Evans, GA

Congratulations to all of those who have worked so hard to make Evans and Columbia County such a great place to live. I feel it is a community effort from the leaders of the county, community organizations, and all of its residents working to keep Evans in the top ten. Not to mention we were barely edged out by our neighbor in North Augusta, S.C. which also has a lot in common with our county.

CNN Money ranks our Median home price in 2007 as $144,428.00 and our Median family income at $74,696.00. The secrete is getting out that this is a great place to raise your kids because of the school system we are very proud of and all of the other opportunities to spend with your family at the near by Clarks hill lake or on the Savannah river. We also have an outstanding recreation department for youth sports and well as for adults.

Columbia County is quickly becoming a place for military retirees who have lived in in the past serving our military. With the medical communities in downtown Augusta and the V.A. hospitals it make a great place to retire.

If your moving to the area, make sure you give Evans and Columbis County serious consideration.

Sundays have to be my absolute favorite day of the week, especially in the fall and spring. There are so many great oportunities for relaxation. One thing that my family can typically count on is the arrival of the hot air balloons on Sunday afternoon. We were lucky enough to see one taking off a few weeks ago in a big field behind the Kroger in Evans. Somedays we see 2 or 3 floating in the sky over Martinez/Evans, but today we only saw one. We also saw a paraglider sailing high above the treetops today(brave soul). My kids' favorite activity usually involves heading to the Greeneway or the towpath at the Augusta Canal. Whether you like biking or walking, these are definitely the places to go. I believe the Greeneway in N. Augusta is about 12 miles from end to end. The paved trail winds through neighborhoods and at one point provides great views of the Savannah River. The Augusta Canal is a great choice for birdwatchers. The unpaved path along the Canal is the original towpath used to guide boats down the Canal toward the city of Augusta. It's several miles long as well. Here's to enjoying lazy Sundays in Augusta - I'd love to have you share your favorites with me!

Above everything else, please remember, there is no magic wand to sell your home in a day. It is going to take time, effort and perseverance by you and your Realtor®. The real key question is, how is your house going to stand out compared to all of the others in the same price range and location? Here are 10 steps to help you find a buyer for your home and potentially sell it for the most money possible.

•1) First and foremost, make sure your home has curb appeal. That first impression, when a potential buyer pulls up to your home for the first time is huge. I kind of compare it to going on a first date. Does that person you are meeting look clean and groomed? Are they wearing old, torn cloths? Do they smell good? Can you see yourself going on a second date? You get the picture. You never get a second chance of impressing an individual. It has to be the same way with your home. Once you get that look going with the mowed lawn and the trimmed hedges, please keep it that way. All too often, after a month, the seller will get complacent and start slacking off. Remember, first impressions are forever.

•2) Next, walk into your home with the eyes of a first time home buyer. What do you see? Is there clutter? Do the rooms look inviting or cramped? Is it easy to move from one room to the next? Are the carpets or floors dirty? Will the colors on the walls accommodate some one else's furniture? How does it smell when you walk in? When it comes to smells, clean always wins over candles and aroma scented sprays. Think clean, bright and welcoming as you go.

•3) Get rid of any toys or personal things that clutter shelves, walls desks and floors. Always keep in the back of your mind as you do this, the people looking at your home want to imagine their stuff there. The more you have of yours, the less likely they will be able to see theirs. It is not a bad idea to rent a storage unit to start this process. Out of sight with these items is always best in the long run. Do this in every room.

•4) Next, strange as it sounds, replace the toilet seats. It does make a difference.

•5) Ok, the house is clean, neat and smelling great. Congrats! Now is the time to go back outside and start looking for things that are broken or missing on the house. Start in the front and move to the back, then work your way through the interior of the house. By doing this, you overcome potential objections from a potential buyer well before they come up in the negotiations.

•6) When you have uncluttered, cleaned, mowed, trimmed and made the beds in all of the rooms, leave for a celebratory dinner for all of the hard work you have accomplished.

•7) When you come back, look hard at the home you pull up to. Look at it with a new buyer's eye. Can you honestly say this is the nicest house on the block, without reservation? If you say yes, you are half way to selling your home.

•8) Now comes the hard part, finding a Realtor® that you can put your confidence in. Whether buying or selling a home, there is always some degree of trepidation. To ease some of the worry, do some homework on who you would like to help you sell your home. Ask friends what experiences they had with their Realtor®, make phone calls and take notice as to how long it takes to return your call and how they answer it in the first place.

•9) Invite three Realtors® to do a listing presentation. How much do they listen to what you have to say and what your concerns are, as opposed to how smart they tell you they are? Find out what their background is. Experience in all aspects of real estate is important, that includes finance as well as marketing. Ask how they intend to market your home and in what manner. Hopefully it will include Open Houses, print advertising and internet marketing. Ask them how many Open Houses you can expect within a certain period and what web sites will be showcasing your home? The question of commission will also come up. Remember, you get what you pay for, in all cases.

•10) Last and most difficult is to keep everything in your home exactly as it was the day you came back from your celebratory dinner. Leave the rest to your Realtor®. You are in good hands. Good luck in a challenging market. Always remember, cream ALWAYS rises to the top. God Bless.

Mark Chesnick

Realtor®

Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co.

mchesnick@blanchardandcalhoun.com

706-495-1533 Cell

706-868-1000 ext 293 Office

I spent the majority of my life in Florida. I know its politics and its people. It is a great state. I probably would never have moved, except for one day, 15 years ago, my brand new truck broke down outside of Augusta, Georgia and was forced to stay here for a week. Looking back at it now, it was probably one of the best problems I have ever had. My wife and I fell in love with this city and everything it was and could be.

It is the second biggest city in Georgia, but it still feels like a small town. It is pretty hard to go anywhere and not see someone you know. It has an extremely stable economy with colleges, medical schools, multiple hospitals, great businesses, and a military base. The people pride themselves for their courtesy and desire to make their community a great place to live. Families with many children abound. I have a 9 year old daughter and am really glad she can grow up in a family oriented environment where people still say please and thank you.

I am a Realtor with Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co. here in Evans and love everything I do, especially sharing and welcoming others to my community. If you have any notion of moving to Georgia and want to find out more about a great place to live, give me a call.

Sincerely,

Mark Chesnick

Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co.
706-495-1533

Coming in June!

June 4 : Happy Feet (PG)

June 11: Curious George (G)

June 18: Madagascar (PG)

June 25: Herbie Fully Loaded (G)

Free admission at the Performing Arts Center in Evans, showtime is at 1pm, tickets available at 12pm - Limited seating - only bottled water allowed. For more information, call (706)312-7191.

See you there!