Laurie Knudsen of Helen Adams Realty Inducted as President of Charlotte’s Regional Realtor Association

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Posted By Holly on January 12th, 2011
In Charlotte Real Estate,Neighborhood News,Press Releases

On Wednesday, January 12, 2011, Sales Manager and Broker in Charge of Helen Adams Realty, Laurie Knudsen, was inducted as the 2011

Laurie Knudsen on the cover of "Realtor Reflections" magaine.

 Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association (CRRA) President.

Having served as a CRRA Board member since 2005, CRRA Treasurer in 2008 and 2009, and with 13 years experience as a real estate office manager, Laurie brings ample experience to her Presidential role. Her goal is to lead the CRRA through today’s tough economic times with strategic and fresh new ideas.

“In the course of my real estate career, I have been honored to serve the real estate community in many different capacities,” said Laurie.

“I hope to lead our association through the changes that the current economy will inevitably bring. By embracing change, and determining the best avenues to   incorporate these changes, we will become stronger and provide added value to the consumer. Our knowledge, experience and dedication to this industry will propel us into the future. Real estate is and will continue to be my passion. It will be my pleasure to serve.”

The Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association is a trade association that leads, educates and equips its Realtor® members to be productive.

Being a Realtor® member means committing to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Code of Ethics for conduct that exemplifies the highest standards of the profession.

Laurie also currently serves on the National Association of Realtors® Board of Directors, the North Carolina Association of Realtors® Board of Directors, the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee and the Carolina Multiple Listing Service Board of Directors.  She is also active in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, and she is an Eucharistic (lay) minister.

What’s the Difference Between Foreclosures and Short Sales?

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Posted By Debe Maxwell on January 12th, 2011
In Charlotte Real Estate,Money Rates and Investing,Real Estate News

You’ve got to love reading through some of the questions and answers on Trulia!  I always love to clear up the consumer’s questions that seem to be so simple for us but, not so elementary for those who are not in the real estate business.  Here’s the short version of a recent question that I thought needed a bit of clearing up:
What is the difference in a foreclosure and a short sale and which is the best one to buy?

In response to the initial question – The difference between a foreclosure and a short sale is that a foreclosure is owned by the bank and a short sale is still owned by the homeowner of record. That homeowner is dependent upon the bank(s) approval of the sale of their property for less than what they owe on their mortgage(s). The short sale process can take awhile but, there are different schools of thought as to which is the best to purchase–short sales or foreclosures.

Consider this–Many homeowners who have lost their home to foreclosure, leave their homes angry and tend to stop maintaining or caring for their home, sometimes removing appliances and light fixtures as they are asked to leave their home, and sometimes even maliciously destroying their former homes as they leave the home. Many short sellers WANT to protect themselves from the 7-10 years of bad credit that a foreclosure can bring, therefore they do everything that they can to keep their homes maintained so that they CAN get a buyer and get out from under their mortgage with as little damage to their credit as possible.

Short sales can and often DO take longer than a standard home purchase or even a foreclosure but, the home that you buy, compared to other options (standard resale or foreclosure), can be in better condition and at a great price too.

Buying a foreclosure is easier on you and your agent but, if you have patience, a short sale can be the better investment, oftentimes requiring FAR less rehabilitation for you, as the buyer.

10 Important Staging Tips for Your Charlotte Home for Sale

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Posted By Debe Maxwell on January 3rd, 2011
In Charlotte Homes,Real Estate News

Selling your home takes more effort than simply listing your Charlotte home for sale in an MLS and placing a For Sale sign in the front yard.  You simply MUST showcase your home in a way that makes it stand above the competition and be incredibly enticing to potential buyers.Prepare your home for sale by staging

One of the best ways to create this enticement is to stage your home so that buyers can see themselves living in your Charlotte home for sale.  Here are 10 very important things to do when staging your Charlotte home for sale.
1.    Be proactive – Go ahead and make minor repairs:  Go through your home and take care of issues such as stuck drawers, missing cabinet hardware, and leaky faucets.  This demonstrates to your potential buyers that you meticulously care for your home–a well-maintained home sells faster and for more money than one that shows wear and tear.
2.    Remove personal touches:   Buyers want to picture themselves in your home, not you and your family. Remove family photos, memorabilia and collections.
3.    De-clutter:  Clear the bathroom and kitchen counters. Take knick-knacks off the shelves. Pack away half of the kids’ toys.
4.    Organize your cabinets and closets:  Because interested buyers will look in all of your cabinets and closets, take the time to neatly stack dishes and fold towels.  Arrange your spices and canned goods as neatly as possible.
5.    Clean as though you’re expecting company:  Scrub every inch of your home.  Remove cobwebs and the dust collected on your ceiling fans. Scour the grout on the bathroom floor.  Replace worn rugs.  Hang fresh towels.  Clean out your refrigerator.
6.    Freshen your yard:  Remove and replace dead or dying plants. Trim hedges, rake leaves and freshen the mulch in your beds.  Clean the windows, inside and out.
7.    Get rid of odors:  Take out the trash daily and avoid cooking with strong foods or spices.  Boil and apple and some cinnamon prior to the showings or bake molasses cookies or an apple pie–make your buyers feel like they’re home!
8.     Think neutral:  Neutral colors sell homes.  Go ahead and repaint your rooms with a neutral color, especially if your home is decorated with very personal colors or wallpaper designs.
9.    Make your rooms look larger:  Take extra leaves out of your dining room table.  Remove the extra chairs and bookcases in your living room.
10.    Rent a storage unit:  Don’t stuff your garage with all those items you packed away or removed from your rooms to make them look bigger.  Keep your garage looking great by moving the boxes and furniture to a storage unit; you’re going to have to pack them to move ANYWAY!
Let me help you stage your Charlotte home or recommend a professional stager for a fast sale.  Call me today or email me to schedule an appointment.