Each real estate transaction is a big deal with many moving parts and can get unwieldy without the right support. CENTURY 21® Sales Associates are true partners and will work to defy mediocrity and deliver an extraordinary experience. We are: KNOWLEDGEABLE
With extensive and ongoing formal training to stay on top ATTENTIVE
Great listeners intent on understanding you and your goals
RESPONSIVE
Quick and professional responses as we manage each detail and the big picture
The multiple award-winning CENTURY 21 University® has a proven record of unparalleled agent education by creating industry leading programs and a comprehensive suite of training and skill development programs. Featured in Training Magazine Top 125 of 7 of the last 10 years.
PROVEN SUCCESS
CENTURY 21 REAL ESTATE WORLDWIDE
SCHMIDT FAMILY OF COMPANIES
OUR SCHMIDT FAMILY STORY
Schmidt Family of Companies has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception in 1927. Founded by Harold F. Schmidt, the company is now led by his grandson and great-grandson.
H. F. Schmidt Real Estate, as the firm was originally known, was based on the principles of honesty, integrity and an unwavering commitment to outstanding service. Harold Schmidt’s adherence to these standards of excellence earned him the trust and confidence of his clients, building a solid foundation for what was to become one of the most respected and largest real estate brokerage firms in the Midwest.
Harold’s son, Joseph Schmidt, joined the company in 1946 and under his leadership, the company experienced unparalleled growth. His sons Fred and Ken entered the company in 1962 and 1968, respectively. Schmidt Family of Companies is now a fifth generation real estate firm and is one of the largest and most successful real estate affiliates in the country.
SCHMIDT CORE VALUES
Fueled by reputation, motivated by innovation. Our core values work together to create a steadfast foundation in an ever-shifting world.
• Collaboration
• Loyalty
• Initiative
• Positive Outlook
• Servant Leadership
C21 CORE MISSION
DEFY MEDIOCRITY
DELIVER EXTRAORDINARY
WE GIVE BACK
FOR 45 YEARS.
CENTURY 21® has been a proud philanthropic partner of EasterSeals®, as one of EasterSeals® largest corporate sponsors. We are proud of our long standing relationship with this charitable organization.
$135 MILLION RAISED TO DATE
Our brokers, sales associates and employees work together to raise funds in support of the EasterSeals mission: to provide exceptional services, education, outreach and advocacy so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in our communities.
AND YOU CAN PLAY A PART TOO
With our “Closings for Kids” program, each of our sales associates can donate a portion of their commission from every closing to their local EasterSeals chapter. So when you choose an agent who participates, you help contribute to EasterSeals too.
ABOVE & BEYOND
ABOVE & BEYOND
25 CONSECUTIVE YEARS 4 SEALS OF RECOGNITION
1 RELENTLESS BRAND
ABOVE & BEYOND
When presented with a list of real estate agencies, consumers gave the Century 21® brand top marks.
When presented with a list of real estate agencies, consumers gave the CENTURY 21® brand top marks.
When presented with a list of real estate agencies, consumers gave the CENTURY 21® brand top marks.
In 2023, the CENTURY 21 brand continued to maintain the “highest brand awareness” level—a trend we have upheld since 1999. MOST RECOGNIZED NAME IN
In 2023, the CENTURY 21 brand continued to maintain the “highest brand awareness” level—a trend we have upheld since 1999.
Consumers selected the CENTURY 21 brand as the “most respected in the industry.”
Consumers selected the CENTURY 21 brand as the “most respected in the industry.”
percent of consumers identified the CENTURY 21 brand as “the most recognized name in real estate.”
47% percent of consumers identified the CENTURY 21 brand as “the most recognized name in real estate.”
Consumers selected the CENTURY 21 brand as “most likely to consider” for future transactions.
Consumers selected the CENTURY 21 brand as “most likely to consider” for future transactions.
LEADING THE WAY
Century 21® Real Estate LLC is an American real estate agent franchise company founded in 1971. The system consists of approximately 14,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 84 countries and territories worldwide with over 142,000 sales professionals. Century 21® Real Estate is headquartered in Madison, New Jersey.
Wherever your home’s buyer might be, we’re there, too.
OUR LOCAL REACH
We have Schmidt Family of Companies offices and agents across all of our regions, actively bringing in buyers and creating more opportunities to showcase your home.
YOUR SUPPORT TEAM
IN-HOUSE SUPPORT STAFF
• Digital Media & Technologies Specialist
• In-House Marketing Designers
• Marketing Specialists
• Sales Managers
• Agent Service Coordinators
• In-House Attorney
• Property Management Specialists
• Mortgage & Title Services
RELOCATION & REFERRALS
• Connect you with an experienced C21® affiliated sales associate, trained to represent you
• Relocation packet to meet your needs including community and school information
• Cost of living analysis
• Get to know the community you are moving to
• Market Analysis of your current home
• Coordinate the sale of your current home and the purchase of your new home
• Work with local mortgage services
COMMERCIAL DIVISION
• Fully committed national Commercial Support Staff with the finest education and marketing materials.
• SFOC is ranked in the top 5% of all Commercial Companies Nationally.
ONLINE IMPACT
WHERE BUYERS SEARCH FOR PROPERTIES
While buyers use a variety of resources to research properties for sale in their area, the vast majority find their new home online and with the help of a real estate professional.*
HOW BUYERS SEARCH FOR HOMES
Internet 52%
Real Estate Agent 28%
Yard/Open House Sign 4%
Friend, Relative, Neighbor 8%
Home Builder/Agent 6%
Sellers 3% Print Newspaper Ad Less Than 1%
*2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers (National Association of REALTORS®)
INFLUENTIAL SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS
Millions of people use social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Instagram daily.
The Century 21® System embodies the cutting edge of real-estate marketing, successfully uses social media to promote your property listing and locates the right buyer for it.
Facebook.com/Century21
Twitter.com/Century21
YouTube.com/Century21
Instagram.com/Century21
Pinterest.com/Century21
Century21.com/Blog
Over 713K Social Followers across all major social media platforms.
STRATEGIC MARKETING
INTERNET MARKETING ADVANTAGE
While your home will be listed on multiple sites, including www.Century21.com, we also need to go where the buyers go. The following premium partner sites will be included in our plan.
The top websites are viewed during each search and we ensure your property is displayed on them all and more.
OUR 21 STEP MARKETING PLAN
With a primary distribution network which redistributes to up to 750 real estate oriented websites, your home will reach a larger, more targeted local audience. We can showcase your home where 95% of all time is spent searching for homes, online! This tremendous exposure to the largest audience of buyers helps give your home the visibility it deserves.
1. Recommend a pre-listing inspection and hiring a professional home staging service
2. Develop a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
3. Create a virtual tour to post on listing websites
4. Enter your listing into the local Multiple Listing Service
5. Place the CENTURY 21® “For Sale” yard sign
6. Announce your listing to sales associates in my office and other CENTURY 21® offices in the area
7. Place a “Lock Box” on your door to provide easy access for other sales associates
8. Place your listing on our century21.com website
9. Distribute your listing to hundreds of Listing Partners
10. Place your listing on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and You Tube
11. Place your listing on my personal website
12. Create a Unique Property Site for your listing
13. Prepare full color property flyers and brochures to showcase your home to buyers and other sales associates
14. Offer the CENTURY 21® Home Protection Plan® that can help attract buyers to your property
15. Schedule email marketing pieces to my entire list of contacts, past clients and area REALTORS®
16. Print and direct mail advertising in our local area
17. Hold an Open House
18. Tour your home with prospective buyers
19. Provide you with constant feedback from buyer showings
20. Send you weekly online activity reports
21. Negotiate with potential buyers on your behalf
BENEFITS OF PRINT MARKETING
While online advertising remains the most effective way of reaching home buyers today, in some instances it may be beneficial to incorporate print advertising as well. We have relationships with key regional and local publications that enable us to showcase your property in the most effective way and generate maximum interest.
CUSTOMIZED MARKETING SERVICES
OUR TEAM:
• 150+ Years of Combined Marketing and Design Experience
• Full-Time Marketing Designers, Digital Media Specialist and Brand Ambassadors
SOME OF OUR SERVICES:
• Print On-demand Property Marketing Materials
• Business Cards, Flyers, Postcards & Brochures
• Customized Signage & Property Advertisements
• Direct Mail Campaigns
• Property Magazines
• PLUS MUCH MORE!!
CUSTOMERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT A PRODUCT THAN READ ABOUT IT.
The Schmidt Family of Companies
Advantage:
• Fine Home and Estates
• Mobile First Ads
• Social Media
• Listing Syndication 4X
WHY GO DIGITAL
With traditional real estate marketing, you can’t track anything. What good are your ads if you can’t prove they work? At Schmidt Family of Companies, we utilize digital, social and video marketing to get our message out in the best way, to the most people. We highly target our audiences so only the people we want to see our ads see them; no dollar is wasted. Plus, we can track anything and everything! Marketing is changing and we’re leading the way.
GUIDING YOU STEP BY STEP
Selling a home is a complex process, but your Century 21® agent will guide you through it every step of the way.
STEP 1 – PRICING
• A comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Review market conditions
• Review other homes on the market
• Discuss your home-sale goals
• Determine the optimal listing price
STEP 2 – PREPARING
• Remove clutter and organize
• Clean and make repairs
• Stage your home for sale
• Consider a home protection plan
• Complete listing documents and disclosures
STEP 3 – MARKETING
• Install distinctive Century 21® yard sign
• Promote your home on the MLS
• Present your home’s listing online
• Respond promptly to buyer inquiries
• Arrange showings
• Hold open house
• Communicate feedback
• Market your property via email, direct mail and social media
• Provide market updates
STEP 4 – CLOSING
• Evaluate offers and negotiate best price and terms
• Facilitate inspections
• Coordinate closing date, time, location and contacts
• Monitor buyer financing and home appraisal
• Follow up on details
• Review closing statement
• Close the sale
• Provide copies of all closing documents
FULL SERVICE
MARKET EXPERTISE
STAGING TO SELL
Reducing clutter in a room can be an overwhelming task, whether you’re selling your home or not. When you’re trying to sell a home, what you’re really seeking to sell is a feeling that potential buyers get about your space. By focusing on removing those items that are more of a distraction than an asset, you decrease the likelihood that a potential buyer will be unable to see past your personal belongings and envision themselves in your space, and you increase the chances of a higher sales price for your property.
SIMPLICITY SELLS: Remove clutter and knick-knacks. Potential buyers tend to feel uncomfortable and cramped when surrounded by an abundance of someone else’s belongings.
CREATE BALANCE: Place candles and potted plants around the room to create a sense of coziness, balance, and harmony.
KEEP IT LIGHT: Natural sunlight creates a feeling of warmth and happiness. Take advantage of all the windows that bring in sunlight by pulling back drapes and raising the blinds. Keep all lights on — it’ll highlight your home’s best features and leave potential buyers with a positive first impression.
PACK THE PETS: To ensure everyone’s comfort, safety, and peace of mind, it’s best to keep your pets away from home during showings. Be sure to tuck their food and water bowls out of sight. You never know who might be put off by your pets, let alone afraid of or allergic to them!
LET THE FRESH AIR IN: Opening the windows for a few minutes every day — no matter the season — refreshes air, neutralizes odors, and promotes a feeling of positive energy. Minimize strong scents, especially synthetic ones, and avoid plugins.
REFRESH RUGS & CARPETS: Make your space sparkle even more by having rugs and carpets professionally cleaned.
PACK UP THE SHOES: A pile of shoes by the front door can be uninviting to newcomers, as it can make the space feel cramped and untidy. When prepping to show your home, collect all footwear and store them out of sight. Make sure that the walkways to and from the front door are clear and welcoming.
COMB THROUGH CLOSETS: If you know you won’t wear them again, it’s time to let them go. Don’t let not unworn items take up valuable space in your closet and your mind. Comb through your closet and pull out the things you don’t need.
POSITION YOUR HOME TO SELL
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is essential to determine the value of residential property. Location and characteristics of the property are the key elements in determining this value. So similar properties in your area form the basis for valuation of your home.
THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT PRICING:
• A house that is priced right from the beginning typically achieves the highest proceeds
• Realistic pricing will achieve maximum price in a reasonable time
• The market determines the price
• Houses that remain on the market for a long time do not get shown
• What those outside the industry believe the property is worth
PRICING YOUR HOME TO SELL
PRICE INTELLIGENTLY
By pricing your property at market value, you make it available to a greater percentage of prospective buyers. This increases your chances for a sale and reflects it value.
DON’T OVERPRICE
Improper pricing may lead to a below market value sales price, or even worse, no sale at all. Your home has the highest chance of selling when its price is reasonably established.
PRICED FOR THE PEAK
A property attracts the most interest when it’s first listed on the market. Pricing improperly for the initial listing will cause you to lose out on this peak interest period.
IF THE ASKING PRICE IS: THE PROPERTY APPEALS
ELEVATE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION
The largest number of potential buyers will view a newly listed home within the first 14 days on the market and the number will decrease as the days on the market increase. This pool of buyers includes home buyers just entering the market and more importantly, buyers working with REALTORS® who have already seen the existing inventory and have not found a home, making them eager to make an offer.
To take advantage of this increased level of traffic and buyer interest your property should be priced to sell at fair market value from the very start.
PEAK SELLING ACTIVITY
YOUR HOME’S VALUE
COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS
A comparative market analysis, or CMA, is a report that pulls data from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) based on buyer and seller activity in your area.
INFORMATION INCLUDED IN YOUR CMA:
• Comparable properties in your area that recently sold
• Comparable properties in your area that failed to sell
• Pending sales in your area
• Comparable active listings in your area
Your agent will use this information to develop a pricing and positioning strategy that creates a perception of value, makes your property competitive and generates excitement among buyers.
DON’T SETTLE FOR AVERAGE
Your home and your home sale needs are one-of-a-kind.
Using the unmatched resources of the Century 21® network, we will develop a custom plan.
PLAN INCLUDES:
• Provide you with proven, powerful and personal service
• Enable you to obtain the best possible sales price and terms for your home
• Close the sale in a smooth, timely manner
We are committed to your complete satisfaction and will represent your interests with the utmost care, honesty, integrity and discretion.
