Lighthouse Real Estate Group at Iowa Realty

Jim helped me through the highs and lows of my first home buying process. He took the time to show me several different properties in the Des Moines Metro. He listened to my likes and dislikes as we went through houses, pointing out pros and cons a first time homebuyer might not notice. He was patient with me making my first offer and the nerves that came along with it. When we finally came upon a house I liked and had an offer accepted he gave his expertise on the things I had questions about. However, due to circumstances outside of our control we found out we could not close on the property only 3 days before closing. I was very disappointed in not getting the house I wanted, and Jim helped get through the "grieving" process. A couple months later the deal opened up again and Jim was there to conclude the buying process. I am very confident that all of Jim's experience helped pull the deal together even with the delay.

We had an absolutely wonderful experience working with Jim. From start to finish, he was incredibly knowledgeable about the market, the process, and every detail involved in purchasing our home. He responded immediately to our texts and emails no matter the time of day. He made us feel very comfortable with the entire process which can be very stressful. We would highly recommend Jim and Matt to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. Jim also helped two of our daughters buy and sell homes. We could not be more grateful and would not trust anyone else. He's the BEST!

I had a very disappointing experience working with Jim Manderfield as the listing agent for a home I was attempting to purchase in the Greater Des Moines area. My primary concern was the handling of the inspection and due-diligence process. Early in the transaction, there was significant resistance to a normal buyer inspection, including an effort to limit the inspection period and have the inspection conducted essentially aEURoefor your information only,aEUR? without the ability to use the findings to negotiate repairs or other remedies. During the inspection period, I also needed to make a brief second visit to the property. My REALTORA(R) properly scheduled the showing. During that visit, Jim called my REALTORA(R) to question why we were returning to the property after the formal inspection had been completed. He then told my REALTORA(R) that we had only 30 minutes to complete the visit. While we were still at the property, Jim called again to tell us that our time was up and that we needed to leave. I found that interaction particularly disappointing. The visit had been properly scheduled through our REALTORSA(R) and occurred during my inspection/due-diligence period. From my perspective, the repeated calls and strict time restriction created an unnecessarily adversarial experience for a buyer who was simply trying to complete appropriate due diligence on a significant purchase. The original agreement ultimately ended. We later entered into a new agreement with appropriate inspection protections, and I proceeded in good faith, spending approximately $700 on a professional home inspection, radon testing, and a sewer scope. Those inspections identified several issues, including two active leaking faucets, a non-functioning sump pump, elevated radon levels, and worn/damaged door seals. When those issues were presented, the sellers declined to address them and I was instructed to submit a cancellation rather than having a substantive discussion about the inspection findings. I understand that sellers have the right to decide whether they will make repairs. That is not the basis of my review. My concern is the overall experience and, particularly, how the inspection and due-diligence process was handled from the beginning. Based on my experience, I would encourage prospective buyers to make sure their inspection rights, access to the property, and expectations regarding due diligence are clearly established in writing before entering into a transaction with this listing team.

Jim provided exceptional service and expertise in helping my wife and I purchase a house in Des Moines. We relied on Jim's guidance and expertise to navigate the home-buying process. Jim was very patient with us and we did not feel any pressure to rush into the wrong home, so we ended up finding exactly what we were looking for. Jim was always a phone call away and ready to answer our questions or address our concerns.

Our experience working with Jim Manderfield was exceptional - from our preliminary consultation through closing day! Jim's handling of our home sale was that of a consummate professional - one who is steeped in market analysis, buyer/seller dynamics, and demographic trends/indicators. His communication was consistent, attentive and motivated to ensure a seamless and efficient transaction....and that is what he delivered! In a matter of hours, our home was sold for full asking price. Subsequent inspection, closing details were all attended to with the same level of professionalism and we could not be more grateful for Jim's guidance through it all. His quiet confidence, from his decades of real estate experience, gave us peace of mind, and it should you too! We heartily endorse Jim for all your real estate needs.