Middle Tennessee TN Real Estate

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Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:10:15 -0500

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37128-Murfreesboro (Blackman Farms)

FOR SALE
$224,900Best Buy in Blackman Farm

<!--Listing Primary Photo Max width = 300 Max height = 300-->	<!--Brokerage Name-->Keller Williams Realty
	<!--Listing Agent Photo Max width = 225 Max height = 120-->
	<!--Agent Name-->Sherri Wellborn Email Sherri <!--Contact Info in the format [Type of contact]:[number] repeating for each--> Cell: 615-566-3789 Fax: 615-690-8549
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	<!--First 10 details in the format [DetailType]:[Detail] next detail-->Address: 3412 Blaze Drive Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Suite: No Living Area: 3,002 square feet Year Built: 2007 More Details

	Description


	<!--First 500 words of description-->Pristine, almost new, home located in Blackman Farms less than two miles to I24! When you walk into the front door of this home you will be amazed. This home is packed with the "wow" factor - from the soothing designer paint pallette to the stunning cherry hardwood floors. The open floorplan provides two living areas on the main level plus a massive bonus room on the second floor. The combination foyer, living room, and dining room give new meaning to the word versatility. This space can be used as a formal dining room and elegant living room, or can easily be adapted to a more casual gathering room. From formal to casual, this pristine home can fit any buyer's needs! The upgraded cherry hardwood floors are found throughout the foyer, dining room, living room, hallway, kitchen, and breakfast area. The continuous rich wood flooring makes this open design feel even larger. When you walk into the kitchen, you will think you are inside a model home! Stunning upgraded cherry cabinetry, cherry hardwood floors, sleek stainless appliances, and solid surface countertops are all found in this space. There is even a large pantry in this cook's kitchen. Best of all, it connects to the heart room/family room which ensures that the cook will never miss out on the conversation and activity taking place while they are preparing the food. The family room is large, yet inviting, with a cozy corner fireplace. There is a nice powder bath located in the hallway off of this space which really comes in handy when entertaining guests. Downstairs you will find the master bedroom and adjoining master bath with garden tub and seperate shower. The master bath has double vanities faux tile floors. The master closet is huge and is sure to provides lots of storage space for clothes, shoes, and accessories. In addition to the bonus room, upstairs are three more huge bedrooms and another full bath! This home is so well planned and sure to please! For more information, please visit my websites: SoldonTN.com SherriWellborn.com RealEstateinMurfreesboroTN.com

Brokered and Advertised by Keller Williams Realty LID 1683067

Information is deemed to be correct but not guaranteed. Each office independently owned and operated.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:04:50 -0500

It seems to me that in a soft market we have an even greater responsiblity to our clients who entrust us to not just list their homes, but to SELL their homes. While no one can guarantee how fast, or how much a home will sell for, there is so much that we as qualified Realtors can do in order to secure the quickest sale for the highest sale price. The real estate market in Murfreesboro TN is definitely soft right now. Nothing dramatic like you hear on the news every night, but definitely not a seller's market by any means! Homes are selling...but they need to be in top condition, priced right, and MARKETED effecively.

It seems that recently I have been overwhelemed with the numbers of agents who either "just don't get it" when it comes to properly marketing a home, or are just not interested in working hard to sell their listings. What happened to true customer service? Gone are the days of taking a listing and posting it in the MLS and expecting it to sell! It never ceases to amaze me when I see new listings that come on the hot sheets with NO pictures and will ultimately have one picture of the outside posted by the MLS service. Another pet peeve of mine are the listings that have pictures posted, but they are such poor quality that they actually make the home look worse and discourage buyers from calling instead of encouraging buyers to call. We can post 10 digital images on our MLS system. Why would any agent have a listing posted without taking advantage of uploading 10 images? And how about listings that have been on the market a while but the agent doesn't bother to update the pictures? Nothing like seeing Christmas lights on houses or snow in the yard when looking for homes online in the spring and summer!

The market here is competitive and we as Realtors owe it to our clients to do everything possible to make their listings shine. With the technology available today, there is so much that we can do above and beyond simply listing their home in the MLS. Regardless of list price, all of my listings get the following service as a minimum marketing approach:

QUALITY images posted on the MLS with the maximum number of 10 posted
Digital photo library with as many as 40 photographs posted on personal websites
Virtual tours - TWO created for each listing
Individual webpage created for each home with extensive details provided
Detailed property brochures created in PDF format that can easily be emailed
Posted as a Showcase listing on Realtor.com with 20 images
Posted on three personal websites and published to multiple public sites
Solar lighted For Sale Signs
Assistance with staging and getting their home show ready

I also do the standard print media advertising, postcards, Open Houses, flyers, and will be adding call capture ability. I think I have an extensive marketing plan for my listings. But, I think anything less would be doing a disservice to my clients in this market. The market is soft and we have to be aggressive to get our listings in front of buyers and make them interested enough that they call to make an appointment to view the home.

I'm always looking for that little extra edge in marketing my listings and am open to adding new items to my standard marketing plan. Being a great listing agent requires a lot of time and money to be invested in my business. It costs money to properly market my listings...that is why i get paid a commission! Part of that commission is ear marked to go back into my business for marketing! I'm confident that I work hard for my clients and earn every dime of commission that they will pay at closing. A home listed and marketed effectively will ultimately net the seller MORE than if they went for sale by owner, or listed with a self-service firm, or an agent who doesn't take internet marketing seriously. I truly believe that it is my job to protect my clients best interest, and that starts long before an offer is ever received. It really begins with a carefully planned marketing program that is designed to net them the most money at closing!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:30:57 -0500

Prime piece of real estate in LaVergne TN available for sale at a bargain price! This home has been completely painted from top to bottom, had the carpets professionally cleaned, and the entire home is squeeky clean! All this home needs now is a new owner - is that YOU?

Great split foyer floorplan provides two spacious living areas. As you enter through the front door, you will arrive in the large family room with vaulted ceilings and paladium windows. This room feel even ore spacious that it measures because of the ceiling height and natural light that comes through the windows. Adjoining this space is a large kitchen with neutral countertops and white cabinetry. The smooth top range is just another feature that is not always found in this price range home! The breakfast room is the perfet place to sip your morning coffee as you look out into the large backyard from this room. The backdeck, located off the breakfast room, has been well maintained and is freshly sealed. Got a grill? This home that deck to accomodate it!

Down a half flight of stairs is a wonderful recreational or bonus room with a gas fireplace and real wood blinds. This room is so cozy it may become your favorite place to relax and get away from it all after a long day at work. This room is easy to heat and cool and always feels cozy and quiet! A convenient half bath and laundry room are also located on this level adjoining the rec room. Watch TV and get your laundry done at the same time!

The upper level features a huge Master Bedroom with cathedral ceilings, paladium windows, a spacious private master bath with garden tub, double vanities, and THREE closets! There are also two additional bedrooms on this level along with another full bath! This is a three bedroom, 2.5 bath home. This home is a real bargain in real estate in Murfreesboro TN, Smyrna, or LaVergne. This is a lot of house for the money!

Last but not least, is a water softner system installed on the entire home that is worth thousands$$$.

Fresh Paint
Professionally Cleaned Carpets
Water Softner System
Two Living Areas
Family Room with Fireplace
Master with Double Vanities, Garden Tub and THREE Closets

What are you waiting for?! Call Sherri Wellborn and The Wellborn Group at 615-566-3789 today!

It is so hard to find real estate in Murfreesboro TN, or LaVergne TN with these features and for this price! Mint condition and priced to sell fast!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:13:41 -0500

Looking for a great piece of Real Estate in Murfreesboro TN? Check out this great new listings! This home is a hidden treasure in the Blackman area of West Murfreesboro. Located in Deerfield Stables off of John Rice Blvd, this home is just minutes to I24 at Medical Center Parkway and shopping at The Avenue! This quality all brick home has a brand new 30 year 3-dimensional roof and sits on a fenced half acre lot with mature trees! You will be able to relax or entertain in style in this spacious backyard paradise. The large storage barn located in the back adds even more appeal to this great bargain in Murfreesboro TN Real Estate!

Walk through the welcoming front door and be prepared to be impresseed! The spacious family room features soaring cathedral ceilings, chair rail molding, and a large brick corner fireplace with wood mantle and gas logs. This is certainly not just another room! The adjoining kitchen is large and filled with natural sunlight with windows that overlook the shaded backyard. The cozy breakfast room is the perfect place to enjoy your morning coffee or serve a family dinner.

Down the hallway is a full bath that has been completely renovated and includes a stunning walk-in tile shower, cherry furniture grade cabinetry, granite countertops, updated lighting, and pewter hardward. This bathroom looks like something out of Better Homes and Garden magazine! The master bedroom also features soaring cathedral ceilings as well as the adjoining master bath suite! Rarely do you find a master bathroom with tall ceilings! The large garden tub even has a window above that lets light into this large space.

The hobby enthusiast will love the heated oversized two car rear entry garage with built-in cabinetry. Homes and real estate in Murfreesboro TN like this jewel rarely come on the market. This home is sure to sell quickly so call today to schedule your private showing! For additional pictures or to view a virtual tour, pleasea visit http://www.RealEstateinMurfreesboroTN.com or www.SoldonTN.com! For your private showing, contact Sherri Wellborn, with The Wellborn Group, Keller Williams Relaty, 615-566-3789 today!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:34:11 -0500

Charming cape cod in Poplar Creek just minutes to Nashville! This home has been completely repainted in warm neutral tones, has new faux tile flooring, and was professionally cleaned. All it needs now is YOU!

Nice half acre fenced lot is perfect for a small garden, keeping pets and children safe, or just providing a little privacy for you. The large storage barn will make a great workshop, or just a great space to store your stuff!

All appliances remain in this large and efficient kitchen with a pantry! You will love having the utility room and half bath conveniently located just off the kitchen. The master suite is also located on the first floor and has its own private bath with walk in closet.

The spacious family room is full of natural light and has a charming heavy wood staircase leading up to the second level. Here you will find two more bedrooms, each with double closets, and another full bath. Also on the second floor is a great hobby room that would be perfect for workout equipment, collector items, or scrapbooking!

Real estate in LaVergne like this is very hard to find! If you have been searching for a new home with a little land and a place to spread out and maybe have a little garden, then this is it! Call today before this one gets away!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:52:57 -0500

It's a beautiful Saturday and the plan is to show homes to a client relocating here from Memphis that has sold their home. They need to close on a new home within a month. These are serious buyers ready to write an offer! So...what's the problem? The problem is that it can be frustrating, time-consuming, and impossible to simply get into SEE some of the homes that look like they would be strong possibilities for this client! Here is a small portion of what I experienced this morning while trying to map out our schedule and plan our day.

Step one, I attempted to make an appointment for the first listing. It meets all the "wish list" items of the buyer and even says the seller is highly motivated. Perfect match! I call the appointment number listed on the MLS and it goes to a female's voice mail. Nothing about business, nothing that indicates this is a real estate agent, and no instructions on what to do if I am calling about making an appointment. Well that's certainly not what I was expecting to hear when I dialed the "appointment number" on the MLS sheet! Step two, called the office number. After hitting several buttons to be transferred to the correct extension, I spoke with an individual who told me I would need to speak with the listing agent. He went on to say that the listing agent generally works long hours during the week and doesn't always turn his cell phone on early on Saturday. It was actually 9:30 a.m. which is not early to me! He told me to keep trying or leave a message and the listing agent would eventually call me back whenever he turned his phone on. He said all appointments with their company had to be made directly through the listing agent. Step three, called the listing agent, and as expected, he did not answer. Left a voice mail on his cell phone as instructed. He ultimately did call back and told me that he was NOT the listing agent and I needed to call the lady whose listing it was. Her number was...the original number I dialed that had been listed in the MLS as the appointment phone number! I informed him that she had listed HIM as the listing agent (he didn't know why) and that I had already tried to call that number and she was not available. Guess what, she works long hours and doesn't always have her phone turned on early on the weekends but should call me back within a few hours if I leave a message. WHAT! Step four, called the "listing agent" (aka appointment center) back and, as expected, she did not answer. Left a message telling her I was trying to make an appointment to show her listing. (The MLS sheet says very motivated sellers, MUST SELL!) What a disservice to these clients. They desperately NEED to sell their home and an agent with a motivated buyer can't get inside to show their home!

Moving on to the next listing, the MLS sheet says all appointments must be made through the listing agent. The appointment number is the same as the listing agent's cell number. (At least this time I knew I would need to get in touch with the agent and not make four different phone calls!) I dial the number and...get her voice mail! I simply leave a message that we will be in the area later in the day and would like to show her listing if possible.

Moving on to the third listing, WooHoo! This listing is with a firm that actually sets the appointments through their office, AND their office is OPEN! I tell the receptionist that I would like to show this listing and request a time slot. We are looking at four homes in this portion of the county, and then heading into the city to view a lot more homes throughout the day. I am told that this home is an "appointment required" and she will need to call me back.

Moved on to the next few listings and THANKFULLY, all of the listings were made through appointment centers that were open, and they were all approved and were set up as courtesy calls. Finally, we have a plan!

I then start grouping the homes to view in the city and began trying to make appointments for these homes. Again, I run into an office that wasn't open, and an agent that wasn't available. This time I just marked this home off the list. About that time I receive a call back from the appointment desk regarding the listing that was an "appointment required." She states that the seller says it just isn't convenient for them to show their home at the requested time slot. Their home was not show ready and they really wanted to sleep in! They had been out of town and just weren't ready. By this time it was after 10:00 a.m. on a Saturday! I told the receptionist that we had several other homes in the area to view. After that we would be leaving the area and would not have time to drive all the way back to their community just to view their home. If they didn't want to make it available then we would simply not view it. I'm not trying to be difficult, but when you've got 20 homes to show spread miles apart through two cities and a large county, you simply can't go back and forth all day long!

We ultimately viewed a lot of wonderful homes and actually found four that they will pick their final selection from. However, what a shame that there were other homes that did not get selected...possibly because we simply couldn't SEE them!

Some rules of real estate are just so simple. One of those rules is if you want to SELL your home you have to SHOW your home. Realtors, you absolutely must make your listings EASY to show. And sellers, as inconvenient as it is...you absolutely must make your home EASY to show. Break this rule and watch the number of days the home is on the market keep growing!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Wed, 16 May 2007 11:48:01 -0500

I recently received an email that initially started off like a normal internet lead. It was your typical - I live in your town and know of your name as a realtor, my parents are selling my childhood home, I have a house, I want to buy that house, yadayadayada. As my mind raced ahead of the words, I thought it was leadiang to a potential listing appointment. NOT!

This was an email, which I perceived as being very sincere, from an individual who had a strong desire to purchase his childhood home in another state, but also had no desire to sell his existing home located here. He needed to earn $135,000 in 90 days in order to purchase his childhood home. He had heard that real estate was the best place to make money! He isn't a licensed agent, doesn't want to be a licensed agent, but is very "internet savvy." His email was to inquire what he could do for me, or to work for another Realtor, that would result in him receiving part of the commission, and earning this amount of money.

Wow! I must make a LOT of money if I can afford to pay my unlicensed employees $135,000 in 90 days which adds up to $540,000 a year! I read and reread his email and had no doubt that this was not a prank. He attached his name, phone number, and included all his business info. Yes, he owns his own internet driven business. I have no doubt that he is internet savvy and could possibly be of benefit to Realtors needing some assistance. But, I was just completely flabbergasted by his belief that this type of income was not only possible, but he believed probable.

Since I believe most emails are worthy of a response, I replied. I took the time to explain to him that first of all, he could not receive "commission" unless he was licensed. Then I explained how licensed buyer's agents and listing agents are paid. I even went into detail about unlicensed assistants and the type of work that he could provide to Realtors. Unfortunately, I also explained to him that very few real estate agents make that type of income for themselves...let alone their assistants! I told him about commissions and how every dollar didn't remain with the agent. I went over taxes, advertising, overhead, and just how darn hard it was to get business in a competitive market! I closed with saying I could not hire him or offer him any advise on how he could make that type of income in real estate in the next 90 days. However, I did offer to list his current home if he did decide to place it on the market.

He responded with a polite thank you and appreciated me taking the time to explain this to him. He stated that he had no idea how the commission thing worked or that you had to be licensed to received commissions. Again, I do believe he was very sincere in his initial request and in his reply. I guess it made me realize, once again, just how mislead so many people are when it comes to exactly what we do, how we do it, and how much we make. I suppose when some people hear that you are a multi-million dollar producer that to them that means you earn a multi-million dollar income! So, if anyone out there is in need of an unlicensed, internet savvy assistant and are willing to pay a starting salary of $135,000 for the first 90 days, please let me know!

Isn't that what makes this job so great! You never know what the next email wil be! Happy Selling to all my fellow multi-millionaire wage earners!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Wed, 16 May 2007 10:24:35 -0500

Real estate transactions are not all the same. There are always cases where a buyer really needs (or wants) to buy a specific home. If that is the case, they buyers should always present an offer that is very enticing to the seller. However, some buyers approach home buying more as an investor than a home buyer. When working with these clients, I am usually faced with the challenge of writing an offer that is not considered offensive by the seller, and also one that will be seriously considered by the seller.

Since most sellers think their homes is the next best thing to sliced bread, that can be a real problem. Successfully writing and negotiating a "low ball" offer is actually a fine art! Granted, there will always be offers that are just plain rejected, and sellers that won't make it past the words "no deal" no matter what your approach. But if you are a buyer, or investor, and time is on your hands during the house hunt, homes can be purchased below market value and used as great investment vehicles.

The absolute best time to submit a low offer is in a slow housing market. The real estate bubble is deflating, or has completely burst, in some parts of the country. That makes negotiating low ball offers much easier in some parts of the country. But, in the Murfreesboro, Brentwood and Nashville Tennessee area, our housing market has remained solid and we have not experienced the huge rise and quick fall of housing prices. This makes negotiating a low offer on a home more difficult. However, sellers here realize that there is a lot of competition in the current market for homes. They do not want to lose a buyer who has an interest in their home and realize that some buyers are hesitant to purchase homes in what some people feel is a soft market. That will at least open the door to submitting a low offer. If you are considering purchasing a home, or an investment property, and want to implement a "low ball" technique, there are a few things that will make your offer successful.

Remember EUC! Emotions Under Control! Try your best to keep all emotions out of the transaction. This is much easier for a true investment property buyer. For homeowners that will be buying a house as their own home often bring emotions into the deal. There is absolutely no room for emotions when you are trying to negotiate a deal with a low ball offer! Think of the property as a house, house, house, and not a home!

What's The House Worth? Now that you have your emotions in check and have found a home you are interested in, pull the comparables for similar homes to see how the home is priced. If the home is already priced competitively, you will have a harder time negotiating an extremely low offer. I always find it amusing when someone tells me they know someone who bought a house for $10,000 below asking price and really got a steal...when the comps show that the home was actually priced $15,000 over market to start with! The buyer truly paid $5,000 too much! This is where working with a knowledgeable and qualified realtor that you trust is crucial!! You can't negotiate a good deal, or even submit a "low offer" until you now what the true market value for the home should be!

How Long Has The Home Been Listed? Check to see how long the home has been on the market. Don't make the mistake of simply looking at the days on the market on the MLS sheet! I see this happen all the time! Make sure that your Realtor has done a complete and thorough search of the MLS to see if the home has been expired, withdrawn, or listed with various realtors. What was the original list price of the home? Has it been reduced? If the history shows the home has been on the market for 265 days with no price reduction that is a big red flag you that probably have a seller who is not interested in negotiating the price! If the home has been reduced multiple times and the home is already under market, the seller may already be at their rock bottom price.

What Does The Seller Owe? Determine that the seller owes on the home and how much they will need to net from the home in order to sell it. If it is a distress sale, the seller may simply be willing to accept an offer that will allow them to close and walk away, even if they do not make a profit. However, most sellers are not willing to sell at a loss, and some are not capable of selling at a loss simply because they would not have the cash to bring to closing. In these sad situations a foreclosure would take place before the seller could accept an extremely low offer. Motivated sellers who have lived in a home for a long period of time and have established equity, and who truly NEED to sell, are the best candidates for a low ball offer.

Why is the seller moving? Determine if there is a need for a quick sale or if they are simply wanting to move. Do you see the wording "bring all offers, motivated seller, need quick close" in the advertising materials? There is a big difference in needing to move and wanting to move. Has the seller been relocated, is there a pending divorce, are there financial reasons for the sell, have they already closed on a second home and have two house payments? This information is not always known, but if it is, it certainly helps in the negotiating process. If the seller falls in the "want to" move category instead of the "need to" move category you will be best served to move on to another home when hoping to negotiating a low offer!

What needs to be done? Determine what changes will truly NEED to be made to the home to bring it up to par. Be realistic, but thorough. Will you need to replace carpeting, repaint, renovate out dated cabinets and bathrooms, repair plumbing, roofing, or electrical items, does the HVAC work property? All of these items should have an attached value or depreciation amount. Make a list of all of the items and the estimated cost to replace or repair these items. This can be submitted with your offer so that the seller can at least see where you are coming from with your low offer.

Be prepared for negotiations! That means have your absolute top dollar in mind, but don't start off with that amount in your first offer. Occasionally a take it or leave it offer will work. Especially if the home can be closed quickly and with cash funds. But most offers will need to be negotiated and may go back and forth between buyer and seller several times. Be prepared to be patient and negotiate!

Think of Alternatives to Money! There are many items, other than the price, that can be negotiated. Closing dates can mean "cash" to the seller if it saves them from paying additional interest on house notes and equity lines. Buying a home "as is" puts the burden or repairs, and their expense, on the buyer. This can be critical to sellers who are short on cash or time to make necessary repairs. Date of possession can be priceless to some sellers. If they are moving into another home that will not be ready to a specific period of time and you can allow them to remain in the home, it can be worth a LOT of money to the seller to prevent them from moving twice. Perhaps they are an older homeowner that needs the extra time after closing to vacate the home, or maybe they are a family with children that needs additional time in the home in order to finish up schooling or sports. Time is money in closing dates and possession dates!

Be Respectful! This may sound crazy since you are trying your best to buy a home below market and point out all the negatives to the homeowner. But, if you work with a professional Realtor and keep emotions at bay, your offer should be presented in a respectful manner. Keep in mind that ALL sellers think their home is worth more than the buyers do. You should be considerate and present your offer in the best way possible. If possible, attach a letter to the seller thanking them for allowing you to view their home. This can go a long way with keeping the communication lines open with the seller! State that you are aware of their list price but would like to respectfully submit an offer of "x" amount of money because of the following reasons. List that the kitchen remodel will require at least $40,000, or a new roof is estimated at $14,000, or the market comps simply do not support their asking price, etc. List all of the repairs and estimated costs in writing for the seller. Remember that your time and labor to make the repairs is also worth money! When offers are presented in a professional way and negatives are addressed in a business like manner with facts and figures attached, it takes the emotion out of the offer.

Hopefully, the seller will see your offer as a business proposal and respect the time and effort you put into making the offer. It helps them see how you got from price A to price B and make them more willing to negotiate. When a "low ball" offer is just thrown in their lap it can often be offensive to the seller and those offers are quite often just rejected. The goal is to open the lines of communication and start the negotiating process. Low ball offers are certainly not the norm for your average real estate buyer and are not always accepted. However, if you are a home buyer that falls into this category, these tips may help lead your next "low ball" offer to a successfully closed sale!

For more information on real estate in the Murfreesboro TN, Brentwood TN, and Nashville Tennessee area, please visit http://www.soldontn.com/ or contact Sherri Wellborn at 615-566-3789.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Thu, 10 May 2007 15:54:18 -0500

I work with a lot of clients relocating to the Middle Tennessee area from out of state. This can be quite overwhelming if the client has no idea where they want to live. Quite often, they simply know they want to be within so many minutes or miles of Nashville. I recently read a post from an individual on another forum who was stressed over trying to decide whether to live in Pleasant View, TN or Brentwood TN. She was trying to make her decision based on the "house" that she could purchase in Pleasant View compared to Brentwood. I had to respond to her cry for help and hopefully will save her a lot of unnecessary stress.

Middle Tennessee is a huge area! I suppose I am a little unusual in that, as a Realtor, I work five different counties. Since I have grown up here and have family all over, I am very comfortable working numerous cities and communities. I have also had four children who have attended public schools in four different school systems. Again, first hand knowledge is priceless! As someone who has lived in numerous communities, it is very apparent to me that there is a huge difference in locations and lifestyle in each city. I grew up a country girl in the rural community of Joelton, TN. However, I must admit that it would be very hard to move back to such a community after living in Brentwood and Murfreesboro, TN. My children love visiting the country, but their lifestyle would prevent us from moving to a city such as Pleasant View or Joelton. If we were to relocate, I would need to take into consideration the lifestyle that my family now enjoys and place that above and beyond the house that we could purchase in various locations. A house becomes a home because of the family inside. I would never recommend moving to a city simply because there was a great house there!

If a family starts out searching "Middle Tennessee" for a 3 bedroom home priced between $200,000 and $250,000 they will quickly be overwhelmed with options and possibilities. When relocation clients contact me about moving to Middle Tennessee, I start out by recommending that they first decide on a city or community in which to live. Sometimes they already know that they want to live in a specific city. But most often, they are clueless as to which community around Middle TN fits them best. Trying to compare houses between Brentwood TN and Pleasant View TN is like comparing apples to oranges! On the flip side, trying to compare the city of Brentwood TN to Pleasant View, Tennessee is comparing Wal-Mart to Saks Fifth Avenue. The lifestyle provided by these two cities is completely different. Neither community is "better" than the other. But, each community will be a better fit for a specific family looking for a specific lifestyle. The family that enjoys the bustling lifestyle of Brentwood TN would probably not be happy with the laid back and rural atmosphere of Pleasant View. It is been my experience that families are never happy when they settle on a city because of a house. Relocating can be a lot less stressful if individuals will follow a few simple steps in their move and keep their lifestyle in the fore front at all times!

First, if time allows you should always plan a trip to simply visit the area and spend time in the various cities and communities. Contact a local realtor and request a tour of their city. Hopefully, you will be able to find a Realtor who will service more than one location to make your life even easier! Don't even attempt to find a house on this trip. Focus on the community and the lifestyle that each community offers. Think about your hobbies, recreational activities, sports and other activities that you and/or your children participate in. Are these activities something that you WANT to give up, or do you really NEED to keep these activities in your life? Are you the type that likes to stop by a Starbucks for a quick cup of coffee and see a movie at the last minute? If so, then a great house located in Pleasant View may not make you happy in the long run. I believe that buying a home in a community that provides the best lifstyle for your family is the absolute most important factor in purchasing a home. Your move will be much easier on the entire family if the activities they are currently involved, and the lifestyle they currently enjoy, are continued in the new city. While there will always be changes made in a relocation, they do not necessarily have to be life altering!

Second, once you have narrowed down a city or community, consider which part of that city fits your lifestyle the best. For instance, in North Murfreesboro there is a wonderful new multi-million dollar soccer complex. Everything from recreational league to adult competition leagues play at this complex. If you have a child, or perhaps even you, are interested in soccer, it might be prudent to purchase a home on the north side of town. If not, you may be faced with a 20-30 minute commute to cross traffic during rush hour if you buy on the south side of town! This rule applies to attending church, school zones, dance, commute time to the office, and all other aspects of your life. Which portion of town will provide you with the BEST lifestyle for your family.

Now that you have selected the city, and area of that city that you want to live in, you are finally ready to start your house hunt. The number of available homes that fall within your search criteria should be very manageable at this point. It is much less stressful to consider all the available homes in a specific area compared to all the available homes in an entire region. You already have your community selected, you simply need to select your home.

Relocating can be stressful, but if you will keep these three simply tips in mind it will make your move much easier. Just remember to:

1. Work with a local and knowledgeable Realtor

2. Select your community first

3. Select your home last!

Hopefully keeping these tips in mind will make your next move much easier! If you are considering moving to the Middle Tennessee area, please feel free to contact me at 615-566-3789 or visit my website at http://www.SoldonTN.com. I'd love to help make your next relocation a pleasant one!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:27:46 -0500

Real estate in Murfreesboro TN is slightly off. We are far from being in a housing bubble, but most agree that our current market is a little slow. Some homeowners who had thought about selling their home have decided to wait until the market picks up. But for others, selling their home may not be an option. Sometimes, homes are sold due to death, loss of employment, relocation, divorce, family matters, or financial problems. In thsee cases, homes must be sold regardless of the market condition. So, what should you do if you are a seller in a slow market that simply must sell their home?

1. Contact a qualified Realtor! Never try to sell your home by owner; especially if you have an urgent need to sell. Not only do homes listed with a Realtor sell more quickly than FSBO homes, but they also sell for more money...a LOT more money! According to NAR, homes sold through a Realtor in 2006, sold on average for 32% more then homes sold by owner. That more than makes up for the real estate commission paid by the sellers! The other huge mistake I see made by FSBOs is not recognizing the importance of language and terminology used in writing up the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Leaving out, or adding the wrong verbage to a paragraph can literally mean thousands of dollars to the buyer and/or seller. It is so important to work with a qualified Realtor who you trust, anytime you want to buy or sell a home!

2. Check out the competition! Make sure that you, and/or your realtor have previewed the homes that you will be competing against. Try to walk through these homes and view them through the eyes of a buyer. How does your home compare? Are there things you need to change or improve before listing your home? Do you have an older home competing against newer construction? Have you considered that in your sales prices? Make sure you are prepared to battle for the buyers through both price and condition of your home!

3. Make It Too Good To Pass Up! Consider offering incentives that the buyer just can't walk away from. Make your house really stand out by offering as many incenstives are your net line will allow! Who doesn't like a good deal? Buyers certainly do! Offering things like a home warranty, closing costs, title insurance, leaving existing appliances like a refrigerator or washer/dryer are all important incentives to a buyer. A one year home warranty can be added for the buyer at a cost of only $390. This can be priceless when competing against other existing homes, and is especially important if you are surrounded by new construction. Many buyers today are cash poor! Offering to pay their closing costs can make the difference between buying your home or purchasing another new home where the builder has already factored this into his sales price. As long as you walk away from closing with your desired "net" from the sale, it doesn't really matter who pays for closing! Refrigerators and washer/dryer appliances can be huge to couples moving from another area. While in this area they are considered personal property and do not necessarily convey with the home, they can be a huge incentive to buyers considering your home or a very similar home down the street!

4. Make It Move In Condition! Few people live in pristine, mint condition homes all the time. But when selling your home, it needs to be as close to perfect as you can possibly get it! Buyers are turned off by wear and tear, dirt and grime, and yucky smells. Make your home compete with new construction, or stand head and shoulders above existing homes by making it literally shine! If you are not an expert housekeeper, or don't have time to really deep clean your home, I strongly advise hiring a professional to do this for you. It will be money well spent! You don't want to lose a buyer simply because your house wasn't clean and fresh!

5. Don't Be Greedy! Set a fair and realistic price for your home. The market has cooled off, and as a result sellers really need to be realistic with the value of their home. Don't depend on inflated home prices that are often quoted on sites such as Zillow.com. Perhaps last year a home very similar to yours sold for "X" amount of money. That doesn't necessarily mean in today's market that you will get this same amount. Consult with a Realtor that you trust to give you helpful and honest information on the CURRENT market analysis for your area. Overpricing a home will only keep your house on the market for an extended period of time, and also net you less money at closing. Buyers are looking for a deal! They are well aware of what other homes in your area have sold for and will simply low ball houses that are overpriced.

If you are moving up in home value, you should remember that you will also be negotiating on the purchase of your new home. As a buyer you will be looking for the same incentives, plus more, that you will be offering as a seller! With a little preparation and a lot of research by a reputable Realtor, you can sell your home successfully...even in a down market! If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the Middle Tennessee area, please contact me at 615-566-3789 or visit my websites at www.SoldonTN.com and www.SherriWellborn.com. I'd love to put my marketing plan into action for you!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 20:44:45 -0500

Murfreesboro Tennessee residents should be thrilled that we have an amazing Greenway System that currently runs 4.5 miles from North Murfreesboro to downtown East Murfreesboro. This scenic and shady trail follows the banks of the historic Stones River. The Greenway System, run by the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department, also connects to the Stones River Civil War Battlefield. If the 4.5 mile Greenway Trail is not long enough for you, there are additional paved and natural wooded trails found in the Battlefield.

The Greenway starts on Thompson Lane just off of NW Broad Street and ends at Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village in the downtown area. Bicycles can even be rented at the Cannonsburgh Trailhead so you canBike the Greenway. In addition to these two entry points, there are 7 additional trailheads that you may park and enter the Greenway on. The large Kid's Castle playground on Old Fort Parkway is my girl's favorite points of entry, along with the small playground on the Manson Pike Trailhead. Going to the Greenway is one of my girl's favorite things to do when the weather turns warm. It's fun, great exercise, educational, and best of all, it's absolutely FREE!

The Greenway was planned for individuals and families to have an opportunity to enjoy and learn about nature by seeing animals, rivers, and natural vegetation in an outdoor classroom environment. It also provides a safe setting for walking, jogging, biking, and inline skating along the banks of the Stones Rivers. There are several access points along the trail for small watercraft for adventure lovers who prefer to paddle down the Stones River instead of jogging beside it! We almost always pass at least one person fishing along the trailhead and occasionally will see canoes paddling down the river. The newest addition to the Greenway is Bark Park that provides a great place for dogs to run and play!

You can pack your picnic basket and enjoy lunch at one of the many picnic tables found throughout the trails. There is also a large covered picnic pavilion with restrooms and water fountains at the General Bragg Trailhead that can be reserved. My girl's always enjoy the opportunity to discover nature and the occasional unsuspecting small animal that we usually come across while walking the Greenway. We always take time to enjoy the many species of trees and flowers, and are thrilled when we come across an occasional raccoon, opossum, squirrel, rabbit or duck. There always seems to be a wide variety of birds along the trail, frogs hopping on the banks, and turtles slowly crossing the path. If you are interested in learning more about trees native to the area, you will find a separate tree identification guide available at the Cannonsburgh or Thompson Lane trailheads. There are also markers placed throughotu the trail identifying several species of trees.

So the you enjoy the outdoors, take a little time to visit the Murfreesboro Greenway System. It is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:03:45 -0500

When I work with people relocating to this area from other parts of the country, they always seem amazed at how reasonable our property taxes are in Rutherford County. Many local residents do not realize just how low our property taxes are here in Rutherford County, especially compared to other high growth rate areas. Rutherford County is the fastest growing county in the state. However, when you compare our property tax rate to top ten high growth counties in Tennessee, we rank as the 9th lowest. Sometimes being ranked at the bottom is a good thing!

The Property Tax rate in Rutherford County is $2.44 per $100 of assessed value. You can compare this rate to Davidson County (Nashville, TN) which has a tax rate of $4.69 in the urban service district. Williamson County in the Franklin Special School District are charged $3.24, and Sumner County residents are taxed $2.28.

The assessed value is basically 1/4 the value of your home. So a Rutherford County resident living in a $200,000 home would pay approximately $1,220 in property taxes each year. One of the big cost saving factors for Rutherford County residents is our huge tourism draw which is estimated to save each resident approximately $196.00 per year on their tax bill! We can all think our local chamber and government officials that heavily recruit tourism to this area and bring events such as the TSSAA basketball tournaments and Spring Fling, among other events, to our area. So, the next time you are caught up in traffic or delayed at a restaurant due to one of these events, you might stop and say THANK YOU for saving you money on your next tax bill!

Don't get me wrong...I am NOT a big fan of paying taxes. However, I realize the need for revenue to keep our county running smoothly. When you consider where our tax dollars go, it is easy for me to see what a great deal we have living in Rutherford County. My tax dollars, and yours, help maintain excellent schools which encourages new residents into the area, they fund the emergency medical services, the sheriff's department, animal services, volunteer fire departments and rescue square, and even keep our highways and roadways driveable. And, isn't it nice to know that even though we live in probably the TOP county in Tennessee, we are considered at the BOTTOM of the scale for taxes!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:31:20 -0500

This stunning home built by Main Street Homes is located in Stratford Place in East Murfreesboro. Stratford Place features elegant homes on small lots that are maintained by the home owners association. The monthly maintenance fee is $68 a month which includes landscaping and grass cutting. Enjoy maintenance free living this summer in your new home! The front exterior is hardiplank and has two covered porches with exceptional outside living area. The private courtyard also has a third covered porch veranda that is largest enough to accommodate an intimate gathering of friends for outdoor entertaining.

Inside you will love the open design of this efficient floor plan. The family room, dining room, and kitchen are all open and flow together beautifully with gleaming hardwood floors. The kitchen was upgraded with warm oak cabinetry and sleek stainless appliances.

The master bedroom is down and features a wall of windows that bathes the bedroom suite in warm sunlight. The windows open up to the private courtyard that is fully fenced with a white vinyl privacy fence. The adjoining bathroom suite has a large separate shower, double vanities, and garden tub. The spacious walk-in closet is even large enough to hold a dresser or chair.

Upstairs you will find two additional bedrooms with a flex room and full bath. The flex room is the perfect space for a playroom, office, reading room, or media room. the bathroom features faux tile flooring for easy cleaning.

This home is owned by a professional interior designer and has been decorated to perfection. The colors are warm and neutral and the decor is elegant and understated. This home has thousands of upgrades in addition to being priced at least $15,000 below cost to built a similar home...without the upgrades! This home is better than new and is in pristine condition! If you are searching for a piece of real estate in Murfreesboro, whether it is for your new home, or a potential real estate investment, this listing is a great buy!

Call Sherri Wellborn with Keller Williams Realty today at 615-566-3789 for your private showing. You can also view a virtual tour on my website www.SherriWellborn.com and www.SoldonTN.com.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 08:59:32 -0500

I don't know about your area, but locally it seems that the number of real estate pre-licensing schools and students attending them is growing at an unbelievable rate. I just saw a new ad in our paper yesterday for another school that has just opened and is offering prelicensing courses. The ad is very upbeat and proclaims things like launch your career, easy schedule, fast track course for a quick start. In a city of approximately 80,000 people, we now have three real estate licensing schools. Each of these schools are consistently turning out classes packed full of bright-eyed and hopeful individuals who are ready to start their careers in real estate. The last time I checked, there were over 1,000 licensed agents in this community. It seems to me, that is a substantial number given the size of our town. I'm sure that figure is probably even much higher now. But, the number of people continuing to get their real estate license and start their career is going up each week. They seem to be buying into the belief that it as simple as getting their real estate license and then they start "selling" real estate. The sad part is, it seems that few people are telling them that getting the license is easy; actually selling something is hard.

Last week I had a client tell me that one of the students in the prelicensing course located in her strip mall walked into her jewelry store while on break. He told her he couldn't afford to buy anything but he would be back to buy his wife some beautiful jewelry as soon as he started selling some homes and was making a lot of money. He was going to live off of the proceeds he received from the insurance company for a car that was badly damaged in a hail storm here. That was the only money he had to live on and cover all his expenses while getting his career off the ground. While I must applaud his optimism and ambition, I wonder if this gentleman is truly prepared for what lies ahead. I have to question if anyone has told him that YES you can be successful in real estate, but the odds are more likely that you won't be. In fact, statistics show that most of the people who take this course will not even be selling real estate in a year. But yet, they are there.

I have to question why? Why do so many people get their real estate license and then fail. Why do some of us make it and reach great success, others manage to stay afloat but always struggle with finding the next deal, and finally a large number will even toss in the towel and "get a real job" before the end of the first year. It seems to me that if you talk with most of these students they are under the impression that the business just comes to you after you get your license. I have talked with some that think once you join a firm that they will "give" you business and leads. A portion of them don't even understand the overhead and costs associated with being a Realtor. I've had more than one person make comments about how big my checks are when I have a closing. A friend of mine even said once that all I need is one closing to last several months! The general public doesn't understand that the check we receive at closing isn't really all our money! They forget about things like TAXES and EXPENSES in addition to our brokerage fees.

I am thankful that I was well aware going into this career that it was not going to be easy, and that the pay may be sparse for a long time. I was willing to dig in and make it work and had a very supportive husband behind me...who also helped pay the bills! It involved a lot of nights and weekends away from my family; especially when just starting out! And, I was fortunate to talk with a female broker who told me the truth about selling Real Estate and how difficult it would be to succeed. She warned me that people you have known for years, and even friends, will use another Realtor sometimes. Nothing personal; just business. She warned me that you can't assume the business will ever just come to you and I would have to compete and show that I deserved it. And, she also told me about how tough it can be when you are determined to play fair, but not everyone else always does! However, she also encouraged me to go in with my eyes wide open and use my compassion for people and my stubbornness to succeed. I listened and I did.

I would encourage anyone just starting out to find a mentor. Shadow an agent that you "click with" and that you admire. Let them show you how they achieve success and what works for them. Each of us has a different approach to how we do business. One size does not necessarily fit all when selling real estate. Join a company that offers a large amount of training, and then take it! Getting your real estate license is only the first stepping stone along the path to success. Selling real estate is not easy, nor is it the easy road to riches. But, with A LOT of determination and commitment to learning, trying, and yes, even failing, you can succeed. Getting your real estate license is a great opportunity but it is up to you to make it worthwhile!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 22:36:36 -0500

It seems that everyone these days has a cell phone with them. I know that I often leave my purse in the car, or my briefcase in my office, but rarely ever will you find me without my trusty cell phone attached to my body. Conveniently programmed in the address book of my phone, is the name ICE, which is followed by my husband's cell phone, his work phone, and our home phone number.

In case you aren't familiar with ICE, the acronym stands for In Case of Emergency. It is critical that you have your emergency contact information programmed into your phone so that emergency personnel will know who to contact in the event of an emergency. If you are brought into an emergency room alone, medical staff and paramedics will immediately check your cell phone for this acronym. Policemen are also trained to search for ICE if you are in a severe accident or any other circumstance which may leave you unable to communicate. The American College of Physicians strongly urges everyone to program ICE into their cell phones. However, a recent survey of 423 emergency room patients found that only 26 had the necessary emergency information programmed in their cell phones. It is so important for medical personnel to be in contact with someone who knows you, and will know your medical history immediately in the event of an emergency.

Having this information can make the difference between life or death in serious situations. No one expects to be in a serious car accident, suddenly incapacitated by an unexpected medical condition, or even the victim of a violent crime. But, we never know what each day will bring. It only takes a second to program ICE into your cell phone. Take the time to do it today, and it may save your life tomorrow!

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:16:09 -0500

Quality built all brick home in Harvest Grove zoned Wilson Elementary, Siegel Middle, and Siegel High. This home features an open floorplan with the family room, breakfast room, and ktichen all flowing together. The formal dining room is spacious and features wainscoating and a faux coffered wood ceiling.

The sundrenched master bedroom has a coulbe Palladium window and adjoining master bath suite with seperate shower and tub surrounded with stone tile. Upstair you will find two additional bedrooms, a nice bath with double vanities, and a huge bonus room that would make a wonderful media room.

Best of all, this all brick home is located on a huge lot sized 100 x 260. If you have been looking at real estate in Murfreesboro...especially NEW construction in North Murfreesboro in the Siegel school zone, then you know it is almost impossible for find anything under $300,000 AND also built on a large lot. This stunning home is priced at only $274,900 and is complete and ready for immediate occupancy! Call me at 615-566-3789 or email me at 615-904-9738 to schedule your showing. A virtual tour and additional pictures may be found on my website www.SoldonTN.com and also www.SherriWellborn.com.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 04:23:18 -0500

I had a phone call this morning from a previous client, who has become a very good friend. She wanted to know if I had ever heard of putting a home "on sale" for a limited time. At first, I thought she was referring to price reductions or builder incentives because of a slow market, but I was wrong. She clearly meant a "sale" on real estate for a specified period of time. She says that homes in her area are being marketed as being on sale just like Target or Kmart run their weekly sales on specific products. Once the sale is over the price goes back to normal.

This is certainly not done in my market and it just seems ridiculous to me. As a Realtor, I am always going to attempt to negotiate the best price for my buyer. I don't need an advertised sale in order to do that. Also, if a home is not selling and you reduce the price, what sense does it make to only reduce it for one weekend, or one week. Again, if the market were hot, or strong, there would be no reason to have a "sale." This sounds more like the old time share high-pressure tactics that were used after luring people to a resort with some incentive. Once inside the "brief" informative tour, visitors (victims) were told the price of the time share and that this introductory price would only be valid if they purchased right then but would increase significantly if they left without buying.

My friend said that homes and developments are advertised as being on sale for a limited time, sale ends on such and such date, sale price will end and price will increase on a specific date. Is this accurate? I just can't believe this is effective or that a buyer would actually be attracted to this type of marketing. So I assume if the home doesn't successfully sell during the "sale period," the seller would refuse an offer that was received for the stated sale price after the sale was over?

I know the market is very different in each and every regions, but this one really surprised me. I think I will put an ad in my local paper saying FREE services of a buyer's agent for the FIRST ten people that email me - Sale ends Sunday at midnight.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:52:36 -0600

Murfreesboro is located in Rutherford County, which is the fastest growing county in the State of Tennessee. Here you will find the typical shopping mall, retail strip centers, and franchise restaurants. However, this charming southern city is also rich in history and has an element that almost makes you feel as if you are stepping back in time. If you are looking for a wonderful place to visit, and enjoy history, then you should plan a trip to Murfreesboro, Tennessee!

Murfreesboro has a history whose roots go back as far as 1811 when the Tennessee State Legislature appointed a committee to select a new site for the Rutherford County seat. The original name of the site was "Cannonsburgh" but the name was changed to "Murfreesborough" one month later. The naming was in memory of Colonel Hardy Murfree. In 1817, "Murfreesboro" was recognized as an official city by the State Legislature and, in 1818, was named the capital of Tennessee because of its central location. The capital was changed to Nashville in 1826.

If you come to Murfreesboro, be sure to take a walk around the historic downtown square and visit some of the quaint shops found on the square. For a delicious cup of coffee, stop into the Clay Cup and soak up the atmosphere of being in a 40's diner. Make sure to see the unique architecture found in the Rutherford County Courthouse. Next, you can take a ride down East Main Street and enjoy the serenity of antebellum mansions. Each of these historical homes has a unique history and story to tell. Some are said to be haunted, and others have remarkable stories of civil war hospitals and even a solider's blood stain on hardwood floors that cannot be erased. From the mysterious to the exquisite, the homes on East Main street are a must see for individuals that love historic architecture.

Located just one mile off of East Main on Maney Street, you will find the Oaklands Mansion which was once the home to the prestigious Maney family. It took over 40 years to build this Italianate mansion in four phases. The home was completed in 1857, just before the start of the Civil War. The grand estate was once the center of a working 1500 acre plantation. During the Civil War, the Maneys were hosts to both Union and Confederate Armies. The home was the site of Forrest's Raid and a visit from Confederate President Jefferson Davis in 1862.

You can motor over to the Stones River Battlefield and take a stroll along the lazy Stones River and actually walk in the same fields and battlegrounds where civil war soldiers and heros walked many years ago. The Stones River National Battlefield is a 650-acre national park and cemetery dedicated to preserving the memory of those who fought and died in the Civil War. During the summer you can watch living history demonstration on the weekends. July brings a special encampment and reenactment to the Battlefield that civil war buffs are sure to enjoy. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and offers a museum and visitor orientation.

If you are looking for an equally historic place to stay, be sure to contact the Byrn-Roberts Inn Bed and Breakfast on historic East Main. The Byrn-Roberts home is one of the most spectacular homes in Murfreesboro and you will truly enjoy your visit here. The impressive guest rooms are luxurious and large but maintain their charm of years gone by. The smell of maple bacon cooking in the morning will let you know that your gourmet breakfast is being prepared. From the Byrn-Roberts Inn you can walk down to visit Cannonsburgh Village. Named after the original name of Murfreesboro, this village is not original but is a reconstructed village that serves as a living history museum of early Southern life. The village includes a gristmill, one-room schoolhouse, townhall, log home, little white church, antique farm equipment, general store, blacksmith shop, and museum.

You can wrap up your evening by dining at B. McNeel's which is also located just off the historic downtown square. B. McNeels is one of my favorite restaurants in Murfreesboro, and is sure to impress you too! The atmosphere is very intimate and the food is delicious.

I hope you enjoy your visit to Murfreesboro! If you decide you would enjoy living and working in this community, I would love to have you relocate to the area and become one of our new residents. If you are interested in purchasing commercial or residential real estate in Murfreesboro, please visit my websites www.SherriWellborn.com or SoldonTN.com or contact me at 615-566-3789.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:58:18 -0600

Publix opened their first store in Tennessee that was built from the ground up in the Spring of 2005 on Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna. Since that time, it seems that residents here are all buzzing about the Publix stores and anticipating the opening of additional Publix stores in the near future.

In December two Bi-Low grocery stores closed in Murfreesboro. These two stores are currently being renovated and will soon be reopened as Publix stores in Murfreesboro. Another new Publix supermarket is currently under construction on Hwy. 96 in the Blackman area of West Murfreesboro.

Meanwhile, a concept plan for a second Publix Supermarket in Smyrna is underway. The potential store would be located on the corner of Lee Victory Pkwy and Almaville Road. This store is pending approval by the Smyrna town council of rezoning 19 acres at the construction site from residential to commercial use.

Publix Super Markets are the highest-ranking supermarket for customer satisfaction according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index. They are also the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. It seems that Publix supermarkets are a natural fit for Rutherford County, the fastest growing county in the state, which also has a strong commitment to satisfaction among its residents!

If you are interested in residential or commercial real estate in the booming communities located in Rutherford County, please visit my webistes, www.sherriwellborn.com or www.SoldonTN.com or give me a call at 615-566-3789.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:16:38 -0600

The City of Murfreesboro is hoping that a new food service factory will soon be building in the southern portion of Rutherford County. Although the name of the company looking to build the new facility was not released, Roger Haley, the city manager, stated that it was a large, well-known food or beverage corporation.

Nissan Motor Corporation of American has a factory in Smyrna, TN (Rutherford County) which has brought a tremendous amount of growth to the area and fuels a large portion of our local economy. The addition of the new factory would offer diversification that the local economy would benefit from. After all, as Joseph Aydelott stated, "People may decide to put off buying cars, but they usually don't put off buying food." The plant would employ approximately 160 people. Of those positions, 130 would be paid an hourly rate of $21 per hour and the 30 remaining employees would receive an annual salary with an average of $60,000 per year.

The plant would be located in the southern portion of the county off of the Joe B. Jackson Parkway and I24 exit. This portion of the county is prime for growth and already has been the recipient of the new Super Wal-Mart, Mellow Mushroom Pizza, and the proposed future movie cinema. Two public meetings will be held to discuss the approval and rezoning for the acreage needed in order to approve this operation. The first meeting will be held on April 4 before the Murfreesboro Planning Commission and the second meeting will be April 5 with the City Council. It is anticipated that the Planning Commission will give a favorable recommendation to the City Council.

Although not named, the city stated that the company knows exactly what they want to do, and have a strong corporate image. The factory would be approximately 150,000 square feet and would be constructed on acreage that was previously approved for two 500,000 square foot warehouses. The cost of construction the facility is an estimated $70 million dollars, which would pump even more money into the local economy and bring construction jobs to the area.

The addition of the factory and additional new jobs will directly impact the real estate and housing market in the area. The 160 employees would add a large number of buyers into the existing strong real estate market which should cause an increase in the demand for available homes in the area.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 18:54:44 -0500

HGTV has a great new show that airs on Wednesday evenings called My House Is Worth What? The show will feature a Realtor that works with a home seller to determine what renovations they need to do in order to increase their value, or also determine the home's value if they have already done renovations. It is geared toward teaching the public how to wisely spend their money on renovations, and also show them how they can use equity in their home for other purposes.

I can hardly believe this is happening, but I am going to be on the show! They are coming to the Nasvhille area to shoot the show and will be visiting several home owners that have either completed renovations, or need input on doing renovations. I had sent several names and phone numbers into the show and stated I thought they would be good candidates to contact regarding home renovations that had already been completed. HGTV in turn asked me to send in an audition tape.

I made the tape previewing my own home and sent it in ~ never expecting to hear back from them. They called yesterday and said the network loved my tape and wanted to use me as the Realtor in an upcoming show. They are coming into town in October to film. I am so excited, and nervous! I never dreamed that I would be on TV for anything...especially the featured Realtor on HGTV! I am really looking forward to the taping.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:02:40 -0500

The luxury home market is plentiful in Williamson County, Tennessee. After all, Williamson County was just ranked as the 11^th wealthiest county in the entire nation. It only seems logical to have a high number of luxury estate homes for sale in this area. But selling a home in the luxury price range requires a lot more dedication and commitment than some may realize.

Let's look at Brentwood, TN as an example of the luxury market in Middle Tennessee. Brentwood, TN is the wealthiest city within Williamson County. Here you will find 104 homes on the market that exceed the 1,000,000 price tag. In the past six months, there have been fifty homes to close with a sales price of 1,000,000 or more. However, in looking more closely at the market, you will see that 87 listings either expired or were withdrawn without a contract. When you realize that the number of luxury homes that expired without a contract are double the number that were successfully closed, you begin to see how difficult it can be to successfully close a luxury listing.

The most important element to successfully closing a luxury listing is to know the market and determine the best price range for the home. Unlike traditional real estate, lower is not necessarily better when pricing luxury homes. Determining the best list price for a luxury estate requires more research than the typical market analysis prepared for most listings. Do you know how many total homes are on the market in each luxury price point? This is important information when selecting the most lucrative price point for the luxury home. For instance, if there are 16 active homes on the market that are priced between $1,775,000 and $2,000,000 but only 4 homes on the market priced between $2,000,001 and $2,225,000, then you would be wise to price your home at slightly higher than 2,000,000. When working with the luxury market, pricing a home lower is not necessarily the best move. The main focus of the luxury home buyer is to find a property that fits their lifestyle and has the location they are seeking. Don't make the mistake of under pricing your home in the luxury market in hopes of attracting a bargain hunter. Price point and market position is nothing short of critical in the luxury market!

Selling a high-end luxury home successfully requires knowledge and customer service skills on a whole different level than a traditional listing. It is imperative that the Realtor knows how to market and show a luxury home. Luxury sellers and buyers demand white glove treatment and their Realtor should offer this service enthusiastically. The listing agent is the best person to showcase the luxury estate and make sure the many amenities are demonstrated flawlessly to the buyer. Unlike a traditional listing, the buyer's agent is not knowledgeable enough to understand and demonstrate the unique features that are found in the luxury listing. I would advise that all luxury listings be shown by the listing agent only and never allow a multilock to be placed on the home. If your agent is not willing to make the time commitment required to list and service an "agent must be present to show listing" then I would advise you to move on and hire another agent. Being the listing agent for a luxury estate requires a great deal of the agent's time to be dedicated exclusively to the luxury listing. If the Realtor cannot make a significant time commitment to successfully market and show the home, then it is probably best to look for another Realtor.

The listing agent will be given access to the luxury estate, as well as knowledge of the client's confidential and financial information on the estate. Selecting a Realtor that demonstrates professionalism and integrity is crucial when listing a luxury home for sale. The luxury listing agent should be willing to focus on marketing the home to the target buyer for the estate and not use the listing as a marketing tool for themselves. Selling a luxury estate requires a completely different approach to selling compared to the traditional real estate listing. It will require networking with luxury buyer agents, high-end promotional techniques, and a strong internet presence. Professional photography, custom made CDs, and unique websites are just a few of the tools needed to successfully market the luxury estate. Luxury home buyers are moving into the Williamson County area from all over the world. It is also important that the listing agent be prepared to market the luxury estate home internationally and not just locally.

Luxury homes are typically custom homes that have been architecturally designed. Make sure the listing agent learns the background of the builder, architect, and the inspiration for the home. Buyers love to know the story of a home, and being able to successfully communicate this during the showing will help start the buyer on the road to becoming emotionally attached to the home. Construction of luxury estates is far different from traditional spec houses. The listing agent needs to know all of the unique features of the home, such as grand manor roofing, Elan sound systems, or perhaps an AGA range, and being able to speak with authority and demonstrate each one effectively to the buyers. The agent needs to sell the ease of operation of everything within the luxury home. It is so important for the buyer to feel as though the home is built with quality construction and will last a lifetime because of the superior materials that were used in construction of the home.

Finally, it is critical that the listing agent be professional but also maintain a welcoming presence. I recently had a potential buyer tell me that they specifically would not make an offer on another high-end home that they had previewed because of the listing agent. If the agent does not conduct themselves in a professional manner, and make the buyers feel confident that they are representing the home accurately, it is highly unlikely that they will return with an offer.

For me, selling real estate successfully starts with building relationships with people. I realize that I must earn the trust and respect of my clients before they can feel comfortable with me as their representative. Selling real estate in the luxury market is a privilege that few Realtors ever get to experience. I would be honored to provide references upon request and interview with anyone considering buying or selling a luxury home in the Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, or Nashville, TN area. For more information please visit my website at www.SherriWellborn.com.

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:07:52 -0500

I wake up each morning knowing that my business is completely within my control.

I realize that my income is dependent upon my desire to work and determination to get out and ask for business!

My career is always changing, never boring.

My career keeps me in an arena where I am always learning which helps keep my mind young.

I don't have to worry about hitting the glass ceiling. The only obstacles I hit are the ones placed by me and my own self-doubt!

My office is always with me. My office is my SUV.

I have the power to Do The Right Thing daily.

My career allows me to get "out and about" each day. I am not chained to a desk where I never see the light of day!

I have the knowledge and skills necessary to truly make a difference in the lives of so many people.

I am blessed to have a career that allows me to add a new name to my list of friends every time I meet a new client.

I have a career that allows me to work while dressed in my PJs in the early morning hours or in my sweat pants in the evening hours.

I know more short-cuts and back-roads than anyone else I know!

I can tell you what a large number of the homes that you drive by each day look like on the inside!

I can quote property taxes on any given house with a moments notice.

I can give you a pretty close idea of housing prices for most developments in my area ~ without looking up the listings in the MLS.

I have a cool website ~ something I never thought I would have ten years ago!

I get to tell people that I "blog" daily. Most don't even know what that means!

I get lots of great decorating ideas from viewing so many different homes.

I have an entire database full of excellent vendors that I can recommend. Just ask, and I'll give you a qualified and reputable professional to call.

I have flexibility in my schedule which allows my girls to still take dance, play soccer, take karate, be girl scouts, etc. All the activities that are so hard to do when you work a traditional 9-5 job.

I can justify the expense of having the latest and greatest high-tech gadgets. After all, it is a business expense!

I am considered the "go to" person for questions about almost anything community related.

I get to network and meet other Realtor from all across the country.

I am my own boss.

If I want to take a day off, or don't want to work the day after Thanksgiving, I don't have to ask anyone else permission.

At any given moment, I have the freedom to tell the boss X@%!#@&^%! and still have a job the next day.

I love what I do ~ do you?

Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 09:39:39 -0500

Yesterday I had a client tell me that he had worked with a lot of real estate agents in his lifetime, but I was one of only three that he considered a true Realtor. The others he considered to be nothing more than travel agents. I was pleased that he thought so highly of my services but also surprized by his observation. I had to wonder, with so many excellent Realtors working hard to successfully close transactions, what would make their client view them as a glorified travel agent? Later in the day I was speaking with another client and the subject of property taxes came up. I told him what the property taxes would run on a property he was considering purchasing, but then I continued to explain to him the formula used to determine property taxes and the tax rate for both city and county residences. He was so "impressed" with my explanation of the tax base formula and said he never knew how taxes were figured or had anyone explain it to him. Again, I was surprized that something so simple was perceived as important and valuable information to my client. And then, it happened. I had a light bulb moment! So many Realtor are so good at what they do, that they forget to explain and communicate the process to their client as they go along. When the client only sees us showing a house, filling in the blanks of a contract, and then sitting at the closing table collecting a check, it does seem like easy money. They fail to see how much thought and knowledge goes into the writing and how crucial using the correct terminology is. That don't understand that a poorly written contract can cost them money or end up with loop holes for the other party that could cause the offer to fall through and fail to close.

Make sure that your clients understand what you are doing to represent them! Don't just tell you clients how much their taxes will be; stop and explain how you came up with that amount and demonstrate your knowledge of the property tax system in your area. Don't just tell them that the home is a good value, show them the comps and explain how you determined that the house is a good value! When you successfully resolve a problem amicably for all parties and enable the closing to proceed forward, make sure your client understands the value in your negotation skills.

If you want to build long term relationships with your clients and have a strong referral base in place with your past clients, you have to make sure they see the value in what you do! Don't fall victim to being so great that you come across as a "travel agent." Most clients are not aware of how many pot holes or obstacles we overcome on the road between the offer to purchase and the final closing. Make sure that you don't travel this road alone ~ bring your client with you and they will see you in a whole new light!

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Sherri Wellborn (Keller Williams) — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 19:50:07 -0500

Williamson County is making national news again! Brentwood, TN located in Williamson County has long been known for it's high-end homes and scenic beauty that the rolling hillsides and estate homes provide. Now, Williamson County has been recognized as being ranked as one of the top 15 wealthiest counties in the entire country. According to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau survey, the median family income for the county is $90,087. This makes the county rank 11^th in the nation for wealthiest counties.

More and more individuals are choosing to move to Williamson County because of the quality of life that is found here. In addition, international corporations are now calling Williamson County home due to the favorable tax structure and other benefits that corporations find appealing. The most recent addition was the Nissan Headquarters which relocated to the Cool Springs area from California. Although some employees were hesitant about the move, most have found the housing here to be extremely affordable compared to the California market, and have enjoyed a great quality of life as well.

From grand equestrian estates to famiy oriented developments, there is suitable housing to be found for everyone in Williamson County. If you are considering moving to the Brentwood or Franklin, TN area, please be sure to visit my website, http://www.sherriwellborn.com/ for lots of helpful relocation information.