There is challenge enough keeping up with the house you live in, but what about the house you or your family might have grown up in? Sometimes when I travel the roads of Western North Carolina and I see something like this “House on the Hill” on US 209 on the way to Hot Springs, I have to wonder about the story behind it. Don’t you wonder if maybe someone inherited the property and didn’t have the funds to either fix it up or tear it down? Or maybe it wasn't in their heart to tear it down. From a distance, it doesn't appear dangerous and maybe they've at least stabilized it from further decay.
This beautiful homestead was someone’s pride and joy. I can just imagine the sense of accomplishment the owners felt whenever they approached the house or entertained visitors. It seems to be a large step above some of the other farmhouses in the area. This one has quite the flair of style about it.
Since I’ll never know the history behind the “House on the Hill”, guess I’ll just have fun imagining it.
Maria Morton from Kansas City turned on the light bulb over my head this morning reminding me of a pet peeve…mapping listings and lousy directions. So, thank you Maria for your inspiration. She wrote a very cool post with a graphic of a map of Outer Mongolia and some poor seller’s house getting mapped in the center.
Sellers pay our commission and should feel confident that when their listing was entered into MLS, their agent actually checked to be sure the house was depicted in the true location and submitted clear directions. Most sellers never even look at their listings and as a consequence would never be aware of bad mapping, lousy directions, wrong information or terrible photos.
Who uses those MLS maps? Although we have other means to locate listings before we show them, sometimes when I‘m looking for listed vacant lots I will check the MLS mapping as part of my process of elimination. Vacant lots usually do not have a 911 location or typical address. There’s often just a lot number and a development. I can’t begin to tell you the percentage of vacant lots that the listing agent didn’t bother to map correctly.
Irritating to the agent? You bet. But, a good real estate agent familiar with their area can often get a sense that the lot isn’t mapped correctly The consumer however, sitting several states away doesn’t have that same knowledge base to rely on and does utilize the mapping information provided by the listing agency. If the agent has not gone back in to verify the mapping of the listed house or vacant lot, there are a whole lot of people getting harmed by that bit of listing agent laziness. The sellers for sure aren’t getting the best exposure for their property, the buyers might well be missing or eliminating the property because it isn’t in the location they want and the agents (since it’s all about us, really) can be supremely inconvenienced. With gas prices surging it is disrespectful of any agent not to provide other agents with the best and most accurate information about their listings.
So, Maria. I really appreciate you inspiring me about this subject of bad mapping and lousy directions…even though it put me in a mini ranting mode. No problem, it’s a good reminder to go back and double check our own listings. Once I listen to a little Phoebe Snow I’ll be calmed down.
We’ve all been celebrating the milder winter this year this year in the mountains of Western North Carolina and soaking in the sunshine whenever we can. This little cousin to the Pouty Angel of yesterday’s post loves the attention the sun is paying to him.
This sun and angel scene was photographed at the farmhouse listing on Tunnel Mountain Road just outside of Dillsboro. Simply one more example of all the surprises and treasures waiting there for the next happy owners.
What on earth could this pouty little angel have done that he chose to sit in a corner on a cold concrete bench on a rainy day in Waynesville, NC? Whatever he did, he looks like he regrets his actions and could use a little forgiveness...and maybe some hot chocolate! That always makes me feel better.
Do you have a mentor on ActiveRain? This is indeed a generous community and I have several mentors, but for photography…whether he knows it or not…my mentor is William Johnson from San Diego, California. When I was really new to AR…holy cow…I missed my one year anniversary! February 22nd, 2011. Anyway, as usual I’ve digressed. When I was brand new, William visited one of my posts and took a shine to my photos. He took half an hour out of his schedule and spent it with me on the phone giving me invaluable advice about how to edit better and where to edit better. He also helped me through the mechanics of inserting images into the posts.
The other day I posted a collage of a few photos I took of the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC when Leslie attended the Arts & Crafts Conference there a week ago. The collage template made the photos very small and sure enough in the comments section, there was my friend and photo mentor oh so gently chiding me for restricting the size. He was right of course and I knew they were too small when I posted them but…have you ever signed into AR to do your post but you are so tired you feel like you could nod off right there at the computer? That was how I felt that night after a day filled of showing houses.
So, William, if you are reading this, these photos were reposted with you in mind and I wanted to take another opportunity to let you know how very much I appreciate everything bit of advice and support you’ve given me over the last year. The title of Ambassador suits you perfectly.
A word to other ActiveRain members. We are a generous community. Take some time and share your talents, your investment will come back to you a hundred fold.
This is taken from the back of the Grove Park Inn showing the building above the terraces.
A view of downtown Asheville,NC and a portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I don’t even play golf but would enjoy strolling this beautiful course at the Grove Park Inn.
 |
|
|
Full service real estate agency with special emphasis on buyer and seller advocacy plus real estate negotiations. Combining friendliness and professionalism in an inviting atmosphere!
I love working in real estate! Its a privilege to advocate for our clients, whether they are buyers or sellers. There is never a boring day. Every single day teaches me something new about this profession and about human nature.
My background has always been in sales & customer service. After moving to NC from FL, I co-owned a camping/backpacking store called Venture Out for 13 years in Waynesville, Dillsboro and Sylva, NC. Then, I co-owned a furnishings/home decor & accessories store in Dillsboro called Lighten Up! Both owners managed the staff, marketing, sales, purchasing, displays & stocking...it was exhausting but fulfilling.
When small retail took a hit and became less lucrative. I answered a classified ad to work as an admin for a real estate company. After months of watching agents perform & collect commissions...I knew I could do it. I went to real estate school & continued to work in a part time capacity until I got my license. I was licensed in 2004 & the rest is history.
Switching companies was scary at first, but our clients have been so supportive. Realtors need to have enough confidence in themselves to move until they find the right fit. With that in mind, a partner & I opened our own company. Its called MoonDancer Realty and the environment is a good balance of business & friendliness. I am now Broker in Charge & looking forward to the future!
We've siezed opportunities to go beyond the typical Continuing Ed classes and both partners have earned their ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) & GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) certifications. Not only do I want my clients confident in my workmanship, This industry constantly shifts. I need to feel the same way about myself and my understanding about this industry. Educational opportunities and day to day experience help me ach
ieve that.
Real Estate Can Be the Cornerstone to Anyone's Wealth!
We specialize in Buyer Representation and Counseling. We work WITH the buyer to make the whole process as seamless as possible. We maintain the best list of service providers in the area - there is never a question of our clients not being able to engage the best home inspectors, attorneys, surveyors, etc. We make sure that our buyers are well educated and comfortable with their purchase.
We also specialize in Seller Representation and Counseling. We provide accurate market statistics when assisting sellers in the pricing of their property. Our sellers are given top-notch attention, no matter what the market value of their property is.
To stay at the top of our game, we take advantage of real estate educational opportunities whenever they are available. Both MoonDancer Realty agents are Accredited Buyer's Representatives and Graduates of Realtor Institute.
As a first time home buyer, I was both very eager and very anxious to find the perfect home for myself. After getting some pointers from my family, I went out with several different real estate agents to find a great buyer's agent. However, it was with Mona and Leslie that I found my match! They had integrity that many of the agents I'd been out with before lacked, as well as being knowledgeable about what to look for (or not) in a home. Where they really shined, though, was with dealing with the people who were selling my dream house. Mona and Leslie are very precise people, and they didn't let any paperwork slip by them for my contract. The seller's realtor, however, was a less than outstanding agent. Mona and Leslie fought to make sure that the seller's agent upheld every part of the contract and dealt with some very confusing and inappropriate phone calls on my behalf but they didn't let that stop them! They made sure everything was taken care of with the contract. I believe that any other agent would have given up the battle for this house. Mona and Leslie made it happen! In the end, I wound up with the house of my dreams thanks to their efforts on my behalf!
Heather Sink
===================================================================================
Hello Mona
Well I wanted to let you and Leslie know that we have had an amazing few months working with you. It is so rare that you are able to connect with someone these days. The amount of work that the two of you did, previewing homes, and driving us around on Saturday's, Sunday's and whenever we asked.
Also, the closing went very smooth. I think I mentioned that my father worked in real estate for about 10 years, but more part time. He advised me to look out for many of the same pitfalls that you advised, which helped build our trust in you and Leslie. We hope to have more friends move to the region so we can refer them to you as well. It is such a wonderful spot, and we hope to share it, but not with too many people.
We should have a full house of furniture by Monday or Tuesday, and are so thankful for all the hard work you both put in to find us this wonderful home.
Thanks again and can't wait to see you soon
dave nelson
====================================================================================
We moved to NC in May from OH, and our realtors were Mona Gersky and Leslie Rojohn You have excellent representatives for your agency. Mona spent so much time with us and between her and Leslie , they out shined themselves as realtors. We sold a home in OH and we felt we had a good realtor there, but she didn't hold a candle to how informed and helpful these two were. The hours given us and never the slightest sign of impatience was shown. All the final steps in the sale we're taken care of in a VERY complete and professional manner with only our best interest at stake. We had lived in our home that we sold since 1973, so of course nothing was the same involving the buying of a home, plus doing it out of state was twice as challenging. They covered so many things that we hadn't even thought of. They are very much at the top of the game. We will always go to Mona and Leslie for any of our future housing needs. Keep up the good work. Ron and Mary Gornek Bryson City NC
====================================================================================
"After thoughtful consideration, and with the expert advise of Mona and
Leslie, we decided to put our house on the market. Mona and Leslie offered
not only a highly professional approach as our selected real estate agents,
they were very personable and helped make a stressful experience, truly
rewarding. Mona and Leslie took the lead to sell our house quickly and
with a decent profit."
Martin DeWitt and Sharon Sanders
Candler, NC
===================================================================================
I have sold one house and bought another with Mona and Leslie. They were great to work with. I never felt that my interests were being compromised or that my concerns were unheard. However, it should be pointed out that SiSi is really the brains of the outfit. Tony Hickey Sylva,NC
Dear readers...please note that SiSi is our darling dog Sienna who accompanies us to the office.
===================================================================================
Mona & Leslie, We just wanted to Thank You for all your hard work on helping us purchase the Woodfin lot. We think that you two did a terrific job and handled everything perfectly. We were having a tough time in finding some property when we called on you and you acted fast on trying to find us some property to suit our needs. In the future we will call on you again if we are looking for some more property and we will also suggest using you to our friends and family. Thanks again, Donna & Ron Sylva, NC
====================================================================================
Mona and Leslie took a lot of time really getting to know me and my family, what we liked and wanted, and spent whatever time was necessary viewing properties with us to really get a feel for what made us excited - We were first-time home buyers, and did not always know exactly what we were looking for, and Mona and Leslie were very thorough in working through options and ideas with us. They really took the time to know us as people and as a family -
Thanks,
Calllee & Hunt Boulware
Sylva, NC
"Mona and Leslie at Moondancer Realty are a treasure and true joy to work with."
2005 was a life changing period for both me and my future bride. In 2006 our moms were infected with the match-making bug and decided to get their recently-single kids together. Having grown up together, Andi and I hit it off right away and were soon engaged. We married in 2008 and made a transitional home in Cullowhee, NC. Our plan was to wait on purchasing a home in the mountains until my previous home in Durham sold, who could have predicted what the market did?! In the meantime we asked Mona and Leslie about listings in the area just to get a feel what was out there, but we explained that we were in no way in a position to purchase a home at this time, we only wanted some information.
On New Year's Eve 2011, Andi and I made a resolution that we were going to take advantage of the buyers-market by purchasing our dream home. We contacted Mona and Leslie at Moondancer Realty and adventure was afoot. Mona and Leslie worked tirelessly for us. We discussed what we were looking for in a home, they took this information and produced an exhaustive list of properties they felt met our criteria. We looked through many, many listings. We refined our lists, then set out over a period of several consecutive weekends looking at countless homes. During this process and our weekend excursions we became good friends. Together... we found our dream home in the most beautiful area imaginable with all of our criteria met or exceeded. We closed on our new home two weeks ago; Mona and Leslie were with us every step of the way. This was the most pleasant home buying experience my wife and I have ever had. We highly recommend Moondancer Realty.
>
> There are many great things to be said of Mona and Leslie, anyone who knows or works with them can attest to that. One of the key factors in our decision to retain them as our realtors was their true respect of us as their clients. When we stated that we were not in a position to buy and that we would let them know when we were, they respected that. They didn't constantly hound us with calls or emails or texts. We would get the occasional "Hey we're having an open house if you're interested" or "Just checking in to say hi". Their respect of our time and our wishes was what truly won us over in choosing them as our realtors.
Mark and Andi McNair
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2013 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
