Sea Shell Collections!

Ok... so I will go ahead and admit that this post isn't particularly "Real estate" related.. but HEY its OK to go off topic every once and a while.. right ;) ?!?

The other day I was out taking photos of a new listing when I saw this. 

How cute is that? I thought it was a darling way to display sea shells. Ill be the first to admit that whenever I go to the beach I absolutely LOVE to go on a sea shell hunt. I admittedly always come home with a bag full of sea shells... but they tend to always disappear! Either I wind up throwing them away .. misplacing them... or put them somewhere for "safe" keeping. 

My intentions are always to display them somehow but I obviously fall short of my goal! After seeing the way that this homeowner was displaying her sea shells it made me want to go online and see other ideas of how to display sea shells. Below are some of my favorites!

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So now I want to go to the BEACH! :) !

How are ways that you display your sea shells?

ps...Happy MEMORIAL DAY EVERYONE! 

The Importance of a FINAL Walk Through

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If you have purchased a home before... you very likely did a Final Walk Through before signing the closing documents. If not... then you should have! :) :) 

I always tell my buyers that it is very important to do a final walk through before signing on that dotted line! In fact it is my preference to do the final walk through and then head straight to the closing. I really don't like doing the walk through the day before even! 

The reason for this is simply because... things CAN go wrong and better we know of an issue before we sign.. than after. 

What if a pipe burst? A seller took something that was supposed to convey with the property? Water leak? Heat/Air Unit isn't working property?Tree fell on the house!?! (Yes I know that is likely extreme.. but hey you never know!)

So if you are buying a house and getting ready to close.. make sure you do a final walk through! Its always better to be Safe than Sorry

:)

I found this really great article sharing 7 things that you should do during your Final Walk Through... I most definitely agree with these tips and have all my buyers check these things before leaving the house. 

7 Things to Do at your WALK THROUGH

Hope you enjoyed the article!

Bring on the MOM CAVE!

WE have all heard the term MAN CAVE.....

but what about a MOM CAVE?!?!?

I found this really cute article over on the HomeGoods website. Thought I would share! Would love to start seeing this term used on the MLS sites. Wouldn't you? :) What would your MOM Cave look like? 

Click on the  link below :) 

Looking to make a MOM CAVE?

Here are some ideas that I found on Pinterest Under "Mom Cave" search. Enjoy!

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Happy Tuesday YALL

Happy ~early~ MOTHERS DAY

As most of you know... I have the PRIVILEGE of working along side my mother each and every day. 

People will often tell us that they could never work with their daughter or mother day in and day out.. but for us.. it works!

Not only do I enjoy being able to see her every day.. but I also feel very fortunate that I have been able to learn from one of the BEST Realtors in our town! She has helped to show me how to grow my business... take care of my clients.. and molded me into the Realtor that I am today... 

So in Honor of Mothers Day in just a few days.. I would like to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for not ONLY being my Mother.. but for being the BEST BOSS EVER!

Love u bunches :)

LaSalsa's Here we COME!

I don't know about ya'll but I will be the first to say that I was VERY excited when I heard that the LaSalsa's Restaurant was coming to Marion, NC! 

It is always exciting for me to see new business coming to our wonderful town. I like knowing that we have more options in Marion for people to eat, entertainment, shopping, etc instead of seeing business go out of the county!

LaSalsa's has had a restaurant in Morganton for quite some time and every time I go there I am always seeing people from Marion. 

They opened up their new restaurant in Marion last week and I was able to go by there on Sunday!

YUM YUM

The interior of the building is very nice... very festive decor.. and very clean! 

I wish them all the best and hope that they are incredibly productive in their new location. Can't wait to go back :)

Who else has been able to eat at their new location?

Have a great MONDAY!

From DRAB to SHAB!

Anyone that knows me on a personal level knows that in my free time I like to "unwind" by redoing furniture! I love the feeling of seeing an old piece of furniture come back to life again with just a little TLC. 

Below you will see some of my most recent furniture redos. I wish I had before photos of all of them to share with you but I am forever forgetting to get that "before" photo shot :)

There is no quicker way to update a room than a little paint! If you have some furniture that is looking a little outdated.. throw some paint or stain on it.. and VOILA! You will have an updated piece that will help make any room look newer and fresh.

If you are considering putting your house on the market go through your home and see what pieces of furniture you currently own that could be updated to help make your home FEEL newer. When a buyer walks into a room, having a well staged layout is only going to increase the likelihood that THEY could see THEMSELVES living in your house.

As always... Pinterest is a GREAT way to get inspired :) 

A SHOUT OUT & EXCITING Announcement!

How many of you have seen the new mural on Main St? 

I love how the Graphics Program at McDowell Technical Community College updates this mural seasonally.... and they do SUCH a great job! 

Here are a few photos of their most recent paintings. Also, you will see the yearly calendar of Special Events in McDowell County.

Great job to everyone that contributed to the MURAL!

Now to switch gears....

My "EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT" is that I have recently joined with the North Carolina Mountains  MLS! This particular MLS covers Asheville and other surrounding counties!

 I am obviously still a primary member with the McDowell MLS however I felt like it was time to EXTEND my business. I now have the ability to offer my sellers EVEN MORE INTERNET EXPOSURE than EVER BEFORE! 

Going on the McDowell MLS is important for anyone trying to sell their house in McDowell County HOWEVER, with me being able to put ALL my listings on the NC Mountain MLS too it is only going to increase the odds of my sellers selling... and faster! 

Every..single...listing that I receive will now be on TWO MLS sites... McDowell & NC Mountain!

(This doesn't include the other benefits of listing with an ERA Agent either!!!)

Now... to begin the process of uploading all my current listings :) 

Have a great week everyone!

The POWER of a REFERRAL

How many times have we heard the Golden Rule?

I found this photo off Pinterest and am linking back to original webpage.. See below!

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This year I am embarking on my FIFTH year in Real Estate! I have to say that it has been quite a roller coaster :) When I first got in the business in 2009 we were beginning to see a huge decrease in the amount of properties that were selling & also an increase in the amount of people getting out of the real estate business!

Because of this... I feel as though I had to work VERY hard to close what little I was able to sell that first year! Nothing came easy... in fact my very first sale came because I knocked on a FSBO's door! 

Anyway, with that being said I have always been told by those that have been in the business for YEARS and YEARS that it takes at least 3 years to really establish yourself as a Real Estate Professional. I can most definitely attest to this being true... as last year was my most productive year yet. 

2013 I saw a HUGE increase in the amount of properties selling in our wonderful county! Seeing as how I got in the business in more of a "down" market...it gives me such great satisfaction seeing an increase in our local marketplace..It has been very interesting to watch & very refreshing to see :) 

I have been so excited  for the past few months or so as  I have noticed that I am starting to get REPEAT & REFERRAL clients! I can not even begin to express my gratitude for those of you who have referred me to your family and friends and for those of you who have picked up the phone to call me again to assist you in the purchase of a new home or the sale of your current one. 

This is truly the BIGGEST compliment that I can ever receive as a a Real Estate Professional!

......The POWER of a REFERRAL......

I hear all the time that once someone bought their house they never heard from their Realtor again.... I don't believe that I can be in this business and NEVER reach out to the people that have CHOSEN to work with me.. and continue to be successful. 

I am where I am because of my clients and their willingness to use me as their chosen Real Estate Professional! 

I share this with you not to "toot my own horn" but to remind you that it is important to treat people with respect and truly value them whatever profession you are in!  

Every time I receive a phone call from someone saying that a past client or another REALTOR from another area gave them my number... I am reminded... and I will continue to be reminded of..

THE POWER OF A REFERRAL!

There is no greater form of advertising that WORD of MOUTH! 

Continue to live by the Golden Rule.... You can NEVER fail by doing so!

Happy Monday to you ALL!

3 Different Learning Styles

I recently sat in on an online webinar through my TEAM ERA site. The ERA Franchise is constantly hosting online classes for us as ERA Agents to take and while I don't seem to get online to attend as much as I would like... I still try to take the time here and there!
As we all know.. being in the business of real estate means that I will NEVER stop learning :)

I was listening in on a class hosted by Zan Monroe on "Improving Your Presentation Skills-How to Be a Better Communicator" Zan is definitely one of my most favorite motivational speakers! I had him for a few classes a couple years back when I was in class to obtain my GRI Designation and instantly liked him and his presentation style. When I noticed online that Zan was the guest speaker for one of ERA's online webinars I knew that I had to attend!

One of the topics that Zan discussed in his webinar was  how there are 3 learning styles. I thought I would share this info with you because I think that it can be applied to really any situation... not just my line of work!

1. Visual Learning... This style of learning trumps all other senses that we have and account for approximately 60% of how our society learns. A person learns things through seeing and hands on experiences.

2. Kinesthetic Learning... This accounts for approx 25% of society and how they learn. In order to LEARN they must be able to MOVE. For example... kinesthetic learners are constantly fiddling with something.. like a pen.

3. Auditory Learning...This accounts for approx 15% of society. These type of learners have to HEAR something in order to be able to fully understand it.

So what kind of learner are you? I think that I would definitely fall under the Visual Learner category. Yes it helps to hear something be explained to me... but if I can SEE something with what I am trying to learn... then that is how I am able to fully COMPREHEND what I am trying to learn.

Anyway, I just thought that this was some pretty neat information to share!

As a business owner... it makes me think how I should be reaching out to people in the way in which THEY learn. I am sure that for some clients.. simply telling them something will do.. but then for the vast majority of the population having something they can hold in their hands and visually see would be helpful!
For example: having a buyer booklet for my buyers that explains the buying process...page by page... Having a listing presentation visual for when I go meet with a seller to discuss listing their home.
These are ways that I can be appealing to all 3 learning styles!

Have I got you thinking? I surely hope so :)

Until Later.....!!!!

Just wanted to share a little Real Estate HUMOR with you on this Beautiful Monday Morning!

Have a great week :)

excited to see a huge increase in the amount of McDowell County properties that sold in the past year!

Back to Bloggin'

WOW! Can we say Neglected BLOG? Life has been so busy lately I haven't had the chance to get back to my blogging. I promise to share more in the 2014 year! Stay tuned :)