This is a continuation of a series: 10 Common Myths Shared by Homebuyers*. See Myth #4 here.
Buyers can mistakenly rationalize they should have several agents working for them. Working with more than one agent will create confusion for buyer and agents alike. Agents have access to the same Multiple Listing Service. A consultation with a professional realtor will allow an agent to concentrate on your needs and wants. While interviewing agents, sharing your priorities in your home search will help the agent in helping you find properties that meet your criteria. Select one agent to represent your interests so you can get develop a mutual relationship based on trust, communication and loyalty.
When working with the Charleston Relocation Experts Team, Buyer representation is a FREE service! Call or email Michele Reneau when you ready to have an agent looking out for YOU!
Stay tuned for more myths...*The series is adapted from the REBAC article published October 2008, 10 Common Myths Shared by First-Time Homebuyers in Today's Buyer's Rep.
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Michele Reneau - Military Relocation Specialist with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC.
Contact Michele Reneau, Realtor®, North Charleston, SC Relocation Expert, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtor® in South Carolina at 843-572-0518 to list your property for sale or to purchase real estate. The Charleston Relocation Expert specializes in military relocation, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. I can also be contacted by email at mreneau@carolinaone.com. To view all Charleston Metro area Homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes. With over 25 years of Lowcountry Living, I know the Charleston Metro area.
This is a continuation of a series: 10 Common Myths Shared by Homebuyers. See Myth #1 here.
I hate to break the bad news, but there's no such thing as a perfect home. Buying a home ALWAYS requires compromising. When looking at property, there are many things that a buyer might notice that 
they do not like: wallpaper, paint colors that don't match your décor, dated light fixtures that don't go with your style, the ugly bush outside that needs help and plenty of others. It easy to rule out houses that might require too much work. Once you set a budget, the two major things a buyer should focus on (outside of habitability) is location and floorplan. These two things cannot be changed easily or without huge expense. Everything else can be changed.
I've owned 3 houses that I have lived in, 2 preowned homes and 1 new construction. All the houses, including the new one required my own personal touch.
My first house was built in 1945 and it needed a lot of updating. At the age of 24, the fact that I even was a homeowner was pretty dreamy. Right away, I ripped down the wallpaper, repainted every room and pulled out the blue carpet to refinish the gorgeous hardwood floors. I wasn't able to do everything at one time, but over 2.5 years, I made several improvements including replacing a roof, installing new windows, painting the exterior and installing new floors in the kitchen and baths. Looking back, it was a lot of work, but I have no regrets. I still own this home and it is now a rental.
The new construction house was probably the worst of the three. We ripped out perfectly good carpet to put in hardwood floors. We removed new laminate countertops to replace it with granite. (Don't worry, we didn't waste either and donated both to good causes.) We had to put ceiling fans in all the bedrooms and living room. I had to pay an electrician to run wiring to install a ceiling fan in my office. We had build a fence to contain our 2 dogs. We spent a pretty penny on upgrading our landscaping from the builder blah. Don't forget painting all those walls because I can't stand builder white.
The point is that no matter what house you buy, there will be pros and cons and things that you will want to do. Many things can be done over time. Consider trying to keep an open mind. The perfect house will come at a premium price tag. Accept a home that needs some updating and get a reduced price. You can manage the changes over time and reap the benefits of your improvements when it's your time to sell.
The process is complicated but it doesn't have to be. You can make sure you get as close to perfect as possible with the right real estate professional at your side. The only thing you will get with waiting is frustration. By the time you find the perfect home, someone else may be bidding on it too.
When working with the Charleston Relocation Experts Team, Buyer representation is a FREE service! Call or email Michele Reneau when you ready to have an agent looking out for YOU!
Stay tuned for more myths...
*The series is adapted from the REBAC article published October 2008, 10 Common Myths Shared by First-Time Homebuyers in Today's Buyer's Rep.
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Michele Reneau - Military Relocation Specialist with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC.
This is a continuation of a series: 10 Common Myths Shared by Homebuyers. See Myth #1 here.
Most properties can be found online. The Internet is a great resource for buyers and of course you can 
drive through neighborhoods you like or look through the paper and home magazines. BUT there are many properties that are NOT advertised and/or DO NOT have signs. Many foreclosures in our market do not have signs. I have no idea why, but they don't! And believe it or not, some sellers request for signs not to be placed in their yard and some neighborhoods do not allow signs. Also, not all agents advertise the best properties in newspapers or magazines because they sell so quickly or they choose not to use those methods.
The MLS updates at midnight which means it can lag real time updates in hot neighborhoods and even worse, hot markets. A professional real estate agent is networked with other realtors to find out what is coming on the market before it gets there. Additionally, an agent dedicated to working on your will check the HOT SHEET for you during the day to see if there is anything coming on the market to get you the edge on property information so you can hear about it before it goes out at midnight on MLS. That's why it is important to know that your agent is a full time agent that can work on your behalf. You want an experienced agent that is networked and keeping tabs on what's coming up and going on in the areas you are interested in so you don't miss any HOT properties.
When working with the Charleston Relocation Experts Team, Buyer representation is a FREE service! Call or email Michele Reneau when you ready to have an agent looking out for YOU!
Stay tuned for more myths...
*The series is adapted from the REBAC article published October 2008, 10 Common Myths Shared by First-Time Homebuyers in Today's Buyer's Rep.
Subscribe to Charleston SC Posts by Email
Michele Reneau - Military Relocation Specialist with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC.
Contact Michele Reneau, Realtor®, North Charleston, SC Relocation Expert, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtor® in South Carolina at 843-572-0518 to list your property for sale or to purchase real estate 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 Expert specializes in military relocation, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. I can also be contacted by email at mreneau@carolinaone.com. To view all Charleston Metro area Homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes. With over 25 years of Lowcountry Living, I know the Charleston Metro area.
This is a continuation of a series: 10 Common Myths Shared by Homebuyers. See Myth #1 here. 
Many buyers start their search by looking online and occasionally getting in the car driving around to check out neighborhoods. Due to SC agency and representation laws, the listing agent is charged with protecting the interests of the seller. When you call the listing agent, they are obligated to tell the seller ANYTHING you say. You have the right to be treated with the same protection but it does require you to hire a Buyer's Agent. To find out how to hire a Buyer's Agent and why you need one, check out my previous post: What services are you entitled to when you hire a Buyer's Agent.
When looking for a buyer's agent, you should be looking for full time agent that can devote time to diligently searing for your prospective home. They should have demonstrated experience, negotiating skills, and intimate knowledge of the market you are seeking to purchase a home in. Preview my previous post about the Top 10 questions you should ask before hiring your next agent. Many of these questions apply to buyers agents as well! The strongest position in a negotiation is to have a mediator, a buyer's agent! An experienced agent will know what to say and not to say and will keep the necessary information confidential while helping you get the best price and terms on the house you want.
When working with the Charleston Relocation Experts Team, Buyer representation is a FREE service! Call or email Michele Reneau when you ready to have an agent looking out for YOU!
Stay tuned for more myths to come...
*The series is adapted from the REBAC article published October 2008, 10 Common Myths Shared by First-Time Homebuyers in Today's Buyer's Rep.
Subscribe to Charleston SC Posts by Email
Michele Reneau - Military Relocation Specialist with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC.
Contact Michele Reneau, Realtor®, North Charleston, SC Relocation Expert, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtor® in South Carolina at 843-572-0518 to list your property for sale or to purchase real estate 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 Expert specializes in military relocation, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. I can also be contacted by email at mreneau@carolinaone.com. To view all Charleston Metro area Homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes. With over 25 years of Lowcountry Living, I know the Charleston Metro area.
Myth #1: All agents are the same.
The general public thinks that everyone that has a real estate license is the same. The Rebac article* poses a great example: "Does everyone with a driver's license operate a vehicle the same way? Of course not! Drivers approach the road differently. Realtors do vary considerably in their approach to their job as well." Some realtors are part time and do not take the job of assisting you in your most important investment seriously. Real estate designations are another way to gauge agents that are serious about their job. An agent with designations shows they are committed to learning to serve you better. REBAC further asks, "Would you rather hire an accountant or a certified accountant?" Just like sellers, buyers should squash this myth and interview at least three agents before you make an informed decision about who you want to work with. Preview my previous post about the Top 10 questions you should ask before hiring your next agent. Many of these questions apply to buyers agents as well!
Michele Reneau is a full time realtor committed to you and your home search. She has 4 years of 
experience and has assisted 150 families that demonstrate that experience, while the average realtor in Charleston only closes 6 properties. She has demonstrated negotiating skills and has keen insight to identify hidden value in properties. As a Graduate of Realtor Institute (GRI) and an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Michele is always learning new ways to better serve her clients. As a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Michele is among the top 3% of Realtors in the nation that have significant experience and demonstrated volume of real estate transactions, as well as complete rigorous educational requirements. Michele takes her job seriously. Click here to see what Michele's client say.
Stay tuned for more myths to come...
*The series is adapted from the REBAC article published October 2008, 10 Common Myths Shared by First Time Homebuyers in Buyer's Rep.
Subscribe to Charleston SC Posts by Email
Michele Reneau - Military Relocation Specialist with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC.
Contact Michele Reneau, Realtor®, North Charleston, SC Relocation Expert, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtor® in South Carolina at 843-572-0518 to list your property for sale or to purchase real estate 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 Expert specializes in military relocation, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. I can also be contacted by email at mreneau@carolinaone.com. To view all Charleston Metro area Homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes. With over 25 years of Lowcountry Living, I know the Charleston Metro area. I will help you get your home sold and/or help you buy your Charleston home or land.
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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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