Greensboro, NC

When honesty doesn't work , it can be very disheartening. Even worse, it can mean a loss of business.

As a builder, potential clients sometimes treat us as though we are trying to sell them snake oil. Of course, there may be some validity to their perceptions. We have all heard stories about builders and re-modelers, which were real nightmares.

There's the home that took a year and a half to build, when it was supposed to be six months. There are many stories of building costs going well over budget, some increases not even known until closing. Inferior materials and workmanship account for a large number of homeowner complaints. Finally, there are many stories of customers unable to reach their contractor/builder. It's not unheard of for no replies for weeks at a time.

We at Piedmont Personal Builders pride ourselves on our honesty, integrity, and genuine concern for our clients. Our level of customer service is unparalleled in the area. We have been building "on your lot" custom homes for nine years. Word of mouth has been our best marketing tool. We give a list of everyone we have built a home for to every potential client. We are so confident in what our customers will say about us.

So, what do we do when honesty doesn't work? We have lost several sales over the last couple of years because we were honest and had the client's best interest in mind. Many potential clients already own land and some are considering purchasing a piece of land. We offer all potential clients a no cost, no obligation lot evaluation, which gives them a builder's perspective on any issues, negative or positive, affecting the building plans. On a number of occasions, the home buyer wanted a walk out basement. On each of these lot inspections, we determined the land did not have enough fall off and was not at all suited to a basement. Here in North Carolina, basements are not very common as they are in many other parts of the country. Our red clay soil is not conducive to a dug out basement. Most basements are "walk out" and built on a lot with a suitable slope. On each of these occasion's, we suggested the cost would be very high for the basement and tried to show alternatives in the home plan, or even the lot itself.

Well, we lost all of those potential sales. All of those folks built their homes with basements and all at a very high cost. We never said we would not build their basements, but suggested alternatives which would benefit them. Apparently, our honesty offended them. So, is the customer always right. Should we keep our opinions to ourselves and always give them what they want, no matter the cost or outcome? It's a tough call, especially in these difficult financial times for any builder.

Sunset Hills is another wonderful neighborhood here in Greensboro. It is very convenient to downtown Greensboro and the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG). The homes here were built as early as the 1920s. They offer a wide variety of classic architecture such as Tudor Revival, Colonial, Georgian and Neo-classical. There are one- and two-story homes, along with some bungalow homes. Many have been meticulously renovated. The neighborhood park, with playground equipment and tennis courts, is a great place to bring the kids or just relax on a bench and enjoy the scenery.

The Sunset Hills Neighborhood Association (SHNA) is a very active organization that has a great website with lots of neighborhood information. Check out the calendar so you don't miss any of the events that the SHNA sponsors. You can choose from a Fourth of July parade and picnic, an annual pig picking, neighborhood clean-ups, plus many more!

Each month, a report with Sunset Hills real estate information is posted on www.SunsetHillsHouseValue.com. The report includes homes listed for sale, homes under contract and homes that have been sold year-to-date. It also has a link so Sunset Hills homeowners can receive via email a detailed report on what their homes are worth. Be sure to check it out often to find out what is going on in Sunset Hills. It also features links to market reports for other neighborhoods, such as Guilford Hills, Kirkwood, Lindley Park, and Starmount, as well as the latest real estate information on the entire city of Greensboro, NC.

Why I Oughta....

If you remember Moe Howard of the Three Stooges, that was one of his most used lines. Of course it was usually followed by "brain you", or grabbing Curly by the nose, or poking Larry in the eyes.

I think I'll take a bit of a kinder approach today.

Why I oughta....

Compliment my wife more.

Call my mom more.

Walk my dog more.

Exercise.

Donate blood.

Donate my time and money to local charities.

Spend more time with my children.

Work harder at getting sales.

Watch less Three Stooges and spend more time on social networking for my business.

What are your "I oughtas"?

Time to stage my own home...Oh Boy! Yes, I think my wife and I have decided to sell our home and downsize a bit. So, where do we begin? It's not that we are both shop-a-holics. It's not that we basically have a zoo in our home. it's not the sentimental value of so many objects. It's not the over abundance of family photos. It's not.....Oh, who am I kidding!!! It's all of the above and then some.

We've only been in this house for ten years. It's amazing just how much stuff one can accumulate in that time. I use to be able to park both cars in the garage. Now I can barely fit my compact car. Perhaps I should trade in in for a Smart Car. The garage will look huge and I won't have to get rid of my cross country skis I last used in 1999, or my utterly useless collection of hardware and "spare parts" You never know when you will need a rimram or a fratastat.

Let's move inside. Let's start with clothing. Let's start with my wif'e shoes. Now that I think about it, let's skip the shoes. She may read this. Soooo, those cowboy boots I have had since 1981. I might wear them again. Wehn I clean out the garage. They'd be perfect. The closets are full, actually bulging with clothing neither of us wear much. You never know, I might fit into those Sergio Valenti Jeans again some day.

Back to business now. A yard sale, a trip to Goodwill, one of those pod things with a rat on the side, all good ideas. It'll be neat, clean, organized, de-personalized, neutral, empty, blah. No one will ever know I lived there. By the time I'm done, our home could be an HGTV special. Maybe, just maybe.

Here is the monthly real estate update on Sunset Hills, Greensboro, NC Real Estate Market Information (as of 10/6/2009)

Active Homes For Sale in Sunset Hills:

• Number of homes for Sale: 15
• Average Asking Price: $300,907
• Average Days on Market: 90

Pending Homes in Sunset Hills:

• Number of Pending Homes: 3

Sold Homes in Sunset Hills Since January 1, 2009

• Number of Homes Sold: 14
• Average Asking Price: $242,566
• Average Sold Price: $229,271
• Average SP/LP ratio (what % of asking price did homes sell for): 94.5%
• Average Days On Market: 84

Click here for a complete report on Sunset Hills and other neighborhoods in Greensboro, NC.