With more than 15 years of real estate experience and 100+ happy buyers, I’ve worked with people of all kinds. Each of you has different needs depending on your phase in life or goals, but there are five things every one of you should expect from your Realtor that I commit to deliver.
Attention. Patience. Integrity. Knowledge. Communication.
I am not just here to open doors, I am your consultant, educator, and partner.
Areas of Specialization
- Historic Homes on the Charleston Peninsula
- Isle of Palms Homes
- New Construction
- Downtown Charleston Condominiums
- Walkable Neighborhoods in Mount Pleasant
- James Island Waterfront
If you are looking to buy a property in Charleston, call or email me to see if we are the right fit. If I don’t specialize in your target geographical area, I’ll bring in one of my team members who does, and who has the same commitments to their clients that I do.
There are countless ‘buyer guides’ out there, but one size does not fit all. Let me know which of these descriptions fit you best, and I will customize our experience. Also, scroll to the bottom for tips on how to make the best of Zillow and Realtor.com searches.
First Time Home Buyer
You’ve watched HGTV for years, looked at every home on Zillow, and talked your friends and family’s ears off. Now you are finally ready to give up that rent and move to the next phase in your life! You need a Realtor to not just open doors, but to walk you through every single step of the way, from negotiations and inspections, to lending and insurance. The day you finally get your new keys is one of the most memorable of your life!
First Place in Charleston Buyer
You’ve finally picked Charleston as the next (and maybe last?) place in your life’s journey. Or maybe you are still considering multiple options. Regardless, you need a Realtor to show you the ins and outs of the area. To listen to what you want your new lives to look like and what your top priorities are, because there is more to buying a home in a new place than just bedroom count and price. A smooth transition, and a joyful integration into your new surroundings is key to your new place happiness.
Move Up in Charleston Buyer
You already know the area like the back of your hand, have had Zillow alerts in your choice neighborhoods set up for years, and probably gone to countless open houses. In order to buy your new dream home, you need a Realtor to help you manage the tricky process of simultaneously buying and selling, as painlessly and with as little stress as possible. From timing and contract negotiations, to different lender options to get you through, having a partner by your side is key.
Second Home in Charleston Buyer
You aren’t ready to give up your full time home in another area of the state or country, but you want to experience Charleston’s charms as often as possible. Whether it’s a small pied-a-terre in Historic Charleston, or an oceanfront home you can rent to other vacationers, you need a Realtor who knows exactly what place will fit the lifestyle you want to experience.
Income Property Buyer
You want to buy an income property and you probably want to be told no, don’t buy it, or yes, bid high to win. You need a Realtor who can educate you about taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, rental rules, management costs and more…Your bottom line is important and you want that cash to flow.
Investment Property Buyer
You want to flip a house – to turn a lemon into the best lemonade and make a tidy profit. You need a Realtor who stays on top of the latest inventory or off-market deals, knows the hot neighborhoods, construction prices, pitfalls of fixer-uppers, and resale prices. It’s the little surprises than can make or break you, so the more intimate knowledge you get, the better you’ll do.
Tips for Home Searching
I do not have a real estate search on this website since most of you use Zillow or Realtor.com, and I have my own robust system I get to use as a Realtor. But I can give you some tips on how to interpret the information you see on the sites.
- If you want to know about a house coming on the market instantaneously – Zillow and Realtor.com can’t help you. They have a 2-24 hour delay on new listings, while our ‘hot sheet’ alerts happen within seconds. I can sign you up.
- Make sure you are only seeing ‘Active’ properties rather than ones that are already under contract or ‘Contingent’ or ‘Pending’. You can find this under Property Status, or in tiny little light colored font off to the side.
- Ignore ALL taxes information. IT IS WRONG. What you will pay in property taxes has nothing to do with the number you find online, as that is based on myriad factors and old information. See my property taxes page for the correct information.
- Sometimes the neighborhood assignments are completely wrong too. I’m not sure where they get their data but for example, Trulia puts 309 Meeting St and 21 America St in Harleston Village. Not even close. If you want to live in a specific neighborhood you’ve heard of – just ask me.
- Familiarize yourself with our local zipcodes, as that will give you the most accurate area search. Someone who searches Charleston, hoping to live Downtown, will also get West Ashley, James Island, Daniel Island and more!
