11 Reasons to List During the Holidays

1. People who look for a home during the Holidays are more serious buyers! 2. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you! 3. Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you! 4. Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays! 5. Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price! 6. Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than they do during a working week! 7. Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons! 8. January is traditionally the month for employees to begin new jobs. Since transferees cannot wait until Spring to buy, you must be on the market now to capture that market! 9. You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days during the Holidays! 10. You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year! 11. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the Spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!

Clemmons West is Hot, Hot, Hot!!!

The Shore Team currently has 3 homes under contract in Clemmons West... yippee!!! However, as much as I would like to take all the credit, I have to give MAJOR kudos to all 3 sellers. They had all been subscribed to my neighborhood newsletter for quite some time, and all 3 were very realistic when it came to their local market. Additionally, they all did exactly as we instructed in regards to staging, pricing aggressively, easy accessibility, etc. This resulted in market times of 31, 3, and 1 days. WHOA! If you would like to subscribe to my Clemmons West newsletter, just let me know. It does not obligate you to anything, and it is produced monthly (so your inbox doesn't get overwhelmed). It is clear, concise, and reports ALL the homes listed, sold, pending etc. (not just mine). It really is an informative tool, if I do say so myself!

Selling Your Home THRICE

In the latest blog post by Keeping Current Matters, Steve Harney points out that agents have to sell your home twice -- to buyers and then to the bank. I would say we have to sell it THRICE -- to other agents, to buyers, and to the bank. Savvy agents will do everything they can to keep their customers from looking at a home they feel is over priced or poorly maintained. Read the KCM blog post here

New Happenings in Warren's Gate!

We are excited to share that there is a new homeowner in Warren's Gate in Clemmons!  Lot 34 closed last week, and you may be surprised to know that it is a single family home built by D. Stone Builders.  Yes, I said single family!  Several lots remain that could accommodate a single family OR twin home... in fact, Lot 33 has recently been reserved for another single.  Take a drive through and you will see that this beautiful gem in the heart of Clemmons is growing!

RATES

CURRENT RATES	1/13/14
Conventional 15 Yr, Fixed to 95% LTV	3.625
Conventional 30 Yr, Fixed to 95% LTV	4.625
Conventional 7/1 ARM	4.0
Conventional 30 Year Fixed 97% LTV (half point origination required)	5.125
FHA 30 Year Fixed	4.25
VA 30 Year Fixed	4.25
USDA 30 Year Fixed	4.25
All above rates quoted with no points origination unless otherwise noted
NC State Bond with DPA	4.75
NC Bond loan requires 1% origination
Jumbo 30 Yr. Fixed to 80% LTV	4.625
ALL RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
CREDIT SCORE AND LOAN AMOUNT  ADJUSTMENTS MAY APPLY. FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY.

Just a Little Lipstick

I had a very interesting conversation with a resident of one of my "favorite" neighborhoods this week.  It followed a sales meeting we had recently where the COO of Allen Tate came for some one on one time.  He was emphasizing the fact that, whether it is what we expected to be or not, we as Realtors are often the loudest cheerleaders for our favorite neighborhoods.  As he was talking, I immediately thought of this neighborhood. 

At the same time, I am in the process of putting my personal home on the market.  It isn’t the home we live in now, but it is our first home that we bought as a married couple (and our first home purchase in general).  Trust me, I’m getting to something here…

Anyway, preparing my home for the market really just brought home (no pun intended) to me some of the points made in the conversation with my friend.  Did you realize the exact same homes, but on 2 different streets, can look as if they are thousands of dollars apart simply because of little details?  At my home, for instance, I have put new decorative numbers on the mailbox, so you no longer notice the leaning mailbox post!  Removing a shelving unit from my carport made it seem twice as large.  I see so many similar things as I drive through town.  If no one at your home plays basketball anymore, take down the basketball goal.  If the trampoline hasn’t been jumped on in 2 years because it is crooked, take it out of the yard.  A mailbox cover over a rusted mailbox, new edging around a tree, a small garden flag… small small things can really improve the look of not just your home but the whole street.  THIS IS KEY.  Your home is a prize, and if little things we can do contribute to this, shouldn’t we be doing them?  Even if you aren’t planning to go on the market anytime soon, your “positive peer pressure” can influence your neighbor to do some housekeeping.  This can snowball into a substantially different look for your whole street when you DO decide to go on the market down the road!

What NOT To Do...

Today's post on the Allen Tate blog is very timely in general but for us specifically as we had just this issue delay a closing recently.  It offers great advice for anyone under contract to purchase a home.  To see the whole post, click here, but the main points are as follows:
-- Don’t open any new credit accounts before or during the mortgage loan application process
-- Don’t move money around in your checking/savings accounts
-- Don’t change jobs or the way you are compensated

Happy buying!

GREAT Open Houses this Sunday!

4355 Winterberry Ridge -- just reduced to $249,900 -- wonderful Winston-Salem home (Clemmons taxes and schools!) with full basement and nice backyard

2213 Briar Glen -- $125,000 -- great starter home convenient to WFUBMC, shopping, etc. with pretty floors and vaulted ceiling in living room

6810 Doublegate -- $289,900 -- stunning brick home in prestigious Doublegate in Clemmons -- hardwoods throughout main level and full basement

These will be open Sunday 2-4.  Come on out!

A Busy Weekend!

Yes... things have slowed down somewhat from the Spring/early Summer frenzy, BUT we received offers on 3 different homes this weekend.  So, the number of lookers has diminished somewhat, but the ones that are looking are serious.  Buyers, take things seriously if your agent tells you there is significant interest on a home you love, and sellers, keep your homes looking great and easy to show.  We are forecasting a flourishing fall!

Wanted: Sign Riders!

I saw a blog on Trulia today about sign riders that should exist. While I can't really say I have a need for most of the ones listed in the blog, I do have several ideas for sign manufacturers... and in case you are wondering, a sign rider is a strip that goes along the top of the sign that says "Price Reduced" or "Pool" or something like that!

1. No Window Shopping: I am constantly amazed by the number of sellers I have who have seen people literally walking around in their yards during the day (without an appointment to do so with an agent!). When a buyer calls me and asks if they may get out and look in windows of a listing, if it is vacant I say "of course!" -- but I ALWAYS thank them for asking! I have had several unsuspecting buyers met at the front door with a shotgun. I'm not kidding. Moral of the story: buyers AND agents, if you want to look in the windows of a property, call the list agent first to make sure it is vacant!!

2. Dry Basement (Usually): I hear all the time "oh yeah it's a dry basement -- it's great... no problems there... except when it rains really hard." As a seller you don't want to say you have a moist basement if in fact it isn't moist all the time, but a buyer needs to know that there can be issues. I would love a rider that sort of qualified that.

3. We Love Cats: This one will let you know that -- you guessed it -- there are cats in the house. Some homes with cats are still tidy, clean, smell good, etc., but even those homes can be problematic for someone with severe allergies. I have the nose of a hound dog (or so my husband says), but I have been with buyers several times who have broken out in hives once in a house longggg before I had an inkling that a cat lived there. So, advance notice would be great and would save everyone -- seller, buyer, me -- lots of time and preparation!

4. Unmotivated Seller: No one wants to pay full price for anything. I get that... but if you as the seller are absolutely not budging one smidgen off your asking price, just let us know that up front. Some folks, no matter how much they love your house, won't pay full price on principle. So, if I have those buyers in my car, that particular rider would save me great trouble.

What are some signs YOU would like to see?

 

Lots of Home for the $$$

4245 Our Circle is located in beautiful Clemmons! This 3 bedroom home offers new flooring throughout, fantastic built ins in the dining room and so much more... It's a must see! Click here for a photo tour!

Why You Should Use a Realtor...

Home sellers are more than twice as likely to get their homes sold if they use a Realtor®, rather than trying to sell their home on their own, according to a new survey conducted by HomeGain of 400 home owners nationwide from July 31 to Aug. 10. Seventy-three percent of the home owners surveyed said they used a Realtor®. On the other hand, 21 percent of those surveyed said they tried to sell their home themselves. The survey found that 66 percent of the home owners who used a Realtor® were able to successfully sell their home compared to 30 percent of for-sale- by-owners. What’s more, the survey found that 22 percent of the for-sale-by-owners eventually decided to use a Realtor® to try to sell their home. More than half of those who did were then able to sell their homes too, the survey found. “The value of a Realtor® in a real estate transaction is made strikingly apparent in our 2012 FSBO verses Realtor ® survey of home sellers,” says Louis Cammarosano, general manager of HomeGain. “A qualified Realtor ® understands the dynamics of the market and can better assist home sellers in the pricing and preparation of their homes for sale.” Source: HomeGain Thank you Tina Shields with Allen Tate Mortgage for passing on this useful info!

As the marketing agent for Warren's Gate in Clemmons, right in the heart of the Triad of NC, this article makes me very happyyyyyyyyy!!! http://t.co/ZiePtwVh

Wanting What Our Parents had

I don't know if it is my age that is making me wiser, the fact that I am currently taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace class, or that I have been doing this long enough for things to come full circle... but I want to just reflect a minute on our perspectives in relation to our homes. When my husband and I got married, we rented a beautiful but very old home... it was dated cosmetically, had baseboard heat, you used a skeleton key to lock the front door (not kidding), and it was located right next to railroad tracks that were still used frequently (too frequently...). Our utility bills were out of control, we never had enough heat, and the carpet was horrible, but we were so happy there and the rent was well within our budget. We had no complaints and envisioned ourselves being there a very long time. Then, job changes, family dynamics, spats over pets, etc caused us to move. I don't know where we lost the contentment, but somewhere along the line we did. Our next home was a simple brick ranch that was fine, but we felt the need to do cosmetic updates, put in a heat pump, etc. Then, we moved into our current home, where we will be til we are taken by the clods or the clouds. It wasn't so much my husband as me, but we felt this intense drive to make it ours and started making changes immediately... some supposedly needed, but most were simply because we wanted them done. How my perspective has changed. As I grow older and watch my 2 toddlers grow up, I no longer see the cosmetic deficits but the intrinsic value in having a payment we can afford (that we hope to get paid off very early!), room for our kids to play, and a great floor plan for our family. Would I LOVE to gut the kitchen and bring it out of the 1980s? YES. Would I LOVE to remove the brass fixtures and navy tile countertop in the bathroom? Double YES. Would I love to add a screened porch and convert the extra bedroom into a kicking master closet and bathroom? Oh, more than you know. But, until we can afford to do it in cash and have paid off all of our student loans, credit cards (that are now cut up), etc., we will just stay put as we are. Now the leaky roof... well, let's just hope we can save enough to pay for it in cash before it caves in! I see it a lot in my profession... young folks who want first thing what it took their parents 30 years to have. Of course I want to sell you a nice home -- after all, the higher the price, the more I make! -- but I also know that if you buy "too much" home, you will be calling me in a couple of years to sell it not because you want to but because you have to. So, just because you qualify for a $200,000 home, does that really mean you should buy it? Especially in today's' market, you can get a lot of home for a good price that won't break your budget. Some things are just more important than keeping up with your buddies. Trust me -- I speak from experience!

False Claims About Homeownership?

The National Association of Realtors recently published an ad that claimed the children of homeowners have higer self-esteem and make better grades. As you can imagine, this has caused quite a firestorm of debate among the industry. To read one of the studies NAR cited, click here. I am merely offering the link but am NOT claiming to have done the research! However, based on my experience both as a teacher and juvenile probation officer, and now as a Realtor and mom, I certainly have an opinion...

Open today in Clemmons -- 5/6 Bedrooms!

Please visit 2835 Gray Moss in Clemmons today... located in beautiful Doublegate, it is minutes from shopping, restaurants, drugstores, etc. With 4 bedrooms AND a huge bonus room on the upper level, one bedroom and full bath on the main level, and a potential 6th bedroom and full bath on the lower level, this hope is VERSATILE! Add the updated, huge screened porch, formal areas, and gleaming hardwoods and it is quite a prize. List price is $309,900, and it is open today from 2-4. Come see us! http://www.allentate.com/amandashore/DesktopDefault.aspx?pageid=108&pagealias=ATWAgentListingDetail&ListingID=2182003&ListingPosition=3&From=AgentFeaturedProperties

3.8% Tax -- the Facts

Phyllis Brookshire wrote an EXCELLENT post on the 3.8% real estate tax and its implications for our industry and specifically for sellers of real estate. Click here to see it -- it really is informative, well-written, and explains that the tax is not the bear some claim it to be.

Lot 5 Reserved...

Lot 5 at Warren's Gate has been reserved, but there are still lots left on both sides of the street and further down in the cul de sac. The current owners in Warren's Gate are thrilled with their homes and would love some new neighbors... message me for info! Come on home to Clemmons!!

Are We TOO Automated??

People love the convenience of products like Docusign (I’m probably the biggest fan EVER!). With gas prices as they are and the hurriedness of LIFE in general, the convenience offered really beats making an appointment, driving to meet up, getting sidetracked as you review paperwork face to face (thus doubling the time it takes to go through it), etc. Seriously, I've been surprised by the raves I've gotten from customers about the ease of such tools, but I can't help but wonder if we are missing out. Is the "personal touch" still shining through? I have been blessed over the years with many repeat customers and client referrals, but I'm wondering if the loss of face to face interaction for the sake of convenience may cost me some of that down the road? Or, will folks so appreciate my understanding of their hectic schedules and adaptable tools that they continue to keep me in mind. What are your thoughts?

Open Sunday 2-4

Come see the newest listing I have in Clemmons West -- this 5 bedroom home on Squirewood Dr is wonderfully versatile and has a fantastic backyard. The master on main, unbelievable cabinet & counterspace in the kitchen, and potential expansion off the playroom in the basement make it a treat! AND... it's priced way below the October 2011 appraisal.