Brad Neihouser | Commercial Broker

Yesterday, I flew an Angel flight that quite possibly could be the passenger's last one. He got a not-so-favorable report on the last hospital visit, and when I flew him back today things didn't look too good. Compound that, with yesterday being the 3rd anniversary of my dad's passing…. Something I had almost completely forgotten about until my mom sent us all pictures of him, and it brought it all back again. So why do I say life is a gift. The man I flew with is just looking for some more time with this family, he doesn't care about the next deal or the next whatever. There is a song in our church hymnal that has the following lyrics…. “Why is all this anxious striving?” I will admit that I'm usually all about where the next deal is coming from and what the next thing to do is. But yesterday brought a little different perspective…. The deals will still be there, and the things that we want to do will still be there, but we have to be around to enjoy them. Enjoy li...

Do you ever have days when you are just overwhelmed… An old friend in the commercial real estate business once told me he doesn't mind being really busy, but he doesn't like to be overwhelmed! I share that same sentiment, but in the last 30 days, being overwhelmed has been the norm. I am extremely thankful for those property owners who have entrusted us with their property—it just seems like there have been a lot of them lately! But at the end of the day, if your kids and grandkids love you and your spouse loves you there's not much else that you need. One of my coaches always talks about “applause at home”. What good does it do you if you have all the money in the world, but your family is a mess… not very much. So when business rolls in, it's easy to say, "I have to stay late at the office, or I have to work on this project at the expense of your family… I implore you not to fall into that trap. Business comes and goes but your family is forever. By the way, if y...

  Have you ever wondered what a real estate advisor really does all day? I mean, do they really just stick a for sale sign up and collect a paycheck? NO we do not… What Does Brad Really Do All Day? Many people think the life of a commercial real estate broker consists of putting a sign on a property you have for sale and sitting back and watching the money roll in… It may look simple and easy on the outside but the work we are doing behind the scenes is so much more.   First things first, we always have our clients back whether it works out in the best financial interest of ourselves or not. There is nothing more aggravating in our world than when you watch a broker do things that benefit only himself. They are a detriment to the interest of their client. Another aggravating part of our world is when a broker calls you up and the first question he asks is, how much am I getting paid… Don't get me wrong, I like to get paid like anybody else, but I have a m...

From the first time we connect with a potential client to the moment the auction begins; a sense of uncertainty is common. Owners often have pressing questions, like:  - How does this auction work? - What happens if the bids don’t reach a satisfactory price? Are we obligated to sell? - How does an online auction work? What if there are technical issues and people can’t bid? - Who will be bidding on my farm?               We all have so many questions.   Rest assured, these concerns are common, and I address them fully before any client signs a listing contract. In our initial meetings, I guide you through how a real estate auction operates, highlighting how competition in an auction setting can drive prices higher than a traditional listing. After the listing contract is signed, an auction date is set, marketing materials are manufactured, and the advertising schedule is initiated. Then, I start to personally contact neighbors and...

Many of my farm clients face the difficult task of dividing inherited farmland while still hoping to gather peacefully for Christmas dinner. Unfortunately, this challenge often leads to family rifts when the previous generation fails to make tough decisions before passing away. I've heard the phrase, "They'll figure it out when we're gone," more times than I can count. But the truth is, if you knew what was happening after your passing, you'd be turning in your grave. Leaving your children to inherit undivided farmland can be the ultimate disservice. It's rare for families not to have at least one difficult personality, and when significant money is involved, old tensions can quickly resurface. That’s where I come in. I specialize in guiding families through these challenging situations, working towards outcomes that leave everyone as content as possible. In many cases, most heirs simply want to sell the land and convert it to cash, which can be a straight...

So, you've had your property on the market for over a year. Initially, there was some interest, and you heard from your broker periodically. However, in the last eight months, the market seems to have died, and the only time you hear from your broker is when you call to see what is going on. What could be the problem? First, does your property show well?   Are the windows washed? Is the floor free of debris? Have you tended to the weeds outside, or are they growing unchecked? Commercial real estate buyers are no different from any other buyers; neat, clean, and efficient sells. A sloppy and dirty presentation makes it harder for buyers to see the potential in your property. Second, Are you priced competitively in the marketplace?   If other similar properties are priced lower, guess which ones get shown and sold? Unfortunately, not yours. By now, your broker should have had a heart-to-heart discussion with you regarding your property's price. Lastly, is your property getting f...

Many times, we look at a situation and ask,  How hard can it be,   What's the worst that could happen? Sometimes, things are pretty hard; sometimes, bad things happen, and things go wrong.   What do we do? How do we react? An old business partner/mentor named Otto Wuethrich told me once. When all else fails, read directions.  I'm going to say that again, when all else fails, read directions. At that time, I was struggling to open a sack of soybean seeds to dump into the planter. A little tag clearly said pull this tape here, and I was thrashing around doing everything but following the directions. This little saying has always stuck with me, and I think we can carry it one step further and say when all else fails, go back to the basics.   No matter what profession we are in, there are the basics of every profession that we must do every day. When all else fails, read directions and go back to the basics always works. I remember looking at Ott...