Claude Cross - Charlotte Homes For Sale

The local TV stations have switched to digital (except one). The move has not caused Y2k like repercussions.

I would not have been affected as I subscribe to Time Warner Cable. So if you are moving to Charlotte, your ancient TV will have issues unless you convert.

If you don't have a converter, don't worry about it. There is not a lot of good news on TV right now.

All digital aside, Maybe it's time for everyone to get out and about. Time to turn off the tv and and close the laptop. Time to explore Charlotte.

Construction is sill moving foward in many areas. One area that is constantly changing it's shape is SE Charlotte.

I get amazed every time I head down highway 521 heading south from Ballantyne to see the landscape in metamorphoses. More shopping, new neighborhoods, and recreation facilities line the road for miles.

Go for a drive and explore the changing face of Charlotte.

www.HomesByCross.com Your Tool Box for all your Charlotte Real Estate needs

It's almost Taboo to talk about it here in Charlotte NC. The Bank that gave us Tiger Woods in living color, growth, and endless possibilities, was absorbed by Wells Fargo. The little fish ate the bigger fish. Strange times at Ridgemont High turned fast. Civic philanthropy is choking based on this corporate vacuum. Truly Sad.

Sprinkle a little BOA bad news, and watch how the bones have sunk and the flesh is slowly rising to the surface. Mum is the word on who is getting chopped in this latest carnage. We just wait and whisper.

I'm disappointed for our city. Lost is the rivalry between the behemoths of banking on Tryon St. Charlotte lost a partner in it's central being. Wachovia is gone. Long live the Queen.

In the scheme of things, we were due. Unbridled optimism coupled with a balloon that insulated our fair city has popped, We emerge to ask, what Happened?

Remember the bumper stickers of the 70's that said "**it happens", well it happened here. It was fast and furious.

I'd like to gloss over this and say it doesn't matter. But it does. Like Flint without GM, and Silicon Valley without Intel, Charlotte will miss its' Wachovia.

The Chamber of Commerce here will dispute my malaise, but when my friends join the the " spend your savings crowd", I cringe on what may come.

So, farewell faithfull friend. May your successor fill your shoes with big feet. We'll need it.

www.HomesByCross.com Your Tool Box for all your Charlotte Real Estate needs

Alarm Systems. Don't you love them. Especially when the code is relayed poorly to the showing service.

Every time I am told that the alarm is set for a house I'm going to show, I cringe.

I ask the showing service to repeat the arm/disarm instructions twice. Most of the time its not a problem. I'm in and out. All goes well.

But 1% of the time it gets a little dicey.

Here's how it went, on one of the fun trips:

Everything verified. codes and procedures. We get to the house and I punch in the codes exactly as instructed.

This one of those new fancy systems. Everything looks fine on the command center so I begin to show my clients this lovely home. We get to the great room when all hell breaks loose.

Alarms go off. Sirens. outside alarms, the whole shootin' match.

My clients look at me as if they were duped into becoming accomplices in a high stakes robbery.

Then over a speaker system comes a loud voice asking me to identify myself. What is the Code! ?

I find myself screaming at the speaker, "I'm a Realtor !" and proceeded to give him the code I had. The voice stated "that code is incorrect". Still Screaming, I respond "Of course it's the wrong code, otherwise this thing wouldn't have gone off".

So after doing a two step with Sargent O'Mally over the speaker phone, I persuaded him to call the listing agent.

About 3 minutes later the alarms stopped.The voice came again and said all was ok.

At this point I was trying to reengage my clients to proceed with the viewing. They were a little frazzled but managed a fast once over of the house and stated they were ready to leave. The rest of the day went fine.

Later that day the listing agent called me and asked me why I couldn't operate an alarm system. I gave him the code and instructions I was given. He verified that my information was correct but insinuated I must have done it wrong.

The next day I get another call from that same listing agent Apologizing profusely asking if my clients liked the house. Seems his elderly clients had changed the codes (for some unknown reason) and did not inform him. :) Gotta love teamwork.

I wish alarm systems would be turned off during showing times.

www.HomesByCross.com Your Tool Box for all your Charlotte Real Estate needs

This topic runs the gauntlet. How many people have found themselves in a relationship that they were unprepared? Some people walk blindly into relationships, many times suffering consequences.

Whew....This happens a lot, and applies to all our interrelationships. If we were always prepared, lawyers would be out of business.

I'll narrow this specifically to our business.

There is no single right answer. But preparing for a successful relationship before you meet with potential clients helps pave the way.

OK, we all have different methods. Hopefully you understand the concept.

It has to begin with our attitude. Preparing for a successful relationship with a rusty attitude will most certainly poison the early stages, and may eventually kill it. Call it a predisposition.

People are naturally wary. Buyers and Sellers are looking for reasons to exclude you, not include you in their quest..So don't forget to bring your "good" attitude" to your first meeting. Ever seen someone forget and accidently bring the wrong one?

There are also some relationships I will never have. I choose my clients as they choose me. I am prepared to tell someone that I am not a good match.

Another way I prepare is by reviewing all the questions and answers necessary for both of us to begin a successful relationship. It never hurts to review ,even if you've done it a thousand times.

I'm not a Boy Scout, but I like their credo.

www.HomesByCross.com Your Tool Box for all your Charlotte Real Estate Needs

The late George Carlin had a routine on this subject. It was pretty funny.

So how much "suff" do you need. No, not how much suff do you have ..how much of it do you need?

You never know how much stuff you have, until you have to move it. I have been on countless listing appointments in which I was taken aback by how much people pack into their homes. My wife and I also have a copious amounts of stuff. Guilty as charged. Time for a yard sale. Gotta tell the wife.

I remember one listing, (in a great neighborhood), was so cluttered that the two car garage was used as total storage. It was packed from ceiling to floor with ...Stuff. Boxes of books, papers, mementos, bikes, clothes, everything imaginable. Even the interior of the house was packed.

They were excited about selling and asked my opinion. I told them that if didn't get a dumptruck (or two) of stuff removed, their house will never sell close to the price they wanted.

They were perplexed. They couldn't see what I saw. Yes, the forest for the trees. It took them 3 weeks to sort through and remove enough stuff so the property could be properly shown.

The rule :If you haven't used an item for over a year, it's probably stuff you don't need.

Fortunately, my golf clubs don't fall into this category.

www.HomesByCross.com Your Tool Box for all Your Charlotte Real Estate needs