Why You Need Me as Your REALTOR® - Part 2

(In case you missed it, click here for Part 1)

Security When I market your property, you avoid allowing strangers into your home. REALTORS® will generally pre-screen and accompany qualified prospects through your property. This increases your safety and allows for any last minute preparations. As a licensed real estate agent in North Carolina, I go through an extensive background check before I can help someone buy or sell property.

Negotiating As your REALTOR® in selling your home, I can assist you with objectively evaluating every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. As your REALTOR® in buying your home, I evaluate the property that you are buying to make sure you get the best price. This initial agreement is only the start of a process that involves appraisals, inspections, and financing - and a lot of obstacles that may come up before the closing of your home. As a real estate professional, I can help you write a legally-binding agreement that will more likely make it through this complicated process.

Monitoring, Renegotiating and Closing Getting the contract to buy or sell a home is only the start of the process. Between the initial sales agreement and closing/settlement, questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs which are pointed out after a home inspection takes place. There could be financing problems or a concern with the title that could surface after going under contract and before we close on the property. The required paperwork alone is intimidating for most buyers and sellers. As your REALTOR®, I am the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing/settlement.

As your real estate professional, I can also meet with other professionals involved in the transaction process. My industry contacts can make sure any unforeseen issues are handled reliably and quickly.

Why You Need Me as Your REALTOR® - Part 1

How much is your time worth? Do you really have all the time, energy, information, and resources to sell your home? Do you have the professional contacts to properly market your home? Do you known enough about the process? Would it give you more time to focus on your personal life? Do you know the best price for your home? This is part 1 of a 2 part post to point out a few areas that I can help you sell your home and how I earn my commissions as a real estate professional.
Pricing As a REALTOR®, I am best suited to determine a pricing strategy for your property. By over-pricing your home you will miss opportunities to expose your home to potential buyers. If you under value your home, you could be leaving extra equity on the table after closing. My knowledge about the surrounding areas, pricing trends, local information, and experience will get you the best price for your home.

Marketing As a REALTOR®, I have many ways to effectively market your home. My proven marketing methods include flyers, open houses, the internet, local newspapers, and listing in the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). There is a common misconception that advertising sells real estate. Studies done by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends and family, and personal contacts. I want to encourage to keep in mind, advertising is only one small part of marketing. The choice of media and frequency of advertising depends a lot on the home and specific market. Overexposure of a property in any media may give a buyer the impression the property is distressed, the seller is desperate or there may be something wrong with area. As a qualified real estate professional I know when, where and how to advertise your property.

Marketing also includes the exposure of your home to other REALTORS® and to the general public. In many markets, over 80% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a REALTOR® other than myself, may bring in the buyer. I will act as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate professionals through the MLS, open houses, and office meetings. My preparation is critical to marketing your property effectively. As a REALTOR®, I am best suited to recommend repairs and cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your home.

For more information about why you need me as your REALTOR®, check back soon for Part 2 in "Why You Need Me as Your REALTOR®."

What is a Comparative Market Analysis?

A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) uses the most current and reliable information from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), real estate firms, and title companies in your community. The homes that are included in an analysis are a sampling of properties in the area that are currently for sale or that have recently sold. This information provides us a base line from which to begin our comparison.

At times, the term "fair market value" causes confusion. The definition has three basic parts – particular house – current condition – time frame. Simply, fair market value is the price at which a home will sell within a reasonable amount of time. A CMA allows us to figure, using the above information, the fair market value for your home. CMAs are just an estimation and the price could vary up or down depending on the motivation of the buyer, seller and any fluctuations in the market. The following are factors I look for to help determine the value of your home in the current market. The home itself is only a part of the puzzle.

Location Where your home is located may be the single most important factor when determining the value of your home.

Condition The condition of your home affects the price and how quickly it will sell. The appearance, both inside and out, can affect the buyer’s perception. Since emotion plays a large part in buying a home the buyer’s first impression is important!

Price Establishing the correct price for a home will help insure a quick sale. A CMA will help you decide the best price for your home.

Competition Buyers will evaluate your home against others they deem comparable. Properties currently for sale and properties that have recently sold will have the greatest impact on the market value of your home.

The Market The real estate market is always changing and these changes may affect property values. Knowing that it is difficult to forecast the market, a flexible marketing plan will help prepare you and your home for sale.

If you are interested in getting a Comparative Market Analysis on your home, I can do one for FREE! Just give me a call at 704-309-8736.

Also, if you know someone who needs to sell their home, tell them to call me at 704-309-8736.

I look forward to hearing from you!

What do Home Buyers Want in North Carolina?

1. Central Air Conditioning is a must for the long, hot, humid days of North Carolina. We have pretty mild temperatures in the winter, but in the summer the heat and the humidity can make for long and sticky days.
2. A 2-Car Garage is more desirable than a 1-car garage and a 1-car garage is more desirable than no garage. If you are like me, the garage becomes a storage area, anyway, for things you think you will use, but never do.
3. Walk-in Closets you can't get enough of. I believe it is more fashionable and desirable to have “His” and “Her” closests in the master bedroom. Spacious closets are desirable for the secondary bedrooms. If you run out of closet space you could always use the garage, right?
4. Backyard/Play Area for the family. As families grow they look at communities and the features they offer such as a pool, playgrounds, walking trails and tennis courts. More people are looking for features in communities they do not have to keep up themselves.
5. Cable/Satellite TV-ready Homes. Oh yes, no argument here. More and more people are looking for special features, such home networking, theater rooms and fiber optic-quality images. With the rising cost of movie tickets, many choose to stay home and watch American Idol!
6. High-Speed Internet Access. Can we say goodbye dial-up and hello cable/dsl? Can you imagine a world without high-speed internet? Well, actually, I can. I remember paying for AOL by the minute, by the way.
7. Seperate Toilet Closet. Have you every woke up in the morning and needed to use the bathroom, but your wife was in there blow-drying her hair and you where too lazy to go use another bath because you wanted your personal throne? Enough said.
8. Patio for Outdoor Entertaining. I desire to be a BBQ master and show off for my friends, but for now I have to settle for my 10 x 10 cement pad.
9. Fencing. Many people think that fences are good so the dog and kids can run around wild all day outside. I have to agree with Robert Frost, “Good fences make for good neighbors.”
10. Homes Less than 10 Years Old. Part of me agrees with this and part of me does not. Brand-spanking new homes tend to appreciate faster in value, but after a while they begin to all look the same. Old homes might need to be updated but have character and you can upfit them to your personal taste.

More Good News!!!

Here is some more good news about Charlotte Metro Area. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia Area ranks No.1 in Terms of Economic Strength according to POLICOM (an economic research firm specializing). The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area ranked No.1 in terms of economic strength out of 363 metropolitan areas. There were 13 N.C. metropolitan areas were included in the result of this study.

What People are saying about me?

I am generally not someone who like brags or who is boastful. However, I am very confident and proud in the service I provide to my clients. I have included in this blog some testimonials from my clients.

"What can we say. You made our first home buying experience a breeze. Thank you for your support and prayers during the process. We wish you many successful years with the business and we will be glad to help any way we can! God Bless." Sean & Marianne:. Mount Holly, NC

"We thought Donnie Icenhour did a wonderful job. You worked very hard for us in dealing with the builder. We are very happy with our new home. We would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to buy or sell a home." Bob & Liz:. Concord, NC

We were scared to death about buying our first because we tried before working with someone else that left us empty and discouraged with unfulfilled promises. They would make us wait at homes while they were running behind, would not return our phone calls and left us in the dark about the properties we were viewing. So we gave up. Then we met Donnie. What a breath of fresh air. He made the process fun and exciting and we love our home. Greg & Cindi :. Concord, NC

It's finally here. That day. The one where we (again) sign our lives away into the servitude of a financial institution. We've closed on a new home. She's a fine girl, in her late teens. And as a full-brick structure with 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and a bonus room across 2600 square feet, you might say she's got a ... "healthy" build.At any rate, we couldn't be happier about seeing this long search come to an end in such a pleasing way, and are thanking God as often as this wonderful thought crosses our minds. Hats off to our realtor, Donnie Icenhour, for putting up with us for as long as he did! Mike & Amy:. Harrisburg, NC

We had tried to sell our house for several months with no luck. We called Donnie and he did a free market report on our home and did a set by step market plan for us. 30 days after Donnie put out home on the market we sold it. Donnie was worth his weight in gold. Bobby & Karen:. Concord, NC

Me and my wife have moved several times before and worked with several different realtors before. When we first met Donnie we felt completely comfort with him. He did a marketing plan and laid everything out for us and followed up us constantly. Donnie sold our home in a less than a week. We highly recommend him. Jack:. Harrisburg, NC