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Jeff & Grace Safrin, Broker / Owners, Northwest Indiana

Press Release - It's a New Day At F.C. TUCKER Real Estate in Indiana ->

For Immediate Release Contact:

July 14, 2009 Grace & Jeff Safrin

(219)309-9930 (office)

(219)309-3809 (mobile)

safrin@jorsm.com

F. C. Tucker opens new Valparaiso office

Grace and Jeff Safrin found F. C. Tucker/1st Team Real Estate

VALPARAISO - Grace and Jeff Safrin, longtime Tucker sales associates, have opened F. C. Tucker's 32nd affiliate office, F. C. Tucker/1st Team Real Estate. F. C. Tucker is the largest independent real estate company in Indiana. The Safrins will continue to serve clients in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke counties.

In real estate since 1999, the Safrins are already Life Time Members of the Presidents Club, Tucker's highest honor for sales achievement. They have been designated as First Vice Presidents in the Tucker Company and have consistently been named among the top 20 percent of real estate agents in the country.

Their marketing expertise has been showcased on ABC's Nightline and HGTV's Hidden Potential, and they have been quoted in the Chicago Tribune, San Diego Union Tribune, Los Angeles Times and USA Today.

"We have enjoyed our affiliation with Grace and Jeff for several years now," H. James Litten, president of F. C. Tucker Company's Residential Services Division. "It seems only fitting to take it to the next level. And Valparaiso is a great city, one the Tucker Company is proud to be part of."

Located at 13 Lincolnway, Suite 203, in Valparaiso, F. C. Tucker/1st Team Real Estate is independently owned and operated. The office phone number is 219-309-9930, and their email is safrin@jorsm.com. Visit www.1stTeamRealEstate.net for more information.

# # #

With more than $2 billion in annual sales, F.C. Tucker Company is Indiana's largest independently owned comprehensive real estate firm with 46 offices and more than 1,500 sales associates throughout Indiana and select markets in Kentucky. Less than one percent of all real estate firms have the longevity of F.C. Tucker. Founded in 1918, the company's family of businesses includes a full range of real estate services-mortgages, title insurance, relocation services, a full line of insurance products, auctioning and homeowner warranty products. F.C. Tucker has earned a reputation for its exceptional service, experienced sales associates and "Golden Rule" commitment to its clients and employees.

From Evansville to Valparaiso F.C. Tucker Real Estate has Indiana Covered !

Yesterday, F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate showed up for business on our Local MLS (The Greater Northwest Indiana Association of REALTORS).

Although the announcement came out from F.C.Tucker's Corporate Offices in Indianapolis, IN on 7/8/9....that we were new Owners, visiting & calling over 30 some loyal clients to get the paperwork done took a day or so :)

While we were at our new office @ 13 Lincolnway, Suite # 203 in downtown Valparaiso Indiana, 46383- we received a pleasant surprise - a flower delivery

The Broker /Owners of F.C.Tucker Emge REALTORS (Kathy Briscoe and Kevin Eastridge)who have offices all the way down in Evansville, IN sent them to us !

A big thanks to them - we look forward to sending you referrals!

As Always,

We appreciate your business & referrals.

Sincerely,

Jeff & Grace Safrin

Broker / Owners

F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate

Independently Owned & Operated

Serving Northwest Indiana - > Lake County, Porter County, La Porte County, Starke County.

F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate Valparaiso, Indiana

Now Open For Business - F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate - Serving Northwest Indiana !

From: talktotucker.com Sent: 7/8/9 @ 10:58 am
To: Priority: Normal
Subject: New Affiliate Owners in Valparaiso Type: Embeded HTML/Text

We are pleased to announce that we have new affiliate owners in the Northwest Indiana area. Grace and Jeff Safrin are the new franchise owners in Valparaiso, Indiana. They have been agents with Tucker for the previous 8 years and have decided to become owners. We welcome Grace and Jeff to the Team and wish them well in their endeavors.

Their office address is:

13 Lincolnway Suite 203

Valparaiso IN 46383

Office # 219-309-9930

Email: safrin@jorsm.com

www.1stTeamRealEstate.Net

F.C.Tucker 1st Team Real Estate in Northwest Indiana

We are humbled to be afforded this opportunity and excited to be affiliated with Indiana's Largest Real Estate Company that has been in business since 1918.

It's been a whirlwhind of a week and we'd like to thank those who helped make the dream a reality - our dear family & friends, loyal clients, business associates, and especially to our former Broker who made the transition smooth and professional for everyone, by her support and collaborative efforts!

Stay tuned for future blogs and More Exciting News about our non-traditional Business Model with generous compensation options for experienced REALTORS that think out of the box and beyond the office :)

A recent Inman News Article had this quote in it and we agree "The reality of this business is, you don't make your money sitting at the desk - you make your money in the field."

As Always,

We appreciate your business & referrals.

Sincerely,

Jeff & Grace Safrin

Broker / Owners

F.C. Tucker 1st Team Real Estate

Independently Owned & Operated

Serving Northwest Indiana - > Lake County, Porter County, La Porte County, Starke County.

Full Time, Full Service REALTORS since 1999.

Wordless Wednesday => Reflections of Valpo ....

Reflections of Valparaiso,IN Main Street as seen from the window of the Blackbird Cafe on Lincolnway

Thanks for stopping by and reading our Northwest Indiana Real Estate Blog!

Just as the seasons change here in NW Indiana, we help clients achieve their Real Estate Goals in various seasons in life. We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Jeff & Grace Safrin - "Spouses Selling Houses" TM

Real Estate Brokers with F.C. Tucker Real Estate - phone # 219-405-1232.

Valparaiso residents serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, & Starke Counties in NW Indiana.

On Facebook ?...... be-friend us - look up Jeff Safrin : )

Linked in??..... link to us... look up Grace Safrin : )

TWITTER?? ...Follow.... SAFRIN

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Jeff and Grace Safrin. Jeff and Grace Safrin and F.C. Tucker are not responsible for the accuracy or content.

Mirror Image of a Low Ball Offer = High Ball Counter

We've come across some Blog posts about the topic of Buyers making offers to purchase homes Not everyone is desperate to SELL significantly lower than the asking price. We can certainly relate to how other REALTORS feel about this topic, (and this post is NOT about having a HIGH Ball to help you deal with offers like this :) .... Recently we've had to deal with a low offer that came in on a property we had listed for sale in NW Indiana.

The saying /strategies "some offer is better than no offer" & "let's try and work with this" don't always go over very well with some sellers we represent. Especially when the offer price is very low = 26% below the list price!

The Proverb(28:25)GREED stirs up dissension,comes to mind.

Now if the home were in foreclosure, or had mold or was a fixer upper, or missing major mechanicals like the furnace, A/C and hot water heater, we may understand the low offer.

Or, If the buyers agent would send over recent comps to justify the stock market like price drop - we would certainly do a double take (and wonder why didn't we already see those comps when we did the CMA ) and we would then present the facts to our seller to get negotiations going! This property was not a Short Sale. (Even on a short sale the bank has a BPO done and knows the bottom line of what they are willing to accept.)

However not on a move in condition property, well maintained and priced competitively below the sold non REO comparables in the neighborhood.

One typical seller response on offers like this may be to flat out REJECT THEM or even ignore the offer.

Especially when showings on the property are abundant and there are calls from other agents who anticipate writing offers on this very same home as well.

With this good news about the property activity in mind, Jeff shared with our seller a lighthearted strategy introduced to us by Terry Watson - a world known speaker at our Company's ( F.C. Tucker, Inc.) annual Convention this past February.

Terry talked about a mirror image offer to reflect the Buyers Low Ball offer to MAKE A POINT.

+ counter

_____________________$ List price

- offer

If the buyers offer is 26 % below the asking or list price - the counteroffer would reflect the same % of increase in list price. Our seller loved the idea and opted to do this.

Mirror Image Just like the Shoe on the Other Foot Idiom..... the reactions to this High Ball Counter Offer from the buyer and other agent mirrored exactly some of the same initial sentiments that our sellers felt when receiving the Low ball offer!

Exclamations like: Are You Kidding me?

Is this REAL?

Am I reading this correctly?

Is there something wrong with the fax?

Remember the words of the song Man in the Mirror?

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change

Was the BUYER willing to see & change his ways? .... we will never know....as faith has it ( the other ½ of

Proverbs 28 :25 says: "but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper" )

Another offer came in on the same home @ 98% of LIST price a 24 % difference to our seller from the 1st Low Ball offer.

The Home SOLD. Now, We will toast to that! Cheers :)

___________________

Thanks for stopping by and reading our Northwest Indiana Real Estate Blog!

Just as the seasons change here in NW Indiana, we help clients achieve their Real Estate Goals in various seasons in life. We look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Jeff & Grace Safrin - "Spouses Selling Houses" TM

Real Estate Broker Associates with F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty - phone # 219-405-1232.

Valparaiso residents serving Lake, Porter, La Porte, Jasper & Newton Counties in NW Indiana.

On Facebook ?...... be-friend us - look up Jeff Safrin : )

Linked in??..... link to us... look up Grace Safrin : )

TWITTER?? ...Follow.... SAFRIN

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Jeff and Grace Safrin of F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty. Jeff and Grace Safrin and F.C. Tucker Advantage Realty are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided.