The Julissa Jumper Real Estate Team » Selling

When All is Said and Done, Selling Homes is Still about Relationships

jumperdj — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:33:12 +0000

Honestly, I have never felt quite this good about not getting a listing…

This is a short post about a home I did NOT list for sale in Country Club North, one of the neighborhoods in Fayetteville, NC in which I specialize. Country Club North is an established neighborhood of executive-style and single family homes in northwest Fayetteville, very near to Fort Bragg and very close to major shopping areas. Country Club North is a great neighborhood, featuring wide streets with bike lanes, gentle, rolling hills and lots of green spaces. Here is a Google map of the neighborhood.

For a few years, I marketed heavily to Country Club North, and had quite a bit of success there selling some wonderful homes. Recently, after a 2-3 year “sabbatical” in my business in which I had two very curly-headed baby girls, I resumed marketing and listing homes in Country Club North. Thankfully, sellers there remembered me, and I’ve been able to list a few homes.

The market in Country Club North has changed dramatically, however. While the homes there are still desirable, they can take some time to sell, with many remaining on the market for over a year. Competition is stiff among the homes for sale in Country Club North; The pricing and condition of the home must be excellent, and the marketing must be top-notch to generate the exposure that will get homes sold more quickly in the neighborhood.

And, I have been able to generate that kind of exposure for the homes I have listed for sale in Country Club North. My marketing is very heavily internet-based, although I also do direct mail marketing. My marketing has been effective–my listings have always sold more quickly than the absorption rates for the neighborhood.

So, toward the end of last week, I got a call from a seller in Country Club North who wanted to put his home on the market. “I’ve seen some of your stuff, and I thought I’d give you a call,” he explained. We made an appointment to meet on Friday evening, during which I would give him a listing presentation so that he could compare my marketing with other agents he was interviewing. I sent off a pre-listing packet to him, and started preparing for my listing presentation.

Unfortunately, trouble arose, and I had to meet to negotiate some repair issues on a listing that was scheduled to close. Of course, the only time that would work for my client and the buyer’s agent was Friday evening. I contacted the seller in Country Club North, explained the situation, and asked if we could reschedule.

“I definitely respect your priorities,” he said, “and would want the same from my agent.” I felt very good when he said that!

But, he had to leave town for a few days, and asked if I would send him some information, so that when we met on his return, he’d already be well-prepared. “I should be able to make a decision”, he said. “Again, I respect your priorities and work ethic.”

I love people who are so positive! They have a way of making you feel good, and professionally, they are a joy to work with. I was excited about the prospects for this listing, and was already formulating my marketing pieces!

Of course, as you’ve already guessed, the other shoe dropped!

Over the course of the weekend, I sent my clients and contacts in Country Club North some information about homes that were for sale in the neighborhood, and about a gorgeous home with a pool that had come back on the market after being under contract. As that particular home was just a few doors down from his, I sent the information to this seller, because the home would be stiff competition for his. I adjusted my listing presentation to account for this home, and asked the seller when we could meet after he got back into town.

Very kindly and professionally, the seller called me one day this week and explained. “You definitely have the best marketing of any agent I’ve interviewed,” he said. “But, we met with an agent and we just really liked her, and so we’ve decided to list our home with her. We feel very comfortable with her.”

That stung a little bit. I’m always a little disappointed when I don’t get a listing (I can be very competitive!) but I had hoped for this one, because I really like this seller! Still, you know, I feel pretty good about NOT getting it, because I know the agent he selected, I know he is in good hands with a capable agent and a company that has an excellent reputation.

I also know if I had been one of the agents he met with, I would have been the one he chose. But he would not have based his decision solely on my gee-whiz listing presentation.

Selling homes (or any other service business) is still about relationships, about connecting and trusting your agent, much more than it is about marketing.

I wish this seller the best in selling his home (and I’ll surely take any buyers I’m working with in that price range to see it); what a generous and kind person he was!

via activerain.com

Posted via email from JuliGrace

Nicely Updated 3 Bedroom Home in Haymount

jumperdj — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:54:12 +0000

A very nicely updated 3 bedroom/1.5 bath home in Haymount!

Here is a Google map of the location.

Located in the much-desired neighborhood of Haymount, this home is convenient to downtown, the major shopping areas and Fort Bragg. Haymount is a very popular neighborhood in Fayetteville, NC. It is an established neighborhood near the heart of the city. It features mostly single family homes that were built in the first half of the last century, and which have been upgraded to meet today’s needs. Haymount is a pretty neighborhood, with lots of trees and green spaces. It is also located in the Terry Sanford School District, one of the most desired school districts in Fayetteville, NC.

Here is a video tour of this home:

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This home has been well updated. It has very large rooms, unusual for many homes in Haymount, with soaring 9 and 1/2 foot ceilings. The rooms feature gleaming hardwood floors, wide base molding, and crown moldings in the formal rooms. The formal living room has a large picture window overlooking the pretty front yard, a gas fireplace, and access to the screened porch. It opens to the formal dining room, which has enough room for the largest furniture. It features a bay window.

The kitchen has been nicely updated, with modern appliances and plenty of cabinets for storage. The floor is tile.

The bedrooms are all situated of the main hallway, a quite dramatic space. Each room has the same soaring ceilings, wood floors, and plenty of windows. The middle bedroom features a bay window that mirrors the one in the dining room.

The home also has a screened porch, a great place to relax. It is on the front side of the home overlooking the front yard. The front of the home is very pretty, with a green yard and a white picket fence. The backyard is fully enclosed in a privacy fence.

For more photos, visit the photo gallery. Click here to see this Featured Home™ on REALTOR.com®.

via activerain.com

Posted via email from JuliGrace

Getting My Listings to the Top of Google – The Long Tail and Keyword Consistency

jumperdj — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:09:35 +0000

Who was it that first said, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”? Alexander Pope, I think, although others have borrowed it quite a bit.

Nevertheless, it’s very true, in my case

For a long time, I have been marketing all of the homes I have for sale in Fayetteville, NC on the internet, in a variety of different places–the MLS, Realtor.com, KW.com, my blog, Viddler, etc. Each time I would add a new home for sale, I would try to write a description of the home that would appeal to buyers, and would highlight some of the better features of the home. I was very good at making a home sound appealing!

Makes sense, right? Still, in those days, I did not have a well-proven method for getting my listings to rank favorably in Google. All of the homes I had for sale in Fayetteville were pretty much categorized as “Fayetteville NC Real Estate” or “Homes for Sale in Fayetteville NC.” So, despite the great descriptions, the homes I had for sale didn’t always rise to the top of Google. The keyword “Fayetteville NC Real Estate” usually returned a bunch of mega-real estate portals, real estate company sites or newspaper websites on Google. Very generic results for a very generic search term.

Active Rain Real Estate Network

Then I attended an Active Rain Rain Camp session (in Washington, DC) and learned how to do better. While it is true that a large number of internet searchers will type “Fayetteville NC real estate” (or any other generic search term, depending on the topic) into Google, many more will type in a more specific search term, like “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg.” That phenomenon is called “The Long Tail,” and the theory is that about 80% of searchers will type a more specific term while searching. The welcome benefit to me and my sellers is that those buyers tend to be more serious or further along in the home search process. The internet users who are “just looking” are the ones who use the more generic (about 20%) search terms.

Since I first learned about “The Long Tail” and how I could choose keywords that people use when they search Google for information, I’ve written all of my marketing descriptions to reach buyers who are looking for more specific features; such as, “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg,” or “homes for sale in the Terry Sanford School District,” or “homes for sale in Country Club North” (or other popular neighborhoods) here in Fayetteville, NC. Since I’ve done that, the homes I have for sale always rank at, or near, the top of Google when searching by those more specific keywords.

Ah, but it is important to be consistent with the keywords.

"3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg"

This morning, I did a search in Google for “3 bedroom homes close to Fort Bragg.” I wanted to see how my latest listing, a gorgeous 3 bedroom home that is close to Fort Bragg, was performing in the search engines. My results showed that my listing was not on the first page! Although I had other homes for sale close to Fort Bragg that ranked on page 1, this newest listing did not. I had checked only yesterday, and it WAS on page 1, so what gives?

"3 br home close to Fort Bragg"

Keyword consistency is what gives. I re-entered my search as “3 br home close to Fort Bragg” and the results showed my latest listing at the top of Google; in fact, 4 out of 10 results were homes I had for sale.

That little change, “3 bedroom” vs “3 br” made all the difference, and I learned a valuable lesson.

Choose your keywords deliberately and then use them consistently. It makes a difference, and it can be quite dramatic.

In this case, I’ve decided that internet searchers are more likely to use the term “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg” instead of the abbreviation “3 br” and so I’ve corrected my posts and descriptions to match the keyword.

It seems that such a little thing shouldn’t make such a big difference, but it does.

And the lesson was amplified to me when I entered “3 bedroom homeS close to Fort Bragg” and got a totally different result!

But that’s a post for another day!

Very Clean 3 Bedroom/2 Bath Home Close to Fort Bragg

jumperdj — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:11:46 +0000

Here is an ideal home for anyone who wants to be close to Fort Bragg, major shopping areas, and restaurants; who desires a home with upgraded features; and who wants it all at an affordable price!

Front View

This very clean and well maintained home is in Middle Creek subdivision. Here is a Google Map of the location. Middle Creek is an established neighborhood of single family homes and it is only a few minutes drive to post or to the mall. It is a very green subdivision; lots of trees and yards. Additionally, for anyone who has school-aged children, the elementary school is located right in the neighborhood.

Here is a video tour of the home:

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This home is very well cared for by the owners and they have done significant upgrades in the last few years. New heat and a/c unit in 2005; new roof, new windows, new water heater, kitchen re-model and new carpets in 2006; tile installed and bathroom remodeled in 2008; and master bath remodeled in 2010. The dishwasher, refrigerator and stove with microwave have all been replaced within the last 4 years.

Greatroom

The home features a very open floor plan. Enter into the foyer which opens into the greatroom. It is a very large room, fully tiled, with a fireplace and doors to the backyard. It is also open to the dining area and the kitchen–a huge gathering place for friends and family. In addition to the newer appliances, the kitchen also has a very large pantry, ample cabinet space for storage and is very clean.

The master bedroom is large enough for a king-sized bed and furniture. It has a bath with two vanities, huge shower, his-and-hers walk-in closets and plenty of storage for linens.The other two bedrooms are full sized with plenty of closet space. They share the second bath which is located between the two on the opposing wall. It is a full bath, including tub with shower.

This great home also has a two-car garage and the backyard is fenced.

To see more photos of the home, visit the photo gallery. Click here to see this Featured Home™ on Realtor.com®.

3 Br/2 Ba Condo Close to Fort Bragg and Major Shopping Areas

jumperdj — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:30:29 +0000

Fayetteville, NC is home to a great many people who need a quiet and secure home that is conveniently located.

If you are one of those who is looking to buy a home that is close to Fort Bragg, convenient to major shopping areas, close to dining and nightlife activities, but who also desires a quiet, clean neighborhood, this condo may just be the home for you.

Living Room - 216-9 Waterdown Drive

This home is a clean and roomy 3 bedroom/2 bath condo, in a very convenient location, for less than many people’s rent! It is located in The Crossings, a quiet neighborhood with park-like grounds just off Morganton Road in Fayetteville, NC. Here is a Google map of the location.

The community is very centrally located–major shopping areas (mall, shopping plazas, restaurants) are just minutes away and Fort Bragg is only a short drive in the other direction! This neighborhood is ideal for anyone who wants the convenience of short commute times. Imagine getting to Fort Bragg for your morning commute in just minutes, instead of waiting in long traffic lines to get in the gate!

This condo has been very well maintained. It is on the third floor, which means that one will have to climb stairs to reach it, but it is a much quieter home, as there are no neighbors overhead.

It has wood floors in the main living areas and carpet in the bedrooms. The living room is large, with access to the deck. It features a fireplace and vaulted ceiling with a gorgeous ceiling fan and light overhead. The kitchen is very clean, with ample cabinet space and all appliances. It is a galley kitchen with a pass-thru/look-thru to the eating area. The side with the eating area also features a bar with room for 2 or 3 bar stools.

The bedrooms are on the outside of the main living areas. The entry foyer and hallway lead to the main bath and one bedroom, while the master and second bedroom are on the other side of the condo. The bedrooms are large, with plenty of closet space. The master bedroom features a walk-in closet and a full bath with garden tub and a separate shower.

The deck overlooks the lawn and recreation areas, not parking areas. The community amenities–the pool, tennis courts, sitting areas–are all close by, a very short walk, which is another great feature of this particular unit. The grounds are well maintained, with a lake that sports geese and ducks, and the grounds are clean.

The Crossings, Close to Fort Bragg

This is easy living – no grass cutting, trash removal or outside maintenance. Homeowners Association covers it all. It is ideal for anyone with a busy lifestyle or a frequent traveler.

All these features in at a price that is very competitive!

For more photos, visit the photo gallery. Click here to see this listing on Realtor.com.

Call your agent for a showing, or call or text me at (910) 644-0303 to schedule a showing with me.

You Have to Move Quickly to Get the Home You Want, in the Neighborhood You Want, Even in This Market

jumperdj — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:05:08 +0000

Buying the right home in the Terry Sanford School District, or in the case of my clients, the Alma Easom Elementary School area means you have to move quickly. Terry Sanford is one of the most desired school districts in Fayetteville, NC and houses for sale in Terry Sanford can sell even before they hit the Multiple Listing Service. One of my latest listings in the Terry Sanford School District sold in just days, and I blogged about the beautiful home my sellers had for sale and the multiple offers my sellers received on their home!

The national media has recently painted a picture of a declining real estate market, and indeed, in many areas, that is an accurate portrait. But, real estate really is a very local market, and even in a sluggish market nationally, or state-wide, or even city-wide, there are areas that defy the trend and sell very well.

Fayetteville, NC - History , Heroes, and a Hometown Feeling

Real estate sales in Fayetteville, NC have certainly slowed down from the hectic days of a few years ago. Generally, however, Fayetteville seems to be a balanced market, and home values have not seen the decline that other areas of the nation have experienced. Still, sales in Fayetteville have slowed down considerably in upper price ranges, and some sellers are under pressure to price their homes to sell. Unless, of course, the home is in one of the most desired school districts.

The Terry Sanford School District is one such area in Fayetteville. Located near the heart of the city, the Terry Sanford School District ran out of room to grow long ago. Because of its central location, it is close to the most frequented places in Fayetteville. Downtown Fayetteville, with its shopping and parks is only minutes away. Fort Bragg, a major employer, is just a 10-15 minute drive. And the local mall and major shopping plazas are just up the street.

The area is typified by very well-established neighborhoods, charming homes, and old oak and magnolia trees galore! The neighborhoods have very recognizable names in this area: Haymont, VanStory Hills, Murray Hills. Many homes were built in the 1940′s, 50′s, and 60′s and have been renovated to meet modern needs. Often, buyers have to be willing to put money into the home to get the features or amenities they feel they need or to update dated rooms. Finding one that offers the amenities and space of a newly constructed home is very difficult.

In the case of the clients I am currently working with, that is especially true. They really want to be in the Terry Sanford School District because they want to be able to place their children in the Alma Easom Elementary School. They also want 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. And, like all of us, they want it to be affordable! Finding a home that meets all 3 of those needs in the Terry Sanford School District is a tall order!

Yesterday, a home that comes close to that description came on the market. I knew that my clients would want to see it, but they were on a vacation in California and wouldn’t be back until Sunday evening! They aren’t the only ones looking for a great home in this school district, so I scheduled an appointment to preview it, took along my video camera, and shot 20 minutes of video (!) that my husband compressed and loaded on my server so that I could email a link to my clients, and they could have a video tour of the home.

Evidence of how popular the Terry Sanford School District is–when I got to the home to film the tour, there were 6 other business cards on the counter of agents who had shown the home to prospective buyers. The home had only just been posted on the MLS and there weren’t even any pictures of it loaded!

I know my clients were excited to be able to see a tour of the home even though they were so far away, and I know they want to see it as soon as they get back.

But, the lesson in this for buyers is simple. Homes in the Terry Sanford School District, even in this market, can sell very quickly and if you want to get the right home, you may have to act fast!

If you want to see what homes are available in the Terry Sanford School District, visit my website and click on the link to Search the MLS. Be sure to bookmark the link, homes sell quickly and you’ll want to check frequently for updated information.

via activerain.com

Posted via email from JuliGrace

Beautifully Refinished 3 Bedroom/1.5 Bath Home Close to Fort Bragg

jumperdj — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:40:16 +0000

This is my newest home for sale in Fayetteville, NC. What a great home, with so many upgrades, conveniently located to Fort Bragg and major shopping areas. It is very modestly priced at $105,000.

This pretty home is located in Mintz Estates, an established neighborhood that is only a few minutes drive to post or to the mall. The neighborhood is quiet, with wide streets, and lots of trees. Here is a Google map of the location.

Here is a video tour of this home:

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Front View

The home has been nicely upgraded. Hardwood floors throughout have been refinished and gleam. The interior is also freshly painted in elegant colors.

The kitchen has new cabinets, countertops and vinyl flooring. It also features a large eat-in area with access to the patio.

Kitchen

Each of the bedrooms is large and the master bedroom includes a half-bath.

Outside the home, the backyard is very large with space to play and plenty of shade.

Click here to see more photos of this home.

For more information, visit this home’s page on Realtor.com

This home is a great choice for anyone looking for an updated home in a great location at a modest price. Call your agent to schedule a showing or call or text Julissa at (910) 644-0303.

Priced Reduced – Must Sell Immaculate 4 Bedroom Home in Country Club North, Fayetteville, NC

jumperdj — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:33:27 +0000

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to purchase a gorgeous home in Country Club North for a very reasonable price. The sellers must sell and have just reduced the price to $229,500. That’s a great value!

Country Club North, an established neighborhood of well tended, executive style & single family homes here in Fayetteville, NC. The neighborhood features wide streets–well maintained with bike lanes–gentle hills, & dense green foliage. Country Club North is a peaceful neighborhood, very conveniently located. Here is a Google Map of the location.

I originally wrote a post about this home when I first put it on the market. You will want to read it to see a full description of the home. The only thing that has changed is the price. This is still a home that you will want to see!

Here is a video tour of the home:

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Notice how well maintained the home is, and the elegance of the formal rooms. Also notice how the kitchen is so large and open to the greatroom. That’s a perfect space for having friends and family together during special times like holidays or gatherings.

My favorite scene is the master suite. It is just huge, and it has 3 walk-in closets, a separate 6 foot closet and a linen closet. I also love that all the bedrooms are large and 2 of the other 3 bedrooms also have walk-in closets for storage.

Maybe my next favorite scene is the backyard, with its lush green grass, fencing, and large deck made just for entertaining and relaxing.

Click here to see more photos of this home. For even more information, view the listing on Realtor.com.

This 4 bedroom home is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to be close to post, without long commute times, in an established, but well-tended neighborhood. But now, it can be had for an even better price!

Multiple Offers – I Love This Business!

jumperdj — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 22:00:43 +0000

I never get tired of being a Realtor! Although some days are long and hard and I’m dragging when I get home, there are so often days like today, when my afternoon lights up with multiple agents giving me offers on one of my listings.

It’s no surprise, really, I kind of expected a lot of interest in this particular listing. I put it on the market on Monday, posted a lot of pictures and a video, and got 4 showing notifications yesterday. It’s a great home, and it’s in a very desirable location–good school district, central location, easy commute times to anywhere–and it has so many great upgrades and features.

My sellers were very willing to listen to me and they did everything my home stager recommended. When we went to shoot photos on Sunday, my husband and I thought we might like to buy it!

Of course, I say that about so many houses I list or sell. I guess I just love beautiful houses.

And even more, I love when I go see my sellers like I will this evening, and I get to help them sell a home they’ve put so much time, money and love into. I just always am struck that my clients have so many memories in the homes that they’re selling.

Knowing that they have buyers who love this home as much as they do will make it a lot easier for them to move on to new memories.

Posted via web from JuliGrace

4 Br/3 Ba Home With In-law Suite in Terry Sanford School District

jumperdj — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:13:53 +0000

Front

I am so excited about my newest listing! It has so many features that buyers are looking for, including a glamorous kitchen, a comfortable sunroom and a large in-law suite!

What a wonderful home in the Terry Sanford School District. It has 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, and it is in one of the most desired areas of town. It is centrally located, with short commuting times to anywhere you want to go. Here is a Google map of the location.

This beautifully updated home is located in Murray Hill, an established neighborhood close to Fort Bragg, downtown, and the mall area. Murray Hill and Terry Sanford district are very desirable locations with strong property values. Check out the video tour of this great home.

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The upgrades in this home are very well done. The home features a formal living room, kitchen with separate eat-in area and pantry, master bedroom with full bath, in-law suite with all appliances and full bath, sunroom, deck, and above ground pool with deck. It also features hardwood floors throughout the main rooms, tile in the sunroom, and carpet in the in-law suite.
The formal living room is located on the front of the home, and features hardwood floors, crown molding, and double windows for pleasing natural light. An eye-catching feature is the wide door openings from the living room to the kitchen and then into the sunroom; very well designed.

Kitchen

The kitchen was fully remodeled in 2008 and features new KraftMaid maple cabinets, an island, quartz counter tops, GE Profile series double oven and cooktop, Bosch dishwasher and Maytag refrigerator w/French doors and bottom drawer. It includes a pantry with even more cabinets for storage and space for a desk or other furniture.

The master bedroom has space for queen-sized furniture and includes a full bath. Bedrooms 2 and 3 are ample sized and share a full bath located just outside in the hallway.

The in-law suite was added in 2004. It is handicap-compliant. The large space is comfortable and private and ideal for a parent, a long-term guest, or a college student. It has an entrance from the back, and it includes a full kitchen area with appliances, an eat-in area, sitting room, space for full or queen bed, and a full bath with shower and walk-in closet.

Sunroom

The sunroom was completed in 2007. What a great room! Off the dining area, it features French doors, full windows, access to the deck and a beautiful tile floor. It is one of the favorite rooms of the house.

The backyard has privacy fencing. It is a large yard, with room to play or just gather on the deck or the 28’ above ground pool. The pool was added in 2006 and is in excellent condition.

Finally, the hardwood floors were re-done in 2008. New heat pack was added in 2006.

Click here to visit the photo gallery for this home. Here is a link to more information on Realtor.com.

This home is a great choice for anyone who needs an in-law suite and wants to be in a very desirable neighborhood. Call your agent to schedule a showing or call or text Julissa @ (910) 644-0303.