Our Belief Your Benefits W Win-win...or no deal. You will get the best possible price in the shortest possible amount of time. I Integrity...do the right thing. You are represented by a professional who is ethical at all times. C Commitment...in all things. You have a professional who keeps all promises to give you a great experience in selling your home. C Communication...seek first to understand. Before we implement any marketing strategies or enter into any agreements, your wants and needs will be thoroughly analyzed. C Creativity...ideas before results. Your house will be marketed using a creative marketing plan. C Customers...always come first. You are pledged a customer service commitment that promises an exceptional experience. T Teamwork...together everyone achieves more. We ... 09/22/2008

Provide you with great customer service during the entire selling process including, taking the time to understand your wants, needs and expectations, returning your calls and emails and being honest with you at all times. Help you obtain the highest possible price for your house in the shortest amount of time. Help you complete all paperwork. Advise you on pricing and assist you with staging your home. Implement a marketing plan to market your house through as many channels as possible. Present all offers and advise you on the terms and contingencies. Negotiate offers on your behalf. Help schedule and coordinate completion of contingencies and inspections. Monitor the buyer's loan process. Coordinate and supervise the preparation of all closing documents and guide you through the clos... 09/22/2008

I just got this question yet again, so I decided to post this blog on it. For those who are wondering what an earnest money deposit is, here's your answer... When you sign an offer to purchase a home, the seller will require a deposit. This money shows you are serious about wanting to buy the home. Earnest money deposit can typically range from $500 to $10,000 or more...depending upon the value of the property being purchased and the norm in your community. The seller can also request a certain amount or a percentage of the sales price.The buyer's broker, or sometimes the listing broker will hold this check until you have an accepted offer. Then, within 48 hours after acceptance, that check will be deposited by the broker holding it into a special account, and escrow will be opened. You... 09/21/2008

Bill Kennedy | Keller Williams Realty | 864-990-1224 17 La Juan Drive, Greenville, SC BEAUTIFUL HOME PRICED @ $10,000 UNDER CMA VALUE FOR A QUICK SALE!!! BRING ALL OFFERS! 3BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $99,900 Year Built 1976 Sq Footage 1,547 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size 1,547 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Check out this great buy on a safe, fenced lot with a relaxing in-ground pool! This contemporary home has a great open floorplan. The large living room feels quite spacious with vaulted ceilings and a cozy, woodburning fireplace. A separate laundry room runs off of the kitchen for peace and efficiency. The master bedroom is on the main floor, with two closets and a full bathroom. Upstairs there are two large bedrooms... 09/20/2008

Whether you are considering a relocation or you are a Real estate investor seeking property in Greenville, SC I encourage you to give me a call! Whether you are seeking a quality Realtor to work with, an investment partner, foreclosures, multi-family units or if you'd just like to chat and learn more about this region, I'll be happy to help you! Whether you are looking to flip a property or buy and hold, I would love to speak with you about your objectives. Speak with me today for all of your real estate needs in Greenville, SC! Call or email me today! It would be my pleasure to serve you! Thanks so much! 09/20/2008

This past week had everyone talking about the news on Wall Street. The sky was falling and the government stepped in like Superman, with a red cape and muscles flexing! Or, should I say...the tax payer's hard-earned money stepped in to the rescue! So, what exactly does this gigantic bailout mean? What is it expected to accomplish? The government is buying the riskiest mortgage loans. OK, so does this mean that nobody will have to go through foreclosure in the future because their mortgage will be held by the government and the government will allow people to take advantage of refinancing at wonderful new rates and terms? Is that what is going on here? If so, is this fair? I mean, I made a clear, concious decision to buy a home I knew I could afford, and I bought it on a 30 year fixed mo... 09/20/2008

I took the initiative to spend a few hours today cleaning out  my home office. Ugh! What a big job! Sorting through papers and files for two corporations, including my various items for Keller Williams Realty. At the end of the day, it is certainly a rewarding experience to have "tons" of junk and papers end up in the trash bin while saving and organizing all the important items. Certainly, systems are in place, but it is always nice to clean out the clutter and push myself to become more efficient and organized. If you haven't done this but you know you need to get it done....I encourage you to tackle the job! It is worth it in the end!   09/20/2008

When things go wrong, or when things don't go the way you wanted them to go, what is your attitude towards the situation or the people involved?. With the way the housing market is right now, it is easy for one to blame the market for the dip in their business, or when the listings are sitting on the market longer and are not getting many showings, and the income is not coming in like it used to. On top of all that, you have the sellers that may get frustrated because they can't move forward with their plans because their home is still sitting on the martket. If they have already moved out of the house, they are even more frustrated because they have to pay two mortgages, plus the high cost of gas and other expenses. Sometimes they will even blame you because their home hasn't sold yet.... 09/19/2008

This is for the consumers out there who does not know this. The Agent owes the Client specific fiduciary duties of trust and confidence. They are not simply moral or ethical. The South Carolina law of agency requires them. These duties include: 1. Care: The agent must exercise a reasonable degree of care and skill in handling the transaction. This protects the client from risks. 2. Obedience: The agent must act in good faith and obey any instructions given by the client unless these instructions are unlawful and unethical. 3. Accountability: The agent is held accountable for all funds handled for the client. South Carolina Real Estate License Laws are very specific as to how those funds must be handled. 4. Loyalty: The agent owes the client 100 percent loyalty, so the client's needs alw... 09/19/2008

In South Carolina, this program exempts the first $50,000.00 of the value of your home from all property taxes, and you may apply to the County Auditor's Office for the Homestead Exemption discount. Who is Eligible?- 65 years old on or before December 31 preceding the tax year in which you wish to claim the exemption; - totally and permanently disabled - legally blind; - at least 50 years of age when your spouse (who was eligible for the Homestead Exemption) died. - the fee simple title owner of the property - a legal resident for one year preceding the year in which you wish to claim the exemption The earliest that an application can be made for the homestead exemption is on or after July 16 preceding the year that the exemption is to be claimed. Once application is accepted, you do no... 09/18/2008

Today we got a call that took my breath.  My 2 teens ages 16 and 17 were in a car that was hit by a hit and run driver. The kids were leaving school and a car hit the car next to them which hit our car.  From the reports of witnesses our Explorer raised up on 2 wheels , but my son got the car under control.  The other students Mustang was totaled.  He is so lucky that he was not killed as he hit 2 street signs and missed a power pole and trees.  My son Matthew  got our Explorer stopped and in a safe place and made sure everyone was ok.  Witnesses said a Black SUV left the scene. We were called to the scene by my kids and we waited on highway patrol for 2 hours.  With no injuries we were on the bottom of the list I guess. Per highway patrol since the hit and run driver is unknown each is... 09/18/2008

I am really having a hard time understanding this one. My clients have a contract on a home that had red paint in the dinning when they first saw it, fell in love with it, and wrote the contract. When we went back today for the re-inspection, we saw that the seller has repainted the room back to a neutral color, and also took the stove which was listed on the mls listing. They also installed a fence in the backyard without a gate, I'm not sure how they planned for my clients to take out the trash can that was sitting in the backyard or get their lawnmower back there. In my three years in this business, I have never seen a seller paint the house after the contract has been signed, especially when the buyer didn't ask for it to be painted. And, I have never seen a fence that didn't have a... 09/17/2008

An option contract is a contract where the seller(also known as the optionor) gives the buyer(aslo known as the optionee) the right to right to purchase the property within a given period of time. The buyer pays an agreed upon sum of money as consideration or deposit, and if the buyer chooses not to perform or not to exercise the option to puchase the property, then the deposit goes to the seller. But, if the buyer decides to follow-through, the deposit will become part of the down payment. An option can also be defined in short as "You buy the right to buy". Once an option contract has been executed, the seller can not sign another contract or sell the home to anyone else. Because an option is a unilateral contract, the buyer has the right to buy or not buy the property, which makes mo... 09/16/2008

They say, where one is ignorant, there they are most vulnerable. I have heard of borrowers that were taking advantage of by predatory lenders, but today was my first day meeting one of the victims. These folks bought a home two years ago that is now about to be foreclosed on unless we can get it sold through a short sale. Two years ago, these folks saw an ad in one of those weekly magazines that said, "buy this home with only $500 and seller will pay all closing costs". After they called the number, they went out, saw and fell in love with this home. Anyway, the people they had contacted about the ad (whose name sounded like investors), set up everything from financing, appraisal to closing - except they did not show up at closing. As I prepared for the appointment, I found an old listi... 09/15/2008

Whether you are considering a relocation or you are a Real estate investor seeking property in Greenville, SC we encourage you to give us a call! Whether you are seeking a quality Realtor to work with, an investment partner, foreclosures, multi-family units or if you'd just like to chat and learn more about this region, Kirk Westervelt will be happy to help you! Whether you are looking to flip a property or buy and hold, we'd love to speak with you about your objectives. Speak with Kirk Westervelt for all of your real estate investment property needs in Greenville, SC! Call or email us today! It would be our pleasure to serve you! Thanks so much! 09/13/2008

Whether you are considering a relocation or you are a Real estate investor seeking property in Simpsonville, SC we encourage you to give us a call! Whether you are seeking a quality Realtor to work with, an investment partner, foreclosures, multi-family units or if you'd just like to chat and learn more about this region, Kirk Westervelt will be happy to help you! Whether you are looking to flip a property or buy and hold, we'd love to speak with you about your objectives. Speak with Kirk Westervelt for all of your real estate investment property needs in Simpsonville, SC! Call or email us today! It would be our pleasure to serve you! Thanks so much! 09/13/2008

At our team meeting the other day we learned that some of our esteemed colleagues in the industry, at a competing company, were spreading rumors around town that our Keller Williams Greenville Central office was closing down. To the contrary, not only are we not closing down, but we have been profitable every single month since we opened our doors, just over one year ago. We have also grown to approximately 100 agents in this short time as well. We are very much in business and enjoying success! 09/13/2008

Yesterday morning on my way to the office, I needed to fill up my gas tank, so as I drove I looked for the gas station with the cheaper gas(yes, I like to save). I saw on the sign that the cents portion of the price said $ .25 and the dollar portion was missing. I thought for sure that I was about to get a deal on gas until I put my debit card in the pump, pulled out the hose, then I noticed the real price said $4.25. I immediatel hung up the hose, went inside the store and told the lady across the counter that there was something wrong with the prices at the pump. That was when she told me that gas prices had went up early that morning. I must have missed that part of the news on CNN. Anyway, I got back in my car and found another gas station where I filled up my tank for $3.79 per gal... 09/13/2008

Dealing with a utility company can be difficult enough, but when they have a monopoly on their utility, it can turn into a nightmare. I've dealt a lot with Charter Communications in the last ten years, but it seems that the customer service I receive is either less than satisfactory, or just appalling. I'm currently on hold with Charter as I type this. I have spoken to two account reps about changing my service, and both times I was placed on hold, and subsequently disconnected.  I'm a patient person, but this has really gotten under my skin. With the high cost of EVERYTHING, I'm trying to cut back on my expenses. My promo package with Charter came to an end, and I'm trying to figure out what my options are. Unfortunately, it seems that no one wants to figure it out with me. I have just... 09/13/2008

About nine months ago, a new agent in our office gave me a Costco membership for helping him out with his first listing.  I had never been a big fan of so called wholesale stores, because I knew that the prices that you paid were not true wholesale (afterall, the company has to make money - it's not a non-profit). I didn't know what to expect from this Costco place, but he was really enthusiastic about it, and the membership was free, so I took advantage of it. Boy, am I glad he gave that to me! I have now become a faithful Costco shopper, and after much comparison of prices, I'm confident that I'm saving quite a bit of money. My 2% milk, for example, is $4.69 at my favorite grocery store.  At Costco, it's $2.99.  The only thing I don't like about the milk is the shape of the carton - i... 09/13/2008