Featured Listing: 7 1/2 Woodall Court

Featured Listing: 7 1/2 Woodall Court

1855 SF | 3 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 1.5 Car Garage

The Downtown Home in Charleston That Has. It. All. Custom Built 3 bed/3.5 bath - with 1 1/2 Car Garage, 10' Ceilings and tons of outdoor features! Tucked into a quiet Cul-de-sac, but walking distance to MUSC, Hampton Park, The Riverdogs Baseball Stadium, world class dining, cafes, marinas and more. The Home is a warm and inviting.


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Charleston Market: Looking Ahead As We Open From COVID-19

Charleston Market: Looking Ahead As We Open From COVID-19

During crisis we all want to know what the future holds. Some for security, some for peace of mind and others for opportunity. Regardless of why you’re seeking answers I often find it useful to gather as much information as possible from trusted news sources, opinions from some of you and telling data sets before drawing any conclusions. Perhaps it’s the little bit of retention I have left from Econ classes long since forgotten over a decade ago, but this data gathering has always served well.

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The Stimulus Bill: 4 Housing Protections You Should Know

The Stimulus Bill: 4 Housing Protections You Should Know

In 2010 at the height of the Great Recession, 2.8 million properties filed for foreclosure. The good news is several of the key provisions of the stimulus package is attempting to avoid that repeat, as millions file for unemployment due to COVID-19. You have likely heard about the $1200 checks many adults will be able to received, but included in that bill (known as the CARES Act) are several protections everyone from renters to home-owners to investors (and even soon to be homeowners).

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Now Offering Listings for $1,399

Now Offering Listings for $1,399

The short answer is because the market demands it. 

The real answer is, of course, a little bit longer. If you’re interested in hearing the full story, here it goes…buckle up, kids! 

9% of current homes are sold FSBO and that doesn’t count the ones that do flat fee, poorly…

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Happy Hour Musts 2019: Charleston

Happy Hour Musts 2019: Charleston

Charleston and booze goes together like…

PB&J, Office reruns at the end of a long day, Pancakes for a hangover, Flava-flav and giant clocks, your Mom needing tech support to log into facebook,….

…needless to say this town has no shortage of spots to gather, imbibe and socialize over discounted bites.

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How to Figure Out Your Homes Value

How to Figure Out Your Homes Value

So if you can’t tell, I am not a fan of digital home eval tools. That’s right, take a hike algorithm!

As cool as it feels giving the proverbial middle finger to the worlds most popular RE search site, there is a true reason for a bit of my shade. Beyond making my job marginally more difficult, they also give people a number a majority of homeowners take to heart on their largest asset based off a calculation most 5th grade math students could accomplish (Avg $/sq ft for your zip code multiplied by your square footage).

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Open Houses: An Agents Take

Open Houses: An Agents Take

Boy have i railed against open houses for a while. You know what the funny thing is? I still occasionally do them.

What I said to the camera is 100% what I think and feel, but remember that old adage the customer is always right?… They aren’t but their perception is.

Let me explain…

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Post Inspection: 7 tips for What To Do Next

Post Inspection: 7 tips for What To Do Next

It’s the day (or night) after the inspection. Anxiety levels are running high on both sides the transaction. As the buyer, you’re waiting on the report and are bout to be shocked by the sheer length of the report regardless…., and the sellers and their agent are hoping they don’t hear more than a 👍🏼

A typical inspection will last a couple hours, the inspector will take a lot of notes as well as pictures to ensure the report is thorough.

Inevitably, (good or bad) the report hits your email like a ton of bricks. After sorting through the disclosures you remember signing, disclaimers and all the print/pics of 50-plus pages of descriptions, photos, subsections and educational primers of each part of the house, you (the buyer) is left to try to make sense of this document and determine what in the hell you’re supposed to do from here. Now is the stage most people have these questions:

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The Home Inspection: 7 Common Questions

The Home Inspection: 7 Common Questions

Oh the home inspection. You just were so excited because you found the perfect place, you made an offer, negotiated just like they do on the TV shows (HA) and ratified on the house (aka everyone agreed to price/terms). Now your friendly agent strikes fear in your heart immediately by reminding you its time to schedule the daunting home inspection…

Oh the horror….

Just like when having any doctors visit, we might…

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Charleston Home Round Table

My longest form piece of content I’ve ever done (apologies in advance). Gathered up 3 people I love to take a leap of faith and discuss all things Charleston, Development, Design, Local Business. Needless to say our conversation ran the gambit, but trust these people’s insight, opinion and expertise in Architecture, Building and Design. Having them provide commentary on this discussion was an invaluable insight for any type of person that’s enthralled with Charleston. Whether you’ve lived here, moved here or vacation here, I hope there’s a nugget of value in here for you.

(don’t worry topics are bullet pointed to the second below so you can skip around)

We can all agree that Charleston has been subject to a lot of change in recent years and this video discussion was geared around talks I find many of us are having privately. The post (linked above) has been bookmarked by topic so you can skip ahead to any you find most intriguing to you. Topics included:

Minute Markers

  • 1:28 - Design, Trends and Pros Insight

  • 16:34 - The Affordability Problem and How to Fix it

  • 23:29 - Small Business Question: Is Segmenting the Holy Grail?

  • 28:01 - Who is Moving to Charleston & Why?

  • 31:15 - ‘Charleston’s Development Problems are as Old as It’s History’

  • 36:10 - Container Building

Joining me and providing their thought leadership were Interior Designer - Jesse Vickers (Owner of JLV Creative), Builder - Rick Rockwell (Owner of Rockwell Construction) and Architect - Nicholas Rehberg (Owner of ADO) for participating. If ever you're in need of their services you'll get a resounding thumbs up (and not just because they jumped in front of camera, but they're each incredibly passionate and qualified). Each, as local business owners within the home space, brought incredible insight to this macro discussion.

My hope is that regardless of your station in life, your relationship to Charleston or what you do, that there is some tid bit of insight within this that resonates with you or helps answer a question you have.

2018 Thank You

My very small thank you for all you fine people who make doing what I do possible.

I have no lengthy, pontificating, version of this post other than to say: Thank you.

From me, to You and Yours a very Happy and Safe Holiday.

Cheers

Local Spotlight: Yous Guys

If there’s a spot that ‘gets it’s when it comes to the Hoagie Game, it’s Yous Guys in James Island. When I moved to Charleston one of few cons was there wasn’t many good pizza spots and NO great Hoagie joints. That’s where Yous Guys saved the day.,..

If you’ve never been, but are a hoagie expert, literally try anything. If you’re a rook or just grew up around Charleston and your carbs of choice were biscuits and not delicious soft on the inside and crunch on the outside rolls,…. repeat after me…. I will get the Roast Pork Hoagie. For real, it’s that good and takes me back to Reading Terminal Market.

If you’re a true PA ex-pat, like me, they also have: Utz Patato Chips, Tasty Cakes and root beer at all times. Oh and my man Don will be 10x friendlier if you can knowledgeably talk Philly Sports, like any true Fishtown transplant would. #flyEaglesfly

Ya welcome.

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Click for The Bites & To Order

 

Local Spotlight: Helen Hall (Hustle Smoothie Bar)

A sit down with Charleston Smoothie Queen, inventor of the Blender Bomb, owner of Hustle Smoothie Bar and friend, Helen Hall. We discuss Helen's rise, passion for all things health and (of course) how to make the perfect smoothie. 

 

Where & Why: Huriyali

This episode of 'Where and Why' highlights not just the passion, but the growth of a passion into a thriving business in downtown Charleston. Huriyali fuels locals with amazing juices, smoothies, bowls and now a full breakfast/lunch menu full of healthy bites.  During my sit down with one co-owner, learned whats fueled their passion for health, their experience growing a business in Charleston, and what made them decide uptown Charleston was the no-brainer spot to get started.

The goal at Huriyali is to make healthy choices simple; increasing the happiness, healthfulness, and performance of our customers.

It’s quite simple - What you put in, is what you get out. We believe nourishing and taking care of your body in turn nourishes your soul.
— Ruchi, Owner

Where & Why: Cannonborough Collective

Recently I had the pleasure of sitting down with two local entrepreneurs, Mimi Striplin and Liz Martin of Cannonborough Collective. It's since become a favorite place for client and family gifts due to some of their beautiful and unique offerings. Currently the only balloon & gift shop located on downtown Charleston's Peninsula, right in the heart of Cannonborough at 185A St. Philip Street. The space offers a shared space that allows local brands to rent space to sell their merch. After hours, Cannonborough Collective occasionally serves as a crafter’s workshop catering to locals and bachelorette parties.

Check out the video to see what these two are up to or pop in to one of the most inviting shops you'll find around town!

"Cannonborough Collective is a place that’s for locals by locals, and we want to share the space with other Charleston makers. We’re not business moguls, just two regular gals who were spending so much time at markets and pop ups that we wanted to have a space to call our own.  We love the existing shops and eateries in the neighborhood and are so thrilled to have joined the Cannonborough/Elliotborough community.

- Liz Martin & Mimi Striplin

5 Things Under $100 to Sell Your Home for More

Spring is here and a lot of you are getting ready to sell your homes. Many of my listing appointments I end up imparting a lot of the same advice to folks looking to sell there homes. Here’s a few handy tips on how to make your home more appealing to buyers for under $100.

1.) Double Check the Curb Appeal
    
Whether you like it or not perspective home buyers will be flipping through 100s of properties and occasionally driving by them so the curb appeal is going to be the first thing they notice and draws them in. So make sure it’s photo ready!

Spruce up exterior, power wash, fresh pine straw, potted plants, clean/paint front door and swap any dated hardware

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2.) Light Bulb Check
    
Whether seem like minutia, but if you want your home to tell perspective agents and their buyers you didn’t take good care of the home, give them subconscious  hints like dirty lighting fixtures or burnt out bulbs. Simple fix that will go a long way in to alleviating any surface level concerns and negate the question, ‘if they didn’t tend to the small things we can see, what may be hiding under the surface?’

3.) Paint and Spot Touch Up
    
Want to know every Agent’s trick to fixing something that looks old and tired? Spot touch ups and neutral paint go a long way into breathing some life into a pre-owned home regardless of how hard a certain space has been used.

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4.) Deep Deep Clean and Declutter
    
There’s no quicker way to turn off a perspective buyer entering home than a dirty space, w/ odd smells or cluttered rooms. Buyers will decide within 15 seconds of seeing a home whether they’d buy it or not. So don’t give them a reason not to in the last 5 when they open the door. Clean the baseboards, appliances, swap the air filters and deep clean the bathrooms/kitchens where. Also if you’re living in the home, that’s fine, but you’re going to be moving so it’s time to put a lot of the excess in boxes so buyers can focus on the space and not your family vacation to Wyoming 2014.

5.) Organize the Garage

You know why i love selling homes for engineers and mechanics? Most of the time their garages are the most organized space in the house. Most use it as the space where they store excess and becomes cluttered quickly. We’re going to keep playing on the buyer subconscious here, in that a clean and tidy garage says ‘I’ve kept up the space where most keep the dirtiest/disorganized, so clearly I've kept the rest of the home in tip top shape’. Think about it, at this point the other homes prospective buyers have seen will be the place of dirty lawn mowers, boxes of Christmas decorations thrown haphazardly on a shelf, and tools thrown about. If this one space stands apart from the rest, it's yet another reason to choose your home over another.

These are some of the most common I find from home to home that will help set yours apart and cost you mostly time. There are (of course), many more things you can do to prepare your home for sale (and should), but these easy tips will set you apart from most and get your home sold just a bit quicker.

For More Tips and Ideas on your home email, text, DM or follow me at any of the following...

 
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A Rant: Millennials and RE Culture

A Rant: Millennials and RE Culture

We've all got our favorite home show/s, but as an agent here's what I've heard on the ground level from my clients, friends and family that I'm constantly correcting. Your home is a commodity first and (maybe) an investment second... and please don't believe everything you hear on HGTV.

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