US Service Life May - June 2014 | Page 15

COMPANY PROFILE CONTINUED “When you work with our military men and women you realize just how special they all are, You witness just how giving and caring they are and how much they love their country.” – Estate Hector Hernandez Owner/Broker Inside Edge Real Estate The agency’s Military Appreciation Program is particularly advantageous if a client is selling their home, Hernandez said. “In order for you to compete out there you have to offer the buyer a closing cost concession and that could range around 2% of the sales price and that could be equal quite a bit — that could be around $5,000.” Inside Edge has been offering its Military Appreciation Program since 2010 and every year about 25% of its clients participate in this program. “We are always looking to grow this program,” Hernandez noted. Inside Edge realizes the demands of military life can often conflict with the buying/selling timeline so the agency provides property management services. “Sometimes military families buy a home and can’t sell it because the market is not heading in the sellers’ direction so we offer them property management services so we can maintain their property while they are gone and rent it out,” Hernandez said. “We do this so when the market does improve they are in a better position to sell their house— and we usually end up renting it out to other military families.” “About 40% of our rentals are active military,” Hernandez said, “So, we offer them an opportunity to break down their deposit into three monthly payments. This is huge for them because many are on a fixed income and they often don’t have funds readily available. They could secure a property for the first month’s rent and 1/3 of their deposit.” Inside Edge reaches out to serve military families as members of the Automated Housing Referral Network, an organization designed to improve the process of connecting the military community with available housing. The agency is also listed on Housing Referral Lists on military bases throughout the Pikes Peak region and is always open to military service men and women calling the office directly. “When you work with our military men and women you realize just how special they all are, Hernandez said. “You witness just how giving and caring they are and how much they love their country. When you see that, you think there is absolutely no reason they should sacrifice so much for the freedom we enjoy and this is just our way of showing our appreciation for them and their sacrifices.” Inside Edge also offers rental services with convenient deposit plans targeted toward military families. 15