Are You Ready for Some...

Are You Ready for Some...

...RAINCAMP MEET UPS?!

All across the country hosts and hostesses are sending out invitations to their local meet-ups in celebration of ActiveRain’s first virtual RainCamp!  From 9-1 PST (Noon to 4:00 EST), ActiveRain is hosting an afternoon (or morning on the West Coast!) of online learning.  Guest members will share their tips and pointers via GoToMeeting.com.

After having our first venue fall through for us, we decided to host this exciting event at our office--an historic Victorian in the heart of Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood.  We’ll be providing the food and beverages and two rooms for viewing the webinar! 

Savvy  + Company is going to be host for the entire event, also extending the time to 6:30 for those who are only able to attend the MeetUp!

We’re thrilled to have sponsors providing Mexican food and beverages for the event and cannot WAIT to host ActiveRain’s very first Online RainCamp!  Let us know if you’ll be able to attend...be sure to check in with Lexie or me for your ActiveRain POINTS for attending!!  SEE YOU THERE!

Location:  1920 E. 7th Street
                 Charlotte, NC  28204

Date:  September 8, 2011

Time:   12:00 - 6:00

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

The Advantages of Selling Your Home Without a Charlotte Real Estate Agent…

…Or are they really advantages?

The Wall Street Journal wrote just today, that even Colby Sambrotto, founder and COO of ForSaleByOwner.com, even used a real estate broker to sell his personal home (paying full commission, I might add).  The resulting multiple Offer situation got Mr. Sambrotto more than he imagined he would be able to get for his home - to the tune of $150,000 ABOVE list price!

In today’s economy, people are looking for ways to save money.  This is also true when it comes to selling their homes.  Some homeowners believe that selling their homes without a Charlotte real estate agent will save them thousands.

Is selling your home on your own right for you?  After weighing some of the advantages and disadvantages to selling your home without a Charlotte real estate agent, you will be able to make a more informed decision on which choice is best for you.

Here are three reasons sellers feel that selling your home as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO) is advantageous:

1. You may save money by eliminating the commission.  Selling your house as a FSBO means you don’t have to pay commission to a listing agent.  Suppose you pay 6% of the sales price in commissions; you could possibly save that amount.  Unfortunately, buyers know that too.  So, most buyers believe that if you are selling on your own and not paying a commission, they should get the savings – not you.
2. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is now available to you.  A FSBO can now be advertised on many local Multiple Listing Services.  In the past, this tool was only available to real estate agents and brokers.  You will usually have to pay a fee to get your home listed on the MLS.  Bear in mind that real estate agents have multiple ways that they use to market your property–they KNOW where the consumer is looking and some pay dearly to market there.
3. Offers and counter offers can be negotiated face to face between you and the buyer.  You don’t have to wait for your listing agent to talk with the buyer’s agent and get all the paperwork drawn up.  However, if you are not skilled in negotiation, you may leave money on the table.  Remember:  You may have sold as many as 2-3 homes on your own–an experienced real estate agent has negotiated hundreds!  Put their experience to work for YOU.  You will more likely than not, find that you’ll actually get MORE for your property, even after paying commissions, just as Mr. Sambrotto found!

One other thing to take into consideration before you put up your For Sale By Owner sign is the state of your local real estate market.  If it is a buyer’s market, you will most likely have a hard time selling your home by yourself.  It’s easier to sell your home by yourself when it is a bustling seller’s market.

If you’d like information on selling your Charlotte home, I’d be happy to help.  Contact me today by phone or by email.

Read more: http://www.icharlotterealestate.com/are-there-advantages-of-selling-your-home-without-a-charlotte-real-estate-agent/#ixzz1U7dmcTi6

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

How To Inspect Charlotte Homes For Sale as You Search

You know my recommendation is always to have a professional property inspection before a buyer Closes on a property.  Wouldn’t it also be a good idea to discover a property’s problems even before you make an Offer?  With some minor attention to detail, you can learn a lot about the condition of Charlotte homes for sale that you tour.

Here’s a pre-Offer, do-it-yourself property inspection checklist to get you started:

• Basement - A basement can give you information about the structure of a house, especially if the basement is unfinished.  You’ll want to make sure there are no cracks, the electrical wiring is organized, and there is no evidence of water damage. If there isn’t a basement, examine the exposed foundation on the exterior of the house.
   
• Electric panel – Upon examination, it should look orderly and neat.  If it is, that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear, but a disorganized panel can often be a sign of shoddy electrical work throughout the house.
   
• Faucets and fixtures – Is there hot water?  Does the shower drip? Does the oven work? Does the toilet run?  Not every problem is a major issue, but a plumbing evaluation will give you a good idea of how much care went into the property’s construction and maintenance.
   
• Attic - Not only should you be looking at available storage space, you’ll want to see how well insulated the attic space is.  Insulation can make a huge difference in your monthly electric and gas bills.
   
• Roof - Missing shingles or interior water damage in Charlotte homes are signs of roof damage including aged roof (needs full replacement), damaged roof, dry rotted boots or a simple missing shingle.
   
• Windows - Make sure they all open and close properly and that you can’t find any drafts, gaps or condensation between the glass.
   
• Interior and exterior finishings – Check the baseboards and siding to see what shape they’re in.  If the builders didn’t pay much attention to what you CAN see, imagine what the internal structure might look like.

Want to work with a professional real estate agent who can help you weed out badly-built or poorly-maintained Charlotte homes for sale before you make an offer?  Give me a call today at (704) 491-3310 or email me at Debe@DebeMaxwell.com – We can help.

Read more: http://www.icharlotterealestate.com/inspect-charlotte-homes-for-sale-as-you-search/#ixzz1T456Z62n

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

SELLER CHECKLIST – 30 Interior Tasks to Prepare for Your Charlotte Home for Sale

Those who have never had a Charlotte home for sale before often think that selling is as simple as hiring a real estate agent and putting a sign in the yard. Believe me, it’s not that simple, as you’ll soon discover!

The Interior of Your Home

You’ve taken care of the exterior of your Charlotte home for sale-the first up-close impression buyers get.  So, when buyers make it inside, they’re one step closer to actually buying your home.  However, if the interior is a mess, this could blow the entire plan to get your home SOLD.

Here’s a checklist to make your home’s interior buyer-ready:

1. Make sure the front door doesn’t stick
2. Test windows to ensure they open and close easily
3. Wash windows inside and out
4. Move pets and pet supplies to a temporary home
5. Fix leaky faucets
6. Update fixtures on your cabinet hardware and door knobs
7. De-clutter closets and cabinets (yes, buyers WILL open them!)
8. Replace or repair cabinet doors
9. Clean or replace dirty or worn grout
10. Wash the walls if you’re not repainting
11. Repair cracks or holes in the wall
12. Paint walls a neutral color
13. Remove personal items, such as knick-knacks and personal mementos
14. Clean the fireplace
15. Have the chimney professionally cleaned
16. Remove clutter from countertops, tables and shelves
17. Steam clean the carpets
18. Scrub all appliances
19. Clean cobwebs and dead bugs from light fixtures and ceiling fans
20. Make sure every light has a working bulb
21. Degrease the stove and oven
22. De-clutter and clean the attic and the basement
23. Clean out your garage – do not fill the garage with moving boxes-buyers tend to think that you don’t have enough storage space when the garage is filled to the brim.  Rent a storage unit!
24. Make sure crawl spaces have crawl space waterproofing
25. Remove excess furniture
26. Rearrange remaining furniture in good proportion (Or hire a home stager)
27. Clean the window treatments
28. Replace broken panels for electrical switches and outlets
29. Wipe down baseboards
30. Clean and wax linoleum floors

While each of the Charlotte homes for sale is unique, with different selling points and selling problems, this list is a good start for any home.

If you’re ready to sell your Charlotte home, I can help. Call me or email me for more information.

For more seller checklists to prepare your Charlotte home for sale, visit our seller page at www.iCharlotteRealEstate.com.

Read more: http://www.icharlotterealestate.com/seller-checklist-30-interior-tasks-for-your-charlotte-home-for-sale/#ixzz1ST3pDhCL

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Charlotte NC Ranked As A Top 20 Fastest Growing City In The Nation

The Queen City is among the top 20 US cities with relation to population growth in the last decade, according to a recent Rice University analysis of the 2000 and 2010 US Census. Charlotte Metro population increased by 427,590 during the last decade, ranking No. 14. Also in NC, Raleigh ranked No. 20 with a population increase of 333,419.

The nation’s cities with the highest population growth include New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, grew by 1.2 million people in the decade, more than any other US city.

According to Michael Emerson, co-director of Rice’s Kinder Institute, the concentration of population growth in the South and Southwest has intensified this past decade.  Of the top 15 metropolitan areas with the most growth, only New York, LA, Riverside and Seattle are outside the South or Southwest.

Below are the Top 20 fastest growing US metros, ranked by population growth from 2000 to 2010: 

1. Houston 1,231,393

2. Dallas-Fort Worth 1,210,229

3. Atlanta 1,020,879

4. Riverside, CA 970,030

5. Phoenix 941,011

6. Washington, DC 785,987

7. Las Vegas 575,504

8. New York 574,107

9.  Miami 557,071

10.Orlando, FL 489,850

11. Austin 466,526

12. Los Angeles 463,210

13. San Antonio 430,805

14. Charlotte 427,590

15. Seattle 395,931

16. Tampa/St. Petersburg 387,246

17. Denver 364,242

18. Chicago 362,789

19. Sacramento, CA 352,270

20. Raleigh/Cary 333,419

Read more: http://www.icharlotterealestate.com/charlotte-nc-ranked-as-a-top-20-fastest-growing-cities-in-the-nation/#ixzz1SFK7I1r8

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

So Your Buyers Agent Doesn't Want To Show You Properties?

Here's my opinion of agents who request that their buyers contact the listing agents to show them homes...

A user on our website who had been 'with us' on our site for a month indicated that she and her husband are in the market to buy a home in one of our specialty areas.  The buyer sent contact information, including phone number.  When the time was perfect, they decided that they wanted to see only one house.  That house was not our listing but, as you know, was on our site due to our IDX feed.

The couple and their family had driven by the house to check it out from the street and fell in love.  They simply MUST see this property before their family leaves town.  I get the call--"Okay, we're ready to see it!"

After several conversations about agency and confirming that this couple is NOT working with an agent, I referred them to one of our agents--ready to go!  Pre-qualified, no agent representation and a home to show in her area of expertise.  A perfect fit, right?

During their visit, it was discovered that the potential buyers know the neighbors, who wound up buying one of the referral agent's listings.  They parted on good terms, excited to forge a nice working relationship.  Following the showing, the potential buyer emailed our agent to thank her for showing the property but, kindly refused to sign a buyer's agency with her because she ALREADY HAS AN AGENT!  As a matter of fact, it's the same agent who sent a buyer to our agent's listing that they discussed earlier in the day.

Their agent NEVER laid eyes the home that she sold next door for those buyers!  She lives 35 minutes away and has her clients phone the listing agents to view the properties in our area!  Rather than refer the clients out, she expressly complains that she knows nothing about the area and that she won't make the trek to Charlotte to show homes so the listing agents can do her work for her.  She also does NOT attend inspections with her buyers--again, she allows the listing agent to do her work for her!  Also, she's obviously not even sending her clients listings because they're searching for homes on OUR SITE!  (And, what do you find there?  Every IDX shared listing in our MLS.)

This is just wrong on SO many levels--not even to mention the burden on the other agents.  This MIA agent has completely neglected her fiduciary duties to HER clients.  If she does not know the area, how does she oversee the due diligence for HER clients?

How are her clients okay with this type of service?  We're paid well to do what we do.  How can any client accept this type of far-less-than-full-service?

I can tell you one thing, I refer out to her area but, will never refer a client to her--NEVER.  Who knows how she manages clients in her own area?  Perhaps it's not that she doesn't know the area, maybe she's working full-time at the mall!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Cost-Effective Projects for Charlotte Home Sellers

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Ditch the 9s When Pricing Your Charlotte Real Estate

Most, if not all, Charlotte real estate buyers start with an Internet property search.  Even buyers who are working with real estate agents start the weed-out process via the World Wide Web. 

Because real estate has such a strong virtual presence these days, smart internet marketing (including price setting) is an absolute must for selling your home quickly.  Here are a few pricing techniques to maximize the number of potential buyers who find your home when they search for Charlotte real estate online:

• The theory of the 9s - Most real estate search engines have parameters that filter listings based on $25,000 or $50,000 price blocks. For instance, you can search for houses valued $150,000-$200,000 or $200,000-$250,000. Many sellers don’t seem to take this into account.  Instead, properties are listed using the same marketing techniques that grocery stores use to sell you a gallon of milk — they use a lot of 9s in the pricing to make it look less expensive. However, today’s buyers aren’t going to be fooled by that system. 

• Spanning markets - While you might think listing your house for $399,900 will make buyers see your home as a bargain, you might actually be losing out on a lot of interested buyers. When buyers search for houses from $400,000-$450,000, your property won’t show up, so you’d be better off upping the price a little to $400,000.  Then you’ll expand your potential buyer base because it will show up in property searches priced $350,000-$400,000 AND searches priced $400,000-$450,000, thus capturing TWO pools of buyers rather than eliminiating one altogether--and with only $100 in your price!

• Pros and cons of under-pricing your home - If you’ve priced your property somewhere in the middle, like at $309,000, common sense might tell you that lowering the price $9,000 to price it at $300,000 would be undervaluing it.  However, getting many more buyers through the door will certainly help your property sell faster. While I do not recommend purposely under-pricing your home, if you did happen to undervalue it, buyers will notice and you might end up with a multiple-offer situation allowing you to get even more from your property.

Don’t resort to out-dated, discount pricing marketing tricks that might actually be hurting your chances of a fast sale at top dollar. 

If you need help pricing your Charlotte real estate, I can help.  Call me today at or email me for more information. 

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Charlotte Home Buyers Guide Part 1: Define Your Goals

Spring has sprung and now is the time that buyers become the most active in the Charlotte North Carolina real estate market. Like most people,  buying a home represents your single largest investment, and therefore brings on the stress!  Bear in mind though, that the home buying process can be one of the most exciting experiences you ever go through as well. Whether you're in the market for your first Charlotte home for sale or you're an 'old hat' at home buying, never before has the market offered such wonderful opportunities or been riddled with unknown risks. 

These opportunities may consist of distressed properties, if you're looking in that market, or low mortgage rates, both of which may contribute some additional stress to the buying process.  Yes, even low mortgage rates may bring on a little stress for you as credit scores weigh heavily on the rates in most instances. You will have many factors to consider and many decisions to make when buying a Charlotte home for sale. Therefore, when buying, it’s extremely important for you to have all the available resources necessary to make a well-informed home buying decision,  as well as the time required to make complete use of them.  That being said, you most certainly want to enlist the help of a trusted REALTOR® who’ll can provide you with expert consultation every step of the way in your home buying process.

There are several steps that your REALTOR® will be able to assist you with regarding your home buying experience.  These goals will help you educate yourself and prepare for the excitement of buying that new Charlotte home for sale.  The first step it to Define Your Goals.  This means clearly determining the why's and what's of the home that you’re going to be buying.  As well, because buying and financing a home are so closely related, this also means that you will need to examine your current financial situation to be able to accurately project how much you can afford and/or the amount that you want to invest.

• Make a list of wants vs. needs to determine what you'd like to find.  This list will help your REALTOR® do his/her job more efficiently and save you time in the long run.
• Contact a lender to review your financial status.  This can be as quick as a 10 minute phone call or if you'd like to spend time reviewing your finances in person, you can schedule a meeting with a lender.  Either way, feel free to contact us for a list of wonderful, highly qualified lenders who will guide you seamlessly through this exciting process.

You’ll now be in a better position to create an action plan and timelines for moving forward.  Again, your REALTOR® can assist you in your next steps.

Originally posted at www.iCharlotteRealEstate.com

Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate - Charlotte NC Relocation Information

Debe Maxwell, CRS, Realtor®/Broker
Savvy + Company Real Estate
1920 E. 7th Street Charlotte, NC  28204
Mobile:  (704) 491-3310
Fax:       (704) 353-7014
Email: Debe@DebeMaxwell.com

More information on Charlotte than you'll ever need!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.