4 Tips to Maximize Your Small Back Yard

SAVANNAH, GA, Mar 28, 2014—As Spring approaches, homeowners across the country are dreaming of warm afternoons and evenings spent outside. For those without ample land, turning your backyard into an outdoor oasis is just several simple steps away. If you're planning on landscaping this Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

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Rick Yelverton
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spring and summer, keep the following tips in mind, provided by
Keep it to scale
If your space is small, the different areas of your yard—say, your patio and garden—will need to be moderate in size as well. “An average size deck in a below average size yard will make the deck seem huge, and the yard space minimal,” explains Ray. Keep your deck or patio quaint and cut your garden back to the essentials.
Minimize
If you try and cram in too many pieces of furniture or kids’ toys, your yard will look cluttered and even more cramped. In order to maximize your space, you will need to minimize things like lawn furniture and yard accessories. Pick simple, streamlined pieces and try to look for moveable accents, suggests Ray, like a lawn table or grill with wheels you can pull out from the garage when it's barbecue time.
Tidy up
An overgrown lawn and garden will make your yard space look even more condensed. “The great thing about less yard is it takes less maintenance, so keep up with mowing, pruning and weeding,” says Ray.
Plant up
If you have a fence or trellis, plant things that will grow vertically, whether it be flowering vines, tomatoes or peas. Additionally, consider hanging plants or stackable garden planters to streamline what little garden grove you have available.
For more information on obtaining a mortgage, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Determining Your Home's Worth

SAVANNAH, GA, Mar 25, 2014—One of the most difficult parts of selling your home occurs before you even place it on the market: determining its listing price. Coming up with a realistic number can be a confusing process, as a home is ultimately worth what it is paid for it. Everything else is really an estimate of value.
Take, for example, a hot seller’s market when demand for housing is high but the inventory of

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Michael Mark
(843) 812-6023

available homes for sale is low. During this time, homes can sell above and beyond the asking price as buyers bid up the price. The fair market value, or worth, is established when “a meeting of the minds” between the buyer and the seller takes place.
So how do you decide what your home is worth? “A comparative market analysis and an appraisal are the two most common and reliable ways to determine a home's value,” explains Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.
Your real estate agent can provide a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of value based on the recent selling price of similar neighborhood properties. “Reviewing comparable homes that have sold within the past year along with the listing, or asking, price on current homes for sale should prevent you from over or under pricing,” suggests Ray.
In order to find the appraisal price, a certified appraiser is needed. After visiting the home to check such things as the number of rooms, improvements, size and square footage, construction quality, and the condition of the neighborhood, the appraiser then reviews recent comparable sales to determine the estimated value of the home.
However, it is often the buyer—not the listing party—who brings in the appraiser. Lenders normally require an appraisal – which run between $200 to $300 – before they will approve a mortgage loan. This protects the lender by ensuring the home is worth the money you want to borrow.
“You also can check recent sales in public records, through private firms, and on the Internet to help you determine a home’s potential worth,” notes Ray.
Below are some other points you will have to understand when finding a listing price:
List price vs. sales price
You probably hear both terms being tossed around, and it may be causing some confusion. The list price is a seller's advertised price, or asking price, for a home. It is a rough estimate of what the seller wants to complete a home sale. A seller can price high, low – which does not happen very often – or very close to what they hope to get. “A good way to determine if the list price is a fair one is to look at the sales prices of similar homes that have recently sold in the area,” notes Ray.
The sales price is the actual amount a home sells for.
What about appraised value and market value?
“A certified appraiser who is trained to provide the estimated value of a home determines its appraised value,” Ray explains. The appraised value is based on comparable sales, the condition of the property, and several other factors.
Market value is the price the house will bring at a given point in time, once the buyer and seller establish a “meeting of the minds” on price.
For more information on buying in a low inventory market, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, a real estate school, mortgage lending, and a publishing/media division. The companys corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com or call 800.505.8111.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners Receives Five Star Award and GOLD Award at Cartus Broker Network International Conference

(DANBURY, Conn., 2014) – Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners was honored for its outstanding performance during the past year at the 2014 Cartus Broker Network International Conference held on February 25-28 in Florida at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, Ft. Lauderdale. Cartus is a worldwide leader in employee relocation solutions.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners was presented the Cartus Five Star Award, which recognizes brokers who have met or exceeded their individual objectives for outgoing broker-to-broker referral closings during the calendar year.

The Gold Award is one of three Excellence Awards presented to principal brokers. Excellence Award recognition is based on performance results related to a wide variety of goals including customer service, cost management, and effective analysis and marketing of homes. Less than 28 percent of the Network’s principal brokers achieved Excellence Award recognition at this level or above for 2013 performance.

“The efforts that Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners put forth toward not only achieving but also exceeding their objectives for outgoing broker-to-broker referral closings speaks volumes about the commitment to success that makes our brokers such highly valued partners,” said Gerald Pearce, Cartus executive vice president, Broker Services and Affinity Services. “We are proud to be affiliated with this talented group of real estate professionals and look forward to our continued joint success in the future.”

“Winning the Cartus Broker Network’s Gold Award and Five Star Awards is a great honor for our brokerage,” said Connie Farmer Ray, CEO & President of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. “This means that we have been able to achieve standards realized by only the best companies in our industry. Any time that you are listed with great organizations, it is both rewarding and inspiring.”

In addition to the awards ceremony, the event included interactive workshops, roundtable and panel discussions, and executive presentations. Cartus Broker Network participants networked with other industry professionals and exchanged information and ideas regarding team-building, revenue generation, retention, new business strategies, and increasing customer service—all essential elements for continued success.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners may be reached directly at 800.505.8111 or cbrelo@coldwellbanker.com.

5 Household Dilemmas You Can Solve on Your Own

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Rayea Pieschel
(912) 222-4402

ST SIMONS ISLAND, GA, Mar 20, 2014—While a house doesn't come with an owner's manual, there are several things you can do to stay on top of, and ahead of, your home. Knowing how to handle small maintenance fixes will save you stress and money,” says Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. Save your dollars for when it's really time to call in a professional. In order to feel confident handling simple maintenance tasks, read through the following tips and tricks.:
1. Open the garage door when the power is out. Need to leave the house in a power outage? Pull on that red cord dangling from the ceiling-mounted operator. “This disengages the chain drive, allowing you to manually slide the door up its track,” explains Ray.
2. Remove the base of a broken light bulb. Accidentally break a lightbulb while it's still screwed into your lamp? No need to panic, as long as you have a potato in the pantry. Take a raw potato, cut it in half, and press the sliced end onto the jagged glass. Then, simply unscrew. This is also a great party trick.
3. Learn how to locate a stud. Trying to hang a heavy mirror? Nothing is worse than ripping a hole in your drywall. Many people know how to rap on walls to locate a stud. But there is a systematical approach, as well. “The majority of studs are placed at 16-inch intervals, so once you knuckle one out, you can usually find the others,” explains Ray.
4. Remedy a seized lock. Can't jiggle your keys in the door any longer? Don't worry - your spouse didn't change the locks. Chances are, your lock is seized. Instead of calling a locksmith who will hand you a hefty bill, head to the drug store and arm yourself with WD-40. “Spray some into the lock to get the gears moving again,” suggests Ray.
5. Unclog a sink. No, not with a chemical pour, which really only burns a hole in the blockage. To really clear out a block, you need to clear out the mechanism. To do so, remove the stopper and block off overflow holes. Then, notes Ray, run water into the sink and as the water runs, plunge the hole with a plunger. Not enough? Get yourself a hand snake and push the coil down the drain to clear out the block.
Know when to hire a handyman. You can only DIY so often. “Know when it's time to bring in the professionals – anything involving electricity or wiring is usually a good time for the real deal,” says Ray.
For more real estate information, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, a real estate school, mortgage lending, and a publishing/media division. The companys corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com or call 800.505.8111.

Determining Your Home's Worth

Beaufort, SC- Mar 18, 2014—One of the most difficult parts of selling your home occurs before you even place it on the market: determining its listing price. Coming up with a realistic number can be a confusing process, as a home is ultimately worth what it is paid for it. Everything else is really an estimate of value.

Take, for example, a hot seller’s market when demand for housing is high but the inventory of available homes for sale is low. During this time, homes can sell above and beyond the asking price as buyers bid up the price. The fair market value, or worth, is established when “a meeting of the minds” between the buyer and the seller takes place.

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Annette Bryant
(843) 986-7343

So how do you decide what your home is worth? “A comparative market analysis and an appraisal are the two most common and reliable ways to determine a home's value,” explains Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Your real estate agent can provide a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of value based on the recent selling price of similar neighborhood properties. “Reviewing comparable homes that have sold within the past year along with the listing, or asking, price on current homes for sale should prevent you from over or under pricing,” suggests Ray.

In order to find the appraisal price, a certified appraiser is needed. After visiting the home to check such things as the number of rooms, improvements, size and square footage, construction quality, and the condition of the neighborhood, the appraiser then reviews recent comparable sales to determine the estimated value of the home.

However, it is often the buyer—not the listing party—who brings in the appraiser. Lenders normally require an appraisal – which run between $200 to $300 – before they will approve a mortgage loan. This protects the lender by ensuring the home is worth the money you want to borrow.

“You also can check recent sales in public records, through private firms, and on the Internet to help you determine a home’s potential worth,” notes Ray.

Below are some other points you will have to understand when finding a listing price:

List price vs. sales price

You probably hear both terms being tossed around, and it may be causing some confusion. The list price is a seller's advertised price, or asking price, for a home. It is a rough estimate of what the seller wants to complete a home sale. A seller can price high, low – which does not happen very often – or very close to what they hope to get. “A good way to determine if the list price is a fair one is to look at the sales prices of similar homes that have recently sold in the area,” notes Ray.

The sales price is the actual amount a home sells for.

What about appraised value and market value?

“A certified appraiser who is trained to provide the estimated value of a home determines its appraised value,” Ray explains. The appraised value is based on comparable sales, the condition of the property, and several other factors.

Market value is the price the house will bring at a given point in time, once the buyer and seller establish a “meeting of the minds” on price.

For more information on buying in a low inventory market, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.
Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations spanning from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services, a real estate school, mortgage lending, and a publishing/media division. The companys corporate offices are located at 6349 Abercorn St., Savannah, Georgia. For more information visit their Web site at www.MyCbpp.com or call 800.505.8111.

Kimberly Kersey Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team in Savannah

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners is proud to welcome Sales Associate, Kimberly Kersey, to the Company's office located at 6349 Abercorn Street. Kimberly, who specializes in Coastal Properties, the Low Country and Acreage, joins the Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners team because, “…Coldwell Banker has an excellent reputation and I have felt it was the perfect place to learn and establish relationships in the real estate business!” Kimberly will be working as part of a Team with her son, Thomas Kersey and looks forward to helping new and first-time buyers, residential, military, vacation/second, retirement buyers and those looking for land and lots.

Kimberly was born and raised in the Lowcountry. She has a background in the banking industry and previously worked for local banks and the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Her goal is for her clients to enjoy the best, quality customer service.
Kimberly Kersey may be reached directly at (843)-226-0454 or Kimberly.Kersey@coldwellbanker.com.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations stretching from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services 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 or call 800.505.8111.
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Zeke Gaines Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team in Savannah

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners is proud to welcome Sales Associate, Zeke Gaines, to the Company's office located at 6349 Abercorn Street.  Zeke, who specializes in property management and sales, joins the Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners team because, “…the reputation of the sales force and training options within the Company." 

Zeke holds a BA in Business Management from GSU and is a volunteer with the Coastal Conservation Association.  He looks forward to providing his clients with knowledge, honesty and a hardworking attitude.

Zeke Gaines may be reached directly at 912.429.4996 or Zeke.Gaines@coldwellbanker.com.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations stretching from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services 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 or call 800.505.8111.

Thomas M. Kersey Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team

Thomas M. Kersey has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as

a REALTOR® for the Company’s Bluffton/Hilton Head Island office, located at 29 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 106.  He will be working as part of a Team with his mother, Kimberly A. Kersey.  Thomas joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because, “ … the Company offers unbeatable training and great customer service!”  Thomas specializes in residential properties, coastal, and Lowcountry acreage as well as Military and Retirement properties in the Beaufort, Jasper and surrounding areas of South Carolina and Georgia.

Thomas was born and raised in the Lowcountry.  He earned his Bachelor of Liberal Studies and Bachelor of Pre-Law/Legal Studies, from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah Georgia.  He has over 8 years of sales experience and holds his real estate license in Georgia and South Carolina. He has been an active member and resident of the Bluffton community for over 13 years and has resided in Rose Hill Plantation since he moved to Beaufort County in 2001.

Thomas is a lover of Tennis and has played many local tournaments and has served as team captain for many years. He has a passion for wildlife and has rehabilitated many wild animals back into their natural habitats.    

His goal is to serve the Lowcountry to the best of his abilities and offer his clients an exceptional experience that they will never forget. He feels blessed to be apart of such a great community and would love to see everyone achieve their American Dream!

Thomas Kersey may be reached directly at 843.258.5597 or Thomas.Kersey@coldwellbanker.com.

Kristen Hartson Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team in Richmond Hill

Kristen Hartson Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team in Richmond Hill

Kristen Hartson has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as REALTOR for the Company’s Richmond Hill office, located at 2591 Hwy 17, Suite 104.  Kristen is excited to work with Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners because, “…the Company is a reputable organization with positive training and support staff.”  Kristen looks forward to assisting residential buyers in Richmond Hill and Savannah enjoy their home buying experience; whether it’s their first or 20^th transaction.  Kristen has a visual communications degree from Westwood College and is also a volunteer as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and a Classroom Volunteer at Richmond Hill Primary School.  Kristen Hartson can be reached at 912.980.3671 or via email at kristen.hartson@coldwellbanker.com.

Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners, established in 1995, is a full-service real estate firm with more than 100 sales agents strategically dispersed among its office locations stretching from Beaufort, South Carolina, through the greater Savannah area to St. Simons Island, Georgia. The company was founded by Connie Farmer Ray, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners. In addition to listing and selling residential real estate, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ other divisions include commercial real estate, property management, relocation services 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 or call 800.505.8111.

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4 Tips to Maximize Your Small Back Yard

Article Featured by
Dana Hill - (912) 272-4698

4 Tips to Maximize Your Small Back Yard

SAVANNAH, GA, Mar 14, 2014—As Spring approaches, homeowners across the country are dreaming of warm afternoons and evenings spent outside. For those without ample land, turning your backyard into an outdoor oasis is just several simple steps away. If you're planning on landscaping this spring and summer, keep the following tips in mind, provided by Connie Ray, President/Owner of Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.
Keep it to scale
If your space is small, the different areas of your yard—say, your patio and garden—will need to be moderate in size as well. “An average size deck in a below average size yard will make the deck seem huge, and the yard space minimal,” explains Ray. Keep your deck or patio quaint and cut your garden back to the essentials.
Minimize
If you try and cram in too many pieces of furniture or kids’ toys, your yard will look cluttered and even more cramped. In order to maximize your space, you will need to minimize things like lawn furniture and yard accessories. Pick simple, streamlined pieces and try to look for moveable accents, suggests Ray, like a lawn table or grill with wheels you can pull out from the garage when it's barbecue time.
Tidy up
An overgrown lawn and garden will make your yard space look even more condensed. “The great thing about less yard is it takes less maintenance, so keep up with mowing, pruning and weeding,” says Ray.
Plant up
If you have a fence or trellis, plant things that will grow vertically, whether it be flowering vines, tomatoes or peas. Additionally, consider hanging plants or stackable garden planters to streamline what little garden grove you have available.

For more information on obtaining a mortgage, please contact Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners at Connie.F.Ray@mycbpp.com, 912-352-1222, or Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Nicole L. Head Joins Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners’ Sales Team in Richmond Hill

Nicole L.  Head has joined Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners as REALTOR for the Company’s Richmond Hill Office, located at 2591 Hwy 17, Suite 104.

Nicole earned her BA in English from Framingham State University in Massachusetts.  In addition to Real Estate, Nicole has a background in Financial Aid and Admissions with various colleges and universities in the Greater Boston area.  She has also worked as a Customer Care Rep for a major cell phone provider, and has enjoyed time working in the field of Special Education.

Nicole came to the Savannah area in 2011 when her husband was assigned to Ft. Stewart.  She immediately fell in love with the beautiful coastal scenery and more relaxed southern lifestyle.   As a REALTOR serving Richmond Hill and Greater Savannah, Nicole’s focus is superior customer service and attention to detail with a high level of professionalism and integrity.  She is excited to be affiliated with a national brand and brokerage team which embodies the same high ethical standards of excellence.

Nicole Head resides in Richmond Hill with her husband, 3 children, and beagle mixed dog named “Boston”.  Nicole holds her real estate license in Georgia and can be reached at 603.340.4315 or via email at Nicole.head@coldwellbanker.com.