Program combines home selling with homebuying

Robin and Robert Smith of Smith Team at Keller Williams Las Vegas are well-versed in the complexities of the Las Vegas Valley real estate market. Over the years, they have helped thousands of Southern Nevadans successfully sell their homes as “sellers’ agents” along with thousands of Nevadans in their home search and purchase as “buyers’ agents.”

They have melded their experiences as sellers and buyers agents with their longtime relationships with valley homebuilders to develop the Nevada Builder Trade In program. This program helps homeowners buy a new home while selling their home at the same time.

Their timing in introducing the multistep Nevada Builder Trade In program to the Las Vegas market a few years ago was perfect.

“We brought the Nevada Builder Trade In program to the Las Vegas Valley three years ago, at a time when home prices were rebounding and builders were pulling more permits to build. Up to that point, due to uncertainties in the Las Vegas real estate market, there were many homeowners wanting to sell their current homes and buy brand-new ones, but they didn’t know how to logistically do that,” Robin Smith said.

“We provided these homeowners a logical, strategic pathway in selling their current home and buying a brand-new one on contingency from some of the valley’s leading homebuilders, who felt confident in the Nevada Builder Trade In program process.”

The result: Hundreds of homeowners have sold their homes and bought new ones on contingency from the program’s builder-partners, Beazer Homes, Century Communities, Pulte Homes, Woodside Homes and Sun City Mesquite by Del Webb.

The Nevada Builder Trade In Program follows a multistep approach, with the first focusing on self-reflection.

“It’s very important to understand the reasons why you would like to buy a new home, what you’re looking for in a home, and how much you can spend on a new home. Usually, it’s easy to describe the dream home you’d like to buy and why you want to move. However, answering the financial questions can be difficult because you haven’t sold your current home yet, but our program can help you answer these important financial questions,” Robin Smith said.

The Smith Team helps homeowners gain a better understanding of their finances in buying a new home on contingency by meeting with them in their current home and doing the following tasks:

■ Assess their current home and provide a complimentary comparative market analysis, which details the home’s projected sales price based on its condition and recent comparable home sales.

■ Offer advice on repairs and updates that might increase their home’s sales price.

■ Review the equity available if the home sells at different price points and their ability to buy a new home if their current home sells at the projected market value.

“With these financial projections, you’re then able to determine how much you can realistically spend on a new home, and then shop for homes within that price point,” Robin Smith said.

If a homeowner selects the Nevada Trade In Program, the Smith Team will help in their new-home search among the 100-plus floor plans available at 50-plus builder-partner neighborhoods throughout the valley.

“Some of our clients have been referred to us by neighborhood sales offices and know the specific home they’d love to buy, while others come to us before setting foot in a model home because they want to know what they can afford before beginning their home search. Either way, we’re here to help,” Robin Smith said.

After the home is selected and the contingency agreement is accepted by the builder, the Smith Team lists and sells the current home at a reduced commission, while offering the buyer’s agent the standard 3 percent commission. After the sale, the Smith Team helps arrange moving services or helps locate a temporary rental, if needed, between the sale of the current home and the completion of the new home.

To learn more about the Nevada Builder Trade In Program, contact the Smith Team at 702-460-5080, visit ISellLasVegas.com or inquire at a builder-partner neighborhood.

Homeowners interested in buying a home on contingency at a non-builder-partner neighborhood and receive benefits similar to the Nevada Builder Trade In Program should contact the Smith Team before starting their home search.