How I sold my home in 10 days--Selling a Home to the Internet buyer in Today's Market - 11/20/09 08:22 PM
Selling a home in today's market can be tough and that is an understatement for homeowners who bought in 2005-2007 in the Charleston SC real estate market. I had to have a heart to hear with myself and take my own advice I would give to any other seller.  The 2 biggest hurdles that I have to help sellers jump is price and condition. 
Appraised value and market value are 2 very different things.  In buyer's markets, value and price do not always meet in middle.  What you paid for a property or what you need to get out of it does not … (3 comments)

Is your Perception vs. Reality Out of Whack?? - 11/19/09 03:23 PM
I don't think I'm being a pessimist here. I prefer to be more of a realist.  Zillow published a report about this showing that homeowners across the nation are overly optimistic about the value of their home with 41% of homeowners surveyed believed that their home value will increase in the next 6 months. 

It's certainly never been a better time to buy with low interest rates, tax credit incentive, inventory galore and lowest prices in 6 years or more.  It's never been a better time to sell for the same reasons even for sellers that might be upside down. … (7 comments)

Vendor Spotlight--Good Earth Landscaping--Charleston, SC - 11/18/09 07:47 PM
It is often that I'm asking for a landscaper recommendation or that I recommend one to clients. Clients with vacant homes need regular maintenance and sometimes curb appeal assistance--the most common being de-weeding, pinestraw addition and a good edging.  The landscaper I'm going to recommend is someone that I utilize on my personal rental properties.  Within 2 months of the new maintenance service, one of my tenants emailed me to let me know the lawn had never looked so good.  Chris Straney of Good Earth Landscaping became my go-to guy for landscaping services. Chris makes my job easier. I always handle … (2 comments)

If you still don't believe staging works...here's more proof! - 11/17/09 09:48 AM
We recently took a listing in Goose Creek, SC in Berkeley County that had been on the market for over 10 months with another company.  The first listing was occupied by the homeowners and the 2nd listing was vacant after they relocated out of the area. I previously blogged about this listing showing vacant, occupied and staged photos-Take a look at the difference here. I've posted photos of the most dramatic room transformation here-the dining room.
During the previous 10 months, they had approximately 25-30 showings with not even one offer.  In just 10 DAYS, we had our 1st showing and an offer … (13 comments)

Why Bank of America banking services STINK (to put it nicely) - 11/16/09 02:11 PM
I have my business checking account with Bank of America (BOA).  About a year and a half ago, I started a savings account as a sinking fund for big purchases that I make on occasion and to build a reserve for my business.  Well, I recently used much of the savings to replace the transmission in my car but left a small balance.  Over the course of a few months, I think saw my account in the NEGATIVE! I was shocked and not sure how that could happen.  Much to my surprise, BOA had been debiting a $12.00 maintenance fee from … (8 comments)

Prove your Gratitude to Our Veterans by Supporting our Active Service Members - 11/11/09 12:30 PM
Each Veterans Day, it's a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to our past and present Armed Forces service men and women. I'm thankful for my father (22 years), husband (11 years), countless friends and clients who have served, as well as the 24+million veterans who have served in the past.  I'd like to challenge you to consider looking for ways to show your gratitude by looking for ways to support active duty families each and every day--the mom or dad and children left behind or the soldiers in faraway places away from their families.  You could take dinner to the … (5 comments)

Buyers Get 2nd chance: Tax Credit extended, Military Incentives added! - 11/09/09 05:32 PM
The $8,000 tax break for first-time buyers, which was set to expire at the end of this month, will continue until April 30. Buyers would have to have signed a contractual purchase agreement, but not necessarily close on the sale. Another 60-day cushion beyond the end of April would be provide to complete the closing to June 30, 2010.
The measure removes the first-time-only stipulation opening the tax benefit up to existing homeowners who've lived in their current residence for at least five years but want to relocate to a new primary residence. The incentive amount for those buyers is $6,500.
… (4 comments)

Occupied, vacant, then staged: Look at the difference staging makes in this house! - 11/07/09 12:18 PM
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.
… (16 comments)

The best place in Charleston, SC to take your car for tires and brakes - 11/04/09 06:30 PM
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 … (4 comments)

Be a tourist in your own town! -Charleston, SC that is! - 11/04/09 06:19 PM
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, … (3 comments)

When will prices again approach the 2005-2006 peak? - 11/03/09 09:20 PM
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 … (5 comments)

Honest, reliable and affordable licensed plumber and electrican in Charleston, SC - 11/03/09 09:39 AM
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 … (6 comments)

Charleston, SC welcomes Boeing & employees! - 11/02/09 07:45 PM
I can't even begin to express the excitement in the air as the announcement of Boeing has settled over the Holy City. Boeing has been part of the Charleston family for a while, but last week, Boeing announced that it will make Charleston home to its second final assembly line for the 787 Dreamliners growing their existing facilities.  This addition is estimated to create at least 3,800 jobs and invest more than $750 million within seven years to take advantage of the various inducements. This announcement is HUGE for Charleston as we anticipate the creation of new jobs as being a … (2 comments)

 
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Michele Reneau, Realtor, GRI ~ Charleston, SC Relocation Experts Team

Summerville, SC

More about me…

Certified Staging Professional (CSP) Elite Instructor

Address: 628 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC, 29464

Office Phone: (843) 814-6680

Email Me

Charleston SC real estate, Military Relocation Experts serving Goose Creek SC, Summerville, SC and surrounding areas. CSP Elite Instructor, How to Maximize Your Client's Equity Through Home Staging.



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