Crossville, TN

Do All Short Sales Turn Out This Good? Most of my buyers came to me through a referral from a previous client or friend that I have worked with over the years so just like all the other ones, these folks came to me as a referral. We started in March 2009 and we looked at a home that was on the market and they heard the sellers were in financial distress.

Coming to Crossville from Florida they were thinking that we were covered up with foreclosures and short sales, by the way, that is a term that isn't heard of around here much but none the less we made the suggestion. We wrote an offer for the home knowing that it was less than what the sellers owed on it and presented to them with the idea of approaching their lender for a short sale. Real estate in Crossville has been slower than usual but we have definitely not experienced the "down market" that some of our neighboring states have.

Time passed and finally the lender decided to approve the home for a short sale. We negotiated back a few times on the purchase price and finally the sellers came pretty close to the amount owed on the house. Well the more time passed and the more visits to Tennessee the sellers made, every time looking at the house again, the more they thought that time was taking a toll on it and they pulled their offer on the house. Two weeks later the listing agent calls me to tell me the lender called her and said they would accept the previous offer. Well, the buyers now are seeing with different eyes and we presented another offer but this time $30,000 less. Well, the whole process begins again. Months pass by and now it is September and my buyers are coming for the Labor Day Weekend and I am showing them two other houses in Cumberland Cove near the "short sale house" that I just listed.

They liked the first house but the other house was on an awesome property with a creek and rock bluffs & outcroppings that they just loved. We wrote an offer on the house, it was accepted. We are scheduled to close "as soon as possible" and there paying cash.

So I ask again, do all short sales turn out this good?

For more information on Crossville Short Sales you can contact us at www.choicerealtyoftennessee.com.

Listing Your home for a flat fee is not only an option for sellers, over the past few years it has become a powerful way to sell your home. You might ask why is it powerful, and of course I can answer that question.

First, and most importantly I must mention that not all flat fee real estate companies are the same. At my firm, we blend in so well with the full service real estate companies in our area that most consumers wouldn't even notice the difference. Since Choice Realty is the only company in the Crossville real estate market providing Flat Fee real estate services, the seller's only other option for a Flat Fee Listing service that offers the Multiple Listing Service exposure that the seller needs is an online provider. I do not recommend any seller choosing those services because they prbably will need the knowledge and expertise of an experinced real estate agent at some point in their journey to closing.

In choosing a company, one should look for the one who will show their home in the best light online. At Choice Realty we place our seller's homes on at least 100 websites for maximum online exposure and we do it for a Flat Fee. I believe that if you compare companies, we will have the most all-inclusive marketing program while selling your home for a Flat Fee.

Remeber the essential services provided by an experienced and talented realtor are still very necessary to succeed in selling your home. Things to look for:

The company must do all of the following for you:

• Negotiate your contract! This is criticial and knowledge is no substitute for experience. Just because you may have sold a home before, doesn't mean you can negotiate with a buyer today.
• Add your hoem to 100's of websites.
• Allow you to avaoid paying abuyer's agent commission if a buyer buys your home without using an agent.
• Guide you along the way with selling strategies and tips.
• Place your home in every MLS service available in your local area.
• List your home by coming to your home so they can attract the most amount of buyers possible through the MLS search fields.
• Allow you to be in control of Open Houses.
• Allow you to offer a higher buyer agent commission to attract agents to your home.
• Allow you to make price changes and update pictures if you choose to.
• Allow you to walk away from buyers if terms aren't agreed upon.
• EMPOWER YOU to stay invloved in the selling process, if you choose to do so.

Some of the TOP reasons why sellers all over the U.S. are choosing flat fee MLS listings over traditional listings:

1. The seller likes saving THOUSANDS of dollars at the closing table with a flat fee MLS listing.

2. The seller wants to be in control of the sale.3.

3. The seller doesn't want the pressure of selling for any price.

4. The seller doesn't wnat to lower their price repeatly.

5. The seller wants to be able to have open houses to drum up traffic.

6. The seller wants to be able to sell their home to someone who saw the sign in their yard, or someone they networked with without having being penalized and having to pay a buyer agent commission. AND they certainly don't want the listing company to keep all of the hefty commission when the buyer comes in on their own.

7. The seller wants to be in control of additional marketing choices with the guidance and ideas of a professional.

8. The seller wants a company with a lot of experience in listing and sales.

9. The seller does not want a relationship with an agent who calls once in awhile and gives them reasons why their home hasn't sold yet.

10. The seller wants to save money and wants more value than what they perceived they got last time they sold a house with a traditional agent and paid a much higher commission.

For more information about Choice Realty's Flat Fee MLS listings go to: www.choiceoftn.com

This was written by Celeste Chism, Broker & Consumer Advocate, Choice Realty of Tennessee, LLC Crossville Tennessee.

Well, it's that time again. The Cumberland County Fair is here again and it's hot. There are so many things to do in this wonderful mountainous area that I could be here all day listing them. Maybe you'll enjoy a good game of golf since Crossville Tennessee is the Golf Capital of Tennessee. Maybe a little hiking before you go off to the fair. The Cumberland Mountain State Park has some pretty scenic hiking and they also have an RV camping area and rental cabins. Just hang around for awhile and you'll start to relax and enjoy the slower lifestyle. That's what we noticed and also the people were so friendly. It's like going home again. Well, when the Fair is in town it means that summer is almost over too. Oh, my our Fall is absolutely wonderful. Warm clear days and crisp cool nights. Why wouldn't anyone want to live here? And if you're planning to retire someday... check this place out. Rated in the top five places to retire by Rand McNally for many years now. Good health care, very affordable and the lowest taxes around AND no tax on your retirement income. What a great journey to enjoy ... and you'll never look back. For more information on Crossville Real Estate and information on Crossville Tennessee log onto: www.choicerealtyoftennessee.com Celeste Chism Choice Realty of Tennessee, LLC

When I go to the internet to research, where one of the best places to retire is- I am shocked that Crossville Tennessee is not number one! The place that is listed is near Nashville Tennessee.

Crossville has so much to offer! It is halfway between Nashville and Knoxville, so you can pick the big city you want to visit. It is near the Smokies, so you can go to Gatlinburgh with the family.The aquarium is out of sight, many museums,and lots of restaurants.

Check out this picture I took at the Aquarium: Jelly Fish!

There are 11 golf courses in the area you can choose from. Bear Trace is nationally known! Visit www.fairfieldglade.cc for information about this resort community.

Many National Parks for your outdoor activities. Visit www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/cumberlandMtn .

Dale Hollow Lake is 45 minutes away where you can scuba dive, fish, boat and camp. Center Hill Lake is only 1 hour away.

Crossville has two wineries that you can tour and taste samples. Chestnut Hill Winery www.chestnuthillwinery.com. and Stonehaus Winerey www.stonehauswinery.com

There are many campgrounds, some in which accomodate an RV for your touring pleasure.Drag Racing and Motocross facilities are available seasonal.

Antique shopping abounds in Crossville and all the surrounding areas.

Taking a drive all around the Plateau is absolutely beautiful.Mountain views, babbling creeks,lots of wildlife and wonderful people!

This is a great place to visit and a better place to retire. Low cost of living, low taxes, no state income tax. The lifestyle is laid back with no traffic, no rat race ,no hurry!!! People are fantastic-they are friendly and sincere . It is hard to go any where else once you experience the Tennessee life!Come see for yourself-

Tennessee THE AFFORDABLE PARADISE !

For all your Real Estate needs in the Crossville area:

Pam Dunn Choice Real Estate www.cumberlandmountainplateau.com your Transition Expert

7387 Plateau Rd Crossville Tennessee 931-210-8655 cell 931-277-3327 off

Does the Buyer See Value? If they don't, they won't buy! Everyday the reality of our world is changing. The internet has changed our lives especially those of us in the real estate business. 90% of today's home buyers are online looking for their next home before they ever think of calling an agent to get them inside.

A few weeks ago we did a "Celebrating Your Home" Presentation in Fairfield Glade at the Multi Purpose Building with several other home related small business owners. The group of us came together to show home owners ways to add value to their home. We had an ASP staging professional who was the highlight of the presentation and she was the first presenter in our line up.

Today's home buyers are looking for value. If they don't find value in your home they are finding the one that has it. I tell my sellers consistently that the buyer must see two things in their next home, one is value and the second is themselves living there. If they don't see those two things, they never buy your home.

Home staging creates value. Sellers need to know that uncluttering & de-personalizing (just to name a few) their home, creates value in your home. People are buying square footage. I often tell them that they are not selling their home, they are selling their house. Isn't it our goal to create value to the buyer so we can sell them that home? I am convinced that staging sells homes. Now all I have to do is convince my sellers that they need to stage their homes. The latest statistics on home staging are astounding according to Staged Homes. They say that staged homes are on the market 80% less time than non-staged homes.

Whether the markets hot or not, up or down, doesn't matter, Home Staging works!

Read more about home staging on our website by going to Seller Tips at: www.choiceoftn.com