Posts made by author 'Bonnie Wicks Bertalot'
23
When a Home Becomes Part of the Family
I was watching The Way Home recently when one of the characters made a comment about how some homes have history and how some homes should stay in a family. It got me thinking about something that has quietly disappeared from much of modern life.
There was a time when families stayed.
Not forever. Not every family. Not every generation. But often enough that a child could grow up hearing stories about the same creek their father played in, the same tree their grandmother climbed, or the same patch of woods where generations of children built forts and swore they had discovered a secret place no one else knew existed.
The funny thing was that the adults usually knew exactly where those secret places were because they had discovered them first.
There was...
22
Wescott Plantation Is Not One Market
When people talk about the Wescott real estate market, they often talk about it as though every home is competing in the same market.
They're not.
A home in Shinnecock is competing with a different group of homes than a townhome in The Gates of Wescott. A golf-course home in Markleys Grove is attracting different buyers than a detached home in Woodlands at Wescott. Even though they all share the same Wescott address, buyers do not view them the same way.
After reviewing active listings, homes currently under contract, and homes that have sold over the past three months throughout Wescott Plantation, one thing became very clear: buyers are still choosing Wescott, but they are choosing carefully.
The strongest prices are still being found in Shinnecock. Homes there continue to command som...
22
Wescott Homeowners: Buyers Are Still Buying, But They Are Being Picky
If you're a homeowner in Wescott and wondering whether now is a good time to sell, the short answer is yes.
Homes are still going under contract, and buyers are still choosing Wescott. In fact, there are currently more homes under contract than many homeowners might expect given today's interest rates and economic uncertainty.
But there is an important difference between today's market and the market we experienced a few years ago.
Buyers are no longer willing to overlook pricing mistakes.
The homes that are priced appropriately and show well are attracting attention and going under contract. The homes that are overpriced are sitting on the market longer and often requiring price reductions before buyers become interested.
Detached hom...
22
Charleston County Homes Are Still Selling—But Not Every Home Is
If you are thinking about selling your home, the first question is usually, "Are buyers still buying?"
The answer is yes.
As of June 22, 2026, there are more than 1,100 homes under contract in Charleston County between resale homes and new construction. Buyers are still moving, relocating, downsizing, upsizing, and purchasing homes throughout the area.
What has changed is that buyers have become more selective.
The homes that are successfully going under contract are generally selling within a few weeks, while many active listings are sitting on the market twice as long. That tells us the issue is not a lack of buyers. The issue is that buyers have choices.
Many sellers are also competing against brand-new construction. Builders contin...
21
What Sellers Can Fix Before Listing to Avoid Inspection Surprises
One of the things I have learned over the years is that most inspection reports do not fall apart because of one giant problem. Certainly, every once in a while an inspector discovers a major structural concern, significant water intrusion, or an expensive system that has reached the end of its life. More often, however, inspection reports become intimidating because they contain pages and pages of smaller items that have accumulated over time. None of them seem particularly important by themselves, but when a buyer receives a report filled with photographs, arrows, comments, and recommendations, it can create the impression that the house has not been maintained.
That is one of the reasons I spend so much time talking with sellers before a home ever goes on the market. I am not looking for perfection. I have never listed a perfect house, and I do not expect to. What I am looking for are the little thing...
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