Orange County Real Estate, BanCorp Realty Leads the Way

A Humble Plug For BanCorp Real Estate Group

BanCorp Realty was created to be an excellent real estate company. Superior in all we do demonstrated not through arrogance or pride, but rather through a sense of humility shown by our service to others instead of selves. Our determination lies not in conforming to the expectations of the existing Orange County real estate market, but rather in redefining how a homeowner interacts with their real estate firm, from start to finish, from top to bottom, from leading-edge technology to authenticity in customer service. 

BanCorp knows that we miss out on 100% opportunities we might have had because of the risk we didn’t take.  We also know that risk taking is inherently subject to frustration, even failure. Otherwise, it would be called sure-thing-taking. BanCorp REG is not here to continue in the status quo framework which is all too present within the Orange County real estate market. Instead we have decided to lead from the front by affecting change to a market that which has quietly been begging, even pleading for a truly entrepreneurial business model for years, even decades. BanCorp Real Estate Group is a business in action, a business in motion that is making a difference with everyone that we have the opportunity to come across on our separate, yet mutual paths.

A model designed first and foremost to allow the homeowner and home-buyer to share in the rewards of their success in home ownership. Allowing technology to drive the fundamentals of the real estate sales process is the building block which almost every real estate company is founded upon. BanCorp REG is committed to making this technology even easier and faster™. Once the technology has reached its limit in the real estate process, BanCorp believes that people doing business with people will never change. Integrity behind the ‘glitz and glamour’ is everything. Where a simple ‘yes’ means ‘yes’, and a ‘no’ means ‘no’, a company must be able to be taken for its word.

Integrity is BanCorp's strategic advantage. Where others in the real estate industry may act with integrity most times, or act with integrity in most way, We will stand alone at the top by acting with integrity at all times and in all ways. Integrity means walking our talk, honoring our commitments, telling the truth as fast as we can, leading from the front, under promising and over delivering, paying attention to details, giving back, and treating good people with kindness, consideration and care.

We realize that there must be a balance between our company’s pursuit of possibilities with the fulfillment of our corporate responsibility in each action we take, each word that we speak. Reaching the lofty goals set by this organization will only occur through treating each step in the real estate process with equal attention and enthusiasm, big or small. Every detail in the real estate method requires action not passivity. Purpose-driven action motivated by a functional, people-driven plan, not perpetual trial and error.

We believe that if you are prepared as a company and you are willing to put every ounce of energy that you have to a purpose-driven effort, willing to do what it takes, it is not a risk! We just have to figure out how to get there: At BanCorp, there is always a way to get there. If we want to stand out in the real estate industry we can either be different, or we can be excellent – we choose both.

Orange County Real Estate - It Is Always Something!

I.I.A.S.

One of the great lessons that people learn while going through the process of a home search or selling a home, is that everything is broken. And because everything is broken, we can usually break things down into four simple words “It Is Always Something”. This is also a great lesson for our lives, our relationships and for business. Nothing in this world goes the way it is supposed to… Everything is messed up and people, machines, businesses and everything else you can think of are always making mistakes or breaking down. Let’s face it we are all a bunch of knuckleheads! Everything is broken!

If you think about it, there is a great deal of truth in this statement. Our economy is broken, our ecosystem is broken, the United Nations is broken, heck, my bathroom shower is broken. Nothing is perfect, and if we take this back to a real estate related article, when you in the process of buying or preparing to list your home, if you are presently speaking with an agent that you have even the slightest question in, integrity, character or capability this “It Is Always Something” reality might lightly be a big headache later on, even though they might make good promises and have great smiles.

If you have had your home listed for a while now and find yourself muttering “It Is Always Something” (or something similar to that) all too frequently, it might be time to part ways. It is never a fun experience, but most likely this is your largest asset, a bruised feeling is okay.  “It It Always Something” will never go away (sorry). However, the “It Is Always Something” in a real estate transaction should never be because of no, or lack of offers, or if buying, no acceptance of offers.

If you are looking for a home on your own, or if you have listed your home, for sale by owner, I highly suggest you contact a BanCorp Realtor® to list your property. In the grand scheme of things, there is too much at stake to save you a wimpy 3%. You see if you are searching on your own by bouncing around between open houses you are searching by ‘Trial and Error”. And when you search by ‘trial and error’ your “It Is Always Something” become much more frequent, as you simply aren’t seeing the whole market, and are missing out on other massive amounts of information. Your search will likely become extended and frustrating. This is quite the opposite of easier and faster.

So, how do you eliminate the “It Is Always Something” in a home search? I believe the first way is for the person to make the conscious decision to start with a plan with agent they decide to work with, and then ‘run the race’ under the rules that they determine together, not the rules and expectations set by someone else (the entire real estate market with all its personalities and moving parts). Just as a simple example:  You set your criteria at; maximum purchase price $800,000, detached, full or partial ocean view, minimum 12,000 sq. ft lot, deferred maintenance is okay-you are an excellent handyman).

You and your agent agree to stay to plan. You find the home that meets your criteria (it isn’t perfect, but it meets your requirements). It is a single family, detached, single-story home, with a pool on a quarter-acre lot with a decent view of the ocean - it needs some repairs. You set the offer at $750,000 and decided you will not budge. You will purchase the home ‘as is’ and will place $40,000 into escrow today. If the seller won’t accept you offer within 72 hours, you will pull your offer, and there will be no counter-offers (you make sure that your agent lets there agent aware of this). Now that is a specific goal – a person could be even more specific.

In this very generic example, the key is staying with your resolve, sticking to your guns, not flinching. Playing the games under your rules, not the rules and expectations set by someone else.

At BanCorp Real Estate Group our home buyer has clear goals because we work with them in setting them because our experience shows that when we do this goal setting (maybe 20-30 minutes) they will save time and they will save money because they are comparing ‘apples to apples’. Since they know the type of home they want along with other amenities, each home should resemble the other – as it relates to price and amenity. Goal setting by creating a set game plan, before we jump into the market, eliminates the ‘trial and error’ of buying or selling of a home.

By eliminating ‘trial and error’ real estate, we are also greatly reducing the “It Is Always Something” factor in real estate.  BanCorp offers an industry unique open-ended right to cancel to each of our clients. If at any time – any - a client feels that they are being, underserved, overlooked or simply change their minds about moving forward with the transaction – they can cancel their contract*. BanCorp REG takes a stand against agencies that will say anything or do anything to get or save a listing.

So, in life there will always be “It Is Always Something” because we don’t live in a perfect world. When you work BanCorp, we certainly won’t tell you whatever you want to hear so we can get the listing, if we believe you are buying more of a house than you can afford, we’ll say so.  What you will find is a company with a time-tested track record of consistency, perseverance and reliability, dating back to 1996, all here locally in South Orange County. The “It Is Always Something” will never disappear in real estate we just hope to bring down to a different, much more manageable level without surprises or disappointments.

we did. so you can. let’s.

Greg Steinaker is the C.E.O of BanCorp Real Estate Group

*prior to acceptance receipt or acceptance of offer.

BanCorp Real Estate Group is a division of The Irvine Holding Group 2009-2013. Copyright, all rights reserved.

The Irvine Holding Company
we did. so you can. let's.

The Best $250.00 You Can Spend to Increase Your Homes Marketability

Preparing Your Orange County Home For Sale

When an Orange County family has made the decision to sell your home, it likely was not made like, nor hastily. In this present economy where homes generally are not receiving multiple offers, and many times receiving no offers at all – the prudent (practical commonsense, taking the trouble to think out what they are doing and what is likely to come of it) home-seller is wise in considering what sets their home apart from the Smith’s home four blocks away. Or, consider the Allen’s home across town with similar square feet. You (or your agent) might not likely even consider something as preposterous as the Allen’s being a fair comparison to your home. However, in this new day where almost all home searches are completed via search engines tied to the MLS. The viewer really has no way of comprehending or discerning different neighborhoods. They will once they arrive at their destination, but what if they arrive at the Smith’s and the Allen’s neighborhoods first?

What could lead to such a tragic event? You were on the Orange County MLS, just as they were. You hired the best real estate agent in Southern California, just as they did. Heck, your home is newer and nicer than both of them combined! But the buyer bought on theirs, not yours – even though you will never know it. You might know that it sold, but not that it was being compared to yours. Location, location, location. My response to that is, price, price, price. With all real estate activity gravitating towards the World Wide Web. With that being said, I feel that what really carry’s the most weight, pulls at the buyer’s inclination to actually quit starring at the computer and visit a property is perception, perception, perception.

When preparing your home for sale, the single best thing you can do to increase the overall marketability of your home is rent a storage unit and clear out all of the unnecessary clutter you have undoubtedly accumulated over the years. A great wealth of confusion, chaos, muddle and rummage. When you combine this with a boatload of furniture and other accoutrements  that are useful for comfortable living, it takes an environment meant to be pleasing and appealing to the eye of the buyer, into one which is unable to see the real picture, or can’t see the forest because of the trees. The potential buyer can’t envision themselves living in your home because they can’t see a place in your home for them to live!

Have you ever walked into someone else’s home hat was bursting with furniture? I bet that was the first thing you noticed when you walked in the door. Too much furniture, clutter and chaos will reduce the chance of your home selling. It will bring down your true market value. If potential buyers are viewing your home on the internet, they might just pass on visiting your property – even if it was “priced right.” It costs about $250.00 a month to rent a good-sized storage unit. My advice is whenever possible; lift it, roll it, or ship it out – unless it is an absolute necessity (ie.bed). If you need to use the storage unit for three months, and in doing so, you increased the attractiveness and show-ability of the home, and let’s assume this effort on your part increased the value of your home by $10,000.00, that is a pretty good investment on your part. Even if it was $5,000.00 – what if it was $30,000.00? You would never really know, unless you waited ninety days into the process to get rid of the clutter – and then saw the offers come in.

Perception Perception Perception