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local
What does local mean to you? To @properties,
local means friends you can count on, neighbors you can trust, and businesses you go out of your way to support. Local means the barista knows your drink, the dry cleaner knows your name and the clerk at the convenience store is happy to loan you a buck. And when it comes to selling real estate, local means every home, on every block, in every neighborhood is unique, and each deserves the attention, care and consideration only a local company can offer.
@properties is a local company – locally owned and independent. And that means every resource we develop, every dollar we invest, every decision we make is driven by the desire to create value for you. Local doesn’t mean small. Local means agile, responsive, committed and strong.
Local means highest selling price, shortest market time and finest service. @properties is, was and always will be about the best local agents, using the best local resources, to achieve the best outcome for your local real estate needs. That’s local.
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leader
@properties’ focus on the local market has made us a leader in the Chicagoland area and in the industry. In 14 short years, we’ve become the #1 real estate company in the city of Chicago, the fastest-growing broker on the North Shore and one of the 30 largest brokerage
Being a leader also comes with responsibility. It means moving the industry forward by sharing best practices, serving in positions of leadership with the local REALTORSÂŽ Association, and giving back to the community through the @properties Friends and Neighbors Community Fund.
firms in America. Local. Leader. For @properties, the two go hand
But for @properties, leading has far less to do with numbers and far more to do with innovation. Technology changes, markets change, expectations change. So we never stop changing. Innovation permeates everything we do, from building the most sophisticated website to introducing new services to sourcing new marketing channels. Innovation is the heartbeat of our business.
in hand and assure our clients of the most rewarding experience in Chicagoland real estate.
Source: MRED, LLC, #1 ranking based on market share for overall close volume 2013.
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michigan – indiana’s next generation brokerage
• The resources we provide our agents enable them to do their jobs better and more efficiently
• Our outstanding performance under a variety of market conditions
• Our clients’ desire to work with a local company that is committed to local interests
• Our professionalism in all aspects of our business
• The exceptional level of communication between company, agents and clients
• The positive energy and attitude that results from all of the above
• The unparalleled service we give our clients
Each day, we break new ground by attracting the best and most professional agents and the most astute clients in Michigan–Indiana.
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our story
@properties was established in 2000, and in less than a decade grew from a four-person boutique office to more than 1,400 licensed agents in fifteen office locations producing MORE THAN $2 billion in annual sales volume.
Since our inception, we have brokered approximately 40,000 transactions valued at more than $22 billion. @properties is also Chicago’s new construction sales leader having sold more than 5,500 new homes and condominiums in 160 developments valued in excess of $2.2 billion.
In addition to Residential Brokerage and Development Marketing, @properties has full-service divisions for Commercial Brokerage, Residential and Commercial Property Management, Relocation, Rental Services, Foreclosures, Short Sales and Institutional Bank Advisory Services.
Lincoln Park Builders Club Impact Award
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Established
2000
Total Sales Volume Since Inception
$22 billion
Total # Units Sold Since Inception
40,000
Total # Development Projects Sold
Divisions
Offices
Affiliations
Honors
160
Residential Brokerage, Development Sales and Marketing, Commercial Brokerage, Property Management, Relocation, Institutional Services, Rental River North/River West, Streeterville/ Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, uptown, Bucktown, Evanston, Winnetka, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Glenview, libertyville, elmhurst, new buffalo, mi & st. joseph, mi Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, RELO Direct, Luxury Portfolio®, The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing Inc. 500, Inc. 5000, Crain’s Fast 50, Crain’s 40 Under 40, Crain’s Largest Privately Held Cos., Inman Innovator, RealTrends Top 50, Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, Inman 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders, Lincoln Park Builders Club Impact Award, Chicago Agent 2010 Agent Choice Award - Best Brokerage Website, Leading Real Estate Companies of the world 1st Place Company Brand Advertising Leading RE 1st Place Property Advertising, Loyola University Chicago - 2012 Damen Award, 2013 Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year (Regional award)
SOURCE: City of Chicago and Northern Illinois rankings based on BrokerMetrics/MRED LLC for 1/1/12-12/31/13. National ranking based on RealTrends 500 for 1/1/12-12/31/13.
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hands-on leadership
In a little over a decade, @properties’ co-founders Michael Golden and Thaddeus Wong have built one of the most recognized brands in real estate while helping to reshape and modernize the local brokerage industry.
To support high transaction volume with an equally high level of service, they built a deep organizational infrastructure that includes robust marketing, IT and administrative functions.
Golden and Wong first teamed up in the mid 1990s.
Highly creative and energetic entrepreneurs, Golden and Wong have created a corporate culture that attracts high-caliber agents and staff and fosters teamwork and performance. They have also built a large philanthropic network under the umbrella of the @properties Friends & Neighbors Community Fund.
They set sales records and consistently ranked among the top 1 percent of the Chicago Association of REALTORS ÂŽ 12,500 members. At @properties they paired traditional
brokerage services with cutting edge technology and marketing, and became a driving force in real estate.
Thaddeus Wong & Michael Golden Co-founders of @properties
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we never stop - marketing, learning, showing, selling, communicating, innovating, caring, working for you
One of @properties’ most important goals is to field the most professional corps of agents in real estate. To achieve that goal, we place a strong emphasis on agent education and training. We offer a full curriculum of seminars and classes covering topics ranging from effective negotiation to new technologies. We also provide continuing education for agents pursuing specialty designations, and offer a popular Improv Workshop specially designed to help brokers refine their communication and selling skills. @properties also employs two full-time performance coaches who assist agents in developing advanced skills and detailed marketing plans in order to better serve you.
@properties broker education Programs:
• Negotiating in Today’s Market • State of the Current Lending Environment • Writing Ironclad Contracts • Creative Marketing Tactics • Social Media Marketing • Predictive Pricing and Listing to Sell • Brokering Short Sales • Advanced Negotiating Techniques • Foreclosures: How to Get Offers Accepted • What to Know About Appraisals • Agent Metrics • Improv Workshop • Contracts that Close • Real Estate & Technology • Luxury Home Marketing • What to Do Now • Getting What You’re Worth
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a market within a market
@properties not only markets your home through universal channels such as the Internet, print advertising, the Multiple Listing Service and signage, we also market internally to our highly collaborative sales force of more than 1,400 agents – each with a broad sphere of influence that forms a rich source of prospects, buyers and referrals.
a market within a market: 1: Agent activates listing 2: @properties agent networks with our sales force of over 1,400 agents 3: Property IS sold
1
2
3
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@gent app
Leveraging @properties’ “market within a market,” our agents use a customized app for company-wide communication. The @gent App connects @properties buyers and sellers, allowing our agents to market your home more effectively to our powerful internal network. That means more exposure for your home, even before it’s listed. In fact, a number of @properties listings sell before they hit the broader market because of the internal exposure through the app alone. THE @GENT APP CONNECTS TO A KNOWLEDGE BASE OF MORE THAN 1,400 AGENTS, WHICH MAKES IT A GREAT RESOURCE FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON EVERYTHING FROM VENDORS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. NO MATTER THE REQUEST, WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO SHARE OUR EXPERTISE WITH YOU.
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broker to broker, agent to agent
Well over half of all home sales are cooperative sales, meaning an agent other than the listing agent procures the buyer. This fact underscores the importance of cultivating strong relationships, not only among agents within our own organization but also within the entire brokerage community. @properties leads the way
Our e-blasts, special events and popular agent-appreciation programs create goodwill and keep @properties’ agents and listings top of mind. In the end, co-op agents pay attention to @properties because @properties pays attention to co-op agents.
in maintaining an excellent rapport with the thousands of REALTORS® in the greater Chicagoland and Michigan–indiana area, as well
as
agents
and
brokerage
firms
nationally and internationally – Because it’s the way we believe business should be done.
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luxury portfolio international®
@properties is an exclusive member of Luxury Portfolio International®, the luxury marketing division of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. LeadingRE is the world’s largest network of independent brokerage firms. Last year its affiliates sold nearly 1 million homes worth $250 billion, more than any national real estate brand. The
network includes the No. 1 real estate brokerage firm in 41 of the top 90 global markets, including @properties in Chicago. Luxury Portfolio connects @properties’ clients to a global marketplace of high-end homebuyers through an award-winning website, far-reaching ad campaign, Luxury Portfolio magazine, the LuxeTrends® monthly e-newsletter, and the award-winning LuxeChatter® blog.
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Relocation and Referral Services
Whether it’s a new job, or the chance to be closer to family and friends, we know there are any number of reasons for relocating. We also know that no matter how exciting the opportunities are, the experience of relocating can be stressful. That’s why @properties Relocation has brought together the best people and practices to make your relocation experience enjoyable and comfortable. @properties’ Relocation team is made up of a select group of agents who are chosen based on their skill and experience in representing transferring professionals and their families. All team members are required to earn @properties’ internal @Relocation designation. The curriculum covers general relocation concepts as well as specific units on marketing
assistance, rental assistance destination services and corporate inventory management. For the agents of @properties Relocation, corporate relocation is not a sidebar but a career choice that offers the opportunity for professional growth and personal fulfillment. Our relocation agents are successful, passionate about their work, and well versed in the intricacies of the practice– all of which ensure a superior client experience from start to finish. @properties Relocation has fostered a strong network of referral connections across the United States. We have the most reliable network to take care of your real estate needs.
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Relocation and Referral Services
Relocation Companies* we Work With: ADP Relocation
Global Mobility Solutions
Pearce Plus Relocation
Relocations West, Inc.
Aires Relocation
Graebel Relocation Services
Plus Relocation Services
Residential Properties, Ltd.
Altair Global Relocation
Great Lakes Relocation
Promisor Relocation
Royal LePage Relocation
Bristol Global Mobility
Lexicon Relocation
Prudential Relocation
SIRVA Relocation
Brookfield GRS Relocation
Mobility Services International
Quantum Relocation
The MIGroup
Capital Relocation
Moving Station
RELO Direct
TRC Global Solutions
CARTUS
NEI Global Relocation
Relocation Associates
Vertice Relocation
Continuum Relocation
NRI Relocation
Relocation Decisions
Weichert Relocation Resources
Cornerstone Relocation
NuCompass Mobility
Relocation Synergy Group
WHR Group, Inc.
FAS Relocation
Paragon Global Resources
Relocation Today, Inc.
Xonex Relocation
*Partial lists, common names, no exclusivity intended.
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corporations* we work with: Abbott Labs
Adidas
Admiral at the Lake ADP AEP AJ Wright Alfa Laval, Inc. Allstate
Amazon.com
Amcol Ameren Corporation American Eagle Outfitters
American Express
American Honda Motors Ameriprise Financial
AON
Astellas
Bank of America
Bausch & Lomb Baxter Baylor Health System Beam Global Biomerieux Black Rock Inc BlueCross BlueShield BNSF Railway Company
Boeing Bosch
BP
Bridgestone Retail Operations Capital One Services Caterpillar Inc. Catlin CCC Information Systems CDW Cenveo Citadel Citicorp Clarcor Clark Construction Group
Coca-Cola
Colgate Comerica Bank Compass Group ConAgra Foods Constellation Energy Continental Airlines Corn Products International Craen Co Crate and Barrel Credit Suisse
Crossmark Danaher-Leica Microsystems Dean Foods Company
Deloitte
Dep of Veterans Affairs DeVry Ebay, Inc. Effem Eli Lilly and Company EMC Corporation Emerson Enterprise Holdings Ericsson, Inc. Erie Insurance
Ernst & Young
Farah Fan Steel FBI FDA Gov Federal Reserve Bank, Richmod Fidelity Investments FINRA First Energy FMC Technology
FORD
Forest One Pharmaceuticals G&W Electric Gap General Electric Company General Growth Properties General Mills General Motors Getco Global Risk & Analytics Goldman Sachs Goodrich Corp
Government Grainger Griffith Labs Hallmark Cards, Inc. Hartford Financial Heineken USA Hendrickson HH Gregg Honeywell Hospira Hewlett-Packard Huntington Bank Hyatt
IBM
IKEA
Illinois Tool Works Isituform Technologies J.C. Penney
JP Morgan Chase
Jump Trading KAO Brands KeHE Distributors, LLC Kellogg Company Klein Tools Kone
Kraft
LA Life Land O’lakes Liberty Mutual Group Lilly Livingston International Loreal Macys
Marriott
Masco Corp McCormick McGraw Hill McKesson Mead Johnson Nutrition Mercer Merck Michelin Micron Technology Millennium Pharmaceuticals Mosaic
Motorola
Munich ReInsurance Mylan Nationwide Insurance Navistar Neopost Nestlé USA & Global Northwestern Memorial Hospital Novo Nordisk Inc. Nuveen Investments O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. Ocean Spray Office Max Pella
PepsiCo, Inc.
PetSmart Pfizer Pricewaterhouse Coopers USA
Proctor & Gamble Promius Pharma PSS World Medical
Reynolds Packaging Rite Aid Ryerson, Inc. Salesforce.com SAPA Group
SC Johnson
Schneider Electric Scotia Bank SIRVA Steelcase, Inc. Stephan Company Subaru Sunovion Swiss RE TDK Corporation Tellalabs Tesoro Petroleum The Admiral at the Lake The Clare The Mather South The William Carter Company
Time Warner Cable T-Mobile Toyota True Value Trustmark Companies Tyson
United Airlines
US Food Services US Gypsum USFS USG U.S. Social Security Administration Valspar Corporation Veolia Vest Asia VI Corporation
VISA
Vulcan Materials W.W. Grainger, Inc. Walgreen Company Wal-Mart WellCare Health Plans, Inc. Wells Fargo
Whirlpool
Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Woodward Governor Wrigley Wyndermere Yale University
*Partial lists, common names, no exclusivity intended. MI122-02
LEEDing the way in green real estate
The rapidly emerging Green Home movement, which takes a sustainable approach to the way homes are built, maintained, bought and sold, is already having a profound and positive effect on Chicagoland and Michigan–Indiana real estate. Within the brokerage community, @properties leads the way in sustainable
real
estate
education
and
practice. A number of @properties agents hold
one
or
more
green
real
In addition, @properties is represented in leadership positions within Chicago’s Sustainable Real Estate Alliance and the NAR Green RESource Council. Whether you’re buying or selling a green home, doing research on green contractors or looking into the availability of special tax-rebate and grant programs, there is an @properties Green REALTOR® with the expertise to assist you.
estate
designations including EcoBroker , the NAR ®
Green designation from the National Association of REALTORS® and the LEED™-AP designation from the U.S. Green Building Council.
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friends & neighbors community fund
Philanthropy has always been an important part of the @properties culture, and the
@properties Friends and Neighbors Community Fund (FNCF), a 501(c)(3), creates a formal vehicle through which we can conduct our extensive charitable outreach. Each year, we identify several beneficiary organizations in the areas of youth development, education and sheltering the homeless. Recent beneficiaries include Deborah’s Place, Barrel of Monkeys, Community Partners for Affordable Housing and Off the Street Club.
Additionally, @properties has raised money for local, national and international charities and relief efforts. By sponsoring and supporting philanthropic activities, @properties provides an outlet for our agents, employees and friends to make a positive impact on dozens of communities and thousands of lives.
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Lincoln Park
Sunday, September 30, 2007
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an ever-expanding client base
@properties has grown to include a number of divisions all of which have the potential to benefit our core residential clients through lead generation and referrals. @properties Relocation @properties Relocation, our corporate relocation division, serves as an important source of prospective buyers for your home. We hold preferred-vendor status with a number of the world’s premier relocation companies, broker-to-broker referral services, and national and international corporations with major operations in Chicago. As a result, many companies turn to @properties first when assisting employees who are relocating to the area. @properties Relocation is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, RELO Direct®, the Corporate Relocation Council of Chicago, Relocation Directors Council and Worldwide ERC®. @properties Commercial @properties Commercial offers sales, leasing and investmentadvisory services to commercial real estate clients including landlords, tenants, investors and institutions covering a range of asset classes.
@properties Property Management @properties Property Management is a full-service commercial and residential management firm overseeing a diverse portfolio of condominium and townhome communities, apartment buildings, office buildings, industrial properties and retail properties throughout Chicagoland. @properties Institutional Services Group @properties Institutional Services Group (ISG) provides a full spectrum of services, including asset management, property management and brokerage, to institutional owners and investors of distressed and bank-owned (REO real estate. @properties Developer Services @properties is Chicago’s No. 1 brokerage firm for the sales and marketing of new construction and condominium conversion developments. Since our inception, we have successfully marketed more than 160 Chicago developments comprising more than 5,500 residential units valued at more than $2.2 billion. @properties Rental Division @properties Rental Division is a full-service team of experienced leasing professionals concentrating on high-end luxury rental opportunities throughout Chicago and the suburbs.
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exposure IS @properties’ marketing programs are built around EXPOSURE: exposure through a network of more than 1,400 @properties agents and their corresponding spheres of influence; through an in-house marketing department with full print and digital capabilities; and through an exhaustive catalog of online, mass media and grass roots marketing initiatives – all tailored to address the specific challenges and opportunities related to selling your home.
More exposure means more page views, more phone calls and more showing requests, and that ultimately means shorter market times and higher overall selling prices. Our fully integrated programs are the most comprehensive in the industry and showcase your home to the largest audience of potential buyers.
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everything • atproperties.com
• Forest & Bluff
• Realtor.com (Enhanced Listings)
• Wall Street Journal
• Zillow.com (Enhanced Listings)
• Real Estate Guide
• Trulia.com (Enhanced Listings)
• Herald Palladium
• YouTube.com
• Direct Mail
• Yahoo! Real Estate
• Seller Reports
• ReloHomeSearch.com
• E-blasts
• Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
• @ to @ - “Market Within A Market” - @gent App
• Professional Photography and Video
• @properties Relocation Division
• Signage
• “Love Where You Live” Campaign
• Custom Property Brochures
• @properties Friends & Neighbors Community Fund
• Chicago Tribune North Zone
• Leading Real Estate Companies of the World™
• Chicago Tribune City Zone
• Luxury Portfolio International™
• CS Magazine (Chicago Social)
• Public Relations
• Ultimate Address
• New Ideas Every Day!
• Sheridan Road
@properties Does more to market your home - both online and offline – than any other brokerage firm in the michigan-indiana area.
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online exposure
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 90 percent of today’s homebuyers use the
• E nhanced listings that filter to the top of search results on popular home search portals including:
Internet in their search, which means that a
o Realtor.com
360° digital marketing strategy is paramount to getting maximum exposure for your home. @properties markets your home across the Internet with an award-winning website, customized property domains, web-optimized photography and video, enhanced listings on the leading real estate search portals, targeted email marketing, online classifieds and syndication to hundreds of additional websites.
o Zillow.com
o Trulia.com
• Syndication to hundreds of real estate websites
• atpropertieshc.com •P roperty-specific domain names (www.YourAddressGoesHere.info) •E mail marketing database of 369,000 with new contacts added daily
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syndication of online listings
@properties’ in-house IT department works closely with these syndication platforms to implement small changes that make big differences in how your home is viewed online.
One example is the handling of photo files. Setting the optimal photo resolution for sites like Trulia helps boost a home’s placement in search results leading to more views.
How Syndication Works:
®
®
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atproperties.com
@properties’ website features powerful search, user friendly design and local market information to showcase your home in a contextual format preferred by today’s buyers. Because atproperties.com is a complete real estate resource, buyers spend more time on the site and return more often.
Atproperties.com is where you’ll reach more homebuyers with features like: • Ability to search ALL properties in the MLS
• Detailed Seller Reports • Map Data displaying area amenities including transportation, schools and local businesses • Local school information powered by Journatic and Education.com • Local real estate market data including neighborhood market conditions and detailed market reports • Overviews of dozens of neighborhoods and towns • Price change and property status alert options
• @properties listings filter to top of search results
• Automated showing requests
• Photo gallery with up to 25 color photos and large-format slideshow
• Downloadable brochures
• Web-optimized video
• Saved searches and “favorites”
• Detailed property description
• “Forward to a friend”
• Google Maps integration
• Mortgage payment calculator
• Open house feature
• @Home Agent with personalized search criteria and “New Listing” auto-alerts
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@properties listings display first among search results when buyers conduct home searches on atproperties.com.
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over 190,000 registered users + 369,000 total contacts
With the explosion in online home searches, almost any home for sale can be viewed on the Internet. So why is @properties one of the few companies to require users to register for access to online property searches? Because we don’t just want lookers – we want buyers.
Our emphasis on pre-qualification and active lead management has allowed us to build a database of 190,000 registered users and more than 369,000 total contacts – with prospects added every day. By converting lookers to leads and leads to buyers, we’re able to generate more showing activity and a shorter market time for your home.
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listing YOUR property with @properties: 1: Signs and search engine marketing ads direct buyers to website
1
2: Buyers register to conduct home search
2
3: Registered buyers assigned to agents 4: Agents Capture leads and follow up
3
4
@properties is one of the few companies to require users to register for access to online property searches Because we don’t just want lookers - We want Buyers.
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atpropertieshc.com – property-specific domains
open house Every @properties listing receives its own domain name, which is prominently displayed in print advertising and on For Sale signs, property brochures and “Just Listed” postcards. The domain re-directs to your home’s listing detail page on the @properties website so that interested buyers can pull up photos and property information in one easy step. @properties also indexes the domain with top search engines including Google and Bing for improved search engine optimization.
Anne Proper
269.469.0700 . anneproper@atproperties com 225 north whittaker street, suite 4 new buffalo, mi, 49117
123harborcountry.info
beach access Property sign with custom Property Domain
Every @properties listing receives its own domain name. The domain directs interested homebuyers to your home’s listing detail page on the @properties website.
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atproperties.com – photography and video
The #1 most important marketing tool for selling a home today is professional photography. In fact, homes marketed with photography and video are seven times more likely to be viewed than comparable homes and are perceived as 12% more valuable.* That’s why every single @properties listing includes a professional photography package optimized for both print and web to show your home in the best possible light. And for all @properties listings that are more than $500,000, we provide an interactive floor plan showcasing the property’s layout. This level of detail educates potential buyers and further differentiates your home from other properties in the marketplace.
Anne Proper 847-881-0200
Anne Proper 847-881-0200
• A rchitectural photography services through industry leader VHT Studios • M inimum of ten still photos and 30-second video tour • Interactive floor plans for homes over $500,000 • Video home tours and narration available • H igh resolution photos • Optimized with proper size and format for print and online marketing • Distribution to atproperties.com, Realtor.com, MRED (Multiple Listing Service), LuxuryPortfolio.com, ChicagoTribune.com and YouTube
• Virtual Staging, BlueSky and ClearShot upgrades for enhanced presentation • A rea map integration • Full screen slide show viewing
Every @properties listing features a professionally shot photo gallery and video tour optimized for print and web.
* Institute for Luxury Home Marketing MI122-02
enhanced online exposure
With thousands of Michigan–Indiana homes displayed on dozens of websites, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. That’s why @properties invests hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to enhance listings on the leading real estate web portals
including Realtor.com, Zillow/Yahoo and Trulia.
Enhanced listings ensure that homes listed with @properties are returned ahead of other properties in search results. They also include more photos, detailed property descriptions and attention-getting banners. Enhanced online listings are one of the most important benefits @properties’ clients receive.
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.com
Every Real Estate Firm’s listings are on these sites, but not every firm’s listings are enhanced.
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.com
The official website of the National Association of REALTORS®, Realtor.com receives approximately 20 million unique visitors per month.
• Detailed property description
enhanced
• School reports
• Approximately 20 million unique visitors per month • @properties Featured Listings display at the top of search results ahead of other properties • Attention-getting showcase banner featured on all listings • Up to 25 color photos
• Area map • Neighborhood information • Request a showing • Mortgage calculator • Link to video tour • Open house feature • Seller reports with graphs and statistics • Social media integration • iPhone app with more than 1 million downloads
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Anne Proper Mobile: (269) 469-0700 Office: (269) 469-0700 Broker: (269) 469-0700
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Zillow draws an average of more than 31 million unique visitors per month with powerful home search, neighborhood information and the popular Zestimate® home valuation estimator.
• Attention-getting showcase banner featured on all listings
enhanced
• Video tour link
• 31.7 million unique visitors per month • Showcase listing on front page displaying at least one @properties listing for any search in Michigan–Indiana
• Unlimited color photos • Detailed property description • Request a showing • Area map • Neighborhood information • School reports • Open house feature
• @properties Featured Listings display at the top of search results
• Mortgage calculator
• @properties listings labeled as featured properties
• Zestimate® home valuation estimator
• Zillow.com Featured Listings are six times more likely to be viewed than other listings
•# 1 real estate app for iPhone and iPad with 2 million downloads
• Social media integration
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Trulia is a real estate search site supported by a community of home buyers, sellers, brokers and real estate enthusiasts. The site currently attracts more than 20 million unique visitors per month and features a popular blog.
• Detailed property description
enhanced
• Request a showing
• 20 million unique visitors per month • @properties Featured Listings display at the top of search results • Up to 25 color photos
• Neighborhood information • School ratings • Area map • Link to video tour • Open house feature • Mortgage calculator • Stats and trends • Trulia blogs • Smartphone app
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Luxury Portfolio’s website has become the leading online resource for homebuyers searching for high-end property all over the world.
• Photo gallery with up to 25 professionally photographed images
• 1.6 million unique visitors per year from over 200+ countries and territories
• Google Maps integration
• Video tours and LuxeTour™ narrated video tours of listings $5 million and above
• More than 16,000 homes representing more than $38 billion in inventory
• Syndication to partner websites: wsj.com, frontdoor.com, openhouse.com, relohomesearch.com, youtube.com, plus 200 more sites
• Highly optimized site with Page 1 Google rankings for hundreds of search terms
• Printable brochure
• Translated into 9 languages and 60 foreign currencies
• “E-mail to a Friend” feature
• Exclusively displaying listings of Luxury Portfolio member firms • Inventory comprised entirely of homes listed at $1 million and above • More $1 million-plus listings in U.S. than any other luxury real estate network including Coldwell Banker Preview, Sotheby’s & Mayfair International
• Social media integration with Facebook and Twitter • Prominently displayed broker contact info • LuxeTrends® e-newsletter • LuxeChatter® blog • Optimized website for mobile and iPad
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print advertising exposure
our exclusive print advertising program
• Real Estate Guide
is designed to drive buyer traffic to your
• Herald Palladium
home via widespread coverage in a variety of local media outlets.
• Chicago Tribune North Zone: full page ad • Chicago Tribune City Zone: double-page ad
Full-page ads and multi-page spreads prominently display @properties’ listings in key publications, while @properties’ distinctive corporate advertising campaign supports our integrated marketing programs including Internet and signage.
• Ultimate Address: multi-page @properties section • The Wall Street Journal: monthly full-page ad • Custom media plans featuring preferred rates and agency-quality design
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Real estate Guide
TM
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chicago tribune
@properties’ full-page ad in the Sunday Chicago Tribune “Money and Real Estate” section showcases your home to 207,000 Tribune subscribers in the paper’s City zone. • Full-color, two-page spread • Reaching 207,000 subscribers in the Tribune City Zone • Cross promotion to an additional 125,000 subscribers through @properties’ North Shore Tribune ads
• Organized layout with easy-to-read property details and contact info • Oversized color photos • Featured Listing, Luxury Collection, and Open House sections • Sunday Tribune North Zone readers have an average household income of $83,713 and an average home value of $346,000
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the wall street journal
@properties’ monthly full-page ad in the The Wall Street Journal reaches an affluent, engaged reader, highlighting select properties and driving traffic to @properties’ website.
• Full-page ad in the Friday Wall Street Journal • Co-branded with Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection® • Reaching 84,500 readers in the Chicago metropolitan area • Average household income of $253,000 • Average value of main residence over $1 million
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real estate guide
Real Estate Guide TM reaches residents and readership along the Lake Michigan coastline. In 2013 they combined two premium guides “Harbor Country” and “Lake Shore”, together into a single magazine.
Doing this significantly increased the distribution points throughout these regions and provides advertised homes with more opportunity to promote properties in key places. The Real Estate Guide spans from the beautiful properties of the Harbor Country Region to the pristine beach shorelines of South Haven, Saugatuck and more.
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Real estate Guide
TM
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luxury portfolio international®
Luxury Portfolio® leverages the buying power of 200 member firms to maintain a strong advertising presence in the world’s premier shelter and lifestyle publications. • Reaching 45 million global consumers through print and online media
• #1 market ranking in 40% of the top 96 markets significantly more than our closest national franchise competitors • Prominent advertising in high-end shelter and lifestyle magazines
o Unique Homes
• One of the largest full-page real estate advertisers in The Wall Street Journal
o Luxe Magazine
• Member firms produce nearly $225 billion in annual sales representing 800,000 transactions. Those connections make us a national and global - not just local - real estate company working on your behalf
o Architectural Digest
o Veranda
o Forbes Life
• Luxury Portfolio® magazine featuring lifestyle content and member firm advertising
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marketing exposure
The point of marketing is differentiation – making your home stand out among the many competing properties in the marketplace today. And @properties devotes more time, energy and money to this all-important task than any other brokerage firm in Michigan–Indiana.
down to designers, copywriters, programmers, coordinators and agents all working together to create differentiation – differentiation that allows you to sell your home for the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time.
• Brochures Our in-house marketing and IT departments are comprised of nearly two dozen experienced professionals producing agency-caliber work
• Photo Gallery • Enouncement
and constantly pushing the envelope with new
• Direct Mail
ideas and innovations. Off-the-shelf solutions don’t
• Signage
cut it. Customization, creativity and quality do.
In the end, real estate marketing at @properties comes
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property brochure
@properties
creates
custom
property
brochures to market every home. Our
in-house designers produce the layout, and printing is handled at our own facility in order to expedite turnaround and maintain quality control.
Clean attractive layouts feature large, high-resolution photography, detailed property information and a map of the surrounding neighborhood. Brochures are printed on 8.5 x 11 high-quality paper and bound with a custom cover, resulting in a professional presentation worthy of the Michigan窶的ndiana market.
14326 bluff road, lakeside
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direct mail
@properties’ direct mail programs target buyers, neighbors, agents and referral sources with a variety of communications
including “Just Listed� postcards, monthly mailers, client- and agent-appreciation mailers and more. All pieces are professionally designed and written, printed on glossy card stock and accompanied by high-quality photo images. Agents have the ability to farm their individual databases or seek out potential buyers geographically and demographically through specialty mailing list software.
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email marketing
@properties’ targets clients, prospects and brokers in their contact database with customized e-mails including “Just Listed� e-blasts and monthly e-newsletters. Our email communications are professionally written and designed and follow established conventions for opt-in marketing and anti-spam. The combined email databases of all @properties agents total more than 475,000 contacts with new contacts added daily.
Anne Proper (847) 881-0200
Anne Proper (847) 881-0200
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signage
Even with the prevalence of online search, many propertyspecific inquiries still come from on-site signage.
open house
That’s why @properties’ ubiquitous FOR SALE and OPEN HOUSE signs are designed for maximum visibility. Signs boldly display agent
contact information and the property’s unique website address for easy follow-up.
open house Anne Proper
269.469.0700 .
Anne Proper
anneproper@atproperties com
269.469.0700 123harborcountry.info . 225 north whittaker street, suite 4 new buffalo, mi, 49117
anneproper@atproperties com 225 north whittaker street, suite 4 new buffalo, mi, 49117
beach access
123harborcountry.info
agent’s direct line
beach access
agent’s email address
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love where you Live
There was a time not long ago when it was easy to get caught up in the notion that a home was a commodity. Of course we’ve all been reminded that it’s much more than that. A home’s total return on investment isn’t just about the bottom line on a closing statement; it’s also about the memories we make, the relationships we build and the milestones we achieve while living there. In short, a home is a celebration . @properties’ “Love Where You Live” ad campaign taps into this idea to create an emotional connection with homebuyers – a connection that is reinforced when people see the @properties logo in ads, on the web, in collateral and on the For Sale sign in front of your home.
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@properties “ love
where you Live � ad campaign creates an emotional connection with
homebuyers that is reinforced through additional branding and marketing.
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pricing your home – comparative market analysis
So what is your home worth? That is likely the biggest question on your mind and one that @properties has answered accurately in every market since our inception. The knowledge, experience and research we apply to pricing our clients’ homes consistently
produce
shorter
market
times and higher selling-price-to-listingprice ratios.
To set a listing price that will create the best market for your home, we will perform a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA. The CMA will evaluate your home alongside other properties – currently listed and recently sold – taking into account variables such as location, supply, demand, absorption, market time and property features.
A CMA Takes Into Account: Market conditions • Supply and demand • Market activity • Market time • Price/status changes • Interest rates and availability of credit • Economic factors • Seasonal demand Property features • Location • Room count and square footage • Lot size • Views • Condition of property inside and out • Desirability of unique features Competition • Price • Location • Market time • Features and Finishes • Condition • Unique attributes
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pricing your home – (market) time is money
The surest way to get the highest selling price for your home is to set the listing price correctly right out of the gate.
By contrast, the surest way to see that selling price decline is to set a listing price that’s too high and then go through a series of price reductions to chase the market. Setting an accurate listing price is so important because the greatest amount of showing activity for a home occurs within the first few weeks of market time. This early activity tends to be from serious buyers who are currently in the market and are therefore drawn to new listings with a greater sense of urgency.
However, as time goes by, interest wanes, and longerthan-average market times tend to fuel the perception that the home itself (not just the price of the home) is flawed. Therefore, longer market times can actually drive values down. One of the biggest mistakes sellers can make is to believe that just because their home will sell for one price on day 60 it will sell for the same price on day 160. Usually, it doesn’t work that way. Remember, time is money, and the best way to optimize both is to work with your agent in setting an accurate listing price.
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before your home is shown
One of the keys to success in today’s ultra-competitive real estate market is to position your home as the most desirable property at a given price in a given area.
Obviously, the most important variable in that equation is price. But making sure your home is in optimal showing condition will set it apart from the competition and could be the difference between a timely and productive sale or a long, drawn-out process.
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Here is a checklist of preparations to make before showing your home. Be sure to consult your @properties agent to find out what improvements he/she recommends.
o
De-Clutter. Go through your home room by room
o
Organize. Lack of storage space can be a deal-
and ask yourself what you can throw away and what you can box up and put in storage. Pay extra attention to areas like closets, bookcases, shelves, and kitchen and bathroom counters. breaker. Go through your closets and pantries and throw away, give away or put away anything you don’t need. Clean out bedroom closets so that hanging clothes are aligned and have ample space. Remove items from closet floors. Reorganize and clean out your kitchen cabinets and line up dishes and glassware. Make sure bathroom and kitchen drawers are neatly organized.
o
Clean. Give your home a deep clean from top to bottom, including windows, upholstery and carpet, and the refrigerator and oven (yes, buyers actually open them).
o
Paint. A fresh coat of paint is the least expensive, most
o
effective way to enhance the appearance of your home. Be sure to use neutral colors. Consult your agent for recommendations.
o
Maintain the exterior. If you live in a single-
o
Make repairs. Consult with your agent prior to undertaking a large-scale home improvement project, but go ahead and make easy repairs such as touch-up spackling and painting, replacing a cracked window or torn screen, fixing a leaky faucet and changing burned out light bulbs.
o
Remove personal property. If you do not plan on including personal property such as window treatments or light fixtures as part of a sale, then remove them prior to your first showing and replace them with attractive alternatives.
o
Remove pets. Keep pets out of the home during
family home or townhome, maintain your lawn and landscaping. In winter, shovel and de-ice walkways. In a condominium, pay attention to the area in front of the doorway. Keep it neat and inform the superintendent of any problems, such as burned-out lights. Make balconies, decks and patios inviting with potted plants and flowers.
showings. Also be sure to conceal food bowls and litter boxes. If pet odors are present, have the home professionally cleaned.
Brighten your home. Light gives the impression
of space, so it’s important for every room in your home to have ample light at any time of day. Prior to showings, wash windows, raise blinds and turn on lights. Add floor and table lamps to brighten dark rooms or corners.
o
Hire a home inspector. Hiring a professional,
o
Disclose everything. By law sellers must disclose
licensed home inspector prior to putting your home on the market allows you to spot potential problems and make repairs before buyers make them an issue. existing structural and mechanical problems, flooding, the presence of lead paint, information on radon hazards and other known defects to potential buyers. Withholding this information can have much more serious repercussions than the problem itself.
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staging your home
Staging IS the art of merchandising a home to improve its marketability. Today, every home
that is listed for sale should be staged to some degree. Your home must show like a model in order to stand out in today’s competitive market.
Staging can be as simple as rearranging a few pieces of furniture or as elaborate as hiring a professional to furnish an empty home right down to the plants and artwork. Your @properties agent can give you suggestions for staging or help you decide if you would benefit from a professional stager.
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Here are some easy and inexpensive staging tips to consider: • Use neutral colors and décor to help your home appeal to the largest number of potential buyers. Add color through accessories such as pillows, vases and oriental rugs. • Arrange furniture in small groupings that demonstrate a room’s functionality, and do not overcrowd a room with furniture. Place pieces in a way that dictates logical traffic flow. • Use light, airy window treatments, like simple sheers on a curtain rod. Hang window treatments so they cover the least amount of glass. • Higher wattage light bulbs can brighten up dark areas, while dimmers are a low-cost way to add a desirable feature and allow you to increase or decrease light levels in different rooms. • Camouflage outdated furniture or worn upholstery with slip covers, and replace worn bedspreads and throw rugs. • Keep kitchen counters clean and clear of all items, and remove all magnets and notes from the front of the refrigerator. If your kitchen needs an update, paint cupboards with a neutral color and replace knobs on cabinets. • Remove all personal items from the bathroom counter. Stock fresh towels and get a new shower curtain and rug for the floor. • Personal photographs and mementos add warmth and character to a home, but use them in moderation so the buyer will focus on the home, not its owners. • Use interesting accessories to draw the eye to desirable features like built-in shelving, book cases or fireplace mantels. • Display fresh flowers. • If you have collectibles, display them in neat, uncluttered groupings. • Remember outdoor spaces like your back yard, patio or balcony. Add furniture, plants or potted flowers with seasonal settings.
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negotiation – guiding principles
Priced correctly and marketed aggressively, most homes will draw a timely offer. How you and your agent handle that offer and handle subsequent negotiations can substantially affect the outcome of your home sale. Your @properties agent will conduct negotiations with professionalism, attention to detail and a loyal representation of your interests. The following principles guide @properties’ agents in every negotiation.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality is vital to the
Communication: Your @properties agent will involve
integrity of the deal and to our reputation as professionals.
you in all aspects of the negotiation and communicate your options clearly and candidly.
Responsiveness: Time is of the essence in a real
estate transaction. We will expedite the presentation of offers and counteroffers and quickly act upon any opportunity.
Strength: We will do everything in our power to
help you negotiate from a position of strength. Our goal is to achieve an outcome that meets or exceeds your expectations.
Resourcefulness: Real estate sales are multi-
faceted transactions. We examine all angles of a deal to find strategies and solutions that help you accomplish your objectives.
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negotiation – contract terms
A real estate transaction is a fluid process that does not end with an accepted offer. Negotiations often continue on some level all the way to the closing. A REALTOR®’s objectivity, experience and counsel are essential to this process. Some of the most common points that are negotiated include:
Price: Your agent’s knowledge of the current market
Attorney Approval: Attorney approval is usually a
is invaluable in helping you decide whether to accept the offered price and terms or make a counter offer. They will also help you consider the time-value of money in your decision, i.e. will a higher offer offset potential additional carrying costs?
one-week period, in which both you and the buyer have your attorneys review the contract and suggest alterations.
Mortgage Contingency: Most buyers purchase
a home subject to obtaining a mortgage. The terms of the mortgage and the timeframe for securing a financing commitment must be stated in the contract. Make sure you are comfortable with these terms.
Closing Date: This is the date when ownership
changes hands and usually, but not always, the date when you must vacate and the buyer may occupy the property. If you have specific requirements for scheduling the closing due to your own move, the buyer’s flexibility might be an important factor in deciding to accept an offer.
Home Inspection: Most buyers choose to conduct
an inspection of the property with a licensed home inspector. If the inspector uncovers any problems, you and the buyer must negotiate what items will be addressed and who will pay for them.
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contract to closing – what we do for you
Guiding your real estate transaction from contract to closing is a multi-step process that requires proactive management and thorough attention to detail. Our emphasis on communication,
Our agents, managing brokers and support staff will:
organization and follow-through ensure
• Handle earnest money and escrow account management
that deadlines are met, documents are
• Distribute contracts to all relevant parties
distributed, and every item is in place
• Coordinate attorney review
to
• Coordinate a home inspection
make
your
and seamless.
transaction
efficient
• Provide information to lenders • Distribute required disclosure forms • Collect important documents such as condominium declaration and required disclosures to fulfill contract contingencies • Coordinate an appraisal • Coordinate walk-throughs • Update you when contingencies have been satisfied • Coordinate your closing • Help you find a new home • Follow up to see if you have any questions
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we care about communication At @properties, we know what you want from your real estate agent because we ask. We understand what’s important to you in selling your home because we listen. And we help you make the right decisions because we share our expertise. It all boils down to good communication, and there are few things at @properties that are more important. Setting expectations, being proactive, speaking candidly, staying in touch – these simple but vital principles are behind the thousands of successful transactions we broker each and every year, as well as the outstanding reputation we enjoy in real estate circles.
Here are some of the communication measures
Market Updates: You can elect to receive news and
that keep you informed before, during and after
updates on the local real estate market through e-mail newsletters, sent monthly, and @properties Market Reports, updated daily.
the sale. Welcome Letter: Upon listing your home, we will furnish
you with a copy of the listing agreement as well as a letter recapping our sales and marketing process.
Client Satisfaction Survey: This important post-
Showing Feedback: We will provide feedback on showings
closing survey gauges your satisfaction in several areas including your agent’s knowledge and professionalism, marketing services and negotiating skills.
according to the frequency and mode of communications you prefer.
Ongoing Communication: Long after your home is
@properties Seller Reports: We will provide a
report that shows online activity for your home by day, week and month, including how many times your property was returned in search results and how many times it was viewed on the @properties website. This report also displays comparable listings, their price and status.
sold, @properties and your agent are available to provide information and answer questions not only about the local real estate market but also about all things Michigan– Indiana. Our agent base is an incredible resource when it comes to recommending home repair and maintenance contractors, professional service providers and neighborhood businesses. We are always just a phone call, text message or email away.
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At World Properties Michigan, LLC, a subsidiary of At World Properties, LLC At World Properties Indiana, LLC, a subsidiary of At World Properties, LLC
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