Tips: Prepare a home for a quicker sale

Prepare a home for a quicker sale

As a real estate agent, I am always running across homes that need basic makeovers.  I know it is difficult to visualize a home as a first time visitor, or buyer, but there are important strategies that must be addressed prior to putting your home on the market.  Here are a few tips that should be common knowledge for any home sale preparation, although they are sometimes overlooked:

• Yard- Always keep your yard well-manicured during the time that it is open to buyers.  Curb appeal is the best solution to getting people in your home.  Ask your real estate or Realtor for a lawn maintenance professional to keep up...

Blythewood SC Real Estate |29016

As a lifelong Blythewood resident, I have seen this area flourish throughout the years and become one of the most desirable areas in Richland County. With the expansion of Northeast Columbia 29229 real estate market, developers have had no choice but to cross into the threshold of Blythewood's 29016 zip code.  Seasoned neighborhoods such as; Longcreek Plantation, Lake Ashley Birch Springs and Crickentree have been greeted with newly developed subdivisions like Cobblestone Park, Ashley Oaks, Lake Carolina, Eagles Glen and Wren Creek.  Blythewood covers the outermost perimeter of Richland County along the I-77 corridor beginning at Highway 21 (exit 23) and ...

The City of Columbia SC

Columbia SC

The first thing I learned when I got my real estate license was the term "location, location, location".  It's quite obvious that people have different wants, needs, and ideas of where they want to live.  I personally always felt like the city was a little too loud and congested but I'm now starting to see the benefits of why city life is so desirable.  I thought I'd tell a little about the City of Columbia and different areas so that a buyer can take this into consideration when buying a home in Columbia, SC.

The City of Columbia, as I know it, is broken into several areas.  It's difficult to explain every part of the city in one sitting so I will try...

Montgomery Ridge | Blythewood SC Real Estate

Montgomery Ridge Business Park is part of an 18.21 acre tract that has been developed to accommodate the growth of community businesses by providing neighborhood commercial lots.  These tracts are located one-half mile west of the I-77 and Blythewood Road interchange.  Access to I-77 is convenient and the Business District of Columbia is merely 15 miles.  There are several hotels, restaurants, banks, and grocery stores within a half-mile of the subject property.  Furthermore, the residential 27-Hole golf course gated community known as Cobblestone Park is adjacent to Montgomery Ridge Business Park and consists of hundreds of lots with many new...

Property of the Week - Week 5

Eastover Acreage | Columbia SC Acreage

PENDING/SOLD

This week's property is a 16-acre tract located between Columbia and Sumter in the town of Eastover, SC. This privately held property has expansive usable space and level topography. 16 acres has become an ideal and desirable size for land hunters looking for an affordable property. Located near Shaw Air Force Base, McEntire Air National Guard, and Fort Jackson this 16+/- acre tract has endless investment possibilities.  It is located about 1.5 hours to Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Hilton Head South Carolina and 2.5 Hours to the NC Blue Ridge Mountains and 1.5 hours Charlotte, NC.  The seller has...

Finding sales information in Columbia SC

With today's inconsistent economy hand-in-hand with a injured real estate market, it is difficult to determine the values of homes without the proper tools and resources.  If you are interested in purchasing or selling a home in Columbia, or the Midlands Area, and need to know property values, you may need to contact a professional to answer your questions.  You can search the Internet but will find that most real estate sites in Columbia containing listing data does not incorporate closed home sales although it is public record.

There are many different variables that are used in determining the value of a home. An opinion, or appraisal, can be ba...

Acreage Ridgeway | Blythewood Real Estate

This week's property is a 30-acre tract located just outside of Blythewood SC. The Town of Blythewood's residential and commercial development trend has become so popular over the past 10 years it has made it difficult to find rural land that Blythewood was once known for. This property has been privately held for over 10 years.
"The 30 Acre Wood" is the name that was given to this property by the owner and his peers because it's likeness to Winnie the Pooh's "100 Acre Wood". It's true to it's name with a flowing creek, large hardwood trees and open fields of wildlife. 30 acres is an ideal and desirable size for most buyers looking for an af...

Property of the Week - Week 3

Irmo SC | Waterford Subdivision Home

(Property off Market) Leamington Circle is an all brick home located in Irmo, SC in the Waterford Subdivision. Irmo is a suburb of Columbia SC and many of the residents take a 15-minute commute to work into the City of Columbia. Irmo, like Blythewood and the Northeast, is desired by home seekers because of the convenience of city living with the appeal of newly built homes. LAKE MURRAY is located less than 2+/- miles from the Waterford subdivision and is a 50,000+/- acre lake and is an excellent source of recreation. The homes in Waterford Subdivision consist of mostly brick and vinyl homes and many were built around ...

Foreclosures - HUD properties

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Are you looking for foreclosed or HUD homes in South Carolina?  As a Certified Broker with HUD we can assist you in any home across the state of SOUTH CAROLINA that is listed on HUD's Real Estate website. As with any government-assisted program, you should be prepared to supply them with personal information and detailed records.  Have all of your information collected and submitted to us prior to making an offer.  Details and bid instructions concerning bid procedures can be found here. HUD has a "Zero Tolerance" for mistakes and will cancel your bid if accurate informa...

Property of the Week - Week 2

Acreage in Camden | Camden SC Land

The Seegars Mill Road property consists of approximately 62 acres and is located between I-20 and Red Hill Road in East Camden SC.  A new survey (Generates Pop-up) has been done to subdivide this property into 6 different tracts with acreage ranging from approximately 6 acres up to about 15 acres.  The property (map Pop-up) will be offered at $3000 per acre.  All of the tracts back up to a small creek that makes a great natural barrier between the subject property and the adjacent neighbors.  This property is full of hardwood trees and has been "thinned" so that the trees have room to branch out to provide shade.  These p...

FHA owes me money!

As a 10+-year veteran in the Real Estate Sales and development, I run across all kinds of questions. For instance, I just went to visit my mother-in-law over the weekend and she asked me about a letter she had gotten in the mail. She showed me the letter, from a third-party company, which said FHA owed her money. With all of the paperwork that is involved with a closing, you can easily get sidetracked and forget that you have to follow up in the future. There are companies that research public records and want a piece of the pie to do your dirty work...and rightfully so. It is not illegal for companies to charge you to collect your money from agencies like FHA, but it ...

Cobblestone Park Gated Golf Community - Blythewood, SC

Cobblestone Park is a gated community located just off of I-77, exit 27, in the Town of Blythewood, SC.  With over 700 acres of Homesites, Golf, Tennis, swimming, and other recreational facilities it has become an exclusive resort-style community in this area.  The friendly security officers at the main gate keep track of all incoming traffic so you know that your safety and the security of your home are a top priority.  The 27-hole course is challenging enough for the professional and yet forgiving for the novice golfer.  At one time it was said that Lee Janzen, an 8-time PGA Tour winner, has redesigned the existing P.B. Dye designe...

Lake Wateree Real Estate and Information

Lake Wateree, a man-made lake, is operated by Duke Power Company and consist of over 13,000 acres of water surface area and nearly 250 miles of shoreline. It is split between Kershaw, Fairfield and Lancaster Counties and is conveniently located between Charlotte, Camden, and Columbia SC. Many Charlotte residents find an escape from the city here and there are many commuters that travel daily to work. It is only about 1 hour from Columbia and Charlotte respectfully.

Lake Wateree State Park is just off of River Road and facilities offer camping, boat ramps, RV parking with water and power connections, and over 200 acres embedded with hiking ...

Tips: Pricing your home

Tips on How to Price Your Home

There are several methods in coming up with pricing your home. With any subject property, it is better to get as much information as possible from several different avenues of research.

Probably the most important method is the Comparative Market Analysis Approach which is used by appraisers. Although this method has its flaws it is the one that is used consistently throughout the State of South Carolina by licensed Real Estate Appraisers. Through tax records and sites like Trulia and Zillow you will be able to find comparables, which are similar properties of other homes in your neighborhood.  Simply known as "Comps" by profession...

What specific documents are required when selling a home in South Carolina?

1. Property Disclosure Form- This document, now required for all real estate transactions, requires you to reveal all known defects to your property. There are exemptions but in most cases, you are required by law, as a homeowner, to disclose all latent defects in writing.

2.Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Pamphlet - If your home was built before 1978, you are required to provide this pamphlet to all buyers and have them sign indicating they received a copy of this disclosure.  More information can be found in this Lead-Based Paint Pamphlet.

3. Sales Contract - This agreement is between you and the buyer stating th...

How to: Create a Profile

Creating a profile | Columbia SC Real Estate

There are several reasons to register and create a profile on Hunt and Associates, LLC website.  Although we will provide you with plenty of free searches from your mobile phone, or your personal computer, you may want to come back and review your searches later.  You can save as many searches that you need and instantly refer back to them.  As a member of the MLS in Columbia,  I've found that this tool is much more valuable and user-friendly than anything that the CMLS members platform offers.  You are getting most of what the MLS offers their users...but for free.  We will NEVER sell your information and never spam ...

How to: Search listings Columbia SC

Columbia SC Real Estate | Columbia MLS

A new website for real estate in the Columbia SC Midlands area

We are excited about the launch of our new Real Estate website and look forward to providing you with the services that you need.  Please create a profile so that you can save and access your information at any time.  You are welcome to freely visit and search the Columbia SC MLS at your convenience.  Please tell your friends and family that we are providing this free service for anyone who needs it.  We also have RSS feeds for your convenience.

We feel that personal service and knowledge is the key to a good real estate transaction.

Please c...