It’s Your Move... It’s Your Life!
STROCK REAL ESTATE
At Strock Real Estate, we strive to exceed your expectations of what a Realtor’s job is. Our commitment to our clients extends far beyond the close of escrow, and we pride ourselves on the long-standing relationships that we develop with our clients. Whether you are buying or selling, we provide each of our clients with an unparalleled level of service and market expertise. We offer a rare combination of extensive market knowledge, cutting-edge technology, top-of-the-line marketing, deep community relationships, and a fresh perspective on real estate that you won’t find anywhere else. Our loyalty, professionalism, and creativity have helped us carve our place as a market-leader in Aptos, Capitola, and Santa Cruz. Founded in 2007 by Ben Strock, Strock Real Estate is now a close-knit team of highly-experienced professional agents, a Transaction Coordinator, Listing Coordinator, a full-time Marketing Manager and a full-time Office Manager with access to designers, contractors, photographers, lenders, and many other top industry professionals to make the buying or selling process as enjoyable and seamless as possible for our clients. We look forward to working with you and showing you first-hand what makes Strock Real Estate so unique.
“My vision is to have a like-minded group of agents with collective goals, personalities, and inner drive to create a culture of friendship through business making those in the group prosper through positivity and community enrichment.” - Ben Strock
251-A Center Avenue, Aptos CA 95003
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831.688.9800
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strockrealestate.com
OUR PROCESS 1 Evaluation
Our team will visit your home to determine how to maximize your return.
2 Preparation
The goal is to create a blank, modern slate that appeals to the largest buyer pool. We manage the construction schedule, oversee the work, and keep the job on a budget, so it doesn’t break the bank.
3 Staging
A properly showcased home will sell more quickly and will often bring in a higher price.
4 Marketing
Marketing is extremely important for a successful sale. Our goal here is to get buyers into your home.
5 Pricing & On the Market
Pricing the property is extremely important and will reduce the days on the market and lead to a less stressful sale.
6 Open House & Showings
Open Houses are a great way to increase your market exposure and make it convenient for buyers to see the house.
7 Escrow & Final Sale
Escrow functions as an independent third party that holds all monetary funds and documents until the close of escrow.
SELLING PHILOSOPHY Selling your home is challenging -- the thought of moving, making complex financial decisions, thinking about the tax implications, the inconvenience of showings, violations of privacy from allowing the public into your home for open houses, thoughts of lifting heavy boxes, and the fear of change are only the start. At Strock Real Estate, we are here to work with you as your personal Real Estate planners/advisors with a goal of making the process painless with a white glove approach. Our strategies in the home sales process have been developed from many years in the business and learning from our many experiences. Selling real estate in our technology-driven world has become a vastly different business than the years of yesterday. Consumers now have broad access to information -- general access to the MLS, ownership records, tax records, permit history, and a broad array of other information. Today’s more sophisticated consumer has redefined the job of the modern day Realtor requiring the agent to have a higher level of sophistication and knowledge to be competitive in the top of our industry (we aspire never to be viewed as solely door openers). Technology has completely transformed our job, and at Strock Real Estate, we embrace the change and are constantly adapting to the newest technologies including sophisticated, targeted marketing (from basic demographics all the way to income, age and ethnicity), global marketing platforms, dynamic home presentations, and focusing our personal growths on tactical negotiation strategies and a diversified real estate background in taxation, construction, mortgages, insurance and contract law.
COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES Design Consultation 45 Days of Free Home Staging* 4% Total Commission, if the Listing Agent Represents the Buyer on Your Home Purchase Home Inspections & Pest Control Reports Free Move Out Final Cleaning In-House Professional Marketing Services Professionally Written, Detailed Description of Your Home Extensive Social Media Outreach on Facebook, Instagram, Google+ & YouTube Paid Facebook Advertising with Reach to 100,000+ People Placement in 100+ International Websites *Applies to homes priced above $1M unless otherwise agreed to in writing.
“EASY EXIT” TERMINATION AGREEMENT We provide an “Easy Exit” listing in which the seller may cancel this agreement at any time and without cause and/or reason by providing broker with a 72-hour advance written notice of said cancellation. If this “Easy Exit” is exercised, Seller shall owe Broker no fees and have no further obligation to whom broker has shown the property. These buyers must be registered in writing within 10 days of listing termination and would then be subject to a 90-day protection period in which seller would owe the full brokerage fee if the property was sold to a registered buyer. The intent of this is to decrease the chances of a seller evading the brokerage fee by selling to a party procured through efforts of the Broker. We have included this verbiage in every Listing Contract we have signed for approximately 17 years. I believe that the clients who hire us should be able to terminate the listing contract if their circumstances change, or if they think we are not performing adequately. To date, this clause has never been invoked by one of our clients.
1 HOME
EVALUATION Our team of professionals will visit your home for a design consultation to determine what work needs to be done. At this time, we will decide how to maximize your home’s appeal. It is our job to do the little things that other agents often don’t do to ensure you get the best price for your home. A comprehensive proposal including detailed bids from our trusted venders will be provided for your approval or modification before any work begins. Please do realize that we often do not have to make any repairs to homes. Our aim is to maximize returns and minimize your time on the market. When analyzing construction needs, we only do repairs when you will see a positive return on your investment.
“Strock Real Estate is connected to a team of professional contractors and vendors that are a priceless rescue to a home seller.” -Karen Grellas
2
New Window Blinds
HOME
PREPARATION
& Design Services
Psychologists say that we make up our minds about a person within the first fifteen minutes of meeting them. Without question, the same is true when selling a home; you only get one chance to make a lasting first impression. A well-prepared and staged home can add huge dollars to the value of your home. Plastic surgery can completely transform one’s body, but we prefer home preparation on a lighter scale -- it’s usually just light make-up. Prospective buyers have to be able to not only view your home as your home but as potentially their home. The goal in the preparation (make-up) process is to create a blank slate, something borderline generic, to modernize and add appeal to the largest buyer pool without crushing your bank account. If your home needs significant updates, we have a team of experienced, trusted vendors to get the job done. We will work directly with these vendors to manage the schedule, oversee the work, and keep the job on budget. Once the updates are complete, we will work with our design team to coordinate and stage the home.
“Strock Real Estate is always offering encouragement and keeping me positive and fully informed every step of the way.” -Jean Starcevich
BEFORE PHOTO
Staging
New Light Fixture
New Cabinet Pulls
New Paint
“Strock Real Estate is not only very thorough and organized, kind, caring, and understanding. They know what to do, when to do it, and sold the house within a week!� - Wendy Ramos
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HOME STAGING
We have realized over the years that not every home fits the same mold -- some are Modern, some are Craftsman, and others are more Traditional. As a result, we elect to work with a variety of stagers who can help transform your home’s furnishings to match its architecture. Staging often takes the eye away from possible flaws, while accentuating what is actually in the living space. On average staged homes sell in one quarter the amount of days on the market as un-staged homes. As part of the many free services we offer, Strock Real Estate pays* for the staging of your home; including 45 days of furniture rental and fees associated with the design, delivery, set-up, and removal of furniture in the rooms we deem appropriate. Showcasing homes in their brightest light is our forte, and our reputation rides on your satisfaction. *Applies to homes priced above $1M unless otherwise agreed to in writing.
BEFORE PHOTO
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MARKETING There is no such thing as luck or accident when it comes to good and creative marketing. We target specific buyer categories and have a procedure that allows us to expand your home’s exposure to the largest buyer pool possible. First, at no cost to you, we will professionally photograph your home including aerial shots, day and night photos, and virtual tours. All our marketing includes captivating and creative verbiage, professional writing, and graphic design B B A for brochures, mailers, and print advertising. Online adverA tising costs including premium website placement when available, global online marketing, and so much more. We know who your target buyer is and howCto reach Dthem. C
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“Strock Real Estate is very well versed in the marketing and advertising of properties and had us three offers within one week of our home being on the market.� - Herb Morgenstern
VIDEO Real estate relies heavily on visual motivators, that is why we use the best videographers in the business to showcase our homes. We feel there is no better way to show off the virtues of a home than through video (apart from doing an actual, in-person walk-through, of course!). Video gives the prospective buyer the feeling of moving through the home, showing accurate room size and home features. *Applies to homes priced above $1.5M unless otherwise agreed to in writing.
SOCIAL MEDIA In this technology-driven age, it is crucial for home sellers and agents to remain active on social media in order to nurture interest in newly listed properties. We are actively using all social media platforms to reach potential buyers which include: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google+, Zillow and Mailchimp to just name a few.
ONLINE
& INTERNATIONAL To market your listing worldwide, Strock Real Estate partners with a global network that includes over 100 leading international websites reaching over 60 million buyers and investors in more than 55 countries.
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PRICING & ON THE MARKET There is a lot more to evaluating the price of a property than a Google algorithm. Sure, you can use a dollar per square foot method, but we believe we are in such a unique market that determining a home value is far more complex than a Zillow estimate. An algorithm cannot determine what your view is worth, the value of your remodeled kitchen, or the devaluation of freeway noise. These factors in conjunction with our knowledge of the local sales will help determine an appropriate list price of your home. The demand in marketplace will determine the final sales price. Pricing the property correctly is extremely important and will reduce the days on the market and lead to a less stressful sale.
“Just purchased and sold a home with Strock Real Estate. From start to finish, Strock Real Estate was there for our family. They were dependable, reliable, and honest!� - Ray Barragan
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OPEN HOUSES & PRIVATE SHOWINGS
It’s very important to have open houses, especially the first few weeks when the home is on the market. It’s a great way to increase your market exposure and make it convenient for buyers to see the house. A successful open house will often create a level of excitement that will help contribute to a higher number of offers.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Clean-up & Repairs Complete
Staging of the Home
Photographs & Inspections
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Seller Disclosure Paperwork is Due
Live on the Market & Social Media
Email Blast to All Santa Cruz & Santa Clara County Agents
Broker Open
Property Video
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
Open House Weekend
“When you pick Strock Real Estate you also get their amazing network of reputable service providers and community presence.� -Frans Cartwright
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ESCROW
& FINAL SALE Buying or selling a home usually involves the transfer of large sums of money. It is imperative that the transfer of these funds and related documents from one party to another are handled in a secure manner by a neutral and knowledgeable third party, the escrow holder. The parties to the transaction want to be certain all conditions of the transaction have been met before property and money change hands. For the protection of the buyer, seller and lender, the process of escrow was developed. When all instructions in the escrow can be carried out to the satisfaction of all parties and any funds requires have been deposited, the escrow can be closed. All necessary documents are recorded, title to the property is transferred, funds are distributed, and title insurance is issued pursuant to the terms of the escrow instructions.
STROCK REAL ESTATES 2018 SOLDS Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buye
Represented Buyer
SOLD 1600 Lower Highland Way SOLD2270 Brommer Street
SOLD 2907 Crocker Court
SOLD 3207 Stockbridge Lane
SOLD 4275 Jade Street #4
SOLD 7530 Sunset Way
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
SOLD 14 Moorehouse Drive
SOLD 136 Hale Street, SF
SOLD 113 El Camino Del Mar
SOLD 122 Sea Terrace Way
SOLD 133 Cherry Blossom Drive
SOLD 145 Reed Way
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
SOLD 205 Claudius Drive
SOLD 222 Via Novella
SOLD 237 Bluebonnet
SOLD 241 Walnut Avenue
SOLD 257 Vista Del Mar Lane
SOLD 278 Silverfish Court
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
SOLD 288 Barkentine Court
SOLD 292 Barkentine Court
SOLD 306 Bonita Drive
SOLD 404 Broadway
SOLD 420 Roxas
SOLD 614 Cliff Drive
SOLD 1302 Orchard
SOLD 181 Seacliff Drive
SOLD 242 Alta
SOLD 411 Townsend
SOLD 4755 Opal Cliff
SOLD 17 Nashua
SOLD 61 Verdoso
SOLD 109 Vineyard
SOLD 278 Beach
SOLD 28 Potbelly Beach
SOLD 1180 Avocado Road
SOLD 1758 Garza Lane
SOLD 240 Beach
SOLD 420 Hillcrest
SOLD 828 Encino
SOLD 2058 Seascape
Represented Buyer
Represented Buyer
SOLD 1378 Lido Way
SOLD 1525 Jackson Ave
SOLD 424 Racquet
SOLD 9007 Rhodes
SOLD 444 Los Altos
SOLD 2981 Wimbledon Drive
Drive
Represented Buyer
SOLD 653 Cliff Drive Represented Buyer
SOLD 1040 38th Ave #58 Represented Buyer
THE STROCK REAL ESTATE TEAM! “Sarah was very professional, proficient, personable, and very proactive with insuring that the home purchase (& search) went as smooth as one could hope. It was a pleasure having Sarah as my real estate agent. Highly recommend.” - Marlin Vogel
SARAH MORGAN VICE PRESIDENT | DRE# 01342978 831.251.5670 aptosbeachlife@gmail.com AptosBeachLife.com “Spencer did a great job finding a home for me and helping me close on it. Excellent knowledge of the area and the market, great understanding of the pros and cons of house details and of the neighborhoods, and a good knowledge of the city and county ordinances and processes. I would definitely work with Spencer again.” - Glen K.
SPENCER HAYS BROKER ASSOCIATE | DRE# 01224139 831.345.8800 spencer@cruzhome.com CruzHome.com
“Rose is the best Real Estate agent. She found us a property that matched our interest very quickly and worked with us through out the closing process. She is very knowledgeable, proactive, and pleasant to work with. She does an amazing job and we highly recommend her.” - Mac. N.
ROSE WOOD REALTOR | DRE# 01344958 831.239.2484 homesbyrosewood@gmail.com BayRoseWood.com “Lauren was ethical, creative, attentive and receptive to my needs. It was a difficult sale but he handled it with grace and serenity. I would highly recommend him to anyone considering a real estate transaction.” - Ann Buscho
LAUREN GAGNIER REALTOR | DRE# 01920708 831.359.7346 Ljgagnier@gmail.com StrockRealEstate.com “After listening to us thoughtfully and carefully, Shiri’s expertise, resources and down-to-earth attitude demystified the whole process of selling/buying for us and made it a totally successful experience! We could not have imagined a better advocate. She asks the right questions and kept us well informed all along the way. Her style is straight forward, honest, empathetic and highly effective! We had some particularly unusual circumstances with the sale of our home and Shiri was creative in brainstorming with us, helping us to choose strategies and understand our options!” - Stephanie & Karalee
SHIRI GRADEK REALTOR | DRE# 02039463 831.359.7130 shiri.gradek@gmail.com ShiriGradek.com
“We checked around the area for a referral to the best realtor. Time and time again the name Shawndy Linquist came up. We contacted her and asked if she had time in her schedule to list and sell our home. Later that very same day, she had professional photos taken, and the photos were fabulous. So much so that we almost decided not to sell it (it looked that good). Shawndy definitely knew what buyers were searching for and made sure our home presented itself to its maximum potential. We had multiple offers that exceeded our asking price. I would highly recommend her to both buyers and sellers. She gets the job done!” - John Layland
SHAWNDY LINQUIST REALTOR | DRE# 02062936 831.440.6733 shawndy@thatrealestategirl.com ThatRealEstateGirl.com “Living in SoCal, with a daughter at UCSC, and with retirement near, I reached out to 3 or 4 real estate agents in Santa Cruz County. Bjorn was the only one to respond, and it was a blessing that he did. Bjorn is a very hard working young man, in every step of the way, he was ahead of the game. That made our transition from our offer to this point, a few days from closing, very smooth. Even though we are 6 hours away, everything has gone great, thanks to Bjorn being on top of things. Outstanding agent, very professional, very respectful, good people person. Can’t thank him enough for his help!!” - Guadelupe Serna
BJORN BERG REALTOR | DRE# 02019108 831.566.6938 bbergsc@gmail.com SantaCruzPropertySearch.com “Maya helped us buy our first home (fha loan) in a very tight housing market with lots of competition. She found us great places to look at within our limited price range. She was very responsive, available and patient with all our questions as new home buyers. Maya stayed patient through our process as it took months until an offer was accepted and we never felt pushed. Maya is highly educated, delightful and very knowledgeable about the community.” - A. Summer
MAYA CRELAN RAY REALTOR | DRE# 02005146 831.251.5171 mayacrelanray@gmail.com RealtorMaya.com
TARRA MCPARTLAND Client Care Coordinator DRE#01962275 831.688.9800 strockassistant@gmail.com
JENNY OATEY Brand Marketing Manager 831.688.9800 strockmarketing@gmail.com
KNOWLEDGEABLE
Knowledge is not something you can quickly pick up from taking your real estate exams, learning through books in school, picking up in some get rich quick seminar, or reading in a real estate handbook. Knowledge comes from closing hundreds of transactions, remodeling hundreds of homes, and hands-on working experience in all aspects of the business from construction to property management to lending to sales to commercial lease negotiation. Real estate is a business that often gets confused with being easy. The customer tends to think it only involves looking at homes, which we call, “door openers.” We are far more than the average “door opening” real estate agents, and through our knowledge and experience, we minimize all risks involved with the goal of having a smooth and painless sale/purchase. If it appears easy, we’ve done our job - but it wasn’t easy, it came from a lot of practice which has given us the knowledge!
TRUSTWORTHY
Trust isn’t easily earned, but our goal is to become a part of your trusted inner circle for life. We want to be the family member you not only would trust with your children, but also to be on your financial counsel board. We treat every client from day one in the same manner we would treat our mothers - with respect and integrity. If we tell you something is going to be done, consider it done! Confidentiality is the norm, and being your financial counselor is our job. Though trust isn’t alway easily earned, we will earn your trust through hard work and solid advice.
BEN STROCK FOUNDER | BROKER
831.247.0922 bdstrock@gmail.com DRE# 01337838
Born and raised among a family of Realtors, Ben Strock has Real Estate in his blood. Growing up in Los Altos, Ben worked for his father, a real estate broker and owner of Strock Realty and Financial in Palo Alto. A graduate of the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Business-Economics and a concentration in banking and finance, Ben was a licensed agent at the time of his graduation in 2001. Ben quickly earned his place among Santa Cruz County’s most respected agents, earning the trust of both his contemporaries and clients. With extensive knowledge of construction, finance, design, and the escrow process, Ben brings a distinct perspective that sets him apart from his peers. His negotiating skills, creativity, and honesty make him a valuable asset for any transaction. After years spent gaining local knowledge and an excellent reputation, Ben opened Strock Real Estate in Aptos in 2007. His mission is simple: provide the very best for his clients through hard work, dedication, and integrity. Whether you are buying, selling, or simply looking for some honest advice, Ben is here to help. As a long-time resident and business owner in Aptos, Ben cares about his community. A member of the Seacliff Improvement Association, a passionate advocate for the community, and member of various charitable organizations, you will often find Ben walking through the neighborhood with his wife, young son and daughter, and dog. Ben has continually been ranked among the top agents in the area and was the top agent by sales volume in Santa Cruz in 2016. Most important to Ben, however, are the relationships he forms with his clients, considering every client “a client for life.”