Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Welcomes Hope Morris to the Brunswick Office

Hope Morris
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’

Welcomes Hope Morris to the Brunswick Office

Hope Morris has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a Sales Associate at the Brunswick Office located at located at 901 Glynn Isles where she concentrates on residential properties within the Glynn County area. 

Hope is currently employed at the Brunswick Housing Authority as the Director of Operations for Public Housing.  She is a property manager for 218 units, “I love training in Fair Housing Law and Georgia Landlord Law,” she says.  Hope earned her Associate of Science Degree in Business & Office Technology and Business Administration from the College of Coastal Georgia.  She is also active in the GIAR, NAR and has volunteered her time (for the past 15 years) to serving food to low-income families at different events in Glynn County.  “I am the mother of two amazing daughters, I love to travel and experience new cultures and see new places, too!,” says Morris.

“It’s my goal to have my clients leave my care knowing that I have worked hard to find them the perfect home while treating them with integrity and utmost fairness.”  Hope chose to work with Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because, “of their extensive training program.  I know it will be of great benefit to me and my clients.”

Hope Morris may be reached at 912.230.8359 or via email at hope.morris@coldwellbanker.com.

Tips for a Faster Sale at a Higher Price in 2015 :: Featured Agent - Dana Hill

Many homeowners today are wondering how to improve the appearance of their property for a faster sale at the highest possible price. With the start of 2015 around the corner, now is the ideal time to consider a variety of fresh and creative ways, both big and small, to achieve the goals of increased functionality, visual appeal and resale value.

Dana Hill
(912) 272-4698

1) Make kitchen improvements a top priority. Your kitchen is the most utilized room in your home, a place where families and friends gather for daily meals and holiday celebrations. The kitchen space, now more than ever, serves as a central gathering point and an extension of living and family rooms, the so-called great rooms. It’s also one of the most important areas that buyers look at when searching for a home. An updated kitchen is great for resale value.
2)  Make small, cost-effective improvements for a fresh look. Painting, whether interior or exterior, is relatively low-cost and adds a quick revamp to your home. Another way to improve on a small budget is by cleaning up and trimming landscaping, and adding new, affordable plants. Adding new plants will give your yard a pop of color and won’t break the bank. You want the best first impression and “curb appeal” for your property, and fresh flowers and landscaping will add allure to the outdoor area.
De-cluttering is another easy step, and makes a big difference in making the home look larger.
Imagine that you are a prospective buyer seeing your home for the first time, and use that critical eye as a guide for getting your property into shape.
3) Pay attention to market trends. When looking to make renovations to your home, pay attention to what will also contribute to resale value. For example, modernized bathrooms and showers are important to homebuyers. Also, creating an open floor plan for the living space, and choosing dryscape and water-conserving landscaping can be effective. Pay attention to market trends and any new and important features for homebuyers. This will help make sure you get the best return on your renovation investment.
4) Stay neutral. Keep your color palettes centered on neutral earth tones when renovating, while incorporating some contrast. You want to appeal to the largest selection of buyers, and neutral colors make it easier for buyers to visualize living there. Also, neutral colors can easily be painted over to meet buyer preferences. The most important thing is for the buyer to be able to visualize the home to meet their tastes after they make the purchase. It will be harder for the buyer to picture this with loud and outdated, odd colors throughout the home.
5) Look at houses in your neighborhood that have recently sold. By checking out homes that are for sale and have recently sold in your neighborhood, you can get a better idea of where to improve. Which styles and finishes garnered the best values? Hire a licensed and experienced contractor familiar to the area. Decide which areas of the home are most important and serve as the best areas to spend your money to see the highest return.
6) Don’t over-improve. This is a common mistake among many homeowners, especially when deciding to take on a home renovation project without the help of a professional. If you over-improve and spend money on unimportant remodeling projects, you won’t see a return on your investment, particularly if the work makes your property the highest priced home in the neighborhood.
If you are unsure of which renovations to make, and where to spend the money, it’s best to get the opinions of professionals. Consult multiple contractors, compare notes and make an informed decision on where to improve, including the areas that aren’t as critical to be updated.
7) If it’s too tough to DIY, hire a professional! Make sure to hire a professional before taking on a project that’s too tough to do it yourself (DIY). The last thing you want is to spend the money to start a home renovation project before realizing that you are in over your head, and need to spend additional funds and time hiring a professional to correct your mistakes. Before starting a project yourself, be 100 percent confident that you can finish the job correctly on your own. If not, you will save time and money by hiring a licensed contractor.
Source: Renovation Realty

Alex Canfield Earns Real Estate Certifications

SAVANNAH, GA  -  Connie Farmer Ray, President and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners announced today Alex Canfield has earned his Associate Broker’s License (ABR). 

"Alex, who is a specialist in residential and commercial real estate, has been affiliated with Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners since 2010," said Connie Farmer Ray, President and CEO at Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. "During that time, he has demonstrated the highest professional standards and a dedication to satisfying the needs of his clients by providing them with the highest level of support available."

In addition to his ABR, Canfield is an active member of the Georgia Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and Savannah Board of Realtors.  He also holds the prestigious Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI), ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative, SRS(Seller Representative Specialist) and SFR(Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource) Designations.  Alex also gives back to the community by participating in functions organized by his church, Savannah Christian. He services as a 2nd Lt in the Civil Air Patrol-Savannah Squadron and also volunteers as a Paramedic/Firefighter with Isle of Hope Fire Department. 

Alex Canfield currently resides in Savannah, Georgia, and he works out of the Abercorn Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Office and can be reached at 912.398.5414 or alex.canfield@coldwellbanker.com.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Attends Navy Federal Credit Union Invitational Event in Vienna

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners attended an exclusive summit at the invitation-only Navy Federal Building in Vienna, VA.  Navy Federal invited select brokers to attend their inaugural summit Nov 12^th & 13^th which included Navy executives presenting news, information and educational tools regarding the Growth of the Credit Union, the Mortgage Processes, Products, Goals for 2014/2015 for RealtyPlus, Several Breakout Sessions followed by an Award/Recognition Ceremony.  “The executive panel provided so much information, really interesting news about the military.  I feel so honored to be selected to attend and represent my Company,” says Melissa Bowles, Relocation Director with Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.  She continues, “We even got a private tour of the Navy Federal Building, it was beyond beautiful and what a great way to visualize all the help we can provide to our military, we are grateful to do what we can in any way to give back.”

The Navy Federal Credit Union is the world’s largest credit union with $62 billion in assets, 5 million members, 257 branches, and a workforce of over 12,000 employees worldwide. The credit union serves all Department of Defense and Coast Guard active duty, civilian, and contractor personnel and their families. For additional information about Navy Federal, visit  www.navyfederal.org.

The Navy Federal Credit Union announced its Eighth year of  participation in Military Saves, and the credit union’s month - long savings initiatives created to inspire the military community to focus on financial readiness. Military Saves, a component of the America Saves campaign, shares Navy Federal’s goal of assisting all branches of the military, Department of Defense, Coast Guard and their families in maintaining financial health.  “We are committed to providing tools to help our members meet their financial goals through every phase of life,” said Bob Joshua, executive vice president, Savings and Membership. “The earlier members begin to save, the better their financial future.”

To learn more about how Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners can help you relocate your home, please visit www.MyCbpp.com or call 800.505.8111. 

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, new homes, a real estate school, mortgage lending and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com.

6 Seemingly Smart Moves That May Ruin Your Remodel:: Feature Agent Dana Hill

6 Seemingly Smart Moves That May Ruin Your Remodel
By Darryl Crosby

You are dying to get an updated home, and you are very excited for the remodeling process to begin. But you aren’t naive. You have heard the horror stories about renovations, and you intend to make yours go smoothly. So you have done your homework, dotted your i’s and crossed your t’s, and you are confident your remodel will go off without a hitch. However, if one of these common mistakes is part of your strategy, you might want to think again.

Dana Hill, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners
(912) 272-4698

Doing the Shopping Yourself

You might think that you can save yourself a boatload of cash by purchasing the materials on your own and just having the contractor perform the labor, but Houzz believes that this couldn’t be further from the truth. Contractors will usually be able to get trade discounts on the materials, but more than that, they have the expertise necessary to know which supplies you can go cheap on, and which ones need to be the name brands. Allowing the contractor to purchase the materials also ensures you actually get what you need for the project — and if something goes awry along the way, it’s all on them.

Not Paying In Full

In order to protect yourself from getting screwed over by your contractor, you just won’t pay his entire fee upfront. That will guarantee he finishes so that he gets the rest of his money, right? Wrong! By not paying all of the money at the beginning, the contractor may be forced to take shortcuts or skip steps because he doesn’t have enough overhead to cover the materials. Either that or he will charge you more to cover that extra amount in case he doesn’t finish at all. Neither scenario is a win for you.

Trusting Your Contractor

It’s very nice of you to hire a contractor and turn the job over to him without a second thought, but doing so is a huge mistake. Why? As HGTV points out, if you don’t know anything about what the project entails you won’t be able to spot a mistake or a shortcut when it occurs. To make sure you know which questions to ask and when to intervene, you should do a little bit of research about the project in advance. That being says, it is crucial to remember that your contractor is the expert, so don’t get too involved or you will just make him mad.

Related: For more remodeling tips, click here.

Not Finding a Temporary Place to Live

When you are embarking on a dramatic change it can be tempting to try to stay in your home throughout the process. After all, that means less money is spent on temporary housing and you can maintain a first-hand view of the work being done. However, this decision may actually be costing you more than you would spend on a part-time rental, and it will irritate your contractor. At the end of the day, the crew will have to clean up everything so that your home stays in a livable condition. This means more labor costs for you. And if you were part of the crew, wouldn’t it bug you?

Thinking the Quote is the Final Bill

Even though your contractor gave you a firm quote, it is always a good idea to set aside a little extra for the just-in-case scenarios. The price you received from the contractor only includes the planned work, and, as Consumer Reports points out, there are often unexpected expenses that arise with a large remodeling project. If you have watched any home remodeling shows on TV, then you know this to be true. Some things can’t be known until walls and floors are ripped apart.

Skipping the Permits

Yes, it can be tempting to conveniently forget about the permits you are supposed to get during a remodel. From the fees to the paperwork, no one is arguing that they aren’t a pain. But if it turns out that your plumbing or electrical work doesn’t meet code, you can be forced to redo them on your own dime. Not only that, but you won’t be able to sell your home without all of the proper permits in place.

Remodeling your home is a very exciting and stressful time. If you can avoid the above mistakes, then your renovation is likely to go smoothly, and you will be able to enjoy your new home in no time at all.

Darryl Crosby is a home renovation blogger and the Senior Director of Marketing at Case Design/Remodeling, Inc. Darryl works with his customers to ensure that they are making all of the correct decision throughout the remodeling process.

View this original post on the RISMedia blog, Housecall.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.

'Real Estart': When Art and Real Estate Collide

'Real Estart': When Art and Real Estate Collide
By Zoe Eisenberg

What happens when an art curator puts his home on the market? The home itself acts as a living exhibit. Recently, Los Angeles County Museum of Art curator emeritus Maurice Tuchman put his Hollywood Hills West home on the market with an asking price of $5.75 million.

The hilltop compound, built in 1995, was designed especially for Tuchman by museum architect Brent Saville and had a silver screen appearance in the 1999 film “The Limey,” directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Lem Dobbs. With curved walls made of floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of mountains, ocean and cityscapes, the house is breathtaking in scale, views and amenities.

One unique feature is a duo of windows showing sweeping views of two juxtaposing worlds: a protected canyon parkland, and a bird’s eye view of downtown Los Angeles.

The kitchen is home to more than just state-of-the-art appliances; a tile mural depicts an apocalyptic projection of Capital Records being overtaken by natural elements and the passing of time.

In addition to the three-bedroom main house, the space also has an office tower overlooking the swimming pool. The two buildings are connected by a bridge, although unfortunately, it is not a drawbridge.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.

Karla Cummings Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team

Karla Cummings has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as a REALTOR® for the Company’s Beaufort office, located at 1211 Boundary Street.   Karla has been a licensed REALTOR for over 7 years; she looks forward to helping buyers and sellers in the Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island Areas.

Karla has resided in Beaufort County for over 28 years and loves the area.  In addition to real estate, Karla is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and serves on two committees for the United Way.  “Additionally, I have been the office manager for my husband’s dental office for a number of years and I am eager to embark on this next phase of my life; helping people find their dream home.”   “I love all of the trainings that Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners offers.  It is my goal to be your best REALTOR!”

Karla Cummings may be reached directly at 843.812.1815 or  Karla.Cummings@coldwellbanker.com.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, new homes, a real estate school, mortgage lending and a publishing/media division. The company’s corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at  HYPERLINK "http://www.mycbpp.com" www.MyCbpp.com.

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