Experience Matters

Please welcome Mr. Gene DeRossett to the Done Right Real Estate team. We are proud to have him and are so blessed to call him a friend.

Gene was born and raised in the greater Ann Arbor area and is committed to his local community and the residents that live there. Over the last 40 years, the real estate industry has gone through many changes, and continues to become more complex for buyers and sellers.

Just like he has been committed to our local communities, when Gene works with buyers and sellers, their goals and needs are always his first priority. Gene says “We work together and partner towards success ensuring a simple and seamless process”.

Here’s what some of his clients have had to say:

I HAVE KNOWN GENE FOR OVER 40 YEARS AS A REMODELER, AS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, AND MOST RECENTLY AS MY REAL ESTATE AGENT. AND ALSO, FOR THE ENTIRE TIME AS A FRIEND.

He did a yeoman’s amount of mental and physical “heavy lifting” while aiding me in the presentation of my house and property. In addition to using his abundant experience and energy in dealing with potential buyers and their agents along with all the associated steps required in the process.

His advice and emotional support in helping me make decisions regarding how to downsize for my move to a smaller residence, and help in dispensing of the other items eased the entire process for me. Even dealing with the occasional hiccups along the way.

Through it all, Gene helped balance the stressful periods over the approximately four months from inception to completion, with many pleasurable conversation and experiences working together toward a common goal. He was always eager to discuss with me and answer all my questions (lots of them) and educate me about the entire scope of the process. He always treated me like the individual I am and not just another “seller”. The end result was fantastic in that the buyer could not have been nicer and I am very pleased that they will get to enjoy what my wife and I had created and enjoyed for so many years.

James R. Thornton

WE NEVER THOUGHT WHEN YOU BUILT OUR HOUSE IN 1978 THAT 38 YEARS LATER YOU WOULD BE SELLING IT FOR US. WE SELECTED YOU TO BUILD IT FOR US FOR THE SAME REASONS WE SELECTED YOU TO SELL IT – YOUR HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.

The selling worked out just as well as the building. You have us the right amount of push to get us and it ready.

Because of your years of experience, you were able to connect us to the qualified contractors needed to prepare our home for sale. Your help in getting them to schedule us was simply invaluable. We would never have been able to meet the timeline we laid out for ourselves without that help.

Thank you for all the time you took answering all our questions. holding open houses, doing all the follow-up with people who showed an interested and your frequent visits to assure us we were on the right track.

We feel that you are the ultimate professional and can’t think of anything you could have done better. We think anyone buying or selling a home should definitely use you as their agent.

Thank you again,

Mary & Ken Issacson

Cute Wixom Ranch Listed and Under Contract in Only 3 Days!

Life moves a little slower in this bright and airy ranch tucked away in a neighborhood established almost 100 years ago as the Detroit Finnish Co-Operative Summer Camp. Watch birds and other wildlife from the idilic, covered front porch, or enjoy a barbecue on the deck. Three bedrooms, including a large primary and two smaller rooms, in a split ranch floorplan. Perfectly-sized living and dining rooms and bright kitchen complete the home. One bath, but possibly room for another in the laundry/utility room. Lots of updates, including newer roof. Three car garage has space for a workshop or project car.

How to Make an Offer that Sellers Notice

Great properties in popular neighborhoods are going quickly these days. If priced right, many homes receive multiple offers. How can you make yours stand out to the seller? Here are a few tips.

1. Make sure you are Pre-Approved or have proof of funds – Proving to the seller that you can actually afford to purchase the home is not optional.

2. Do Not Low-Ball – The quickest way to turn off a seller and guarantee you don’t get the house is to make a low-ball offer. Make your offer price reasonable, possibly well over the list price. Your agent can advise you on price based on market knowledge.

3. Increase the Earnest Money – Earnest Money Deposits (EMD) or good faith money shows that you are willing to put your money where your mouth is. If you plan on putting 20% down when you close on the home, why not put the whole amount down with the offer.

4. Remove Contingencies – Making the offer contingent on too many items may but you at a competitive disadvantage. Sometimes leaving contingencies out of the initial offer can get you a leg up on your competition. Before waiving your rights to inspections, make sure you consult your agent, and possibly your attorney.

Having a plan before starting to look at houses will make your decision-making easier, and you’ll be prepared to make an offer quickly.

Are You Ready to List Your House?

I like to start each listing appointment with what appears on the surface to be a simple question. “Where are you going?”. I ask this question to gauge the preparedness of the seller. If they don’t have an immediate answer, I ask what they will do if we list today and get an offer tomorrow. Do they have some place to go? Are they going to buy another home? Are they going to rent or live with family or friends until they find a place?

Having an answer to this question is critical when selling your home. If you wait until you list your home, or get an offer, before planning, your stress level will go through the roof. This adds unnecessary complications to the selling process that may even affect your bottom line. You might be totally freaked out when you get that offer that you unintentionally (or intentionally) sabotage the deal to buy more time. I’m pretty sure this wasn’t the way you pictured things when you decided to sell.

Maybe the seller has a clear idea and we can go ahead and get their house sold. If not, maybe we hold off for just a while to allow the seller to make the needed arrangements.

I told you it sounded simple enough. So, where are you going?