Archive for May, 2009

“Mommie are we going to have to move?”

May 27th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Selling your home

I was ready to write a very different post when I came upon this story of a fellow Realtor & blogger Ryan Rockwood who wrote a book about foreclosure…for children! It hit me like a ton of bricks (I have two kids Ryan 17 and Emily 15) Wow you don’t hear too much about how all this financial upheaval is impacting the most precious and innocent…our kids.

I don’t know Ryan personally but he is an active blogger, a smart guy and I think you should check out his book and his blog here. He talks a lot about distressed property and the foreclosure market and even though he’s in Rancho Palos Verdes CA you’ll learn a lot!

But back to the subject at hand, Ryan has written a book entitled Mia’s Home available on Amazon — it’s a kids book that does what a kids book is supposed to do — explain all this complicated mess in plain terms so kids too can understand, experience and learn from a very tough real-life situation . Ryan has also set up a website www.childrenofforeclosure.org with a lot more information.

As unpleasant as this subject is…it is equally that important. So if you, a friend or family member are in this situation I hope you’ll find Ryan Rockwood’s mission and book helpful. We are going to get through this but we will have to get through it together all of us even the most innocent of all!

Authored by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: 2 Comments »

Friday Fun: What NOT to do on Facebook…just saying

May 22nd, 2009 categories: Our Charlotte Realtors

(Watch the video below)

Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, and that next big thing  ~ it’s all part of a big ball of virtual wax called social networking. We have come a long way (Thank God) from the anonymous “AOL chat rooms” where you did not know who you were chatting with and too many were out waving their “freak flags high”. Today online is different because it’s the same as real life ~ real people are using the internet to connect and stay connected ~ believe the naysayers at your own peril ~ but people are connecting, learning and engaging online and those online connections are building and strengthening relationships in the real world in coffee shops across America! Join In!

Today social media is all about transparency ~ transparency is the new black! TalkCharlotte is now well – known on Twitter follow us, Facebook become a fan and of course we’ve been right here a leader in real estate/community blogging.

Many say all this social networking is nonsense, a waste of time or worse. I can appreciate that and it can be a time drain but I also believe that social networking is here to stay and will evolve nicely. Where I think people go wrong is making it too much, sometimes ALL about themselves, their ideas, their links, their stories, their cat… (icanhascheezburger truly for the cat lovers, serious cat lovers)

Want social media to work for you? Replace these two words ME & NETWORK with these three YOU & CONNECT & ENGAGE and you will thrive in the “social media space” (been waiting to use some geek speak) You’ll enjoy the interactions, the learning and you will see time wasted will become time treasured.

Oh but there are rules, manners and well this video says it best….“suggest you not friend Donna Whitehouse” just saying…

Authored by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

TalkCharlotte…Much More than a Hunch!

May 21st, 2009 categories: Our Charlotte Realtors

Here’s the story…(yes go ahead and click) ~ you know you want to! OK so maybe comparing the Charlotte real estate market to the Brady Bunch is a stretch BUT hey these days we could all use a dose of that fabled Brady mirth!

I’ve been mostly a fly on the wall the last few years writing this blog and watching my wife Rhonda build her very successful real estate business. Along the way Donna has built TalkCharlotte into something very special. I’ve learned three things:

1. Being a good Realtor® is hard, very hard work
   
2. It is not about us. (Marcia, Marcia, Marcia…)
3. It is all about you.
   

So how does a Brady infused team picture make this about you? It doesn’t. But look at the pictures, the smiles, the eyes ~ Donna, Betsy, Rhonda, Blake, Jackie and Michael are on a mission to change the way things are done, to think different. Sure things are tough and while the world is focused, obsessed with foreclosures, median home values, short sales, making a killing or not losing your shirt ~ we are taking things back to the basics….helping YOU buy or sell a home on the best terms and at a value that actually allows you to sleep soundly in that new home!  Along the way we’re also going to be putting the FUN back into buying or selling a home. We’re really good at working with people who remember the excitement and delight of finding the perfect home. Those homes are out there now more than ever.
And that is all about you!

We hope you enjoy our new identity we think it reflects our personality(s) and our vision for Charlotte Real Estate and that’s…much more than a hunch!

Authored by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

Uptown Charlotte in High Definition and Moving Fast

May 20th, 2009 categories: Great Neighborhoods

Just a very cool, very well done trip through uptown Charlotte at Night. Charlotte is Moving Fast!

Courtesy of Charlotte’s own Rob Armstrong check him out here.

Authored by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

Can Teddy Roosevelt Help Your Sell Your Home? WYCWYAWYH

May 14th, 2009 categories: Selling your home

OK, Teddy was not a Charlotte  Realtor-

but he did profess a legacy of self reliance and fortitude that comes in pretty handy in today’s real estate market. And one of his best quotes serves as timely advice for today’s home seller….

Do
What You Can,
Where You Are (with)
What You Have.

OK you’re thinking Mike’s finally jumped the shark (do click)…how is a Teddy Roosevelt quote going to help me sell my home? In this market (really any market) the key to selling a home is differentiation. How do I make my home stand out? How do I get more showings? How do I connect with home buyers? How does this home become the home!

At TalkCharlotte we are putting a new spin on helping you selling your home

~ actually we’re taking a step back, going back to the basics. We’re helping people share their HomeStory! Did you know, most people decide if they will buy a home BEFORE they step through the front door. Curb Appeal is (still) King! I should clarify that is not to say people buy a home without considering the inside, they absolutely do but most often the inside is but a validation (enjoy!) of the opinion they developed as they walked up to the front door. It’s why so often the decision to buy  seems to be confirmed right there in the foyer! Love often works that way too ~ right Rhonda….honey?

So let’s backtrack ~ what is a Charlotte  home seller to do? Ya’ know you never get a second chance to make a first impression ~ so you gotta make the front of your home dazzle! We suggest a WYCWYAWYH Makeover. Since acronyms are all the rage so we came up with our own WYCWYAWYH it means ~ Do what you can, where you are (with) what you have ~ for your home.

By all means do the big things, get your home pre-inspected, paint the inside and out, replace the roof but also do the little things. Little things like the following:

• Spread fresh, quality pine straw (no pine bark nuggets)
• Spray paint hand rails, wrought iron
• Cut/remove and /or trim selected trees and shrubs
• Plant flowers or add clay pots with flowers
• Powerwash walls, sidewalks and driveways
• Replace/ add front door hardware, address numbers
• Paint front door and shutters

These are little things that you can do, right where you are, with what you (mostly) already have or can buy for under a couple hundred dollars….or less! Little things that will make a huge difference. Sandy Phillips our colleague and friend does a really nice job with her First Impression Staging if you need a little coaching/prodding (704-277-5141)

Check out the WYCWYAWYH Makeover we did recently for one of our Myers Park listings Secret to Selling Your Home? Get a geranium and then just yesterday talk about small I spent two hours and $40 bucks* on  this 1760 Forest Side Lane makeover on behalf of Rhonda’s “out of town” seller (*we lent the decorative garden fencing). I think you’ll agree the result is an inviting, warm look that stands out (from the three other similar townhomes for sale) and will have buyers ready to buy before they open the front door!

Before…

After…

Do what you can, where you are, with what you have ~ good advice for selling your home and living your life!
Thanks Teddy!

Authored by Mike Gibbons | Discussion: Your Comments Please »

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