A year ago, Joe Wagner and Michael Crossman, co-owners of New View Construction, in Brunswick, Ohio, updated their marketing plan and decided to form some professional alliances.

One of the groups they targeted was real estate agents. “Especially today, with homes staying on the market for a year-plus, realtors look on us as advisers,” Wagner says. “They are trying to position themselves as experts, and we can help them do that.”

He and Crossman developed a home-repair checklist that brokers can use to initiate a conversation with their clients. The checklist can be used by both the listing agent, who can review it to see what should be done to prepare the house for a sale, as well as the buying agent, who can help a client review the cost of updates before they make an offer.

New View Construction provides estimates on the checked items, and then the company is positioned to do the work. Though many of these jobs are small maintenance and repair items, the remodelers are hoping that they will lead to larger jobs. “We get our foot in the door,” Crossman says. “Making them our clients is the motivation.”

Crossman and Wagner have presented the checklist to agents at open houses and at meetings held at real estate offices. “We talk to the entire group and market this form as something that will help them sell homes,” Wagner says.

—Nina Patel, senior editor, REMODELING.

Your Card HereNew View Constructionís website has an information page for real estate agents with a link from which agents can download the home-repair checklist. Co-owner Joe Wagner includes his card and provides a place for agents to attach their cards. “Our goal is for [realtors] to incorporate [the list] into their arsenal of tools,” Wagner says.
Your Card HereNew View Constructionís website has an information page for real estate agents with a link from which agents can download the home-repair checklist. Co-owner Joe Wagner includes his card and provides a place for agents to attach their cards. “Our goal is for [realtors] to incorporate [the list] into their arsenal of tools,” Wagner says.
Sales AdviceIf a home has been on the market for six months to a year, a seller might ask the listing agent for his or her advice on what they can do to help sell the house. “We can do a little makeover on the countertop or flooring,” Wagner says, noting that a $1,000 upgrade in the kitchen can significantly increase the homeís “wow” factor.
Sales AdviceIf a home has been on the market for six months to a year, a seller might ask the listing agent for his or her advice on what they can do to help sell the house. “We can do a little makeover on the countertop or flooring,” Wagner says, noting that a $1,000 upgrade in the kitchen can significantly increase the homeís “wow” factor.
Informed DecisionIf the buyer is considering adding a master suite before they move in, New View Construction will provide an estimate for the project. “When the agent calls us, we give them a ballpark number,” Wagner says. “Then they can make an informed decision about an offer.”
Informed DecisionIf the buyer is considering adding a master suite before they move in, New View Construction will provide an estimate for the project. “When the agent calls us, we give them a ballpark number,” Wagner says. “Then they can make an informed decision about an offer.”
Electrical UpdatesCo-owners Michael Crossman and Joe Wagner recently updated the list to include an “electrical panel” checkbox because agents said that many buyers check to see if the panel has old fuses or updated circuit breakers. They also added “electrical plugs & switches” to the checklist because, Crossman says, “for 50 cents a device, we can make the home look fresh.”
Electrical UpdatesCo-owners Michael Crossman and Joe Wagner recently updated the list to include an “electrical panel” checkbox because agents said that many buyers check to see if the panel has old fuses or updated circuit breakers. They also added “electrical plugs & switches” to the checklist because, Crossman says, “for 50 cents a device, we can make the home look fresh.”