Unlocking Coastal Living
17
Are We Expecting Too Much From the House We Call Home?
Sometimes the life we're searching for has very little to do with the house itself.
I was recently studying Abraham's faith in Hebrews 11, and something occurred to me that I had never really connected to real estate before. Abraham left his home, his family, and everything familiar to follow God's calling. He didn't know exactly where he was going or what his future would look like. Yet he trusted that God had his everlasting future managed.
As I thought about that, I began thinking about the people I've worked with over the years who were searching for a home. Buying a house is rarely just about finding four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a nice backyard. Quite often, people are searching for s...
8
Selling a Condo in Charleston: What to Ask Before Hiring a Listing Agent
When you are getting ready to sell a condo in Charleston or the surrounding Lowcountry, it is natural to think about the asking price, the photographs, and how quickly a buyer might come along. Those things matter. But before hiring a listing agent, I would encourage you to ask another question: "What will you help me understand before we put my condo on the market?" In my experience, some of the most useful work happens before the first showing.
Selling a condo involves the home itself and the association that helps maintain the community. A freshly painted interior can make a wonderful impression, but it does not answer questions about exterior maintenance, monthly dues, insurance, or upcoming work. I want to understand both sides of that picture. Preparing a condo for sale means looking at what buyers will see and asking about things they may not see at all.
One question worth asking an agent is, "What experience do you have...
8
How to Choose a Listing Agent in the Charleston Lowcountry: Questions Worth Asking
If you are looking for a listing agent in Mount Pleasant, Summerville, or elsewhere in the Charleston Lowcountry, it is natural to ask, 'What do you think my house will sell for? That is an important question, but I believe there are others that deserve just as much attention. How has the agent prepared to advise you? Do they understand the homes you will compete with? Will they explain the costs and possible complications? And will they tell you the truth when the answer is different from what you hoped to hear? Choosing an agent should involve understanding how that person will help you make decisions throughout the sale.
I would begin by asking about the agent's continuing education. How many hours have they taken recently, and which classes have they chosen? More importantly, how does that education influence their advice? Completing classes is useful, but sellers also need someone who can apply what they have learned. Ask about situations involving...
7
From Selling a House to Making a Home: A Little POP of Personality in Cane Bay
I have always believed that a few simple improvements can make a big difference in how a home looks and feels. Sometimes those improvements are made because we are preparing to sell, and sometimes they are simply because we want to enjoy our homes a little more. Recently, a former client reminded me that making a house beautiful does not always require a major renovation. Sometimes all it takes is a little imagination, a little effort, and a willingness to add some color.
Earlier this year, I helped a couple prepare their home in Cane Bay, Summerville, South Carolina, for sale. Their home was lovely, clean, and well maintained, but nearly everything inside was white. The one exception was her office, which she had painted black. I suppose that should have been my first clue that she wasn't afraid of color! As we walked through the house discussing how to prepare it for the market, I encouraged them to consider adding a little POP. I...
6
Selling Land on Sol Legare Road: When the View Is Only the Beginning
When people think about selling real estate, they probably think the job is to put a property in the MLS, take good pictures, advertise it, find a buyer, and get it to closing. Sometimes it really is fairly straightforward. Other times, you find yourself with a notebook full of phone numbers, government offices, surveyors, plats, unanswered questions, and more research than you ever expected. This piece of land on Sol Legare Road was definitely the second kind.
The property itself wasn't difficult to appreciate. It sits along the marsh with beautiful Lowcountry views, and the drone photographs could tell that part of the story much better than I ever could. The difficult part was answering a much more important question: What could someone actually do with the land?
That question turned into quite a few more questions.
I wanted to understand the property boundaries. I needed to learn about the critical line and the setbacks that might a...
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