Hiring the right person for the job of representing you in the sale of your property is important, and we are glad to provide you with this list of critical questions to ask your potential broker and to help you make the right decision.

1. How many years have you been in the business?

Jo Ellen Nash is the president of the company, and she has been in the real estate business for 25 years, including 22 years in the Vail Valley. Her sales volume consistently ranks her in the top .05% of all agents nationwide.

2. What is your ratio of sales price to list price?

Jo Ellen Nash brings her Sellers top dollar and her ratios are high, but fluctuate from year to year. Her negotiating skills are the best in the business…in fact she trains agents nationally in the art of negotiation! Bottom line to you: more money in your pocket!

3. What is the average number of days your listings are on the market before selling?

With aggressive marketing and hard work from her entire team, Jo Ellen Nash closes her listings much faster than the average for the Vail Board of Realtors. Getting your property sold quickly and effectively is her top priority. Statistics vary monthly.

4. What is your marketing plan? May I see it?

Marketing is a top priority and Jo Ellen's reputation is well known. She has won many national awards in the real estate industry for her materials and is highly respected in the Vail Valley. Many companies try to copy her publications but none can duplicate her service!

Nash & Company has a full-time team of professionals whose only job is to market your property effectively and get it sold for top dollar. Their Seller Marketing Package, which will be provided to you upon request, highlights an aggressive and specific targeted plan for selling your property as well as outlining specific information about our company and our team.

5. Do you have any assistants?

Jo Ellen has more than an assistant. She has assembled an entire team of top-notch professionals who are specialists in the real estate transaction and work collectively to serve her clients. There are many people on the team, including Jo Ellen Nash, an entire group of Realtor Partners, Transaction manager, Executive assistant, Director of Marketing and Technology, Direct mail coordinator, Web master, Listing Department administration and Finance manager. There is no other agent in the Vail Valley who has the power of this team!

6. How many homes have you sold in the past? What is your sales volume?

Jo Ellen Nash has successfully closed well over 1,800 properties. She averages a property sold every three days. More than 60% of her business comes from satisfied repeat clients and referrals through her vast network and sphere of influence.

Seller Tip: When you ask another agent about volume, be sure to get personal volume and not total company sales. This is a ploy used by inexperienced or unproductive agents.

7. How long have you lived in the area?

Jo Ellen and her family have lived in the Vail Valley for 22 years. This experience gives her connections and networks of clients to sell your property quickly and more effectively. Everyone on the team at Nash & Company is committed to the area, involved in his or her community and active in the Vail Valley marketplace.

8. What is your brokerage fee?

Our company brokerage fees are flexible, according to the type of property marketed, who procures the buyer and what services are desired. Ask us for our Menu of Services outline which will specifically detail what we offer.

9. Does my home need any repairs or changes to help it sell?

Small repair jobs can have quite an impact on the sale price and marketability of a property, and Jo Ellen and her team will work with you to identify any of these repairs after they list the property. Jo Ellen has assembled a team of quality sub-contractors who can make repairs at a reasonable cost, and they will often extend special rates to clients of Jo Ellen Nash & Company.

Jo Ellen also works with an interior designer to stage her listings to make them saleable at a maximum price, at no additional cost to her clients. She has a warehouse of furnishings that can be made available to our clients through our "Dressed For Success" Program. A home that shows like a model leads to a faster sale and higher sales price.

10.What is the length of your listing agreement?

Jo Ellen wants the average market time to sell her listings, which is a six month minimum, as a general rule, even though her average sale is usually 30 days faster.

11.What is the price range at which you will market my home?

After carefully reviewing your property, comparing it to other active listings and sales in the Vail Valley, and making any necessary recommendations about changes that may need to be made, Jo Ellen will use her 25 years of experience to advise you to set a price which will position your property in the market place to sell quickly and for top dollar. With her knowledge of the local market, you can be assured that you are getting the best advice available. Statistics show that Jo Ellen is exceptionally good at pricing property and negotiating sales contracts in her client's best interest. Remember, Sellers set prices...Buyers determine value.

Seller Tip: Be cautious of an agent who suggests a price that is too good to be true or who can't support the recommendation with sales data. This is called "buying a listing", and it serves you no purpose. On the contrary, it can severely jeopardize your chances of selling.

12.What professional designations do you have?

Jo Ellen takes continuing education and professional certifications seriously, and she earned two designations that are significant. She is a Graduate of the REALTOR® Institute (GRI), which requires 128 hours of advanced training. She also obtained the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), a designation that only 3% of all agents in the United States have been able to earn. She has her SRES designation which is Senior Real Estate Specialists. She has her Certified Luxury Specialist designation form the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. Jo Ellen frequently teaches other agents around North America for more than seven of these real estate organizations.

She is considered a top producer in the industry and is regularly featured as a superstar Realtor on panels at conventions, has taught Listings and Team Training Universities across the United States and Canada and is a featured speaker at the National Assosciation of Real Estate Convention and Sell-A-Bration® (Certified Residential Specialist convention). The advantage to her clients is that she has a huge network of brokers who will send her all their referrals to the Vail Valley, resulting in increased sales. She is a recognized celebrity in the real estate world by being recognized as follows:

• STAR POWER "Star Agent"
• A Cyber Star Agent- on the leading edge of technology and web marketing-Speaker for their annual National Summit meeting
• A founding member and speaker for The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing
• A Member of Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate
• Featured agent in Barron's and the Wall Street Journal
• Selected as an Elite Agent, by Unique Homes Magazine
• Resort Broker Specialist
• A speaker and instructor for the Residential Specialist network "Sell-A-Bration®" annual conference for many years running (CRS network)
• A State of Colorado convention speaker
• A member of the Eagle Institute (top business professionals)
• A selected star for Bill Barrett's Superstar roundtable
• A member of Coach Ken's Mega Agent Mastery Group
• National Podcasting on the Internet for the Vail Valley Market
• Winner of the Overall Grand Award given by the Institite for Luxury Home Marketing for Excellence in Marketing (twice)
• Winner, Best Personal Branding In Real Estate
• Inaugural Interview for CKG International Television, conducted with Jo Ellen

She also hosts live chat groups for Realtors, has been featured as a star agent and has been interviewed in duPont Registry, Real Estate Business magazines and Residential Specialist magazines. As a new construction and development specialist, she has also written articles for Builder Architect Magazine, which is published on a regular basis.

13.Have you received any awards or special recognition in the industry?

Jo Ellen is ranked in the top .05% of all agents nationwide, year after year. Howard Brinton, North America's leading real estate educator, selected her to be a "Star Agent" in his network, which was a huge honor for Jo Ellen. Brinton only selects 12 agents per year (out of more than a million practitioners in the US and Canada) to be interviewed for his "tape of the month" series, which is produced by STAR POWER Systems and is purchased by the leading real estate agents in the business. Jo Ellen was interviewed in 2001 and now assists the STAR POWER organization in helping other agents grow their business. She has also been listed in the International Who's Who of Real Estate and Who's Who of Entrepreneurs. Jo Ellen was selected to be an "Eagle" and invited to join the Eagle Institute, a prestigious group of top business leaders in the United States who meet regularly in mastermind conferences. Dr. Tom Hill, author of many books, including the upcoming Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneurial Soul, leads this group of dynamic leaders. Jo Ellen is also a member of a Resort Mastermind Group, comprised of leading brokers in resort communities throughout the United States. They regularly share ideas for marketing and selling resort property. She was selected to be the featured Colorado agent in the upcoming book Foreclosures For Dummies.
Her sphere of influence is extensive. This also benefits her clients.

14.Could you give me a copy of your personal resume?

Jo Ellen would be pleased to give you a copy. Much of the information is presented here or in her Marketing Package and she would be happy to discuss any of the details with you.

15.What strategy would you suggest for marketing my property?

To be discussed with Jo Ellen and her listing team specifically. The strategy should include all types of marketing, including "High Tech and High Touch". There shoudl be a print marketing and Internet marketing strategy which should be directed to the most likely buyers for your property.

Seller Tip: Ask your potential broker to define who they think that buyer is and why.

After you have successfully interviewed your candidates and have answers to these questions, then make a decision as to who can best get the job done for you, who you believe will represent your interest with the highest possible standards and who will meet your common objectives.