Murfreesboro TN Homes

This isn't my usual blog but I felt I needed to write something.  Six weeks ago I was finishing up my morning devotion and writing in my gratitude journal how grateful i was for my four amazing children when my phone rang.  The call was not about real estate as I had expected.  It was a call that has changed my life forever and made me realize how fragile our  lives are.  

My beautiful daughter Ashlee hit black ice driving to work and her car was thrown into a tree.  She was life flighted to the trauma center at Vanderbilt with extensive injuries.  In the blink of an eye everything I had thought was important for the day, week and even months ahead changed.  The drive to the hospital was the longest drive of my life.  I had no idea if I would arrive to be told my daughter was dead or alive but I knew it was going to be serious no matter what.  When I finally arrived at the hospital we received frightening and very sad news.  My precious daughter was unconscious with life threatening injuries.  She has a broken neck, back, pelvis, shoulder, collar bones, ribs, wrist and arms, two collapsed lungs, shattered kidney, lacerated liver, and brain bruising.  But she was alive!

The condition on the car makes it impossible to believe anyone survived that crash.  In addition to being crushed, it was soaked in gasoline but did not catch fire.  It is remarkable that her body absorbed such trauma and was in a car with glass and metal flying everywhere but received NOT one cut to her beautiful face.  Angels surely were around her during the horrible crash.  Ashlee is our miracle.

After being unresponsive for days that stretched into weeks, she is now awake!  We have rejoiced over her blinking her eyes and following intermittent commands.  We were beyond excited when she puckered her lips for a kiss one day when I told her how much I loved her.  We have had heart wrenching days of wondering when and if she would regain consciousness and many sleepless nights being kept awake by the sound of the ventilator.

But Ashlee is a true miracle and a testament to the power of prayer. Ashlee is fully awake and communicates with us extremely well.  She still has a trachetomy tube and a neck collar but her recovery is remarkable.  She has several weeks to go before her broken bones are healed enough for her to begin rehab to walk again.  But she WILL walk!  God surely has a plan for her to have spared her from such a tramatic wreck and also speed her recovery like he has.  As horrible as this has been I still believe God is good and has a great plan for Ashlee.  Whenever God brings us to something he will always help us through it.  

My real estate career has been temporarily on hold as I have shifted into being a full time mom once again!  We are looking at many months ahead for recovery so i will be working to reach a happy medium of still selling real estate but also caring for my daughter.  I just know that great things are in store for Ashlee and myself!  Please pray for Ashlee's full recovery and strength during what will be a long painful road to get there.  

And be grateful for every minute that you have with your loved ones.  Each day is a gift that most of us take for granted.   

Showing Murfreesboro TN homes to buyers has always been something I really enjoy!  Some agents prefer to focus on listings and work with sellers, but I have always enjoyed working with both.  Working on both sides of the fence lets me see things from both perspectives.  I use this insight when marketing my listings and it helps ensure I do everything possible to get my listings sold!  One of the most important steps to selling your Murfreesboro TN home is to make sure other real estate agents can show it to potential buyera!  If you want to sell your home you have to show your home!

I have been was working with a wonderful couple who will be buying their first home.  This isn’t my first rodeo so I know the drill when it comes to working with first time buyers!  We started the home buying process getting preapproved and establishing a price range and cash needed for closing.  As with most first time home buyers, it was difficult to come up with the exact type of home that they want.  We can discuss style, floor plan, community, developments, and the age of homes over and over.  But, in reality many first time home buyers don’t really know exactly what they want in their first home.  They need to take some time to go look at homes and communities before they are ready to make a decision.   

Before we started our home buying journey, we were able to determine that for many reasons, they wanted new construction.   Their search for a home doesn’t stay within one city and they were flexible with location so that made our search a little more extensive.  We started our search with a list of homes that they had found on the internet.   I am reminded that as a listing agent getting internet exposure for my listings is crucial!  I also added a few homes to the list that I felt were good matches for this couple that they had not seen online.  Once again, I am reminded that as a buyer’s agent I have a responsibility to assist my clients in finding their dream home!  That means doing some homework and footwork on my end!  

Since we were looking at new construction, you would think that showing these homes would be extremely easy!  After all, there shouldn’t be any appointments required, the homes are already “show ready” and there are no pets that need to be removed or home owners that may have plans to work around.  

Our first showings were for homes that were in a development that has a model home.  Even though these homes are located several streets apart and several blocks away from the model home, they are not on sentrilocks or combo locks.  We were required to go to the model home and pick up the keys to each home and then return the keys.  While this was inconvenient, it was really frustrating when we arrived and the model home was CLOSED with a note on the door that the agent was out showing homes!  Once again, I am reminded that as a listing agent I have the responsibility to make my listings easy to show!   

After changing our schedule and working around this change in plans, we went to an area where an independent builder had some new homes listed that were on combination locks.  We were able to view the one home we originally planned to see.  But, as with many new buyers, they also wanted to look at the home next door that wasn’t on our list.  The showing center didn’t have instructions for this home and we were asked to contact the agent.  Luckily, we were able to reach the agent and were able to view this home.  Once again, I am reminded that as a listing agent it is so important to have my listings set-up with the showing service so that they are easy to show!  

We had originally marked off one development from our list of homes to preview.  After being in the area, the couple decided that they did like the community and would like to view these homes.  The MLS sheet indicated that I needed to contact the listing agent for appointments.  I hate to think negatively but I knew before I dialed the number that she would not answer.  I dialed...and got her voice mail!  I left a message and then dialed the office.  The receptionist was very apologetic but had no idea what the combination was to show this home.  We peeked in the windows and the buyers were interested in this home.  After waiting a while with no return phone call, we had to leave and move on to the next homes.  Again, I am reminded that as a listing agent I have a responsibility to my clients to make sure that my listings easy to show!  While it would have been great if we had tried to reach the listing agent the day before and schedule an appointment, in the real world of showing new construction this just doesn’t always happen! 

Finally, we went to a wonderful new home that was available to show anytime that was on an old fashioned combo lock.  We scheduled a showing and got the combination to the lock with no problems.  The problem was that the lock was old and wouldn’t work! We tried and tried to get the lock to release but it was frozen in place.  Again, I am reminded that as a listing agent I have a responsibility to my clients to make sure that my listings are easy to show!  Malfunctions can happen anytime.  But, when you put an ancient combination lock on the home, the odds of it not working are dramatically increased! 

The day ended on a positive note.  The buyer’s viewed enough homes that they decided they are ready to go forward with making an offer on one that they loved.  Who knows if they would have liked one of the homes we were unable to view more than they one they selected.  Once again, I am reminded that as a listing agent I have a responsibility to make sure that my listings are easy to show! 

If you are thinking of selling your Murfreesboro TN home, or are interested in buying Murfreesboro TN real estate, please call me today at 615-566-3789 or email me at sherri@sherriwellborn.com!  I would love to help you buy or sell your next home!

Seems that times are hard for so many people right now.  A negative outlook on the future is becoming the norm in our society.   I too am guilty of whinning about the way things are, or what my "problems" right now.  The true reality is, I am very blessed and so thankful for my family, my clients, my career, and my life!  This blog post was such a wake up call for me that I wanted to share it with you!  Have a GREAT day and be GRATEFUL!  

I’m beginning to wonder if the days of being courteous and professional in our industry are gone.  The market is tough and it has become tougher to close real estate transactions in our competitive market.  So many good agents have given up and gone into other industries.  For those that remain, I have to wonder if this never ending down housing market has caused a permanent change in some agent’s attitude?  

I had a potential offer on a foreclosed home.  I wanted to speak with the listing agent over the weekend to see if they were working any other offers and find out how quickly the bank was responding to offers.  Unfortunately, the agent did not list their cell number anywhere on the listing, the MLS roster, or yard sign.  That’s a sure sign that they do NOT want to be bothered outside of normal office hours.  

So, I waited until this morning and called his office.  Naturally, he was not in as early as ten on a Monday morning, so they directed me to his voice mail where I left a message.  I stated that I had an offer to submit and needed to know the best way to get the offer to him, via fax, email, or in person.  I also stated that I wanted to confirm that he wasn’t working any other offers.  

By 1:00 and no response, I decided to go ahead and get the offer submitted.  I contacted his office and got the fax number.  The offer was faxed and I got a confirmation that the fax was successful.   Then I sent a PDF file to his email address on the MLS roster.  

After I googled his name, I found his cell number on his website that stated he specialized in working with banks and was an REO listing specialist.  Surprisingly enough, he didn’t answer his cell so I left a message that I had already left a message on his office phone and wanted to let him know I had faxed over the offer and sent a PDF file to his email address.  I asked for him to confirm that he got the offer and let me know if I needed to submit the offer to a different number or email. 

By 8:00 PM I still have not gotten a response.   I reluctantly dialed his cell number and amazingly enough he answered!  His tone of voice indicated that he was not very receptive to me calling his cell number in the evening.  When I asked him to confirm that he had received my offer, he asked me what house I was talking about and gave no recollection of knowing my name or that I had called, faxed, and emailed him multiple times today.  When I told him which home, he wanted to know how much the offer was for.  I’m assuming that even though this home has been on the market for over three months that he must have received multiple offers today which was why he was confused and needed to know which offer was mine.  When I stated the amount, he responded with a flat tone and short answer of, “oh yeah, I got it.”   I tried to stay upbeat and asked if he had any idea how long it would take to get a response from the bank.  His reply...”I’m sure it will just be rejected tomorrow.”  Nothing else was said and no additional information, guidance, thank you for your offer, sorry I didn’t get back with you earlier, nothing.  I thanked him for his time and asked him to please let me know even if the bank didn’t counter. 

What happened to the courtesy of returning a phone call about one of your listings?  What happened to the courtesy of confirming that an offer has been received?  What happened to the courtesy of just being polite?  Isn’t the goal to get the listing SOLD?  At this point I get the feeling that he won’t even send our offer to the bank but has decided on his own that it should be rejected.  

Bank owned properties should still be represented by agents adequately.  Whether they are bank owned or individually owned, listing agents should be available to answer questions about their listings!  That means providing a cell number and answering phone calls on the weekends.  In the minimum, it means returning phone calls during the business week!  Lastly, agents submitting offers deserve the courtesy of a phone call or email to confirm that their offer has been received.  

The market may have changed to support more foreclosures and short sales and agents that specialize in these type of properties.  Hopefully, the lack of professionalism and courtesy that I have received from more than one of these type of agents it not the wave of the future.  The housing market and the way agents do business with the large number of REOs and short sales will always change.  But, I sincerely hope that courtesy and professionalism between agents will always remain as a part of this industry and will never go out of style. 

Sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.  The Murfreesboro TN Real Estate Market is trending up and it is the tiny changes that I experience each day that confirm this belief.  There are no sky rocketing home prices or major economic events that has caused the change.  It is the little things that indicate the Murfreesboro real estate market is changing.  We have experienced a down real estate market - for a long, long time.  This has caused many buyers to become professional fence sitters.  But little changes are taking place each day in our market.  Buyers who fail to notice these changes will miss out on the home buying opportunity of a lifetime and may find that life on the fence isn't so grand!

Market reports, statistics, data, data, data...they all show a trend that the Murfreesboro TN homes market is trending up.  The newest reports released from the Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors show that 260 homes were closed during October 2011 in Rutherford County with an average sales price of $172,499.  This is a nice increase compared to October 2010 that indicated Rutherford County had 218 closed home sales with an average sales price of $167,109.  Little changes, but a big impact on buyers who keep waiting and waiting for prices to get lower or seller’s to become more desperate.  The home sales trend is now moving in favor of the sellers!  Some areas are even in a seller’s market because of low inventory!

Sunday I received a call from a gentleman inquiring about a listing they had been interested in for a few weeks but didn’t feel an urgency to make an offer.  Sorry, but that home is now under contract!  The buyers were very disappointed and asked me to please let them know if the contract fell through.  The contract appears solid so it looks like this couple missed out on a great deal and a great home that he said was perfect for them.  They have almost 50% to put down, but just couldn’t make a decision to submit an offer. 

Monday I received a call from an out of town buyer who had been watching a home online for TWO years!  She had just sold her home and will be moving to the area soon and felt like this was the home she would want to make an offer on when she comes to town next week.  Unfortunately, the seller’s received two offers over the weekend!  The Purchase Agreement was made binding on Monday and they accepted a backup offer if the first deal falls through.  Needless to say, the buyer was shocked and very disappointed.  

I had an investor who was interested in a foreclosed listing that had been on the market for some time.  We had looked at the home twice and there was a lot of potential there.  But, like with the other buyers there was this false sense of security that the market was slow and the home will be waiting whenever he decided to make an offer.  That home went pending last week as well. 

The market reports show the Murfreesboro Real Estate market is changing.  The data confirms that Murfreesboro TN homes are selling in larger volume and for higher prices.  But, it’s the little things that make me realize that potential buyers really need to act now!  Real estate in Murfreesboro is selling!  The phone calls that I receive almost daily confirm that our market is changing.

If you are considering selling your Murfreesboro TN home, or would like to buy real estate in Murfreesboro TN or the surrounding areas, please contact me at 615-566-3789.  Visit us online and sign up for the Market Insider report at SellMurfreesboroTNhomes.com!

My elevator speech and video:

There is nothing more important than family and a comfortable home that provides stability and a source of happiness for them.

Hi, I’m Sherri Wellborn with Keller Williams Realty in Murfreesboro TN.  My business is helping families buy houses that will become THEIR homes and selling homes that families have invested in emotionally & financially.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, you need a knowledge realtor who will listen to your needs and and protect YOUR investments.

Let me help you use the proven power of technology to get the results YOU want.   I understand that it takes more than just using technology to have successful real estate closings & satisfied clients!  That’s why I believe in providing good old fashion customer service and am committed to taking care of YOUR family the same way I would my own.  

When its time for your family to move, call Sherri Wellborn with Keller Williams at 615-566-3789.  There IS a Difference!  

The Better Business Bureau is warning Murfreesboro TN home owners and business owners to proceed with caution!  

Homeowners should be wary of “storm chasers” that swarm on vulnerable homeowners after a major storm hits an area.  Some of the individuals knocking on your Murfreesboro TN or Tullahoma TN doors are legitimate businesses offering their services to home owners in need.  But, others are only looking to make a quick buck.  Worst of all, when there are problems down the road with a leaky roof that was improperly installed, the contractor will be long gone with the homeowners insurance claim money in hand. 

Homeowners should be very careful when selecting a contractor to handle storm damage.  Storm damage claims can be very complex and involve many items besides the roof.  MidSouth Construction specializes in storm damage restoration!  They are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A rating!  Their staff includes license general contractors and licensed insurance adjusters. Their home base is in Nashville Tennessee with a new office in Knoxville.  The storm chasers will come and go but MidSouth Construction is here to stay!

If you think your commercial property or home in the Middle Tennessee area has suffered storm damage, contact MidSouth Construction for a FREE roof inspection.  They will work WITH your insurance adjuster to make sure that you are protected and your claim is maximized with your best interest!  

The BBB encourages Murfreesboro TN homeowners to check out any contractor before you hire them!  MidSouth Construction highly agrees and encourages homeowners to check their status with the BBB!  We are proud of our workmanship, work ethics, and reputation!  We understand that homeowners have concerns with so many storm chaser companies knocking.  We want to earn your respect and your business! 

To schedule your FREE no obligation inspection for hail storm damage, contact MidSouth Construction at 615-566-3789!  MidSouth Construction is YOUR BBB accredited LOCAL general contractor!  

If you live in Murfreesboro Tennessee then you are aware that portions of the city were pounded by a major hail storm on October 18, 2011 which resulted in severe damage to a number of Murfreesboro TN homes. 

Hail damage may not be visible to the naked eye but can lead to some major problems later.  If you live in Huntington, Northwoods, The Hamptons, downtown Murfreesboro, Mitchell-Neilson area, or close to Riverdale High School, it is quite possible that you have extensive storm damage to your home.  You may need roof repair or an entire roof replacement completed.  

If you would like a free roof inspection to determine if your home has storm damage and need to file an insurance claim, you should contact a local general contractor who specializes in storm repair.  They will act as your advocate and make sure that your best interests are protected when negotiating with your insurance company.  A qualified contractor will be able to honestly assess the damage and advise you if a claim needs to be filed with your insurance company.  Here are some things to remember when selecting a contractor: 

Hire a local company that specializes in storm damage.  Make sure that they are a legitimate business with an office in the MidSouth area.  There are many storm chasing companies that prey on homeowners after major storms. 

Make sure that they are based in Tennessee with a permanent brick and mortar location in the Nashville area.  Confirm that they manage their business from inside the State of Tennessee and not from some out of state location that only directs activities from a fancy office in another state.  

Last, make sure they are a member of the Better Business Bureau.  This is critical when selecting a general contractor to complete your storm restoration work.  The construction industry is full of individuals who will claim that they will fix your damages.  Few of these individuals stand behind their work and maintain the level of customer satisfaction that is required to be a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. 

Don’t fall victim to the storm chasing companies that claim to be “local” in order to win your business and your insurance claim.  They often fail to follow through with quality workmanship and finalizing the important details!  Your contractor needs to work with your insurance adjuster to make sure that your entire claim is covered!  Your contractor needs to know what to look for when inspecting for hail storm damage.  Many want the quick dollar made in replacing roofs.  But, you also need to inspect your decks and fences, pool covers, mailboxes, gable vents, exterior lights, copper bay windows, box vents, air conditioning units. windows and doors, siding, gutters, downspouts, flashing and facia.  A storm damage claim can be time intensive and complex.  

You need to trust a company that has a solid reputation that will be here with you for the long haul!   Protect your home and protect your investment!  Don’t trust just anyone with your Murfreesboro roof repair and hail storm damage repair needs!  Make sure and trust a local, reputable licensed general contractor and licensed insurance adjuster!

MidSouth Construction is a residential and commercial remodeler based in Nashville that services Middle Tennessee and also has a new office in Knoxville.  Their primary focus is restoration work on homes that have been damaged by passing storms.  They work closely with all major insurance carriers to insurance that you get everything you deserve out of your claim with your insurance provider without all the hassle.  They are members of the Better Business Bureau and their staff includes licensed insurance adjusters, as well as a LEED AP accredited owner for all your GREEN construction needs. 

If you think your Murfreesboro TN home may have hail storm repair needs, contact MidSouth Construction at 615-566-3789 to schedule your FREE roof inspection!  

This is a great post from Janet Jones, a home stager in Hawaii!  She makes it so simple to understand how important furniture placement is when selling your home.  Sometimes buyers just don't like your space and don't really know why.  It may be something as simple as the way you have your furniture arranged!  If you are thinking of buying a Murfreesboro TN home, and would like to discuss staging your home for space, please call me at 615-566-3789!  The Murfreesboro TN real estate market is in recovery!  Now is a great time to buy your first home or get your current home price positioned, staged and SOLD!  You can always visit us online at SherriWellborn.com!

If you are stuck on the fence trying to decide if now is the best time to buy, I have one question for you.  Are you buying a house to live in that will be a home, or are you buying a house as an investment?  While I believe that now is a great time to buy for either scenario, the argument is even stronger for individuals and families serching for a home.

If you are interested in buying a house strictly as an investment, then now may or may not be the best time to purchase a home.  However, many experts are suggesting that real estate is a great investment in today’s retirement plan.  The expected return on a home purchased as an investment today that will be sold in ten years can be greater than the expected return on stocks and bonds.  There is no guarantee on any investment, but real estate investments do look appealing in the current market. 

No one really knows what the future holds for the housing market.  Prices may continue to drop, although I really believe they have hit the bottom and are trending up.    However, even IF prices do drop slightly, this isn’t a huge factor if you are purchasing a home to live in for several years.  Your monthly housing expense will be lower if you purchase a new home over renting a comparable home.  

Our current real estate market is truly historical and is referred to as the Golden Era of Homeownership by the National Association of Realtors.  Home prices have never been more affordable!  There are some GREAT deals on Murfreesboro Tennessee homes for sale right now.  Not only are home prices reflecting historical affordability, the mortgage rates are also at all time lows!  Never before have mortgage rates been as low as they are today.  Add the historically low home prices with the historically low mortgage rates and you have the ultimate opportunity for purchasing a new home.  

Right now the current real estate market in Murfreesboro Tennessee favors buyers.  Potential home buyers have a large selection of homes to choose from.  However, inventory of available homes has dropped and home sales are up.  Less supply and more demand means home prices will trend up.  The market is changing!  

If you are searching for a new Murfreesboro TN home and find one that you like, I encourage you to act now and make an offer!  History tells us that homes will appreciate in value over time.  Home prices have taken a substantial drop in value, but now appear to be stabilized and ready to make a steady upward movement.  By buying now, you will take advantage of a larger selection of homes, lower home prices,  and lock in a low fixed rate mortgage.  And even if home prices dropped slightly in the future, you have still secured a place to call home! 

A comfortable home provides a great source of happiness for you and your family!   

Low home prices, low mortgage rates, AND a tax deduction every year for interest paid on your mortgage!  Those are three great reasons that should encourage you to consider buying a new home now!

When you work with a knowledgeable Realtor who is committed to protecting your investments, much of the stress associated with buying a home can be alleviated.   Don’t let purchasing a new home or investing in real estate scare you!  Work with a Realtor who can show you the market statistics, pricing trends, inventory of homes and rate of absorption.  Use this information to make a wise & financially sound decision.  

It’s always a great time to purchase a house that you love and will call home!  

If you are ready to buy or sell a Murfreesboro TN home, please contact me at 615-566-3789!  Let me help you use the proven power of technology to get the results YOU want!