On the heels of the Congress’ vote to NOT pass the President’s $700B financial bailout, they’re all getting ready to meet again tonight to see if they can’t get this thing passed. And to top it all off, they’ve thrown in a bunch of new provisions aimed at convincing many of the House Republicans that originally voted against the bill to change their vote and vote to the affirmative this time. Oh goodie.
Now, I’m not really saying I’m for or against this bill, but my point is this. If they already voted on it and our ELECTED OFFICIALS voted it down based on what ‘us’, the constituents told them, then why in the world would they insult our intelligence by throwing in a bunch of other provisions to try and squeeze this thing through? I just don’t get it.
Yes, I do believe that something needs to be done. But why does it always start at the top and work it’s way down to the bottom? This is the problem with policitians. They’ve forgotten that they were elected to represent the people in their respective states. To look out for us to ensure government doesn’t overstep it’s bounds. Hmmmmmm, seems to me like there’s a little bit of that overstepping going on right now.
I guess we’ll just have to wait to see what the results of tonight’s votes are to determine if our beloved politicians have once again taken on the role of telling us what’s best for us.
Filed under Opinions, Rants & Raves by 
While this may not be news to some, this is the first I’ve seen of it, but Overstock.com, the discount warehouse website that sells everything from books and DVD’s to appliances and flat screen TV’s, is now jumping on the real estate listing bandwagon. I’m signed up to receive Overstock’s daily specials email and the one they sent today is promoting their real estate portal.
Here’s a screen shot of the emaill:
From what it looks like, you pay a flat fee to have your house listed in their portal. There are also a few other add on services that might be attractive to someone looking to sell their Rock Hill SC, Fort Mill SC, or Charlotte NC home by themselves, but as always, there are pitfalls to selling your home this way.
Yes, you save money on the real estate commission, but you’re left to your own devices to see that all the paperwork goes through smoothly, that the inspections are done properly, and that at the end of the day you’re protected from any type of negligence or lawsuit. Real estate can be a complicated game and while it’s definitely possible to navigate alone, it sure is a lot easier when you have a professional working with you.
So, aside from the obvious revenue Overstock generates from the listings, why would they get into the Internet real estate game?
Well, if you didn’t already know this, over 80% of all real estate transactions these days begins on the Internet. And that percentage is only going to continue to increase. So, if such a high number of people are online searching for real estate, and with Overstock’s huge online presence, it’s a great way for them to increase their online exposure.
As people are searching for their dream home in Rock Hill SC online, they may stumble upon Overstock’s new real estate website and decide to check it out. While their on the website searching for their dream home, they’ll be developing a relationship with Overstock.com that, if they didn’t already know who they were, might lead them to check out their primary e-commerce website.
You see, it’s all about exposure and developing a relationship with people. The more eyeballs you can be exposed to, and the better job you do at developing a relationship with those people, there more chance you have of making a sale for your product or service.
So, kudos to Overstock.com for jumping into the online real estate game. If you’re curious, the website is http://realestate.overstock.com
Is it a worthwhile investment for someone hoping to sell their home? Possibly. Again, the more people that see what you have to offer, the better your chance of someone that likes it finding it and ultimately making you an offer.
In the game of real estate, or just business in general, it’s about exposure.
If you have a home or property in the Rock Hill SC, Fort Mill SC, Tega Cay SC, Lancaster SC, or South Charlotte NC area you’d like to get increased exposure for, I’d love to share with you how my inovative marketing solutions can help you increase the exposure you get.
Give me a call today and let’s get your home sold!
Filed under Carolina Real Estate, Charlotte NC, Fort Mill SC, FSBO's, Home Sellers, Marketing, Rock Hill SC, Sell Your Home by
With all the talk in the news about how screwed up our economy is, and the biggest culprit being the sub-prime mortgages that ran rampant for so many years, it’s no wonder so many people are skittish about trying to sell their home. Well, even though the news media would have you believe the sky is falling, people still have money and they are out buying real estate as well!
The key to success in this real estate market though is knowing the market and avoiding the pit falls. Here’s a FANTASTIC article from House Master that shares some critical things to consider when thinking about buying or selling your home in the current market.
Many news reports point to the sub prime lending mess as the cause for the housing slump. But home sellers should know that plenty of people with good credit are simply cautious buyers, which can keep sales down.
In most areas it’s a buyer’s market, so people can be picky. “Most buyers in this market will try to re-negotiate based on the findings of their home inspection. If the seller is unwilling to make repairs or lower the price, they may walk away because they knew other properties are available,†says Kathleen Kuhn, president and CEO of HouseMaster.
With approximately two million home inspections collectively performed by its franchise offices, HouseMaster is aware of a number of conditions that are more likely to scare buyers away.
But sellers do not have to stand by with their fingers crossed to secure a fair sale.
“More and more home sellers are getting a pre-listing home inspection that helps identify potential deal-breaking issues before the house is listed on the market,†Kuhn says. “This way, sellers can fix problems and worry less about a buyer walking away late in the deal process.â€
According to Kuhn, the following are “The Fearsome Four” when it comes to real estate deals:
- Roofing Concerns: A new homeowner does not want the expense of roof replacement shortly after closing. Many sellers believe that if their roof is not presently leaking it is in acceptable condition. But an astute buyer knows that a worn roof needs to be replaced before it leaks.
- Electrical Problems: Older panels are often undersized and might even pose a fire hazard. Although an upgrade is usually straightforward, the potential fire risk can be scary for prospective buyers.
- Structural Issues: Major structural issues are one of the least common defects found in homes, but when they do occur, they can be costly to repair, and can really stop a buyer in his tracks. Fortunately, there are often repair options that will make the sales process go smoother. But it will often require another inspection by a structural engineer or repair professional, and additional time, to determine what can be done.
- Synthetic Stucco or Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS): Overall EIFS can be effective, economical alternatives to traditional stucco. Unfortunately improper installation can lead to trapped moisture behind the siding. This can cause structural damage and mold, and can cost tens of thousands of dollars to correct.
“Sellers lose some advantage when they are caught off guard by issues, even minor ones. In a market where every edge counts, sellers can use tools like pre-listing home inspections and repair records to show that they are conscientious and have taken appropriate steps to sell responsibly and competitively,” Kuhn says.
Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue. More home safety and maintenance information is available online at www.housemaster.com.
This information is provided for general guidance purposes only. Neither DBR Franchising, LLC nor the local HouseMaster® franchise warrants its accuracy and assumes no liability related to its use. Contact the local franchise office and/or qualified specialists for advice pertinent to your specific house or circumstances. © Copyright 2008 DBR. Each HouseMaster franchise is an independently owned and operated business. HouseMaster is a registered trademark of DBR Franchising, LLC.
This article was reprinted with permission from HouseMaster.com.
Filed under Carolina Real Estate, Home Buyers, Home Inspections, Home Repairs, Home Sellers by
The Charlotte Observer ran an article yesterday on the fallout of the Wachovia implosion and impending sale to either Wells Fargo or Citigroup. It posed the question, “Is Charlotte too dependent on the banks?
I guess if you consider the fact that in Mecklenburg County (Charlotte’s county) more than 1/5 of all private sector wages were paid from financial service businesses, then it’s hard to ignore the question. And with the sale of Wachovia to an out-of-state suitor, what will this mean for the Charlotte region going forward?
It’s kind of ironic because just a few weeks ago I posted an article about how some people thought Charlotte was over-rated. I still think a lof the premises posed in that question were a bit off the wall (the crime rate is rising and out of line with comparable cities), but it did point out that Charlotte has enjoyed a bit of a ‘utopian’ run lately. It looks like that might be coming to an end with last week’s Wachovia announcement, but does that mean we rely too much on the banks?
I guess only time will tell the true fallout from the Wachovia sale and if we do indeed, rely too much on the banking sector for jobs.
What do you think? Go ahead and leave your comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Filed under Carolina Business News, Carolina Real Estate, Charlotte NC, Fort Mill SC, Rock Hill SC by
Who says all banks are on a downward spiral? Last week, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the corner of Oakland Avenue and Wilson Street for Palmetto Bank. About 100 people attended the event according to the Rock Hill Herald and the ribbon that was cut was adorned with $5 bills that will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of York County.
While many people have a bad taste in their mouth from some of the larger, national banks, Palmetto Bank is different says President and Rock Hill native Andy Douglas.
“Do you want to stay as local as you can, or do you want to jump into a chain where there’s so many more things going on?” Douglas asked in an interview. “We don’t have subprime. We don’t have crazy investments.”
While I’m sure this kind of story isn’t happening just in Rock Hill, SC, it is another testament to what a fantastic place to live Rock Hill is. It’s hard to find many places in America like ours that still maintain that small town feel, yet enjoy all the benefits and ammenities of a larger city like Charlotte.
Of course it can be a challenge to maintain the innocence of a small town, but I’m sure that with the help of Palmetto Bank and their focus on small town qualities we’ll be able to do that and then some.
Filed under Carolina Business News, Rock Hill SC by
