About Us Jaqua Realtors, Inc. is a full service residential and commercial real estate company providing services to both buyers and sellers. Jaqua is the largest independent, family owned real estate brokerage in West Michigan. Established in 1975, Jaqua Realtors has evolved into the fastest growing real estate company in the region. As a progressive and expanding firm, Jaqua provides the services of over 210 real estate professionals to assist you. Since inception, Jaqua has never wavered from our commitment to service. The principles of integrity, professionalism and quality service has successfully guided the Jaqua firm in building an outstanding reputation within the community. Our concerted effort to uphold this reputation means exceptional service for you.
Management Team Jaqua’s executive management team leads the industry in experience and diverse professional background. We invest in development, coaching, and personalizing the strategic planning of each agent’s career development. Our management team’s experience in marketing and promotions, real estate law and sales provide our agents and clients the support needed to successfully complete a real estate transaction.
Leadership roles in local organizations are evidence of our roots and commitment to our community, including: The Chamber of Commerce Area Rotary Clubs & Service Clubs Real Estate Associations Governmental Commissions Habitat for Humanity Health Care Industry Boards Business Network International
Marketing Specialists Your Jaqua agent has the resources of talented marketing specialists to support them with the on-site production of sophisticated marketing materials and website positioning. This requires a combination of creative ideas, technical expertise, advanced presentation software and cutting-edge equipment.
Factors to Consider When Selling Your Home Selling your home is one of the largest financial transactions you will experience. The selection of a real estate company and an agent is crucial to your success. Please consider: The company’s business philosophy and history of success. Your agent’s knowledge and professional skills. The company’s marketing strategies for attracting buyers for your home. The customized professional services provided by your agent.
11 Locations in West Michigan
Kalamazoo 221 S. Drake Rd. Kalamazoo 269-341-4300
Open Until 9 pm daily
Battle Creek 15150 Helmer Rd. Battle Creek 269-704-1000 Richland 12374 East D Ave Richland 269-629-5612 Grand Rapids 202 44th Street SW Grand Rapids 616-369-1991
Portage 414 W. Milham Ave. Portage 269-381-7653 Open Until 9 pm daily
Commercial 328 W. Milham Ave. Portage 269-216-4222 Stevensville 4233 Red Arrow Stevensville 269-983-8051
Hastings South Haven 100 S Jefferson Ste A 513 Broadway Hastings South Haven 269-704-1000 269-637-6537 Saugatuck Plainwell 202 W Center St. 302 S. Main St. P.O. Box 997 Plainwell Douglas 269-685-6858 269-857-8030
Pricing Strategy Your home must be priced strategically in order to sell for list price but also in a reasonable amount of time. Your home should be priced to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers. Think of the real estate market as a triangle with the height representing the price and width representing the number of buyers for your home. At the lowest price, the price appeals to the greatest number of buyers. At the top your home is priced to get top dollar which may only appeal to one in every 100 buyers.
One person would purchase
Remember, each step up the price ladder eliminates some buyers. Ultimately the question is,
How soon would you like to sell? Everyone would purchase
Agent Availability Our extensive advertising and promotional efforts result in a high volume of inquiries for information on Jaqua listings. A licensed REALTOR® is available until 6 p.m. seven days a week at our Kalamazoo and Portage locations to provide real estate information and services. After hours, all incoming website inquiries and calls from potential buyers will reach a licensed REALTOR®. We understand that many people look for homes on the weekend and evenings. When other companies are unavailable, our hours enable potential buyers to speak with a Jaqua agent regarding their real estate needs at the moment of peak interest.
“When other companies are unavailable, our extended hours enable potential buyers to speak with a REALTOR® regarding their real estate needs at the moment of peak interest.”
Internet Strategy According to a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors, use of the internet to search for homes has increased in the past 10 years. More importantly, the shift of internet home searches from occasionally to frequently has made a substantial climb. A reported 100% of homebuyers use the internet to search for homes. Jaqua Realtors responds to this consumer behavior by providing a strategic internet positioning campaign. Your property is prominently marketed to those utilizing the internet in their home search. Throughout the home search process, real estate agents were the most used resource at 88%, followed by mobile or tablet search devices at 72%. Real estate agents and mobile or tablet search devices were the most frequently used information sources. Agents were also seen as the most useful information source during the home search process at 71%.
Buyer Use of Internet in Home Search Process, 1995–2023 National Association of Realtors 2023 Home Buyers Internet Profile
Internet Strategy jaquarealtors.com Jaquarealtors.com is a comprehensive, leading-edge marketing tool for our sellers. With over 50,000 user sessions a month, we generate a high level of exposure for your home. The Jaqua site includes several innovative features buyers are attracted to during their property search: Interactive map search includes Satellite view, street view and Yelp integration. Search by school district, community, zip code or custom-drawn map Comprehensive Community information section Detailed market reports for communities throughout West Michigan Vibrant listing result pages
Internet Strategy jaquarealtors.com
Interactive Map Search The interactive map search allows clients to quickly and easily find their dream home. Linked with GoogleMaps™, the map search provides interactive home searching by school, city, zip code or custom drawn map. Buyers can plot local schools, get driving directions, view the street and satellite view. Our Yelp integration allows a buyer to plot your home’s proximity to local attractions, business, schools and more.
Listing Display Our enhanced listing display pages have been designed to feature your home and its features in an easy to read and eye catching format. Buyers will be able to view property details and scroll through a filmstrip of your home’s professional photos. Explore an interactive map of your home with Yelp integration, plot schools and view your home from the street and satellite. Users also have the ability to request a showing, email your listing, calculate mortgage payments and request more information. Buyers can view market data about the local area and click through to view comprehensive community information including attractions, recreation, healthcare, events and more.
Internet Strategy jaquarealtors.com
Market Reports The interactive market reports provide market data overview for a 12 month, 9 month, 6 month or 3 month time-frame. We have provided detailed market reports for the communities we serve throughout West Michigan. Market reports include: • Trends and data on average home price, average days on market, average price per square foot, number of new homes and more. • Buyers can subscribe to the market reports for areas they are interested in and an email will be delivered weekly, quarterly or yearly.
Community Information The detailed community pages allow buyers to learn about each community and aid in helping them find their perfect home. The informationrich pages feature information about the local community including attractions, recreation, school information, healthcare, events and more. Your property will be featured on the corresponding community page allowing buyers to easily find your property without having to leave the page. The community pages also feature market trends including average sales price, number of homes for sale, number of new homes on the market and average days on the market.
adwerx Integration Adwerx is a custom digital advertisement that targets homebuyers surrounding your property on Facebook and Instagram, as well as major websites including The Wall Street Journal, ESPN.com and many more. Your property will be in front of potential home buyers wherever they go online. These are behaviorally targeted ads to potential buyers in the market looking at listings, using mortgage calculators, searching for moving companies and more.
Area Publications Jaqua Realtors provides a prominent full-page display ad in Homes and Lifestyles, Real Estate Guide, Waterfront Magazine, The Shopper, The Commercial Record and area visitor and chamber guides. These publications are instrumental in the promotion of Jaqua Realtors and our relocation services to a large audience of potential homebuyers. Thousands are distributed annually to corporations, area hotels and local businesses in the community.
YOUR SOURCE IN WEST MICHIGAN FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS
Residential Sales & Listings Waterfront & Lakeshore Experts Corporate Relocation Services Investment Home Opportunities Long Term Rental Management Vacation Rentals
West Michigan’s Premier Real Estate Company for Over 40 Years
(269) 637-6537
(888) 764-2836
www.jaquarealtors.com www.vacationinsouthhaven.com
Local expertise Global reach The Jaqua firm is an active member of the Leading RE, a referral network of over 138,000 associates and nearly 550 companies worldwide with over 4,900 offices. The Network firms facilitate more real estate transactions than any other national franchise. As the exclusive Leading RE Network member in the region, Jaqua receives buyer referrals from member firms all over the country. The leading national third party relocation companies rely on Jaqua Realtors for relocation services, valuing the company’s knowledge and expertise as West Michigan’s leader in the real estate industry.
Jaqua Realtors Relocation partners with all corporate relocation management companies Aires Relocation • Altair Global Relocation • BGRS Cap Relocation • Cartus Relocation • Cornerstone Relocation Graebel Relocation • Lexicon Relocation • XONEX Relocation Relocation America International • NEI Global Relocation NuCompass Mobility Services • One Source Relocation Paragon Relocation Resources, Inc. • Plus Relocation RELO Direct • Signature Relocation • SIRVA Relocation TheMIGroup • TRC Global Solutions Weichert Workforce Mobility, Inc. • WHR Group
(Leading RE)
Internet Strategy Jaqua’s online presence is further complemented by multiple regional and global sites. These sites allow potential homebuyers to view current listings, complete with property information and pictures. According to a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors, 95% of homebuyers use the internet to search for homes. The Multiple Listing Service through the Southwestern Michigan Regional Information Center, allows us to make your property information available to over 5,700 REALTORS® in 32 counties in West Michigan. Visitors are able to search all active area listings and view statistics. Along with this widespread visibility, we believe accuracy is critical. We enter updates immediately so all prospective buyers have the most accurate information available. The system also notifies all agents who may have clients interested in your home and informs them of any changes. REALTOR® Platform Websites listings will be features on Battle Creek Association of REALTORS®
Montcalm County Association of REALTORS®
Branch County Association of REALTORS®
St. Joseph County Association of REALTORS®
Greater Regional Alliance of REALTORS®
Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS®
Greater Kalamazoo Association of REALTORS® Hillsdale County Association of REALTORS® Mason Oceana Manistee Association of REALTORS®
West Central Michigan Association of REALTORS® West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS®
Internet Strategy Realtor.com is the equivalent of a national Multiple Listing Service. Realtors® across the country promote the use of this site. Zillow.com allows users to search millions of for-sale and rental listings, compare Zestimate® home values and connect with local professionals. Trulia.com provides comprehensive school and neighborhood information on homes for sale. Msn.com, a nationally recognized site, is typically visited by the everyday Internet user. MSN.com real estate search is powered by Zillow.com. MLive.com is Michigan’s most popular news and information site, with as many as 1.1 million unique visitors per month. MLive.com is updated 24 hours a day, with local news, sports, weather and more. All listings will also be featured on additional national websites, including:
Marketing Materials, Direct Mail & E-mail Campaigns The Jaqua direct mail marketing strategy uses multiple approaches to reach a large number of potential homebuyers. Our targeted marketing campaigns incorporate Open House invitations, property highlights and Just Listed postcards, enable us to share detailed information regarding your home and piques the interest of likely buyers. Custom marketing materials will be prepared for your property by our in-house professional graphic designers. A professional full color property brochure showcasing your home will be developed and utilized for all showings and open houses. In addition, targeted email and/or drip email campaigns are utilized on Jaqua Realtors’ platform. Email campaigns allow us to send customized emails about your property to large data bases. Agents are able to view the delivery, open and click rate for each email campaign.
Social Media Marketing As the use of social media platforms increases, we have placed an emphasis on social media marketing which has resulted in increased awareness for Jaqua Realtors and our listings. We utilize our social media presence to drive traffic back to jaquarealtors.com. We most recently launched a blog that provides relevant real estate updates and helpful information to our readers.
Social Media usage According to The Pew Research Center 65% of American adults are using social media.
Facebook continues to be the most widely used social media platform, with 79% of American internet users, according to Blue Corona.
The average social media user spends two hours on social media sites each day, according to Blue Corona.
Technology & transactions Our Dotloop platform provides our agents an online resource to help streamline the entire real estate experience. This intuitive and powerful real estate technology is designed to allow our agents easy access to your transaction documents. Your agent will be able to quickly edit listing and purchasing documents and share the documents with you anytime and anywhere. You can e-sign on the documents without stepping foot into the office.
Professional Photography A professional photography session will be scheduled for your property. The high-end, quality photos produced by our photography department will professionally showcase your home’s amenities, creating added interest from potential buyers. According to a survey posted in the The Wall Street Journal, “listings with better photos command higher asking prices” and “listings with nicer photos get more online attention.” The pictures of your home will be utilized throughout all marketing endeavors including online images and printed materials. Pictures taken with a photographic eye will help your home’s features to be captured at the best possible angle to attract potential buyers to your home.
Professional Photography Below are examples of Jaqua Realtors professionally taken photos.
Preparing Your Home: Exterior You want to create a positive first impression of your home. Pay close attention to the area around the front door. Consider a new door mat, sprucing up the hand railings, add flowers or hang a decorative mirror in the entryway so buyers see themselves in your home the moment they enter. Make sure to do the following: The yard is well manicured Trees and bushes are trimmed, remove low branches that block the view of your home Add a pop of color with a wreath or pot of flowers Yard and flower beds are weed free Keep walkways and driveway clear of ice, snow and leaves Wash and touch up paint or repaint wood/trim/siding/doors Make sure all window coverings are consistent Cars are parked in the garage with the door down Put away trash bins, bikes, tools and yard equipment Create a patio space for entertaining and clean patio furniture
Preparing Your Home: Interior Your home should be thoroughly clean. In addition, remove unnecessary items from your home. This may be a great time for a garage sale, donating items to charity or placing items in storage. The less clutter you have in your home, the more spacious it will appear. Consider doing the following: Remove all clutter, items from countertops and excess furniture Clean, Clean, Clean (windows, floors, carpet) De-personalize your home Remove all evidence of pets Organize your pantry and laundry room Clean out your closets Fix anything that implies required maintenance Replace wallpaper and/or paint the walls in a neutral color palette Clean and polish kitchen and bathroom cabinets If spaces feel dated replace cabinet hardware, add interest with a kitchen backsplash and replace faucets, if needed
Preparing Your Home for showings Seemingly simple changes can sometimes make a world of difference including: Rearrange furniture to create open space Add tasteful accents Clear off desks, counters and workspaces Make the beds and run the vacuum Stash toys and clear items from floors Turn on all of the lights even for day time showings Take any pets with you and put away evidence of any pets Neutralize any strong odors Play soft background music
Professional Staging Jaqua Realtors established Distinguished Homes to accommodate the growing demand for professional home staging and interior design. Home staging is an essential component in selling a home. A clean, clutter-free space can shorten the amount of time a listing spends on the market and increase the sales price of the home. Furthermore, properly arranging furniture and décor can truly showcase the home’s assets.
Distinguished Homes Offers: Market-Ready Consultation (For occupied and vacant homes)
After a walk-thorough of your home, we provide a comprehensive market-ready checklist to prepare your home for pictures and showings. This service includes ideas on furniture placement and decor and guidance on reduction of personal effects and clutter. The visit also addresses the homes condition/cleanliness and needed maintenance. Both the interior and exterior of the house is considered in the consultation.
Household Coordination Household coordination services are geared towards seniors or those looking to downsize/ simplify. This service will identify projects to prepare the home for sale and moving. We will coordinate quotes from services providers, take inventory of furnishings, create a pre-move floor plan and thoughtful guidance on how to reduce household items.
Cleaning, Organizing & De-Cluttering Our organization services help our clients present a well-maintained home by organizing small spaces such as closets, pantries, and cabinets. Our cleaning services make sure your home makes the best possible first impression with buyers and makes the selling process a snap. Our de-cluttering services help neutralize the home regarding personal items or taste.
Virtual Photo Staging This service places stylish furniture, artwork and decor into photos of vacant properties, allowing buyers to visualize themselves in the home. It serves as an economical choice for showing your listing as a desirable, well designed space. We can create rooms of any style, from modern to traditional. We recommend that professional photos are taken as it allows for a more realistic outcome.
Professional Staging 82% of buyers’ agents said staging a listing made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.
How Home Staging Impacts the Home Buyer Relocation Services Overview Book
Information from the National Association of REALTORS® 2021 Profile of Home Staging
REALTORS® Representing the buyer report prospective buyers are more likely to be impacted in the following areas by viewing a staged home.
Staging results Staging is an essential component in selling a home. Staging your home will: • Reduce time on the market and increase the sales price • Appeal to a broad range of buyers • Give your home a distinct market advantage • Will give buyers and inspectors the impression of a cared for home • More likely to be appraised at full value • A professional image - better quality photos drive more traffic online
Johanna Jaeck, Design Consultant
269-743-4007 jspletzer@mydistinguishedhome.com
Peg Dorgan, Market Ready Consultant
269-370-0822 peg@mydistinguishedhome.com
2022 Staging Results for Distinguished Homes vs. the Average Home for Sale Results
Homes Staged by Avg. Home Distinguished Homes
List/Sales Price %
101%
100%
Days on the Market
12 Days
18 Days (K Area)
The Jaqua Difference Jaqua Realtors has developed a comprehensive and aggressive marketing plan that is unmatched in the industry. Our company philosophy has resulted in a strong reputation and community identity. Our corporate marketing and promotions have perpetuated our growth and record of success. Our position as West Michigan’s leading relocation company has expanded our corporate business and real estate markets. Our marketing – specifically designed for your home – reaches the broadest audience.
Discover the Difference We appreciate the opportunity to present our extensive program. For 47 years, Jaqua Realtors has delivered outstanding results for homeowners throughout the region. We look forward to developing your personalized marketing plan and showing you “The Jaqua Difference.”