1st Time Seller for this Realtor

Coming on 4 years now, I have been a Realtor in this beautiful city of Charlotte North Carolina and have assisted lots of people to find their 1st home or sell their current one. When I married my husband he already had a home for the past 8 years so it just made sense for me to simply move it. It was large enough for the both of us without much duplication of furniture. That was 2 years ago.

Now the home is still really nice, but as my business grows so does the need for a larger desk, filing cabinets and bookshelves. We are running out of room. Granted there’s a saying that “Love flourishes in small spaces”, but when you’ve got one person as an active Realtor and another who builds computers, space becomes a premium. Time to take advantage of the Move Up Tax credit and look for a larger home. (grin)

Right…. Now I know more of what my clients are going through. As a Realtor, keeping your clients focused on the prize with a level head is part of  what we do, but who is there for US? I did everything I tell my clients to do to prep the home for the market. Clean, repair all those little things that they can live with but are turn offs for the buyer, de-clutter, paint if needed, clean up the yard and de-personalize. It took me 3 days to whiz through our little home so I could make it just right.  I’m a perfectionist and now it was perfect and ready! 

Our home was placed on the market on a Monday. I took Tuesday and Wednesday to prep, went to an Auction on Thursday to pick up a few cabinets and by Friday it was perfect. Just in time too as I had a showing scheduled for 11am Saturday. I was a bundle of nerves. Like a child on Christmas Eve trying to get some sleep so Santa can come. Saturday came, my customers arrived, and the showing went on for 2 hours. Minutes after they left…whats this? An appointment? NOW? ok…. “Honey we have to leave.”

We found the perfect home for us the week before placing ours on the market and decided to go visit again just to make sure it was still “The one”. As we were traveling, another call came in for a showing on Sunday afternoon. We checked out the house again and yes, it’s still “the one”. A few hours later while we were on our way back home, my customers called wanting to place an offer on our house, so i called the other agent who just showed the home and asked for feedback…. he said they are thinking of placing an offer. (A bidding war)

So…. needless to say… many phone calls back and forth and lots of number crunching on all sides; my customers came back to our home and signed the contract that night. (Sorry Sunday appointment, no back up offers are being accepted)

I am thankful that my husband kept ME focused through the day. It was a very exciting day, to say the least, and an experience that will defiantly make me a better agent!

Toxic Chinese Drywall? It’s True!

When someone told me that there are homes built with toxic Chinese drywall, I thought… ok… yah right. This is just a spinoff scare from the lead based paint on toys issue, but it’s not and it’s true! 

Ok… so this issue has been spoke about for the greater part of a year and I thought to bring it back up because the deadline to submit your claims is rapidly approaching. December 2nd actually. There are not many cases in Charlotte, NC, but 18.8 Million pounds of it were inported to Charlston, SC.   

So how do you know if you have it? Well… homes built after 2002 to 2006, have markings like these on the drywall and have a rotten egg or sulfur smell…. It’s also grey in color and has a different texture than regular drywall. 

A great home inspector from middle TN writes a great post about this product, so rather re-write history, here’s his blog which can be found on Active Rain: 

“Is Toxic Chinese Drywall in your home? 

Over the past few months, owners of newer homes nationwide have been complaining of drywall that smells like rotten eggs. In several cases, they have had to leave their home because the smell was so bad. In addition to the putrid smell, many homeowners have reported problems with air conditioning and other systems that are likely related to the defective Chinese drywall.  This is being called the next EIFS like disaster in the real estate market! 

Many have spent hundreds and even thousands of dollars – to have air conditioning, pipes and wiring repaired. Usually, drywall is manufactured in the United States, but a shortage between 2001 and 2007 prompted many builders to buy drywall from China. 

Most of the reported problems stem from drywall imported from China during the construction boom years of 2002-2006. Florida and the Gulf Coast states have been the first to report and have issue with this drywall showing up but it also showing up in non-coastal areas. 

Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd. of China, a subsidiary of German-based manufacturer Knauf, is the company at the focus of these drywall problems. If your newer home smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, you may have defective Chinese drywall. The problem is coming from coal ash that was mixed into the gypsum drywall compound. One source of tainted materials appears that China was attempting to get rid of their coal ash problems by mixing it with the drywall compound. When the drywall is exposed to moisture, such as high humidity a chemical reaction starts. The result of this reaction is the production of Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfuric acid gas. This is the rotten egg smell that is present with the drywall. 

The difficulty for inspectors is that walls may have been built with drywall from as many as four sources — so simply pulling one clean sample is no guarantee of safety. Many times the supplies can be tracked where they were used by licensed builders. At this time it is possible although not likely that the builders insurance may pay for the damages. 

This drywall is responsible for the destruction of the copper coils in HVAC units in the homes that it has been installed in. The corrosive off gassing is also responsible for damaging many other components in the homes from the copper electrical to the nails and screws that are holding everything together in the home. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it was investigating complaints about the Chinese-made drywall. All houses affected have shown a common symptom — blackened, scorched wiring behind switch plates, damaged A/C coils and damaged wall plugs — along with homeowner health symptoms, that’s allowed research to proceed, 

If you think that you might have Chinese Drywall, you should contact a reputable home inspector who is familiar with this problem. As this problem is just starting to rear its ugly head, many are not aware of this problem.” 

  

Thanks Scott!!! For those who are interested or live near Spring Hill TN, which is only a few miles south of Nashville, here’s his website where you can reach him for all your inspection needs. Trace Inspections 

 

 

 

The Purple Wall – updated

Some of you may have read about the appointment I had at the home with the purple wall and what we did to resolve a what could have been major issue for some buyers.

What you may not know is the editor of At Home Magazine had asked me to contribute that same post for the magazine.It was published in the October 2009 edition.

 What compelled me to update “Get rid of that purple wall” was an article I found in the Charlotte Urban Home Magazine in this falls edition. Here’s the link to the PDF  of the article. With the color purple not just a fad from last fall, this article speaks of the various ways to use purple in your home…properly. (wink) And a great follow-through article is from the Best of Charlotte Resource guide 2009 – COLOR BUZZ: The 2009 Color forecast. Yes, I know 2009 is almost over, but check out the article anyway and see if their predictions are spot on or way out in left field. It’s good reading.

Enjoy! 

Going GREEN

Ever since I finished my classes to achieve my GREEN designation early this past October, I have been asked by several other Realtors what the big deal is about the designation. Well….first I wanted to know what I can do to live a little greener and help show others how they can reap the rewards of living a little greener as well.

Fate so has it that I am working for a builder that is also thinking along the very same lines as I am. The builders name is HILCO Construction, and he’s a Certified Green Professional which is a designation awarded by the National Home Builders Association. He is the exclusive builder of Sills Creek Estates in Mooresville off rt 152 just past the Mooresville Dragway. He’s building homes as I remember them being built when I was a child. Keeping the trees and natural landscaping and removing only what needs to be removed, recycling materials, using energy-efficient designs and building a neighborhood with the look and feel of, what seems like so long ago, a NEIGHBORHOOD. Not the street lined track homes that are so easily “knocked out” these days.

So whats the big deal with “Going GREEN”? Well there’s numerous reasons for going green and your probably already living a little greener already and don’t even know it. If you have Energy Star appliances, that’s a start. If you purchased those long life spiral shaped light bulbs, thats another… my mother and her friends were into cleaning with citrus at one point as well as using Simple Green, and almost everyone I know recycles, so you see, living green is really easy, and this is the simple stuff.

If you want to REALLY go GREEN, then you can look into one of HILCO’s homes. He’s building homes that aren’t just good for the environment, they’re good for you. He’s using designs that are sustainable and installing today’s technology to enhance the overall quality of life for the homeowner. Air quality will be improved, water filtration systems will be used as well as rain water collection barrels to help with irrigation. When the US Green Building Council reports that buildings are consuming 14% of potable water (thats 15 trillion gallons of water that we can drink), 40% of raw materials (3 billion tons) and 39% of the energy in the US alone…. we have GOT to do something to cut back, and why not? Cut back on your energy usage is just the same as putting money back in your pockets so you don’t have to cut back on the activities you love because your paying those high energy bills. Seems pretty much like a no brainer to me.

So when you’re raking the leaves…again…that have fallen from your maple tree in the front lawn this fall, be thankful for it has probably shaded your home during the hot summer months aiding in the reduction of your overall home cooling bill.

Get your GREEN on – Recycling isn’t enough!

Thanks to Lorie Cain for her post on Facebook. She is a dear friend and trusted Realtor in Tulsa, OK. Write and thank her for her tips on what we can all do to help be a little more GREEN!  Http://www.loriecain.com

Get your GREEN on – recycling isn’t enough!  Some of us are newer to becoming green in our lifestyles, so I’m starting out with a few small suggestions. Easy stuff. I have recycled for years, but it’s time to step it up a notch.

Habits are hard to break and just as difficult to make. I am in the habit of taking my reusable shopping bags with me when I grocery shop. As long as I hang them on the door after I unload my groceries, it’s easy to remember to take them back to my car. When you’re in the check-out lane at the grocery and you are asked, “paper or plastic?” you can proudly produce your bags and respond, “neither – I brought my own!” Trust me – it will make you feel good.

After much nagging encouragement from my eco-responsible Dad, I am filling my reusable water bottle with filtered water from home and cutting back tremendously from purchasing bottled water. Although we recycle our water bottles, we just don’t know whether they’ve been stored or transported in heat and what may possibly leach from the plastic. So, yes, I will still grab a bottle of water from a convenience store when necessary, but for the most part, it’s easy to fill and carry your own bottle. Many are available today that are dishwasher-safe.

Now for the tough assignment. I shop online almost exclusively, yet retailers continue to send me printed catalogs. Usually I toss them in the trash wondering what marketing idiot thought to put me on a snail-mail list when I clearly shop online! Now, I am stacking up all the Harry and David catalogs, Williams-Sonoma, even Syracuse Cultural workers and taking time to CALL to be removed from their mailing list. It’s a time-consuming task, but almost as righteous as planting a tree yourself.

Get your GREEN on – recycling isn’t enough!

When Demetrius and I remodeled our kitchen, we converted our entire house to energy-efficient light bulbs. We may have to take out a second-mortgage when it’s time to replace them, as it was not an inexpensive endeavor. There’s lots of good information on the internet about the newer bulbs available – here’s a good “green” light bulb buying guide.

Are you doing a few simple things to be more green? Driving the speed limit or taking the bus on ozone-alert days? We can’t fix all that we’ve broken in one day, but we can darn sure start taking steps in the right direction! 

It’s my privilege as a Realtor to make suggestions to my clients when purchasing appliances or replacing a hot water heater. Why not replace those wood windows with energy-efficient vinyl windows or ditch that 25 year-old hot water heater and buy a tankless water heater? Here’s a good site to assist you in making more green purchasing decisions,

While you’re at it — look into the tax credits available for purchasing energy-efficient home improvements!

About the author: Lori is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen Realtors, servicing the greater Tulsa area. Visit Lori at her web site or call 918-852-5036.

125 Sills Creek Xing, Mooresville NC

Marketed exclusivly by Daniele Summerfield with Wilkinson and Associates  MLS# 894505 $849,500

3245 Jackson Road, Mooresville, NC. For Sale

 

Marketed exclusivly by Daniele Summerfield with Wilkinson and Associates MLS# 892074 $1,397,000

For Sale By Owners Need Help Too

 

FSBO sign

The For Sale By Owner (FSBO’s)… These are the weekend DIY’s and may not be serious about selling quite yet. They have a need they feel they can fill themselves and oftentimes are bombarded every waking moment by real estate agents looking to list their house and tell them they can’t sell on their own. They must really hate us by the time they are ready to list. I’m not saying you shoudl avoide them. heck no! Some of my best business aquaintences were FSBO’s at one time. I say GO FOR IT!

 

So what makes a homeowner want to tackle this home selling project thing? There is a plethora of reasons they may decide that selling their home on their own is best for them. Some are:

1. Maybe they don’t know where to find the right Realtor and they are afraid they will be told only what they want to hear.

2. Maybe they did it before, about 10 years ago, and it was easy so they are trying it again.

3. They are people who like to reamin in control of the WHOLE transaction.

4. They were told they could save money.

The list goes on and on, but here’s one reason I hear most often. ”We saw the neighbors do it.”  Ahhhh… So if Mr. & Mrs. Jones jumped off a bridge and lived would you do the same thing? Famous words from my mother that strangly always made sense.

But in all seriousness, I rather enjoy chatting with FSBO’s. Once they realize your there to help them, they are full of questions and most really enjoy hearing feedback from us. Offer to stay in touch with them maybe once a month and check in with market statistics. Ask how their open houses went and how effective their advertising is. Offer some alternatives if needed, Show them what you have done for your previous sellers, but give them space and let them try on their own.

Have a good time with them. Test out new questions your BIC gave you during your last Tuesday morning meeting. Real Estate 101… call the FSBO. Most importantly, stay in touch with these guys even after they call and tell you they are under contract. You may or may not get their listing, but remember… they know people who know other people who know other people… get my drift? Word of mouth is the best FREE advertising one can get. Trust me, I know. (grin)

Local Realtor® Achieves National Association Of Realtors® Green Designation

 

LOCAL REALTOR^® ACHIEVES NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® GREEN DESIGNATION

October 12^th, 2009

Charlotte, NC – Daniele Summerfield with Wilkinson & Associates has been awarded the National Association of REALTORS^®’ [NAR’s] Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR.

Daniele Summerfield achieved this prestigious designation after completing 18 hours of course work designed specifically for REALTORS^®.  The courses were created in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of industry experts from across the country; ensuring designees gain comprehensive knowledge of green homes and buildings and issues of sustainability in relation to real estate.

More specifically, Daniele was trained in understanding what makes a property green, helping clients evaluate the cost/benefits of green building features and practices, distinguishing between industry rating and classification systems, listing and marketing green homes and buildings, discussing the financial grants and incentives available to homeowners, and helping consumers see a property’s green potential.

“As energy costs rise along with concern for the environment, homeowners are looking for innovative ways to save money and live responsibly,” said Dick Gaylord, NAR’s immediate past president.  NAR’s Green Designation was developed in response to growing consumer awareness of the benefits of resource-efficient homes and buildings. The designation helps consumers who care about energy efficiency and sustainable building practices identify REALTORS^® who can help them realize their green real estate and lifestyle goals.

As an NAR Green Designee, Daniele has gained the knowledge and the tools necessary to become a trusted green resource for Charlotte.  For more information about Daniele Summerfield, please visit www.Summerfield-RealEstate.com or e-mail DSummerfield@WilkinsonAndAssociates.com.

 

 

 

 

For more information about NAR’s newest designation, visit www.greenresourcecouncil.org

When People Say It Can’t Be Done…

It can’t be done… You don’t have the experience… That’s impossible…. it’s not going to happen…

When I get fed negativity like this, I instantly turn it into something to prove them all wrong, but not all people can. I was blessed with the drive to do better when people gave up on me.  It wasn’t always this way and of course, like anything that’s worth anything, is worth working for… right? Right. Just agree with me on this one. I’m going somewhere with this…really, I am.

Today I spoke to an appraiser who will remain anonymous to protect his reputation. He seemed quite pessimistic about what I was asking of him. “They are crazy” he would say ”It will never work” he kept telling me. Hrmmmph! …. I went along with what he said, thanked him for his time and hung up determined to prove this guy wrong.

So, today is the 1st day of many to come in which I am going to do just that. Of course I can’t do it by myself and I will need the aid of everyone who reads this.  It’s going to start with a link I would like you all to go visit. It’s on YouTube so the quality is…well…YouTubish and not very good. Click here.

OK great! Thanks for coming back! What did you think? Pretty nifty eh? Not bad for $3.00 and a few moments of my time. This is just the beginning and I need everyone’s help to make this project succeed. Just as anything else, I welcome constructive criticism. You can leave your comments on the you tube site or come back here and post up.

You all are going to help be a part of the collective effort that all realtors around the globe try to achieve… keeping negativity out of todays Real Estate market!

Thanks!