Charleston Real Estate Podcast with Jeff Cook

Here are some simple ways to keep your energy costs low this summer.   As South Carolina temperatures rise, so do our monthly energy bills. Here are a few tips to help you stay cool and keep those costs low. Maximizing the efficiency of your cooling system is vital to reducing your energy bills. Clearing out an A/C filter can save you 5% to 15% on your energy bills and keep you from needing costly repairs. The easiest way to cut down on energy costs is to be outdoors. Cutting back on the use of lights, A/C, water hearing, and cooking will save you more money throughout the day.  “You can save money by conserving energy for the rooms you are in.” Rather than turning off your electronics when not in use, consider completely unplugging them if possible. Most electronics continue to consume energy even when they aren’t turned on. Fans won’t decrease the temps in a room, but air circulation is a must for hot days. Remember to close doors and A/C vents in rooms you’re not using. You can easily save money by conserving energy for the rooms that you’re in. By implementing these tips, you’ll save on your energy bills this summer. If you have any questions or are ready to buy or sell a home, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Here’s what could happen to your home affordability by waiting to buy. When deciding whether now is the right time to buy or sell a home, it’s important to consider the interest rates. The cost of waiting to purchase a home or refinance your current home loan could be significant if rates increase. Every 1% increase in rates causes you to lose 10% in purchasing power. If you qualify for $300,000 today, you could only afford a $270,000 house if rates went up 1%. Timing is everything, and you could see your monthly payment drop hundreds if you make your move quickly while rates are still low.  We understand that making decisions about your home is a big deal, and we don’t take that lightly. Our team of local experts stays up to date on market trends and gives you the resources you need to make the best decisions on when to refinance, buy, or sell a home. If you have any questions for me about buying, selling, or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Our second-annual Jeff Cook Cares golf event is just around the corner.   We at Jeff Cook Real Estate strive to give back to our local community. This year, we’re holding our second-annual Jeff Cook Cares golf tournament on April 5 at Coosaw Creek Country Club in North Charleston. We’re so excited to partner with Chair The Love for this event. They’re an organization that provides wheelchairs and mobility equipment for those in need and all proceeds from the tournament will go to support their mission.   If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor for the event,visit our website to register today. If you have any additional questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on April 5!

Here are a few of the benefits you can see by refinancing with these rates.   Have you considered the amount of money you can save by refinancing your home? A mortgage refinance replaces your current home loan with new terms, including a new interest rate, a new mortgage length, and even a new type of loan. We can connect you with a trusted lender to help you begin the process of refinancing today while rates are low, which could allow you to have a lower monthly mortgage payment, pay off debt, and close in less than 30 days. Before you refinance, it’s important to determine your goal. Are you looking to save on your monthly payment? Do you need cash to pay off debt? Once you’re able to determine your goal, you’ll be able to begin the process of refinancing and give yourself the opportunity to reshape your loan to better fit your financial goals.  If you have any questions for us about refinancing or anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email today. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

You’ve made all this positive change possible   It’s been an amazing year for Jeff Cook Cares. 2020 was full of unexpected challenges, and there was no shortage of needs to fill in the community. We’re proud to announce that, with your help, we were able to raise a total of $70,000 to build seven homes in Peru and Nicaragua for families in need! Our golf tournament alone brought in $8,400 for Buy a Home, Give a Home. When disaster struck, Jeff Cook Cares volunteers contributed 500 hours toward tornado relief efforts. To see a highlight reel of everything we were able to accomplish this year, watch this short video.

Here’s a handy checklist for home maintenance to ensure its health.   Have you been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately? As a homeowner, it can sometimes be a struggle to keep up with home maintenance tasks. Today we’re sharing a simple guide to consider a resource when giving your home a maintenance check-up. “We suggest hiring professional cleaners at least once a year.” 1. Visual check-up. Visible deterioration of a house’s exterior is a sign that something needs to be repaired. Give the outside of your home a visual check-up for noticeable indicators of structural damage, including the driveway and sidewalks. Check the roof for any shingles that need to be replaced and the gutters for blockages. Give your house a thorough cleaning by hiring a power washer. This will help protect it from built-up residue over time. 2. Assess the health of major appliances. These include the refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, stove, and more. Also, don’t forget the HVAC and plumbing systems.  3. Clean. We suggest hiring professional cleaners at least once a year to keep carpets and hardwood floors looking brand new. Check for any stains indicating leaks within your home, and call a professional if you see anything abnormal.  4. Check the alarm systems. This includes smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers.  Your home is one of the largest investments you’ll make in your lifetime, so take the steps to care for it. We recommend continued monitoring of your house for any signs of damage.  Let us know if you need our recommended list of the best vendors in your area. If you have any questions or you’re ready to sell, give us a call or send an email. We would love to help you.

You can never be too prepared for hurricane season; check out these reminders.   Hurricane season in the Carolinas is no joke, and over the past few years we’ve had our fair share of serious threats. Hurricane season officially lasts from June through November, but its peak lasts from August through October.  Our first tip is to review your local area’s evacuation plan; follow your favorite local news channel on Facebook to get live updates on dangerous incoming weather.  The rule of thumb is to prepare for 48 hours without electricity. Make a storm kit that includes non-perishable food; snacks; batteries; flashlights; a first aid kit; a radio; and bottle water in case of emergency.  “Gather important documents such as insurance forms so you know exactly what your policy will cover.” Locate the water, gas and electricity shut-offs in your home. By staying familiar with your utility shut-off points, you can act quickly when local officials tell you to turn off your gas.  If the power goes out at your home, be sure to unplug all appliances to prevent a power surge. Board up your windows and place sandbags at your home’s entrances to help guard against flooding and bring all outdoor furniture and grills inside before the storm gets too powerful.  Lastly, gather important documents such as insurance forms so you know exactly what your policy will cover. Keep these documents in your storm kit so they’re readily available in the case of damage.  At Jeff Cook Real Estate, we care about providing you with resources that help you stay safe and keep your home in its best condition. For more information, visit jeffcookrealestate.com or give us a call with any questions you may have!

Imagine receiving MORE money for your home than you thought was ever possible. This is a reality for the real estate market in 2020! Families just like yours have continued to buy and sell homes even throughout the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and are profiting. We’re sure you’ve wondered when a great time of the year is to make the move and put your home on the market. And you may be ready to list after spending 2 months cooped up inside! After an analysis of 33.6 million home sales within the last nine years, we’ve concluded that homes listed during the summer months receive better offers!  On these days in June, we have seen sellers enjoy up to 10.5% premium above market value!! For example, on average the median estimated value for homes was around $184,000 while the median sales price was around $204,000. That’s an opportunity for an additional $20,000 profit from selling your home during the summer months! At Jeff Cook Real Estate, we keep up with the real estate market trends and letting our clients know when it’s the best time to sell your home. With buyer demand higher than ever, sellers have the upper hand to make more of a profit when they choose to sell. Our local experts will guide you through the home selling process to make sure that your home is sold fast and for top dollar. Give us a call to partner with an agent today!

Despite the pandemic, we have the tools to help you sell quickly and for top dollar.   Many things have changed over the past few months, especially the amount of time people have been staying inside their homes. Due to the pandemic, people have been keeping safe by staying indoors and completing long-overdue DIY projects. If you’ve realized that you’re ready to upsize and sell your home but aren’t sure whether it’s the right time, Jeff Cook Real Estate can help. One of the main differences we’ve noticed is that people are viewing this as temporary and aren’t as fearful of spending their money. Families continue to buy and sell throughout the lockdown because they see the benefit of having a new home.  “Jeff Cook Real Estate’s brand recognition could be the just the right next step to selling your home quickly and for top dollar.” With so many new listings hitting the market, it’s important to make sure you have the right tools to help your home stand out from the crowd. Jeff Cook Real Estate’s brand recognition could be the just the right next step to selling your home quickly and for top dollar. In April, the average home sale price in Charleston was $290,000, which is a 7% increase compared to last year.  The main way the pandemic has affected the real estate industry in how we do business. Real estate experts everywhere have had to rethink their buying and selling process in order to continue serving their community safely. Our team has changed the way we interact with our clients and push each deal to a close. The safety measures we’ve implemented have made it possible to continue helping clients in our community buy or sell homes.  So if you’re ready to buy now, give us a call today. We’d love to help.

If you haven’t already joined our Facebook group, you should! Here’s what you need to know.   Did you know that we have a Facebook group built specifically for our past clients? If you have any questions, you should join us! At Jeff Cook Real Estate, we’re devoted to serving you to the best of our abilities, even after the deal is done. It’s often the case with real estate transactions that after finalizing the paperwork, folks find themselves with a few unanswered questions.   “If you have questions, you should join us!” So we’ve created a Facebook group where you can interact with agents in real-time to answer all your questions. When you join you’ll have access to our agent’s expertise and years of real estate knowledge. Stay up to date with our current marketing campaigns, real estate trends, and upcoming events created especially to celebrate you. On Facebook, search “JCRE Family and Friends” to join our group, or click the link below.  So if you haven’t joined our Facebook group yet, you should! Thank you for being a part of our JCRE family! Click here to join our Facebook group!  If you ever have any real estate needs, please reach out to us via phone or email. We would love to help you.

Joining JCRE changed Whitney Muncey’s life. Here’s how.   Whitney Muncey began her career with Jeff Cook Real Estate in 2017. Since that time, her life has changed in so many ways. Joining our team has not only lifted a big financial burden off her shoulders, but it has also allowed her to set her own schedule so she can be present with her family when she needs to. Whitney is also a huge part of our training. During your first week, she will teach you how to prospect, how to manage your database, and how to present to buyers and sellers. Her favorite thing about working on our team is getting to work with and meet so many different families. “She will teach you how to prospect, manage your database, and present to buyers and sellers.” If you’re considering jumping into a real estate career, there are a few different questions you’ll need to ask your prospective employer, including how they are investing in you and whether they offer any type of training. Finally, what is their culture like? Will people be there to help you become a better person and a better agent? If you’re interested in beginning the process of joining us, head on over to our website. If you have any other questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out and give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

I’ve been with Jeff Cook for over a year now. I left corporate America after struggling to find some sort of work/life balance that also met my financial goals.  Today, I’m at Hutchinson Square, where there is beautiful shopping and delicious restaurants—and thanks to Jeff Cook Real Estate, I’ve also sold tons of houses in the area. I love getting to know my clients and helping to find them a home they love that’s within their budget. As an agent on Jeff’s team, I’m encouraged to do whatever it takes to give our clients an amazing experience. I always want to ensure that my clients have a complete understanding of the home they’re considering, so I like to bring my drone on showings. If my clients have a question about the roof, I simply send up the drone to give them a bird’s-eye view and to help them make an informed decision. “One of the benefits of being an agent with Jeff Cook Real Estate is that we get to have a flexible schedule.” One of the benefits of being an agent with Jeff Cook Real Estate is that we get to have a flexible schedule, which not only means spending time with our family, but also receiving free, market-generated leads.  Joining the Jeff Cook Real Estate Team helps you set yourself up for success. They’ll put you through a seven-day success school, compliments of the brokerage, which helps you build your real estate career. If you want to join a winning team with winning goals, visit www.JoinJCRE.com or give us a call at 855-HEY-JEFF. You’ll be glad you did!  

Today’s message is very special. Why? Well, instead of telling you ourselves what makes Jeff Cook Real Estate so great, we brought on a past client to describe her experience working with our team. Justa Tumminia heard about us from another past client, who was a friend of hers. Justa wasn’t entirely sure she was ready to sell her home but decided to give us a try. And, as you’ll hear her say in her testimonial, she was extremely glad she did. We were able to help her clarify her goals and, once her mind was made up to sell, we got her property under contract within 24 hours of sticking a sign in the yard. “You’re not only getting a professional agent […] you’re also getting a family,” says Justa Tumminia. “You’ve got a whole team behind you.” To hear Justa Tumminia’s full testimonial, watch this short video. 

Millennials currently make up the largest generation of homebuyers in our market, so it’s important that you know what they’re looking for in a home. Here’s how to attract them to your listing: 1. Be technologically friendly. Have hookups for electronics such as TVs, entertainment centers, and computers. In addition, consider installing thermostats and security systems that can be accessed via smartphone. “Let them add their own personality to the home.” 2. Leave room for DIY. Let them add their own personality to the home. Lower your price and leave some of the easy fixes for them to do. 3. Go green. Use environmentally friendly paint with fewer toxins. Consider installing energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs as well. Millennials are buying homes at considerable numbers this year, and even more will soon be jumping into the market. If you want more information on how to appeal to millennials or you have any other real estate needs, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Jeff Cook Real Estate is known for our whimsical and creative billboards. People are always looking forward to what we come up with next, but after the billboards come down, that’s it.  This got us thinking: How can we continue to use our billboards to answer people’s question, “What will they do next?” With that in mind, Jeff Cook Cares has officially launched its vinyl backpack initiative. We’re recycling our billboard vinyl into backpacks, and for every Jeff Cook backpack you purchase, another will be given away for free to a child in need at a Title 1 school. Every backpack is unique, and you’ll be contributing to a child’s education.  “Every backpack is unique, and you’ll be contributing to a child’s education.” You might be thinking it’s a stretch to say that a backpack will help a child learn, but they’re more important than they appear. Having a place to put their books is a key in helping them stay organized, focused, and motivated in the classroom. It doesn’t hurt that they get to sport a one-of-a-kind backpack, either.  These backpacks fit students of all ages, but they’re not limited to students—you can use the backpack you keep for anything.  To purchase your very own backpack and help a child in need, visit JeffCookCares.com.  If you have any questions about this initiative, feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email. We’d be glad to help.

  Nowadays, more and more people are freelancing, working multiple part-time jobs, and even working from home. When it’s time to purchase a home, however, it may seem impossible to do so while maintaining a flexible work lifestyle. Fortunately, there are three simple ways to ensure your home buying dreams can still come true: 1. Organize relevant documents. Gather your bank statements, pay stubs, proof of employment, and references. Getting your life on paper is key to getting approval from your mortgage lender. 2. Explain what you do. What is it you actually do for a living? Be prepared to explain this to your lender; help them understand you’re worth investing in. Lenders like stability and reliability. Even if you’ve found yourself hopping between jobs, at least show them that you’re sticking with the same industry or using a consistent skill set. “Getting your life on paper is key to getting approval from your mortgage lender.” 3. Keep your debt low. The deeper in debt you are, the worse you look. Why would a lender owe you money when you already owe a lot to others? By paying off your debt and keeping it at a low level, you’ll find your credit score will rise. These two things will work together to help you get your mortgage approved. Taxes, debt, and credit scores can seem daunting, but we’re here to help you throughout every step of the home buying process. If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Need ideas for something to do with a small space in your home? Try these three great, easy tips:  1. Choosing the right paint. Using colors like neutrals, whites, creams, and grays can make a room feel larger than it really is. Pairing the right lighting and paint color is also very important; be sure to choose lighting that will enhance your colors, and avoid those bulbs and colors that cause glares. “Be sure to choose lighting that will enhance your colors, and avoid those bulbs and colors that cause glares.” 2. Use high shelving in closets for those rarely used items. Also utilize high ceilings and walls for guitars, surfboards, or any item that can double as decoration. 3. Use furniture for storage. Don’t have a lot of floor space? Use tables and benches with hidden storage compartments. Crates, boxes, and containers that are low in depth but wide are great for under-bed storage. If you’re looking for a new home, check out our inventory on www.JeffCookRealEstate.com, and feel free to reach out to us for any questions you have.

We want to wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Thank you for everything you’ve done for us throughout 2018—we wouldn’t be where we are without you. We hope you’re able to share and receive plenty of joy with those you care about this holiday season. We’ll see you next year! 

To have a successful holiday home sale, you need to make sure you show your home in its best possible light. Here are a few tips to help you do just that: 1. Create appealing aromas. Scents like apple pie, cookies, and cinnamon are popular, but avoid using artificial fragrances like perfumes or candles that may affect a buyer’s allergies. 2. Offer warm treats. Follow up your delightful aroma with tasty treats like freshly baked cookies. This will allow the buyer more time in the home to feel welcomed and visualize how living there could be. “Comfort is truly the key to making a buyer feel as though they belong in your home.” 3. Make the home bright. A bright home is a sold home. Turn on the lights, open the curtains, and allow in as much natural light as possible. Amber-colored bulbs in your fixtures will also give a warm glow that’s perfect for fall and winter. 4. Play uplifting music. Silence during the winter months can come across eerily to buyers and make your home seem empty. Play soft instrumental music in the background to make the buyer feel invited, and it may even trigger a “where do I sign” mood in them. 5. Emphasize comfort. Luxurious blankets, tablecloths, and even soft pillows make a home seem a bit more inviting. Comfort is truly the key to making a buyer feel as though they belong in your home. If you follow these tips, you’re setting yourself up for a successful sale this holiday season. With a Jeff Cook Real Estate agent, you can also ensure that you’ll find the home you’ve always dreamed of. Visit https://www.jeffcookrealestate.com/ to search available homes, and check out our home value tab to see what your home could sell for in today’s real estate market. Until then, feel free to reach out to us for any questions you have.

Today we’re excited to introduce one of Jeff Cook Real Estate’s amazing team members: Brad Williams. Brad usually starts his day bright and early at 6 a.m. with a hot cup of coffee and a trip to the gym to get his energy levels up. In his words, “coffee equals contracts.” Of course, even the most motivated individual still needs the right environment to thrive. Before coming to Jeff Cook Real Estate, Brad was working on his own. He was doing a few deals a year, sure, but he wasn’t seeing the level of success he knew he was capable of. When he came to us in 2016, everything changed. He began producing at a much higher level almost right away. In fact, he sold over $12 million in sales volume and was named “Agent of the Year” within his first full year on our team. Better yet, Brad was able to do all of this without having to shell out any business expenses. Not having to pay money upfront for marketing is one of the things he loves most about working with us. We offer our agents the resources, support, and financial freedom they need to succeed. “If you’re ready to take control of your future and steer your life and career toward the success you deserve, don’t hesitate to reach out.” And this is just a small glimpse into what sets us apart from the industry standard. Our agents are also highly knowledgeable about recent trends and statistics, meaning they’re able to help our clients earn the best possible deals as they navigate the market. At the end of the day, Brad is living proof of what’s possible for real estate professionals who join our team. He went from selling just a handful of homes to nearly 50 a year, and his career isn’t the only area of his life that’s been transformed. He’s also now a successful real estate investor, as well.Joining us has allowed him to have the life he’s always dreamed of—living on a beautiful island, visiting Mt. Pleasant in his free time, and working at a great brokerage that makes it all possible. With all of that said, we’ve got some great news: We’re hiring. If you’re ready to take control of your future and steer your life and career toward the success you deserve, don’t hesitate to reach out. After all, in Brad’s words, “Joining Jeff Cook Real Estate has opened a lot of doors for me, and it can for you too.” You can learn more about our team and the opportunity to join us by visiting www.joinjcre.com. If you have any other questions or would like more information, please give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

With all of the holiday noise and Black Friday messages flooding your inbox, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say Happy Thanksgiving from the Jeff Cook Real Estate Team. I know that I personally am so grateful for my amazing family: My incredible wife, Sarah, my two children, Ava and Jason, and our dog, Johnny. I’d also like to give you a challenge. It’s very easy to get caught up in everything going on during the hustle and bustle around this time of year, but I’d like you to pick one person you know and one person you don’t know and lift their spirits this Thanksgiving. “We are better together when we love and encourage one another.” Not everybody is as fortunate as we are to have a great holiday season, so it’s important to make sure everybody knows that they’re appreciated. At Jeff Cook Real Estate, this is our mission. This means that my job as the team leader is to empower my team so that we can empower the whole community. We are truly better together when we love one another and encourage each other. Again, I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Enjoy your time with your friends and family and don’t eat too much turkey!

Starting a career in real estate can be easier than you may think. If you’re tenacious, have a go-getter attitude, and are interested in taking your life and business to the next level, then entering the real estate industry might be the best next step for you. In real estate, the sky’s the limit. You can make however much you like in this career, so long as you’re willing to put the time and energy into earning it. To illustrate what we mean, take the example of one of our team’s new agents: Rebecca West. “Even after having been with us for only just a little over a week now, Rebecca has already begun to see what a career with Jeff Cook Real Estate can provide.” Even after having been with us for only just a little over a week now, Rebecca has already begun to see what a career with Jeff Cook Real Estate can provide. “Joining Jeff Cook Real Estate has changed my life, because I’m excited to get up in the morning and go to work,” says Rebecca, adding that she “cannot picture a better agency to work for.” Rebecca’s success story has already been absolutely amazing, and, right now, we’d like to extend the opportunity for you to see the same life-changing results as she has. If you’re looking to get started on your own success story with Jeff Cook Real Estate, visit www.joinjcre.com to learn more. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

When potential homebuyers are looking to be approved for a home loan, there are a few questions and concerns I often receive. “What about my credit score? My money saved? My down payment? Will I even be able to afford the monthly payment?” How do these factors affect your chances of approval? Today, you’ll find your answers. You will typically need: Employment by the same company for at least two years $4,000 to $6,000 in savings A credit score of at least 620 Let’s say you can only check off the first two boxes. There’s no need to worry, as banks can often provide you with a conditional loan approval. With this, you’ll have time over the following months to work with your banker, raise your credit score, and eventually be issued your home loan. “A mixture of down payments, monthly payments, credit scores, and time employed influences how much of each factor is needed for home loan approval.” We have partners at Tabor Mortgage who are more than happy to tailor a plan for your personal financial situation. They’ll put you on track toward homeownership—determining how large your home could be, what you can afford, what your down payments and interest will be, and ensuring you receive a safe, fixed-rate mortgage. You will find out exactly what you can afford. Do you have extra money saved to go toward a down payment? This is a compensating factor, which may mean you can lower the requirement of a two-year concurrent employment. These scenarios create many different outcomes—a mixture of down payments, monthly payments, credit scores, and time employed influences how much of each factor is needed for home loan approval. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but if you have two out of three, there are definitely options for getting approved. If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to contact me through phone or email. I look forward to helping you.

Today we’d like to share the amazing success story of one of our team members: Julia Umoren. Before coming to Jeff Cook Real Estate in March of 2018, Julia was working in one of the largest hair replacement centers in Atlanta. According to her, this transition has transformed her life and career for the better. In fact, the move to a successful career in real estate has propelled her toward personal real estate success, as well. Julia is about to purchase her own home, all thanks to her hard work with our team. There have been day-to-day changes for Julia, too—like the fact that she now has more time with her family. “With our top-quality training and a culture that is second-to-none, Jeff Cook Real Estate makes the transition into real estate seamless and simple for first-time agents.” Also, while Julia says those entering a real estate career should have savings built up to draw on while they adjust to their new path, she also says that Jeff Cook Real Estate is one of the best places for new agents to dive into the industry. With our top-quality training and a culture that is second-to-none, Jeff Cook Real Estate makes the transition into real estate seamless and simple for first-time agents. Even in just the few months Julia has been with us so far, she has already sold three homes and has two more currently under contract. Getting to know the families she works with and helping them find the perfect home is what Julia says is her favorite part of being an agent. So if you, too, are looking to help families find homes, while working in a family atmosphere yourself, visit www.joinjcre.com. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sometimes, homeowners may fail to notice the parts of their property that are outdated or in need of repair. It’s easy to overlook issues in one’s own home. However, when it comes time to list, homeowners should realize that the buyers they’re bringing in will certainly notice these flaws. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can boost your home’s value before you sell, and today I’ll be sharing four of the most effective: 1. Update the bathroom. Changing out hardware like towel racks or the knobs on cabinets can be an inexpensive way to give your bathroom a facelift. Or, if money permits, upgrading your tile can be even more beneficial. “Even before stepping foot in your home, buyers will judge what they expect to find inside by how your property looks on the outside.” 2. Update your home’s lighting. Good lighting can instantly make rooms appear larger and more welcoming. So before you list, take some time to assess the lighting fixtures throughout your home. Replace any burnt out bulbs, and, if necessary, swap out a few fixtures for newer, more luminous ones. Speaking of lighting, mounted lighting strips beneath cabinets can be a great addition. Buyers love this simple feature. 3. Repaint as needed. Giving the home a fresh coat of paint will make it appear bright and clean. Even just the smell of fresh paint can help leave buyers with a positive impression of your home. However, make sure you stick to light, neutral colors, and that you also update your trim. 4. Fix up the home’s landscaping and curb appeal. Even before stepping foot in your home, buyers will judge what they expect to find inside by how your property looks on the outside. A freshly mowed yard, well-trimmed landscaping, and the addition of darkly colored mulch will all go a long way in boosting your home’s curb appeal. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.

David Carter joined our real estate team in October 2016. Since then, he has found great success and he joined us recently to tell us how.   We have an amazing real estate team that’s been in business for 15 years. Whether you already have a real estate license or not, I’d like to talk to you today about our team and why we’ve been so successful. We help our real estate agents become successful by providing the systems, marketing, leads, processes, presentations, and operations that they need. If you’re interested in learning in how you could have a six-figure income and truly get paid for the amount of effort and work that you put in, then you need to learn just a little bit more about this opportunity. Instead of listening to what I have to say, listen to what a very successful agent on our team has to say. David Carter started with us in October 2016 after working at an hourly job where he was spending 80 to 90 hours of his week. He was tired of the grind and needed to have more time to spend with his family, so he joined our team. “David has found both personal and professional success with our team.” Now, David sets his own schedule, makes the most use of his time, and is excited about the opportunity for growth he has on the Jeff Cook Team. In his first full year, he sold 17 houses. This year, his goal is to double that to 34. His advice for anybody who is looking around at different agencies and trying to decide which one to join? The biggest thing you need to look for is culture. Do you like the people that you’re going to be working with? You also want to make sure that whoever is in charge of the company is invested in your success. David’s decision to join us was a big leap of faith for him. Looking back, he can say that it was a fantastic decision and he’s really glad he made it. If you have any questions for me about our team or want to learn more about how we can help you take your career to the next level, visit us at our website today.

Today we are going to talk about the three reasons staging your home is one of the keys to getting it sold quickly and for top dollar. 1. A staged home helps you have better listing photos. The very first showing is not whenever potential buyers come into your home to look around, but instead when they look online. By having your home staged with furniture, it allows us to showcase your home better online so that buyers are more likely to come and look at it. 2. A staged home helps buyers know how they would live in the space. Buyers want to see how they would live in your home. However, they sometimes have a very tough time trying to imagine where to put their own TV and bed. By having your home staged, it allows buyers to easily see where they may be able to put their own things, which helps sell your home faster. “Buyers want to see how they would live in your home.” 3. A staged home helps you stand out from the competition. When a home is photographed while vacant, small issues like worn carpet and nicks in the wall will be more apparent. A well-staged listing is far more likely to earn top dollar than one that has been left bare. I encourage you to get your home staged. We have a wonderful vendor list for this that includes Miss Shannon Hawkins of Refresh Your Nest. You can visit her website here to learn more. If you have any additional questions about staging or are interested in buying or selling, please feel free to contact me by phone or email. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

If you’re curious about how we went from 100 to 200 to 500 to 1,000 home sales per year in just a few short years, I’m here today to tell you how. Over the past 15 years, we’ve used a precise, very simple system to grow our business to over 100 agents and an average of 97 transactions per month, allowing us to serve over 1,000 families per year. Because so many people have been asking how we’ve done it, we are inviting you to be part of “Inside JCRE” to see what being on this team actually looks like. “We want to give everyone the opportunity to learn what we’ve learned.” This event will allow you to learn the ins and outs of my company. You’ll hear from team members, vendors, and myself about how we became one of the top real estate teams in the entire country. We’ll also have a number of breakout sessions, ranging in topic from lead generation to lead conversion, ISA management, recruiting agents, marketing tactics, investing, expansion, and so much more. We aim to give everyone the opportunity to learn what we’ve learned in the real estate business to empower real estate agents all over the country to be able to take their vision for their company and make it a reality. The “Inside JCRE” event may just be the change that you’re looking for. For more information, visit insidejcre.com. If you have any other questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

We’ve got an amazing real estate team that’s been in business for 15 years, and now our team has an opportunity for you. Whether you’re already a licensed agent or not, I’d like to talk to you about what joining our team could do for your life and career. We help our real estate agents be successful by providing marketing, leads, processes, presentations, back-end support staff, and more. So if you’re interested in getting paid what you deserve for your efforts and skills, and earning a six-figure income as a result, you’re going to want to hear more about what we’ve got to offer. But don’t take my word for it. Instead, listen to what Christopher Schiffiano (one of the amazing agents on our team) has to say. “Before I came to Jeff Cook Real Estate, I was in the United States Army. After my term was up there, I went into real estate in the Florida market. When I decided to come home, where I was born and bred, Charleston, South Carolina, I joined the Jeff Cook Real Estate team.” “Here at Jeff Cook Real Estate, we have many ways to get you to your success.” “In my first year of real estate, I sold 18 homes. My second year, I sold 20, and my goal continues to grow from that point. Working for Jeff Cook Real Estate over the years has changed my life in such a way where I can set personal goals and achieve them. A lot of times people get into real estate and they don’t have a way of making goals because they’re too worried about getting their first deal, trying to find an office to work for. With Jeff Cook Real Estate, from day one, you start your success path.” “My favorite part of working with Jeff Cook Real Estate is the comradery and the family environment. There is not a day that goes by that you can’t walk into an office and see someone and they ask you about how all your kids are doing or how school is. There is definitely a family environment and I definitely challenge you to compare this aspect to other big-box offices.” “People always say you have to spend money to make money, with Jeff Cook Real Estate, a lot of that pressure is taken off of you. There are times I’ve worked for other agencies where you had to generate your own business; you had to generate your own work. Being with Jeff, we are able to come in here and automatically start making money.” “Here at Jeff Cook Real Estate, we have many ways to get you to your success.” Now that you’ve had a look at Christopher’s success story, I encourage you to visit www.JoinJCRE.com to learn more about this opportunity and set up an appointment. If you have any other questions or would like more information, please reach out. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

The home selling process can be an emotional nightmare. We know this. Therefore, we’ve prepared a comprehensive strategy on how to help you navigate the twists and turns of selling a property. 1. Take time to choose the right agent. You’ll want to make sure that you choose an agent who you feel comfortable with, one who has a proven track record of selling lots of homes. We market for buyers all over the country who are relocating to our area. When you put your home on the market, we take those buyers and bring them to your house, marrying them into the perfect real estate transaction. That sounds simple, but most real estate agents will put your home on a whole bunch of websites to market it, meaning that they list your home before they find buyers. Before you even call us, we already have our buyer list put together so that when you do list, we’ll have buyers in mind already, allowing you to sell your home fast and for top dollar. “A pre-inspection is a way of showing your buyers that your home has a clean bill of health.”2. Get a pre-inspection. A pre-inspection is a way of showing your buyers that your home has a clean bill of health. Since a buyer will request an inspection anyway, getting one done before you list means you can preemptively make any repairs or upgrades. When they see your home in such good condition, they’ll feel more comfortable moving forward with the purchase of your home without having to do extra research and time-wasting activities.  3. Keep in constant communication with your agent. With us, we’ll have a conversation with you every Friday to update you on how the process is going, how we’re marketing your home, what activity is upcoming, and what’s happened so far. That way, you’re in the loop and you can enjoy the process of selling your home. If you’re interested in selling your home, we would love to talk with you and interview for the job, explaining our comprehensive process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us—it is our goal to eliminate your stress during your real estate transition.

Long-distance house hunting has a lot of similarities with long-distance relationships. It may seem scary at first, but it can be very rewarding in the end. Today I’d like to share a few tips on how you can purchase your forever home, even if you’re still living out of town. 1. Do your homework. You need to figure out what you’re looking for in a home. Things like price range and amenities are important, but the top factor you must determine is location, location, location. Our team would be happy to help you determine what kind of home you can afford, and then locate relevant properties based on the list of your top 10 wants and needs. 2. Find an experienced agent. It’s critically important for you to have professionals working on your behalf throughout the process. Jeff Cook Real Estate is more than qualified to meet this need. 3. Have a travel budget. Sure, we can Facetime or Skype you to bring you on virtual tours of homes, but chances are that you’ll want to check out your dream home in person. We can go ahead and write a contract before you arrive and make it contingent upon you viewing the home, or contingent upon you getting a home inspection. This ensures that you are protected and can back out of the deal if need be. “Using these tips will set you apart from the average homebuyer.” Using these tips will set you apart from the average homebuyer. They will help you find the best home, achieve an easy process, and stay protected throughout the transaction. If you have any other questions, would like more information, or want to know how my team and I can help you pursue your real estate goals, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

For our latest testimonial, we’re joined by Susie Shultz. Here’s her story. Susie has been with us since October 2014, when she moved here from Tennessee. She has a real estate marketing and property management background and has been working in that field for the last 12 years. Since joining us, she’s been able to triple her income. “Coming from a mediocre career which I was satisfied with, I had no idea the opportunity I could have in real estate,” Susie says. “I have five children, and to be able to provide for them in a way that I’ve never been able to before has been amazing. It’s been completely life-changing for me.” In her first full year, she sold 25 homes and ended up being named our Rookie of the Year. “I just did what Jeff told me to do, and it worked for me.” “I just did what Jeff told me to do, and it worked for me. When I came to Jeff Cook, they surrounded me and encouraged me constantly. I look forward every single day to coming to my office and being around these people, who are so encouraging and uplifting and supportive. That’s absolutely my favorite thing about my company.” If you’re interviewing with another company, Susie suggests asking them what type of training they provide and how often. What type of lead system do they have? How can they help you grow your business? Also, ask what type of culture they have. When you walk into the office, do you feel like you’re with an encouraging and supportive team? “I think that you’ll find a lot of these things here at our company, which has empowered me to just grow my business and become more successful. If you’re looking into getting into the real estate business or changing companies, I encourage you to look into Jeffcookrealestate.com. Check it out. See what we have to offer. For me, it was life-changing, and I bet it would be for you as well.” If you’d like to learn more about the Jeff Cook Real Estate Team or you’re interested in joining us, feel free to explore our website or reach out to us by phone or email. I’d be happy to speak with you.

Today I want to let you in on how to maximize what you earn for your home sale while minimizing your expenses. There are three key ways to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Use online marketing. With the power of the internet, your first showing is actually what buyers see online. Times have changed a little bit in this regard. My team and I can help you navigate through this marketing process. We feature your home across over a thousand websites to gain the maximum exposure for your home. Look at comparable homes. Examining home listings that are similar to yours can help you determine your own sale price. However, be careful with the figures you look at. Home values have been rapidly increasing lately. A $300,000 home is worth around $10,000 to $20,000 more now than it was a year ago. When you look at comparable homes that sold in the past six to 12 months, you have to factor in the 5% or 6% appreciation rate we’ve seen over that time. My team can help you with this. Not only can we look at what’s sold in the past, we can also predict how quickly inventory will move in various neighborhoods. “A little bit of money will go a long way in improving your home.” Make key home improvements. There are a few very simple, relatively inexpensive home improvements you can make to help maximize your sale. Did you know that, during showings, 80% of buyers make up their mind about whether they want to go into a home before they even exit their vehicle? This decision comes from the quality of your curb appeal, but also from the opinion they formed based on your online listing. A little bit of money will go a long way in improving your home. Make sure your home is clean and free of clutter both inside and out. If you have any other questions or would like more information feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Are you ready to buy a home but don’t know exactly where to start? We can help. Here are the top five steps you need to know in order to buy your forever dream home: 1. Check your credit score. It’s not so much that you need to have a score over 650 in order to get approved. If you have a credit score closer to 650 or 700, you can get a better interest rate than you would with a 600 score. Knowing your credit score can help you determine exactly what your down payment situation looks like. 2. Don’t open new lines of credit. You don’t want to let anyone else pull your credit while you’re going through this process. We worked with a family once that got pre-approved, had an amazing home search, and found the perfect house. Then they went out and bought new furniture and a new car on credit. Opening those new lines of credit dropped their credit score significantly, which meant they couldn’t get financing on the house. They had a truck full of new furniture and no home to put it in. Luckily, we were able to work our magic and get it done. I’m just telling you that you don’t want to open new lines of credit or have other people pull your credit score. Don’t make any large purchases while you go through the process because it could count against your debt-to-income ratio. 3. Find a really good mortgage lender. Don’t worry, we have one for you: Tabor Mortgage Group. You can call them at 843-408-0856 or Google them. You can find everything you want to know about them online. We would be happy to pair you up with someone over there to help you with step four. 4. Get pre-approved before you start your home search. Getting pre-approved will help you find out exactly how much the bank will lend you based on your specific financial information. They will look at your income, expenses, and credit score. They can help you figure out how much of a down payment you’ll need, what your monthly mortgage payment will be, and what kind of interest rate you will have. Getting pre-approved ahead of time is important so that you don’t waste your times looking at homes above or below your price range. 5. Start your home search with us. We will help you find your forever dream home. We have a free program where we will walk you through each of the steps of finding your perfect home. We will make sure that the title is clear and that the home is everything you thought and hoped it would be. If you are ready to start your home search or have any other real estate questions, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you! “Don’t make large purchases during the home buying process.”

We have an amazing real estate team. We’ve been in business for 15 years. Whether you already have a license or not, I’d like to talk to you. We help our real estate agents be successful by providing the marketing, leads, systems, processes, presentation, and operation staff you need. Instead of just listening to me, here’s what Whitney Muncey has to say: I started working with Jeff Cook Real Estate at the end of February in 2016. I had no real estate experience prior to working here. I did a few different things. I worked at a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter, coached JV basketball, and ultimately ended up teaching second grade. Working at Jeff Cook Real Estate has changed my life in so many ways. My financial freedom has certainly changed from being a teacher and doing the things I used to do. I have a little bit more room there that ultimately makes me happier and makes everyone happier. The other thing that working at Jeff Cook Real Estate has done is made me realize my why. If you don’t know what your why is, stop whatever you are doing and figure that out. Until you do that, you’re not living. So many of us go through life and it’s the one thing we really only get one shot at. We find our comfort zone and sail along. If you do that, you cut yourself short from so many things, so many experiences, and education. With Jeff Cook Real Estate, I was able to figure out what my why was. Once I dug that up, it was my motivation to push forward to financial freedom and it gave me the ability to push myself to find out what I can do. Jeff Cook Real Estate changed my life in many ways.It can certainly change yours as well. If you’re looking to get into real estate, there are a few things I would suggest before you start that venture. The first and most important is that you want to be happy with where you are. Culture is a huge thing. In real estate, you deal with a ton of different people with different personalities. You have to work with people who have fun, and you need a support system. That’s what I got here at Jeff Cook Real Estate. Equally important to culture is that during the process of our 60-hour or 30-hour class for real estate, people from different agencies and brokerages are going to tell you, ‘Come work with me, we’re amazing. We’ll make you $1 million right out of the gate.’ However, there is no commitment from them to you. They all say, ‘Show me what you’ve got. You’ll spend a lot of money and a lot of time away from your family. Six months from now, if that doesn’t work out, I’m sorry.’ And that’s all there is to it. When Jeff came in, he had an entirely different story. He talked about the systems we have here at Jeff Cook Real Estate and confirmed that he is investing in me prior to my having to prove myself. To have someone who doesn’t know you invest a lot of time, money, and effort in you before you prove yourself means a lot and it really stood out to me.** That was my decision-maker.** If this man is willing to take something that he’s worked so hard to achieve and invest in me, then I can’t go wrong. I would like to thank Whitney for taking the time to share her experience today. If you have any questions about joining our real estate team, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you! “Jeff Cook Real Estate changed my life in many ways.”

Today I’m going to share the top three things you need to do to prepare your home for sale in 2018. Let’s jump right in. 1. Have a consultation with one of our listing specialists. They will come over and meet you at your home, walk through a little bit of the process, and give you an estimate of what you can sell your home for and what your profit will be. They can also help you determine what the next steps are. We provide this to you for free. 2. Begin preparing the home for sale. You don’t have to do it all now or all in one weekend, but start putting away things that you don’t need. Start decluttering, cleaning, and double checking your light bulbs, your yard, and every other detail of your home. “Our professional photographer is one of the most important members on our team.” 3. Have a professional photographer. That’s one of the most important members on our team. We give all of our clients a free certificate for a free photography shoot whenever they are ready. We can then take those pictures to all of our relocation buyers and they can use it as a tool to determine whether or not they want to come and see your home. You bring the house, we’ll bring the marketing and photography, and we’ll marry it for an absolutely perfect real estate transaction. I would love and be honored to help you with the sale of your home. If you have any questions for me or need my help in any way, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Today I’m excited to talk to you about our exclusive immediate home buyout program. Here’s how it works. We can either help you sell your home traditionally, or we can show it to our investors who can give you an immediate cash offer. Let’s say that you have time on your side and you want to get the most money as possible for your home sale. Listing it traditionally through our team would probably be the best idea. The only drawback here is that your home’s condition has to be great and you have to go through the entire transaction process. “We can help you sell traditionally, or through a cash offer.” However, if you don’t want to deal with all that stuff, we can get you a cash offer from our investors. If you like it, you can take it. If you don’t, we will just proceed with the traditional home sale. If you’re thinking of selling your home any time in the near future, we’d love to get to work for you. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you get your home sold, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

In 2017, the Jeff Cook Cares Program was able to do some amazing things that I want to share with you today. I also want to tell you about our plans for 2018. In 2017, we were able to donate $100,000 back to the community thanks to your support of our real estate company. 1% of our revenue is donated; we call it the 1% For Good. This 1% goes directly to the Jeff Cook Cares Program, which goes out and services all the people in the community. Here are a few things we did in 2017:  Helped rescue 257 dogs from the Charleston Animal Society and paid for their adoption fees. Sent people on mission trips.  Supported Little League teams.  Got yearbooks for high schools. Supported high school baseball teams We then finished off the year by donating $10,000 to the Shawn Jenkins MUSC Children’s hospital. “We have some great plans to give back to the community in 2018.” How does this affect you? Whenever you refer our real estate company or purchase a home with us, 1% of our revenue gets donated back to the community. Thanks to your business and referrals, you helped the Jeff Cook Cares Program donate around $105,000 back to our community. Thank you so much for your help, love, and support. We have a few great plans on how to give back in 2018, including down payments for veterans and teachers as well as teaming up with State Housing Heroes, Habitat for Humanity, and the Charleston Animal Society. We really want to focus on helping kids and children—that’s where our heart is in this. So, we are calling out to Little League teams, high school football and baseball teams, and more. If we are able to support you, we would be happy to donate to you and your cause. You can send an email directly to sponsorships@jeffcookrealestate.com. The committee will meet and decide if we are able to help you out. Again, we wouldn’t be able to do this without your referrals and your business. If you have any questions about real estate, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be happy to help you!

Purchasing a home is a big investment. Finding the right home takes a lot of time, energy, and money, so it’s important to know what you’re really getting into before you make the decision to buy. Today, I’d like to talk about some things you should consider when buying a home. “It’s important to know what you’re really getting into before you make the decision to buy.” The neighborhood. Considering where you’ll be living and who you’ll be living near should be a big factor in whether you decide to buy a certain home. When you’re looking at a property, ask yourself if the neighborhood is a good fit for you and your family. Also, consider any upcoming life changes. You should also keep in mind whether a neighborhood will continue to be a good fit for you as you move into the future. The commute. How long will it take you to get to work, school, or other important places you frequent from the new home you’re considering? You may think you want to live super close to the beach or the downtown area, but you need to be careful with such a big decision. Think about this: You likely commute to work far more often than you do to the beach. So, is it better to live closer to the beach or to your place of work? Living 10 minutes away from the beach might not be everything you dreamed of if it means you’re 40 minutes away from work each morning. Do your research. Before settling on a home, there are a number of questions you should ask. Is the property within a homeowners association? If it is, what’s covered? Will you be required to get flood insurance? What additional costs will be associated with the property? My team and I can help you answer these questions and others. The important thing is that you know exactly what you’re getting into.  The equity swing. Is this going to be the best investment possible for the amount of money you’re putting in? My team and I can help you maximize your investment. We would love to help you find the perfect home. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

I’ve just received the most recent statistics hot of of the press for the Greenville real estate market, and I want to share them with you today. Before I get there, I want to let you know that on the corner of Orchard Park in Haywood we’ve just opened a real estate office to service the entire area. We’re very excited about it. Our experienced agents are on standby  to help you in selling, buying, or answering your questions. What’s going on in the Greenville market? Well, it is booming. People ask us why we opened up an additional office from Charleston into Greenville. We have access to an amazing relocation network that moves buyers into the Southeast. A lot of people are coming from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and even Florida into the Greenville area, which is why we’re now servicing the area. That said, we’re in need of homes for sale. If you’re interested in selling your home, we have a pool of buyers who may want to purchase your home. “The Greenville market is booming.” We’ve had almost 17,000 homes on the market in the past year, and around 12,000 of those have sold. This leaves about 5,000 unsold homes left in the market. This is why it’s important to work with an agent who’s got your best interest in mind. We have a great marketing campaign going here, including billboards, radio advertising, and more. It doesn’t matter what price range your home falls in; we have buyers available in all ranges.  How much have values increased? So far, the average sales price is $223,116, which is a 6.9% increase from the year before—around a $15,000 jump.  You may not know what your house may be worth, but it could be more than you’d think. We can tell you exactly what your neighbor’s homes are selling for, what your home is worth, and what a buyer would be willing to pay for your home.  Believe it or not, you may not have to do a ton of work to it in order to sell your home, so give us a call before you spend thousands on renovation. If you have questions about this or are wanting to sell your home, you can reach us by responding to this email, by phone, or by email. We can’t wait to hear from you.

I’ve got some very interesting statistics about the Columbia real estate market that are hot off the press!  Before I get to those, I wanted to share with you that I’ve partnered with Kris Ancone to launch Jeff Cook Real Estate to serve the entire Midlands area. Our office is at 602 East Main Street in Lexington, South Carolina. We’d love for you to stop by. So how’s the Columbia real estate market doing? So far this year, Columbia has had 16,035 homes enter the market via the MLS. Of those, 12,000 have sold, which means that 25% did not, even though the market is getting better. This is why it’s important to work with an agent who’s got your best interest in mind. We have a great marketing campaign going here, including billboards, radio advertising, as well as a vast relocation network of people moving into the Midlands. This is why we’re servicing the area now; our network is pushing a lot of people into the Midlands area. “We expect real estate to continue to be a sound investment in 2018.” How long on average will it take for your house to sell? Coming out of the holidays, it will take on average between two and three months to find the perfect buyer, relocate them, and get them into your home.  Here’s the interesting part: we’ve already started working with a lot of relocation buyers that have already started the process, so if you need to get out in, say, 30 days or so, we have the ability to help you with that too. If time is of the essence, we’re the people to call. Last but not least, how much have homes appreciated in the last year? Average sales prices went from about $188,000 to $191,000, so homes have increased by about $3,000 on average. We expect that to continue to increase this year as well, and for real estate to continue to be a sound investment. If you have any questions, please feel free to reply to this email or give us a call. We’d love to chat with you.

Today, I just wanted to share some interesting statistics hot off the press. I just got the year-to-date stats for up until the end of November. What an absolutely phenomenal year in real estate it has been. The biggest challenge that we have is the amount of inventory for sale in the market. On that note, if you’re thinking of selling your home, please reach out to us because we do have buyers in all price ranges available and interested in purchasing homes. Year to date, we had over 22,000 homes enter the market, which is a bump of about 5% over last year. During that same time, we’ve had a bump of over 1,000 properties, up to about 17,000 properties come on the market and sell. This means over 5,000 properties still didn’t sell. That said, it’s important to know that you have an agent who’s on your side helping you price it properly—one who has the buyers and will help you market and negotiate it properly. “What an absolutely phenomenal year in real estate it has been.” How long does it take for an average home to sell? The average home takes about 60 days to sell. Something I’m very proud of is that my team and I are able to sell a home, on average, in about 32 days. You’ll sell a little bit faster with us because we spend extra money on marketing and really trying to put your home out there. Not to mention we’re already hunting buyers before you ever call us. We have a database of buyers available before you pick up the phone and call us. Last but not least, how much have prices gone up? It depends on whether you’re in the first-time homebuyer range or you own a luxury home. On average, prices this year have gone up about 4% to 5%. If you have a $250,000 or $300,000 home, your house values increased somewhere around $10,000 or $15,000 this past year, which is great news. If you want to know what your home specifically is worth, feel free to reach out to us for no cost and no obligation. We would be happy to walk with you through that analysis.

Today I’m joined by my family to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.  I also want to thank you for your love and support. Without it, our team wouldn’t have the level of success that we do. “Thank you for your love and support.” If you have any questions or ever need any help, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We’d be glad to help you.  In the meantime, from the bottom of our hearts, merry Christmas!

Today I’m going to share the top four features that buyers are really searching for in their new dream homes. If you’re thinking of selling your home, you may want to take special note of this so that you can see how your home stacks up in regard to what buyers are looking for in the home. First, did you know that buyers make up 90% of their mind about whether or not they like your home before they ever get out of the car? This means that they already know about the price and about the size of the home, but when they pull up and see your home for the first time, they want to know if they can envision themselves pulling up to this home on a daily basis and hanging outside with their families.  Since that’s the case, you need to make sure that the outside is awesome; make sure the pressure washing is done (including the driveway), the landscaping is neatly pruned, and that there is straw or mulch in the plant beds across the board. Do whatever it takes to make the curb appeal look amazing. Second, is the home family-friendly? How is the floor plan arranged—do you have an extra, unused bedroom that you could envision being used as a bedroom by another family? Is the backyard neat and clean? The backyard should show as wonderfully as the inside of the home. “Buyers base 90% of their decision to buy your home based on curb appeal before they ever step foot inside.” Third, does your home need any updates? Are the air conditioner filters clean? Do all your light fixtures work properly? Are there odors present? Essentially, ask yourself if there’s anything you can do to give the interior a little facelift to make it look and feel neat and clean. We’d be happy to come over and give you a free evaluation to determine if there’s something that you need to do in order to get it show-ready. Last but not least, consider your asking price. Set the price to maximize the return on your investment, but not at such a range that buyers won’t even come look at the home. We see that when sellers price outside of the acceptable range, they eventually have to lower their price over time, ultimately causing them to end up at the bottom of that range.  Pricing is one of our areas of expertise. We’ll come over and discuss exactly what your home could sell for in today’s market so that you can maximize the value of your home and avoid lowball offers. If you’re thinking of selling your home, we’ll be happy to give you a free evaluation. Simply call or email us and we’ll help you with any questions you have. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Everyone knows how stressful moving can be, but I have a few quick tidbits to share with you that will help your move go off without a hitch. I just moved myself, so I speak from experience. First, separate all of your stuff into three piles: things you will keep and move with you, things you will give away or sell, and things you’ll throw away. I know it’s hard to put any stuff into that last pile, but if you’ve moved multiple times, it might be a good idea to consider what really has to come with you.  “Declutter your home before you put your house on the market.” Second, declutter your home before you put your house on the market. Whenever we show a house, it looks amazing if it’s decluttered. Clear anything that can be packed up into boxes and store it in the garage, in a closet, or somewhere else.  Third, use clear storage bins. This will save you the time of having to look through each box for what’s inside after the move is over.  Fourth, label everything with blue painter’s tape. This is a tip my wife and I used. We labeled everything with blue painter’s tape and wrote down where it was supposed to go in the new house. This will keep you from having to double-move all your boxes after your movers or helpers have already left.  If you’d like a free estimate of what your move will cost, reply to this email and I’ll put you in touch with Move Buddies, a local moving company that we partner with. They can also provide boxes and a moving truck and take care of everything in just one day if you decide to use them.  If you need any more moving tips or you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the Charleston market, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I’d be glad to help you.

Many people get discouraged when they think about selling their home in the fall or winter season. There are actually three really compelling reasons why fall may be the best time to sell your property.  Maybe you’re thinking, “Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming up. I just don’t want to think about putting my house on the market.”  If that’s the case, I can tell you that all of your neighbors who plan on selling their homes are thinking the exact same thing. They will wait until spring and summer to do so.  If you put your home on the market in the fall or winter, there will be fewer homes on the market for yours to compete against.  Buyers also tend to be more motivated during the fall and winter. Some life circumstance has caused them to have to buy a home now, so those are two important things to consider: less competition and more motivated buyers.  “There is a lot of pent-up buyer demand this fall.” Finally, there is no better time to take listing photos of your home than the fall. Your home will look amazing. We’ll put those photos online and do what we do best—market your home, bring buyers to you, and get top dollar for your property.   This year, there is another reason to list your home on the market during fall or winter.  We’ve had several storms coming up the east coast which, combined with a number of other factors, have caused the real estate market to be a little slower the second half of the year.  People have been waiting for the storms to pass or for school to start up again before entering the market.  As a result, there is a lot of pent-up demand.  These buyers are working with us in real time to find the perfect home, which is just another reason to put your home on the market, sell quickly, and get your asking price this fall or winter. If you have any other questions about selling your home, just give me a call or send me an email. My team and I would be happy to help you!

Are you considering renting your home out? If so, I want you to think about the benefits of working with a property manager.  To help me cover the subject, I’m joined today by special guest Jessica Lewis. Jessica is from our sister company, RentHolyCity.com, which has a team of specialists to market your home. These specialists will bring in a high volume of potential tenants to your property.  Once they’ve done so, they then aggressively screen potential tenants to make sure they are fit to rent. Not only do they perform a credit check, they also verify employment and income, criminal history, and residential history.  Additionally, Rent Holy City’s specialists will get in touch with any potential tenants’ previous landlords, to make sure that they were responsible with rent and were generally good tenants. “Whether you’re a homeowner renting out or a tenant searching for somewhere to live, Rent Holy City is a great resource.” So, how does the accounting side of things work? If you choose to work with Rent Holy City, you will have access to their experienced accounting team and easy-to-use online portals. The online portals allow tenants to pay their rent digitally, and also allows Rent Holy City to pay you, the property’s owner, each month.  Truly, Rent Holy City makes property management hassle-free for the owner. They have many great systems in place which can be tailored to meet your needs. Rent Holy City can even help owners who are operating from afar. If you have relocated, they will be happy to perform property checkups for you.  Not only are Rent Holy City’s services extremely helpful, they are also very affordable. Investing in their services typically costs homeowners just 8.5% of collected rent. Many other companies out there will charge 10% or more for similar services.  Rent Holy City also deals with rent-to-own homes. Whether you’re a homeowner renting out or a tenant searching for somewhere to live, Rent Holy City is a great resource.  If you’d like to learn more about Rent Holy City, you can learn more on their website: www.RentHolyCity.com. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Whether you are buying a home, selling a home, or happy where you are, here are a few clever things you can do to make sure that your home is protected and secure: First, go around and inspect the locks on your doors. Over time, locks can deteriorate, especially if it’s a door that you don’t use very often. Make sure that they are all functioning properly.  You can also install safety lighting around the exterior of the house. Motion-activated floodlights are sure to scare off any bad people lingering outside.  Be aware of what you showcase in your home. If you are selling your home, make sure that you don’t have any valuables or personal items out in the frame of the pictures. Even when you have guests over to your home, you don’t want to leave anything out that would entice someone to break into your home.  I also recommend that you take account of all your spare keys. If you’ve gone out of town and given a friend or neighbor the spare key, make sure you get it back so it’s not just laying around their house. It may also be helpful to change your locks every once in awhile. “Be very careful about posting to social media when you’re out of town.” When you go out of town on vacation, do you post on Facebook that you’re going away? If someone is interested in getting into your home and they know that you’re going to be out of town for a week, that’s when they’ll break in. You have to be very careful about your social media posts. Whenever I go out of town, I wait until I’m home to post any photos or anything about my vacation on social media.  Finally, our partner CPI Security offers free alarms to all of our clients, family, and friends. If you are interested, simply reach out to alarm@jeffcookrealestate.com. Doug will reach out to you to discuss the different programs that are available to you. You can even monitor your home on your phone. There is a monthly monitoring fee, but the alarm and the system itself is completely free.  If you have any other questions about protecting your home or if you are curious about what’s happening in our local real estate market, just give us a call or send us an email. My team and I would be happy to help you!

First impressions are incredibly important, especially when selling your home. Before the buyer gets out of the car, they’re already 80% sure about whether or not they are seriously interested in your home.  In order to attract more buyers to your home, there are a few things you can do to enhance your curb appeal:  1. Maintain your lawn. Make sure the grass is neatly manicured.  2. Don’t overlook pressure washing the exterior of your home. Pressure washing only costs a few hundred dollars and it makes all the difference in the world. Whenever a buyer comes to a home that hasn’t been pressure washed on the outside, they automatically judge what the inside will look like. Don’t let those buyers get a bad impression of your home.  3. Don’t overlook the driveway. When you do the pressure washing, you can also have them do the entire driveway for a few extra dollars.  “Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and look at your home.” 4. Invest in outdoor lighting. Serious buyers will drive by your home after dark to check things out, so install some landscape lighting in the flowerbeds to make your home more presentable.  5. Add more color to your flowerbeds. Vibrant flowerbeds will catch a buyer’s eye. Shrubs, annuals, and perennials will help your home show in its best light.  6. Make sure everything is clean. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. Would you enjoy hanging out in the backyard? Clean up the interior of your home too so that you are always ready for showings.  If you follow these tips, you will attract more buyers to your home. At the end of the day, these tips help you net the most money for your home sale.  If you have any other questions about selling your home or about real estate in general, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Everybody’s saying our real estate market is hot right now, but is it really that hot? How easy is it to buy or sell a home? We can get a good idea by comparing year-over-year statistics, so let’s compare the year-to-date statistics from 2017 to where we were at this point in 2016. Right now, there are about 5,000 available homes for sale, which is about 600 more properties that have been put on the market than last year. This is a decent number, and it means there are more available options to choose from. It’s true that homes are selling fast, but there is still a healthy number of homes for sale. So far this year, 9,300 homes have sold. Last year, that number stood at 8,700. The fact that we’re listing more homes at about the same rate that we’re selling more homes means our market is balanced. If the number of homes being listed was declining and the number of homes selling was increasing, then we’d have a major problem. “Now is a tremendous time to buy and sell in Charleston.” In total, 13,400 homes have come on the market in 2017—which means almost 4,000 homes failed to sell. Part of this represents the market’s level of excess inventory. If this proves anything, it’s that you still need the help of a professional to price your home properly and create good marketing so you can create demand for buyers relocating outside the area. The average days on market currently sits at 58 days, though the total market time from listing to closing is about 90 to 120 days. From 2016 to 2017, the average home price increased 4.8%. For example, a $238,000 house last year would now be worth $250,000. We anticipate prices to continue to grow over the next several years, so if you’re interested in buying a home, now is a tremendous time to do it. Now is also a good time to sell because there are so many buyers relocating to Charleston in droves. Last month, we generated more than 3,800 inquiries about the homes we have listed for sale. The majority of those came from outside our local area. This relates to the prospect of creating demand that I spoke of above. Once those relocation buyers arrive in our area, what our team does is show those buyers the homes our clients have hired us to sell and get top dollar for. We show each home to several buyers and determine who’s most interested in it by creating a demand for it so it drives the price up. If you have any questions about these latest trends from our market or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We have many options tailored specifically to your home, your family situation, and what you may have going in in the next chapter of your life. We look forward to speaking with you.

Whether you are buying a home, selling, or have simply lived on a property for a long period of time, it’s a good idea to have an inspection done.  Recently I was joined by Bill Whitmire from On The Square Home Inspections. Bill and I agree that getting a home inspection is the best way to make sure any property is in proper condition. On The Square performs inspections on structural, electrical, plumbing, and other major components of a home to make sure they are functioning safely and correctly.  Moreover, home inspections also ensure that the property is a good investment. Realtors will structure your contract in such a way that you are able to view the full report prior to any obligation you have to move forward in the process. These reports are usually 20 to 30 pages in length and include pictures of all the items commented on. The comments within can be good or bad.  “Home inspections ensure that the property is a good investment.” But, in either case, the report is designed to give you an overview of the home’s condition. It also may surprise some to find out that it’s actually recommended for sellers themselves to get the inspection prior to listing their home rather than expecting it to be the responsibility of the buyer. As Bill points out, this will allow sellers to repair components of the home at their leisure. It’s also a much cheaper option than waiting to have it performed later in the process. This is especially true because sellers will often times not realize that certain smaller issues have damaged their home over time. Accumulated issues can lead to the buyer demanding a decrease in price or other stipulations.  By having an inspection done ahead of time, the seller is able to make sure the home has a “clean bill of health” before proceeding.  However, Bill and I both personally recommend that you get an inspection on your home whether you’re selling or not. If you have lived in a property for a long time, it’s good to uncover potential repairs before they become an issue. If you’d like to reach out to Bill with any questions or for more information, you can give him a call at (843) 203-9418 or visit his website: OTSInspections.com. And if you have any other questions for me or would like help with your real estate needs, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.