Charlotte has a lot of great agents, and for the most part, we work rather nicely together.  Transactions are always far more pleasant for our clients when we have responsive, responsible agents working together to achieve one common goal.

But, what about working together to sell our listings?  I don't mean bringing me buyers either, I'm talking about collaborating to get one particular neighborhood or area spotlighted and get our clients' homes sold.

We have found that neighborhood open houses work far better than stand-alone opens for the obvious reasons--say you have 6 or 8 agents within the community who plan a neighborhood open.  You wind up with 6-8 varieties of marketing and 6-8 times the marketing than one agent can do alone.  Not to mention, it creates better relationships between the agents.

I have recently phoned several agents to discuss slow sales in a particular area, asking to collaborate and see if we can't get something done in that area to better bring it front-and-center to bring buyers to the community.  No ONE SINGLE agent has returned my call, not ONE!  Is it such a bad thing for agents from a variety of brokerages to put our heads together to get the job done for all of our clients?  

Hey, I'm as competitive as they come but, this is not about competition, it's about collaboration to achieve a common goal.

Let's talk!  How do you motivate peers from other brokerages to work together towards a common goal?

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

This time of the year is typically spent reflecting on the past year--our experiences, our businesses and our loved ones (not necessarily in that order).  This year has been a whirlwind for most of us and for many, we've shared in the losses of dear friends and family, making this time of the year especially difficult for those who have lost loved ones.

My dear friends, Missy Caulk and Christa Stewart-Caulk are healing from two very tough family losses this year--they lost Christa's amazing brother (Missy's son), Jamie and Missy's precious granddaughter, Lillie Bear (and Christa's niece), both within a month of each other.  

Carol Grub, Cyndee Haydon and a few of our other friends have started a project, “THE JAMIE & LILIAN CAULK MEMORIAL PROJECT” for our friend and fellow ActiveRain member Missy Caulk and her family.  The project is focused on placing a memorial bench in the Caulk family's favorite spot, in honor of their family members, Jamie and Lillian.  We're raising funds to purchase that bench and would love for as many friends of the Caulk family to join us in the dedication in 2012.     

Despite the amazing family unity and strength that the Caulk family has, they still need our prayers for comfort and strength.

I have known Missy since I started blogging on ActiveRain in 2007.  She welcomed me with open arms and we quickly became 'virtual' friends until rooming together last year at NAR/RainCamp/REBar Camp in NOLA--in real life!  Prior to NAR, I had flown to Dallas for ActiveRain Camp, where I also met Missy's lovely daughter, to whom I immediately connected!  

Spending a week with them gave me such a warm feeling--their family unity is something that we just don't see these days.  I believe each of Missy's boys and her other daughter, Alyssa, phoned her several times while we were together and Christa was with us as much as she was with Bob during the week!!  The love and connection knows no bounds in the Caulk family; they're truly a wonderful example of what 'family' truly is. 

There's no time like Christmas Eve to reach out to this wonderful family and offer your love and support for them.  After all, that IS what we do here in the Rain, right?  Please help us spread the word about “THE JAMIE & LILIAN CAULK MEMORIAL PROJECT” focused on dedicating a memorial park bench in Jamie and Lillie Bear’s honor.

How can you help?

• Continue to pray for comfort and strength for the Caulk family.
• Help get the word out by socially sharing this post or re-blogging for those who know the Caulk family--OR, write your own blog post about it.
• Make a donation

How to Make a Donation:

Make checks payable to "The Jamie & Lillian Caulk Memorial Fund"

Mail checks to:

Carol Grubb
3647 W. Greenook Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

*Be sure to write "The Jamie & Lillian Caulk Memorial Fund" in the memo of your check.

Or send a Paypal gift (as a gift so all funds go towards the fund) to: cyndeehaydon@gmail.com. 

PLEASE leave your name(s) & email address(es) to be included in the Caulk's card from everyone who participated.  We'd also like to keep you informed of the details of the upcoming dedication ceremony that is being planned so that hopefully you'll be able to attend as well.

Thank you SO much! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

This is from Cyndee Hayden.  Thanks, Cindy & Carol for spearheading this--your hearts are pure gold!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

We all enjoy reading informative posts--especially when they’re focused on a topic for which we are searching.  We tend to enjoy a connection between the writer when we’re fully agreeing with something or sometimes, for whatever reason, we may get the feeling that we just don’t ‘understand’ that particular writer.

The consumer is the exact same way--they go by the ‘tone’ and style of your writing as well as the content that you provide them within any given article, blog or website.  Here are some pointers that I’ve gathered from discussions with clients who have found me or my firm online:

• Readers don’t like the hard sell.  Your ‘About Us’ page on your website and your ‘Profile’ page on ActiveRain gives you the perfect spot to tell the world about you.  Don’t over-do it though--everyone detests a bragger so, saying that you’re the ‘best’ or ‘highest producing’ at something is a major turn-off.  

• Give them a bit about YOU, not how great YOU think you are!  
• Include a few testimonials; those are well received by readers--far more than touting about yourself!

• Write with passion--let the reader know that you have a wealth of knowledge about your area and that you’re more than willing to share.

• Do your research. What is the consumer in search of while on your site?  Are you finding that they’re clicking on your neighborhood posts or your market reports?  Or is the consumer looking more for school information or local happenings?  

• Take care with your comments - This is one thing that is often overlooked:

• Do you leave snide comments on others’ blogs or in response to those who were gracious enough to leave a comment on your blog?  Sometimes no matter how diplomatic we try to write, it comes across as snide.  Refrain from this type of commenting.  Remember what your grandmother always told you, “If you don’t have something nice to say, just don’t say anything at all!”  Your comments speak louder than you realize.
• Comments are indexed in the search engines so, remember that if you’ve been nasty before, that may just be the comment that you’re ‘discovered’ by--and that’s certainly not a good first impression!

WRITE to the consumer--give them what they want!  Make your blogging voice loud and clear so that the reader wants to continue reading.  Happy blogging in 2012!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Thankfulness is a state of mind, a feeling or expression of gratitude–something we choose to ponder or express.  I don’t often enough share my appreciation of others in my life; as much as I ‘feel’ gratitude, the sharing of it is what truly means more than just keeping my own thoughts to myself.

In our home, today is post-hospital day 1 for my husband, who spent just over 2 weeks in the hospital.  Our lives were turned topsy-turvy once again for a few weeks as we struggled to maintain normalcy in our lives but, more importantly, to help him heal.  We’re elated to have him home and plan a very quiet but, thoughtful, Thanksgiving Day.

We’re blessed now with good health, lots of wonderful, caring family, friends and clients.    Love and appreciation is at the core of these relationships and I was reminded last night as I checked into Facebook for the first time in a long while, how blessed we are with friends from afar.  Those friends could not be here in person to deliver the wonderful food, hugs and good deeds that have been bestowed upon us during the last few weeks but, left ‘virtual’ hugs and heartfelt messages.  You have no idea how my heart swelled reading these messages–for all of you, I’m truly thankful!

I’m so very thankful for the health and well-being of both of our boys who are excelling in their own lives–both finishing up college in the next 12 months (yet another thing to be thankful for) and both loving, caring boys who have (finally!) matured into wonderful young men.  Yes, I am biased…and blessed!

Our lives have been filled with so much warmth, happiness and love that I can never begin to express my gratitude but, let me simply say this, thank you ALL, from the bottom of my heart for another year of friendships and business relationships.  Each and every one of you have a very special place in my heart and always will!

Today, I am thankful for you all and wish for all of my ActiveRain family, a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  Don’t forget to tell those who you appreciate, how grateful you are for them–today is the perfect day!

Read more: http://www.icharlotterealestate.com/thankful-on-thanksgiving-day/#ixzz1edtzfH4p

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

I'm not much of a re-blogger--although I believe it to be a powerful tool, I generally have too much to say just for a re-blog introduction!  So, I write my own.  THIS post, however, is one that I want my readers to see.  ActiveRain led the way in spotlighting agent rebuttal to the recent debacle within our industry.  Here are my major beefs with this little ploy that the company mentioned below has done:

1. Publicly posted sales information/income of PRIVATE business owners.  Does this mean that our neighbors who are attorneys, physicians, restaurant or boutique owners should allow THEIR competitors to post their sales/income on their sites?  I DO NOT want mine posted online for a multitude of reasons but, I gave NO ONE permission to post my numbers on THEIR site, for sure.
2. Inaccurate and misleading sales information of competitors were posted on their site.  I smell lawsuit, what about you? 
3. Framing OTHER agents and company websites, then using the name of competitors (agents and brokerages), meta descriptions, title tags and metatags to improve THEIR SEO.  Ethical?  I think not!  Do I go cover the for sale sign in my competitor's sellers yard with MY company logo? Not on your life but, that's basically what Sharkfin is doing.
4. Speaking of SEO--Once the consumer lands on the page to check out a potential agent (a non-Sharkfin agent), they find glowing reviews or testimonials or fictitious information about a Sharkfin competing agent who may or may NOT be a better agent.  How is that fair business practice?  
5. Did the company broker EVER sit in an ethics class?  If so, I'd like to know who the instructor was!  This facade about how 'this is only about transparency for the consumer,' is the only thing truly transparent about this scheme--it's only a fascade.  If I hear that statement one more time, I'm going to throw up!  This isn't about transparency at ALL--this is about beating the competition with as many underhanded, unethical, dishonest business practices known to man.  These people left their ethics and integrity on the classroom tables of their ethics classes and should be ashamed.

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

ActiveRain Meet-Up Charlotte, North Carolina

What a fantastic week at Savvy + Company!  The office was quite a flurry of activity in preparation to host the ActiveRain Webinar and Meet-Up on Thursday.  From fresh flowers to flowing margaritas and everything in between, there was something for everyone who attended!  Lexie, out technical guru set up the two large screen TV's in the office conference and meeting rooms.  Julie, the ultimate hostess and our marketing queen, provided the invitations as well as help to set up.  Curtis not only helped with the shopping and set up but, had Ella (our resident professional chef!) provide amazing desserts for the event.  Shonn, our resident decorator, set the stage for this fabulous event! 

And, was it ever a good one!  We hosted the entire webinar and following that, attendees had a chance to network, discuss topics and ask questions pertaining to social media, networking and ActiveRain. 

Many thanks to New American Mortgage and Home Inspection Carolina for providing the mouth-watering Mexican spread and the fabulous margaritas!  We had plenty for everyone!  We would also like to thank the Margarita Man and Salsarita's for their amazing food, beverage and unparalleled customer service. 

Our long-distance ActiveRain member/traveler, Larry Story, attended from Greensboro (I prefer to call him the Greensboro Guru)!  We hope you were given a warm Charlotte welcome-back-home, Larry!  (Larry is formerly from Charlotte).  Larry and 26 others attended the festivities, including ActiveRain's sweetheart couple, Jason Sardi and Jennifer Monroe who just this week relocated to Charlotte from Allentown, PA!  They selected a home within walking distance to our office--of course, we're hoping that very soon Jen gets her NC license and joins us at Savvy + Company--she'll be a perfect fit, for sure!  Welcome to Charlotte, Jen & Jason!

We hope everyone who attended enjoyed spending the day with us and learned some new trade tips to help grow your business to new levels.  Thanks to Bob, Kerrie and everyone from ActiveRain for putting this webinar on and for your continued support to your members - again, platinum level customer service like noneother!  

As I was so busy hosting, I did not have time to snap enough photos but, here are a few that I did capture.  Hopefully some of the other attendees have some shots that they will share here as well!  Enjoy the short show!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Are You Ready for Some...

Are You Ready for Some...

...RAINCAMP MEET UPS?!

All across the country hosts and hostesses are sending out invitations to their local meet-ups in celebration of ActiveRain’s first virtual RainCamp!  From 9-1 PST (Noon to 4:00 EST), ActiveRain is hosting an afternoon (or morning on the West Coast!) of online learning.  Guest members will share their tips and pointers via GoToMeeting.com.

After having our first venue fall through for us, we decided to host this exciting event at our office--an historic Victorian in the heart of Charlotte’s Elizabeth neighborhood.  We’ll be providing the food and beverages and two rooms for viewing the webinar! 

Savvy  + Company is going to be host for the entire event, also extending the time to 6:30 for those who are only able to attend the MeetUp!

We’re thrilled to have sponsors providing Mexican food and beverages for the event and cannot WAIT to host ActiveRain’s very first Online RainCamp!  Let us know if you’ll be able to attend...be sure to check in with Lexie or me for your ActiveRain POINTS for attending!!  SEE YOU THERE!

Location:  1920 E. 7th Street
                 Charlotte, NC  28204

Date:  September 8, 2011

Time:   12:00 - 6:00

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Kodak ActiveRain June Mobile Marketing Challenge: QR Code Contest Entry

This ad was placed on our website and the card to the right -------> 
is a copy of the business cards to give to the office walk-ins and hand out in the nearby communities.  

Since our office is located in neighboring Elizabeth, the tours are easily facilitated by our staff.  We can take along our iPads for viewing the properties in their entirety online when showing, making our tours completely GREEN!

Each of the maps that the QR codes lead to have links to the detailed listings and tours of the homes on the tour.

Savvy June Green Bike Tour!

In case you missed the super Savvy green bike tours in Midwood the last few weeks?  Well, it’s not too late to partake!  The tours will be held during the week and we’ll even extend this opportunity into the first weekend in July.  The Midwood homes on the current tour are simply spectacular!

If you’re interested in living in an incredibly walkable/bike-able community, you will love the historic Midwood community.  Load up those bikes and pop on over to Midwood Park.  We’ll take that Savvy bike tour to view the properties below.

If you have a smartphone, you’ll love Savvy’s green bike tour – simply download the barcode scanner (free, of course) and scan the maps contained in the QR codes below for directions to each home.  OR you can download the full map below also.  Instructions are below for downloading the scanner for your phone.  

In the event you don’t have a smartphone, just let us know when you call to schedule your tour and we’ll be sure to bring you a paper copy of the map below!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Seattle RainCamp & ActiveRain's 5th Anniversary Party - What a TRIP!

Who would have traveled across the country to be a part of ActiveRain's 2nd Seattle RainCamp and participate in ActiveRain's 5th Anniversary celebration?  Well, ME!  Hundreds of others also participated in RainCamp Seattle and what a great time we had!  Besides learning new tricks of the trade, meeting many of the West Coast ActiveRain members and celebrating with the AR staff was simply an incredible experience!

Travel took me through Detroit to arrive in Seattle on Sunday just in time to meet up with my dear friends, Steve Shatsky of Dallas and Renee Burrows of Las Vegas before heading to bed at the fabulous Edgewater Hotel, situated on the coast of Seattle.  Now, that was a treat and I'm so sad that I didn't have time to shoot a few photos of this historic hotel located right on the water where even the Beattles have slumbered there in the past--a really cool hotel!


Monday, Day 1 of ActiveRain Camp Seattle was filled with great information from Bob Stewart, Brad Andersohn, Todd Clark, Ben Kinney and Bacon Salt founder and Chief Baconpreneur, Dave Lefkow discussed the do's and don't's of marketing!  A wealth of information was shared on Day 1 including some great tips:

• Advertise/identify new potential clients - What works for you and what doesn't?
  
• How to easily capture and convert leads - Via your website, Facebook and Twitter
  
• Show the love to your existing customers - you've already proven yourself to them; why not stay in touch?
  
• Give customers reasons to spread the love - give the type of service that you expect.
  
• Provide a stream of valuable, targeted info - keep your potential clients informed and equiped with the information that they need on a regular basis
  
• RETAGGR.com - manage all of your profiles
• Pipl.com - free websearch
• About.Me
• SocialBios.com
• OpenoOffice.org
• PrimopPDF.com - converts anything on your computer to a pdf file
• Engagement + community - specific to demographics, life changes, neighborhoods, communities
• Share events using Facebook and online media to drive attendance to your sites
  
  

Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg but, if one of these tips helped any of us to procure only one client, our trip was paid for!  The evening brought even more networking with others attending the event and it was such a pleasure to meet so many AR members!  How fortunate that we also enjoyed dinner with Jon Washburn at one of his favorite sushi restaurants--and we surely did see why he loves the place!  I always love going out to dinner with Jon--we're both foodies, our food preferences are similar and he always has the best places in store! 

Meeting the likes of Lori Cofer (I love this girl!), Charles Buell and René Fabre, to name just a couple, really did just make my trip!  We shared lots of laughter and it truly felt as though we had known each other for years and years.

Tuesday brought more information from Bob Stewart, Rich Jacobson, Steve Shatsky and I chimed in with a few tips also!  Information shared included:

• Neighborhood specific posts
• Market Reports
• New Listings
• Business Reports
• Restaurant Reviews
• Schools/PTA information
• Photo Blogging
• Video Blogging
• Updating your ActiveRain profile
• Community Page sponsorships--a great way to capture the consumer's attention
• Writing your blog--make it interesting
• Add keywords after researching them--should be 2-4% of the post
• Don't keyword stuff
• Don't over-tag
• Set up your Hit Router
• Writer's block ideas
  

The evening was also just as exciting, with a wonderful dinner at one of Seattle's finest seafood restaurants and a personal guided tour of Pike's Place Market hosted by none other than Brad Andersohn!  I could definitely live in Seattle--the seafood and fresh fruits and vegetables are to-die-for!  Niki shared one of his favorite places, Starbuck's very first store; of course, we just HAD to try a mocha coconut frappachino--even after all we ate for dinner--and, yes, we snapped lots of photos of this historic Starbucks.

We then had an evening celebration at the Hard Rock Café in honor of ActiveRain's 5th anniversary.  Lots of nostalgia as we were honored with the presence of Jon Washburn and some of the 'original' AR staff.  Kerrie Greenhalgh, Kelly Clifford, Niki Parekh and Kelly Pflugrath and all of the ActiveRain staff did a fabulous job of putting on a great event and making everyone feel so welcome in Seattle.  We couldn't have asked for more hospitality!

The following day, ActiveRain hosted a wonderful BBQ at the AR offices.  What a treat to see where everyone works and the incredibly cool office from which they steer this unbelievable community.  Thank you ActiveRain for your wonderful hospitality, all of the delicious food and especially for the camaraderie.  We love you guys and girls!


 I felt the need to attend RainCamp Seattle and the 5th anniversary event because ActiveRain has meant so much to me.  My business has flourished since joining in 2007.  I have not only learned how to blog but, have learned so much about everything concerning real estate and technology and met the most wonderful friends here in the Rain.  My business has grown by leaps and bounds since joining and I feel that I owe 90% of it to the staff and members here. 

I have traveled to Seattle, Dallas and Orlando (as well as here in Charlotte) to meet as many ActiveRain members as I can!  And, what a treat it has been for me!  I've never been disappointed and have, each time, walked away with something that has helped me grow my business.  The $1,000 cost for the trip to Seattle will definitely result in buisness that will cover that cost at least ten-fold--it always does!

If you wish you would have attended, it's not too late to sign up for the next RainCamp in Los Angeles!  ENJOY!

"Seatte RainCamp"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.

Search Charlotte Neighborhoods | CHANTILLY

Chantilly, one of Charlotte's most popular historic and affordable communities, is tucked between the Elizabeth and Plaza Midwood communities.  Chantilly is located in the shadows of Uptown Charlotte North Carolina and features beautiful tree-lined streets with charming bungalows and a warm, neighborhood feel.  Comparable to Elizabeth and Dilworth, Chantilly's historic development boasts affordable cottage-style residences surrounded by expansive, stately homes.

Central Avenue and The Plaza are Chantilly's main arteries.  Central Avenue has recently experienced a rebirth, with new restaurants and entertainment venues which make the area a popular evening destination.  Nearby grande, stately homes dating back to 1920, line the adjacent Charlotte Country Club's quiet, curving streets as well. 
 
Centrally located to 'everything Charlotte,' Chantilly is certainly one of the most popular historic neighborhoods you'll find in Charlotte North Carolina real estate.  Let us take you on a tour of Chantilly today--we'll show you why this beautiful neighborhood is one of the most popular, charismatic neighborhoods in the city, as well as one of the most affordable Charlotte neighborhoods.

View Search Charlotte Neighborhoods: Chantilly in a larger map

 

      

  Charlotte NC Homes for Sale

 (THE best Charlotte home search available - no kidding!)

Debe Maxwell, CRS/Realtor®/Broker
Broker@TheCharlotteScoop.com
Phone (704) 491-3310

     

  

 

    

      

       

 

         

   

Disclosure of material contained within.