We just took a listing that has previous been on the market in Goose Creek for over 10 months. When we reviewed the past listings prior to our listing appointment, we instantly knew the problem(s) and how we could improve the odds of selling. The problem was presentation! It's the first rule in marketing IMHO. The product must be appealing and packaged properly. This is a lovely home with a fabulous floorplan in a wonderful community but the previous listings didn't convey this. If buyers don't like what they see in the photos, they aren't going to step in the door.
During the first listing, the house was occupied and wasn't showcase properly to entice a buyer. This home is in a neighborhood competing with new construction and a model home making it irrestible to buyers. In second listing, the house was vacant. The rooms looked small, lonely and forgotten. This home needed the dining room needed to be painted and the house needed to be staged. The transformation made by Melissa Marro of First Impressions is amazing as showcased in the photos below. We are expecting amazing results and can wait to report back. What do you think? Which house photos are going to make a buyer schedule a showing? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe they can be worth several thousand dollars in saving carrying costs and helping a seller retain more of their equity. I wish I would have met this seller sooner because I believe if we had taken this listing sooner and made these changes, they would have sold sooner and at a higher price since the market has changed in the last 10 months when they went on the market.
UPDATE 11/16/09: We've been on the market 10 days and we just got our first showing and an offer!! While it was a low offer and I'm not sure if we'll work it out, it goes to show staging works! This property was on the market with another agent for 10 MONTHS with NO action. Just 10 days with staging has produced an offer!
We are Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes.
Have you passed by the bright orange building? If you have tire, brakes, alignment, struts, etc, be sure to
stop in for friendly and honest service at Geralds Tires and Brakes. They have truly mastered the art of customer service. I've been taking my car to Geralds for over 15 years. I'll never forget my first experience. I was 18 and drove a Mustang. The brakes had been squeaking and this college student was on her own. I took my car into a name brand auto shop known for brakes to find out what was wrong. The techinican told me my brakes needed to be replaced and it would cost $750. $750 to a college student might have well as been asking for my index finger. I couldn't afford $750! I drove away just about in tears wondering where I would come up with the money. I passed by Geralds in the bright orange building and decided to stop in for a 2nd opinion and hopefully a lower price. After 45 mins, a friendly face squatted beside my chair and said, "Ma'm, your rear brakes are squeezing because they need to be adjusted. We took care of it for you and there's no charge. Have a great day!" It was everything in me not to bear hug this man. I said, "Are you sure? Because I just got an estimate from someone else that told me my brakes had to be replaced."
"Yes Ma'm. I'm sure."
Then it dawned on me that this other place tried to rip me off! As I got in my car, there was a single red rose on the passenger seat with a printed note that said, "Thanks for letting us serve you!"
Hello!? They were honest about the work needed. Fixed it. Didn't charge me for it and then give me a rose. Talk about knowing how to treat a lady! I've never gone anywhere else for anything they can do. Granted they are always busy so there may be a wait, but there is always a friendly face to greet you and I know I will get an honest assessment. And I know you will too! Also, if you purchase your tires from Geralds, they offer free tire rotation and flat tire plugs and patches for the life of your tires. Can't beat that!
Geralds Tires and Brakes has 6 Charleston area locations. They are open Monday-Saturday but you'll want to get there first thing in the morning to avoid the long lines. Visit their website, http://www.geraldstires.com, for more info.
We are approved Charleston Boeing Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale at www.CharlestonBoeingRealtors.com and then click on Search for Homes.
There are so MANY fun and wonderful things to do in the Greater Charleston, SC area but the costs can
add up, plus it can be tough to know where to start. For a limited time until Dec 31, 2009, you can purchase your "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" pass which offers residents of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties free one-time admission to 33 area attractions and discounts at 24 restaurants during the month of January 2010. Visit their website to view which attractions http://www.beatourist.net/attractions.html and what discounts are available. Some popular attractions include Aiken-Rhett House, Carolina Ice Palace, Charles Towne Landing, Charleston Museum, Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Place and The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. Popular restaurant offering discounts on the pass include 82 Queen, Bocci's, Morgan Creek Grill, Tommy Condon's Irish Pub and The Library at Vendue Inn.
Passes are $20 for an individual or $50 for a family (up to 4 members). A local ID is required to purchase. Passes are on sale November 1 - December 31 and are valid for use during the month of January 2010. Passes may be purchased by visiting www.beatourist.net, calling 843-853-8000, and are available at any official area visitor center. Take advantage to see your town at a fraction of the cost and enjoy!
We are approved Charleston Boeing Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale at www.CharlestonBoeingRealtors.com and then click on Search for Homes.
For some, the list below can be depressing depending on which state you live in. But on a positive note in
looking at the info below, prices have never been lower. In Charleston, SC, Moody's predicted that Charleston would only decline 1 more percent and the bottom would be in the 4th quarter of 2009. Now is the perfect time to buy, enjoy homeownership and be on the incline in the next 5 years. As a seller, you have to ask some tough questions. Can I hang on to the property for at least 5 years? If the rent doesn't cover the mortgage, can I pay the difference? Can I afford the necessary maintenance that may come up in the next 5 years i.e. water heater, dishwasher, HVAC, or roof replacement, HOA fees, regime fees, landscaping, carpet replacement, etc. Sometimes, it may be better to cut losses now when you consider the cost of maintenance and repairs.
On October 6, 2009 at 11:51 am, Steve posted this blog that I think is interesting and would like to share. Please find his original post here.
Steve says:
"Many sellers want to know how long would they need to wait to again see the prices of 2005-2006. Moody's and Fiserv have actually studied this point. Here are the years that different states will probably return to those prices:
Before 2014
Maine
Vermont
Kentucky
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Alabama
Alaska
Iowa
Montana
South Dakota
North Dakota
Wyoming
Nebraska
Kansas
2014-2017
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Delaware
Ohio
West Virginia
Indiana
Wisconsin
North Carolina
Tennessee
Mississippi
Arkansas
Missouri
Louisiana
Oklahoma
Texas
Colorado
New Mexico
Washington
Oregon
2018-2022
New York
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Maryland
Rhode Island
Illinois
Hawaii
Georgia
Idaho
Utah
After 2023
Virginia
Florida
Michigan
Minnesota
California
Nevada
Arizona
There are two ways to look at this data. First, if you are thinking of selling, sell now - don't wait. The other point is, if you are buying this year, in 43 of the 50 states you could see a dramatic increase in value within ten years. I think this data can help both buyers and sellers make good decisions for themselves and their families."
Per Steve Harney's comments, The information was taken from a study done by Fiserv and Moody's which was reported by Seeking Alpha on 9/19. I highly recommend Steve Harney's blog. You can find it at www.SteveHarneyBlog.com
We are Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agent, North Charleston, SC Relocation Expert, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes.
When relocating to a new area, its often hard to find out who to call when you need certain services. You
can call any joe from the phone book, but we'd like to do a series on local vendors that you may need. For each vendor, we have had personal positive experience with them on our personal homes as well as for our clients that we have referred. It's often hard to find a serviceman that is honest, reliable and reasonably priced. So we will feature vendors with these wonderful traits so you have a firsthand recommendation. If you have need of a recommendation we have not listed yet, please feel free to call or email us for one.
Our first recommendation is for honest, reliable and affordable plumbing services in the Charleston, SC area.
I recently had an elderly client who had a soggy front yard. They instantly called a plumber from the phone book. I happen to check on her and she told me that it was going to cost over $600 to replace the pipe in the front yard from the meter to the house. I asked her to let me send out my plumber, Danny Wheeler of Village Plumbing and Electric, out for a 2nd opinion. He went out the next day and informed the owner that after turning off some valves to the house, he did not believe the pipe in the front yard was leaking. In fact, there was a busted water hose in the front yard. The spigot was turned on but because the hose busted, the nozzle wasn't stopping the water and it was soaking the ground. He also found some valves that needed replacing but the visit overall was only $100. Now, I can't speak for the 1st company that went out, but I can tell you that if you need an honest licensed plumber or electrician in the Charleston, SC area, you can count on Danny Wheeler of Village Plumbing and Electric. He has done lots of work personally for me including wiring an old house, adding new plumbing when we added a laundry room in one of our rentals and more. We have used him to have repairs done after home inspections and we are confident in referring our valued clients to him.
Danny Wheeler can be contact at 843-991-5526. His company served the Greater Charleston area. You can call him for a free quote and best of all, his work is guaranteed for a year! I don't know anyone offering that guarantee. How can you go wrong?
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We are approved Charleston Boeing Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale at www.CharlestonBoeingRealtors.com and then click on Search for Homes.
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Charleston SC Top Relocation Team of Realtors serving military familes at Charleston AFB, Naval Weapons Station (NNPTC) & Coast Guard. Call or email to get started on your American Dream!
Michele is a CSP Elite instructor who focuses on helping sellers and realtors understand the importance of home staging in today's market. Michele teaches "Protecting Your Clients Equity through Home Staging." Realtors can earn their CSP Elite designation and learn how to sell listings faster and for more money through the use of this marketing tool. Call or email to schedule your office's class to increase the bottom line for both you and the seller.
Experience counts! In this tough market, you'll want to work with an agent that has experience. In the last 4 years, Michele Reneau and the CRE Team has helped over over 190 families achieve their American Dream. You want this kind of experience working for YOU!!! The CRE team does not view themselves as a salespersons, but as Real Estate Advisors. "Our job as a seller's agent is to help find a marketing solution to get your home sold by bringing you the most buyers. As a buyer's agent, our job is find a home that suit your needs." Even though it is a buyer's market, this may not always be easy to do. Michele Reneau is a Certified Residential Specialist. She ranks in the TOP 4% of the nation's top real estate agents and in the top 1% of her local market based on her experience. Her extensive knowledge of the field is your advantage. All CRE team members are Accredited Buyer's Representatives. We work with buyers to identify needs and can help you avoid the pitfalls of buying and even with new construction. Our knowledge and experience is coupled with a savvy investor's nose. Michele and Laura are have been part of military families and proudly supports the local service men and women and their families. Visit www.CharlestonRelocationExperts.com to start searching for your home.
The CRE team specialize in residential real estate in the Greater Charleston area, military relocations, and corporate relocations. This includes Charleston County, Dorchester County, and Berkeley County. We work with buyers and sellers to help them achieve their homeownership goals. The CRE Team specializes in working with military buyers and sellers transferring in and out of the Charleston Air Force Base, Charleston Naval Weapons Station and Coast Guard base.
"We love to work with first time home buyers, move up buyers, retirement homes and investors." Michele Reneau bought her first home at the age of 24. She remembers the highs and lows of being a first time homebuyer and loves making this dream come true for others. In less than 10 years, since her first home, Michele now owns 5 investment properties including single family homes and a multi family dwelling. She has a knack for seeing value in older homes or homes that need a little TLC. Since Michele has lived in the area for over 25 years, she knows the area very well. Buyers unfamiliar with the area simply share what is most imporant (interstate access, shopping, things to do) and she can put you in the right direction.
The Charleston Relocation Experts TEAM not only specializes in helping buyers, but Michele also has a unique marketing plan that helps sellers. Michele's average list to sale ratio is 98.7% with an average days on market of 70 days. Sellers that take the CRE Team's suggestions to prepare their property and price it right have enormous success even in the changing market. Call Michele to get started on your real estate dream.
CRE Team's Accomplishments
Designations
Other info
Michele,
I want to personally thank you for your stellar professionalism and never ending work ethic. From the first moment that we sat down at our dining room table to discuss the sale of our home, Bill and I knew that we were in the BEST hands with you. If our home was to sell in this tough market, we were confident that you would be the one that could make that happen. We were very eager to get the house sold and move on to our next chapter. We had an agent prior to hiring you and the differences are astounding to say the least. Unlike our first agent, you did everything imaginable to prepare for our meeting and the sale, you were armed with amazing facts, figures and statistics. We had everything possible that we would need to make educated decisions and come up with strategic plans that would make our home stand out to all the potential buyers and realtors. You were always there with updates, advice, feedback, ideas and the list could go on and on. We slept very well at night knowing that everything that could be done was being done. We truly think of you as a "God-send". We will be forever grateful. Our future is so BRIGHT and you have played a HUGE role in that. I wished everyone would be as blessed as us in finding you.
Best to you always,
Shara and Bill Pisowicz
Indigo on the Ashley
July 2008
Michele was the best real estate agent ever! I would recommend her to anyone I know. Thank you Michele for all of your hard work and dedication. It's very obvious that you love your work!!
Laura, US Coast Guard, Goose Creek, SC
Michele did a terrific job! She sold our property in what I'm sure is record time for that rural area and she did it all via phone/fax. I will strongly recommend her to any of my friends and family in the Charleston area.
Art, Ohio
Thank you Michelle for the work you did so very well to sell my parent's home in Summerville, SC. We couldn't have found anyone better for this job!!
You handled everything so excellently and did such a great job taking care of things locally with my parents while working with me out of state.
We are so happy that the home was sold in such a relatively short time for this market and at a price and terms that was a win-win for everyone.
You stayed on top of everything for us and gave THE BEST customer service. Your knowledge, experience, organization and flare for getting everything
to come together made this effortless and painless for us....just what we needed!! Thanks!
Ellen T
Apex, NC
June 2008
Michele was God sent. We had been looking for a house for so long and had dealth with so many agencies and no one would help us and within a month's time, Michele had found my family a home and we love it!
Chris & Monica, Hanahan, SC
We would like to say Thank You for all of your help with our homebuying process. You made things simple and not as stressful as we believe it could have been. You were a great help! Once again, Thank you very much.
Kim and Richard, Ladson, SC
"Michele Reneau made my first home buying experience much smoother than I expected. I couldn't believe how helpful she was."
Jimmy, US Navy, Charleston
Michele Reneau was outstanding! When I came to Charleston, I interviewed several agents and I instantly knew that Michele was knowledgeable, professional, and detailed. This was important because I knew I was going to be out of state in military training for 8 weeks. From the time we found the perfect house, Michele took care of all the issues that came up while I was out of the state in training, including handling the home inspection and repairs that were necessary. She made it easy and stress free. She really works for you and I will definitely use her again.
Justin, US Coast Guard, Goose Creek
"Michele Reneau is excellent! She did a great job of keeping us informed, and providing leads for additional properties. She's top-notch and I'll continue to seek her advice and representation on real estate transactions."
Charles, Real Estate Investor, Charlotte, NC
"We couldn't have asked for a better agent than Michele Reneau. She was great! She kept us updated with email messages and phone calls and was patient in helping us find the perfect home. Closing was a breeze!"
Nancy and Tom, Goose Creek
We have to admit that we didn't have a great experience with our first real estate agent. This was going to be our first home and we really needed someone to be patient with us and explain all the details. Michele Reneau was wonderful. From the beginning, she explained everything in detail and we always knew what to expect. She really cared about what we wanted and needed and gave great, trustworthy service. We couldn't have done it without her and are so grateful to have met her.
Nathan & Liz , North Charleston, SC
We were given Michele Reneau's name by a friend that raved about her. We knew we were interested in buying a new construction home. We thought, what's the big deal and why do we need an agent to buy a brand new home. Well, this was out first home purchase and our friend recommended we have a buyer's agent. We visited several new home neighborhoods and when we finally settled on one, we had no idea what we were in for. We had decided on buying new construction not knowing all of the unnecessary hassles that can come with it. Michele informed us every step on the way on what to expect. She explained the importance of an inspection even on new homes. She was right! While the builder corrected the items, we might now have found out about them until it was too late. We are so thankful we had her on OUR team!
Kevin and Grace, Summerville, SC
When my wife and I put our house up for sale, never would we have imagined it to be stress free. Michele Reneau and her staff were the best we ever dealt with (this being our 3rd move.) She was more professional and personable than any other realtor we ever met. Anything we needed she provided. Moving can be a lot of stress, and in our case, two children under the age of 3 and a puppy isn't expected to be the pleasant experience that it was. When you can rely on a person as much as we relied on her it makes selling (and I assume buying) a pleasure. My wife and I moved to Charlotte and if we could have used her to purchase our home there we would have. If you need a realtor, and you want the best, someone you don't have to second guess, call Michele Reneau.
Barry & Clarisse, Goose Creek, SC
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