Mrs. Charlotte Moix has taught kindergarten at St. Joseph Catholic School for over 26 years! She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas and resides in Conway with her husband Greg Moix. They have two daughters, Catherine and Rebecca, attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She has been twice been awarded “Golden Apple Teacher of the Year,” served as booster club concession stand set up coordinator for 5 years, is currently t-shirt sales chairman. She was awarded honorary alumnus, and has been a driving force in leading numerous school committees and projects over the years. Her teaching talent, ambition, positive attitude, and work ethic are above reproach. Mrs. Moix has been nominated as SANDSTONE Feature Teacher for her endless dedication to her students and their parents, her Christian leadership among her teaching peers, and her faith filled service to St. Joseph School, Church, and the Conway community.
Sandstone Realtor, Kara Bloomfield surprises this week’s Feature Teacher, Mrs. Mendy Clanton! Mendy has taught for 16 years at Conway Christian School. She is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas. She resides in Conway with her husband Michael Clanton and their children: Jacob, Maggie and Jimmy.
What she loves most about teaching is when the light goes on with her students and they “get it!” Mendy is looking forward to an awesome 2011-2012 school year with her fifth grade students!!!
Mendy was automatically entered into the $100 Class Cash Drawing that will be held at the Sandstone office on Tuesday, August 30th. This drawing is open to all Central Arkansas educators. Entries will only be accpeted between 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the office. Stop by 1050 Bob Courtway Dr. ~ Suite 103 in Conway and enter for your chance to win!
On Thursday, August 11th Mrs. Sara Shipp was named Sandstone Real Estate Group’s Feature Teacher of the Week. She is a 5th Grade Science Teacher at Ruth Doyle Intermediate in Conway, Arkansas.
Mrs. Shipp received this recognition for the countless hours & dedication she has put forth into making each student that enters her classroom a priority. She has been an educator for 25 years. She has experience at both the elementary and middle school levels. She has previously taught at Florence Mattison, Jim Stone and Theodore Jones Elementary schools.
On Thursday, Mrs. Shipp was honored with a Certificate of Recognition, special treat and she also received an automatic entry into the Sandstone $100 CASH for CLASS drawing which will be held on August 30th.
“Sandstone Real Estate Group … making clients & TEACHERS our priority!”
By Korry Garrett
5 Signs You Need to Cut Your Asking Price
So how can you tell when it is time for a price reduction? Here are five common sense signals that you may need to lower the list price of your home:
1. Multiple Listing Agents Told You to List it Lower
Hopefully, you interviewed more than one agent to get their marketing plans and marketing analyses before you listed your property. Some agents will have different strategies for price setting. Some will base their recommendations on comps; meanwhile, some will recommend sellers list lower than market value to generate multiple offers. In the end, these recommendations are just that: recommendations. As the homeowner and seller, the ultimate list price is YOUR decision; but make it an informed one!
2. Broker Feedback Says So
Since over 80% of qualified homebuyers already have an agent, open houses are a great way to expose an available property to interested (and qualified) buyers. However, broker open houses can also provide very valuable pricing feedback. After all, if the buyers have a broker telling you or your agent that your home is overpriced, that is exactly what s/he is telling the buyers too.
Also, if your home is not selling, your listing agent can and should contact the agents who have shown your home to their clients, but failed to make offers, to see if the price was an issue.
3. Your Home is not Being Shown at All
These days, buyers and their agent search for homes online primarily by minimum bedrooms, minimum bathrooms and maximum price. If the other homes meet the required size and other desired qualification but are listed lower than yours, buyers may have no reason to see your home at all.
4. Your Home Has Been on the Market Way Longer Than Average
The DOM (average number of Days On the Market) for homes like yours, in your neighborhood, before they go into contract, is actually public record now through various real estate search and information sites like Redfin.com. If the local DOM for comparable properties is 30 days, and your home has been on the market 60 days, with no bites, you need to slash the list price.
5. You’ve Received Multiple Offers: ALL Lowballs
If you have received more than one offer for your home, but the prices offered were way below your list price, reduce! Buyers are finding your home compelling, but the market does not bear the asking price.
Though you may not initially think so, such a situation is kind of a blessing. It means that if you do drop the price, your chances of selling are very high. If all your lowball offers came in at around the same price point, the market is telling you the right price for your home (although you can maybe create a bidding war and get a little bit more with multiple buyers making offers in the same price range).
Korry Garrett continues to “Turn Dreams Into Reality!”
Give him a call today … (501) 269-0999
By Denise Perry
In today’s market in Central Arkansas it is very important that sellers do ALL they can to make their home as appealing as possible. Simple and affordable do-it-yourself projects can greatly increase a home’s resale value. An article in Realtor Magazine states that over 600 real estate professionals were surveyed to discover which DIY home improvement projects give sellers the biggest return for their buck.
Here are six projects under $1,000 (amounts are estimated) that made the list.
1. Cleaning and de-cluttering. Remove any personal items, un-clutter countertops, organize closets and shelves, and make the home sparkling clean.
$290 Cost $1,990 Return
2. Brightening. Clean all windows inside and out, replace old curtains, update lighting fixtures, and remove anything that blocks light from the windows.
$375 Cost $1,550 Return
3. Smart staging. Rearrange furniture, bring in new accessories and furnishings to enhance rooms, incorporate artwork, and play soft music in the background.
$550 Cost $2,194 Return
4. Landscaping enhancements. Punch up the home’s curb appeal in the front and back yards by adding bark mulch, bushes, and flowers and ensuring current plants and grass are well-cared for and manicured.
$540 Cost $1,932 return
5. Repairing electrical or plumbing. Fix leaks under the sinks, remove any mildew stains, and ensure all plumbing is in good working condition. Update the home’s electrical with new wiring for modern appliances, fix any lights or outlets that don’t work, and replace old plug points with new safety fixtures.
$535 Cost $1,505 Return
6. Replacing or shampooing dirty carpets. Steam-clean carpets, replace any worn carpets, and repair any floor creaks.
$647 Cost $1,739 Return
Real estate professionals can advise sellers on what they need to do to maximize their selling power. Seek that advice and get the “Biggest Bang for Your Buck”.
HomeGain’s 2011 Home Sale Maximizer Survey, www.homesalemaximizer.com.
Denise Perry – “Real Estate at Its BEST!”
(501) 733-6105
By Greg Hunt
For nearly 10 years I have been asked this very question and I wanted to share it with you…..Here’s why it pays to work with a REALTOR® per an article I just read.
1. Navigate a complicated process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.
2. Information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
3. Help finding the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.
4. Negotiating skills. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.
5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
6. Someone who speaks the language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.
7. Experience. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.
8. Objective voice. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, homebuying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll every make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.
Greg Hunt, President/Principal Broker
Sandstone Real Estate Group
“A Smart Choice For Real Estate”
Email: GHuntRealtor@sbcglobal.net
Twitter: @SandstoneREG
By Korry Garrett
You’ve set your goals, made your plans, now it’s just a matter of taking steps in the right direction to reach your planned destination. Taking action will help you cross the bridge between your goals and accomplishment. One of the biggest obstacles in your path is PROCRASTINATION – the failure to begin, to delay the start and ultimately leave your potential wasted in the end.
It’s worth remembering that a week from now, it will be a week from now and you will either be closer to your goals or you won’t. Start by reducing some of procrastination’s best allies. Probably the strongest of those has just two initials T.V. Is your TV time cutting into your productive time? Take this little test. Estimate how many hours of TV you watched last week. Be honest with yourself. On average people spend 20 to 30 hours watching TV a week. If you reduce that even by a little, you have more time to take the actions that will lead you to your goals.
Steps to get past procrastination en route to your goals:
- Identify your list of things to do and write them down. By writing it down you eliminate this in your imagination and take control over your tasks.
- Prioritize your tasks so you know which has highest potential payoff. Strive to do the highest paid work first.
- Create deadlines for yourself and your tasks. Having a deadline gives you urgency.
- Break larger projects into smaller parts or action steps. In just a few minutes, you could complete an action step that brings you closer to your goal.
- Use your mood to your advantage. Sometimes you are frustrated, tired, angry or in a state not conducive to your best output. This is the time to just continue to work. Too often when we are not feeling like it is when we need to push through and maintain momentum for a better day.
Overcoming the temptation of procrastinating and taking action is absolutely essential to this strategy. Having a roadmap without travelling keeps you separated from your destination. Put off procrastinating and start down the road to your goals.
Korry Garrett … Turning your dreams into reality! Call me – (501) 269.0999
By Jamille Rogers
CHICAGO – The Windy City! This past weekend, I went to Chicago to celebrate my friend Lindsey’s Birthday. We had a BLAST!!! Although this wasn’t my first time to visit Chi-Town, I did have a lot of “FIRST EXPERIENCES!” This was my FIRST time traveling out-of-town to celebrate a friend’s birthday. During the trip I had my first experience of sleeping on an air mattress (while it was being blown up / Thanks Laura!). I also got to have Sushi for the first time. (It wasn’t too bad. I didn’t eat any of the raw meat; just couldn’t.) It was my first time to visit the historic Wrigley Field to attend a Cubs game (in the freezing rain) and go to the Cubby Bear. I also picked up all kinds of new lingo during my trip!
One of the things I enjoyed most was riding on the L and getting to “people watch!” Talk about some interesting folks …. If you can’t tell through this blog, I had a GREAT time! I got to make some new friends and had the experience of a lifetime! I can’t wait to go back. Hoping I’ll get to go back up there this fall to watch my friend Chris Harris play a football game (Chicago Bears).
I must send a huge THANK YOU out to our weekend hosts, Kelly & Jared. They were fabulous! I also want to thank Lindsey for all of the hard work she & her sister did to organize this trip. Unforgettable …
By Korry Garrett
The national average for a gallon of self-serve, regular gasoline was $3.57 on March 18, according to the Lundberg Survey of about 2,500 gas stations. The 6.65-cent increase came two weeks after gasoline prices jumped almost 33 cents in the prior two-week period.
Saving Money
So what’s an average person to do to save money when gas prices rise? Plenty, but first the average consumer is going to have to go through a conversion of sorts. You see, saving money on gas is not just a matter of buying cheaper gas where you can find it. It’s a state of mind. The way you drive, how much stuff you leave in your car or trunk – even giving your vehicle a couple minutes to warm up each morning – can significantly lower your fuel costs over time.
Oil Prices
Gas prices rise when oil prices rise, and fall when oil prices fall — except when they don’t. What you pay at your filling station depends on an array of factors, from what happens on a commodities exchange in New York to what the competition is charging.
More Than Half The Cost
Oil is the biggest factor in gas prices. It accounts for 50 percent to 70 percent of the cost. Upheaval in the Middle East and strong demand for oil around the world have pushed oil prices over $100 a barrel for only the second time in history. But the price of a gallon of gas at the pump rises — and, yes, falls — for other reasons.
Different Variables
Oil prices can be moved not only by geopolitics, but also by the value of the dollar or Chinese demand. Gas prices can be moved by oil prices, refinery problems or even weather that might keep drivers at home. For example, gas prices are expected to rise in the next few weeks as refineries switch from cheaper winter blends to more expensive summer ones because the warm air makes gas evaporate faster.
So the question is … ”What are we going to do?”
#1. Interest Rates are still low
#2. Americans WANT to own homes
#3. Annual Tax Cuts
#4. Builders are constructing new & custom homes
#5. Homes are AFFORDABLE
Don’t know where to start? Call our office today and let us help. Our agents are on stand by. Call (501) 329-7263 / Don’t forget to mention this blog post! From our office to your home … Have a WONDERFUL Week!