I'm watching the Tarheels play Marquette, but the babies are in bed so I'm multi-tasking!
Lisa and I have listed a great home for medical residents on Polo Road. It's all brick, with a deep backyard, 3BR & 2BA, a remodeled kitchen, large living room, den with newly refinished hardwoods... and best of all, it is 6 minutes by bike to WFU!
Click here for more info!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Why I Work for Tate...
I am often asked by prospective sellers why they should go with a Tate agent over an agent from another company (never mind the qualifications I personally bring to the table!). I always turn it around and say "Let me tell you why I as an agent chose Tate over company X..." It always comes down to our technology, progressive marketing, etc., and today I learned of a new tool we have that just thrills me. Have any of you ever tried to access allentate.com from your SmartPhone? It's a little busy to say the least! To make the consumer experience simpler and more enjoyable, we have just unrolled our new mobile app... m.allentate.com. Check it out on your iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, etc... it's fabulous! You can even email ME directly from the app!!! This is a HUGE bonus for buyers and sellers in our market today with technology savvy consumers. Please call, email, facebook, tweet, or text me to learn more. Allen Tate truly has the competitive advantage. Our marketing and IT departments are dedicated to providing us as agents, and you as consumers, with the best tools in the business!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
What Buyers Want
I just read an interesting article in REALTOR magazine about what buyers want in a home. It hammered home the point that so many sellers today still have a hrd time swallowing... buyers want to feel like they are getting a DEAL. Even if a home is priced below market, they are going to want to negotiate on pricing. They want incentives -- closing cost assistance, HOA dues paid for a year, a home warranty -- everything AND the kitchen sink! They want a home in move in condition. Gone are the days of offering allowances so that buyers could do work themselves, because folks today just don't have time. So, Mr. or Mrs. Seller, what can we do to get more folks looking at your home?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
It Works Both Ways
Please understand... I love people. I love this business. I love doing something different every day. I love getting to know people. I love exceeding people's expectations.
What I don't love is unrealistic expectations. A lot of agents are out there. Some are experienced, some are not. With experience comes wisdom, confidence, and practical advice. Most folks out there do not want to be an agent's first client... they don't want to be the one who has to learn hard lessons along with the agent. They want their agent to have already learned those lessons and for their relationship to benefit from those experiences.
But here's the problem... an experienced agent is probably also a very busy one. To get the benefit of working with an experienced agent, you may have to "share" your agent with others. This does not mean your needs are not importyant, but it may mean that your agent is dealing with an emergency with another client and can't call you back until later.
I want all of my clients to feel like they are my only client, but I also need them to know that they are not. If you work with me based on my experience and track record, please understand that I probably have several transactions going at once. I will do my best for you, and if it is an emergency you will come first, but if there are other more pressing matters you may have to wait a few hours for a return phone call. There are agents out there who may be able to give you 100% of their time, but I think in those situations consumers need to ask why they are able to do that... Is it because they are brand new and inexperienced? Is it because they do not have a good reputation in the market? Is it because all of their clients have fired them? Is it because they have been on a month long vacation and therefore know nothing of current inventory?
In a nutshell, with experience comes an occasional need to compromise. If I don't call you back because I am on the phone with another client until after 10pm (which is later than I am usually up anyway!), rest assured you will be first on my list to call in the morning!
What I don't love is unrealistic expectations. A lot of agents are out there. Some are experienced, some are not. With experience comes wisdom, confidence, and practical advice. Most folks out there do not want to be an agent's first client... they don't want to be the one who has to learn hard lessons along with the agent. They want their agent to have already learned those lessons and for their relationship to benefit from those experiences.
But here's the problem... an experienced agent is probably also a very busy one. To get the benefit of working with an experienced agent, you may have to "share" your agent with others. This does not mean your needs are not importyant, but it may mean that your agent is dealing with an emergency with another client and can't call you back until later.
I want all of my clients to feel like they are my only client, but I also need them to know that they are not. If you work with me based on my experience and track record, please understand that I probably have several transactions going at once. I will do my best for you, and if it is an emergency you will come first, but if there are other more pressing matters you may have to wait a few hours for a return phone call. There are agents out there who may be able to give you 100% of their time, but I think in those situations consumers need to ask why they are able to do that... Is it because they are brand new and inexperienced? Is it because they do not have a good reputation in the market? Is it because all of their clients have fired them? Is it because they have been on a month long vacation and therefore know nothing of current inventory?
In a nutshell, with experience comes an occasional need to compromise. If I don't call you back because I am on the phone with another client until after 10pm (which is later than I am usually up anyway!), rest assured you will be first on my list to call in the morning!
Friday, March 4, 2011
One Level Living in Clemmons... Ooh La La!!
Lisa and I have just listed a wonderful home in Asbury Place in Clemmons. I have written about Asbury Place before and what a great neighborhood it is with its neighborhood activities, community pool, etc. I know several folks who have sold their homes only to purchase in Asbury Place again... it just has that quaint, safe, hometown feel to it. So, it's a given that it's a great neighborhood... let's now talk about this new listing...
4470 Gatkin Knoll Ct is a stunning 4 bedroom home with extras galore. It is one level with a fabulous full finished basement. The main level features a living room, kitchen, breakfast area, formal dining room, 3 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, and a nice laundry room. The lower level is ideal for an in law suite with a playroom, den, bedroom, and nice full bath -- it even has a wet bar! Access is easy to both levels as well... there is a main level 2 car garage AND a lower level one car garage -- each with its own driveway. The back yard is private (full foliage in spring, summer, and fall!) and serene with a babbling brook and can be enjoyed from either the large deck or oversized patio with natural gas firepit. This home was made for entertaining!
Practical considerations abound as well. The sellers wisely updated the home throughout with granite and tile in the kitchen, beautiful hardwoods in the main living areas, and a "bonus" area over the garage that would make a great home office. There is a HUGE walk-in attic, and the master bath has a jetted tub that is actually big enough to lounge in (that is pretty novel these days!). Combine all of these features with its location on a cul-de-sac street, and you have a fantastic home that is ideal for anyone from empty nesters to young families. Contact me today to set up your own private showing!
Visit this home by clicking here.
4470 Gatkin Knoll Ct is a stunning 4 bedroom home with extras galore. It is one level with a fabulous full finished basement. The main level features a living room, kitchen, breakfast area, formal dining room, 3 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, and a nice laundry room. The lower level is ideal for an in law suite with a playroom, den, bedroom, and nice full bath -- it even has a wet bar! Access is easy to both levels as well... there is a main level 2 car garage AND a lower level one car garage -- each with its own driveway. The back yard is private (full foliage in spring, summer, and fall!) and serene with a babbling brook and can be enjoyed from either the large deck or oversized patio with natural gas firepit. This home was made for entertaining!
Practical considerations abound as well. The sellers wisely updated the home throughout with granite and tile in the kitchen, beautiful hardwoods in the main living areas, and a "bonus" area over the garage that would make a great home office. There is a HUGE walk-in attic, and the master bath has a jetted tub that is actually big enough to lounge in (that is pretty novel these days!). Combine all of these features with its location on a cul-de-sac street, and you have a fantastic home that is ideal for anyone from empty nesters to young families. Contact me today to set up your own private showing!
Visit this home by clicking here.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Mortgage Assistance Programs NOT All That
Only 1 in 4 Got Mortgage Relief
Just one in four of the 2.7 million homeowners who sought to participate in the Obama administration's signature mortgage assistance program have succeeded in getting their monthly payments reduced, according to an analysis by the Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB10001424052748704692904576166982594828812.html?mod=WSJ_RealEstate_LeftTopNews
Info taken from NC Realtor report 3.2.11
Just one in four of the 2.7 million homeowners who sought to participate in the Obama administration's signature mortgage assistance program have succeeded in getting their monthly payments reduced, according to an analysis by the Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB10001424052748704692904576166982594828812.html?mod=WSJ_RealEstate_LeftTopNews
Info taken from NC Realtor report 3.2.11
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