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Strong USP for the real estate agency that sells apartments in new buildings


This article is the English text version of the webinar.



If you are from a real estate agency that sells apartments in new buildings, then this video is just right for you. I am going to tell you about a strong USP that will let you stand out from your competitors and make more deals

But first, I want you to imagine how your potential clients see you. In reality, it’s very hard for them to choose you specifically. Basically they have no idea what makes your estate agency different from others. And why would they go to the agency in the first place when they can go to a developer directly?

Most likely, you will tell them that your service is free for them, but it’s always free on a primary market.

You will tell them about the unprejudiced evaluation of developers and your expertise in different regions, but your competitors will tell them the same thing.

Maybe you tell them that you can help with the mortgage approval with better conditions, that you show good results even with a bad credit history and that your approved mortgage stats is 9 out of 10, but many of your competitors are saying the same.

But there is one thing that is rarely declared, although it’s a pretty cool one and it will let you stand out from all the competitors and it can be the reason why the person would work with you and won’t go directly to a developer and that is a free acceptance of an apartment.

Free apartment acceptance allows your client to save money, time, and nerves, because if it happens that a developer has delivered the apartment with some issues and the owner has not paid attention to those issues while accepting the apartment, then they will have to fix it at their own expense. And the opposite, if you find out all the possible drawbacks, then the developer will have to fix them at their expense.

Few of you have thought about that. Usually, there’s no such request from the buyers of new builds eigher, because regular buyers don’t always know how it happens and what kind of unpleasant surprises may be there.

However, apartment acceptance is something that helps your clients to have an extra protection from possible troubles.

And it also lets you have a better lead-to-deal conversion and moreover, it might work for the long-term. Because your happy clients who got such a unique service would recommend you to other people they know.

Question:

What should you do when there are some defects detected? Should a developer fix it? Or would they say: if you want - you can take it, if you don’t then you don’t?

Answer:

  • In the process of apartment acceptance there should be an Inspection Certificate composed (2 copies). All the shortcomings must be indicated in this Certificate, one copy remains with you.
  • The delivery and acceptance certificate is not to be signed.
  • You compose a claim (2 copies) demanding to correct all the shortcomings within a reasonable period of time. (up to 45 days depending on the nature of the shortcomings)
  • The claim is registered by developer. They put a number on the second copy. If the developer refuses to register your claim, then it should be sent by registered mail with a description of enclosure. 10 calendar days to reply. +2-3 days for the mail.
  • If the developer agrees to your demands, then everything is good and after they’ve corrected the drawbacks you can sign the Certificate.
  • If the developer does not reply to you or does not agree with your demands, you can sign the Certificate and correct the shortcomings at your own expense. You should perform a preliminary assessment and collect all the receipts on your repairs expenses.
  • Take a legal action for recovering payments + moral damage + representative’s services + penalty.
  • 

You should remember that a developer is interested in delivering an apartment in time.

What do you need for a proper acceptance?

  1. Waterpass
  2. Flashlight
  3. A lighter and some paper
  4. Any device to check the sockets

What do you have to check?

  1. Entrance door, inspection and operation capacity
  2. Water pipes inspection
    • All the welds must be rubbed off and well-painted
    • Strongly and flawlessly
    • There must be plugs on the pipes
    • The counters must be placed conveniently for checking them
  3. Checking the glazing
    • Ensure that all sashes are working and don’t touch anything
    • Windows are covered up, there are no defects on the profile and window sills
    • All handles and plugs are in place
    • No dents on the rubber sealing
    • The assembling is completed according to All-Union State Standard (GOST)
  4. Make sure the seams are sealed and there are no cracks on the ceiling
  5. Heating system
    • The pipes are well painted
    • No leakage
    • The radiator is 5-10 sm from the floor
    • The distance between the radiator and the window sill is 3-5 sm
    • The distance between the wall and the radiator sill is 3-5 sm
  6. Walls
    • Solid
    • Even, not more than 5 mm for the whole height
    • No deep cracks
  7. Electricity
    • Check the sockets and lighting fixtures
    • Specify the group for each function in the service panel
  8. Venting
    • Check the traction with a lighter, see if the smoke goes away or not
  9. Bathroom
    • Check the towel dryer welding. Make sure it’s smooth and has no defects
    • No leakage
  10. Screed
    • No cracks. The maximum difference is up to 5 mm for 3 m
  11. Re-measure the apartment and check the correspondence of each room size

In case you have noticed any defects, indicate them in the inspection certificate and do not sign the acceptance and delivery certificate before they are fully corrected

The developer is legally bound to correct all the shortcomings within 1 month.

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