Archive for September, 2009
HGTV called- A Realtor’s Dream
September 30th, 2009 categories: Interesting Tidbits
Do you have any idea how many years I’ve been watching HGTV? I’ve watched it all: Divine Design (my favorite), House Hunters, My First Place, Designed to Sell, House Hunters International, Property Virgins, Renovation Realities and whatever subject matter they put on that channel, I watch it! Not only am I always fascinated that I end up learning something, it has become one of my preferred stress relievers.
Everytime I watch Divine Design and they’re surprising someone, I secretly wish my husband would apply to Divine Design for me, I can envision Candice Olson showing up at my front door with her big smile, arms outstreatched with a big “Surprise”. Sure, I’m like everyone else, I’ve got a basement that needs a makeover, and a living room too! But it wouldn’t be the same if I verbalized this deep desire to hubby, I want him to figure it out!
Ok, so the other week I was visiting one of my favorite new construction communities, Creekside Village, and I got a call on my cell phone. At first I thought it was a marketing call, when I barely caught the letters HGTV mentioned. “Did you say HGTV?” I said to my caller, “Yes, we are starting a new series called “Uprooted” and wanted to see if you would be interested in participating?” It was almost as if someone just told me I had won the lottery. I looked over to my fellow Realtor Cindy and mouthed “HGTV”, her mouth dropped open, mine was already dropped! Yes, yes I’m interested, are you kidding I’m an HGTV junkie. I actually said this to him. He laughed a little, he probably gets this reaction all the time. He explained the criteria of the type of client they want me to have, I told him I thought I had just the right client and would be back in touch.
I was beside myself in utter joy! I didn’t come down from that high for about a week. I contacted my client and she too was tickled pink. I came to find out that she’s a actress and this would be right up her alley. HGTV actually has the participants fill out an application, and they audition them! No deadheads for HGTV!
My client was auditioned and passed! So, we are now waiting to see when the show will be using us. How did they find me? My blogsite, so I guess it pays to blog! Has anyone out there reading this ever have the opportunity to be on HGTV? Candice, Design Angel of all designers, I hope you’re reading this . . . !
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Are all the price points selling in Asheville?
September 29th, 2009 categories: Market Updates, Real Estate News
Is your price range up or down?
There is much discussion about how the real estate market is in the middle of its turnaround based on sales increasing on a year-over-year basis. Though the fact that housing is again moving is fabulous news, let’s not lose sight of which homes are selling.
Here is a closer look at different price ranges and how they are faring in the current ‘boom’:
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0-100,000
100,000 – 250,000 250,000 -5 00,000 500,000 – 750,000 750,000 – 1,000,000 1,000,000 – 2,000,000 2,000,000+ |
sales up 38.8%
sales up 8.7%
sales down 6.2% sales down 8.9% sales down 10.6% sales down 23.3% sales down 32.4 |
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Is that house toxic?
September 24th, 2009 categories: Rants & Raves
I’ve decided that a new category is needed on my blog, It just wouldn’t be me without it - Rants & Raves! So what sparked the new category this time? I have a rant about the condition of some homes actively on the market.
As anyone who have read my posts knows, it’s imperative as a seller that you show your property in it’s best condition. I know that makes sense to 99.9% of you. Well, I ran into the other.01% this week! This is story:
I have a young couple looking for properties under $130,000 in the North Asheville, Weaverville areas. They aren’t real picky, are easy to work with and understand their options will be limited at this price point. So they are very realistic that they won’t be finding a mansion and will need to invest in future updates or repairs. Our first venture out we visited four homes in that price range. Out of the four, two were good possibilities. It was the 3rd house that we looked at that made me angry. Described on the Asheville MLS as “A beautiful country home”, we were eager to see it. On arrival we saw that it was located across the street from a used car dealer, definitely a negative, but we still wanted to see inside. Stepping inside the house it looked like someone had completely trashed it – then the smell hit us! The smell was a combination of musty mold & cat urine that had been closed up and incubating for a very long time! My eyes were burning and I could only hold my breath hoping to quickly be in and out. It was when I reached the kitchen that I absolutely lost it, the stench was amazing. When we got outside, my clients stated they felt they needed to go home and shower. I had a pounding headache the rest of the night.
What makes me angry is that the MLS comments made by the listing agent made this house sound like the idyllic country home, with a few repairs needed. It was THE most toxic house I have ever entered and could see a minimum of $50,000 in repairs, not to mention how the smell could ever be remediated. In my opinion, this house was a health risk and should not have been on the market. Fortunately, this situation was extreme and has been the exception for me. For those individuals with health issues there should have been a warning before entering posted at the property on in the MLS.
So the moral to this story is this: Sellers need to take responsibility to make sure their property is not putting the public at a health risk. If you can’t walk into a building without holding your breath, it doesn’t need to be on the market! Listing agents need to represent a property correctly and not mislead with a description that draws a completely different picture of that property, or don’t agree to put it on the market! It’s your reputation on the line!
I’d love to hear from any of you out there who have had a similar experience.
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Smart bait that gets Top Dollar for your home
September 19th, 2009 categories: Sellers
Oh yes, there are ways to attract that elusive buyer in a big buyers pond. You just have to have the right “bait”. Just like fishing, men will tell you that if the bait’s not right, no bites!! So what am I talking about? Picture perfect photographs.
Smart sellers and their agents understand the importance of great photographs and their key role in an effective marketing plan, beginning with the first day the house goes on MLS. Agents often pass over MLS listings without pictures, so require that a full set be taken before the house is listed, and be certain they show the property at its best. Most buyers will see the house for the first time in a picture, and decide whether or not to tour it based on the exterior shot featuring the front. If you want to attract more buyers and improve the likelihood of selling for top dollar, take an active role in creating the photographs.
To start, look at your home through the eyes of a buyer, go to a few model homes in Asheville or Weaverville and see what wows buyers. Model homes are depersonalized, THAT’S what you need to do to your home to accomplish attracting a good buyer – Depersonalize & Declutter. Ask your agent’s opinion of what you need to do, and LISTEN to them! We’re not trying to make you feel bad when we say you have WAY too much stuff in the house. If you leave it that way and think buyers will overlook it? WRONG! They’re looking at your “stuff” and are detracted from seeing the finer points of the house.
After you’ve prepared the house for market, take some experimental pictures. Look at them through the eyes of a buyer. Are you impressed by what you see? If not, work with your agent or the photographer and compose every shot, inside and outside. Move furniture and accessories around as needed, and pay attention to lighting. Each image must present your house at its best, showcasing the most attractive features.
Remember the old saying “You only have one chance to make a first impression” Keep that little saying in your head while getting your house ready to sell.
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Do you know about these numbers?
September 15th, 2009 categories: Interesting Tidbits
Before March to July of this year, did you know that it has been 6 years since the national housing market experienced five consecutive monthly gains in pending home sales?
The median sized new single-family home sold in the United States over the past two decades has had a 42% increase in square footage.
50% of new homes sold in the first six months of 2009 cost less than $200,000.
100 in billions, the dollar amount of stimulus money that has filtered into the economy so far, with $787 billion left to be spent next year.
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What “Green” Money is out there for homeowners?
September 13th, 2009 categories: Building Green
In addition to the first-time homebuyer tax credit, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 established a number of tax breaks for current homeowners who improve their home’s energy efficiency.
Energy-efficient improvements to exterior windows, skylights and door and certain metal and asphalt roofs qualify for 30 percent of the project cost, up to $1,500. The credit covers installation costs for HVAC, gas, oil and propane water heaters and biomass stoves.
These improvements qualify for the credit through Dec. 31, 2010. And owners who add geothermal heat pumps, solar energy systems or small wind energy systems will qualify for 30 percent of the entire cost, including installation. This tax credit expires Dec. 31, 2016.
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Rose Hill Plantation – Green-Healthy Living
September 10th, 2009 categories: Neighborhoods
Rose Hill Plantation, Asheville’s first single family thoughtfully planned ‘Healthy Living Community,’ is bursting with green. A focal point of life at Rose Hill Plantation is the community garden which allows residents to choose a raised garden bed and grow their own vegetables, fruits and flowers. The garden plots are one of several sustainable features that support the community’s dedication to fostering an invigorating, healthy, and sustainable lifestyle for active adults. The homes are built to the Western North Carolina Green Building Council standards. And additional green focused amenities include alternative power choices, rainwater collection programs, energy and resource efficient appliances, a fitness center and a club house with a saline infused pool, as well as a Healthy Living Manager to help plan community events and outreach programs.
From the ground-up Rose Hill Plantation is unique in its dedication to a
healthy lifestyle. The enclave of 103 single-family detached-homes is nestled into a pristine parcel of land and surrounded by breathtaking vistas in Northwest Asheville, just 10 minutes from the city’s vibrant downtown. Of the gated community’s 58 acres, more than 40 acres are in a conservation easement that includes dedicated walking trails and communal gardens. Taking its lead from the surrounding beauty, Rose Hill Plantation offers homeowners the chance to preserve the allure of the mountains and contribute to the sustainable quality of life in the greater
Each of the single family one and two story cottage-style homes range from approximately 1387 to 2430 square feet and offer two and three bedroom plans with garages and some have the capability of a finished lower level. In addition, the homes at Rose Hill Plantation offer a maintenance-free environment within a lock-and-leave setting in a gated community, providing the advantages of a condominium lifestyle while retaining the privacy of a single family home.
Rose Hill Plantation is the development of Jeff Glover who is dedicated to building healthy living communities and is a Platinum Member of the Western North Carolina Green Building Council.
For a limited time, ready to move-in two and three bedroom homes at Rose Hill Plantation, or new built homes are priced from $279,900 representing a price savings of 15% or more. For more information, the Sales Center at Rose Hill Plantation is now open and new homes and model homes may be previewed. The Club House and walking trails are complete.To visit Rose Hill Plantation call the sales office at: 828-683-9029, my cell phone 828-989-5443 or register online at www.rosehillplantation.net. The Sales Office is open seven days a week and is located at
3041 Leicester Hwy. (Hwy. 63) Leicester, NC 28748
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Beverly-Hanks to market The Fitzgerald Condominiums
September 8th, 2009 categories: Neighborhoods
Asheville, North Carolina (August 26, 2009) – GPI Ventures LLC-the wholly owned development entity of The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa-recently selected Asheville-based real estate firm Beverly-Hanks & Associates, Inc. as the listing agent to drive sales at The Fitzgerald Condominiums, located on the historic grounds of The Grove Park Inn. “We’re very excited to be selected to represent The Fitzgerald, said Neal Hanks, President of Beverly-Hanks. “The Fitzgerald is a premier offering in Asheville. It has a coveted location at the historic Grove Park Inn, just minutes from downtown. And it offers a finished product with finished amenities.”
The Fitzgerald is a picture of strength in today’s market, offering itself as a limited collection of 24 elegant residences. Each unit overlooks the celebrated Donald Ross Golf Course and provides breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and downtown Asheville. Units range in size from 1,969 to 2,843 square feet, with prices beginning at $1 million. A host of privileges and amenities are available to owners through an exclusive Grove Park Inn Community Membership, including complimentary, unlimited access to the nationally acclaimed, award-winning Spa, golf privileges at the Inn’s Donald Ross Golf Course and access to a 50,000 square-foot Sports Complex.
Already, The Fitzgerald has generated a lot of interest and momentum—25% of the units have closed and the first residents have moved in. To help Beverly-Hanks drive sales at The Fitzgerald, GPI Ventures has also enlisted the help of a local sales and marketing firm, The Carolina Agency, a small group of Senior-Level only marketing specialists who have a great deal of experience in high-end real estate and master-planned communities. Additionally, The Fitzgerald is listed as a featured community at downtown Asheville’s Private Mountain Communities (PMC), the recognized authority on Western North Carolina real estate and mountain living.
According to Craig Madison—a former marketing agency owner and current President and CEO of The Grove Park Inn—the combination of Beverly-Hanks, The Carolina Agency and PMC offers exactly the right mix of experience and talent to take The Fitzgerald to the next level. “We’ve enjoyed a good deal of early success in the local market,” he says, “but it’s now time to take a more targeted and integrated message to the regional and national markets. The team of players we’ve assembled—with their industry experience in upscale lifestyle-based communities and extensive knowledge of our market—enables us to do that.”
For anyone desiring to learn more about The Fitzgerald or to take an up-close tour of the property, a model residence is now open daily—Monday-Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
If you would like a full packet of information mailed or emailed to you, please email me at: Sandy@AshevilleRealEstateVoice.com or call me 828-989-5443.
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There’s WHAT on the deck?
September 5th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Sellers
The other option as a title to this article is – Do you really want to sell your house? For the past two weeks I’ve been showing properties to my wonderful first time buyers. Why are they wonderful? Because they listen to me and are willing to do whatever I say they need to do to secure their new home. They follow instructions! That’s half the battle, the other side of the battle is finding the right home for them.
Although I see our market changing to the upside, with the good homes going under contract quickly, there is still good inventory out there under $200,000. Yesterday was an all day showing process with my clients in which we looked at a total of 7 homes in Arden, Fletcher and Asheville and a 2nd look at one house in Weaverville. Naturally all these homes looked wonderful on the MLS, the reality comes in when you walk through the door! The houses ran the gamut of being neat as a pin and well decorated, to original green shag carpeting from the 70’s that was so filthy we almost gagged. Out came the hand sanitizer!
Out of the seven homes, we identified three as good possibles. But it was the last house of the day that prompted this article. The first time we saw this house a week ago, we desperately tried to see past the clutter. The outside showed very well, in a good neighborhood, but the inside was so messy we couldn’t even walk through the living room because there was literally too much on the floor. I kept saying to my buyers to look past the clutter and envision it empty.
The next day I sent the listing agent some feedback on the condition of the house, hoping the message would filter back to the owners. A week later we went to see the house again, even with advance notice that we were coming the house clutter hadn’t been touched! So out we go on the deck to see the nice mountain view, I was still trying to convey the positives this home had when I stopped in my tracks! There it was, the deal breaker – four piles of dog poop right smack in the middle of the deck! We turned around and left, it didn’t matter what I said at that point, they crossed this house off the list forever.
If only these sellers would listen to their listing agent on how to prepare your home for showings, they may already have a pending contract. If all sellers were like my wonderful first time buyers, eager to listen and follow an experienced professional’s advice, they would find the process quicker and smoother. Don’t be afraid to rent a storage facility and put all the clutter there, buyers need to focus on the house itself, NOT your stuff!
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