Tag Archives: Cashiers Real Estate

Top Ways I Help Cashiers Area Home Sellers

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For Western North Carolina home sellers, the first couple of weeks after you list your home on the market are critical when it comes to attracting Cashiers area home buyers.

That’s because home buyers in the Cashiers area love to hear about new listings on the local housing market.

Thus, it’s imperative for home sellers to seize on all the attention early on. Otherwise, home buyers’ attention will shift to the next new listing on the market in a couple of weeks.

As your Western North Carolina real estate expert, I understand just how important it is to attract home buyers immediately.

That’s why I launch an aggressive marketing campaign on your Cashiers area home for sale as soon as we start working together.

Continue reading to learn about my exclusive and comprehensive marketing plan for Western NC home sellers like you.

Homes for Sale in Cashiers, Highlands and Surround Area

Here are the top ways in which I get the word out about your new listing on the Cashiers area real estate market:

  • I include both interior and exterior photos of your home on your listing page. Nowadays, the majority of NC home buyers search for homes on the Internet before ever contacting a REALTOR. I make sure these home buyers develop a good idea of what your home has to offer by including several interior and exterior photos of your home. These photos emphasize your homes uniqueness as well as its spaciousness.
  • I develop virtual tours of your home. To further help the home buyer envision living in your Cashiers area home for sale, I often include virtual tours of your home online. This help the home buyer feel like they’re right there, walking through your home one room at a time. Many REALTORS agree, the virtual tour is a viable way of attracting prospective buyers to your home.
  • I utilize a diverse range of print and online advertising to market your Cashiers area home. The best way of finding the home buyer who will ultimately purchase your home is to cast out a large marketing net. That’s why I advertise your home in a variety of publications – from real estate magazines to online newspapers to everything in between!
  • I provide plenty of attractive and effective outdoor signage. While many home buyers prefer to search for their next home online, there are some who will drive around area neighborhoods looking for homes for sale. To attract these types of buyers, I place effective outdoor “For Sale” signage in your yard, which provides all the pertinent information such as contact information.
  • I hold Open Houses whenever feasible. Depending on the location of your home, open houses can be an effective marketing strategy for your Cashiers area home. We’ll discuss together if a Open House is the best way to use time and energy resources. At the very least, it may serve as a vehicle to increase exposure of your Western North Carolina home for sale.

List Your Western North Carolina Home for Sale Today!

While I’ve just mentioned the top ways in which I help home owners sell their homes quickly, it’s really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my home selling marketing plan.

Contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, to learn more about how I can help you sell you home for top dollar in a relatively short amount of time.

While you’re at it, please feel free to browse some of these helpful home selling resources that I offer:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Tips for Selling your Cashiers, NC Area Home

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You’ve been hearing it for months: Recent economic conditions have created a buyer’s market in cities across the country.

Although it’s true that sales prices and the total number of home sales are down in many U.S. cities, it doesn’t mean that home sellers can’t still get a great price on their home.

The key to selling your home for the best price possible in as little time as possible is a strategic marketing plan.

Continue reading to learn more about what you as a home seller can do to maximize your success on the Cashiers area real estate market.

Selling Homes in the Cashiers, NC Area

Here are some suggestions that I often give to interested home sellers:

  • Emotionally Detach from your Home: Making the decision to sell your home can be a stressful process for a lot of home owners.  After all, you and your family have likely made plenty of memories in your home and it may be hard to say goodbye to them. But as a home seller, it’s best to view your house as a product you’re trying to sell rather than your home. After all, the goal is to help buyers visualize themselves living in your home. Thus, the sooner you can detach from your home emotionally, the smoother your experience on the Western NC real estate market will be.
  • Be Flexible With Buyer Schedules:  The current economic climate has meant that there are fewer buyers navigating local real estate markets.  Thus, it’s critical that you as a home seller are as accommodating as possible when it comes to showings.
  •  Be Honest About Problems Issues.  Be as forthcoming with your Cashiers real estate agent as possible about such things as restrictions, structural issues, boundary disputes and covenants.  Your agent should know about these issues upfront.  You don’t want to wait until closing time to reveal these things to your agent and the home buyer because it may be a deal that kills the deal in the eleventh hour.  And that can end up being costly in terms of legal expenses.
  • Don’t Forget Curb Appeal.  When buyers come to check out your home, the exterior will surely be their first impression.  So make sure it’s in top condition by trimming hedges, cleaning out gutters and maybe even applying a fresh coat of paint.
  • Use Plenty of Light to Showcase Your Home’s Features.  This includes natural and artificial light.  Open windows and turn on lights (even in closets) throughout the home.  You may also consider recommending day-time showings to buyers.
  • De-Clutterize Your Home.  Remember: You’re trying to sell your home, not the items in your home.  And the more things you have piled in each room, the more it distracts buyers from appreciating the structure of your home.  Plus, too much junk in a room can make it appear smaller than it actually is.

Cashiers, NC Real Estate

I hope you found the above tips helpful as a Cashiers area home seller.

For more tips on how to sell your home for more money in less time, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

I’ll be happy to offer you my expert advice as well as my many home selling resources, including:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Cashiers NC Real Estate Market Report for December

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The Cashiers real estate market held pretty steady between October and November, as evident by the most recent real estate data.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a Cashiers NC home for sale, I recommend you continue reading to learn more about what homes are selling for in the area.

This information will make you better prepared as you continue to navigate the market looking for your dream home.

Cashiers Homes for Sale

Here’s an overview of the current state of the Cashiers real estate market:

  • Currently there are 589 resale and new homes. Last month, there were 598 homes on the market.
  • During the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for a Cashiers home was $1,029,505.
  • Compared with the week before, the average listing price increased by 0.3 percent, or about $2,965
  • For the week ending on Nov. 16, the average listing price for a 1-bedroom home was $283,000.
  • The average listing price for a 2-bedroom home was $331,000.
  • And the average listing price for 3-bedroom and 4- bedroom homes was $803,000 and $1,300,000.

Relocate to Cashiers NC

If you would like some help interpreting the most recent data and understanding how it affects you as a home buyer, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your Cashiers area real estate expert, I have experience working in several area markets, including:

What’s more, over the years I’ve created a fantastic set of tools for home buyers to use.  These resources help make navigating the market easier and include:

Until next time,

Dorothy

More Tips on How to Successfully Stage Your Cashiers Area Home

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As I mentioned in a previous blog, wintertime may be an ideal time to sell your Western NC home since home buyers during this time of year are typically more eager to buy a home than any other time of the year.

But since it’s also true that there are fewer home buyers are the market, it’s important to stage your home in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

One thing that many home sellers do is create curb appeal.  This includes trimming the bushes, sweeping the front porch and cleaning the shutters.

After all, many home buyers will first judge a home by its exterior.  Thus, it’s critical that your Western NC home has plenty of curb appeal.

Continue reading to learn more tips on what you can do to increase your chances of selling your home in a reasonable amount of time.

Homes for Sale in Cashiers, Highlands, Sapphire and More

Here are some suggestions for preparing your home for upcoming showings:

  • Mentally Let Go of Your Attachment to Your Home: This is something that’s easier said than done for many home sellers.  After all, your current home may very well be where you started your family, and certainly where you made many precious memories.  But trust me, mentally preparing yourself now for the day when you hand over your house keys to another family will save you a lot of heart ache and stress in the long run.  Because that day will come and you don’t want to be blindsided when it does.
  • De-personalize Your Home: As I’ve said in a previous blog, you want home buyers to be able to see THEIR family in your home, not your family.  Thus, remove distracting details like the dozens of family portraits on the walls and tables.  While a few accents will create a warm ambiance in your home, too many can prove to be overwhelming and off-putting for interested home buyers.
  • De-Clutterize: Remember, you’re not selling the items in your home, you’re selling the home itself.  So remove excess clutter that distracts from your home’s rooms and layout.  A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you haven’t used in more than a year. You may also consider reorganizing furniture in a way that maximizes a room’s space and makes it look bigger.
  • Organize Your Closets and Cabinets: Home buyers are often judging every little detail of your home, maybe without even realizing it! And disorganized storage areas suggest to potential home buyers that you may have not taken the best care of the rest of the house.  Avoid sending that message by cleaning and organizing closet and cabinet space.  One way to start is to make sure all your closets are hanging the same way in your closet.
  • Store Irreplaceable Items: Buyers and sellers will often negotiate throwing in certain items and appliance with the home sale. So if there’s something in your home that you would never want to see end up on the negotiation table, then put it away so the home buyer doesn’t even know about it.  Otherwise, you risk giving the home buyer a reason to pull out on a deal just because you won’t throw in the item they want.
  • Address Minor Repairs:  Remember, home showings are all about leaving a lasting first impression on home buyers.  So you want to make sure your home is in the best shape possible.  Help get it in tip-top condition by addressing minor repair issues, such as a leaky faucet or a cracked bathroom tile.  While making these repairs may not cost much money, it can mean a world of difference on how a home buyer sees your home.

Selling Your Home on the Western NC Real Estate Market

I hope these home staging tips help you to sell your home in less time and for a better price.  These tips have certainly helped plenty of other home sellers in the past!

To learn more about how you can improve your outcome on the Cashiers area real estate market as a home seller,  contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your NC Mountain REALTOR, I’ll be happy to walk you through my comprehensive marketing plan for sellers as well as give you a number of home selling tools, such as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Fun Things to Do in the Highlands, Cashiers, and Sapphire Areas during the Holidays

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It’s no secret that Western North Carolina is a popular place to be during the holiday season.

After all, this area serves as a huge draw for those residents interested in ski vacations, white Christmases and breath-taking winter vistas.

The Western North Carolina communities also do a great job of planning a variety of community events during this time of year.    These events help residents get in the holiday spirit and truly enjoy the season.

Continue reading to learn more about some of these fun activities that you and your family may enjoy.

Enjoy These Family-Friendly Events in the North Carolina Mountains This Month

Here is just a sampling of all the fun community events you and your family could be enjoying this month if you lived in Western N.C.:

Art Gallery Walks: Every 4th Friday, the town of Brevard hosts an art, wine and food event in its downtown. This is a great way to get out and enjoy the winter weather while appreciating all the talent we have on the local art scene.

  • When: 5 to 9 p.m. on December 16
  • Where: Downtown Brevard
  • Admission: FREE

Craft Show: Have some last minute holiday shopping to do? Why not pick up a unique present for someone at the Henderson County Crafters Association show, held at Blue Ridge Mall.

  • When: December 16 to 18; Times vary
  • Where: Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville, NC
  • Admission: FREE
  • More Info: Call (828) 684-6097

Holiday Reading: The Highlands-Cashiers Players will present their Holiday Reading at Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center.  This show is guaranteed to put your entire family in the holiday spirit!

  • When: 7:30 p.m. on December 15
  • Where: Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center, 507 Chestnut Street in Highlands
  • Admission: Prices Vary
  • More Info: Call (828) 526-9047

Christmas Celebration: Come to the Highlands Civic Center for “La Noche Navidena,” which will feature a holiday dinner and a visit with Santa. Invitations are available through the International Friendship Center.

  • When: 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 17
  • Where: Highlands Civic Center
  • Admission: FREE
  • More Info: Call (828) 526-0890, extension 290

Investing in Highlands Area Real Estate

As your Highlands area real estate expert, I work hard to provide interested home buyers with all the information they need to make educated decisions on the local housing market.

That’s why I regularly tell buyers about events going on in the area.  I believe that the best way to get to know an area is to get out and attend a community event.

By doing so, you gain a better understanding of what quality of life is like here in the Highlands, NC area.

Thus, I hope you get a chance to check out at least one of these community events in the Highlands, NC area.  If you do, please let me know what you thought of it!

If you’ve been considering relocating to Western North Carolina area lately, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have and tell you about current real estate market activity.

I’ll also provide you with a number of real estate tools that have proven invaluable to home buyers just like you.  These include:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Sell Your Western North Carolina Home Before the New Year!

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Most home sellers in the Cashiers area of North Carolina believe that winter is the absolute worst time to sell their home.

The figure that between holiday planning, work and family life, interested home buyers aren’t going to have the time to navigate the market looking for their next home.

Although this is a valid concern, it’s still possible to sell your Western North Carolina home during the wintertime, as long as you market it correctly.

Continue reading to learn about steps you can take to ensure that you’re home leaves a good impression on interested home buyers.

Stage Your Home for Success During the Winter

The first thing that home sellers should know about wintertime home buyers is that these people mean business!

After all, why would you even both juggling holiday planning, house hunting and day-to-day obligations unless you were serious about investing in a piece of mountain real estate.

Thus, home sellers should be aware that first impressions are going to be critical.

Here are some steps you can take to ensure that interested home buyers won’t be able to get your Cashiers area home for sale out of their head:

  • Create an environment where home buyers can visualize themselves living in your home.  Do this by adding a few warm and welcoming accents around your home, such as a holiday wreath on the door or by setting the dining room table.
  • But remember: less is more.  Too many accents may prove distracting to home buyers. Or worse, it may cause home buyers to envision YOUR family living there.  That’s certainly the last thing you want when you’re trying to sell your home.
  • Accommodate the home buyers schedule as often as possible.  These individuals are taking the time out of their busy holiday season to tour your house and see if it’s a good fit for their family. So be flexible and work with their schedule as best you can.  You never know – it might lead to you selling your home!
  • Let there be light.  A few selectively placed lights can do wonders for making a room feel bigger and more inviting.  The same goes for open curtains.  Add even more emphasis to your home’s great features by using porch lights or other exterior lights.  After all, winter is the time of year when natural light is lacking, so you’ll need all the extra lighting you can get.
  • Just say “No” to Seasonal Home Aromas. While the smell of apples and cinnamon might be one of your favorite holiday aromas, it might be off-putting and distracting to an interested home buyer.  With such aromas, you risk leaving a bad impression on a home buyer, causing a prospective deal to fall through.  To avoid that, put away the holiday aromas for showings.

Your NC Mountain Real Estate Experts

Selling your home in the Cashiers NC area doesn’t have to be an impossible task if you know how to market your home successfully.

For more tips on how to stage your home, contact me, Dorothy Swearingen

As your NC Mountain REALTOR, I’ll provide you with expert advice, as well as such helpful home selling tools as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Cashiers, NC Real Estate Market Report

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The Cashiers, NC community is perhaps one of the most thriving Western North Carolina communities.

After all, in the last couple of months, this community has:

Cashiers, NC is the place to be if you want to live in a community that preserves its heritage while embracing the future.

If you’re interested in relocating to the Cashiers, NC area, then continue reading to learn valuable information about the current state of the market there.

Cashiers NC Properties for Sale

Here’s a look at the current state of the Cashiers, NC real estate market, based on data from Trulia.com

  • During the week ending on August 31, there were 605 resale and new homes on the Cashiers real estate market.
  • During that week, the average listing price for Cashiers homes for sale was $997,464, which represented no change when compared to the week before.
  • For the week ending on August 31, the average list price for a 2-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $328,000.
  • The average list price for a 3-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $736,000.
  • During that same week, the average list price for a 4-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $1.44 million.

Cashiers Real Estate Experts

If you’d like to learn more about investing in Cashiers, NC real estate, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your Cashiers, NC real estate expert, I’ll answer any questions you might have about living in Cashiers, as well as provide you with such helpful Cashiers home buying resources as:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Cashiers NC Real Estate Market Update

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Located at a cool 3,500 feet above sea level, Cashiers NC is a thriving Western North Carolina town with a distinctive culture.

And with a number of fantastic amenities and quality public schools nearby – It’s no wonder that Cashiers, NC real estate is constantly in high demand!

Continue reading to learn more about the current state of the Cashiers, NC real estate market and what it means for interested Cashiers NC home buyers.

Cashiers, NC Homes for Sale

Here’s a brief overview of the Cashiers, NC real estate market, based on data from Trulia.com and Realtor.com:

  • There are currently 622 resale and new homes in on the Cashiers, NC real estate market.
  • The average listing price for a Cashiers, NC home for sale was $1,053,786 for the week ending on August 3, which is a 0.5 percent decrease of 0.5%, or $5,002, compared to the prior week.
  • For the week ending on August 3, the average list price for a 2-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $368,000.
  • For the week ending on August 3, the average list price for a 3-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $750,000.
  • For the week ending on August 3, the average list price for a 4-bedroom Cashiers home for sale was $1.5 million.

Investing in Cashiers, NC Real Estate

If you’ve been thinking about entering the Cashiers, NC real estate market as a Cashiers home buyer, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today.

As your Cashiers NC real estate expert, I’ll answer any questions you might have about living in Cashiers as well as let you know about available listings in the area.

To get the process started today, please check out some of my online Cashiers NC home buying tools, including:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Cashiers NC Area County to Vote on Whether to Allow Alcohol Sales

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The Smoky Mountain News recently had an interesting article about a proposed alcohol referendum for Jackson County during this year’s elections.

Jackson County, which is located in Western North Carolina, includes the Cashiers community.

Continue reading to learn more about this proposed referendum and what it means for Cashiers, NC area home owners and interested Cashiers home buyers.

Living in Cashiers, NC

According to the recent article,  four of five county commissioners in Jackson County told the paper that they would support an alcohol referendum – although no formal action has been taken yet to do so.

It remains unclear whether this referendum would be on the ballot during the May primary or during the general election in November.

Sylva and Dillsboro are the only two communities in Jackson County that have alcohol sales right now.  The referendum would open up the sales to all parts of the county.

Currently, Buncombe and Clay counties are the only ones in the western part of the state to allow the sale of alcohol countywide.  Henderson County residents will address the issue during their May primary.

Restaurant and store owners in Cashiers praised the proposed referendum because they say it will bring new energy to the local Cashiers economy.

Others are saying that it would help breathe new life onto the Western Carolina University campus, which is located in Cullowhee in Jackson County. Allowing alcohol sales near the campus would certainly stir economic activity, advocates say.

Investing in Cashiers, NC Area Real Estate

Voters in Jackson County will have much to decide on should the commissioners vote for an alcohol referendum.  They’ll have to address whether they want to allow beer, liquor, wine or all of them.  They’ll have to take a stand on whether to allow the sale in grocery stores or gas stations or simply keep it to sit-down restaurants.

What do you think of the proposed referendum?  Should alcohol sales be allowed in Jackson County or not? Let me know what you think!

Thinking about relocating to the Cashiers, NC area? I can help!

As an experienced Cashiers, NC area real estate expert, I pride myself on keeping up with the latest news in the area so I can help interested Cashiers area home buyers make informed decisions on the real estate market.

Contact me, Dorothy Swearingen, today to learn more about all of the helpful Cashiers home buying resources I can provide you, including:

Until next time,

Dorothy

Enjoy Summertime to Its Fullest in the Highlands, NC Area

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The North Carolina mountains are well known for their scenic vistas during the spring and fall.

However, visitors will find that there’s plenty of reasons to journey to the North Carolina Mountains during the summertime as well.

One of those reasons: white water rafting.

This exciting sport gives you one-of-a-kind views of the North Carolina Mountains while giving you quite a workout and adrenaline rush.

A recent article in the Asheville Citizen-Times gave some tips on how to plan a whitewater trip in the North Carolina Mountains.

Continue reading to learn more about these useful tips.

Living in the Highlands, NC Area

According to the article, one of the first things you should consider when charting a whitewater trip is the minimum age allowed on a river.

This minimum age will tell you how fast the river flows. For instance, while the Lower Pigeon allows individuals ages 4 and older,  the Cheoah requires rafters to be at least 16

Next step is to pick what paddle you’ll use.

After that, consider how much you want to spend on the trip.  While some places such as ones on the Nantahala charge just $19 to rent a raft, the Chattooga charges as much as $400 for a multi-day trip.

The paper notes that the average price for a half-day, guided trip is $45 a person.  That price includes a guide, transportation to the river entrance, gear and even lunch.

Here’s a brief list of some of the most popular rivers that whitewater rafters check out during the summer:

  • Nantahala – A Class II-III river that many families with children and first-time paddlers use.  This river is located in Swain and Graham counties
  • Lower Pigeon: A Class I-II river that is also good for families with children and first-time paddlers.  This river is located in Hartford, Tennessee.
  • French Broad: A Class III and IV river in some sections, which means this river is for more skilled paddlers.
  • Upper Pigeon: A dam-controlled river located in Hartford Tennessee.  This river is also good for families with children, as evident by the minimum age requirement of 8.
  • Chattooga: A rapidly moving river near Cashiers in Jackson County.  This river is well known for its scenic beauty and thrilling tours.

Investing in Highlands, NC Area Real Estate

If you’re the kind of person who has a great appreciation for natural beauty, I recommend that you consider living in the North Carolina Mountains.

This area is overflowing with natural beauty, which locals make use of everyday through whitewater rafting trips, hiking, biking and more.

If this sounds like the kind of lifestyle that complements your interests, then contact me, Dorothy Swearingen.

As your Highlands, NC area real estate expert, I’ll let you know about available listings in the area, as well as provide you with such helpful Highlands, NC relocation materials as:

Until next time,

Dorothy