TOM PLANT'S HOUSTON REAL ESTATE BLOG

I recently posted information provided by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) advising Sellers how to find the best real estate professional to market their home. NAR provided ten questions for a homeowner to ask. Those questions are shown below along with my answers.

Please take the time to read this information to understand why time and again Sellers choose Tom Plant to market their home because they believe I will deliver a better result.
If I can answer your questions or be of service please email me at tom@tomplant.com.

1. How long have you been selling homes?

I have been a licensed real estate professional in the State of Texas for eight years. During that time I have marketed scores of homes valued from $155,000 to $1.5 million. I focus upon homes in Houston’s close-in neighborhoods but have marketed homes as far away as The Woodlands.

Earlier for ten years I had my own business in which I assisted companies in improving their operating results.

I spent more than 20years in a variety of corporate positions including CEO of an international consumer products company and CIO of a Fortune 200 company. For more on my experience click HERE.

2. What designations do you hold?

I hold designations from Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) and Quality Service Certified (QSC)

3. How many homes did you sell last year?

In the past 12 months I have sold 21 homes, of which I represented Sellers for 16.

An agent who markets a hundred or more homes is not appropriate for the markets in which I work. There is a balance between proven expertise and the ability to provide customized marketing and attention.

4. How many days on average did it take you to sell homes?

Of the homes I marketed during the past 12 months, the lowest days on market (DOM) was 6, the highest 265 and the median 49. That means half the homes I marketed sold in 49 days or less.

5. How close were the asking and sales prices of the homes you sold?

Of the homes I marketed during the past 12 months, the lowest sales price to list price ratio was 90%, the highest 105% and the median 99%.

6. How will you market my home?

When you choose me to market your home, you will receive my undivided loyalty, complete confidentiality and the confidence that I will be looking out for your best interests. You will also receive the benefit of my extensive marketing experience, analysis and attention to detail combined with the market strength of Greenwood King Properties. When I market your home, I will:

• Meet with you in your home to fully understand your home and your objectives.
• Provide a Competitive Market Analysis which explains how homes in your neighborhood which recently have sold compare to your home.
• Provide a detailed marketing plan with specific dates and media for all advertisements, specific dates for Open Houses and other marketing details. Your marketing plan will include a minimum of six Houston Chronicle photo ads and other appropriate print media.
• Use a professional photographer to present your home at its best.
• Engage a professional to draw a floor plan to use in all marketing activities. The floor plan will be available to all who see your home in person as well as to all who view it on the Internet. Go to www.tomplant.com and click “My Listings” to see examples.
• Expose your home on HAR.com; REALTOR.com; greenwoodking.com; tomplant.com; chron.com; google.com; zillow.com; homes.com; cyberhomes.com; houston.org; houston.craigslist.org; and others that may be identified.
• Use a professionally printed, four page full color brochure to reflect the quality of your home.
• Provide an address specific web page: www.youraddress.com
  Use a professionally printed, four page full color brochure to reflect the quality of your home.
• Mail a professionally printed full color “Just Listed” card to my mailing list of more than 1,000 potential buyers.
• Report to you weekly on the market activity and interest in your home.
• Provide a secure website with login and password for you to view marketing activity for your home 24/7. View a sample marketing activity report.
• Provide a Quality Service Guarantee including third party survey and evaluation with results online.

7. Will you represent me exclusively?

Yes. When I agree to market a home, I commit 100% to the Seller. While I will show the home and try to have Buyers I represent buy it, if they want to make an offer I refer them to another agent in Greenwood King’s office. I will not write offers on properties I market.

8. How will you keep me informed?

In order for you to have confidence in my efforts and for you to make the necessary decisions, it is imperative for you to have full and timely knowledge about all that is being done to market your home. To provide you information, I will:

24/7 – Provide a secure website with login and password for you to access status of marketing activity including any showings and agent feedback for your home.

Weekly – Early each week I will communicate in your preferred manner (telephone, e-mail or fax) with complete report of activity for the past week including showings, advertising, Open Houses and website hits.

As needed – I will be available at all times by telephone to answer any questions or address your concerns. My office direct line is 713.942.6895 and my mobile telephone number is 713.907.7302.

9. Can you provide references?

I will be happy to provide references. You may also go to HAR CLIENT EXPERIENCE RATING or QSC RATING to read previous clients comments.

Here are some of my Selling client’s comments:

“Hooray for Tom Plant!
My husband and I were so delighted with the professional, attentive and caring manner in which Tom handled the sale of our house at 2119 Albans. The three of us were all on the same wave length from beginning to closing. Tom understood the type of buyer who would be interested in a contemporary home. In short, he wanted someone that would love it as we had for 19 years.”

“Tom Plant DELIVERS results and provides exceptional service: professional planning, communication, analysis and thorough follow up. Tom sets the bar for which all professionals strive…Ten stars for Tom Plant!!!”

“Tom Plant is one of the best business men we know. He gave us excellent advice & supurb attention.”

“Tom Plant is the most professional and responsive real estate agent I have ever worked with.”

“It was a pleasure working with him and as the opportunity arises, we will refer friends to him with great confidence.”

“Tom Plant impressed me when he first approached a house that I had for sale. His professionalism and interest in my property led me to list my home with him.”

“He was right on the money with his market value approach and was willing to work with me in getting the market value for the property. In the past I have sold and purchased six houses with various Houston agents. This sale, even though the most difficult, was the best and the most fun to sell thanks to Tom Plant.
If I have any additional real estate needs, I will not hesitate to call Tom Plant”

“Tom sold our house in 3 days at a fair price and expertly handled all of the complications that arose during the closing process – this was an easy transaction with a happy ending.”

“You have been a pleasure to deal with, always responsive and caring. After my experiences with the previous agents, it was even more a relief to work with someone so professional.
I will be happy to recommend you to anyone I know looking to buy or sell in Houston.”

“Working with you was a pleasure…(we) appreciated your expertise, negotiating abilities, and humane approach to what often can be frustrating and nerve-wracking.”

“It is so nice to have complete confidence in the person who is negotiating on one’s behalf. We won’t hesitate to recommend you to any of our friends seeking real estate guidance.”

10. Are you a REALTOR®?

Yes, I am a proud member in good standing of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR).

Greenwood King announced this week its Kirby Office Top Producers for the First Quarter 2010. Tom Plant, your Blogger, was among those named. This achievement was only possible with the support of my many clients and each of you who read this Blog.

Thank You!

My website tomdplant.com continues to increase in popularity. Since I began to keep statistics in April 2009, unique visitors per month have increased from approximately 200 to more than 2,000 in January 2010.

The content will continue to improve and to be analytical and informative about the residential real estate market in Houston’s close-in neighborhoods. It will continue to be YOUR SOURCE FOR VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSTON’S CLOSE-IN NEIGHBORHOOD HOMES

PAGE VIEWS on track to hit 15,000 and VISITORS on track to hit 4,000 in January.

My website tomdplant.com and Houston Real Estate Blog have increased in popularity since I began to measure web traffic in April 2009.

In April, 2009 the site had 239 Visitors. In January 2010 the site will have more than 4,000 Visitors.

In April, 2009 the site had 934 Page Views. In January 2010 the site will have more than 15,000 Page Views.

Much of the interest in the website has been generated by this Blog which endeavors to keep you among the most informed about Houston’s Close-in Neighborhood Homes. If you ever have a question or comment either comment on the post on the Blog or use the link to go to the website and email me.

To stay up to date SUBSCRIBE to my Blog and you will receive a notice every time there is a new post.

                                        TOM D. PLANT – REPRESENTING YOU

When you choose me to represent you in purchasing a home, you will receive my undivided loyalty, complete confidentiality and the confidence that I will be looking out for your best interests. You will also receive the benefit of my proven real estate expertise, extensive business experience, detailed analysis and attention to client’s need.

When I represent you as a Buyer, I will:

• Listen carefully to understand your objectives, criteria and limitations.

• Provide extensive information on properties we decide to visit, including MLS information, property tax records, flood map, and Sellers’ Disclosure , when available.

• Offer you advice and opinions based upon analysis, experience and my knowledge of the market.

• Develop with you negotiating and bargaining strategies that will work in your best interest.

• Before making an offer, provide to you a Comparable Market Analysis with an explanation of the comparable sales.

• Advise you on an initial offer.

• Advise you about location subtleties affecting market price and future resell potential, e.g., flood plain, traffic noise, planned road construction or known new construction plans.

• Prepare and review all documents with you, explaining the issues and advising how to protect your interests.

• Assist in due diligence and manage all aspects of the purchase procedure.

• Provide an estimate of closing costs and explain the closing procedures.

• Provide any other assistance necessary to achieve a successful purchase.

• Provide Quality Service Guarantee including third party survey and evaluation with results online.

                                        TOM D. PLANT BUYERS’ COMMENTS

” Tom Plant is undoubtedly one of your best Realtors! He treated our purchase as if he were buying a home for himself. He gave us great advice and helped us find the best house at the best possible price within the Loop. Tom was highly informative, patient and caring to a degree that made us feel more like friends than customers. We would highly recommend Tom Plant to anyone looking for a home in Houston.”

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for all you did for us. You never displayed anything except the highest concern during our year-long search for the perfect house – and this house is almost perfect…We think you are the perfect Realtor”.

“We truly believe that our Realtor, Tom Plant,…must be the ‘over the top’ finest Realtor. Tom is so professional yet at the same time such a warm person…I know you realize how fortunate you are to have him. He always gave us great advice yet did not hesitate to disagree with us. We are so lucky to have him as our Realtor. We will always recommend him to others.”

“We think that Greenwood King is very fortunate to have you…Tom, you exceeded our expectations…We thank you for your professionalism…It is not just a job for you. You want to help your clients find their perfect house – not just write contracts…All your background and experiences come through and that is what makes you a super Realtor.”

“Working with you was a pleasure…(we) appreciated your expertise, negotiating abilities, and humane approach to what often can be frustrating and nerve-wracking. It is so nice to have complete confidence in the person who is negotiating on one’s behalf. We won’t hesitate to recommend you to any of our friends seeking real estate guidance.”

“Tom Plant did a great job! He figured out exactly what we wanted and didn’t push anything on us”

“Tom was amazing. We have never experienced that kind of service and genuine concern from any other real estate agent…….ever.”

When you entrust the marketing of your home to me, you should expect much more than placing the Listing in MLS and putting up a sign. But, how much more? Here is what I provide when I market your home. You should expect nothing less from the agent whom you choose one of your most valuable assets.

• Meet with you in your home to fully understand your home and your objectives.

• Provide a Competitive Market Analysis which explains how homes in your neighborhood which recently have sold compare to your home.

• Provide a detailed marketing plan with specific dates and media for all advertisements, specific dates for Open Houses and other marketing details. Your marketing plan will include a minimum of six Houston Chronicle photo ads and other appropriate print media.

• Use a professional photographer to present your home at its best.

• Engage a professional to draw a floor plan to use in all marketing activities. The floor plan will be available to all who see your home in person as well as to all who view it on the Internet. Go to www.tomdplant.com and click “My Listings” to see examples.

• Expose your home on www.HAR.com, www.Greenwoodking.com, www.Realtor.com and other websites.

• Use a professionally printed, four page full color brochure to reflect the quality of your home.

• Mail a professionally printed full color “Just Listed” card to my mailing list of more than 1,000 potential buyers.

• Report to you weekly on the market activity and interest in your home.

• Provide a secure website with login and password for you to view marketing activity for your home 24/7.

• Provide a Quality Service Guarantee including third party survey and evaluation with results online.

TOM PLANT treats every purchase and sale of a home as an important business transaction. Tom is adept at utilizing the market strength of Greenwood King Properties with his experience, analysis and attention to detail to achieve proven results. With Tom, real estate is all business. Tom is a native Texan who fell in love with Houston the day he arrived to enroll at Rice University. Since then he has lived throughout the United States and in Australia. When the opportunity arose, he chose to return to his favorite city, Houston Texas.

• A consistent Greenwood King Top Producer
• Graduate Realtor Institute, GRI
• Quality Service Certified, QSC

Education:
Rice University – Bachelor of Engineering, Civil Engineering
Rice University – Master of Engineering, Civil Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management – Master of Science in Management, Alfred P. Sloan Fellow

Previous Experience:
President and Owner of Management Firm providing management support to troubled companies – Richmond, Virginia; Miami Lakes, Florida; and Houston, Texas.

Chief Information Officer, James River Corporation – Richmond, Virginia.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty. Limited – Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

General Manager of Business Units conducting business throughout the world, Kimberly-Clark Corporation – Neenah, Wisconsin and Atlanta, Georgia

Vice President responsible for Commercial and Residential real estate development nationally for Santa Fe Land Improvement Company, Santa Fe Industries – Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.TOMDPLANT.COM

Along with more than 22,000 other real estate professionals in the United States, I participate in the Quality Service Certification Process. After every transaction in which I represent either the Buyer or the Seller, my client receives a survey from the QSC organization and returns it to QSC when it is completed. QSC then posts the results on line for all to see. My clients have been very kind and consistently given me high ratings. To see my ratings go to:

 http://www.qualityservice.org/search.aspx?SearchHideHideable=true&IndustryID=2&FirstName=tom&LastName=plant&CompanyName=Company+Name&Franchise=&City=City&State=&Country=US&SearchSubmitByLocation=true

The President of QSC has issued this press release:

Real estate professional, Tom D. Plant of Greenwood King Properties, Houston, Texas, has received national recognition as Agent of the Month by Quality Service Certification, Inc.  Tom was selected for this honor from among QSC’s 22,000+ members.  

Singled out because of his results from customer satisfaction surveys administered by Leading Research Corporation (LRC), Tom has attained an almost flawless record of consistently earning 100% client service satisfaction.   He was granted the Quality Service Certified^® Platinum status, representing the highest level of service achievement in the real estate industry.  Late last year, Tom was recognized as one of the Best of the Business, an honor bestowed on the top 250 real estate service providers in North America.    

Client feedback from the surveys becomes part of the agent’s credentials.  An overall satisfaction rating is displayed on a consumer website (www.QualityService.org) where sellers and buyers have the ability to select a real estate professional based upon each agent’s validated record of service satisfaction.

Plant explained why he participates in QSC. “My participation in Quality Service Certification serves two very different but equally important roles. First, the independent evaluation of my service instill credibility to my marketing efforts. QSC also provides me timely feedback so that I can maintain my high level of client service.”

“No professional achievement is as important as the delivery of exceptionally satisfying service, and the QSC status is the only recognition in the real estate industry based upon independently validated, measurable service quality and customer satisfaction results.  100% service satisfaction like Tom Plant has achieved is just awesome,” says Larry D. Romito, President of QSC.