Brevard North Carolina Real Estate Blog

Never let it be said that being in real estate isn't an adventure!

The other day Robert met with some new clients who wanted to look at some homes and land. Like many folks we work with, they live out of state and are looking for a seasonal mountain get away. It had been raining for several days and was still raining on the day of the appointment, but it didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm. So off they went.

Everything was going just fine until the very last showing of the day. The destination was a mountain cabin, tucked back in the woods, about 10,000 miles from nowhere. Ok, maybe it isn't exactly 10,000 miles but it feels that way when you're out there - which can actually be an attractive feature for many people.

Unfortunately, the road in hadn't been maintained very well. Getting down the road to the cabin wasn't so bad, but coming back up was an entirely different story. Between the ruts, the rain, and the lack of gravel, the road was one big muddy "slip-n-slide". To make matters worse, one side of the road was straight up, and the other side was straight down leaving little room for error.

After several failed, heart thumping attempts, they had to call in the reinforcements. Thank goodness, we've kept our AAA membership up. It took about an hour for the tow truck to arrive, but it was a welcomed site for sure!

Truth is, during that hour spent waiting for the tow truck, Robert and the clients had a great time getting to know each other. Lucky for us, they are the kind of folks who just took the whole situation in stride and even paid for the tow truck!  How great is that. 

As I see it, this whole experience is an analogy for being successful in the real estate business...and in life. Sometimes the road you're on isn't an easy one to travel and it can be hard to get any traction. You might even need a little help getting through the tough patches. But what's important is that you find a way to keep moving forward.

On the surface, some people could say this was a really lousy way to end the day....that it was a huge inconvenience. But it's all in how you look at things. Robert had a great adventure with what turned out to be great new clients - the kind that you know you'll be friends with long after the deal is done.

This particular cabin (like some of goals in life) wasn't the easiest place to get to, but the pay off was enormous in so many ways.

During the winter months here in the mountains of western North Carolina, buyers and bears hibernate. In fact, up around where we live, after Thanksgiving you probably stand a better chance of seeing a bear than you do a buyer. This year, because of the slow down in the economy it was even quieter than usual.

We used the time to work on our business and it has payed off in spades. Like any business, you have to plant the seeds of success, then give them what they need in order to grow big and strong. So we worked on our website, fine tuned some proceedures, researched some things, and dug deep to make sure we would be ready when the market returned.  A few weeks ago I wrote about the records we have been setting with our website and our internet marketing and those records have now been surpassed with new numbers.

Seems this increase in website traffic is a pretty good indicator. This past week, we had one closing, wrote an offer on another deal, juggled multiple offers on one of our listings, fielded phone calls from two new buyers who asked us to help them find a home, and have two listing appointments scheduled for this week. Plus we had several showings on a couple of our listings which tells me that maybe other agents are also seeing an increase in business.

All of this leaves me hopeful for the spring and summer season. Just like our native white squirrels, we do most of our work during the months from Easter to Thanksgiving and if  this week is any kind of barometer, we'll be plenty busy.

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations on being the first sitting President to appear on the Tonight Show. You must be very proud of yet another first. With everything else that is going on in our country right now, I'm delighted that you could find the time to chill with Jay. Between that big mess with AIG, the war, Gitmo, the recession, a housing industry that is in a great big funk, families who are losing their homes to foreclosure, a mismanaged bailout, an equally mismanaged spendulous stimulus plan, a floundering economy, and a dysfunctional and divided Congress who can't out of their own way to make sound decisions, it's good that you can put all that aside for a tax-payer funded junket to the west coast.

I got a chuckle out of your comment about bowling when you're back home at the White House. But don't let people pick on your bowling score. Just like your current approval rating, with a little work, I'm sure you'll be able to get those numbers up. Unfortunately, for many Americans, the only score they are worried about right now is their credit score. Good thing bowling isn't like the credit card industry where they get to make up the rules and then change them whenever they want, huh!

And way to go on those NCAA picks! Just like your administration, you're sure to annoy more than one person with your choices, but what the heck. If it all works out, maybe you can apply those same skills to picking your Cabinet.

Finally, Mr. President, on behalf of all us out here struggling in our day to to day lives to stay afloat and ahead of the bill collectors, I want to thank you for bringing a whole new meaning to March Madness.

Sincerely,

Carol and Robert Clay, Patriots

One of America's most famous black vaudville comedians, Moms Mabley, was born on this date in 1894 in Brevard, North Carolina.

Born as Loretta Aiken, she was one of 12 children. When she was only 11 years old, her father died a sudden, accidental death forcing her mother to take in boarders to make ends meet. By the time she was 15, she had been raped twice and given birth to two children who were given up for adoption. It was her grandmother who eventually encouraged her to strike out on her own and escape her life with a tyranical stepfather and a much older husband whom she despised.

She discovered the entertainment business in Cleveland, Ohio, but it was in New York where she became part of the "chittlin circuit", performing in clubs that provided work for black entertainers and a venue for largely black audiences during a time of intense segregation. Her stage name developed after she took the last name of Jack Mabley, a former boyfriend. She was dubbed "Moms" because of her caring compassion for other performers. Her career included a stint at the famed Harlem Cotton Club and she was the first female comedian to appear on stage at the Apollo Theater where she became a regular, eventually becoming the longest running act in the theater's history.

By the 1960's she was performing in more mainstream venues including Carnegie Hall in 1962. She was billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World" and paved the way for future female comedians.

She died in White Plains, New York on May 23, 1975.



Source: Wikipedia, Findagrave.com

I've been hankering for a new phone. The one I have works perfectly well and does all the things a phone should do but I've begun to lust after those new phones with the touch screens and internet features. And since I  just recently started embracing texting, a phone with a QWERTY key board has become a priority. I started my research online at the Verizon website and I could have bought one right then and there. But there are some things I just don't like to order online, including shoes and cell phones.  I knew I would need to "try it on" before I plunked down my credit card and the only way that was going to happen was if I actually went to one of their stores.

The nearest Verizon store is about an hour's drive from where I live but since we were in the area showing some property this particular day, I decided to pop in and "try on" some of the new phones. I was excited about the prospect of getting a new phone and as I walked in the door, I felt like a kid at Christmas. Unfortunately, that feeling quickly dissapated and I began to wonder if I had accidently wandered into a used car show room.

We were pounced on greeted by an official looking drone guy with a clip board who whisked me away to a "control center" filled with other official looking drones people with clip boards. After peppering me with questions to verify that I was who I said I was, he asked me what features I was looking for in a phone. I had done my homework and was well prepared with a list of things I wanted so I began to recite my wish list with "I'd like something with a QWERTY key board...." The words were barely out of my mouth when he exits the control center, and brusquely instructs me to follow him. Which I did...but inside my head I was screaming "Wait...I'm not finished. I have more to tell you!" But he wasn't listening. He was talking. And when I could get a word in edge-wise to further explain what I was looking for, or to ask a question, he made no eye contact with me. Instead, he looked past me to the other customers in the store, out the windows, and just about everywhere but at me. He had his sales pitch on "auto pilot" and I'm sure the only thing that he was hearing was "blah, blah, blah, blah."  It became apparent very quickly that he wasn't going to show me a phone that met my needs because he had no clue what those needs were. I left the store frustrated and without a new phone.

The take away for me on this whole experience was how NOT to communicate with anyone, especially clients we're trying to help. One of the lessons in Stephen Covey's book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People  is "Seek first to understand." It's a lesson that would serve us well in every aspect of our lives, but as Realtors, it's one we should master if we are really interested in helping people buy and sell properties. When we meet a client for the first time, it's so easy to launch into a monolgue about ourselves, our accomplishments, how many homes we've sold, how many homes we list each year. Afterall, don't we want people to know how great we are? In reality, when we spend so much time and effort "selling ourselves" what we're missing is the opportunity to listen and to fully understand what our client's needs may be.

There are lots things to remember when we are working with our clients, but listening to their needs, wants, and desires is at the top of that list.

How many of these effective listening techniques do you use?

1. Focus on what the other person is saying. Have you ever been "listening" to someone only realize after a few minutes that you have no idea what they said because your mind wandered off? Have you ever been guilty of thinking more about what you were going to say next instead of focusing on what is being said?

2. Maintain eye contact and let the other person know you're are listening with non verbal clues like nodding your head.

3. Avoid jumping to conclusions. Don't write the ending of their story until you've heard everything they've said. Aside from running the risk of being wrong, you also miss important details.

4. Mirror, or reflect what you hear. Paraphrasing back what some one has said to you lets them know that you really heard them...and if what you thought you heard was incorrect, it's an opportunity for the other person to clarify their position.

5. Adjust your pace to match that of the person you are listening to.  As a southerner, I find I often have to pick up the pace a bit when I'm talking to people from the north.

6. Ask probing questions...not to put the other person on the defensive, of course, but to ask questions that help you dig deeper and gain a better understanding. This also confirms to the other person that you're actually listening.

These are just a few techniques and if you want to find more, there are plenty of reources to help you hone your listening skills.

I don't have any idea how many phones that guy at the Verizon store sells, but maybe if he had spent more time listening and less time talking, he would have had one more sale that particular day... and I would be texting everyone I know on my new phone.

Photo by Flickr

For many, spring is synomous with "spring cleaning" - that time of year when we can finally open our windows and blow away the cold and sometimes secluded months of winter.

But today, as I was marveling at our glorious weather we've been having here in the mountains this past week or so I decided to take the notion of spring cleaning one step further and go beyond the idea of weeding out my closests, storing winter clothes, and cleaning windows.

Here's my idea of Spring Cleaning in 2009

• As I begin to weed out my closets, I will also weed out any negative thoughts that I've clung to during the last few months.

• As I am cleaning my windows so I can better see the flowers and trees, I will make a point of looking at  all the good that surrounds me in my life.

• As I go through my house and throw away things I no longer need, I will also throw away any old habits that keep me from moving freely towards tomorrow.

• As I store away my heavy coats, I will also store away the things I've learned so I use them again in the future.

        And....

• As I plant new flowers, I will also plant seeds of optimism so they can take deep roots and bloom all year long.
  

This adorable chalet is ready for you to finish to your heart's desire. Exterior work is complete and all the "heavy lifting" like plumbing and electric are already installed in the interior. All that's needed is for you to choose cabinets, flooring and some finishing touches. The 2,276 square foot floor plan features a large master suite on the main floor, plus an 800 square foot loft with a full bath, and more unfinished square footage in the basement. Large windows let in the natural light and the beautiful 2 acres surrounding the property. Best of all, this home is centrally located between Hendersonville and Brevard, North Carolina and only 2.6 miles from Dupont State Forest.

Priced to sell as is for only $199,900..or you can hire the builder to do the finishing work you for an additional $20K.

For more information, contact the Clay Team at 828-551-6291 or 828-551-6290. Visit us online today!

Live near Brevard, North Carolina for only $218,000!

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home at 21 Cherry Ridge Rd is located in the quiet, wooded community of Knob Creek, only minutes from Brevard, North Carolina. If you're looking for home in the woods with workshop space, this is for you. You'll find one workshop in the oversized garage, and another heated workshop on the lower level. Inside the home is bonus space that's not included in the square footage, but it's perfect for a home office, hobby room, or play room for the kids.

One level living • open floor plan • wooded setting • conveniently located

For more information about this home, visit the Clay Team online, or call us at 828-551-6290 or 828-551-6291. You can also get more information by visiting www.21CherryRidge.com.

If there is one question that we are asked more than any other these days, it's "How's the market in Brevard."

The easy answer is " better than some, worse than others." But for a truer picture, here are the numbers so far this year. In Transylvania County, the average selling price for homes is $254,800 with an average of 195 days on the market. While the average listing and selling prices have not changed dramatically from this time last year, fewer properties have sold (23 in 2009 compared to 35 in 2008) and they are staying on the market about 2 months longer than last year.  Land sales, however, have taken the biggest hit and are off by 57% over last year. If you are in the market for a piece of land where you can build sometime in the future, this is absolutely the time to do it.

In neighboring Henderson County the average selling price so far this year is $222,897 with an average of 134 days on market compared to 2008 when the average was $216,973 and properties were on the market an average of 95 days.

It's a buyers market here in the mountains and we're seeing some amazing opportunities. If you'd like more information, or have questions about buying and selling real estate in the Brevard area, visit the Clay Team online or give us at call at 828-551-6290 or 828-551-6291.

The home shown here is listed at $344,900. It's 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and is located only minutes from downtown Brevard. See more at www.5crestview.com.