RE/MAX Capital City
CRS, e-PRO, GRIBroker Associate
Mobile: 512-650-7300Office: 512-331-6644
Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
What to ExpEct WhEn SElling Your houSE
12801 ruSh crEEk lanE
craig SmYSErI obtained my Texas real estate salesperson’s license in 1999, then my broker’s license in 2001. I have been with RE/MAX since 2000. My main focus is working with homeowners to sell their house, working with buyers to find the perfect home, negotiating contracts, and following contracts through to successful closings. I oversee all transactions personally and your interaction will be with me almost exclusively. I have administrative support on the back end to permit me to spend my time dedicated to client needs. My wife, Cherisse, and I have three children: Madeline, Phoebe, and Benjamin. We live in Steiner Ranch.
i hold thE FolloWing dESignationS...
about craig
cErtiFiEd rESidEntial SpEcialiSt (crS)The CRS is considered the industry’s most advanced designation. It recognizes real estate agents for proven experience in marketing and selling residential property. Only 3.5% of real estate agents nationwide have obtained the designation. To ensure that those with the designation continue to perform at a high level, this designation must be renewed each year.
E-proTo recognize real estate agents who are above and beyond the norm in the mastery of technology, the National Association of Realtors created the e-PRO designation. An e-PRO excels at implementing technology into the sales and marketing of homes. Fewer than 4.0% of real estate agents are e-PROs.
graduatE, rEaltor inStitutE (gri)The GRI designation is awarded to real estate professionals who have completed coursework laying a broad foundation in residential real estate sales and marketing.
FivE Star proFESSional
This is presented by a third party to agents whose clients rank them high enough on an independent survey. An agent cannot nominate themselves for this award.
uS probatE SErvicES (cprES)The CPRES is awarded to real estate agents who have a clear understanding of the probate process and how to sell property that is part of an estate.
bEth komSthoEFt - aSSiStantBeth has worked behind the scenes in my office since 2014. She is fully licensed and handles a variety of administrative tasks that help keep the office running smoothly while freeing up my time to focus on real estate related tasks. You will occasionally hear from her. She lives in Pflugerville with her husband, Chris, and their two dogs, Fontayne and Brew.
unconditional guarantEEMany people are concerned about getting locked into a lengthy listing agreement with a less-than-competent real estate agent. Sure they gave a great presentation, but what happens if you find out that they can’t execute well? Usually, you are stuck for the duration of the agreement. However, I offer an Unconditional Guarantee. I am so certain you will be pleased with the service I provide, that I back it up by giving you the ability to cancel the listing agreement at no cost (prior to executing a contract with a buyer).
This also applies to changes in your circumstances. If you find that you no longer wish to sell your house, I will take it off the market and you don’t owe me anything.
12512 Memorial Park DriveRepresented Seller
3327 Mulberry Creek DriveRepresented Seller
Represented Seller12700 Tierra Grande Trail
Represented Landlord2408 Hunters Green Court 12708 Tierra Grande Trail
Represented Landlord
13321 Country Lake DriveRepresented Seller
2728 Shire Ridge DriveRepresented Seller
2604 Rolling Plains CourtRepresented Seller
10608 Sun Tree CoveRepresented Landlord
12716 Coralberry CoveRepresented Seller
10704 Lambert CircleRepresented SellerRepresented Seller
3507 Latimer Drive
13005 Titus CourtRepresented Seller
1713 Chalice CoveRepresented Landlord
12508 Burlywood TrailRepresented LandlordRepresented Seller
13109 Delphinus Walk8209 Belclaire LaneRepresented Seller
2016
Represented Tenant3019 Hidden Bluff Cove Represented Buyer
609 Emerald Ridge Drive
Represented Tenant13000 Appaloosa Chase
Represented Buyer1200 Quiet Creek Drive
Represented Buyer5644 Emma Thompson Way
Represented Buyer1555 Lorson Loop
Represented Buyer1906 Lime Rock Drive
Represented Landlord11603 Birchbark Trail
Represented Buyer273 Ranch Ridge Drive
Represented Buyer12925 Majestic Oaks DriveRepresented Seller
10616 Mellow Meadows, #19C
Represented Buyer1900 Little Elm Trail, #165
Represented Buyer1308 Nova Court
Representing Buyer9024 Eagle Vista
Represented Buyer14108 Laurinburg Drive
Represented Seller9017 Slayton
Represented Seller16907 Dashwood Creek Drive
Representing Seller (Estate Sale)505 Lakeway DriveRepresented Landlord
2624 Dunes DriveRepresented Seller
607 Canyon Trail Court
Represented Seller3416 Grimes Ranch Road
Represented Seller (Estate Sale)1707 Remuda Circle
Represented Seller2911 Lantana Ridge DriveRepresented Landlord
11504 Powder Mill TrailRepresented Landlord
11316 Friendship Drive
12116 Montclair BendRepresented Seller
9309 Topridge DriveRepresented Seller
Represented Buyer1101 Ivean Pearson Road, B206
Represented Buyer2101 Wooten Drive
Represented Seller12716 Coralberry Cove
mY crEdEntialS - comparEd to thE avEragE agEntAccording to the MLS, I sell Steiner Ranch houses faster and for more money than the average Real Estate Agent.
Over the past five years, my listings sold for 98.9% of the list price. That is 0.8% higher than the average of 98.1%.
From that same time period, my listings sold 53.9% faster than the typical listing. My average days on market was 29 days, more than a month faster than the average of 63 days.
avEragE daYS on markEt
To recap, on average you can expect to sell your home for 0.8% more and about a month faster when you list with me instead of the typical agent. That translates into more money in your pocket!
Craig Smyser’s Average Sales Price to List Price Ratio
Other Agents’ Average Sales Price to List Price Ratio
avEragE SElling pricE
Craig Smyser’s Average Days on Market
Other Agents’ Average Days on Market
98.9%
98.1%
63
29
The statistics are based upon data for Steiner Ranch from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016 which was provided by the Austin/Central Texas Realty Information Service.
rE/max crEdEntialS
RE/MAX is America’s #1 Real Estate Network.
• Most real estate sold.*• Most productive real estate network.• Most Share of Voice in national TV advertising, for viewers 25-54.**• Most recommended brand by buyers and sellers.***• Most countries served than any of our competitors.• Milllions of buyers and sellers visit REMAX.com for their real estate needs.
* Source: As measured by residential transaction sides.** Source: Nielsen Monitor-Plus / A25-54 GRPs Unequivalized for ads placed through nationwide buys (not including Spanish-language television). Spot TV GRPs are equivalized to national ratings for competitors running national campaigns.*** Source: MMR Strategy Group study of buyers and sellers, asked if there is one real estate brand they would be most likely to recommend to a friend or relative, and if so which one.
prEparing Your houSE For thE markEtOne key marketing aspect has nothing to do with getting buyers to your house, but instead deals with what the buyer sees when they are inside your house. If your house is not presented in the most favorable condition possible, it can affect the ability to sell. One of my goals is to help you get your house in the best condition possible.
mY SuggEStionS
Once we have signed a listing agreement, I will go through your house with you providing suggestions for improvements that will help the salability of your house. I will be looking at larger, big-picture items such as paint, carpet, or major repairs.
proFESSional Staging
Because we never get a second chance to make a first impression, it is important that the house not go on the market until it is ready. Homes that show well will generally sell in less time and, as a result, often for more money. In a slow market, it can be the difference between selling or not selling. I hire an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) to stage all furnished homes that I market. The concept is not to completely redecorate, but to take what exists and present it in a manner that is appealing to buyers. The way you live in a house and the way it should look for showings are a bit different. The stager will also give you great advice for organizing your house and getting ready for showings. The staging process occurs before the photographer takes photos.
proFESSional photographY
Once the house is ready for the market, a professional photographer will take both interior and exterior photos. Many real estate agents take photos themselves and it clearly shows in their marketing. The photos of your house are one of the biggest factors when a buyer decides whether or not to view your house.
markEting - proFESSional photoS
non - proFESSional
proFESSional
markEting - proFESSional photoS
proFESSional dronE photographY
A professional drone operator will showcase a unique perspective of your house by shooting photos and video using a drone. The aerial view the drown provides highlights the landscape of the area surrounding your house.
markEting - proFESSional vidEo
proFESSional vidEoA professional videographer will provide a true video of your home (as compared to many of the so-called “videos” used by others which are really just virtual tours saved as a video format). A video offers buyers a great opportunity to see the flow of the house and how the rooms fit together. This is available on YouTube and a variety of other websites. Drone footage is included. Click the photo below to watch the video for one of my listings.
markEting - intErnEtAs you are probably aware, the internet is one of the most important aspects in marketing your home. My philosophy is to provide as much information online so that buyers learn as much as possible about your house. Below is a summary of the main internet marketing.
rEalEStatEinauStin.comThis is my flagship website. It is designed for buyers in that it has a lot of information about houses (although sellers stop by they are generally just looking to see how I present the houses online). Access my website by clicking the photo below.
markEting - intErnEt
rEalEStatEinauStin.com (continuEd)Your house will have a dedicated page with lots of available information, including the video, virtual tour, map, photos, school information, room sizes, bullet point information, and more. Buyers can access all of this information without having to register. If they have questions or want to arrange a showing, they will contact me or their agent. You can see a sample of one of my listings by clicking on the photo below.
markEting - intErnEt
unbrandEd pagE linkEd through thE mlSYour house will also have an “unbranded” page hosted on one of my websites. The MLS has a rule that prohibits any information in the system from advertising the agent or brokerage that lists the property. However, there is a lot of information about your house that I can’t put in the MLS because it doesn’t accommodate video and other items I use. Therefore, when a potential buyer clicks on the ‘Virtual Tour’ link provided by the MLS, they will see a page that has the video, room sizes, school information, and more. Go see an example of an unbranded page by clicking the photo below.
markEting - intErnEt
ZilloW, trulia, rEaltor.com and othErSPopular websites such as Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com are considered third-party websites. Zillow and Trulia do not get their listings from the MLS, but instead directly from agents. I have a presence with all three of these sites (and many others) so your house will be there.
Two key items to understand about online marketing when selling your house is response time and response knowledge. I respond within minutes of receiving an inquiry so we have the best chance of engaging the buyer for your house. If a buyer sees your home on Zillow, for instance, and requests more information, the inquiry will come to me because I am a registered agent on that site. Because the buyer is directed to me, I will be able to provide them with accurate information about your house as compared to another agent who doesn’t know anything about your house and, in fact, may try to steer the buyer to one of the agent’s listings. If you listed your house with an agent who wasn’t registered with Zillow (many aren’t), the inquiries about your house will not go to your agent. I also receive direct inquiries from Trulia, Realtor.com, and other websites.
markEting - intErnEt
rEmax.com and rEmaxtExaS.comAs you would expect, your house will be featured on REMAX.com with all of the enhancements available.
markEting - Yard Sign
rEFlEctivE panElSYard signs can be a very effective marketing tool when selling your house. However, most ‘For Sale’ signs only work during daylight hours. Like most of my marketing, though, even my yard signs work 24 hours a day because I have invested in reflective panels for my signs. Most people still drive through neighborhoods to get a sense of the area and what homes are like in terms of size, appearance, yard size, etc. While the summer months allow plenty of light into the evening, the winter months get dark early. By utilizing reflective panels, anyone driving down your street while it is dark will not only know your house is for sale, but they will also be able to easily read all of the contact information.
The phone number on the sign is my direct line so potential buyers will speak directly to me, not another agent in my office.
ridErSAll yard signs include a rider to promote RealEstateInAustin.com in an effort to direct buyers to the most comprehensive information source. Depending upon the house, there may be a rider on the bottom as well.
markEting
coming SoonIn a tight market like we have now, coming soon marketing is very important. I will begin to market your home two weeks before it is scheduled to go into the MLS. This includes a coming soon yard sign, coming soon video, being added to Zillow as a coming soon listing, internal circulation to RE/MAX Capital City agents, emails to select buyer’s agents, and more.
mlS compatiblE SitESThere are many websites that display data provided by the MLS. Although the MLS provides these websites with all of the photos and the virtual tour link, they may not display all of the available information. This is beyond my control so I cannot guarantee which sites will display what data.
opEn houSESThis varies by client so we will discuss further to see if an open house is appropriate for your situation.
Print Ads Although I never did a lot of newspaper advertising, I stopped the ads I did run in March 2006. Buyers don’t look in the newspaper anymore.
FlYErSThe flyer I provide for a listing is printed in full color on 11” x 17”, 100 pound cardstock, then folded in half to create a high quality presentation. The flyer includes many professional photos of your house, detailed bullet descriptions of your houses features, room sizes, school information, as well as general information about your house.
FacEbook - WWW.FacEbook.com/rEalEStatEinauStinMy real estate page on Facebook is www.facebook.com/RealEstateInAustin. I invite you to “like” it. Your house will be added to that page and I will run paid ads, to appear in newsfeeds.
tWittEr - StEinErhomEinFoFrom time to time, I will tweet your listing. If you are a user of Twitter, feel free to retweet anytime you see your house listing pop up.
inStagram - craigSmYSErDuring both the Coming Soon and For Sale marketing, several of the professional photos of your house will be posted to Instagram. Occasionally, I’ll post a short video clip of your house to draw attention.
ShoWingS
SEtting appointmEntSWhen an agent wants to show your house, they will call you on the phone number of your choice to make the arrangements. If you are not available to answer the call, the agent may or may not show the house, depending upon the specific instructions set up for your house. For vacant houses, the agent will show the house without making an appointment.
lockboxFor your safety, and the ease of showing by other agents, I use a Supra electronic keybox to hold the key to your house. Real estate agents have a phone app (it’s exclusive to agents) which is compatible with my lockboxes - non-agents cannot access the key. Each time an agent obtains the key, the keybox records who accessed the box as well as the date and time. Within hours, I am notified whenever the lockbox has been opened. Therefore, I am able to follow-up with the agent to obtain feedback without you having to notify me of each showing. My lockboxes have been set up in such a way that they do not allow access 24 hours so you do not have to worry about a deranged agent entering your home in the middle of the night.
tExt notiFication that agEnt arrivEdAt your request, I will arrange for you to receive a text message whenever the showing agent arrives at your house. While you will not know when they leave, at least you’ll know when they arrived so you can time your return to the house appropriately.
thE moving truck
uSE oF thE moving truckThe moving truck is available free of charge to all of my clients; buyers or sellers, past or present. Of course, there are limits on the number of days it can be used and advanced notice is required. It is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Drivers must be at least 25 years old and proof of driver’s license and insurance is required. Although there is no charge to use the truck, you are responsible to fill it up with gas before returning it.
The moving truck is also available free of charge to any charitable or community group who might have a use for it. If your school is having an event which requires hauling things, use it at no cost! If your church is having a food drive and needs a big vehicle to deliver all of the food to the food pantry, give me a call to reserve the truck. The scout troop needs to move something? Why pay for a moving truck when you can use mine? And don’t forget about the community garage sales - use the truck to haul the unsold goods to a local charity. The truck is for moving your stuff, so if you have stuff to move, feel free to use it.
communitY Support
hopE alliancEHope Alliance is a domestic violence and rape crisis center that serves northern Travis County and Williamson County. RE/MAX Capital City has pledged multi-year support to Hope Alliance with financial and volunteer commitments.
vipEr nation Education FoundationThe Viper Nation Education Foundation provides private funding to enhance the educational experience of students living in the Four Points community. For each house I sell within Four Points, a donation is made to VNEF.
vandEgriFt high School bandI’m proud to be the sole sponsor of Vandegrift High School’s Kicking for Cash. In this event, students kick field goals in an effort to win cash for various student organizations at Vandegrift. The students start kicking field goals from the same distance, with those who successfully split the uprights moving back until the winners have been determined. The top three kickers earn $300, $200, and $100 for their groups, respectively. Kicking for Cash is a fundraiser for the Vandegrift Marching Band. If you’d like more information regarding Kicking for Cash, simply click on the logo below.
communitY Support
moving truckMy moving truck is available free of charge to community and charitable organizations.
vandEgriFt high School choirI’m proud to sponsor the Vandegrift High School Choir to assist as they travel to various events and competitions.
ElEmEntarY SchoolSI spin cotton candy to benefit the local elementary schools in Steiner Ranch.
StEinEr ranch SWim clubThe Steiner Stars are a non-profit, summer swim team in the Northwest Swim Circuit with more than 500 swimmers between the ages of 5 and 16.
commEntS From cliEntSWhen hiring a real estate broker to handle the sale of your house, you should definitely find out if their previous clients were happy with the service provided. Over the years, many clients have reviewed me online through Zillow or Trulia, sent me letters or thank you cards, or simply answered a survey. Below are a few reviews from recent sellers, but you can access hundreds of client endorsements on my website.
“Craig did a fantastic job helping us get our house sold! He was great to work with and always very helpful. Our house had been on the market for over 100 days before we hired Craig and he got it sold in a week!” -- Courtney Dorran
“Craig is an excellent agent that you can trust. He is very knowledgeable and always ready to help. As an out of state owner, I really appreciated his professional help to make the property sale much easier and faster. I strongly recommend him to all my Texas friends.” -- Shao Xiaoyan
“We used Craig to sell our home...Craig was supremely professional and knowledgeable about the area and his pricing strategies had us an offer under contract prior to our house...going in the MLS. ...He makes use of many forms of marketing including drone aerial photography and has intimate knowledge and experience with social media promotions. We firmly believe this helped our house sell so quickly. We would...strongly recommend him to anyone needing a fabulous real estate professional in the greater Austin area.” -- Sean and Susan O’Keeffe
“Craig’s knowledge of the market and experience helped us get our house under contract, over asking price, and before it was listed in the MLS. He made the naturally stressful situation of selling our house as seamless as possible. Craig was calm and professional in handling every phase of the transaction with us, but unyielding in negotiating with the other agent to protect our interests. Craig’s knowledge of contract terms and governmental and HOA requirements is second to none. In comparing our experience with other home sellers, Craig stands out above the rest.” -- Chris and Danika Taylor
“After interviewing Craig Smyser, we decided that interviewing other real estate agents was not necessary. Craig Smyser truly sets a new standard in real estate. His professional marketing program brought in the buyers quickly. There really is no reason to use any other agent. Craig was accessible all of the time. He was extremely knowledgeable about every aspect of the home selling process. Craig was the most helpful real estate agent we have ever experienced. He remained in constant contact, even after the”sold” sign went in front of the house. We would recommnend Craig Smyser to anyone who needs real estate assistance. We would like to see Craig licensed in more states so that we could work with him when we sell this house. He is one-of-a-kind, the best at his job. Thanks, Craig, for exceeding all of our expectations.” -- JoAnn and Mike Louer
