Archive for February 10th, 2010

Million Dollar Clients* at Amelie’s French Bakery

February 10th, 2010 categories: Buying your Home, Charlotte Living

Yes…Amelie’s French Bakery is that good! Tucked in Charlotte’s trendy but un-stuffy NODA this is the place to read your favorite book (or mine), unwind with a few friends, break all those nutty new years resolutions – see who and what’s hot in Charlotte’s social media scene…or DRUMROLL pick up a million dollar client.*

* OK I dropped by Amelie’s couple Fridays ago to catch up on some blogging and within five minutes of settling in with my croissant (chocolate) YUMMO and coffee  – my phone rings and TADA a new client wants to see million dollar homes in South Charlotte – so of course I told them they’d have to wait until I finished my croissant (the blogging could wait)…

Watch Amelie’s Sandy Hattendorf describe this little “pastry oasis” and see if you don’t get just a little affamé…..

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 3 Comments »

The Realtor Killer iPhone App and Why We’re Not Dead Yet

February 10th, 2010 categories: Buying your Home

We knew it was coming; first stockbrokers, then music, soon newspapers and now Realtors! The internet(s) +  Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com wounded Realtors and now an iPhone App has delivered the mortal blow! Kinda.

Check out this short video and then let’s discuss…

Pretty cool huh? I think so – I use Realtor.com on my iPhone! So if you’re looking to buy a home in Charlotte you don’t need a Realtor anymore…right? Well you’d be half (maybe a third) right. You don’t need a Realtor to explore homes and neighborhoods (never did) but now you can explore more powerfully – tools like the Realtor.com app, Google Maps and apps like Homelikes give YOU the power of information and GPS makes it all so efficient….Hey, I like this neighborhood what else is for sale around me..click!

Here’s the rub and this is going to freak out a whole lot of Realtors – “We’re losing control of the information!”, “Why don’t you search for homes on my website!” (those horses left the barn so long ago the farmer sold the barn and bought a condo in Boca!) There’s more to the rub though and Realtors DO have a point – the good ones know it never really was about controlling the information so much as helping clients (yes people like you) manage and understand it. There are lots of homes/townhomes/condos/lots for sale – over 25,000 in Charlotte on any given day! Most are nice, some are dogs, many are gems and any one could be perfect for you – sorting the information, local knowledge and experience is what matters! (and that is not available from any app – yet!)

So are Realtors dead or not?….part time, dispassionate, uninformed real estate agents are (or will be shortly) gone for good. In their place is emerging a reinvigorated / new class of professional, informed and knowledgeable advocates who can walk clients through the increasingly complex transaction that is buying or selling a home. Tools like the Realtor.com app or those to come are welcome additions to those of us who understand the incredible value a Realtor brings and confident enough to cultivate intelligent and informed clients!

Oh and one thing if you find a house you like please don’t call Mary at Century 21…(hey remember like I said we’re not dead yet!)

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 1 Comment »