sellers and agents. By reaching out to our online audience, we can maximize the possibility of your property finding the perfect buyer.
Quick Facts:
• Audience: Average of 2,170 website visits a month. • Appeal: Buyermax.com uses SEO, or Search Engine Optimization techniques to attract potential buyers.
Marketing Features:
• Registration: Interested buyers can sign up for news on the listings that appeal to them. • Map Search: Our Map function helps people locate listings in the area they’re interested in. • Featured Listings: When your property is listed, it will be showcased on the front page for a period of time. • Blog: Along with market statistic updates and articles on the ins and outs of real estate, we post your property on our blog. www.buyer max.c o m
ONLINE
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES Realtor.com
Featured Homes, a paid service, places your property in front of thousands of potential buyers
Your property profile includes images, a virtual tour, and detailed information that helps attract buyers
Hit statistics are sent to you monthly, showing you how many people have viewed your property online
REMAX.com As the third most popular real estate search engine, thousands of people start their real estate search at REMAX.com REMAX.com features many tools for buyers and sellers, including tools to locate agents, offices and properties across the country. RE/MAX is a trusted name in real estate. As the leader in the United States real estate sales, the average RE/MAX agent outsells the competition by an incredible 3 to 1. RE/MAX is a real estate world leader with over 6,600 offices in 65 countries on six continents.
Northwest Multiple Listing Service
Zillow.com
The NWMLS, a search tool for real estate agents, contains every property on the market - to help your listing’s appeal, we provide extra photos and maps.
Zillow’s intuitive map search and smartphone app functions make it an attractive resource for potential buyers.
www.buyer max.c o m
ONLINE
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES Yahoo! Real Estate
As one of the major search engines on the Web, Yahoo caters to a huge audience looking for properties like yours.
Trulia
Trulia also provides a helpful app for listing searches, putting your property at buyers’ fingertips.
CBA
The CBA website is specifically focused on helping users locate commercial property and acreage.
MSN Real Estate
Homes.com
Their real estate engine directs buyers to sites like Realtor.com.
Instant access to a comprehensive database of current listings makes Homes.com a helpful marketing tool.
Secondary Advertising: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Oodle.com Backpage.com Real Estate Book PNW Homes Postlets.com Post Your Listings CampusHomesOnline CLRSearch.com HarmonHomes.com HotPads.com InvestorLoft LakeHomesUSA LoveMyZip OceanHomesUSA OLX.com Overstock1 Pad4Pad.com PennySaverUSA.com PropBot.com PropertyShark RealEstateGround.com RealEstateProperty.ca2 RiverHomesUSA Sell.com TNOL.com Vast.com
...and many more!
Homefinder
Homefinder.com offers plenty of convenient resources for buyers & sellers, including an app for searching homes.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a widely used classifieds site, and one of the first places people go when they’re looking for something
www.buyer max.c o m
ONLINE
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES
Tourfactory Virtual Tours
TourFactory.com is a website that creates a virtual, walk-through tour of your property. We first “stitch” together photographs of your property to create panoramic images. These images are then inserted into a TourFactory Virtual Tour which moves the viewer through the property.
The Tour begins with an opening shot we select for the property. From there, viewers can watch the Tour as it plays, or click on thumbnails of certain features and navigate through the Tour at their own speed.
To the left of the Tour, there is a menu with the options shown above. This ensures viewers will get the most out of their experience while they view your property for sale. They also have the option of sending the Tour to other potential buyers, increasing the chances of your property’s Virtual Tour being viewed. You will have the opportunity to review the Virtual Tour of your property when we compile and email you a Marketing Package for your listing.
www.buyer max.c o m
ONLINE
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES
Our Buyermax.com Facebook fan page keeps our network updated about your property and provides other useful real estate information. Detailed information on all of our listings can be easily accessed on our page through Zillow.
Your listing will have a unique YouTube video that will be visible on our channel. That means that on YouTube alone, your property will get a lot of exposure. Here’s our track record:
Over 70 Subscribers/Friends Over 1,200 Channel Views Over 20,000 Total Upload Views
Social Media Yes, we tweet about your property on our Twitter account! This gives over 400 followers notifications about your listing. Each tweet has a link directing interested buyers to your property’s information at BuyerMax.com. To keep your listing in front of our followers we tweet every time we: • Adjust the price • Update the pictures • Change the information
Social Media allows for instant communication with hundreds of people in our network, including buyers, brokers, and industry professionals. This helps us to spread the word quickly and efficiently to a large volume of people about your listing. This also drives up the traffic to BuyerMax.com, which in turn gets more viewers of your property on the featured listings page. With our Social Media efforts, your listing will not only be seen by our network, but also by the friends and family linked to the people in our network.
www.buyer max. c o m
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES Flyers:
For each of our listings, a professional custom flyer is designed by our top notch designers and graphic artists. These flyers are posted at the property, emailed to interested buyers, and given to any interested agents who may need more information. All the flyers feature hand-edited pictures taken and arranged to highlight all of the best features of your property.
Postcards:
For every listing that we market, we send out at least 30 postcards to the owners of the neighboring properties. Not only does this spread the word that your property is for sale, but it gives potential buyers our information in case they would like to make an offer or get more information about your property.
Handcrafted American Colonial Home 395 East Laurel • Bellingham • MLS #126614 • Please Call for Price and Availability
• Priced Below Sellers’ Costs • Owner Must Sell • Bank Loan Not Required • Owner May Finance Entire Purchase • Save $1,000s on Loan Fees!
•Exceptional Floor Plan •Estate Quality Finishes •Unsurpassed Quality •Impeccable Condition •Crystal Chandeliers •Granite and Tigerwood Flooring •Vaulted Ceilings •Gourmet Kitchen •Elegant Master Suite with Sitting Room and Access to Two Covered Decks •Each Bedroom has an Attached Bathroom
•Beautiful Mount Baker and Territorial Views •Garden Spaces •Raspberry and Blueberry Bushes •Over 100 Fruit Trees •12.84 Acres - Possibly Sub-Dividable •Zoning is 1 Home per 5 Acres •Attached Three Car Garage •2,000 Square Foot, Fully Finished, Dream Shop with Workbench, Heat, and 1/2 Bath •A Must See •Possible Owners Contract
3633 Aldergrove Road
• Ferndale
• MLS #230613
• Please Call for Price and Availability
• 3 Bedrooms • 2 Bathrooms • 2,043 SQFT • 8.19 Acres
• Magnificent Timber Framed Northwest Contemporary Home • Amazing 20 Foot Ceilings • Natural Stone Fireplace • Huge Kitchen • Skylights • 24x36 Shop & Fully Paved Driveway • Amazing Property and Setting • Many Trails & Seasonal Creek • Adjoins Whatcom Land Trust Property
Rachael Wilson
Keith Cook Managing Broker
360-739-5600
Buyer’s Agent Whatcom County 913 Lakeway Drive Bellingham, WA 98229
360-319-2234
BuyerMax.com
www.buyer max.c o m
ADVERTISING MARKETING STRATEGIES Harmon Homes We market every property we represent for sale in the HarmonHomes.com Magazine and on Homes.com. Additionally we put a half page ad in the magazine featuring several of our listings on a bi-monthly basis.
Echo Classifieds Believe it or not, we get a call/week on average on at least one of our listings advertised in The Echo Classifieds. This newspaper has proven to be a great place to get the word out about your listing. As well as advertising our client’s listings in the printed newspaper, they also appear on www.echoads.com, the online version of the Echo Classifieds.
Bellingham Herald Each month we place our listings in many of the Bellingham Herald publications such as the classifieds, the RE/MAX Sunday Color page, the NW Homes page, the Sunday Headers, and even online at Homefinder. com. The Belingham Herald is the only daily newspaper in Bellingham and has been in publication for more than 20 years.
1. Classifieds 2. Sunday Color Page 3. North West Homes www.buyer max.c o m
AGENT
NETWORKING MARKETING STRATEGIES
Broker’s Open Houses & Caravans We locate properties in the same area as yours that are listed by other agents. Each broker agrees to go on tour or hold there listing open in return for viewing all of the other properties involved. Inviting local real estate agents to visit properties that we’ve listed spreads the word and the interest about your listing.
Virtual Tours
Every Tuesday, we showcase our new listings to the entire RE/MAX office, using Tourfactory. com to create and share sophisticated virtual tours of your property. Agents then provide constructive feedback on price, exterior and interior appeal which we then forward to you.
Networking: It’s just as important to share the news about your property with agents as with prospective buyers - you never know who might have the perfect match for your property. Depending on the listing, we implement strategies like open houses, caravans and tours to get our fellow agents interested.
Physical Tours
If the virtual tour cannot do the property justice, or the circumstance requires, we will ocassionally hold a physical tour of the listing for agents from the RE/MAX office that want to participate. www.buyer max.c o m
AGENT
NETWORKING MARKETING STRATEGIES Email Newsletter Whatcom Real Estate Monthly is our monthly e-newsletter, packed with information on the real estate market, local events and useful information.
Email Archive:
www.WhatcomRealEstateMonthly.com
Over 9,000 Subscribers Featured Topics Each month, we focus on useful information about a relevant topic.
Listing Advertisements
Whatcom Real Estate Monthly Our monthly newsletter reaches a staggering audience of over 9,000 subscribers on the 15th of every month. Our readers include past clients, real estate agents, and more. Along with guest articles by local professionals, updated market statistics, and community news, we feature the month’s newest listings in a practical and sophisticated publication assembled by our creative team.
Your property will be featured in the newsletter multiple times.
Real Estate Information Here, we provide answers to real estate questions and local market statistics. Mike Gish, a Loan Representative at Bank of the Pacific also writes a monthly article covering mortgage rates and other borrowing topics.
www.buyer max. c o m
SELLER
COMMUNICATION CLIENT PARTNERSHIP
Reports:
We prioritize transparency in our business practice - that means you have access to a history of all our marketing efforts towards getting your property sold. Along with the content listed below, we will be touching base with you at the end of each month to review price and to remind you of our marketing efforts.
Tourfactory Tourfactory lets you see the number of views your listing received on their website - that way you know how much exposure your listing gets per week/month.
Realtor Once a month you will receive an email with the subject: A REALTOR.com Listing Report. This includes weekly totals for the amount of views of your property will include information regarding weekly totals for views of your property at Realtor.com.
Tech Tip: Create an email rule for your Inbox to automatically send emails about selling your property to a special folder. www.buyer max.co m
SELLER
COMMUNICATION CLIENT PARTNERSHIP Online Marketing Updates Activity Reports With our online marketing, you can log-in to see everything that we do with your property. If a showing has been done, you will be able to view that information as well. You will be given a personal log-in that will allow you to view your property’s updates and activities, as well as where your property has been advertised. You can change your log-in information at any time by contacting us.
TEST
Property Updates
Every month we re-evaluate your property’s price, the marketing being done on your property, and consider any changes that need to be made. Sometimes we need to change the price or extend the expiration date of your listing agreement - no matter what the update is, you will always be the first to know.
Authentisign Authentisign is a secure online document signing service that allows us to exchange and sign documents with you - such as price reductions - electronically. It’s easy to use and provides simple instructions for every step of the signing process.
You’ll receive a table of stats collected from the NWMLS site to give you a feel of the response your property gets. Stats help us determine if a property’s price needs to change.
Monthly Emails Every month or so we send out an email - just to check in with you and to let you know how our marketing efforts are going.
www.buyer max.c o m
SELLER
COMMUNICATION CLIENT PARTNERSHIP
Feedback:
Virtual Tours:
Every Tuesday, we showcase our new listings to the entire RE/MAX office using a sophisticated virtual tour of your property. Agents then provide constructive feedback on price, appeal and market analysis which we then forward to you. Keep in mind that these are simply suggestions from other industry professionals.
Expect to receive: An email with a PDF attachment of agent feedback.
Showings: “We noticed you showed our property at 3311 Bennett Drive the other day. We are hoping to get some feedback we could pass along to our seller. Any comments/ critique from you or your clients would be appreciated.” Thanks! Kara Cook “The property has a great view and is in a very good location. We did, however, feel the price was somewhat higher than we would expect our clients would consider.” “Your listing is beautiful, no question. A bit too rich for my clients blood as they are just looking for a second home. They did comment that if they were going to sell in Seattle and relocate to the Bay permanently this is where they’d like to be! Best of luck with the property and I’ll of course keep it mind should I have other folks looking in the area.” “Great house... Shows very well, nice and clean. Priced correctly.” “Sadly, the home was quite unpleasant to my client - she didn’t get much beyond the living room/kitchen. Smelled bad, poorly decorated and maintained, messy, etc. Sorry!” “My clients liked the home very much. A little disappointed by the power line view but otherwise a strong showing. It was one of their top two homes. They have made an offer on another property. I will keep this one on the back burner if the other property does not materialize.”
www.buyer max.c o m
OPTIONAL MARKETING CLIENT PARTNERSHIP Certain marketing strategies aren’t always necessary for the sale of a listing - however, we want to provide your property with the utmost service we can offer. We might choose to implement these strategies, or you can request them yourself.
Print Marketing
Although internet marketing is much more effective and more widely used by buyers, we do advertise in several well-known print books including: Harmon Homes, NW Homes, The Real Estate Book, Pacific Northwest Homes and more.
Open House Although this is optional, we recommend holding at least one open house and we make ourselves available to host. We work with you to get your home ready and determine the best date. As well as advertising the event on 10+ websites, a unique ad will appear in the Bellingham Herald notifying readers of the opportunity.
Flyer Delivery
A physical copy of your property’s designed flyer will be put into the mailbox of every agent in Whatcom County. This gets your property in front of 300+ brokers who may be working with several qualified buyers looking for something comparable to your property.
507 Bayview Drive
www.ParkPlace Residences.net i
Bellingham • MLS #243934• $1,050,000
i
•Located Along the Southside Boardwalk Between Historic Fairhaven & Boulevard Park •Highly Desirable Waterfront Community •Breathtaking Views of Bellingham Bay & San Juan Islands •Bamboo Hardwood Floors •Tapestry Carpets •Chef’s Kitchen with High-End SS Kitchen Appliances and Brazilian Granite Countertops •Many Extra Rooms •Oversized 2-Car Garage •Wired for Surround Sound and Home Security
•3 BD
•4 Bath (1 Full, 1 3/4, 2 1/2) •3,574 SQFT
Rachael Wilson
Keith Cook Managing Broker
360-739-5600
Buyer’s Agent Whatcom County 913 Lakeway Drive Bellingham, WA 98229
BuyerMax.com
www.buyer max.co m
360-319-2234
OPTIONAL MARKETING CLIENT PARTNERSHIP
Marketing Emails:
Marketing Emails are a great way to make your home visible to the public. Upon listing your house for sale, we will create an email containing links to various websites. These sites feature tours of your house and more detailed information about your listing. We encourage you to forward this email to everyone in your address book - you never know who might be a potential buyer!
Virtual Tour
Tour Factory is a website that allows us to “stitch” together panoramic photos of your home. When the tour is played, viewers can get a 180 or 360 degree view of your house’s best features.
Postlets YouTube
A video tour will give home shoppers a feel for the layout of your home and property.
Your house will be showcased in a Postlets ad, which will appear on Craigslist, Facebook, FrontDoor, Google Base, HotPads, MySpace, Oodle, Tulia, Twitter, Vast, Zillow, and more.
NWMLS
Your MLS Listing provides photos, maps, documents, and property details to interested home buyers.
Market Snapshot
A Market Snapshot shows recent homes that have sold in your area, as well as their selling prices. This shows how your home compares to others in the current market.
www.buyer max.co m
CLIENT
PARTICIPATION CLIENT PARTNERSHIP Preparing Your Home For Sale: Serious buyers look through a lot of homes before making a decision - make their choice easier by bringing out the best in your property. Maximizing the visual appeal of your home affects its online and physical presence - it’s well worth the effort to put your best place forward, so to speak. Here are some suggestions to help.
Interior 1. De-Personalize Pack away photos and other family treasures - this helps potential buyers to picture themselves in their new home 2. De-Clutter Make sure to look for unused or unnecessary objects that detract from the key features of your house 3. Rearrange Closets & Cabinets Make sure that when you glance in your bedroom closet or kitchen cabinet nothing personal is visible 4. Make Minor Repairs Waxing floors, hanging up fresh towels often, cleaning out and airing any musty smelling areas, and dusting furniture, fan blades and light fixtures are foolproof ways to keep your property looking its best for any visitors
Exterior 1. Curb Appeal Curb presence or your house is the first impression. It’swhat keeps the buyer interested or what makes them want to drive to the next property. - Keep sidewalks clean -Mow the lawn -Paint faded window trim -Keep gardens trimmed -Make sure the house number is clear 2. Be the Buyer Take a look at your house from the buyer’s perspective. When you look at it from across the street, what makes you want to step up the sidewalk and through the front door? What leaves you disinterested?
www.buyer max.c o m
WHAT’S IN A
SIGNATURE BLOCK WHY CHOOSE US? Keith Cook - Managing Broker ABR, CDPE, CRS, FSP, SRES RE/MAX Whatcom County
A Managing Broker has met the qualifications necessary for a Washington State Real Estate Broker’s License
Rachael Wilson - Buyer’s Agent
CRS, ABR, CDPE, CNE, e-PRO RE/MAX Whatcom County
A Buyer’s Agent acts as a professional opinion on one of the largest decisions of your life. By working with a professional, you can rest assured that you are making the right decisions for you.
CDPE - Certified Distressed Properties Expert An agent who has earned the CDPE designation has dedicated their time and effort to understanding the isues distressed homeowners are dealing with. The CDPE Professional is an agent who understands the full range of solutions and is ready to help. While experiencing financial distress is difficult for any family, the process of finding a real estate professional shouldn’t be. Selecting a CDPE agent ensures you are dealing with a professional ready to address your needs.
CRS - Certified Residential Specialist
The CRS® designation, awarded by the Council of Residential Specialists, is the highest professional designation awarded to REALTORS® in the residential sales field. Less than 4% of all REALTORS® hold the CRS® designation.
FSP - Five Star Professional
The industry-recognized Five Star Professional designation is attained when participants have received a certificate of achievement in five ore more coursese from our extensive catalog of comprehensive educational curriculum
SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist
SRES is the only designation & marketing program specifically designed to serve senior property owners. SRES designees demonstrate requisite knowledge and expertise to counsel senior clients through the major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating, refinancing or selling a home.
ABR - Accredited Buyer’s Representative
The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded by the Real Estate BUYER’S AGENT Council (REBAC), an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®, to real estate practicioners who meet the specificed educational and practical experience criteria.
CNE - Certified Negotiations Specialist
The Certified Negotiation Expert designation course is designed specifically to give REALTORS® and real estate professionals the knowledge, training and ability needed to become an expert negotiator - a vital skill required for real estate transactions. Negotiation is a blend of using collaborative approaches to help identify and create value for all arties, and competitive approaches that help ensure you captures the value components you want.
e-PRO
e-PRO® is specifically designed to help real estate professionals thrive in the competitive world of online real estate. This recently updated course is designed to ensure continued success in your Internet marketing efforts well after you complete the course and earn your certification.
www.buyer max. c o m
Keith Cook
RESUMES & REFERENCES WHY CHOOSE US?
Well… I grew up in Bellingham. Graduate of Silver Beach Elementary, Shuksan Middle School and Bellingham High School – class of 1986. During my school years I worked for a Property Management Company and a variety of restaurants in the Seattle and Bellingham areas. I joined the US Army in 1986 with the intent to check out the world and get some money for college. The summer after I graduated, I was off to basic training… Fort Bliss - El Paso, Texas... it was 113 degrees the first day I arrived. Wow, I really don’t miss that place. After Advanced Individual Training, I was stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base, West Germany. My job classification was 16-H, Air Defense Artillery –Operations and Intelligence Assistant. Call me crazy… I really enjoyed the Army. Living in Germany was an awesome experience. It was a completely care free time of my life and the military structure was great. Back then the Army offered a two year enlistment and if you didn’t re-enlist , they let you out three months early. So after receiving my Honorable Discharge from the Army at the ripe old age of 20, I was headed for a pit-stop back home. Which was now in Brier, WA, as my parents moved from Bellingham while I was in the service. My Grandfather landed me a job working in a fish cannery in Port Graham, Alaska. Port Graham is a beautiful small town (population 200), very friendly people - located on the tip of the Kenai peninsula. Port Graham can only be accessed by boat or small plane from Homer, AK. For salmon season, I was hired on as a deck hand on a 32 foot local Native fishing boat, the Tianna Lynn. What a summer - I worked with a great crew, saw a lot more than I expected and saved some more money. Alaska is incredible. Later in life, I went on to work on a few other fishing boats - the Northern Glacier in the Bearing Sea, the Mary Jo, in Bristol Bay, and the Nancy Anne, out of Bellingham. So there I was, 20 years old… Retired Military... Commercial Alaskan Fisherman... Freshman at Shoreline Community College... and that’s when I met my wife, Kara. We worked together at an Italian/Mexican/American restaurant – What a menu, a little something for everyone! We were looking for career changes so Kara went into banking and I got into construction. At 23 we were married and bought our first house - in Bellingham, a little one bedroom on St. Paul Street for $42,000. We did okay with it… sold it 9 months and a coat of paint later for $57,000…We were hooked! We have moved several times since then and seem to enjoy change. Life completely changed a few years ago with the birth of our son Leo. We definitely enjoy parenting and family time. He is a fulltime job and Kara takes care of him beautifully. Wow – how life changes. While not at work I enjoy playing, woodworking, yard work, travel, camping, quading and skiing. Real Estate seemed interesting to me so I decided to get my Real Estate license in 1991. I received my Brokers License in 1994, and joined RE/MAX in Bellingham in 1996. As far as real estate success goes...I have been very lucky. I have been a consistent top producer in Whatcom County and definitely enjoy my profession. I worked with RE/MAX in Seattle before joining the RE/MAX Whatcom County – Bellingham office in 1996. During this time, I have repeatedly been the #1 Real Estate Agent for my office based on production & sales volume. RE/MAX is head and shoulders above the competition and is the #1 Real Estate Company in the World. Nobody out-sells RE/MAX. As a RE/MAX real estate agent, I have access to a wide variety of resources to assist you in your home buying or selling process. I can help provide you with information on homes, land, acreage, condos, commercial, development, business opportunities, listings, sold comparables, rentals, leases, options to purchase or just about anything else real estate related. Real Estate has been a very rewarding profession. No two sales are ever the same, every Buyer’s and every Seller’s needs are different. You learn from each and every one. The contracts are similar, the details are not... different Buyers, Sellers, locations, circumstances, backgrounds, understandings, culture, motivation, expectations, history, lenders, attorneys, inspectors, families, advisors, and realtors. Why not put my 17+ years of experience to work for you… You will be FULLY REPRESENTED by a proven Real Estate Expert. As a real estate professional, I enjoy just about every aspect of helping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs. It is my goal to provide excellent Real Estate advice and customer service, which is why I work with a team that consists of a full-time Buyer’s Agent, a full-time Office Administrator/Marketing Director, and a Listing Specialist.
www.buyer max.c o m
Keith Cook:
RESUMES & REFERENCES WHY CHOOSE US?
Real Estate Experience
Managing Broker ABR CDPE CRS FSP SRES
Accredited Buyer Representative Certified Distress Property Expert Certified Residential Specialist Five Star Professional Senior Real Estate Specialist
Twenty+ years full time Real Estate experience Greater Puget Sound Area Expertise Includes: Single Family * Multi- Family * Condominiums * Commercial * Lots * Acreage Seller, Lender and Creative Financing * Real Estate Options * Deeds of Trust Title Insurance * Escrow * Property Management RE/MAX International, Presidents Club - 1993-1994, 1997-2011 The Roanoke Group - Seattle, WA, Salesman of the Year - 1995-1996 RE/MAX International, Executive - 1997-2011 RE/MAX International, 100% - 1998-2011 RE/MAX International, Platinum – 2002-2011 RE/MAX Whatcom County, Top Producing Broker 1995-2011 RE/MAX Whatcom County, Realtor of the Year RE/MAX International, Hall of Fame RE/MAX International, Lifetime Achievement
Real Estate Education REO A-Z – Five Star Institute Short Sales A-Z – Five Star Institute Mortgage Underwriting – Real Estate Resource Group Comparative Market Analysis – NWMLS Short Sales Mastery – Funders Choice Current Issues in Commercial Real Estate – CBA Problems with Older and Newer Homes – Pillar to Post Realist Tax Data - NWMLS Real Estate Broker Management - WA Association of Realtors Commercial Real Estate - CCIM Property Management - WA Association of Realtors Real Estate Law - Washington Association of Realtors Real Estate Essentials - Shoreline Community College License Law – C/21 Real Estate Center Fair Housing Update – C/21 Real Estate Center Cooperation & Compensation Agency Law - NWMLS Residential Quickstart - W. C. Association of Realtors Fundamentals of Real Estate Finance,Continental Mortgage Co Title Insurance - Chicago Title Insurance Escrow Essentials - Chicago Title Insurance Commercial Real Estate - CCIM Statewide Listing Agreement - NWMLS The Agency Reform Act of 1996 -WA Association of Realtors Broker Relationships: Rights & Responsibilities -WAR IRC 1031 Exchanging - Old Republic Exchange Facilitator Co Federal & State Taxation - Washington Association of Realtors Short Sale Transaction - First American Title and Escrow Code of Ethics - Washington Association of Realtors Best of Legal Hotline - Washington Association of Realtors
1998 Revisions to Forms - Washington Association of Realtors Home Inspections - Premier Real Estate School 1031 Exchanging - Old Republic Exchange Facilitator Co. Home Inspection, First Choice - Premier Real Estate School Financing, Country Wide Home Loans - Premier RE School Buyer & Seller Agency – W. C. Association of Realtors Federal Lead Base Paint – W. C. Association of Realtors Today’s Tax Laws – Washington Association of Realtors High Tech Tools – Washington Association of Realtors 1031 Advanced – Old Republic Exchange Facilitator Company Business Development – Council of Residential Specialists New Home Sales – Council of Residential Specialists Water Rights – Island Title Company Trends in Real Estate Agency – WA Association of Realtors Legal Issues Update – Washington Association of Realtors NWMLS Forms Basics – Washington Association of Realtors Title Insurance – David Hutton Real Estate School 2005 Best of the Legal Hotline – WA Association of Realtors CORE Curriculum, Current Issues in Washington Residential Real Estate – Mykut Real Estate School Drinking Water, Sewage and Development – WSU Advertising Photography for Real Estate - Huckaby, BTC Statewide Forms Update - Washington Association of Realtors Comparative Market Analysis-NWMLS FHA Essentials –WA Association of Realtors Advanced Exchange Strategies-WA Association of Realtors Short Sale Mastery & Production-WA Association of Realtors FHA Essentials-Wells Fargo Exchange Agent-Starker Services
www.buyer max.c o m
RESUMES & REFERENCES WHY CHOOSE US? References: David Bernstein 4973 Cottonwood Ct #3 Blaine, WA 98230 (360) 739-4748
Chris & Judy Dunn 1104 Winterstorm Dr Henderson, NV 89052 (702) 614-5334
Winston & Kelly Renoud 9132 Wigeon Court Blaine, WA 98230 (360) 371-9980
Barbara Bernstein 11202 204th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98053 (425) 868-8184
Lynn & Mike Giulani 7142 Bartlett Lane Lynden, WA 98264 (360) 733-6557
Keijo & Sirpa Halmekangas 405 E Holly Street Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 455-3020
Mike & Judy Davis 5529 Maple Way Blaine, WA 98230 (360) 371-0175
Pat Griffin 4256 Van Horn Lane Bellingham, WA 98226 (360) 671-5152
Rich Davis/Kathy Kraynak 414 Fieldston Road Bellingham, WA 98229 (360) 676-8321
Client’s Feedback:
“I highly recommend Keith to anyone. He worked extremely hard and was incredibly flexible in getting my rental home sold. Great job Keith!” - D. Wilson “We wanted to write and thank you for all your hard work and dedication in helping us buy our first home. You alone helped make this a wonderful experience for us, and we recommend you to everyone we talk to. We really appreciate the complete interest and involvement you have shown us from the first day we started and even now. It has always felt that we were your only clients even though you have many. Thanks for helping make our dream become a reality. We love our new home!!” - Kellie “We feel fortunate to have found Keith. We not only intend to list him as our representative in any future dealings of our own, without the least hesitation we would recommend him to anyone where real estate is concerned. Thank you!” - Tom & Lisa “Keith is a treasure and we’re glad we’re lucky enough to find him. “I would, without reservation, recommend Keith to anyone with any type of real estate need. He’s the greatest. Thanks Keith!” Jane “I just wanted to thank you for your hard work and dedication in selling my house. Even though there were multiple problems with the sale and financing, you never gave up. The house was listed with another agency for 6 months and was only shown 4 times. Once your company took over as our realtor, things started moving. Within three months the house was sold and the deal closed.” - Jeannie “Keith immediately impressed me. Keith has always gone out of his way to complete my transactions, and I highly recommend him for anyone’s real estate needs.” - Damon “Wow, I wish more realtors understood the appraisal process like you do.” - Sandra “We would recommend Keith to anyone buying a new or used home, we know they won’t be sorry.” - Ben & Blair
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Kara Cook:
RESUMES & REFERENCES WHY CHOOSE US?
Bellingham Realtor and… Yes, “Keith Cook’s better half” I am a fourth generation northwest native, born and raised in Seattle. I moved to Bellingham with Keith right after we were married over 20 years ago. I love it here! This is truly home. I appreciate the amazing beauty from Bellingham Bay to Mount Baker and everything in between. I think this area provides a laidback lifestyle with just the right mix of culture, entertainment and conveniences, yet still has that small town feel which makes it a great place to raise our son. The many years that Keith and I have been together I have with no doubt been exposed and saturated with real estate and it was a natural progression to become a broker. Before real estate I had some invaluable professional opportunities in banking, travel, sales and marketing. I pull and utilize from these experiences with our clients as well as in the office on a daily basis. You see I get to wear several hats at RE/MAX – Real Estate Broker, Accountant (bean counter), Office Manager (whatever needs getting done, do it) and finally Boss/Owner (paying the rent). No kidding aside…It is with such a board background of professional experiences that helps find the very best solution to your real estate needs. In the last 25 years we have bought and sold over 30 properties; it’s been quite a ride. To give you an example of our crazy real estate life…back in the early 90’s we had our house on the market and it sold and closed so quickly that I went to work in the morning and that night after work I called to get directions home. I had no idea where we lived! It was truly crazy days! I wouldn’t trade it for a minute. It is with experiences like this which gives me a thoughtful perspective to help clients through the buying and selling process. Perspective is very important in real estate although I can honestly say experience trumps that. I have the invaluable resource in Keith. He is truly a wealth of real estate knowledge. I won’t bore you with his accomplishments, I will say he lives and breathes real estate and has for the last twenty plus years! He has a keen eye for real estate as well as being an extremely effective and skillful negotiator which gives our clients a real edge over the rest. Along with Keith and his vast experience I am proud to say Rachael Wilson – Buyer’s Specialist is an integral part of the team. One of the most ambitious women I’ve ever met, she is knowledgeable, confident and professional but at the same time very approachable and kind hearted. She is dedicated to our clients and goes above and beyond for them. Speaking of going above and beyond we have a team of talented, resourceful, hardworking individuals, meet the team: Lauren Acoba – Office Manager, Aaron Vanderwielen - Web Developer, Melissa Leith – Marketing Specialist and Kristi Rambo -Newsletter Designer/Coordinator. This group of “awesomeness” ensures that nothing falls thru the cracks in the complicated real estate process. I know I’m bias although they truly are the hardest working team out there and they are pretty fun to work with too. Whatever your real estate needs, buying or selling, we would love to be your real estate solution!
www.buyer max.c o m
RESUMES & REFERENCES WHY CHOOSE US? Rachael Wilson Rachael Wilson, a long time Bellingham resident, has etched out a prosperous and rewarding career as a Realtor, working on both a residential and commercial level with Keith Cook at RE/MAX Whatcom County. Rachael is an active, full time agent working with a strong background in customer service & construction. As well as a Wife and Mom, of a very loving and devoted family. The support she receives from her family is key to her accomplishments in real estate. At an early age she was given insight into this field from her father who is an experienced Custom Home Builder as well as a Property Investor. She learned that quality houses are more than just a commodity to be bought and sold-they are homes--havens for families to grow and thrive in. Recognizing this, Rachael strives to understand the specific needs of her clientele. She takes their vision and finds it in reality. Initially Rachael worked as a Buyer’s Agent which allowed her to further hone her skills as a Realtor. She was a part of a knowledgeable team and was given the opportunity to draw from a reservoir of over thirty years of experience. Rachael contributed greatly to this dynamic and was able to build a wealth of knowledge that could take years to obtain in your own business. In an effort to continue with the growth of her business she has teamed up as a Buyer’s Agent with Keith Cook and his amazing office staff. Believing that in order to provide top notch service she must continually educate herself, her education is very important to the development of her expertise and proficiency that she strives to provide her clients. Rachael has completed courses as a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE), Internet Professional (E-PRO), Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), and most recently completed the requirements to be a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). Being well accomplished in her field has opened many doors for Rachael. One of which she is glad to have walked through are those of RE/MAX’s front office. She is here to provide excellent service to our community, strengthening it every day by helping individuals and families find their place to call home as she has found hers. Whether you’re in the market to buy or sell, give Rachael and Keith an opportunity to show you what they can do for your future.
www.buyer max.c o m
RESUMES & REFERENCES WHY CHOOSE US? Rachael Wilson: Real Estate Experience
Licensed Real Estate Broker ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative CRS - Certified Residential Specialist CDPE - Certified Distress Property Expert CNE - Certified Negotiation Expert e-PRO Expertise Includes: Single Family * Multi-Family * Condominiums * Vacant Land * Acreage RE/MAX Pacesetter of the Year – 2008 RE/MAX International Executive – 2008 – 2011 Real Estate Education Accredited Buyers Representative – Washington Association of Realtors Short Sales & Foreclosure – Washington REALTORS Education Current Issues in Residential Real Estate – Mykut Real Estate School/Appraisal School of Washington CDPE Certification – Distressed Property Institute Realist: Tax Data – NWMLS Real Estate School The Power of Analysis – Washington Real Estate Commission Comparative Market Analysis – NWMLS Real Estate School Prospect Management – NWMLS Real Estate School ABR Certification – Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council Advanced 1032 Exchange Strategies – Washington REALTORS FHA Essentials – Wells Fargo Escrow E-Pro Certification – Washington REALTORS Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) Designation – Negotiation Expertise, LLC Listing Input Authorization – Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) HAFA – Short Sales – Washington Realtors
CRS 210: Building an Exceptional Customer Service Referral Business – Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) How Old is This House? Problems With Older and Newer Homes – Pillar to Post Continuing Education Program of Washington The Short Sale Transaction – First American Title School of Real Estate Current Issues in Washington Real Estate – Washington REALTORS Education Short Sale Mastery and Production – Funder’s Choice Statewide Forms Update – Washington REALTORS Education TechVantage: Stop Buying and Start Using Technology – Coaching Institute: Continuing Education in Real Estate Current Issues in Washington Real Estate – Washington REALTORS Education The New Negotiation Edge, A 5-Step Behavioral Strategy – Washington State CRS School Forms Updating – Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Code of Ethics – Washington REALTORS Education CRS 202: Effective Buyer Sales Strategies – Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) Real Estate Practices – David Hutton Real Estate School Forms Revision Course – Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
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RESUMES & REFERENCES WHY CHOOSE US? References: Frank Goss & Virginia Lange (360) 393-4371 Buyers
Anny Havland (360) 815-3916 Business Associate
Carolyn Dium (360) 714-0510 Buyer
Dennis & Jennifer Coleman (360) 739-0701 Sellers
Gretchen & James Anderson (425) 736-7777 Buyers/Past Clients
Dr. David Fall (307) 689-1939 Investor
Dr. Rob & Jamie Phillips (360) 351-8591 Buyers
Bruce Brown (360) 927-3234 Investor
Bob & Cheryl Summerer (406) 443-0403 Investors
Client’s Feedback:
“Great job, Rachael!! You’re a wonderful agent, we’re lucky to have you.” -Lori “No words or gift can ‘Thank You’ enough for all you’ve done. Whether it be with encouraging words or hug when needed, soft tone or pitbull attitude - you are an awesome gal. So glad I was able to find you. You will be highly recommended to anyone looking for a realtor.” -Judy “I just wanted to tell you how much we appreciate all that you have done and continue to do. We are lucky to have you in our lives.” -Trevor & Steph “Thanks again for all your hard work and dedication, we really appreciate you.” -Katy, Elvin & Family “Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. We are really loving our new home. You really did find us everything we wanted in our first home. We look forward to working with you again in the future and will be more than happy to refer you to others.” -Loren & Erica “I received my info for taxes! Talk about going above and beyond what you need to do. Thank you so much - it really helped.” -Judy “Thanks for being such an awesome Real Estate Agent. It’s been a pleasure working with you [...] You’ve gone above and beyond.” -Justin, Lorainne and Kaitlynne “Thank you for all the time you spent on us - You really did a great job and we totally appreciate all your efforts.” -Carol & Jim “We appreciate all the time and energy spent on our search for a home. There is no way we could thank you enough.” -The Zoltons “You listened and responded, not just in words, but also in timely action [...] This was very unnerving for our family and you eased our experience into a positive one.” -Chet and Michelle Lilly “You are responsive, honest and have a great sense of humor! Thank you again - we LOVE our home!” -Devonellis & Kennedy
www.buyer max.c o m