Hurricane Preparedness Checklist for Your Home

From June 1 to November 30 hurricane preparedness should be on the forefront of everyone’s mind in the Gulf of Mexico and along the East Coast.  With all the rain we’ve seen already this year, it is quite evident hurricane season is in full force.

It is never too early to prepare for a hurricane and having a plan will be a game changer when the threat of a hurricane exists. Last year we talked about the 5 key elements of hurricane prep which included the hurricane safety checklist prepared by the American Red Cross, Charleston evacuation zones as well as basic tips on how to safeguard your personal life and home.

This year we’re delving de...

Home Staging 101

What exactly is home staging?

Home staging is very literally the act of preparing a private residence for sale on the real estate market.

Spending a weekend cleaning and organizing your home before it goes on the market will help you put money in the bank. Statistics have shown staged homes sell faster and for more money. We’ve previously explained what not to do when trying to sell your home, and today we’re going to talk about what you should do in order to ensure your home sells for top dollar.

Home staging is a very big deal in the Charleston real estate market, and we believe it is imperative to stage your home correctly before listings ever go live. Buyers need to...

Office Space for Rent in Moncks Corner, SC

We are so thrilled to announce our newest renovation project is now complete!

This commercial renovation was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up, and it was definitely a doozy. The building didn’t have windows, the kitchen was a catastrophe, wood paneling lined the walls, and the lighting was dark and dismal.

We have renovated 80+ private homes in the Lowcountry, but this was our first commercial space. We had an amazing time tackling this listing, and we believe all of our hard work will pay off.

Nestled one block off main street in Moncks Corner, this office space for rent is perfect for an attorney, insurance office, real estate office, CPS, mark...

Ask Yourself These Questions Before Buying A Home

Tips to Buying a Home

Whether you’re an eager first-time home buyer or a seasoned buyer who’s bought a home before, it’s imperative to be prepared for all costs involved with buying a home. There are so many factors to consider when buying a home, and the thought of finally putting down some roots can be intimidating.

Asking yourself these questions before buying a home can ease the anxiety and lighten the load of the home buying process:

What’s Your Credit Score?

Knowing your credit score is one of the first things you should figure out before buying a home. This score plays a major factor into whether or not you will be preapproved for ...

FAQ of the New Tax Law & How it Will Impact Real Estate in SC

We receive a lot of questions from family, friends and clients regarding the new tax laws and how they will affect real estate in South Carolina, Charleston real estate especially.

We’ve compiled a list of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we’ve received, and we’ve tried to answer them as best and as honestly as we can in the videos below.

Please bear in mind, we are only offering our opinions for informational purposes only. We do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice...

10 WAYS TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME

The slower late winter months are the perfect time of year to start tackling your spring cleaning list. Whether you plan to put your house on the market or you want to put your own personality into the living areas, starting earlier in the year is definitely the time to get to work on your home. Starting early will do nothing but reap rewards and following these 10 easy tips will add value to your home:

1. Spruce up the yard: Everyone knows the first thing that sells a home is its curb appeal. Though curb appeal may not necessarily add monetary value right off the bat, the appearance of a home will definitely factor into its sales price once it goes onto...

Tips to Winterize Your House

Charleston, SC is finally starting to see colder weather which means it is the perfect time to winterize your house and gear up for the warmer months which lie ahead.

Although the best city in the world is known for having very mild winters, you should still take the time to follow these simple steps to winterize your house so you can save money on your energy bills and make some ticks on your spring cleaning checklist.

Outdoor Tips to Winterize Your House

1. Remove window mounted A/C units

You’d be surprised at how much heat can escape through your window unit and around where it’s installed. Make sure to remove all window units as soon as possible or right befo...

Top 5 Mt. Pleasant & Summerville Neighborhoods with No HOA

Mount Pleasant and Summerville are two of the most sought after areas to live in Charleston, SC. Inventory is low while demand is high in both Mt. Pleasant and Summerville, and homes in neighborhoods with no homeowner association fees (HOA) are even hotter commodities in the already popular suburbs.
If you’re looking at real estate in Charleston, SC be sure to check out the top five neighborhoods in Mt. Pleasant and Summerville with no HOAs:  

Cooper Estates: Not only is this a waterfront neighborhood, but it’s HOA free as well! This well-established, historic neighborhood is home to large lots, well-built homes, and convenience to...

A Ghoulish Guide to Charleston’s Pumpkin Patches, Fall Festivals, Oktoberfests, and Fright Nights!

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Although the weather hasn’t quite cooled off Charleston is still celebrating the arrival of autumn in a variety of ways.

Whether you’re looking for family friendly fall festivals, polka dancing in your lederhosen at area Oktoberfests, haunted hayrides through spiderwebs at local fright nights, or picking your own great pumpkin from the patch, we’ve created the ultimate guide to help you have fun in Charleston all October long!

Check out our A Ghoulish Guide to Charleston’s Pumpkin Patches, Fall Festivals, Oktoberfests, and Fright Nights below, and please be sure to ...

5 Key Elements to Hurricane Preparedness

With super storm Hurricane Irma threatening the shoreline of the Southeast, hurricane preparedness is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.

There are 5 keys elements to hurricane preparedness which will keep your home and family safe before and after the storm:  

1. Plan Ahead: First and foremost, it is imperative to book accommodations as soon as there is a real threat to your area. You’ll be shocked at how quickly hotels will book up, and the closer the hurricane is, the more expensive rates will be. Be sure to book somewhere that has a 24 hr cancellation policy. That way, if the track of the storm changes, there’s no harm, no foul for you or ...

Living in Charleston, SC and How Moratoriums Can Raise the Competition

With Charleston, SC being named the Best City in the World and more and more people discovering how amazing living in Charleston, SC really is, the fact that 43 new people are moving to the Lowcountry every day makes sense.

It’s not unreasonable to also understand such growth can cause problems such as drainage and traffic problems so town council members are making sure the best city in the world can keep up with supply and demand while maintaining the charm, prestige, and ambiance the Holy City is known for.

Moratoriums, or halts/freezes on development and building, have already been implemented or are currently ...

Neighborhoods With Waterfront Real Estate in Mt. Pleasant, SC

Real Estate in Mt.Pleasant, SC is a hot commodity and even more so if the listing happens to be a waterfront property.

Mt. Pleasant and East of the Cooper are the areas with the highest demand because of its plethora of waterfront real estate for sale:

1. Hobcaw Point: Home to the beautiful Hobcaw Yacht Club, this incredible Mt. Pleasant neighborhood is nestled at the mouth of the Wando River and has a full array of architectural styles including split-level, brick ranch, and Charleston singles. This subdivision is all about location, location, location and is merely minutes from the Charleston Harbor by boat.
2. Molasses ...

Zillow’s Zestimate: Even the CEO Doesn’t Rely on Them

One issue we encounter on a daily basis revolves around Zillow’s Zestimate and other online home valuation tools. These mega real estate search tools and online “Value Your Home” calls to action have become household names and are influencing buyers and sellers into believing these prices are legitimate real estate appraisals.

Unfortunately, that’s just not the case.

According to Zillow, a Zestimate is calculated via a computerized algorithm based on millions of public and user submitted data points and “Our data sources may be incomplete or incorrect; we have not physically inspected a specific home. Remember...

An Eclectic Mix of Kid’s Birthday Ideas in Charleston, SC

Summertime seems to be when birthday parties abound. While waterparks, jump castles, pool parties, and beach days are loved by many, one central question we’re asked revolves around fun, adventurous, and exciting kids birthday ideas in Charleston which stray away from the norm.

Mostly everyone in the Tri-county area knows of the standard parties mentioned above or places like Chuck-E-Cheese, Monkey Joe’s, or Skyzone, but there are so many kids party options in Charleston which many people don’t even know about!

Today we’ve put together an eclectic list of kids birthday party ideas in Charleston which will help your kids make ...

It’s no secret that Charleston, South Carolina seems to be one of the most desirable place to be these days. With so many beautiful locations it can be difficult to decide what part of the city is right for you and your family when looking for your next home.

Located just across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from beautiful downtown Charleston is suburban Mount Pleasant. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is a town surrounded by stunning saltwater marshes with meandering creeks breaching its coastal shores, making for the epitome of waterfront living. With a great deal more local conveniences than its smaller downtown neighbor, back yards and outstanding schools, Mount Pleasant is a haven fo...

Top Charleston Farmer's Markets and CSAs

Charleston is rich in many ways; history, culture, excellent restaurants, world-class accommodations. Charleston is also rich in agriculture and there is no shortage of avenues by which you can take advantage of this. From local farm stores, farmers markets or even a buy-in approach of CSA membership, if it’s fresh produce you want, Charleston will provide. Below is a list of the top five CSAs and Farmers Markets in the Charleston area.

Before we get to the list, however, its possible that some readers may not know what a CSA is and we need to make that right. Allow me to introduce you to the wonderful world of Community Supported Agriculture or ...

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is a breathtaking town with meandering creeks, marsh views and hidden neighborhood gems. Waterways in Mt. Pleasant lead to the Charleston Harbor and out to the Atlantic Ocean, providing the bounties of the sea. Whether its fresh red drum on the grill at home or a bushel of oysters tossed in the steamer and scattered on the table for shucking, locals enjoy fresh seafood and the rituals that surround it.

Mount Pleasant has many creek beds and tidal marshes that are ideal for catching Blue Crabs. Blue crabs may be harvested with little restrictions (http://www.dnr.sc.gov/regs/crabregs.html). For the weeke...

The Charleston real estate market is increasingly on the rise and more and more sellers are tempted to cash in as quickly as they can. Don’t be fooled! Even though Charleston is the best city in the world and different buyers are looking for different things, rest assured that breaking one or more of these simple rules will keep your home from selling in one of the hottest markets in the United States:

1. Overpricing Your Property: This is by far the #1 mistake sellers make when homes are initially put on the market. Sellers try to “test the market” to see if any bites come in at a higher sales price when, in reality, they’re setting themselves up for failure. Overpriced homes sit on t...

CCSD School Choice

Charleston County School District is comprised of 80+ schools which teach over 45,000 children from K3-12th grade. All neighborhoods in Charleston county have specific school attendance zones, in fact school zones can easily make or break a real estate deal, but did you know CCSD offers your family an opportunity to send your kids to a variety of magnet, partial magnet, charter, and montessori schools FOR FREE?

All Charleston county student residents are eligible for CCSD school choice which provides parents the opportunity to apply to schools which may better align with their child’s specific learning style.

For example, let’s say you’ve found the perfect home to ...

When buying a home in Charleston, known for hot and humid summers, a lot of buyers are concerned with their utility costs.  The recent heat wave in Charleston has only reminded us even more of how important energy efficiency is in a Charleston home.

There are a lot of steps you can take to keep your bills low:

1. Keep you A/C tuned up: It's worth having a service agreement for a contractor to clean and inspect your HVAC system once or twice a year.  Things like dirty coils, low refrigerant levels and air leaks in duct lines can all add up to higher electric bills.  If you need assistance, call one of our trusted local partners, like Fogel Services.

2. Upgrade your water heater: Tankles...