If  spring cleaning is on your to-do list, you’re not alone. A study conducted by International Communications Research for the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) found that 66% of Americans regularly conduct spring cleaning. According to the survey of 1,000 American men and women, top priority goes to kitchens, living rooms, master bedrooms, and bathrooms.

Cleaning By Gender

The SDA study found those most likely to do spring cleaning were women aged 35 to 54 and men in the 18 to 24 and 55 to 64 age groups. Women reported feeling most rewarded after cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. Men, however, felt most rewarded cleaning garages and basements–the least rewarding choices for women.

Reasons To Clean

“It just needs to be done,” was the answer 53% of spring cleaners chose when asked why they conduct their annual ritual. Other reasons were to: “Get rid of a winter’s worth of dust and dirt” (22%); “It just makes me feel better” (12%); and, “Get organized” (2%).

Rooms By Rank

When asked what their top cleaning priority was, respondents said:

Most Rewarding Cleans

Least Rewards Cleans

Too Busy?

Of the 1,000 respondents, 22% of women and 11% of men said they were too busy to do spring cleaning. To that response, the SDA has some suggestions:

• Put cleaning on your agenda, just as you do professional and personal appointments.
• List your cleaning priorities and the supplies you’ll need to accomplish the jobs.
• Pick up the supplies you need while making your regular rounds to grocery and drug stores.

Convenience Sells

The report indicated single-use wipes and dust mitts have gained popularity for their ease of use and disposability. Such products are now available for glass, furniture, floors, and even leather upholstery. All-in-one electro-static mops have also found a strong market. Another increasingly popular product: all-in-one battery-operated floor cleaning appliances with cleaning pads and all-purpose cleaning solutions.

If you are selling an above-average-price property in an upscale neighborhood, you know your home is unique. You expect an upscale property to be marketed with the same professionalism you demand in every aspect of your life. That’s where our experience selling homes like yours really pays off.

Keep in mind, buyers who can afford your home lead busy lives like you and look for a hassle-free sale. Move-up buyers don’t need to buy now, so they wait and watch for that just-right home. It might be yours.

Unfortunately, even sophisticated homeowners sometimes make mistakes when they go to sell their upscale homes, netting less than the top-dollar price it’s worth. Or worse, the home just doesn’t sell at all.

Here are seven common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Underestimating The Competition in the Wilmington NC real estate market

Even though your property may be one-of-a-kind, there are other homes on the market being shown to the same potential buyers. Before you list your home, we’ll give you an “armchair tour” of comparable properties listed for sale in your price range. We’ll share our inside observations on how each home compares to yours and what special features stand out.

2. Overestimating The Value

When we tour the competition, you’ll notice how similar homes are priced. Features of interest to today’s buyers include location, house design and size, privacy afforded by the lot and acreage, special amenities, type of community, and quality of local schools and facilities. Together, we’ll help position your home at the right price. By avoiding the over-pricing trap — which often results in repeated price reductions making the property seem distressed — we’ll save time and net the full value of your home.

3. Relying On Location

Homes in the higher price ranges need to look magazine-perfect when shown to potential buyers. Today’s market demands that everything — doors to floors, fixtures to walls — be sparkling clean. Even minor faults loom large in what is expected to be a perfect home. In short, fix up, repair and polish like never before.

4. Over-Improving

Also, avoid over-individualizing the house or grounds. People tend to buy homes they see as an image of themselves. A home that’s too individualized with strong, personalized decorating won’t sell quickly. Avoid dramatic custom flourishes that may not suit many other people. Some buyers will mentally calculate the cost of removing the customization and deduct the cost from their offer.

Although you want your home to look its best, spending thousands of dollars to redecorate will not likely help it sell at a higher price — it may sell more quickly, though.

5. Making Your Own Marketing Decisions

The marketing plan for your home needs to reach out to the right potential buyers. We offer a first-class marketing campaign that requires careful advance planning to allow time for reserving appropriate advertising space, top-notch photography, brochure production, even special events, such as a top-broker open house.

Many homeowners overestimate the value of one-shot marketing such as newspaper or TV spot ads. What typically works better is advertising with a longer “shelf life,” in upscale publications, for example, where ads are directed at an ideal niche.

Let us help you decide whether your house could benefit from an open house or would be better shown by appointment only. Yours is not a home for curious, unqualified walk-ins.

6. Playing Hard To Get

No home sells sight unseen. Working together, we can create a plan to show the house to qualified prospects without disturbing your schedule. Details, such as the security system or guard dogs, may need to be worked out.

Rest assured, all buyers will be financially qualified, perhaps requiring an approval letter from an attorney or banker, before we will bring them to see your property.

7. Being Inflexible

You have a unique home, and you’re looking for a unique buyer. Chances are that buyer will have special needs and concerns. The most likely buyer will probably need to sell a current home to buy yours. Flexible terms, possibly including some extra time to settle on the old home, will help sell your home quickly at the right price.

Thinking of selling within the next 6 months? Call us to help get you started.  910-202-3607 or kaybaker@ec.rr.com

Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has come out strong for the start of 2011 in real estate sales.  We have sold 243 homes since January 1, 2011, with the closet competitor having sold 108 homes at 9.38% of the market.  Sea Coast holds 21.09 % of the market out of 57 of the top firms in the area.  Currently we have 168 properties under contract at  23.66% of the market.  The next competitor has 83 properties under contract with 11.69% of the market.  Pretty impressive numbers. Extensive training and courses are offered at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast, thus giving us an edge to sell your home, or purchase a new one.  Knowledge and experience makes the difference.  Call us today. Kay Baker & Associates

This time of year everyone is in a hurry trying to get all the shopping done, homes decorated and cards in the mail.  Take a minute to slow down.  Think of others and ask yourselves what you could do for someone else that might help them out at this time of year.  There are many organizations that need help, especially during the holidays. The feeling you get when you help someone else is the best present you could ever receive. So, here are just a few of the organizations that would love to hear from you.

Get involved in Wilmington volunteering!

• North Carolina Food pantries and Soup kitchens Wilmington Groups and Organizations
• Angel Food Ministries
• American Legion post locator
• American Red Cross – Local Chapter
• Chambers of Commerce in North Carolina
• Habitat for Humanity – Local Affiliates
• Jaycees
• Kiwanis clubs in North Carolina
• Lions clubs in North Carolina
• Meals-on-Wheels Volunteer
• Rotary clubs in North Carolina
• VA Facilities in North Carolina
• Veterans of Foreign Wars post locator
• Volunteer Opportunities for Wilmington, North Carolina
  • VolunteerMatch.org
  • ServeNet.org
• Non-profit Groups in Wilmington and North Carolina
  • MelissaData – Wilmington Nonprofit Organizations Lookup
  • GuideStar.org Search
  • Foundations in North Carolina
  • Community foundations (by state)

Everyone wants to get the lowest mortgage interest rate when shopping for a Wilmington NC home. The rates have been at high 3′s and low 4′s the last couple of months. Freddie Mac just announced this week after it’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey that the rates for fixed and adjustable have risen again for the third straight week. 30 year rates hover around 4.46% up last week from 4.40%. It is still a great time to purchase a home. The housing prices are at a low, coupled with rates under 5%, it is a win win situation. To search all Wilmington NC real estate, please visit www.cbbaker.com. We have lenders that can give you a current quote and do a pre-qualification to get you started.

Rendering by Creative Illustration Media, INC. LS&P Architects

Wilmington NC is going to get it’s own state of the art  Convention Center.  After waiting for approvals and site plans, an opening date has been set for the Historic Downtown Wilmington Convention Center on the Cape Fear River. 

The grand opening is set for Thursday January 13, 2011 at 9:30 am.  The public is invited and there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony with the mayor and other community leaders.  Following the ceremony, there will be a BizTech Expo with technology and business vendors.  On January 15 a black tie event will be held by the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, with proceeds benefiting the Cape Fear Future initiative.  

A couple of big companies have signed contracts to hold their conventions here for the next couple of years.  This will bring added revenue to Wilmington NC and expose our area and all it’s natural treasures and great Wilmington NC real estate opportunities.  

Please explore our website for the most up to date listings of all Wilmington NC real estate and waterfront properties.  www.cbbaker.com or call us and we will personally select properties that will fit your real estate needs or portfolio.

Kay Baker & Associates is excited to announce our Greater Wilmington NC School Guide.  Your one stop shop for all the information you need on New Hanover County, Pender County and Brunswick County schools.  This innovative digital magazine is the first in the Wilmington NC area.  Useful information is at your fingertips when selecting the best school for you or your child from Kindergarden to Higher College Education, whether it be a public school or private school.  We have it all here for you.  Please take time to visit, and explore the links to each school system.  All the information about registering for schools, what each library has on it’s shelves, special need centers in each school and contact numbers are all put together for you in an easy digital magazine.  There is also a link for Wilmington NC real estate to search for homes in a certain school district.  We want to make your life easy, especially when entertaining a move.  Click here for the Greater Wilmington NC School Guide. Search all Wilmington NC real estate on www.cbbaker.com and let us know if we can help.

1. Beautiful Beaches and Waterways

Wilmington NC is situated on the southeast coast of NC and is bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by the Cape Fear River. The beauty and charm of Wilmington and the surrounding beaches equal or surpass any on the east coast. The many pristine beaches that we have to enjoy such as Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Topsail Beach, Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach are sure to captivate your heart.

2. Boating

The area’s many miles of coastline, rivers and sounds offer a variety of  watersports, boating activities, and quite a few harbors, marinas, and yacht clubs.

3. Fishing

Being located within minutes of one of the most protected inlets on the east coast, Wilmington offers bountiful fishing opportunities within minutes. Masonboro Inlet is located between the Southern tip of Wrightsville Beach and Masonboro Island. Also, the many creeks and bays located off banks channel and the waterways are a fisherman’s dream. You will see them fishing for drum, trout, and  flounder in the fall of the year.

3. Masonboro Island

Masonboro Island is an 8 mile long uninhabited island on the southern North Carolina coast between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach and is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve. Masonboro Island, only accessible by boat, is enjoyed by campers, surfers, anglers, and bird-watchers alike. The reserve consists of about 5000 acres, which about 4400 acres are tidal marsh and mud flats. The most northern end at Masonboro Inlet is the most popular area with its sandy beaches and protected waters. Any summer weekend you will see many boaters and campers prepared for a few days on the beach with tents, grills and water toys in tow.

4. Historic Downtown Wilmington NC

Wilmington is blessed with a beautiful and extensive historic district with magnificent and stately oaks, azaleas and oleanders. 230 blocks of downtown are on the The National Register of Historic Districts. The city embraces a lot of history and is fortunate that so much has been preserved.

5. Wilmington NC Real Estate

I cannot speak highly enough about the real estate offered in and around Wilmington NC, from the River to the Sea! Wilmington offers many affordable neighborhoods such as Whitney Pines to move up neighborhoods like Covil Estates with amenities, to luxury gated communities such as Landfall, or golf course neighborhoods like Porters Neck, and waterfront neighborhoods with marinas and boatslips such as Turtle Hall or Shinn Point . The choices are all right here in our great port city of Wilmington NC. Read the rest of this entry

Wilmington NC & New Hanover County School Report for 2008

There was significant improvement in New Hanover County Schools’ student’s performance on the State’s ABC of Public Education for the 2007/2008 academic school year. There were only four elementary schools that did not meet their ABC goals and all of the middle schools met the ABC goals. The public elementary schools that did not were Alderman, Freeman, Gregory, and Murrayville. The only high school that met its ABC goal was Isaac Bear Early College High School. Read the rest of this entry