Independent Exchange Services, Inc. Comparative Summary

Intermediaries are always looking for ways to discern themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Independent Exchange Services, Inc. differentiates itself by focusing entirely on one specific aspect of the industry: Section 1031 exchanges. “Essentially, we help investors defer payment of capital gains taxes that result from the buying and selling of investment properties,” explains co-owner Ian Bunje. “Section 1031 of the U.S. Tax Code allows taxpayers to invest this type of equity into replacement properties, and our certified exchange specialists and certified public accountants are trained to help them facilitate those exchanges.”

Independent Exchange Services has been providing Section 1031 exchange services for real estate investors throughout the Greater Bay Area and beyond since 1980, and its decades of experience have given it a unique perspective on how to best handle the intermediary process. “We’ve been doing this longer than just about any other company, and that’s translated into a high level of expertise that allows us to really focus on our customers,” says Mr. Bunje. “We like to sit down and get to know them instead of just gathering information and processing documents. We also understand that real estate transactions don’t just happen Monday through Friday, so we’re available every day of the week.”

To add to its customer-oriented approach to doing business, Independent Exchange Services is quick to inform clients of what services it can’t provide in addition to what it can. “For example, we can’t act as a tax advisor, but we’ll make sure every detail is covered so the exchange meets all IRS requirements,” says Mr. Bunje. “If we see something that doesn’t look right, we’ll raise a flag to ensure the client contacts the right people and makes the right decision. For us, it’s not just about collecting a fee—if the deal won’t benefit the client, we won’t go through with the transaction. We want our clients to come back a second and third time. Ultimately, they have to benefit from our services, not the other way around.”