Cardinal Realty opened its doors for business this week. This is a huge milestone and marks the beginning of a new journey for me in the Iowa City real estate market. There wasn’t a big event or an epiphany that set me on this road. It was just the the right thing to do. 
It seems I’m not much of a follower. I think a little differently and want the freedom to make my own decisions on how I run my business. Most importantly, I will negotiate the commission rate with seller clients. Real estate commission in Iowa is by law negotiable, but that doesn’t mean agents can negotiate with sellers. Typically the commission is something the broker decides. I know this is something that’s always confused sellers and now that I’m a broker I want to approach the subject differently. I offer a free in home consultation to home sellers if you want to learn more about how that works.
So here I am. Daring to be different. The philosophy behind Cardinal Realty is to keep real estate simple. For me real estate is a service industry. I am here to serve my clients, not to “sell” homes. There will be no conflict of interest by working two sides of a deal. Each client gets exclusive, personalized service. Simple and straightforward. There aren’t too many Realtors that I know of that speak out as strongly as I do on the subject Agency. I think buyers need a Buyer’s Agent and sellers need a a Seller’s Agent who doesn’t turn into a Dual Agent when a buyer comes on the scene. My blog has always been about getting the word out. I will continue in that trend and hope to help buyers and sellers recognize the importance of choosing the Realtor they work with rather than just working with the Realtor who’s there when it comes time to list or make an offer on a home.
Streamlining the process and taking as much as possible online is the next part of my Master Plan. As the tech savviest Realtor in Iowa City I embrace technology and incorporate it wherever I can to help clients. “Going Green” is something I am passionate about. No-one is happier than me that the “green” idea has caught on here. It certainly wasn’t that way when I relocated here from Germany in 2000. (And no prizes for guessing they were well ahead of the game already back then). In my case, what makes “going green” even better is that it’s good for business. Clients this year have already experienced the benefits. Iowa City is a relocation destination and folks are transitioning in and out all the time. My last two sellers who both relocated out of state loved the no-hassle option of eSigning documents online. That’s just one example. The ability to preview homes and provide photos and videos for relocating buyer clients is another one. Hooked on technology I’m always looking for new ideas to incorporate into my business.
That about sums it up in a nutshell. Cardinal Realty is here to help buyer and seller clients in Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty and Tiffin. I look forward to working with you soon in the purchase or sale of a home in the Iowa City area.
Congratulations on the opening of Cardinal Realty. Here is Illinois we have absolutely no doubt that your company will thrive, you treat your clients “Right” and that is rare today. I do believe that we small brokerages “care” for the client first and foremost. There are no corporate rules or payments that take precedence over the clients and that is exactly how it should be.
Thanks Corinne. Funny you should use the word rare in the context of how we treat clients. A young man I worked with in the summer used that word to describe his experience of working with me. I was very touched.