http://irenakohler.com/blog/archive_201104/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ While you may think your dog or cat is the cutest, most well-behaved pet on the planet, you can bet the home-buyer that comes to check out your house, will not. So if you want to get the most money for your house, pay attention to how much you might lose if you have a dog or cat living with you.This may be hard to hear, but the best way to avoid any negative feelings toward your home is to remove your pet while your home is on the market. Whether you ask a friend to adopt them temporarily or board them at a kennel, keeping them away from your home is the best way to avoid losing buyers.Some of the other additional steps you should take when trying to get your house ready to sell include:Remove litter boxes and potty pads. By removing any negative reminders that a pet lived in the home, buyers will be much more receptive.Hire professionals to deep clean your carpets. While there may not be any visible sign of stains, by deep cleaning your carpets you can remove any deep-rooted stains or smells from your home.Have someone do a smell test. Ask a neighbor or friend to perform a quick smell test on your home. If you have any foul odors, they need to be removed before you try to sell.Clean, clean, clean. Remove all chew toys, pet hair, and pet photos. Also, seal up any doggie doors before you try to sell. It may seem painful to remove Fido from your home temporarily, but knowing that keeping him there could potentially stop you from selling your home should help you make the right decision. Once your home is sold and you move into your new Jacksonville, NC real estate, your pet will feel right at home all over again.Looking for more advice about selling your home? Contact one of the trusted Realtors at Sea Coast Realty today. http://irenakohler.com/blog/1529/why-home-buyers-don’t-like-your-pets/ Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0500 Though Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty and Stevens Fine Homes are two of the biggest names in homes on the Cape Fear Coast, they handle each individual home buying transaction with care and offer clients home town service that’s second to none. Recently, Stevens Fine Homes went the extra mile to make sure that Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty client Koneisha Ward’s new home in Leland’s Grayson Park community was a perfect fit.Just before closing, Ward, her mother, and Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty sales associate Sean Skutnik took a tour of the home with Stevens Fine Homes Customer Relations Manager Josh Kivett and Superintendent Matt Johnson. Ward is a double amputee and uses a wheelchair. She was able to maneuver through the house easily, except the doorways to the bathrooms were a tight fit.“Koneisha and [her mother] offered to just have someone come and widen the doors. They were so delighted at the other accommodations that had been made to the home that they said the doorways weren’t a big deal,” said Skutnik. They went forward and closed on the home as scheduled, but he and the team at Stevens Fine Homes still wanted to make sure that Ward’s new home would be perfect for her.Within 48 hours, the Stevens team had expertly widened the doorways and at no extra charge. “The entire Stevens Fine Homes team went above and beyond what anyone would have expected, because it was the right thing to do,” said Skutnik. “It was a wonderful experience.”“Stevens is the team,” exclaimed Ward. “They rock!” She told Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty that she’s slowly getting moved into her home in Parkside at Grayson Park and that she was delighted that it took just three weeks for her to close on her new home. “We absolutely love it!”Parkside at Grayson Park is just one of 10 beautiful Stevens Fine Homes new home communities exclusively marketed by Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty. http://irenakohler.com/blog/1530/skutnik-&-stevens-fine-homes-ensure-new-home-is-a-perfect-fit/ Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0500 Okay, they may not be five simple steps, but if you follow them carefully, the process of buying Jacksonville, NC real estate can be much easier. By separating the process into easy-to-manage chunks, you will be able to navigate through it with ease.Step 1: OrganizationIn this beginning stage of the home-buying process, you need to make some big decisions. You need to decide what size home you hope to purchase, how much you can afford to spend, and where you plan to start looking. By narrowing down your focus at the beginning of the process, you can save yourself a lot of time once you actually start shopping.Step 2: FinancingIn step two, you can start to assess your financial situation. By getting pre-approved to buy a home before you start shopping you can make the final stages of the process move much more smoothly. This will also help you know how much you can afford to spend on a home.During this stage you will also want to assess what type of mortgage you can get, how much you can afford as a down payment, and how you plan to pay your closing costs.Step 3: ShoppingThis is the step in the home-buying process where you actually get to start shopping! Whether you choose to search homes on your own or enlist the assistance of a skilled real estate agent, it is completely up to you. An agent can help you find a house that meets your needs as well as assist you during the negotiation process.Step 4: NegotiationsOnce you have found the home of your dreams, you will enter into the negotiation stage. Probably the most difficult step in the entire process, negotiations can last quite some time. During this step you will write an offer for the seller to either accept or counter-offer. In most instances, the negotiations can go back and forth several times before a conclusion is determined.Step 5: ClosingOnce you have finished negotiations with the seller, it is time to sign an agreement. There is usually a set time between when you sign your agreement and when you can actually move into your new home. If you have been pre-approved, this step of the home-buying process should be quick and easy.Looking for a qualified real estate agent to help you through the home-buying process? Contact Sea Coast Realty today. http://irenakohler.com/blog/1531/buy-a-home-in-five-simple-steps/ Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0500 Alex Paen, Amy Aldridge, Bailey Hall, Brian Moxey, Carolyn Thomason, Deana Bowen, Denise Kinney, Jessica Riffle Edwards, Ken Keegan, Lori Smith, Mary Ann Euverard, Mollie Paen, Renee Spencer, Sue Wehner, Tim Allen, Tim Milam, Tom Craigg, and Vicki Milam with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, were recently part of one of the largest real estate brand’s international events, the Coldwell Banker Generation Blue Experience. Held March 14 – 17, 2011 at the Mirage Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Generation Blue Experience united Coldwell Banker sales associates / representatives, brokers, managers and employees for an intensive professional development program and awards ceremony.“It’s crucial to stay on top of the latest news, technologies and best practices so that we can do the best job possible as real estate professionals,” said Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty president Tim Milam. “That’s one of the benefits of being part of the expansive, global Coldwell Banker network. We are able to learn from each other as well as other experts in the field, so that we can always provide trustworthy, helpful counsel to our customers.”Just a few of the event’s key note speakers included Jim Gillespie, chief executive officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Budge Huskey, president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Michael Corbett, author of “Before You Buy” and host of Extra’s Mansions & Millionaires and Chris Brogan, president, Human Business Works and co-author of the New York Times best seller, “Trust Agents.” In addition, a variety of Coldwell Banker brokers and sales associates provided on-the-ground insight and advice on current topics, such as leveraging social media to help buyers and sellers, as well as honing in on traditional best practices to ensure extraordinary customer service at every step in the process.The Generation Blue Experience also hosted a marketplace, BlueTopia, featuring a variety of business solutions, leading edge industry product and service providers as well as a “BlueSpa Refresh,” where “marketing therapists” gave 15 minute treatments on key industry insider techniques.“The Generation Blue Experience was a huge success,” said Gillespie. “After three days of intensive, interactive programs and sessions, our network came away re-energized, enlightened and ready to take on what the real estate market has in store.” http://irenakohler.com/blog/1532/associates-&-staff-attend-generation-blue-experience/ Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0500 While home-buyers and -sellers may feel like they are on the opposite side of things, they really have more in common than they realize. Both buyers and sellers rely heavily on their real estate agents to help them through the process. And, both buyers and sellers expect a real estate agent to have their best interests at heart. By understanding both sides of the process, it will be easier for you to sell your Jacksonville, NC real estate or purchase your Jacksonville, NC real estate.Emotional StakeBoth buyers and sellers have an emotional stake in their property. Sellers are having a hard time parting themselves from the memories their home holds, while buyers can get attached to a property quickly. Just one aspect of a home, such as a wrap-around porch or picket fence can immediately make a buyer want to purchase a home.Best ValueBoth buyers and sellers want to get the most value for their money. Buyers want to get a house for as little money as possible, while sellers want to get the most money they can for a property. Both are relying heavily on their real estate brokers to help them get the best value.Closing CostsIn negotiations, neither side wants to pay closing costs. However, a home-seller can use this to their advantage by not lowering the price of a home, but offering to pay the closing costs. This way the buyer will think they won the battle, but in reality both sides are winning.By having a better understanding of both sides of the home buying/selling process, it will help you be a more knowledgeable participant. So, whether you are looking for Wilmington, NC new homes or looking to sell your Wilmington, NC home, you know what to expect.Looking for a real estate agent to help you through the process? Trust the professionals at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty. Contact us today. http://irenakohler.com/blog/1533/what-buyers-and-sellers-have-in-common/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0500