A guide to selling your home.

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough

Selling your home can be a treacherous, stormy ride or a sail through calm waters. It all depends on the partner you choose to navigate for you.

Here’s why Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough is your perfect partner...

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough

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...a prestigious company; a tradition of service

...a prestigious company; a tradition of service

EXPECT MORE

A company of trusted advisors

It gives our clients great comfort to know that, above all else, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough is a company of trusted advisors. Simply put, our greatest strength is our ability to sell your home for the best possible price in the shortest amount of time. To achieve this goal, we listen to our clients, study the market intently and work harder than any real estate brokerage around. We are practiced communicators, skilled negotiators and persistent closers.

Finally, we are TRUSTED ADVISORS. We place great importance on delivering trusted real estate advice at every stage of a transaction. After all, the stated mission of Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough is to create outstanding customer experiences at every point of contact.

How we got hereFor more than six decades Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel has been providing its clients with the kind of high-quality service, keen insight and knowledgeable and attentive representation that Michigan homebuyers have come to rely on. Following the 2009 affiliation with world-renowned residential franchise Coldwell Banker Real Estate and the subsequent acquisition of local brokerage Coldwell Banker Schweitzer Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Hoppough, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel is poised to capitalize on new and expanded resources that have established the firm as one of the largest and most influential brokerages in the market. Today, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel operates 15 offices in Michigan and employs approximately 450 real estate agents. The strength of the brand and the company’s reputation are well known throughout the region, and the firm has emerged as the premiere name in Michigan residential real estate.

For Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel CEO Kelly Sweeney, who has been with the company since 1985, the firm’s deep Michigan roots and rich tradition of superior service and ironclad integrity are a defining factor in separating Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel from the competition. The company’s mission statement, “to create outstanding customer experiences at every point of contact”, reflects a corporate culture of skilled, personal service and attention to detail that makes every aspect of a Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel relationship—from first phone call to the closing table and everything in between—a positive, collaborative and rewarding experience.

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel’s headquarters has stood in the part of Birmingham, Michigan for more than 60 years. New branch offices were opened in Rochester in 1968, and West Bloomfield in the mid 1970’s, and subsequent expansions have created a network of offices across the region, from Grosse Pointe to Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids. Today, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel continues to offer a comprehensive range of brokerage services with a level of excellence befitting its longstanding traditions of quality and service.

Our roots are deep A timeline of our remarkable growth

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel pays attention to the bottom line by operating with the understanding that a client-focused business model will result in financial success. The full-service high-quality “community brokerage” that Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel has built over the years has generated significant market share by doing what they do best: helping customers reach their goals.

*As the role of the Realtor has evolved from gatekeeper of information to interpreter of data and client advocate, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel’s team of professionals has evolved along with changing consumer expectations. The brokerage has assembled a team of experienced managers and passionate, diligent, highly trained sales professionals.

1950 Watt, Manuel and Snyder

1953 Weir, Manuel, Snyder and

Ranke Realtors

2000 Kelly Sweeney

aquires company

2005 Weir Manuel

Realtors

2009 Company acquires Coldwell Banker

Schweitzer

2009 Coldwell Banker

Weir Manuel

2011 CBWM acquires Coldwell Banker

Hoppough

With Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough, relocation is a “moving” experience

A relocating home buyer typically must contend with a narrow window of time and a host of overwhelming details, adding to the pressure of a job change and move.

That’s why our relocation services are truly concierge-level: we take the time to assess the needs of transferees and personally guide them throughout the relocation process. We take away the stress by showing them only those homes that are perfect for their lifestyles.

So you as a seller will see truly qualified buyers who are receptive to your unique home.

We are a member of Cartus, the nation’s leading real estate referral network, consisting of approximately 450 principal brokerages and 500 associate brokers who bring buyers to you.

Through Cartus and our collective relocation efforts, we bring thousands of potential buyers to our listings.

Corporate ClientsHere are just some of the corporate clients, relocation companies and affinity partners from which CBWM Relocation generates home buyers.

The power of our parent company, Coldwell Banker®

• Consistently at the forefront of the real estate industry. • 3300 offices in more than 49 countries and almost 97,000 sales associates

internationally. • One in eight home sales in North America involves a Coldwell Banker agent.• ColdwellBanker.com is the most visited national real estate brand on the

web.• YouTube channel Coldwell Banker® On Location, launched in 2009, was a

first in the industry. It promotes listing, agent and community videos.• Coldwell Banker University® courses keeps sales associates on the leading

edge while providing them with ongoing accreditation, making them the most professional and educated in the industry.

• The Coldwell Banker Learning program was also recently named in the 2010 Training Magazine’s top 125 list for best overall training programs.

• Two-time winner of the Inman Innovator Award.•

...a trusted advisor and team to get you on your way

...a trusted advisor and team to get you on your way

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Pricing your homeThe value of your home is viewed differently by the tax assessor, by the appraiser - and by you, not to mention by prospective buyers depending on their needs. But it is the market that really determines the selling price of your home.

Your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associate will perform a Comparative Market Analysis that compares your home to similar properties - active and recently sold. It takes into account factors such as location, price, features and property condition.

But our sales associates look far beyond the surface, taking into account events like price reductions or relistings. Their first-hand experience will determine how unique features of your home will impact its value to potential buyers.

A CMA TAKES INTO ACCOUNT:

PROPERTY FEATURES• Location • Livable square footage and lot dimensions• Age and condition of property• Unique features

MARKET CONDITIONS• Supply and demand• Interest rates and availability of financing• State of the economy• Seasonal demand

COMPETITION• Price, location, features and condition• Market activity• Market time• Price changes, relistings

The perils of pricing improperly

PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING. If a home is overpriced, it may languish on the market to the point where it is perceived as a “lemon” by prospective buyers and agents - eventually selling for far less than it should.

Because those first few weeks are crucial to the final outcome, your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associate will give you trusted advice about a realistic asking price that will get your home sold at the right price.

Getting readyDecor is subjective: some like ultra modern, others prefer traditional. You really can’t decorate your home to please everyone. But one thing is universal: less is more. A neutral decor and an absence of clutter show your home in its best light.

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough will help you see your home from a buyer’s perspective and suggest ways to enhance its marketability. In most cases, that will not mean spending a lot of time or money - just enough to create that crucial good first impression.

Here are just a few tips to show your home in its best light to prospective buyers. Needless to say, the more work you put into enhancing its appearance, the better the impression. Be sure to consult your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associate to find out what improvements are

START WITH THE OUTSIDE: CURB APPEAL IS KEY!

Your lawn and the home’s exterior is your first chance to reel in buyers. If they see an overgrown yard or unattractive chain-link fence, they’ll move on to the next house.

• Your front door gives a virtual first impression to the prospect and agent. Be sure it is scrubbed clean or painted if necessary.

• Seasonal potted plants, door wreaths, a new welcome mat, new mailbox and new house numbers are small investments but the rewards are great.

• Tidy up the grounds, patio, decks, driveway and garage.

• Keep lawn trimmed, watered and edged. • Inspect all plants. Prune bushes and trees.

Keep plants from blocking windows.

FINISH WITH THE INSIDE: MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION!

• Paint any room needing attention• Clean windows, carpets or drapes• Clear all unnecessary objects from kitchen

and bath counters. • Clear the refrigerator of magnets, messages,

pictures, etc. • Coordinated towels and other accessories

are a nice touch.• Fill all light sockets with high-wattage bulbs

to give your home a glowing warmth.

Preparing your home:

In general, try to look at your home “through the buyer’s eyes” as though you’ve never seen it. Any time or money spent on the above items is likely to bring you more money in return, and should result in a faster sale.

Staging is a term that comes from movie and stage production, where a room is decorated artfully to elicit a certain reaction - a sense of calm, excitement, grandiosity, etc. The art of staging is now being used in real estate.

Staging can be as simple as changing the arrangement of your furniture, or as complex as repainting walls, resurfacing counters or having a room completely restaged by a professional. Your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associate can give you some specific suggestions for staging your home, or help you decide if you would benefit from a professional stager.

Setting the stage

...a marketing effort exceeding all expectations

...a marketing effort exceeding all expectations

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Show and tellOnce a home is listed by Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough it’s time to show and tell. We’ll show your home to the world and tell them about it whenever the opportunity arises. We know that exposure is key.

Many brokers aren’t equipped to maximize your home’s exposure to the marketplace and, quite frankly, when they don’t, they are not doing a good job of selling your home. Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associates are among the best-equipped in the world, with:

• An exhaustive network keeps thousands of West Central Michigan Realtors® in the loop and up-to-date on the latest sales and listing activity.

• Your home will be accessible to our Realtor® network within 24 hours of listing with us.

• 48-72 hours later your home is on hundreds of real estate websites including most of our Realtor® network brokerage sites.

• By the time your home hits the broader market it has already been showcased to more than 400 of our top-producing sales professionals through a series of email alerts and exclusive previews.

• Through our full-service in-house marketing department, your home is showcased before the largest possible audience of qualified buyers.

Engaging prospects every day

Our marketing platform uses strategies that surpass the expectations of today’s demanding customer. Whether it’s online, on the air, or in print, we’ve developed a marketing program that brings buyers to you.

• Our award-winning marketing department provides your agent with an abundance of customized materials unique to your home.

• Online, we have a 24/7 marketing presence maximized by our relationships with Realtor.com, Trulia, Google and more.

• Direct-mail campaigns using e-cards and e-newsletters are designed to provide you with carefully targeted prospects.

• Property specific websites with sign-riders directing passersby to your home’s own website.

• Company-wide open house events stimulate tremendous activity and are promoted heavily online, in print and via social media.

• The for sale sign we place at your home not only identifies you as a client of the most prestigious brokerage in West Central Michigan but also brings qualified prospects: most property-specific inquires are the direct result of on-site signs.

• Mobile Real Estate ID: a cutting-edge tool that ensures any potential buyer can access property information, pictures and contact information right from their mobile phone 24/7 .

The reach of the internet

of home buyers begin their search online97%

• The National Association of Realtors reports that more than 90% of homebuyers begin their search online.

• CBWM.com has more than 30,000 unique visitors each month.• Every listing is displayed with large photos, maps and links to virtual and

video tours. • The “My CB Weir Manuel” search function emails your listing directly to

buyers when it matches their search criteria. • As the most visited national real estate brand website, ColdwellBanker.com

exposes our listings to more buyers than any other! • ColdwellBanker.com was first to offer a real estate mobile application and

a unique YouTube.com channel, “On Location”.• Hundreds of thousands of buyers are pulled from other popular sites:

Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Yahoo.com, Zillow.com and many more.• Through the power of Internet Data Exchange (IDX), listings get even more

exposure on some 750 real estate brokerage websites.

The power of the written wordColdwell Banker’s multi-million dollar annual print advertising budget reinforces our web presence through corporate advertising in local and national publications - that means more exposure for our listings.

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough is the only brokerage in town doing coordinated, mass open house events, promoted by full-page print ads. These company-wide events, bring buyers out in large numbers, right to your doorstep through engaging print ads in highly targeted publications.

Our Previews Collection is unique in reaching a diverse audience of upscale buyers.

This marketing program leverages Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough’s unmatched resources and relationships to meet the needs of West Central Michigan’s luxury property owners. Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough has successfully marketed and sold hundreds of millions of dollars in high-end real estate throughout the area and are market leaders in the most affluent communities in Michigan.

The Previews Collection program is further bolstered by the power of Coldwell Banker Previews® - one of the most prestigious luxury real estate marketing enhancements. Three of the top ten homes that sold for more than $12 million in 2010 were listed by Coldwell Banker. The most expensive celebrity real estate in the us “The Manor” is listed by Coldwell Banker at $150 million.

The Previews Collection

...a commitment to remain your trusted advisor

...a commitment to remain your trusted advisor

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CONFIDENTIALITY: Our fiduciary duty to our clients begins and ends with confidentiality, which is vital to the integrity of the deal and to our reputation as professionals.

RESPONSIVENESS: Time is of the essence! Your sales professionals will expedite the presentation of offers and counteroffers, and quickly act upon any opportunity.

RESOURCEFULNESS: Real estate sales can be complicated. As trusted advisors we examine all angles of a transaction and create strategies and solutions.

COMMUNICATION: As negotiations progress, your sales associate will be on call to update you.

STRENGTH: Our goal is to achieve an outcome that meets or exceeds your expectations.

We negotiate for you!Your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associate will conduct negotiations with professionalism, attention to detail and a loyal representation of your interests. The following are principles your sales associate use in every negotiation.

What to expect in a negotiationExperienced agents, like ours, understand that negotiations sometimes begin well before an offer is made. Crafting an offer that is in your best interest requires a thorough understanding of your explicit needs. Our trusted advisors take the time to talk with you about what is most important and can resolve issues like:

PRICE: Do you accept the price offered by the buyer? Do you counter with a higher one? Is it too high? Is the buyer’s offer too low? Your sales associate knows the market and the value of your home and will advise you about what price will be acceptable to both so that the deal doesn’t fall through. HOME INSPECTION: Buyers will have a licensed home inspector do a thorough investigation of the inside and outside of your home and property. Inspectors are paid by the buyer so they will be overly diligent in finding every crack and loose nail. Your sales associate can help you and the buyer decide who will be responsible for what repair. MORTGAGE: Typically, buyers will obtain a mortgage to buy your home. Your sales associate will review it in detail and advise you of the terms an time-line and how they will impact the transaction.

LEGAL ISSUES: Buyers may have a lineup of experts advising them. But, rest assured, you will have the highest level of representation from your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough team.

CLOSING DATE: Your sales associate will negotiate a closing or possession date that is satisfactory to both buyer and seller, as they can be as important as the price.

Celebrate! The closing is complete; the keys to your home have been handed over to its new owner.

Now, your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associate will help you tie up any loose ends.

Now, you may want to begin a new journey: finding a house of your dreams. Perhaps your sales associate and you have already begun - or even completed - that goal. Or maybe you’re still at the “thinking about it” stage.

One thing is sure: your Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough sales associate and you will have formed a partnership that can last a long time - even a lifetime.

Enjoy the adventure.

Ann Arbor/YpsilantiColdwell Banker Weir Manuel305 East Eisenhower, Suite 100Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108Phone: 734-930-0200Fax: 734-930-0552

Birmingham/BloomfieldColdwell Banker Weir Manuel294 E. Brown StreetBirmingham, Michigan 48009Phone: 248-644-6300Fax: 248-644-7972

Clarkston/North OaklandColdwell Banker Weir Manuel7151 N Main StClarkston, Michigan 48346Phone: 248-625-1000Fax: 248-625-9408

Coldwell Banker Realty Solutions900 W. UniversityRochester Hills, Michigan 48309Phone: 888-495-7400

Commerce/West BloomfieldColdwell Banker Weir Manuel2600 Union Lake Road, Suite 150Commerce Township, Michigan 48382Phone: 248-360-1425Fax: 248-360-2840

CrystalColdwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough831 S. Main PO Box 306Crystal, Michigan 48818Phone: 989-235-6000Fax: 989-235-3373

GreenvilleColdwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough10728 W. Carson City RoadGreenville, Michigan 48838Phone: 616-754-9100Fax: 616-754-9145

The Grosse PointesColdwell Banker Weir Manuel20902 Mack AvenueGrosse Pointe Woods, Michigan 48236Phone: 313-886-4200Fax: 313-343-5291

IoniaColdwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough319 W. MainIonia, Michigan 48846Phone: 616-527-2800Fax: 616-527-0350

LakeviewColdwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough9350 M-46Lakeview, Michigan 48850Phone: 989-352-6938Fax: 989-352-7791

LowellColdwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough11630 E. FultonLowell, Michigan 49331Phone: 616-897-0500Fax: 616-897-3571

Macomb CenterColdwell Banker Weir Manuel22537 Hall RoadMacomb, Michigan 48042Phone: 586-739-7300Fax: 586-649-6001

Northville/NoviColdwell Banker Weir Manuel201 CadyCentreNorthville, Michigan 48167Phone: 248-347-3050Fax: 248-347-6791

Plymouth/CantonColdwell Banker Weir Manuel177 N. Main Street, Suite 100Plymouth, Michigan 48170Phone: 734-453-6800Fax: 734-453-3245

Rochester/TroyColdwell Banker Weir Manuel900 W. UniversityRochester, Michigan 48307Phone: 248-651-3500Fax: 248- 651-3293

StantonColdwell Banker Weir Manuel Hoppough224 W. Main StreetStanton, Michigan 48888Phone: 989-831-5288Fax: 989-831-4511

HeadquartersColdwell Banker Weir Manuel2565 W. Maple Rd., Ste. 100Troy, Michigan 48084Phone: 248-644-6300Fax: 248-642-3021