Elizabeth Cooper-Golden Huntsville AL MLS -

@ Homes Realty Group won't just stick a sign in your yard!

“Elizabeth, The more I think about you not wanting to list my home, the more ANGRY I am getting. I can’t believe you aren’t even willing to stick a damn sign in my yard”.

This was a voice mail that I woke up to this morning. Ugh. The caller was upset….very upset.

The story goes something like this: Mrs. Huntsville Homes Seller has a home that has expired. It has been on the market for over 6 months with another company. She called me stating that she loved our website and the exposure that it offered. I was thrilled and of course excited at the prospect of adding another great listing to @ Homes Realty Group portfolio, until I saw the comparables of homes in her neighborhood.

I called Mrs. Seller back. “I’m so sorry that you are offended that I am not interested in your listing. It was not my intent to offend you in anyway, but rather to be honest with you and educate you on the current market conditions. Doing so enables you to make an educated decision as to whether NOW is the best time to sell or not. I was hoping after our conversation that you understood why I felt I wasn’t the best agent for you”. She still wanted me to “just” stick our sign in her yard. She deserves better. There is so much more to selling a home than sticking a sign in the yard.

New @Homes Sign

I was not the best agent for her for a reason. I don’t believe I can get her the price she needs to enable her family to move on. Why? The real estate market TELLS me I can’t. The market, via buyers, in fact is screaming “DO NOT OVERPRICE please…we aren’t interested”.

Mrs. Huntsville Home Seller is not in a position to reduce her asking price. We certainly respect and understand that.

Mrs. Seller was baffled as to why I wouldn’t want our @ Homes Realty Group sign in the yard, if nothing else rather than to obtain sign calls. She actually said that. I’ll tell you why…I must believe I can sell your home and market it to the best of my ability and all that comes with being a true professional. Being professional means stating the truth. When buyers do call us, we can show them the value on each and every one of our listings. Value can mean more than one thing: Amenities, location, price, etc.

If you are considering selling your home in Huntsville, here are a few important things to keep in mind when interviewing your Huntsville real estate agent:

1. Do they KNOW the Huntsville real estate market? This is so important! Did they share market reports?
2. Do they show you a marketing plan?
3. Do they market online? Google their listings to see how they stack up against the competition. This is very important, since nearly 90% of buyers begin their search online.
4. Most importantly, do you trust them?

When selling your home, you enter in to a relationship with your agent. A good relationship always begins with honesty. @ Homes Realty Group believes in relationships…we wish to earn your trust in the future.

@Homes Realty Group Huntsville AL is growing!

@Homes Realty Group is quickly approaching our 2 year birthday. We never dreamed that our little business would be such a success. We are grateful. Very grateful!

What this tells us: Consumers like what we are doing …putting them FIRST. Our mission statement is to: Earn our client’s trust throughout their experience, ensuring that they live where they love. At @Homes Realty, we not only believe, but know firsthand that gaining one’s trust is not always easy because trust must be earned!

How do we earn it? Honesty, transparency, and educating our clients on the market, which empowers them to make sound financial decisions. These seem to be the “buzz words” in our industry. They aren’t buzz words for us. At @Homes Realty Group, we live by them. Everyday, Each Transaction, Always.

Due to our explosive growth, we are expanding our office. We will be relocating February 1st'ish to our new location just down the street, Above CVS in The Village of Providence.

What you’ll find is a warm work environment. We have never been an “I” environment like many our competitors, but have flourished in a “WE” environment. We will be expanding what is working…"WE”, with the one big fat happy family approach. I’ve always approached my life in that manner and thankfully have a company that has embraced it as well.

You will find the new @Homes office to be the first of it’s kind in the Huntsville area. Wide open spaces with plenty of quiet space if needed. State of the art technology, company Ipads loaded with apps, and forward thinking leaders.

Innovator Finalist

We are proud that we were nominated our first year in the business, as one of Inman’s top ten innovators in the industry for 2010. We are also one of only 25 brokerages selected by Better Homes and Gardens as a Beta Brokerage Incubator. Only 2 in the south were selected. We are proud.

What we are doing is working. Our @ agent’s business is up 50% on average this past year. Our low was 35% and our high was 68%. We believe in our agents and their success. Our mantra for the @Homes agent is “what can we do to make your life better” so that you can focus on “what you can do to make your client’s transaction the best”. Pretty simple really.

We Provide the Leads, Tools, and Support, so you can do what you do best...sell homes!

You will have our amazing technical support team and leadership team by your side. Monthly coaching and accountability sessions are the norm here. We want you to succeed not only in your work life, but also your personal life. [ Hey...we even believe that should come first! ]

Our relocation department is second to none. We have generated 1000′s of leads in our first 2 years in business and they are continuing to grow monthly. Our agents can’t keep up, its a great problem to have but a problem nonetheless, so it’s time to expand

@Homes believes in giving back. We all work hard to give back to the community. We donate our time to better the lives of others.

What is @Homes Realty Group looking for in an agent?

Simple: FULL time and loves their chosen career. (Sorry…no part timers.) You are a giver in your heart. You would kill a deal if it were in the best interest of your client, knowing that doing the right thing IS the best thing. You love to learn and share. You don’t have to have a “great business”…we can help you create that. We have more leads than we can handle. We CAN get you where you want to be.

If you are looking for a change , feel free to contact me directly 256-425-1659. All inquiries will be held in strict confidence. Feel free to also contact any of our @agents and ask them how they feel about @Homes Realty Group!

- Elizabeth

Run For Wishes Huntsville

Run For Wishes Huntsville, October 9, 2011 Village of Providence

Join us for our inaugrual “Run For Wishes”, October 9th from 2-5 pm. The Make-A-Wish Foundation^® of Georgia and Alabama is proud to present our latest fund raising event. We are so excited to partner with The Village of Providence to present Run For Wishes 5k and 1 mile fun run!

We felt The Village was the perfect setting. Enjoy the scenic route through the neo-traditional neighborhood and then hang out in the Village Green for family fun. The Kids Zone has climbing walls, inflatables and more. Don’t forget about the 1 mile fun run! There truly is something for everyone!

Run For Wishes is a wonderful opportunity to raise money and help children in North Alabama with life-threatening illnesses. Register here. Form a team with your family, friends and coworkers, run solo or simply make a donation.

Please help us grant the wishes of a deserving child. Grab your tennis shoes and come see us October 9th at Village of Providence. The run begins at 2:00 pm. Sign ups begin at noon. We hope to see you there!

Run For Wishes Huntsville, October 9th 2011 in The Village of Providence

If you would like to volunteer, opportunities are available! Email elizabeth@athomesrealty.com for details.

A special thanks to our sponsors for making this possible.

Welcome Nick T Pappas to @Homes Realty Group, LLC

Join me in welcoming Nick T Pappas to @Homes Realty Group, LLC. I am over the moon happy to have Nick on board.

I first met Nick after moving to Huntsville almost 4 years ago. We shared a hall at the same Brokerage firm and he was someone I quickly came to respect, for many reasons. I learned over time that Nick T Pappas sets his standards high. Integrity is his middle name. No kidding. Nick is also faithful. It was hard for Nick to leave our old company because of the respect he had for many of our past fellow agents, but particularly our past Broker. I understood and that is just one more reason why I do hold Nick T Pappas in high regards.

Customer service....Nick does go above and beyond for his Huntsville home buyers and sellers. I’ve seen it for years. He cares. Really cares.

I introduced Nick to Active Rain about 2 years ago. He came on board and hasn’t looked back. Nick is now a true pro when it comes to AR. He has learned so much from this wonderful community and it shows. I hear his phone ring almost daily from blog posts that he has written. Nick T Pappas knows his community and he shares his knowledge with all of us. His commitment to educating our community shows. I’m proud!

When I first opened @Homes Realty Group, I was bound and determined that I would only hire agents that “get it”...I don’t hire “just anyone”. Nick T Pappas “gets” that consumers come first and it shows. His clients trust him. I trust him! Trust is earned....believe me when I say he earns it each and every time.

If you are searching for a Real Estate agent in Madison Alabama, or a Realtor in Huntsville Al, look no further. Nick T Pappas will make your home purchase or sale a wonderful experience. I promise!

Sidewalk Arts Stroll Huntsville Alabama

What began in June 2006 has now become one of Huntsville’s most beloved events...the Sidewalk Arts Stroll. Located in downtown Huntsville on the square, the strolling arts fair is favored by many.

This isn’t your typical arts show! Music, antiques, art and homegrown wares will all be on display. Artists range from first timers, to those with established reputations. Home made goods and unique one-of-a-kind pieces and creations can be found at the Sidewalk Arts Stroll in Huntsville.

Enjoy free entertainment as you visit booths that feature original artwork, pottery, organic produce, fresh cut flowers and even handcrafted paper!

Dates for the 2011 Summer Sidewalk Arts Stroll Series are:

May 19, June 16, July 21 and August 18.

Always the Third Thursday, 4:30 pm until 8:30 pm.

You can find a map of the arts stroll here. http://www.sidewalkartsstroll.com/map.pdf

The stroll takes place in downtown Huntsville. You can find parking at the corner of Eustis and Green and the parking garage on Clinton Ave. You may also luck into some street parking!

The Sidewalk Arts Stroll is free!