When the time comes to sell a home, an open house can be a valuable tool for attracting potential buyers and increasing the likelihood of making a sale. Currently, there is an influx of buyers entering the housing market and high levels of inventory, interest rates near historic lows and an $8,000 federal tax credit incentive for first-time buyers.  Now more than ever, real estate agents suggest using more creativity with open houses.  This not only maximizes a home’s visibility, but also gives it the competitive edge it needs to stand out.

Below are six creative tips from the agents of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty for making the most of an open house and what sellers can do to help:

Collaborate with the community. 
Everyone appreciates the convenience of one-stop shopping. Before your agent schedules an open house, he or she may suggest checking with neighbors for other activities that might be going on in the area such as garage sales, car washes, or town fairs.  Planning open houses on the same day as other community happenings can be a great way to increase traffic to all events while showing off the personality of the neighborhood.

Offer a personal perspective.
Agents commonly advise sellers to make themselves scarce during an open house. This is not to say that they do not enjoy the seller’s company but rather to ensure the sales associate can market the home objectively and potential buyers feel comfortable to scrutinize the property. However, agents will often suggest sellers share with them their positive experiences living in the home and community. While the agent is an expert on the local marketplace, sellers who can share their personal insight and knowledge from residing in the home and town, might just arm the agent with the piece of information a buyer has been waiting to hear.

Recruit your neighbors for help. 
Word of mouth is a powerful tool in the home buying and selling process.  Therefore, your agent is likely to distribute marketing materials around town providing details of the upcoming open house.  Ask your agent if he or she can provide you with extra copies so that you can share information with your neighbors.  They may have a friend or relative in search of a new home or know somebody who is.

Remember to depersonalize.
Homebuyers are looking for a home they can picture their family living in, not the previous owner’s so do not be insulted if an agent suggests taking down family portraits, personal collections and knickknacks. It is not that they dislike the seller’s personal style; removing these items will eliminate clutter and ensure that open house guests are looking at the house for sale, not at the photos from the last family vacation.

Give a friend a tour.
Prior to opening the doors to potential buyers, agents often recommend that sellers invite a “constructively critical” friend or relative to visit the home and offer an honest opinion about each room. This will be a good indication of whether or not the home is in good shape for selling or if it needs some minor adjustments.

Keep the home’s location in mind.
If the home for sale is in a place where potential buyers might have a tough time locating, an agent might propose a virtual open house. Speak with a local Coldwell Banker agent about how you can work together to post a video about the home, neighborhood and town on Coldwell Banker On Location, an innovative branded YouTube® channel designed to offer consumers a new way to search for and interact with real estate information and listings.

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com or become our fan on Facebook.

When it comes to staging a home for sale, it is important that sellers create a warm and inviting atmosphere that will appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Today, due to an abundance of low-priced homes to choose from, historically low interest rates and an $8,000 federal tax credit incentive, first-time homebuyers account for a greater number of these potential buyers than ever before.  However, sellers looking to attract this coveted demographic need not do a complete design overhaul. Staging a home for first-time homebuyers is easier than one might think.

Below are seven simple staging tips from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty to help boost a home’s appeal and give owners the competitive edge necessary when selling a home.

Stage rooms with one purpose.
Extra rooms that have a mishmash of uses can confuse and even deter first-time homebuyers, so staging rooms with one purpose is vital. Keep in mind that these buyers are generally young couples without children, and rooms should be presented as areas equipped to meet their needs. So turn those playrooms and storage dens into a home office or the kids’ bedroom into a guest bedroom.

Tackle the easy “do-it-yourself” projects.
In a recent Coldwell Banker survey, 81 percent of brokers said today’s first-time home buyers consider move-in conditions to be very important when searching for homes. To ensure that a home is in tip top shape make sure to replace outdated kitchen and bathroom fixtures, apply a fresh coat of paint to a worn wall and refinish the kitchen cabinets. Providing a sleek and modern look wherever possible can make a huge difference in the eyes of first-time homebuyers. To learn more about what home styles are “in fashion,” ask a local Coldwell Banker agent about the styles seen in homes that are selling in the area, and purchase a current interior design magazine for ideas.

Focus on the living areas.
A living room is an area in which potential first-time buyers should be able to envision themselves entertaining friends or gathering with their family. With that in mind, homeowners should make the area appear as large and functional as possible by removing any unnecessary furniture and decorations.

Make sure the master bedroom appeals to both sexes.
The master bedroom of a couple’s first home is often the first bedroom they will share. When staging this room, make sure that it appeals to buyers of both sexes.  Remove any feature that seems too gender-specific and paint the walls a neutral color.

Clear the room of family portraits.
First-time homebuyers are looking for a home they can picture their family living in, not the previous owner’s. Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty recommends taking down family portraits, personal collections and knickknacks. Removing these items will also eliminate clutter and ensure that people are looking at the house for sale, not at the photos from the last family vacation.

Furnish the home, but don’t overdo it.
While an empty home looks spacious, it is hard for new buyers to visualize their belongings in a home if they are staring at ceilings, floors and bare walls. Leave the basic components of each room, but make sure there is still plenty of open space.

Don’t forget to spruce up the yard.
First impressions often play a role in a consumer’s decision making process. In fact, 21 percent of participants in a recent Coldwell Banker survey knew their home was the one for them before even walking inside. Make sure the home’s exterior is inviting by trimming the bushes, mowing the lawn and painting faded window trim. Couples looking for their first home often have less yard work under their belts and will appreciate the seller’s attention to detail.  

For more information, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com.

This week, state & local officials discussed plans for Wilmington’s growth at an economic and business development forum hosted by Coastal Carolina Tomorrow.

Growth strategies included expanding the film industry and arts scene, becoming more involved in historic preservation, and fostering year-round tourism.

What actions would you like state & local leaders to take toward the Wilmington area’s growth?

Normally, the winter months are a pretty slow time in the real estate business.  While the weather has been cold outside this year, the real estate market has been getting hotter and hotter. 

In January 2009, homebuyers toured Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty listings 2,757 times!  That’s a whopping 72% increase from the previous month.  The number of showings is expected to grow even more over the next few months.

Our real estate professionals say that there are lots of homebuyers hunting for homes earlier than usual this year, so that they can take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit before the April 30, 2010 deadline.  First-time homebuyers are eligible for an $8,000 tax credit.  Homeowners that have been in their current home for the last 5 years are also eligible for a $6,500 tax credit.  In addition, real estate agents say that there are lots of investors and folks looking for second homes out looking for great properties at a bargain price.

If you are considering selling your home, it’s smart to contact a Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty agent today.  Our real estate professionals in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow counties will expertly market your home, so that it will get the attention it deserves and sell for the most money.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been southeastern North Carolina’s top home seller for the last 10 years!  Find out more at www.seacoastrealty.com.

These days, homebuyers need a minimum 620 credit score to qualify for a home loan. However, folks with scores that aren’t up to snuff don’t have to kiss their dreams of home ownership goodbye.  We’re partnering with Wilmington-based American Credit Resolutions to help home buyers boost low credit scores.

“They were recommended to a client of mine and he went from a 570 credit score to over 620 in less than 10 days. I don’t know how, but they did it and my client enjoyed working with them,” said Sea Coast Realty associate Sherri Pickard referring to the credit clean-up team. Other associates praised American Credit Resolutions‘ quick results too.

American Credit Resolutions managing partner Dwayne Furmidge says that a “do-it-yourself” approach is the best way to solve credit problems. “However, there is a learning curve for most Americans and many make costly mistakes in the process,” he says. Furmidge and his team put their years of experience to work, handling the often tedious process of resolving credit issues on behalf of their customers.

“Clients with small issues may be completed the same day,” said Dwayne Furmidge, Managing Partner of American Credit Resolutions. “Clients with major issues may take longer.” He says that the average credit clean up takes four months.

He warns consumers against working with credit repair companies that charge exorbitant fees and non-profit agencies that creditors sometimes pay to stretch out the credit repair process. The fees for American Credit Resolutions services vary depending on the issues, but the price for the average four month clean-up would cost $545.95 - a price many consider worthwhile when low credit scores stand between them and the dream of home ownership.

What’s so great about Wilmington, North Carolina?  Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Michelle Gurrera decided to call Wilmington home more than twenty years ago. She explains that the Port City has something for everyone and why you’ll love Wilmington too.

Off-campus student rental housing is surviving the recession nicely, say landlords who rent apartments and rooms to students near campuses all over the country.

“I wouldn’t say it’s recession-proof, but it’s recession-resistant,” says Jim Arbury, an executive with the National Multi-Housing Council, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group for the apartment industry. “It’s still one of the bright spots in the housing market.”

For instance, Brad Hastings, whose company Walk2Campus rents 400 units in South Carolina, has about a 94 percent occupancy rate.

Hastings says it’s not a business for everyone because it’s management-intensive. “You have a customer base who, possibly for the first time, are living out on their own. There’s a certain amount of hand-holding, teaching of life lessons.”

Source: Inman News, Mary Umberger (12/30/2009)

Wilmington, North Carolina is home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), Cape Fear Community College, and a variety of small professional and technical schools.  To find income-producing properties near these schools, please visit www.seacoastrealty.com.

Sellsius has named Jessica Riffle Edwards with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty to its “Top 12 Women Real Estate Bloggers for 2009.”

“I am very enthusiastic about what I do and the videos have allowed people to see that passion for my business and my clients,” said Edwards, who found out she’d been named to the list of top bloggers after she began receiving emails about her blog from across the country.  “I love the positive feedback, because it keeps me going.  I appreciate knowing that people are out there watching on a regular basis and that they expect to see new videos each week.”

Sellsius, a popular real estate blog, began publishing the list four years ago.  “…We meant for it to raise awareness of women real estate bloggers…and to inspire others to blog,” said Sellsius publisher Joseph Ferrara.  Bloggers named to this year’s list were recognized for their excellence in creative content, utilization of video, and community involvement.

Edwards is the first blogger named to the list that uses exclusively video.  “I applaud her consistent work in this medium,” said Ferrara.  “She’s not a veteran, but an upstart. Watch her videos and you’ll get a sense of her passion for her profession— AND clients.”

Edwards’ blog is available at www.HotPropertyBlog.com.  This isn’t the first recognition that she has received for her video blog.  It was also featured on NBC’s TODAY show blog in October 2009 and in the Greater Wilmington Business Journal in June 2009.

Thinking about buying a home? Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty’s Nicole Ferguson explains how an experienced real estate professional can make the process go smoothly in three simple steps.

Sixteen Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty sales associates recently attended one of the preeminent new home sales training programs in the nation.

New Home Communities Director Ted Hardeen, Justin Ash, Pete Barber, Greg Beck, Rand Burchfield, Rob Dooley, Brad Hunter, Greg Kirby, Roger Mitchell, Steve Mitchell, Courtney Pridgen, Bob Ramsey, Lori Smith, Renee Spencer, Karen Stant, and Emily Willetts attended “New Home Sales Boot Camp® 2009” hosted by Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists in Delray Beach, Florida, October 20-22, 2009.

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty leads the area in new home sales by selling three times as many homes as its nearest competitor. Associate training programs, like Schultz’s “Boot Camp,” have been a major factor in Sea Coast’s success.

“New Home Sales Boot Camp® 2009” trainees from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty were (left to right): Roger Mitchell; Justin Ash; Courtney Pridgen; Greg Beck; Peggy Burkett, Executive Vice President of Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists; Rand Burchfield; Bob Schultz, President and CEO of Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists; Steve Mitchell; Emily Willetts; Pete Barber; Roland Nairnsey, Senior Vice President of Training & Development of Bob Schultz & the New Home Sales Specialists; Ted Hardeen; Karen Stant; Brad Hunter; Greg Kirby; and Renee Spencer. Not pictured: Lori Smith, Rob Dooley, & Bob Ramsey.