Home > Blogs > Debe Maxwell, CRS > Search Charlotte Homes for Sale -- Search Charlotte Neighborhoods

Buyer Empowerment in Charlotte NC

By Debe Maxwell, CRS

Real Estate Agent with Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 228209

March 01, 2009 06:32 AM

Buying Charlotte NC real estate is a complex process. One mis-step can cost you thousands of dollars or even the missed opportunity to own your dream home. Even in this real estate market, buyers are always in competition with other buyers. Our goal is to ensure that your best interests are protected.

The Maxwell House Group – Your Key to a Successful Home Purchase

Find Your Charlotte Home Now

Search for ALL MLS Listings in the Charlotte metro area, including Mecklenburg and the surrounding counties. These listings include resales, new construction, foreclosures, auction properties, short sales and REO’s. Start your search now

Need Help Locating Your Dream Home?

We’re here to help! Our job is to make this a smooth process for you and the best way to get started is to let us know a little bit about the status of your home search process. You can contact us directly via email at Debe@DebeMaxwell.com or by phone at (704)491-3310 or you can simply complete the buyer questionnaire and we’ll get right back to you.

Complete Questionnaire for Buyers

Originally posted at https://www.icharlotterealestate.com/for-buyers/

Re-Blog

Comments(29)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Kevin & Monica: If they're not, it can prove to be disastrous! And, I WANT them to be happy in the end, don't you?!!

Sally: Hey! I too enjoy my sleep--now I don't wake up to the beauty that you're accustomed to but, one day... ;-) You're right--we are essentially the 'directors' and it works wonderfully if we do it right!

Janna: Thanks and you hit the nail on the head--it should just be second nature--what we do for EVERY transaction! Some just don't think about others' needs!

Mar 01, 2009 07:12 AM

Larry Story ALC

Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC

Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Debe,

I always give "homework" to my clients also simply put we are to be the source of the source of information. We can simply not answer some questions but, we can show them where the source of the information they want is.

Mar 01, 2009 07:23 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Gunfire, Debe?? Oh my. Talk about a bad neighborhood. Agents have to tell everything they know about that is legal to tell. The worst is not informing people about future road construction right next to their property line. I see that one ALL THE TIME!!

Mar 01, 2009 07:33 AM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Larry! Absolutely! And, they truly do like it best this way too! Once they set out to do their 'investigation,' they learn more than they knew they had questions about!

Hi Gary! Yes, and she said her little boy didn't sleep for a very long time. It was truly a horrifying story and I SO wished she had known the co-worker before so that their family would not have had to go through all of that. As for the road construction--that is SO common, especially in growing cities like ours. It is something that I'm always trying to learn about!

Mar 01, 2009 07:43 AM

Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI

Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Oh, this is always so difficult. Not the prequalifying part, that is standard operating procedure but the school, neighborhood thing. I wonder if they asked. If we have clients ask we send them to the State Web Site to check schools, test scores, meet with the schools principal, call the police dept.

But, if they don't ask..............I would never bring it up.

Of course this rarely happens, parents with kids always ask.

Mar 01, 2009 08:29 AM

Elizabeth Cooper-Golden

Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL

Huntsville AL MLS

Debe, Isn't it sad? That is the part of our job that I hate, not being able to tell them a neighborhood is unsafe. What I do tell them is to call the police department to check crime statistics if the neighborhood is "sketchy"....Luckily, I sell to so many engineers that they usually have a handle on schools, etc. If not, I tell them where to go check out school reports.

So, Atlanta is creeping up on us....can you believe it? They also scheduled my Mom's surgery for March 16th. Keeping my fingers crossed that she will do fine. My Aunt is coming up to relieve me so I can come to Atlanta. Yippee!!! I missed Seattle due to Mom being back in the hospital. Never ending, I swear! I promise I'll behave. I have been too busy hijacking with the girls, haven't I? LOL. Yep, I'm trouble. Sure you want to stay where I am? (grin). I can't wait to meet you!

Mar 01, 2009 08:35 AM

Larry Story ALC

Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC

Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Debe, Congrats on jumping to #1 in NC!!!

Mar 01, 2009 08:37 AM

Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528

Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY

Real Estate Salesperson

I send clients to sites to check out school reports and urge them to visit the local school and talk to the principal. I also provide them with a list of all the school district numbers to make getting in touch easier. A visit to the neighborhood at school bus dropoff time gives them a good idea of the diversity of the neighborhood and, of coarse I urge them to speak to neighbors. The internet definitely makes it easier for clients to do their homework.

Mar 01, 2009 09:00 AM

Mary Douglas

United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO

REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Debe, this is the difference between a great agent and an agent. I wish they had found you first, also. Great post Debe, thank you! I like your illustrations, too!

Mar 01, 2009 09:16 AM

Barbara S. Duncan

RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR

GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

This sounds like great advice for all of us to use when working with clients.

Mar 01, 2009 09:19 AM

Kelly Sibilsky

Licensed Through Referral Connection, LTD. - Lake Zurich, IL

This is something that most buyers don't have a clue about when they relocate. They honestly think that their agent will tell them everything that agent's legally cannot! I have to say that moving to an entirely new area or state is extremely difficult. It's so easy to make a mistake. When my husband and I moved to Illinois from Michigan we did a ton of research, both online and in person. We spent several weekends driving around and checking out areas by ourselves even before we got an agent involved. And still, we ended up buying a house in an area that just wasn't what we thought it would be (we moved about one year later). Mind you, it was arguably one of the nicest suburbs in NW Illinois. Sometimes it's a "fitting in" thing or a "feel" of a place. Agents get to know their client's personalities as well as their lifestyles, and instinctively know where your clients would be the happiest living. If only agents could act on that feeling...and truly help their clients...

Mar 01, 2009 09:20 AM

Frank & Jodi Orlando

Frank & Jodi Orlando Get Us A Home Realty Atlanta Homes Sale - Cumming, GA

Wow! You picked up 60,000 points in a flash and are #1 in NC! So glad that many of the school systems have informative sites with demographics and such, I just steer clients there. Interesting scenario yesterday, showed a home that had high voltage lines behind it, they asked if that was dangerous. Yikes! Told them to call the power company for the amount of juice they had, then google for tests and such. Would not touch that with a 50 foot pole (pun intended)

Mar 01, 2009 09:29 AM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Missy! Absolutely--those sites are a wealth of information and oftentimes the buyers find more information than they knew they needed! Like you said, the pre-qual, that's SOP and the others--sometimes even those without children ask because they are already (wisely) thinking about resale!

HEY SIS! You know, I JUST told someone the other day that I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my job barring only two things--that I can't control the banks and I can't be honest about select, major diligence items that are so important to my clients. Otherwise I'm CRAZY about my job--what other job can we work 18-hour days and still love it?!

As for ATL--you'd best not bag on me chic--I don't know anyone else that is going! Ray is staying home because it is the boys' spring break from college and we dare not leave the two of them in the house alone--we may not have a home when we return!! Do let me know where you'll be staying and I'll start planning! It's JUST around the corner, isn't it?

Hi Larry! On AR--seriouslyl?! Funny but, someone had to tell me when I became #1 in Charlotte! I'm competitive but, in this place, it's just such a great vehicle to get the word out that I don't feel that competitiveness--UNLESS someone copies my work!!

Thanks for the heads-up!

Hi Mary! Well, thank you so much! I wish they had found me first too--they would not have had to move two extra times. And, hey, I'd like to get in a hammock right now and take a snooze--I'm READY for spring!

Mar 01, 2009 09:38 AM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Barbara! I'm sure that you're already doing these things but, if not, it's SO easy to point them in the direction of help and they will love you for it!

HI KEL! How are you? I ditto everything that you wrote! After only a few questions, I can tell where the client will be the happiest--whether all of the areas that they're looking are great areas or not--even the country clubs are vastly different and I can tell immediately what information they need to help them with their decision. I simply cannot imagine having to move to a new area and doing what you did--you are amazing! I worked here for 15 years before becoming a REALTOR and learned the roads forwards and backwards--as new developments pop up now, I have trouble with them but, I cannot imagine learning an entirely new city AND working! You go girl!

Mar 01, 2009 09:57 AM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Frank! You crack me up! I would have done the same thing--it's like Elizabeth and her graveyard in the backyard--you just WISH you could say what you were thinking!!!

As for NC--I did not know that but, that is pretty cool--one year and a few months later--can I relax now?!! HA! Now, Lenn Harley holds the only position that would be the next to 'beat'--but hey, I know my place--#1 in NC is FINE with me! LOL

Mar 01, 2009 10:01 AM

Lori Churchill Cofer

Beasley Realty - Pullman, WA

Realtor - 509-330-0086 - Pullman, WA

Debe,

I am fortunate to live in a small town that really has wonderful family friendly neighborhoods. It sounds like you did a wonderful service for your clients...now why am I not surprised?!!!

Lori Cofer Realtor Pullman WA

Mar 01, 2009 10:46 AM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Lori! Thank you so much! You are SO lucky! I love my city with a passion but, the 'rules' are sometimes hard to swallow when you know that someone is not making the right decision for themselves and just won't do their due diligence!

Have a fabulous week...

Debe in Charlotte

Mar 01, 2009 01:22 PM

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Debe,

Great post and you are sooooo right. This is a team effort and they will feel better about their decision when they feel they have all the facts. Thanks for sharing.

Mar 02, 2009 10:57 PM

Lola Audu

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI

Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

Deb, I appreciate the emphasis in this post of helping clients to understand how they can empower themselves through conducting their own research. The job of a professional is to provide assistance and guidance, not to steer. Excellent post & well worthy of a Feature on Blogger's Choice!

Mar 03, 2009 12:48 PM

Debe Maxwell, CRS

Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC

The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Dorie: Thank you! It IS a team effort and I'm more than happy to be the captain but, you've got to do your part too! Right?!

Lola: Exactly! There are some areas that I wouldn't want my clients to live, for safety reasons, and I hate that we can't share the 'dangerous' neighborhoods with them but, it helps SO much when they do their own research so that they ARE an informed buyer! I can honestly say that my clients know more about demographics than I do--that's not my job and I don't want to ever be accused of saying something that is out of line or, for that matter, illegal! So, I give them their 'homework' and they seem to enjoy doing it too!

Thank you so much for the feature! I did not know that but, you know how much I love those little gold stars!! LOL ;-)

Debe in Charlotte

Mar 04, 2009 07:47 AM