Earl Gervais and The American Eagle Team’s approach to serving the Corporate, Bank, and Investor owned Real Estate portfolio.
Earl Gervais provides a full service real estate team to serve the institutional client and their unique and timeline driven requirements.
The largest financial institutions and local property disposition company portfolio managers and asset managers alike share a common goal; they select Earl Gervais and his team whenever they can. These managers and their companies depend on Earl and his team’s extensive knowledge and expertise to handle all aspects of managing and marketing their portfolio of REO properties. Earl Gervais is recognized nationally and locally as a leader in the selling of distressed properties. The team which Earl has assembled is a very disciplined and experienced group of professionals. Our clients choose us because they know their property will be handled with the utmost in professionalism, and that we will sell their property one transaction at a time.
A System Based on Experience
The experience of having sold close to 1,500 bank owned properties (nearly 900 in the last two years) has taught us that in order to provide our clients with the best service; you need to devise and implement a systemic approach to managing their files. We have developed and put into practice a system that though constantly being refined provides our clients with the highest level of quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Our Office
We start with the basics, a convenient location, good space planning and a private office. To facilitate remaining focused on our core business we operate out of our own office that has been located, designed and furnished to accommodate the flow of REO property operations. The location is central to our service area so that we are able to easily get to our property assignments, and to allow agents easy access to our operations. The interior of the office has dedicated rooms for accounting, pre-escrow operations, escrow operations, property management operations, property valuation and eviction department, and a pleasant foyer and reception area for visiting agents, and outside contractors.
Our Staff
Our staff has been together for over four years. The team is comprised of seasoned real estate professionals to include: an appraiser, escrow officers, loan officers, underwriters, book keepers, transaction coordinators, property inspectors, a general contractor, and Realtors. Our clients appreciate that they have a familiar voice and a more personal relationship to help them manage the frenetic pace of the web based property management systems.
Our System
We have implemented a system that incorporates a detailed workflow that begins with the property assignment notification and ends with the final billing reimbursement. Our system relies upon a division of labor approach to the workflow, we have subject matter experts that are responsible for each segment of the process and then pass the work along. To ensure continuity of our operation, we do extensive cross training of the staff, and then rotate them through the different departments. Because the REO business is so reliant on technology, we are constantly upgrading our systems to compliment the platforms and technologies of our clients. The office is fully staffed Monday through Friday during business hours with a dedicated receptionist, and a subject matter expert for each area of the REO process available. We understand the needs of real estate in general and the unique needs of the REO client specifically, therefore we are available Monday through Saturday starting at 5:00 am through 7:00 pm. When our office is closed, the office mainline is directed to one of the partners.
Communications
The cornerstone of our success is that we communicate in a timely, relevant and well crafted clear and concise format. We go to great lengths to ensure that every file is “touched” every day, and that our clients are updated as they dictate, or as needed. We have a full time receptionist, and a communication network that ensures that when an asset manager calls, or a Broker needs help, we answer the phone, or return their email quickly. Our customer service goal as it pertains to operating in the different web based platforms is to conduct our business in “real, time”. By utilizing a receptionist, good technology, and awareness within our team of the entire operation, we are able to provide information in real time for our clients.
The Brokers Price Opinion
As we are all fond of saying in Real Estate, “the market may not be kind, but it is always right” Pricing the property is the single most important factor in the marketing matrix. That is why we have a full time appraiser on our team, and the marketing team comes to a consensus on value prior to submitting the BPO to the client. The American Eagle Team’s success in the selling reo properties starts with the basics, getting the price right.
Marketing the REO Property
The Gervais Team is driven to integrate the marketing process of selling the portfolio of REO properties. We coordinate our efforts by integrating all available marketing assets into a successful campaign. We embrace the use of technology, print ad, and direct marketing and the strength of Broker to Broker communiqués to sell your property in the shortest amount of time, and at the highest net attainable. The American Eagle Team is ready, willing and able to execute your plan today.
Our Greatest Asset – The Selling Broker and Agent
Selling the REO property quickly is dependent upon a selling Agent or Broker writing an offer for their client. Though it is common sense to do all we can for the selling agent, too many Listing Agents do not extend even common courtesy to what they consider competition; they are too focused on “double ending” the sale. Our approach is very different and is appreciated by the Real estate community. We send as much information to the Brokerage community as quickly as we can. Brokers and Agents know that our properties are entered into the MLS as soon as we get the approval to go active. Agents are confident that our properties they are easy to show, and that our process of handling their clients’ offer or transaction is thorough, easy to execute and transparent. Brokers continually tell us how great it is that we answer the phone, that they can get answers, and that we have the staff to help them through the transaction.
Assisting Buyers and Agents
Buying REO is often viewed as difficult, and fraught with peril and disinformation. Our entire team is dedicated to providing Buyers and agents with the information they need to feel confident and comfortable. Our system allows us to take the time needed to explain the process to both Buyers’ and Agents. The benefit to our clients is that a buyer, or an agent armed with information is now a potential buyer.
Our Commitment to Realtors
· Access to the property
· Informative and timely MLS information
· Explain the special requirements
· Advertising
· Internet Marketing
· Website
· Broker Preview
· Open House
· Answer the phone
· Be transparent
· Be a partner
· Make it easy
· Disseminate to web based aggregators sites:
· LISTHUB
· Union Tribune
· Realtor.com
Attention to Detail and a Wealth of Experience
Implementing a dynamic marketing plan is never easy. It is about putting all the pieces together- and integrating the process. The American Eagle Team excels at marketing- and we have the systems in place to ensure that your properties sell quickly and for the highest possible net.
The Power of Teamwork
Numbers talk. And ours tell quite a story. With more than 30 years of experience, and closing in on 4,000 total transactions to include over 1,500 Investor Owned Properties, The American Eagle Team under the direction of Earl Gervais has the experience and a highly trained and motivated Team to represent you in your next real estate transaction, or to manage your Bank-Corporate-Investor Owned property portfolios’.
There is no substitute for experience!
Earl Gervais and The American Eagle Team
