I read an interesting article about an unlicensed agent selling real estate. Now first off, I am not sure how you can call someone that is not licensed an agent. Being licensed goes hand in hand with being an agent. Not being licensed and calling yourself an agent seems like telling a lie to me.
And considering the huge amount of money involved when buying or selling real estate, it goes without saying that unlicensed individuals with ulterior motives creeps in. And why would they want to get a license when, more often than not, they are trying to take advantage of someone? Being licensed might hurt their business, and leave them more liable for their actions!
Just because I say I work for a real estate company or have a sign to put in your yard that says realty, real estate etc--it does not mean I am licensed!
But how can you find out if someone is licensed as a real estate agent in South Carolina? How can you protect yourself?
Very easily! Follow and bookmark this link to the SC Real Estate Commission and their Licensee Look Up page.
I hope before you ever sign paperwork about buying or selling real estate in SC, well just make sure you know who you are dealing with!
Moving to a new home can be stressful, to say the least. Make it easy on yourself by planning far in advance and making sure you’ve covered all the bases.
1. Plan ahead by organizing and budgeting. Develop a master “to do” list so you won’t forget something critical on moving day, and create an estimate of moving costs. (A moving calculator is available at REALTOR.com)
2. Sort and get rid of things you no longer want or need. Have a garage sale, donate to a charity, or recycle.
3. But don’t throw out everything. If your inclination is to just toss it, you're probably right. However, it's possible to go overboard in the heat of the moment. Ask yourself how frequently you use an item and how you’d feel if you no longer had it. That will eliminate regrets after the move.
4. Pack similar items together. Put toys with toys, kitchen utensils with kitchen utensils. It will make your life easier when it's time to unpack.
5. Decide what, if anything, you plan to move on your own. Precious items such as family photos, valuable breakables, or must-haves during the move should probably stay with you. Don't forget to keep a "necessities" bag with tissues, snacks, and other items you'll need that day.
6. Remember, most movers won’t take plants. If you don't want to leave them behind, you should plan on moving them yourself.
7. Use the right box for the item. Loose items are prone to breakage.
8. Put heavy items in small boxes so they’re easier to lift. Keep the weight of each box under 50 pounds, if possible.
9. Don’t over-pack boxes. It increases the likelihood that items inside the box will break.
10. Wrap every fragile item separately and pad bottom and sides of boxes. If necessary, purchase bubble-wrap or other packing materials from moving stores.
11. Label every box on all sides. You never know how they’ll be stacked and you don’t want to have to move other boxes aside to find out what’s there.
12. Use color-coded labels to indicate which room each item should go in. Color-code a floor plan for your new house to help movers.
13. Keep your moving documents together in a file. Include important phone numbers, driver’s name, and moving van number. Also keep your address book handy.
14. Print out a map and directions for movers. Make several copies, and highlight the route. Include your cell phone number on the map. You don’t want movers to get lost! Also make copies for friends or family who are lending a hand on moving day.
15. Back up your computer files before moving your computer. Keep the backup in a safe place, preferably at an off-site location.
16. Inspect each box and all furniture for damage as soon as it arrives.
17. Make arrangements for small children and pets. Moving can be stressful and emotional. Kids can help organize their things and pack boxes ahead of time, but, if possible, it might be best to spare them from the moving-day madness.
I am sure every one see headlines like Low Prices Draw Investors Back to Market and wonder if this is true in Upstate South Carolina. I can tell you it is true and there are not just investors taking advantage of the low prices. Many first time buyers are taking advantage of the tax credit, low prices and interest rates.
Sometimes I wonder what I talked about before I became a REALTOR. Just today I had a long discussion about the local market and how investors are out in full force. But you still have to realize that this article points out that half of the people they surveyed that were planning on buying in the next 2 years are first time home buyers. I wonder if the tax credit is the only reason for first time buyers deciding to enter the market. With low interest rates, outstanding inventory and affordability at tempting levels, you know it is a great time to buy a home in Upstate South Carolina.
After this afternoon's conversation about the market, I thought back to the closings I have had so far this year. It became apparent that while there were investors, and almost an equal amount of first time buyers, but there were not as many step up buyers. A step up buyer sometimes refers to home owner that is looking to move to a bigger or more expensive home. Why has this segment of the market been so quiet?
With the recent changes in the tax credit, many more people in SC are eligible to take advantage of the homes for sale in the Upstate. Maybe we will start seeing more buyers than just the investors and first time buyers. It seems a shame that there are people missing the same great deals, interest rates and affordability that so many are taking advantage of!
If you have heard about the changes in the tax credit and want to see what the Upstate SC real estate market has to offer please contact me. I can set up an automated MLS search to send properties that fit your unique needs directly to your email address.
Before you make your final buying or selling decision, you should have the home inspected by a professional. An inspection can alert you to potential problems with a property and allow you to make an informed decision. Ask these questions to prospective home inspectors:
1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice and code of ethics online at www.ashi.org or www.nahi.org. ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations.
2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors, including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.
3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.
4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’ commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.
5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.
6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.
7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.
8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services. The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector's reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.
10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for the buyer. An inspector's refusal to let the buyer attend should raise a red flag.
Source: Rob Paterkiewicz, executive director, American Society of Home Inspectors, Des Plaines, Ill., www.ashi.org
I am sure by now some of you have read the article in the Independent about Joe Taylor, the Secretary of Commerce from the South Carolina Department of Commerce having a meeting with county officials and Anderson SC REALTORS. I was there and it was quite informative. But why did we have this meeting?
In these rough economic times, it is imperative that we lay the groundwork for future growth in Anderson County. South Carolina was very lucky to get Boeing to locate here in SC. Read this article that talks about the possibility that Boeing will help SC recover from the recession earlier. The Engineering firm that is working on the new facility is located in Greenville. This is a great example of how the impact will be felt statewide.
Some people like to point to SC being a right to work state as being the reason for us landing Boeing. However, one big factor that many are not aware of was the land. Specifically the land Boeing was considering had already been zoned correctly. If it was going to take months to change the zoning, Boeing would have marked SC off their list.
The key to attracting new companies to Anderson County is having available sites and buildings suitable for large industrial applications ready now. Not ready in a couple of weeks or months but ready today! Anderson County has 29 sites and nine buildings that qualify for large uses according to the SC Commerce department. There may be more, but unless the owner and the county work to get the zoning and utilities in place, well sadly the property may not sell for many many years.
Anderson County is blessed with I-81 passing right through and giving us over 60 miles of interstate frontage. Plus since we are almost directly the halfway point between Charlotte and Atlanta it also gives us another advantage. But have you also considered that because of the multiple rail carriers and dual line service in some areas, that potential manufacturers will want to locate in Anderson County? With all of the potential land in Anderson county, it is hard to believe that there are not more sites available.
Anderson county is also blessed with a great quality of life with the lakes, mountains, and a wonderful downtown that is growing.Plus Anderson County already has an established manufacturing base with Bosch, Michelin, Hexcel, Milliken, Electrolux and many other great companies. If these manufacturing facilities can be successful in Anderson County, there is no doubt that any company looking for a location to excel should look at Anderson County South Carolina.
Secretary Taylor also talked about how potential commercial development is linked to our workforce and the excellent training opportunities available from Clemson, Anderson University, Erskine, Southern Wesleyan and according to Taylor, the one factor that manufacturing companies look at and are impressed: Tri County Tech!
But in addition to these factors making Anderson County SC a great location for future development is the low cost of energy in our area. Duke Energy provides some of lowest cost power in SC and the US.
Plus because of our low labor costs and great cost of living, many potential manufacturing companies are amazed at the bang for your buck you can get in Anderson County.
But for all the great stuff Anderson County has going for it, there still remain some work to be done. A good industrial site should have:
Now I know that many people think they can sit on land and eventually someone will make them an offer. Maybe if you are lucky but seriously unless it is listed, unless it is zoned correctly, has the utilities in place and unless your agent is taking the steps to make sure the SC Department of Commerce, Anderson County officials and everybody else knows about your land, you are fighting a losing battle. Unadvertised, secret or "pocket" listings will not sell large tracts of land for potential commercial development.
We all want to see Anderson County grow and feel secure about our future. We all want our friends, neighbors and children to be able to find a good paying job right here in Anderson County. But with out planning for the future, and getting the county officials to have the correct zoning and infrastructure to attract more development we are fighting a losing battle.
The fact that the Anderson County council is working to see what needs to be done to get more businesses to locate here is great. But they cannot do it alone. It will take everyone in Anderson County working together to ensure Anderson County continues to grow. The County Council had the wisdom to contact both the SC Department of Commerce and the local REALTORS to help in the quest to attract more businesses to Anderson County.
Some people hate to see politicians give new businesses some type of tax incentive to locate here. What they do not realize is the small tax break we give will be more than made up in revenue from other areas because of the company locating in Anderson County. Believe me, I have no love for politicians. But at least it appears the Anderson County Council is trying.
We need more jobs and it is great to see the SC Department of Commerce, the Anderson County Council and the REALTORS from Anderson County looking at ways to improve Anderson County.
Realtor in Upstate South Carolina proudly serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.
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