I've been writing a Greenville SC Blog off and on for a while now. I never really liked the term blogging. I thought of it as just writing about what I see, hear, experience and the things I like about Greenville SC. There seems to be quite a few Greenville South Carolina Blogs around. You know, everybody's got an opinion.... I just try and write about things I've experienced. And you know what's great? When I get a call from people who read and really enjoy and learn from my adventures. Quite a bit of stuff has been written here. A lot of it get's lost in the past pages so I thought I'd throw out a few of my favorite Greenville blogs...I mean writings for you. Hopefully they may bring a little insight into Greenville, the area and real estate. Enjoy! Keep those comments coming...and I'll keep writing!
Does Your BA Know The Area? Show Me The Comps! Are You Collateral Business? MLS Zones Explained
Should You Pay for Seller Updates? Can't Serve Two Masters No Repairs! Pick Your Attorney Greed
Don't Do It! O'Brother Are You Converted? Case Of The Missing Buyer Sellers Disclosure Tax Credit
Market Timing Are You The Experiment? Does It Snow?
February 2010 Blog and Updates
March 8, 2010:
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend. Man was it beautiful in Greenville. We had temps in the 60's. I had a number of showings Saturday with a very nice couple but had some time before that to skip downtown to photograph the Reedy River Run for you. I had posted some photos of the Reedy River Run for you yesterday, but thought it might me fun to put up a slide show of the event. The Carolina First Reedy River Run is a top road race in the country and we had about 3,800 in the 10k alone. There was also a 5k and Kids run too. Looks like three runners from Blowing Rock NC took the top three spots in the 10k. The best local finisher was Wallace Campbell of Central at 30:41. The top 5k finisher was from Rock Hill. James Brooks from Greenville finished 7th with a time of 17:09. Sit back and enjoy some photos from the run.
And have a great day! By the way, if you see a photo you would like, just call me at 864-335-8490 and I'll email it to you.
Reedy River Run Video
March 7, 2010:
From A Beautiful Day in Downtown Greenville at The Reedy River Run. Folks we had nearly 4,000 in the 10K and I belive over 2,500 in the 5k!
Reedy River Run Photos in Downtown Greenville!
March 5, 2010:
Hey, hope you have a wonderful weekend! It sure is going to be pretty here. Maybe 60's! Let's see what's happening in Greenville this weekend.
A Portrait of Greenville is at the Greenvill County Museum of Art. 49th Annual Southern Home and Garden Show is at the Carolina First Center. Rock'n Roll Heaven is at Centre Stage. A Streetcar Names Desire is at the Greenville Little Theatre. We The People is playing at Gunter Theatre-Peace Center. The Carolina First Reedy River Run with over 5,000 competitors is happening downtown. Jolly Roger is being performed by the Carolina Ballet at the Gunter Theatre. Return to The Green Irish Festival sponsored by the Irish Cara Organization will be downtown..... food, dancers, etc!
Folks, I've got a busy weekend. Got a showing this morning and I'm gonna try and slide in 18 homes tomorrow! Whew, wish me luck!
Hey Beau, thanks for a great car wash yesterday! I highly recommend Canopy Car Wash for the best wash in Greenville!
Canopy Car Wash over on Wade Hampton Blvd.
March 4, 2010:
Hey! Just updated my Downtown Greenville SC Condo page to make it easier to search by specific condos. Folks, I can almost smell spring on the way. Going to be mid 50's today and in the 60's this weekend. That's good because I have a number of buyers I'm helping this weekend. I'm finishing up inspections on a home for a very nice couple from Vermont this morning. The inspector is going to pick up the radon test.
So I thought I'd write a bit about home inspections this morning. GET ONE! ALWAYS! And find a good inspector to use. Folks, I've used numerous inspectors through out the years and have tried to whittle them down to about 3 good ones. But even then I'll get surprised when one of the older or better known companies sends out some new guy or gal that doesn't quite know what they are doing. Anyway, most of them are very good and I always recommend an inspection even on new construction. At a minimum you'll want a general inspection and a termite inspection. Sometimes the buyer will want a radon test done and if the roof is "iffy" then I'll have a roof inspector come out.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas and we do have it show up in inspections on occasion. To me the extra $100 or so for the test is well worth it. If found, seller must bring below acceptable levels or buyer can withdraw from contract. The termite inspector checks for wood destroying pests and excessive moisture. The general home inspector checks numerous items from wall sockets to stoves, really most everything .
Once the inspection is done I sit down with my buyers to request repairs the buyer may want made. Then we present a signed list to the seller. Seller will have a few days to respond and the listing agent will get us a signed response, then the buyer will have a few days to respond to the response. Yep, you guessed it, it's negotiation all over again just like writing the offer. So anyway, I hope you have a wonderful day! I've got to get crackin!!
Don
Waltzing at The Westin Poinsett, Greenville SC
March 3, 2010:
Hey folks, good morning! I hope you're doing well. I had a fun day showing land yesterday out in the boonies up north west of Spartanburg and man did we get caught in the snow. Anyway, we made it back and all the white stuff will be gone pretty quick with temps in the mid 50's today.
Listen, I want to relate a little experience to you that happened last week. I've got some great buyers I've known for years and they finally got both their homes sold and are ready to buy some great Greenville SC Real Estate. We have looked at a number of homes and they were ready to make an offer on a very beautiful home in the Greenville area. They were ready to make an offer so naturally I checked comps to see if the home was "in the market". I felt like it was a bit high and comps confirmed it. Problem is a lot of the home is in the basement. Folks, around here we normally give finished basement sq. footage about half the value of finished ground level sq. footage. The basement was finished nicely but not extravagant.
I looked to see what the sellers paid for it a few years back at the top of this market. They were adding about $60,000 in market value to what they paid for it. Well folks, I'm having a real hard time swallowing that. Especially in a flat to down market over the past two years. Hey, if the market supports the pricing, I'm all for it. I called the listing agent an mentioned I'm concerned about the pricing and the agent responded that the seller had been warned that it may not appraise. I dropped the listing an agent an email saying we were going to pass because the offer we were going to make just was just too much apart from the listing price. Well folks I get an email back telling me they wouldn't even consider such an offer and not to waste their time. There was another comment about what the sellers paid for it.
Listen folks, it's a nice home, well kept but in my opinion not worth near what they are asking for it. Especially with all that sq. footage in the basement. And you know what...it's not what they paid for it, it's what it is worth. And yes I suppose it's ok for sellers to test the market to see if they can get what they want but facts are facts and good listing agents should not take over priced listings. If they do and the activity is not there then they should start dropping the price. Of course a cash buyer could come along and buy through the listing agent and not have an appraisal done. Yes, that happens, hard to believe...isn't it.
The only advice I can offer you is to get a buyers agent on your side. Get a good one who doesn't list any homes and is working in your best interest.
I'm in the office today, give me a call at 864-335-8490 if you need help.
Best,
Don
Feral Cat
March 1, 2010:
Hey folks! I sure hope you had a wonderful weekend! I did, I went to my brother in law's 60th birthday party up in North Carolina and we had a great time. Got back late yesterday and yes I'm ready to get out there and help my buyers find some wonderful homes!
I had a couple of things I wanted to blog about this morning but I think I'll wait since I got an email late last night that really made me feel good. First of all I helped a wonderful couple who are first time home buyers close on a great home in a nice area Friday. Well that always makes me feel good, helping out like that. Then when I just checked my email I got this from a wonderful woman I helped from out of state close earlier this month. Here it is with slight edits.
Hi Don:
I am back in MA today (Sunday) and I miss Greenville already. Rob is driving back to SC with my car this Thursday. My husband is flying in on Wed. of this week and will stay until Tuesday of next week. I am trying to arrange to come back this weekend too. Although this is not a formal Thank you, I cannot send this e-mail without letting you know how much I have appreciated the help you gave to me and my family. I consider you a friend and not a broker. You have allowed me to make changes in my life that will have an impact (positive) for a long time. I will be forever grateful. Our plan is to fly into SC at least one to two weekends a month. Come Sept. of this year, I hope to have a job lined up in SC and then I would stay there. Rob and I had a wonderful time, setting up the house we enjoyed every moment. I could go on and on, but now I am trying to get to bed and beginning my work day tomorrow. I am just so happy about the home, I have never ever been happier.
Thank you.
Gerry
Folks, what can I say. This is why I love what I do..... Please have a wonderful day!
Jogging in Cleveland Park!
February 10 Blog January 10 Blog December 09 Blog November 09 Blog October 09 Updates
September 09 Updates August 09 Updates July 09 Updates June 09 Updates May 09 Updates
April 09 Updates March 09 Updates February 09 Updates Jan 09 Updates December 08 Updates
Past Real Estate Updates