Pictured are Tega Cay homes recently sold or pending by Century 21 First Choice Realtor Carmen Miller. Over 100+ homes have sold in Tega Cay this year. Our area home market is seeing approximately a 40+% decrease in inventory of homes listed for sale compared to last year at the same time.

Tega Cay homes priced under $300,000 are selling in under 90 days on the market and averging 95% list to sales price ratio.

Thinking of selling but need more information? I would be happy to meet with you and give you specific market information as it applies to your home!

Price: $375,000, Bedrooms: 5, Bathrooms: 2.5, Square Ft.: 3328

1977 Newberry Lane Tega Cay, SC 29708 York County

Fort Mill Schools Riverview Elementary, Gold Hill, Ft Mill High

Subdivision: Lake Shore at Lake Wylie

Beautiful, private wooded lot backs up to golf course, year round lake views, walk to fishing and play park. This well maintained home offers a flexible five bedroom floor plan with generous living spaces, downstairs formals and office, nicely upgraded kitchen, and three car garage all in a wonderful cul-de-sac location.

Additional Features:

• Garage Spaces: 3
• Garage Type: Attached
• Master Bedroom Level: Second
• Master Bedroom Level-2: 2
• Single Family Type: Single Family
• Style: Traditional
• Year Built: 2005
• Living Room: Formal
• Dining Room: Formal
• Master Bedroom: Walk-In, Tray Ceiling
• Master Bathroom: Double Sink, Garden Tub, Separate Shower, Water Closet
• Kitchen: Work-Island, Breakfast Area, Pantry, Range, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Built-in Microwave, Garbage Disposal
• Laundry Room: Laundry Room, Second Floor, Washer/Dryer Hookup
• Interior Features: Garage Door Opnr, Security System, Drop Stair, Smoke Detector, Ceiling Fans
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Carpeting
• Construction: Concrete Siding
• Heating: Gas Furnace, Dual Systems
• Cooling: Central Air, Dual Systems
• Water Heater: Gas
• Foundation Type: Crawl
• Other Rooms: Study/Library, Foyer, Bonus Room
• Exterior Features: Deck
• Utilities Available: Electricity, Natural Gas, Public Water, Public Sewer, Cable TV, Underground Utilities
• Lot Description: Cul-de-sac, Wooded, Golf Course
• Financing: FHA, Conventional, Cash

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Tega Cay Real Estate | LakeShore Subdivision

Price: $296,000, 3,005 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths

825 Brooksmill Dr  Tega Cay, SC 29708

York  Couty, Fort Mill Schools Riverview Elementary, Gold Hill, Ft Mill High

Subdivision: Lake Shore at Tega Cay

More than your average home! This popular floor plan has been updated with custom features throughout. Gorgeous hardwood flooring, gourmet kitchen with top SS appliances, custom cabinetry, custom lighting and fixtures, custom master bath, beautiful designer palate all wrapped at a fantastic value,move-in ready. Low maintenance yard and vacation life style of Tega Cay. Priced below 7/11 appraisal.

Additional Features:

• Estimated Heated SqFt: 3005
• Estimated Lot Dimensions: 135x165x147x105
• Fireplaces: One
• Garage Spaces: 2
• Garage Type: Attached
• Master Bedroom Level: First
• Master Bedroom Level-1: 1
• Single Family Type: Single Family
• Style: Bungalow/Craftsman
• Year Built: 2005
• Dining Room: Formal
• Family/Great Room: Vaulted Ceiling, Fireplace
• Master Bedroom: First Floor, Walk-In, Tray Ceiling
• Master Bathroom: Double Sink, Garden Tub, Separate Shower
• Kitchen: Breakfast Area, Pantry, Range, Dishwasher, Built-in Microwave, Garbage Disposal
• Laundry Room: Laundry Room, First Floor, Washer/Dryer Hookup
• Interior Features: Garage Door Opnr, Drop Stair, Smoke Detector, Fireplace, Ceiling Fans
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Wood, Carpeting
• Construction: Concrete Siding
• Heating: Gas Furnace, Dual Systems
• Cooling: Central Air, Dual Systems
• Water Heater: Gas
• Foundation Type: Crawl
• Other Rooms: Study/Library, Bonus Room
• Exterior Features: Patio, Front Porch
• Estimated Age Of Building: 5-6 Years
• Community Amenities: Restrictions, Clubhouse/Rec. Facility, Pool, Tennis Court
• Utilities Available: Electricity, Natural Gas, Public Water, Public Sewer, Underground Utilities
• Lot Description: Rectangular

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Tega Cay Real Estate | Lake Shore Subdivision

Price: $365,000, 2,800 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths

1725 Colville Lane Tega Cay, SC 29708

York County, Fort Mill Schools Riverview Elementary, Gold Hill, Ft Mill High

Subdivision: Lake Shore at Tega Cay

Great home with all the right features! Cul-de-sac, flexible floor plan, wooded privacy and an unfinished basement! This four bedroom home has both formals and a study, gourmet kitchen with granite counters and designer fixtures, gorgeous stone fireplace in the great room, large master suite, neural colors, hardwood flooring. Vacation lifestyle and Fort Mill Schools!

Additional Features:

• Estimated Heated SqFt: 2800
• Estimated Lot Dimensions: 85x180x85x160
• Fireplaces: One
• Garage Spaces: 2
• Garage Type: Attached
• Master Bedroom Level: Second
• Master Bedroom Level-2: 2
• Single Family Type: Single Family
• Style: Traditional
• Year Built: 2006
• Living Room: Formal
• Dining Room: Formal
• Family/Great Room: Fireplace
• Master Bedroom: Tray Ceiling
• Master Bathroom: Double Sink, Garden Tub, Separate Shower, Water Closet
• Kitchen: Breakfast Area, Pantry, Range, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Built-in Microwave, Garbage Disposal
• Laundry Room: Laundry Room, Second Floor, Washer, Dryer, Washer/Dryer Hookup
• Basement: Inside Access, Walkout, Plumbed, Unfinished, Partial
• Interior Features: Window Treatment Cnvy, Garage Door Opnr, Drop Stair, Smoke Detector, Attic Fan, Fireplace, Ceiling Fans
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Wood, Carpeting
• Construction: Concrete Siding
• Heating: Gas Furnace, Dual Systems
• Cooling: Central Air, Dual Systems
• Water Heater: Gas
• Foundation Type: Basement
• Other Rooms: Study/Library, Foyer
• Exterior Features: Patio, Deck, Irrigation System, Insulated Windows
• Estimated Age Of Building: 5-6 Years
• Community Amenities: Restrictions, Clubhouse/Rec. Facility, Pool, Tennis Court
• Utilities Available: Electricity, Natural Gas, Public Water, Public Sewer, Cable TV, Underground Utilities
• Lot Description: Rectangular, Cul-de-sac, Wooded

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Tega Cay Real Estate | Lake Shore Subdivision

$272,000, 2,653 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2.1 baths

1240 Shadow Bend DR Tega Cay, SC 29708

York County, Fort Mill Schools Riverview Elementary, Gold Hill, Ft Mill High

Subdivision: Lake Shore at Tega Cay

Wonderful Saussy home, welcoming front porch, Craftsman Charm! Easy flow floor plan with formals and family room down. Flexible use of space for music room or home office. Large secondary bedrooms with bonus room. Master Suite up, large walk in closet. Private yard, all the right upgrades, new roof, new carpet, recently painted exterior, all in Ft Mill schools and Tega Cay Vacation Lifestyle!

Additional Features:

• Estimated Heated SqFt: 2653
• Estimated Lot Dimensions: 98x123x67x142
• Fireplaces: One
• Garage Spaces: 2
• Garage Type: Attached
• Master Bedroom Level: Second
• Master Bedroom Level-2: 2
• Single Family Type: Single Family
• Style: Bungalow/Craftsman
• Year Built: 2004
• Living Room: Formal
• Dining Room: Formal
• Family/Great Room: Fireplace
• Master Bedroom: Walk-In
• Master Bathroom: Double Sink, Garden Tub, Separate Shower, Water Closet
• Kitchen: Breakfast Area, Pantry, Range, Dishwasher, Built-in Microwave, Garbage Disposal
• Laundry Room: Laundry Room, First Floor, Washer/Dryer Hookup
• Interior Features: Window Treatment Cnvy, Garage Door Opnr, Access To Attic, Smoke Detector, Fireplace, Ceiling Fans
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Wood, Carpeting
• Construction: Concrete Siding
• Heating: Gas Furnace, Dual Systems
• Cooling: Central Air, Dual Systems
• Water Heater: Gas
• Foundation Type: Crawl
• Other Rooms: Bonus Room
• Exterior Features: Deck, Front Porch
• Community Amenities: Restrictions, Clubhouse/Rec. Facility, Pool
• Utilities Available: Electricity, Natural Gas, Public Water, Public Sewer, Cable TV, Underground Utilities
• Lot Description: Rectangular

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Tega Cay Real Estate | Lakeshore Subdivision

Price: $425,000, 3,624 sq fr, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths

606 Andover LN Tega Cay, SC 29708

York county, Fort Mill Schools Riverview (Elem), Fort Mill (High), Gold Hill (Junior)

Bring your choosiest of buyers. Wonderfully upgraded large, open floor plan, gorgeous gourmet kitchen, huge master suite, generous bedrooms, welcoming front porch, and a private retreat settings.

Additional Features:

• Common Area: Boat Ramp, Club House, Golf Course, Lake, Playground, Pool, Walking Trails, Tennis Courts
• Doors/Windows: Insulated Windows
• Equipment: Cable Prewire, Ceiling Fan(s), Cooktop Gas, Dishwasher, Disposal, Double Oven, Ice Maker Connection, Microwave, Self Cleaning Oven
• Exterior Features: Deck, Porch, In-Ground Irrigation
• Fireplace Description: Great Room, Gas Logs
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Prefinished Wood, Wall-to wall Carpet
• Foundation: Crawl Space
• Upper Level Full Baths: 3
• Full Baths: 3
• Main Level Half Baths: 1
• Heating/Cooling: Central Air, Gas Hot Air, Multizone A/C, MultiZone Heat
• Interior Features: Attic Stairs Pulldown, Whirlpool
• Laundry Location: 1st Floor
• Lot Description: Cul-de-sac Lot, Corner Lot
• Parking: 2 Car Garage
• Property Subtype: 2 Story
• Main Level Rooms: BRKFT,DNING,ENTRY,GREAT,KITCH,LNDRY,STUDY
• Upper Level Rooms: BEDR2,BEDR3,BED4,MSTBR,BONUS
• Siding: Fiber Cement
• SqFt Main Range: 1400 – 1700
• SqFt Total Range: 3200 – 3900
• SqFt Upper Range: 1800 – 2200
• Style: Traditional
• Water Heater: Gas
• Water: City Sewer, City Water
• Year Built: 2006

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Tega Cay Real Estate | Lakeshore Subdivision

Price: $347,500,  2,800 – 3,400 sq ft range, $ Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths

3021 River Bend DR Tega Cay, SC 29708

Fort Mill School District, York County SC

Wonderful open floor plan with private, mature play yard. Nicely upgraded with tile flooring in kitchen and baths, exotic granite in kitchen, iron spindles, dual fireplace in great room/kitchen, guest suite with private bath. Home backs up to a natural reserve and wooded walking trail.

Additional Features:

• Common Area: Boat Ramp, Club House, Golf Course, Lake, Playground, Tennis Courts, Walking Trails, Pool
• Doors/Windows: Insulated Windows
• Equipment: Ceiling Fan(s), Cable Prewire, Dishwasher, Disposal, Ice Maker Connection, Microwave, Refrigerator, Smoke Detector
• Exterior Features: Deck, Patio, In-Ground Irrigation
• Fireplace Description: Great Room, Gas Logs
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Prefinished Wood, Wall-to wall Carpet
• Foundation: Crawl Space
• Mail Level Full Baths: 1
• Upper Level Full Baths: 2
• Full Baths: 3
• Main Level Half Baths: 1
• Heating/Cooling: Central Air, Gas Hot Air, Multizone A/C, MultiZone Heat
• Interior Features: Attic Other, Whirlpool
• Land Included: Yes
• Laundry Location: 1st Floor
• Parking: 2 Car Garage
• Property Subtype: 2 Story
• Basement Rooms: NONE
• Lower Level Rooms: NONE
• Main Level Rooms: BRKFT,GREAT,FOYER,KITCH,LNDRY,MSTBR,STUDY
• Upper Level Rooms: BEDR2,BEDR3,BED4,BONUS
• Siding: Fiber Cement, Brick Veneer Partial
• SqFt Main Range: 1700 – 2000
• SqFt Total Range: 2800 – 3400
• SqFt Upper Range: 1100 – 1400
• Water Heater: Gas
• Water: City Sewer, City Water
• Year Built: 2002

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Offered by Carmen S Miller
Century 21 First Choice
Fort Mill, SC
803.322.3479 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 803.322.3479 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
carmen@carmensmiller.com
homesfortmill.com
seetegacay.com
aboutfortmill.com
tegacaywaterfronthomes.com

Tega Cay Real Estate | Lake Wylie Waterfront

SOLD

Price: $519,500, SqFt Total Range: 2500 – 3000, 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Baths

9024 Palau CT Tega Cay, SC 29708

Acres: 0.3, On Lake Wylie, York County, Fort Mill School District

A Million Dollar view waiting for you! Beautifully and tastefully updated waterfront home. Offers four bedrooms including 2 master suites, new flooring, newer roof, new decks, newer boat lift, updated baths. Picture perfect curb appeal. Lake living at its Best! Move-In Ready.

Additional Features:

• Common Area: Boat Ramp, Club House, Golf Course, Lake, Pool, Walking Trails, Tennis Courts, Playground
• Doors/Windows: Insulated Windows
• Equipment: Cable Prewire, Ceiling Fan(s), Dishwasher, Disposal, Double Oven, Electric Dryer Hookup, Electric Range/Oven, Security System, Self Cleaning Oven, Smoke Detector, Cooktop Electric
• Exterior Features: Boat Lift, Deck, Floating Dock, Patio, Pier, Porch
• Fireplace Description: Bonus Room, Great Room
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Prefinished Wood, Wall-to wall Carpet
• Foundation: Basement
• Basement Full Baths: 2
• Mail Level Full Baths: 1
• Full Baths: 3
• Main Level Half Baths: 1
• Heating/Cooling: Central Air, Gas Hot Air, Multizone A/C, MultiZone Heat
• Laundry Location: Utility Room
• Lot Description: Cul-de-sac Lot, Waterfront
• Parking: 3+ Parking Spaces
• Property Subtype: Ranch / Basement
• Basement Rooms: BEDR2,BEDR3,BONUS,LNDRY,MSTBR
• Lower Level Rooms: NONE
• Main Level Rooms: BRKFT,DNING,FOYER,GREAT,KITCH,MSTBR,PNTRY
• Upper Level Rooms: NONE
• Siding: Fiber Cement, Wood, Stone
• SqFt Basement Range: 1200 – 1500
• SqFt Main Range: 1200 – 1500
• SqFt Total Range: 2500 – 3000
• Water Heater: Electric
• Water: City Sewer, City Water

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Offered by Carmen S Miller
Century 21 First Choice
Fort Mill, SC
803.322.3479
carmen@carmensmiller.com
homesfortmill.com
seetegacay.com
aboutfortmill.com
tegacaywaterfronthomes.com

Listing # 2002259

Tega Cay Real Estate | Lake Shore Subdivision

SOLD March 2011 Price: $344,700, 3049 River Bend DR, Tega Cay, SC 29708

Bedrooms: 5, Bathrooms:3.1, 3,217 sq ft

York County, Fort Mill School District

Riverview (Elem), Fort Mill (High), Gold Hill (Junior)

Wonderfully maintained home ready for new owners. Large open kitchen with beautiful cabinetry, pretty stone fireplace in Great Room, generous bedrooms, nicely appointed with neutral color scheme, designer fixtures, valuable upgrades. Pretty, flat backyard backs up to a natural, wooded reserve and walking trail.

Additional Features:

• Common Area: Club House, Golf Course, Lake, Playground, Pool, Recreation Area, Tennis Courts, Walking Trails
• Doors/Windows: Insulated Windows
• Equipment: Cable Prewire, Ceiling Fan(s), Cooktop Electric, Dishwasher, Microwave, Ice Maker Connection, Self Cleaning Oven, Smoke Detector
• Exterior Features: Deck, In-Ground Irrigation
• Fireplace Description: Great Room, Gas Logs
• Flooring: Ceramic Tile, Prefinished Wood, Wall-to wall Carpet
• Foundation: Crawl Space
• Upper Level Full Baths: 3
• Full Baths: 3
• Main Level Half Baths: 1
• Heating/Cooling: Central Air, Gas Hot Air, Multizone A/C, MultiZone Heat
• Interior Features: Attic Other, Whirlpool
• Laundry Location: 1st Floor
• Parking: 2 Car Garage
• Property Subtype: 2 Story
• Main Level Rooms: BRKFT,DNING,FOYER,GREAT,KITCH,LNDRY,PNTRY,STUDY
• Upper Level Rooms: BEDR2,BEDR3,BED4,BEDR5,MSTBR
• Siding: Stone, Fiber Cement
• Water Heater: Gas
• Water: City Sewer, City Water
• Year Built: 2003

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed.

Call me for questions or showings.

Offered by Carmen S Miller
Century 21 First Choice
Fort Mill, SC
803.322.3479 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 803.322.3479 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
carmen@carmensmiller.com
homesfortmill.com
seetegacay.com
aboutfortmill.com
tegacaywaterfronthomes.com

“There’s an app for that…”

What to search homes for sale in the Charlotte metro area including Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Tega Cay, and Lake Wylie  on your iPhone? I am now offering you a FREE iPhone app called my myAgent IDX for the iPhone This is a specific application designed for the iPhone, so you must download and install the iPhone app, enter my four digit authorization code 4991 during installation in order to use the free home search tool on your iPhone.

How to Install the iPhone App:

In order to install the iPhone application, iPhone users will need to download the myAgent IDX application from the iTunes App Store. Use the handy red link below:
4991

or go to iTunes and search for IDX.

In order for you to use the search tool on the iPhone, you must enter my special agentcode of 4991. This tells the system which account to display and which MLS area to search. My code is unique and allows you to access my IDX home search account and all of the listings in both the Charlotte MLS and Piedmont MLS systems.

Once you enter my one-time agent code 4991, it will be stored in your preferences and will not have to be entered again. Each time you launch the app, you will be directed to your custom branded iPhone IDX map search page, no code needed. You can take advantage of all the great listing search tools available for free and easily contact me directly from the app, from any listing, with any questions you may have.

Applications for BlackBerry and Android are under development and will be available to you soon.

In today’s difficult housing market it takes a special Realtor® to make things happen. If you look at Carmen Miller’s first half of 2008 home sales, she obviously has the special touch to sell homes even in today’s fluctuating economy. Carmen Miller is very successful helping buyers find the perfect home and sellers selling their home in the Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill, Lake Wylie South Carolina markets.

Carmen Miller is ranked in the top 100 producing Century 21 real estate agents for the South Carolina and North Georgia region! Her top 100 ranking reflects transactions since January 2008 through June 2008. I am very proud of Carmen and so are her home buyers and sellers. Click to see some of Carmen’s testimonials from satisfied clients.

What’s Carmen’s secret? No secret just hard work, total dedication to find or sell a home for her clients, many years of professional decorating experience to help stage a home, a variety of marketing tools, strong networking skills, and great listening and communication skills. In addition she is backed by a strong local Century 21 office in Fort Mill SC which is Century 21 First Choice who has many top ranking Realtors®.

From Carmen’s family, Century 21 First Choice, and her many clients, we want to say congratulations to Carmen for her wonderful success and we look forward to her many future achievements.

I wanted to take a moment and thank Eve and Dennis McCaffrey, Steve King, Jill and Richard Bossi for the wonderful testimonials that are now posted on my web sites. I really love this business. But most of all I really enjoy the experiences and the friends I make in the process of buying and selling homes.

Your comments are so kind and it pleases me that I can make a difference in such an important process in their lives.  Please see what they had to say by clicking here .

Come to an open house Sunday Feb 10, 2008 from 1 pm to 4 pm at 1924 Finsbury in Tega Cay, SC. 29708.

IMPRESSIVE LAKE SHORE HOME, 4990 Finished SQ FT!
Bedroom:5, Bathroom:5 , 5107 Sq. Ft. $549,900

For a virtual tour click the Obeo tour icon.

Come to an open house Saturday Feb 9, 2008 from 1 pm to 4 pm at 1924 Newberry Lane in Tega Cay, SC. 29708.

BEAUTIFUL HOME ON LARGE 1/2 ACRE LOT!
Bedroom:4, Bathroom:2.5, 3175 Sq. Ft. $449,000

For a virtual tour click the Obeo tour icon.

My name is Carmen Miller and I am proud to be a Realtor® with Century 21 First Choice. Real Estate today is an evolving market that has left many buyers and sellers feeling frustrated, confused and somewhat frightened. As a Real Estate Professional I can answer your questions, provide you with much needed facts, and empower you with a sense of control which will in turn allow you make decisions to sell or purchase a home with confidence. Your home should never be seen as purely a transaction, each home buyer and seller has individual needs and requirements. I strive to meet those needs and provide you with the outstanding personal attention you deserve.

Selling a home in today’s market means differentiating yourself from the competition, it means pricing correctly, it means aggressive marketing, and it means having one chance to impress. I make sure you get it right, the first time.

As a home buyer this is possibly the best opportunity in years to be in the driver’s seat. You have a Buyers Market Setting; inventory to choose from, lower interest rates to benefit from, and pricing that reflects competition.

I look forward to meeting your real estate needs today so that you can move forward with your goals for tomorrow!

Come to my Open House!

Saturday Feb 2, 2008

Click links for a virtual tour

10 am – 2pm at 1210 Shadow Bend Tega Cay 29708

2pm – 5pm at 363 Shoreline Parkway Tega Cay 29708

Carmen Miller a Realtor in Fort Mill, Tega Cay Sc area has made a change in domain names to better position her real estate blog in the fast past internet blog market. Carmen’s old blog address was http://www.carmensmiller.com/wordpress. Her real estate blog address has changed to http://www.homesfortmill.com. Please make a note of the new address.

Its a buyers market even in Fort Mill or Tega Cay, SC. I found a few tips I want to share with my home sellers.  

Below is a reprint of an article by David Sobel and RISMEDIA. The article has good tips for sellers on how they can increase curb appeal to make sure buyers come in to view their home.

By David Sobel

RISMEDIA, Jan. 17, 2008-You’ve all had that experience with a client where you drive up to a house and they don’t even want to go inside. It’s an immediate “un-appeal.” You may know the inside of the house shows much better, but you just can’t convince them to spend the time to even go inside. In today’s market where lots of choices in housing are available to the buyer, why should they?

Here are some easy, inexpensive fixes that will help create that outside appeal and get you one, giant step further to a sale.

1. Paint or stain the front and garage doors, especially if they show any weathering. These are the first visuals where a potential buyer focuses. If garage doors are metal and dented, they may need to be replaced.

2. Any old, basically abandoned sheds or small structures, must be removed, the area graded and the grass replaced.

3. Change any dated, outside light fixtures.

4. Fix that driveway. If it is blacktop, make sure cracks and crumbling areas are dug out and filled and then the whole driveway sealed. If it is cement, have large cracks filled and repaired professionally. The buyer must at least feel they can drive the moving truck in confidently!

5. Make sure landscaping bricks are in their proper placement. Mowing, weed-whipping sometimes moves them and this is something the homeowner rarely notices, but makes the property look unsightly.

6. Fill in bare dirt under large shade trees. Plant shade-tolerant plants in defined planters or groundcover. Landscape properly for that area.

7. All landscaping beds should be cleaned out and updated for the time of year it is in your region. Place new bedding material down.

8. Have trees and bushes pruned and trimmed. If a bush or tree is looking old or about to expire, remove it and replace it with a similar size and type if you can. If there is a tree limb(s) over the roof, have them removed.

9. If the house needs painting and a full paint job is not in the cards; have it touched up professionally in the worst, most visible spots. Paint shutters and fix them if they are hanging crooked. At least this may help get your client in the front door, even if they negotiate a full paint job into the sale later.

10. If the house is sided, have it power-washed and have gutters and windows cleaned. Window cleaning inside and out makes the house feel updated and fresh, rather than old and dingy.

11. Make sure grass is in good shape, weeds are removed, trimming done regularly. So many sellers fall down on this job the minute the house is listed, and this is critical to selling a house quickly, especially one where the owners have already moved out. In snowy climates, removal must be done regularly too. If owners have moved out, make sure you have an HWA Home Warranty to re-assure buyers.

12. Keep garbage and recycle containers inside the garage, along with all toys and equipment. Make sure the garage is neat and organized. Painted walls and floors also go a long way in this area and are inexpensive to do.

13. Decks should be washed and repainted or re-sealed; plantings around them cleaned, weed-free and looking good. Patio furniture should be in excellent condition. Even though it is in the backyard, this is the area where the family can envision enjoying the warm days and the new yard.

14. If the roof has missing shingles and they can be replaced inexpensively, suggest this be done as it may save negotiation over a completely new roof. Roof repair needs and costs should be minor or the homeowner might as well replace the entire roof.

15. If the homeowner wants to do a bit more, suggest solar lights lining the driveway or installing a more attractive front door with lead glass inserts and replacing plain doorknobs with something more custom.

16. If you have an evening showing, make sure lights are on outside and inside the house. This is warm and inviting.

17. If it’s a holiday season, by all means decorate the home! Just like sugar cookies or vanilla scent on the inside of the house, this really says “it’s a home” and I can see myself enjoying life here! In the least, always have some greenery or flowers for the season on the front step or porch; even a birdbath with a little garden around it says home.

A link back to David’s Article

Walk the Walk What a Home Buyer Should Do before Closing – Fort Mill, SC.
——————————————————————————–
One of the final steps before the closing is called the final walk-through. This is an opportunity for you, the buyer, to see the property one last time before the money is exchanged and the purchase paperwork completed and filed.

It is important to note that this is not a home inspection. That should have been done weeks ago so there was adequate time to negotiate and address concerns. This is also not a time to nit-pick or back-track on agreed upon items. However, it is the right time for you to look! at the property and make sure it is in the condition you agreed to buy it. If repairs or upgrades were part of the deal, now is the time to make sure they were completed to your satisfaction.

Your real estate professional may or may not accompany you to the final walk-through. In either case, you will want to do the following:

• Open and close all windows, doors, garage doors
• Run all faucets and check for leaks
• Flush toilets
• Test outlets
• Check the basement, attic and crawl spaces
• Make sure that certain items as stipulated in the contract are left behind – i.e. light fixtures, window treatments, appliances, etc.
• Test the heating and air conditioning systems

In short, you want to make sure the home systems are operational and the seller has met the obligations laid out in the purchase contract.

If you do have a concern, bring it to the attention of your real estate professional and attorney. They can advise you ! about different courses of action. For instance, if it a significant expense, you may withhold money until a repair is made.

A final piece of advice: don’t skip the final walk-through. Because this is a busy time filled with packing and moving, some buyers are tempted to neglect this step. After all, you are so close to actually buying the home. In reality, the final walk-through is there to safeguard your investment.

This article is from Carmen’s Life at Home Newsletter January 2008 and Century 21. To see the entire newsletter, click here – Jan 08 life at home newsletter

On the Market for Fort Mill, SC
——————————————————————————–
What makes one home sell in a few weeks while another may linger on the market for what seems like seasons?

Well, each case is different, but it almost always boils down to one of these 4 factors.

Price – A home that is priced right will attract buyer attention. A fair and reasonable asking price that is in keeping with market demands will pique consumer interest and ultimately make the property more appealing.

Condition – Unless they are searching for an investment property, mo! st buyers are looking for a structurally sound home that has been well-maintained. In addition, a home that “shows well” is likely to sell quicker. This means the home is clean, well-kept, updated and appealing to today’s buyer.

Location – The better the location, the more likely the property will demand buyer attention. This could mean a single-family home in a charming town with an exemplary school system. Or it could mean a wonderful apartment in a great section of the city.

Market – Whether it is a “buyer” or “seller’s” also influences how long a property is up for sale. When the advantage is with the buyers, you may need to make allowances, such as

 a lower asking price or favorable terms to help your property attract a bid. Your seller agent is your greatest resource during your home sale. He or she can further explain how these factors will influence your particular listing.

This article is from Carmen’s Life at Home January 2008 Newsletter and Century 21. To see the entire newsletter click here – Jan 08 life at home newsletter