Jerry's Blog

In A Nutshell

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:59:34 -0500

With the way things are going in the economy, and with housing in particular, a lot of people are probably wondering how it impacts them as a buyer or a seller. Well, here is my take on it, in a nutshell.

For buyers: If you have a good job, a good credit score and cash in the bank, you are just fine. Mortgage banks have tightened up their standards. This is a good thing. But you can still find a wide range of mortgage products to suit your needs; however, you have to actually qualify for them. So, if you qualify for a mortgage you are in the strong position as a buyer right now. Stick with a house you can afford and you will do very well.

For seller: OK, it could be worse. You are selling to a much smaller pool of potential buyers right now. You need to make sure your house is the cream of the crop. Get your house in PERFECT shape. You want buyers to be blown away when they first approach your house in their car, and continue to be blown away when they get inside.

That is it, in a nutshell. Want more info, give me a call. 919-417-9753

Get Top Dollar For Your House

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:00:22 -0500

If the time has come to sell your house, you will surely want to get the highest price possible for it. Below are some suggestions, based on years of experience, that will help you get the most for your home, whatever the current market is like. Yes, you will have to spend some money up front. But better to spend it now than rush around in the weeks before closing trying to get a good plumber, electrician, etc. You will also be prepared for the buyer’s inspection.

So here goes (not in any particular order):

1. Get a home inspection. Yes, pay $500 bucks or so to get a full home inspection. This will tell you all you need to know about your house. Generally I recommend you fix everything. Some will be super simple and you can do it yourself if you are handy. Some, like plumbing and electrical, will require a professional. Get a pro and keep the receipts. This might costs hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, but you will reap the rewards at closing. Advertise as pre-inspected and make the inspection available to buyers. Trying to hide problems never works.

2. Mold inspection. Get one if the home inspection recommends it or if you know there is visible mold in the crawl space. This is the new “red button” for buyers. The mere mention of mold, which is in EVERY house in the world, strikes terror in the buyer’s mind. A mold inspection by an independent inspector will cost about $300, depending on the size of the house. Fix as suggested. Yes, more money spent.

3. Clean!!!!!!Clean like never before! It is easy to become comfortable with a certain level of “mess” in our houses. Buyers want their own mess, not yours. Either break out the rubber gloves and cleaner or call in the pros and tell them you want the deepest cleaning they have. This will really help sell your house. The hard part is keeping it clean as time drags on. Don’t falter. It’s not fun but it IS necessary to keep it clean and smelling fresh. (Change your air filters a lot.) This includes the garage, decks, and any sheds!

4. Remove collections. Your frog collection is wonderful, but it is time to pack it away. You will be moving everything anyway, so get a headstart and pack up all your collections. Plus, do you want your expensive items out where children of buyers can get at them?

5. Reduce furniture. It is amazing how much can get packed into a house over the years. Now is the time to sell, store or donate some of it. You want to open up the house and let buyers see how big the rooms are. Stage furniture for maximum impact.

6. The dump is your friend. Get rid of all the garbage, broken items, etc. Be brutal. Take it to the dump and be rid of it. If it is in good shape, donate it and get the tax deduction. Or sell it and get the cash.

7. Paint. Do it yourself or hire someone, but do it. It is easy, quick and cheap. Inside and out. And it has a tremendous impact on the curb appeal of your house. This one task probably has the greatest return on time spent. Keep colors neutral.

8. Clean your yard. Mow, mulch, get rid of “yard art”. Your yard will be the first thing a buyer sees. You want it to shine. Drive around your neighborhood and see what houses stand out to you. Copy them. Power-wash your sidewalks, decks and driveway.

9. Hire me as your listing agent.

Does everyone do these things? No. Most don’t. They are reluctant to spend the money up front. They think they will just take a few bucks off the asking price if the buyers wants stuff fixed. Big mistake. The buyer will invariably demand WAY over the actual cost on any item. And you will be scrambling to fix items between the inspection and closing. Not a good thing.

The question is: Do you really want to sell your house? If so, then you should do everything possible to get it in prime condition. The above suggestion will go a long way in helping you do that. Give me a call if you want more in-depth advice.

http://www.jodrealty.com/2008/07/10/contractmortgagebailout/

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:48:17 -0500

There is a lot of talk on Washington and some states about enacting legislation to help home-owners that can no longer make their mortgage payments. This is typical feel good nonsense from the politicians. Yes, the real estate market is in a mess, people are struggling, homes values are dropping. But, I have one question. Did these home buyers read what they signed at closing? At every closing I’ve had, the terms and conditions are very clearly spelled out for the buyers. As well as what happens when things take a turn for the worse. It is all there in black and white. There is no gray area.

Now these people are screaming for the politicians to do something. And politicians, being what they are, are more than willing to help out. I have a suggestion. Tell these home buyers to deal with it. They made the choice to get that mortgage and buy that home. Millions of home buyers were very happy riding the real estate bubble. Now that the bubble has burst they are not so happy. Let the market do what it does best. It will correct the problem on its own. It won’t be pretty, but it works. The only thing politicians can do is mess it up.

These people signed a legitimate contract. It is their problem, not anyone elses’. It is called tough love. People need to start reading what they sign and deal with the consequences if they can’t live up to the terms of the contract. They should NOT be bailed out by the rest of the taxpayers. We have problems enough of our own.

The American Dream

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:51:11 -0500

This isn’t directly related to real estate, but I don’t care. It’s my blog and I can write what I want.

I heard on the radio today that only 40% of the U.S. population still believes in the American Dream. Think about that! Sixty percent of the population no longer believes you can get ahead by hard work and make a better life for you and your family. I find that alarming. And it is also absolute nonsense! You can still be anything you want to be in this country if you are willing to work for it. You are blessed to live in the greatest country this world has EVER seen.

As I thought about the sixty percent I figured I shouldn’t be too surprised. The government and socialists in this country have spent the past 50+ years telling people that they can’t get ahead on their own. They kept telling everyone you can only get ahead with the help of government. That is a tragedy. I would say to that 60%, ignore the people who tell you you can’t do something. There are always those who will tell you to give up, it’s too hard, it’s not your fault. Ignore them! Take responsibility for your life and your actions.

To the government I would say get back to doing what the Constitution tells you to do and stay out of our way. To the socialists I would say shut up. You have preached failure and defeat long enough. You are free to dwell in your shrinking piece of your pie, but don’t drag me down with you. To me the future is without limits. And, for now, there is still a 40% chunk of Americans who agree with me.

Why No Newspaper Advertising?

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:53:05 -0500

I don’t advertise my listings in newspapers or magazines anymore. I did early on in my real estate career because that was what everyone else did. And, frankly, the sellers demanded it. They wanted to see their house in the paper! I followed everyone else for several years and never got a single lead on a listing off of ANY ad. Even the larger companies will sometimes admit that newspaper or magazine ads don’t sell a particular house. What they do is drive possible buyers to that company. Which is wonderful for that company, but a waste in advertising a single house, and it really doesn’t help the seller.

Think about when you look at the house ads. Kind of makes your eyes blur with all that clutter, doesn’t it? The VAST majority of buyers go to the internet to find a home. THAT is where your house needs to be.

So, when I went off on my own I decided to stop doing stuff that doesn’t help my buyer or seller. Now I do only internet and targeted direct mailings. This is not necessarily cheaper for me, but it works. Newspaper ads are “old news”. On-line is the place to be.

Trees - Should A Buyer Care?

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:06:22 -0500

With the temperature well over 90 degrees, I am realizing how much I love our trees in our yard. Our prior house had almost no tree coverage. When the sun was out, the house would sit there and bake. Our A/C units would run like mad to try and keep up. The bill the next month would be a disaster! Great choice, sweat in our house or sweat at bill-time.

Our current house is surrounded by huge maples and oaks. When the sun is out out our wonderful trees provide shade coverage for almost the whole day. Our A/C easily maintains our house at a very comfortable temperature. And the bill the next month puts a smile on our faces.

Plus, we can now actually use our back deck! The oaks make it a great place to sit and read a book, as well as watch our three dogs play in the back yard without fear of heatstroke.

So, when you are looking at what house to buy do not neglect the landscaping. It can come back to bite you or put that smile on your face!

Springcrest Neighborhood Update

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:42:42 -0500

Time for some updated numbers on Springcrest. Springcrest is located on the east side of Erwin Road just north of the Sage Rd. intersection. It is convenient to everything, and is within walking distance of East Chapel Hill High School. (OK, it is a long walk, but high school kids can use the exercise.) It is just a short hop to 15-501, Duke, UNC, shopping and other area services.

The chart shows the number and stats of the active homes in Springcrest, as well as the houses that have closed in the past six months. Activity has picked up since February, which is usual. But take a look at the average asking price/sf vs. the average selling price/sf. This could be a reason the Days on Market has crept up. Today’s market is not the same as two years ago. Asking prices need to take this into account. Even so, Springcrest is a very nice neighborhood and worth the look. So, if you are looking for a nice home, convenient to everything, and in the East Chapel Hill High School district, give Springcrest a shot.

Stoneridge-Sedgefield Market Update

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:29:12 -0500

Time for an update on the statistics in the Stoneridge/Sedgefield neighborhood. It is located along Whitfield Road about one mile east of 86. It is in the area that is in the Chapel Hill School District, but not in the city limits. So, great schools, but no city tax. (There is a special school tax, but it is worth it!) Most of the homes in this neighborhood were built in the early to mid eighties, with at least an acre of land.

The chart shows the number and stats of the active homes in Stoneridge/Sedgefield as well as the houses that have closed in the past six months. These figures are a pretty good indicator of the average price in this neighborhood. You occasionally get houses priced much higher, but those are BIG houses on BIG lots!

So, if you want to be close to everything, but still have your “space”, check out Stoneridge/Sedgefield. Email me, or give me a call at 919-417-9753 if you want more info.

Do Gas Prices Impact Home Prices?

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:32:45 -0500

OK. The price of gas is soaring with no end in sight. It is impacting food prices, delivery prices, you name it. It seems to negatively touch every part of your life. But does it impact the sale of your house? In a word, yes.

Think about it. You have two houses similar in size, yard, schools, etc. The only difference is one of them is 15 miles from everything. The other is 1 mile. Which do you think will sell? At $1 or even $2 a gallon, maybe no big deal. But with gas in sight of $5 a gallon you better believe buyers will take it into account.

So, what do you do? If you are the house close to everything, rejoice and play up that aspect! If you are out in the wilderness, don’t necessarily despair. There are buyers who will WANT to be far from everything. Play up the privacy, solitude, close-to-nature aspects of your home. It may take longer to find that particular buyer, but they are out there.

Commute time has always been important to buyers. Now add the COST OF COMMUTE to the list!

Why I Don’t Practice Dual Agency

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:35:33 -0500

As a buyer or seller you may run into the concept of dual agency. That is basically where an agent “represents” both sides of a real estate transaction. Say my company has a listing. I also have a buyer under a Buyer Agency Agreement. My buyer likes the house I have listed. Uh oh. No problem. Under Dual Agency I can say to my buyer and seller, “Don’t worry, I’ll represent both of you”. Riiiiight.

In a nutshell, I do NOT practice dual agency because I believe in keeping my promises. When I get a listing I promise to represent that seller throughout the entire process, from listing to closing. It would be wrong of me to go back to my seller and tell him I can no longer represent just him because now I have a buyer and can get both sides of the deal. Same with a buyer.

Now, dual agency can get pretty confusing with “designated agency, who is representing whom, who can and cannot be a designated agent. It just isn’t worth the liability. So, I keep it simple. If you are my buyer or seller I represent ONLY you throughout the ENTIRE transaction. Ask your “big company” agent is they can make the same claim.

6012 Turkey Farm Road - Stoneridge, Chapel Hill

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:08:48 -0500

There is a new listing on the market! The home is located at 6012 Turkey Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC. It is in the highly desirable Stoneridge/Sedgefield neighborhood. Situated on four acres, this home overlooks the Johnston Mill Nature Preserve. After wandering through your own four acres you can go across the street and spend hours in the preserve. Great privacy, yet you are close to everything! You also get the great Chapel Hill schools, without the city taxes. (There is a small school tax on top of the county tax, but it is well worth it!)

The house has three bedrooms and three full baths. There are also two additional rooms that could be used as offices, media rooms, exercise rooms - you decide how to use them! Great attached garage workshop, as well as a large outside storage shed. Great kitchen, breakfast area, family room to spend a lot of quality hours. Or get away to the comfortable living room for some quiet. There is a large back deck to relax and enjoy nature.

CLICK HERE for a VisualTour of this listing.

For more information on this wonderful home, give me a call at 919-417-9753, or email me at jjod3@earthlink.net.

Stoneridge-Sedgefield Market Update

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:27:25 -0500

The next neighborhood I picked for some statistics is the Stoneridge/Sedgefield neighborhood. It is located along Whitfield Road about one mile east of 86. It is in the area that is in the Chapel Hill School District, but not in the city limits. So, great schools, but no city tax. (There is a special school tax, but it is worth it!) Most of the homes in this neighborhood were built in the early to mid eighties, with at least an acre of land.

The chart shows the number and stats of the active homes in Stoneridge/Sedgefield as well as the houses that have closed in the past six months. These figures are a pretty good indicator of the average price in this neighborhood. You occassionally get houses priced much higher, but those are BIG houses on BIG lots!

So, if you want to be close to everything, but still have your “space”, check out Stoneridge/Sedgefield. Email me, or give me a call at 919-417-9753 if you want more info.

East Chapel Hill HS Market Update-Townhomes

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:19:30 -0500

This month I figured I would give you a snapshot of the market for townhomes in the East Chapel Hill High School district. The market consists overall of a great selection of single family homes, townhomes and condos. This chart is a summary of the market conditions for townhomes in the district. It represents the townhouses which closed from 2/24/2008 to 3/24/2008, as well as those active on the market. As you can see there are 34 townhomes shown as active on the Triangle Multiple Listing Service. There were only 4 homes which closed in that same period. This means an absorption rate of 4 homes per month for a 9 month supply. Of course, it would vary depending on the price of the house, but you get the idea.

The averages are also impacted by some really expensive townhomes in Meadowmont. They increased the averages a LOT! So, don’t be scared off by some high looking numbers. There are actually many very affordable townhomes in the East Chapel Hill High School district.

If you’re in the market for a home, but don’t want the required chores that come with a single family house, give townhouses a look. You may be very glad you did.

Pre-Listing Inspection

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:59:38 -0500

Something to think about when it comes time to sell your house is paying to have a professional home inspection done. For around $450, depending on the size of the house, you can have a home inspector come out and give you advance notice of anything wrong with your house. This will give you time to decide what you want to fix AND give you the time to get quotes without having the pressure of a deadline hanging over your head. This is much preferable to having only a few days to find a contractor and get them out to do the work after the buyer asks for an item to be fixed.

You can also then market your house as a pre-inspected home. This will give potential buyers more confidence in the condition of your home.

Face it. If there is something wrong with your house the buyer’s inspector will most likely find it. Of course, even if you fixed everything, the new inspector will find “something”. But wouldn’t you want it to be something really minor?

The only possible downside to a pre-inspection is that the results of the inspection become a “material fact” that must be disclosed to potential buyers. But even this downside is preferable to any nasty surprises just a short time before closing. So think about it. It could be money well spent.

Who Will Sell Your Home

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:54:22 -0500

When the time comes to sell your home there is a lot you need to consider. The biggest decision is: who are you going to use to sell your house? Sell it yourself? You can try, but it is not nearly as easy as you might think. You cannot just post a sign in your yard, put an ad in the paper and hope people will flock to your castle. Doesn’t work that way. You simply must get your home in the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is where virtually everyone gets their information. If you are not in the MLS, you are missing out on the vast majority of buyers. Not smart!

To get in the MLS you can use a high-priced firm, a “discount” firm, or an entry-only firm. All have their plusses and minuses.

You can go with a high-priced national firm. They will tell you they have hundreds of agents that will make your house a priority. Right. Or they have fancy relocation affiliations that will pull in so many buyers you will have to beat them off. Right. Don’t get me wrong. They ARE good firms with good agents. They just over-charge for what they do.

A full service discount firm (that would be me!) does everything a high-priced firm does, just for less.

An entry only firm will simply put your listing in the MLS with maybe a sign in the yard. Other than that you are on your own. For some people that is a great option.

What to do! Obviously, I think you should use ME! I looked at all the options and decided to do it MY way. I provide full service at a reduced fee. (See my Fee Structure button for how and why I charge what I do.) I don’t have a fancy relocation department, but so what. A buyer coming into town is going to see your house in the MLS with or without a relocation department. Why pay extra for a useless perk?

Give me a call at 919-417-9753 and see what I can do for you.

Kirkwood Neighborhood

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:34:11 -0500

The next in our list of neighborhoods is Kirkwood. This townhome community is located at the intersection of Erwin and Weaver Dairy, making it extremely convenient to everything. I know I say that about every community in the area, but it is still true. As you can see from the chart the homes sell in the low $200’s. Built in the 80’s, some of the homes have been nicely updated by their owners over the years. Some units, quite honestly, could use some renovation. But, given the size of the units, if you are at all handy with a hammer, you can do a lot of updating on your own.

If you are in the market for a home where you don’t want the hassle of outdoor care, for either the house or the yard, give Kirkwood a look. Drive through and check out the neighborhood. You will be glad you did.

As with any community I highlight, feel free to give me a call at 919-417-9753, or email me, for more information.

Ready, Aim, BUY!

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:23:25 -0600

You’ve decided it is time to buy a house. It could be your first house, you could be downsizing, whatever. The important thing to remember is you have to get ready! You do not want to wait until you have found the house of your dreams and then scramble to get everything done. Your buyer agent can do most of the work for you, but some stuff is up to you.

The first order of business is to get all your financial papers in order, or at least find them. Tax returns for the past few years, current paystubs , investments, etc. When you have all you can lay your hands on, get in touch with a mortgage person. (If you are paying all cash, great. Make sure it is available at a moments’ notice.) You can talk to your local credit union, bank, or get names from your agent. I do recommend you deal with someone local. Those internet loans have a habit of causing hassles at the most inopportune times! Plus, a local representative will usually attend the closing, which can be a lifesaver if something goes wrong. The mortgage rep will go over your loan options and make sure you are ready financially. Big difference.

You want to have your earnest money ready so you can attach the check to the offer. A rough estimate is about 1-2% of the offer price.

Get started with the insurance company you want to use. Do NOT wait until the last minute to call an insurance agent! Your agent can also give you the names of reliable inspectors for the various inspections you will want done.

There are a bunch of other things to do, but the main two are mortgage and insurance. If you are ready to buy, give me a call at 919-417-9753 and I will make you home purchase as hassle-free as possible.

Providence Glen Condos

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:15:27 -0600

The next neighborhood I have picked is Providence Glen condos. These condominiums are located of Sage Road an Old Sterling. Therefore, as you can imagine, they are convenient to everywhere you might need to go. These are pretty new condos, the final phase just recently being completed. (The units on the market now are re-sales.) Each building has 12 condos, four to a floor. You usually have a choice of two and three bedroom units. Some come with a detached garage space.

There is an elevator in each building so you don’t have to use the stairs if you don’t want the exercise. There is a great clubhouse and pool, as well as a tennis court. The chart shows the units on the market and those that have sold in the past six months. They are well priced for anyone who wants the ease of owning a condo. If you want additional information, give me a call at 919-417-9753.

Home Sales in East Chapel Hill HS district

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:02:02 -0600

This chart is a summary of the market conditions in the East Chapel Hill High School district. It represents the detached single family houses which closed from 1/25/2008 to 2/25/2008, as well as those active on the market. As you can see there are 116 detached homes shown as active on the Triangle Multiple Listing Service, up from 109 a month ago. There were only 10 homes which closed in that same period. This means an absorption rate of 10 homes per month for a 12 month supply. Of course, it would vary depending on the price of the house, but you get the idea.

For a seller this means you absolutely HAVE TO be fully committed to getting your house in show condition. You have LOTS of competition! For a buyer, it means you can be in a great negotiating position, if you have done your homework. I can help you whether you are buying or selling.

You can also see we have a very wide range of homes in our market. This sample does not include condos/townhouses. There are a WHOLE lot of those out there, as well! If you want to know more about the living opportunities in the East Chapel Hill High School district, or any other local area, give me a call. I'll be happy to help.

But, Don't Worry, We Can Still Be Friends.

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:54:01 -0600

You all know what I am talking about. A "friend" you have known for years. Your kids play together, go to school together. They pick your brain constantly for real estate advice over the years. Than they tell you they are thinking of selling and could you come over to give some advice, and maybe measure the house? Oh, thank you so much! You go over the whole marketing process, lots of tips, figuring you'll get their listing. A few days later, guess what? There is a sign in the yard and it ain't yours!

As explanation they say they don't like doing business with friends. And this other company is bigger, yada, yada, yada......... You stand there with a frozen smile thinking "you $^&^%$%^%!" Oh, by the way, you mean FORMER friend.

I'm still not sure how to handle these people, even after having this happen more often than I care to admit. So, for now, I just smile and nod and chalk it up to more experience.

Silver Creek Neighborhood

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:24:38 -0600

The next neighborhood I picked for some statistics is Silver Creek. It backs right up to East Chapel Hill High School. The homes in this neighborhood are truly magnificent. You need to take a ride through Silver Creek just to see the designs and landscaping of some of these homes. And if you want to work those calf muscles take a walk through the community. It is hilly! It is convenient to pretty much everywhere you would want to go!

The chart shows the number and stats of the active homes in Silver Creek as well as the houses that have closed in the past six months. Like its neighbor to the east, Springcrest, at the moment there is not a lot of activity, so don't take the statistics too seriously. But, yes, they are high priced homes. Activity should pick up as the Spring season starts.

Furnished Or Empty - Selling An Unoccupied House

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:40:06 -0600

If you have to sell a home that is unoccupied, due to death of owners, divorce, a move, whatever, one of the big questions is should you sell it with the furniture still in the house or move the furniture out? Long ago, before I got into real estate, I had agents tell me to get everything out so potential buyers could see themselves and their furniture in the house. Bad idea. After I got in the business I realized what a big mistake that was! You want the house to be furnished. If it is empty, people see an empty house. If it is well furnished, they see a home. Big difference. It is also amazing how ALL the little scratches, chips and dirt are MUCH more evident in an empty house.

A big advantage of selling an empty house is that you have the opportunity to really stage the house. A staged home can look beautiful, but it can be a pain to live in. So grab the chance and get rid of all clutter, clean like a demon, and arrange the furniture to maximize space and views. Get rid of big clunky, furniture. Set the table as if for a feast. There are lots of things to do since no-one is living in the house. Make that potential buyer see the possibilities in your home!

And don't think you can set it and forget it. Every few days you need to go in and make sure the house still smells OK. A vacant home can get that "vacant smell". Hard to describe, but you know it when you smell it. So open windows, change the air filters, walk around a bit and take the time to see if anything needs to be adjusted. You will be glad you did.

The Springcrest Neighborhood

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 10:00:21 -0600

A great aspect of living in Chapel Hill is the number and variety of neighborhoods you have the opportunity to live in. In this blog I will be showcasing various neighborhoods to help the reader learn a little bit about our area. The latest neighborhood is Springcrest. Springcrest is located on the east side of Erwin Road just north of the Sage Rd. intersection. It is convenient to everything, and is within walking distance of East Chapel Hill High School. (OK, it is a long walk, but high school kids can use the exercise.) It is just a short hop to 15-501, Duke, UNC, shopping and other area services.

The chart shows the number and stats of the active homes in Springcrest, as well as the houses that have closed in the past six months. At the moment not a lot of activity, but since it is February, that is not unusual. So, if you are looking for a nice home, convenient to everything, and in the East Chapel Hill High School district, give Springcrest a look.

Screwed Or Glued

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:34:15 -0600

The title shows two words that should be in your mind when buying OR selling a house. They refer to "fixtures". When you are the buyer, you want to keep in mind that not everything you see stays with the house. On the other side of the sale, the seller needs to make CLEAR what is NOT staying. I guarantee that if a buyer sees your favorite chandelier in the dining room they think it is staying, even if you put a yellow stickie on it that says "Does not convey". You want to make sure the contract shows what does not stay.

Basically, if something is glued or screwed onto the wall, ceiling, etc., it is probably required to stay. So, if you plan on talking that chandelier with you, get it down before you put the house on the market. Go to the store and get a decent replacement for it and put it up. Another example is a mirror on the wall. If the mirror is attached with screwed in brackets, it stays. If you can lift it off the wall like a picture, it can go with the seller.

The safest way for both buyer and seller to avoid potential problems is to make sure the contract is specific in the area of fixtures. Do not just speed over that paragraph. It can come back to haunt you if you don't take the time to go over it carefully.

Stoneridge/Sedgefield Neighborhood

Jerry O'Donnell (JOD REalty, LLC) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:38:41 -0600

If you are looking for a home that will give you the privacy you want, yet still be close to everything in Chapel Hill, as well as being in one of the best school districts in the state, look no further! The neighborhood known as Stoneridge/Sedgefield is for you. Located off of Whitfield Road about 1 mile east of 86 this community is in the Chapel Hill School district, but not in the tax district of the City of Chapel Hill.

Most homes were built in the late 70's early 80's with lots of yard space. Homes, when available, range in price from the mid $300K to over $1,000,000. The community also has an outstanding clubhouse with pool and tennis courts. And as I mentioned, the location is perfect! Close to everything but with the feel, and privacy, of the countryside. I know all this because it is also my neighborhood. We moved here from northern Durham County a little over a year ago. It was the best move we ever made.