Myrtle Beach Real Estate Blog

If you've noticed, I've taken a 2 week hiatus on the blog.  Believe me, it isn't on purpose, I enjoy it very much.  (And frankly I think I have a lot to say....)

Unfortunately, I'm just buried under a 17 day (and counting...) sinus infection that has knocked me off my feet. I've had more pressure in my head than a can of squeeze cheese.  Ouch.

So while I only have a moment to post that I can't post right now, I'll get back on track with regular posts ASAP.  With all the time that's passed I've got a back log of material and topics that I'm sure you're dying to read about.  In the mean time, please bear with me!

It was 3am last Saturday night.  Riley hadn't been feeling well, and sure enough, a loud wail came from the monitor.

And it was my turn.  (Typically my wife dominates the middle-of-the-night-sick-baby routine, but being the perfect husband that I am, I took this one for the team).

As soon as I picked her up, she stopped crying, buried her head in my neck and fell soundly asleep again.  All was right in her world because I was there to comfort her.  Even though it was 3am, even though I was exhausted, even though I knew I would regret the missed sleep, it felt so good knowing I was all she needed at that moment.

So I sat there in that chair in her room, soaking it all in.

I sat there soaking in all that sweet baby smell and my mind trailed to other thoughts....

moments when we should just stop and SOAK.IT.UP for a minute.

Like when you’re lying on a beach and just soaking in the sun, the sound of the waves,

and the feel of the sand between your toes.

Like when you’ve accomplished something you worked REALLY hard for.

Like when you buy your first home.

Like when you meet your baby.

Like EVERY time I get to help people reach their real estate goals.

I love my job….

Whether you are looking for the right property or are ready to sell and move on to something else, I'm ready to work for you!

Visit the Myrtle Beach Real Estate website for more information.

As many of you do, I work from my home office.  I'm able to work longer hours, be more efficient, and spend more time with my family all at once - if that makes any sense.
I save time, money, and gas.  Most importantly - time.

Sadly though, with all that time I spend in my home office, I have neglected the space itself.
I promise – I do follow the same rules I outline for ERG sellers - the space is dedicated to work.  It isn't confused with a dining room or a playroom and the furniture in here is clearly to function for a home office.
But there's no color...no style....no excitement.
Only really nice black furniture (if I don't say so myself), and me.
Feverishly working for my current and future ERG clients!

The room has fallen to the bottom of the list of spaces for us “to do” in our home.
And we all know the trouble Caryn and I have pulling the trigger on things like this.
If you don't remember, read my previous post Overwhelming Design Dilemma? No Problem!

So even though I know it's on the bottom of our "to-do" list, I need a minute here
in my home office to daydream about all that my future home office could be.

I could go masculine and tribal, with the grass wall covering, masks, and leather….

Although I’m sure my house full of girls would rather I go in this direction:

BUT THAT’S NOT HAPPENING.

I like the built in shelving here…..

But this feels a little bit more like me…

Okay, back to work in the office I’m in for now.  More day dreaming later….

Search the MLS at our Myrtle Beach Real Estate website.

Your uncle has one, your boss has one, your best friend’s brother has one.

Even six ridiculous and obnoxious kids from Jersey have one – and a television show to go along with it.

Ugh, I know…..and they’re back for another season too.

Everyone wants one – a place at the beach.  Or shore.  Or coast.  Or whatever you want to call it.

What does that place look like to you?

Is it a.......

When you’re ready to make that move towards YOUR

place at the beach,

we’re here to find it for you!

Call us at 843-424-6900 or visit our

Myrtle Beach Real Estate website today!

With every years' end comes a new years' start.  Its a magical moment.....a new beginning.....a clean slate.

We pause for reflection on the year that has passed.
We remember those that we've lost.
We take lessons from our mistakes.
We take stock of our blessings.

We are allowed grand projections for the year to come.
We can loftily gaze into the future and make broad sweeping plans and resolutions.
We believe that we can make anything happen.

If we can just make it through to December 31st, there's a beautiful promise for something better just waiting for us.
I am going to make the most of mine.

Congratulations to the Elite Realty Group Team for an amazing inaugural year.
We have surpassed all of my goals for ourselves in this first year together.
I wish all our team members and blog followers and their families health, happiness, and prosperity in 2011.

Happy New Year to you all!

As much as the little scene unfolding in front of me amuses me because she’s cute, I can’t help but be just a little bit frustrated for Riley at the same time. She’s a smart cookie in her own right, but she has failed to see that the horsey she is playing with is intended for RIDING, not pushing. Until that little “ah-hah!” moment happens for her, she’ll continue to trudge along with her hands firmly gripped on the handle bars, pushing it forward until she hits the wall. While right now this seems to her like the best use of her toy, she isn’t realizing the intention and full potential of FUN that this horsey can provide for her. This brings me (in a very roundabout way) to today’s topic.

Over the years, I have found that some people have a skewed perception of what we, as Realtors, actually DO. Somewhere along the line they were given the wrong impression about real estate agents. They've unknowingly placed a pair of blinders on and put themselves in the starting gate, without fully realizing the purpose and full benefits of using a Realtor. Their goal is to make or save as much money as possible with a real estate transaction – but without a clear understanding for what a Realtor will do for them.  As I clarify this for all our blog readers, please note the slight sarcasm (but with all sarcasm there is a hint of truth….)

1. We are professionals. Experienced and seasoned professionals.  This is what we do. Every. Day.  This isn’t a hobby, and we didn’t see it on television. We know more than you do.  I promise.

2. We don’t randomly determine the current value of your property.  It isn't a number pulled from thin air.  What you paid for it and what you’ve put into the home may or may not be relevant to what you can realistically sell it for today.  The value of your home is determined by what the latest comparable sales in your area have been.

3. When you are buying a property in South Carolina, you don’t pay your real estate agent a dime.  The seller does.  NOT using a Realtor puts you at a major disadvantage. Be sure to have a Realtor looking out for your best interest!

4. We aren’t out to dupe you, or make more money by pushing you to pay more for a property than you should.  Frankly, showing you a home you can't afford is a waste of both your time and your agents.  You should trust your Realtor.  If you don’t , then find a Realtor you CAN trust!

5. We don’t make any money when a deal doesn’t close.  If for no other reason, we are invested in you and meeting your needs. Be as honest with your agent as they are being with you! If they don’t have the entire story, much time can - and will - be wasted!

Did you have an “oooooooooh….” moment yet? I hope so!  And if not, just let us know. We’d be happy to help.  Contact us today!  And be sure to check out our Myrtle Beach Real Estate website.

As in all marriages, there are always compromises.  I take the garbage out, she always replaces the garbage bag.  I clean the floors and she does the dusting.  I do the grocery shopping, she does Riley's laundry.  When buying our new home, it was no different.  I wanted an open floor plan while Caryn wanted a more traditional layout.   And we found a home with both a formal living and dining room as well as an open kitchen and family room!  That's when the magic really happens - when no one has to give anything up, and everyone gets what they want!

For as many Thanksgivings as we've been together, the weekend always ends with Caryn and I tromping off to the Christmas tree place to pick out our perfect tree.  I love the look and smell of an authentic tree and the tradition of picking it out together.  I love the action of putting the tree up, signifying that "Hey!  It's Christmas time!"  Caryn has always loved the real thing too, but also loves a bargain and has time and again reminded me of the one time purchase price of an artificial tree in comparison to the yearly cost of the real deal.  Plus the annual bickering between us is always fun - if it's crooked, who does a better job putting lights on, and who forgot to water it.  Then when the season is over I tromp out to the woods and leave our tree to...well, die.  I always feel a bit guilty about that....

In our townhouse, we had one tree.  It was always real, it was always beautiful, and it was always a sappy, needle-y mess to clean up.  In our new home, where the magic happened, we have two.  One artificial (cost effective and hassle free - she put this one up herself)

and one real deal authentic, sticky, messy, and beautiful tree!

Merry Christmas everyone!
Check out our Myrtle Beach Real Estate website to search the MLS for all available properties including foreclosures and short sales.

When it comes to selling your home - or even living comfortably in a space - size really does matter.  And lets face it, 9 times out of 10, the actual square footage of the space isn't going to change.  What can change is how it feels.  Do you feel cramped?  A big part of that is what's been crammed into the space with you.

Scale the furniture properly.  There are several retailers offering smaller scale furniture, which means you don't have to compromise your style for floor space.  Sofas, dressers, entertainment centers, even refrigerators and kitchen tables have been scaled down for tight spaces.

Check out these options for small scale sofas from Crate and Barrel:

Another idea is to move things up from the floor.  Swap a floating shelf for your nightstand, like the one seen here:

You can even exchange your typical bulky office desk for something like this:

No matter what the size of the room or the pieces you fill it with, remember to add your own style to the space.  That's what makes your house your home!

Another Thanksgiving Day is here!
It’s time for football, food, and family.
It’s time to eat so much I go into a Turkey Coma.

It’s time to give thanks….

…for my beautiful wife Caryn, my healthy and happy baby girl Riley, and my furry friend Molly Wigglebutts.
(It figures I would be surrounded by a bunch of girls.)

….for wonderful friends and family.
(Both old and new, I have the best in the world.)

…for my beautiful home.
(As it slowly comes together piece by piece.)

…to be an agent for RE/MAX Southern Shores – the #1 RE/MAX on the beach.
(Mandy is the best BIC ever, we are a great group of agents, and Michele keeps me in line, of course!)

…for a great network of professionals to help us get the deal done.
(It’s a good feeling to work with people who care about my business, and my clients.)

…to have experienced such growth of the Elite Realty Group Team.
(And not just with the number of agents - Juliann is LITERALLY growing! She’s due with baby #2 in April 2011.)

…for my past clients and current clients.
(THEY ARE MY FUTURE.)

I could probably write a year’s worth of blogs with everything that I am grateful for.
And I probably should. But the day has started, and my family is calling me. It’s time to fry a turkey, people!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

We’ll be back in NC for the holiday, and with dinners planned in Greensboro and Raleigh, we’ll be holding a bird to bird taste test. We’re frying it up at my Mom’s, and roasting in at my in-laws.

I’ve always been old school, a traditionalist you might say. The smell of roasting turkey filling my mom’s house is a familiar and welcoming Thanksgiving tradition year after year. Just like the Lions losing every single Thanksgiving, I’m accustomed to the aroma of a golden bird baking in the oven! I’m not sure how the scent of sizzling turkey in peanut oil is going to make it inside the house just yet, but I’m going to find out soon enough. The cooking time for frying is a fraction of that for roasting, and instead of waiting for the meat thermometer to “pop”, apparently when your bird floats up to the top of the fryer, she’s done. Other than that, I’m not sure of much else about fried turkey, but I’m willing to give it a go.

I’ll be sure to give you a rundown of frying versus roasting next week. But in the mean time, at least one turkey tradition will remain intact. No matter how the bird is prepared, my Dad will still wield the electric knife - and petrify us all.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!