YO U R H O M E
LISTING
WE ARE Authe ntic . Co mmit ted. Dr iven .
Dan Cottingham (President) and son Daniel Cottingham (Chief Executive Officer & Broker-in-Charge)
A B O U T US Since 1983, Cottingham Chalk has put relationships at the center of real estate. Our strategy is to treat your family like our own — taking the time to get to know you and understanding your needs is essential to our process. We strongly believe in community service. We’re always willing to lend a helping hand — to you and to each other — because we believe the best businesses serve others. Believing in the importance of collaboration and building relationships, our agents know the value of working for a company that promotes authenticity and commitment. With more than three decades of residential real estate experience, Cottingham Chalk has built a team of innovative and passionate agents who can adapt to an ever-changing market to get you the very best results. When it comes to buying or selling a home, we offer sound advice and unwavering support every step of the way.
MA RKET LEADERS Simply the Best Cottingham Chalk consistently outperforms the market. Our agents draw on the collective knowledge and experience of our company. No house or person is the same. We get that. As a boutique firm, we’re able to provide a customized and tailored experience. Simply put, we set the standard for real estate excellence in Charlotte.
Lower Average Days on Market
Higher Sales Price to List Price Ratio
Higher Average Sales Price
Higher Sales Volume per Agent
Higher Average Years of Experience
We Sell Across All Price Ranges
We Are Authentic. We take pride in our agents and the relationships they build with their clients. Cottingham Chalk provides support and education for new and existing agents to ensure they remain knowledgeable about industry trends. We also treat you, our client, with the utmost respect. We know that the decision to buy or sell your home is a deeply personal decision — and we take our role in that process very seriously. We get to know you, understand your needs and treat you like part of our family. We Are Committed. We believe in community and we’re always willing to lend a helping hand — to you and to each other — because the best businesses serve others. We are committed to our agents and their clients and will always do the right thing. We Are Driven. We’re innovative and passionate about what we do, staying up-to-date with market trends and adapting quickly to an ever-changing market so that we can get the very best result for you and your family.
CA RLA SHO BER I am a “native Charlotte girl”, who has lived a few other places, including Washington, DC, and although I enjoyed those other locations, I’ll have to say that Charlotte feels the most like “home”. I attended college at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, and then lived and worked in the Washington, DC area for 5 years, before returning to my southern roots. I then worked as a Manufacturer’s Sales Rep in the Home Furnishings/Gift business with a territory that included Charlotte and the western part of NC for 7 years. I have been married to a Charlotte native for 21 years, and we have 3 children...boy/girl twins who are age 17, and a son who is 13 years old. I have really enjoyed watching all of the changes and growth within our city while raising our family here! REALTOR® / BROKER cshober@cottinghamchalk.com
704.877.6770
I believe that someone’s “home” is a big part of the foundation for who they are, and I am driven to give my clients the “white-glove” service they deserve, whether it be assisting them in finding the home that they’ve been dreaming of, or in putting their current home on the market. I am my client’s advocate every step of the way during this process, with complete follow-through during this process, and beyond the closing.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS & DESIGNATIONS • National Association of Realtors® • North Carolina Association of Realtors® • Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association
PERSONAL INFORMATION • Married, three children • Charity League of Charlotte – Board Member • Sardis Swim Club – Board Member for Membership • East Mecklenburg PTSO – Secretary
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
2 020 TOP P RODUCERS
The Bell Team
Callie Kelly Sales Associate of the Year
The Huneycutt Team
Leigh C. Corso
Sales Team of the Year
Becky McGrath
Lisa Warren
Cindi Hastings Team
Hampton+Long Team
Sara Roche
Lucy Butler
Heather Montgomery
Catherine Cauthen Turner
Tuck Team
John Ogburn
Kristen Pegg
Anja Zimmerman
Chip Jetton
Aaron Davis
Lisa Rupp
Kalie Koivisto
Linda Henley
Ensminger Team
Lindsay Redfern
The Newell Team
Donna Anderson
Katherine Hickman
Reba Hatfield
Vickie Crawford
Rookie of the Year
The Laurie Halt Team
Bertha Walker
Anne Williams
Catherine Houghland
MARKETING PLAN
MA R KET ING SERVICE S Innovative, Award-Winning Marketing Team Successfully marketing a home requires industry know-how, skills, and dedication. With years of experience, the Cottingham Chalk marketing team understands the complexities of marketing a home specific to each of Charlotte’s neighborhoods. We start by identifying our audience, targeting them with effective, timely, and memorable materials. We engage potential buyers with a full-service marketing plan to ultimately sell your home. Our marketing team will assist our agents with the following, making sure your home looks its best and gets in front of as many potential buyers as possible: • Cross reference our firm’s database of buyer clients and prospects with your home • Collaborate with agents who have recently sold a home in your neighborhood or a high-end home • Hire a professional photographer to capture your home • Create a full-color marketing brochure • Create a listing on LuxuryPortfolio.com, showing your home to international buyers • Host a REALTOR® event for Cottingham Chalk REALTORS® and other REALTOR® firms with potential clients interested in buying
Our Resources • Marketing Director and in-house graphic designers • Access to a database of professional real estate photographers and videographers • Relationships with the multitude of top real estate publications in the Charlotte region
• Target relocation clients • Offer showing advice and provide staging recommendations • Clearly communicate pricing changes to seller and all potential buyers • Showcase listings in local advertisements, like the Charlotte Business Journal, Scoop Charlotte, etc. • Feature your home on Cottingham Chalk social media channels • Up-to-date assessments of the market conditions
MA R KETING BASIC S Property Brochure
For Sale Sign
In this customized brochure, we select the best professional photographs of your home and highlight all of the details that make your listing unique. The brochure is also available online at Issuu.com, with easy-to-navigate hyperlinks for potential buyers.
The Cottingham Chalk logo has come to stand for integrity and loyalty over the years, and our For Sale sign signals that you’re working with a trusted partner with deep ties to the community.
FIRST NAME LAST NAME
704.364.1700 704.364.1700
CMLS “Matrix” Database
Cottingham Chalk Website
We regularly add and update all of our listings on the Charlotte Multiple Listing Service Matrix Database (CMLS), where licensed REALTORS® can easily access important information to share with clients.
The Cottingham Chalk website serves to highlight current listings to potential buyers. Your home will be featured on the website, as well as on your listing agent’s personal web page.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Professional Photography & Virtual Tours Cottingham Chalk knows that professional photography is essential to capturing the charm and character of your home, while highlighting architectural details and showing it in the best lighting possible. A well-photographed listing can lead to more showings and online viewings, as research tells us that that 98% of homebuyers who searched for a home on the internet found photos to be among the most useful features. We can also assemble photographs into a video format, giving potential homebuyers the option to do a virtual reality tour of your home.
Matterport 3D Virtual Tours Matterport is a 3D virtual tour platform that allows you to showcase your home virtually in 3D. This allows potential homebuyers to virtually walk through your home and truly feel like they have stepped inside. The Matterport tours are also easily shareable to multiple media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and Instagram and can be added to your online listing.
AD D IT I O NAL MARK ETING Direct Mail With access to an up-to-date database, we target potential buyers with postcards mailed to specific areas or neighborhoods.
Cottingham Chalk Property Tour Our Cottingham Chalk Tour is another place to give your listing great exposure. The tour goes out to a variety of local agencies giving them an opportunity to preview your home.
REALTOR® Events Our REALTOR® events allow us to tap into our network of contacts within the residential real estate industry. These events are great opportunities to introduce your home to other local agents representing potential buyers. Some of the most popular events include REALTOR® Luncheon, REALTOR® Coffee and REALTOR® Wine & Cheese.
Open Houses Typically held on Saturdays and Sundays, open houses showcase your home to potential buyers.
Website Syndication In today’s marketplace, over 93% of homebuyers begin their home search online. In order to increase visibility of your home, we ensure that it is listed on a multitude of the most popular real estate websites, giving it both national and international exposure. In addition to the websites listed below, your home will also be featured on all IDX affiliated third-party websites. The following are a few of the websites where we feature properties:
Additonal Digital Marketing • Social Media marketing • Search Engine Optimization • Paid Search • Email marketing campaigns
Social Media Social media has become a necessary tool to remain competitive in the real estate industry. It allows us to build relationships with the community, share company updates, events, news, and market trends. It’s also become an essential tool for our agents to connect with potential buyers and agents in the surrounding areas. Through various social channels, we offer behind the scenes snapshots, showcase recent listings, and promote property events.
Get behind the scenes, amazing properties & CC events.
If you are looking for a little bit of everything this is the ideal spot for anything CC.
LinkedIn Charlotte information company news & market conditions.
YouTube Home to our virtual tours & company videos.
LO CA L ADVERTISING
Print Advertising Opportunities We advertise with local publications to reach buyers in a variety of neighborhoods. Publications are distributed to ideal clientele that are currently living in or want to live in Charlotte’s most popular areas. You can find our ads in SouthPark Magazine, Charlotte Home Design & Decor Magazine, Myers Park Life, SouthPark Life and Our State Magazine, and more.
the life in
sout hpar k
February 2021
A Publication for and by the residents of Foxcroft, Morrocroft, Carmel Park & Barclay Downs
MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS:
THE RENNES! Your Stories. Your Photos. Your Community.
Photo by Katie Smith Photography
T HE L I STING PROCE SS After 35 successful years in business, we are experts in the Charlotte market. We will walk you through each step with sound advice.
SEL LERS CH ECKLIST INTERIOR GENERAL Walls should be freshly painted (neutral color), free of nail holes, scuff marks and free of any unframed pictures, posters, etc. Floors should be clean and in good condition Carpets should be vacuumed; clean them if needed Clean HVAC registers and grates Clean all windows and doors; Ensure that all open and close easily Make certain there are no food or pet odors Have an aroma that will make a prospective buyer feel at home: fresh bread, cookies, cinnamon on the stove, etc. Make your house as light, airy and spacious as possible For every showing, open drapes, turn on lights, remove pets from home, and set the heat/air at a comfortable temperature KITCHEN Make certain all cabinetry doors and drawers open easily Ensure all kitchen cabinets, countertops & appliances are clean (inside and out) BEDROOM Bedrooms should be straight, clean and free of clutter Remove all clutter from rooms and closets. Clutter will always make a room or even an entire house appear smaller! BATHROOM Repair or replace faulty wall switches, outlets and light fixtures; make certain all light bulbs work! Tighten or repair leaky faucets and/or noisy toilets Bathrooms should be sparkling clean, including tile and grout. Faucets should be polished; bathtubs and showers should be caulked as needed
SEL LERS CH ECKLIST EXTERIOR Remove all debris from yard (rotting lumber, sticks, leaves, and trash) Lawn should be cut and trimmed Spray or remove weeds from driveway, natural areas, patio and sidewalk Trim/prune shrubbery. If you have older shrubs/trees, trim them for a fresher look Apply a fresh layer of mulch/pine needles in natural areas and around trees If you have heavy tree cover, trim to allow additional light Plant flowers, seasonal bulbs; place “welcome” flowerpots at your entrance Power wash exterior, patio, sidewalk and stoop Gutters should be cleaned out; downspouts should be routed away from the house, allowing for proper drainage Put a new door mat at the front door Clean screens, windows and storm windows If necessary, paint exterior. No exposed wood or peeling paint should be visible Replace any deteriorated exterior siding, etc. Repair any loose bricks at porches, stoops, etc. Caulk or mortar any area where there is a gap (brick siding, patio, steps, siding, around chimney, etc.). Remove any wood debris from the crawl space or basement Straighten garage and/or basement
P R OPERT Y MARKE TABILIT Y
Comparative Market Analysis & Pricing We start by conducting a comparative market analysis for a realistic guide to estimate the best price obtainable in the current market. Our goal is to price your property realistically and competitively, without overpricing, so you can benefit from interest among buyers in the shortest time possible. We make sure to consider the competition, housing market conditions, and current supply of buyers to list your home at a price that challenges the competition, attracts attention, and ultimately generates activity.
Interior & Exterior Presentation We’ll help you prepare the interior and exterior of your home, showcasing the unique features and architecture that will attract buyers. We have a long list of trusted painters, landscapers, and vendors than can get your home ready for viewings.
Marketing Plan We’ll also compile a unique marketing plan to broaden your listing’s reach to potential buyers. Our plan includes print and digital channels that are frequently used by potential buyers.
External Factors We believe it’s important to educate our clients about the external factors that may affect the success of a listing. They include: Physical Features Location, size and acreage, floor plan, architectural style
Market Conditions Interest rates, financing availability, buyer demand
The Competition Number of similar properties for sale, competitor pricing, financing, location and physical condition
O U R UNI QUE PROCE SS At Cottingham Chalk, we are honored to work with our clients throughout the buying and selling process. When it comes to choosing the perfect real estate agent, we understand the importance and commitment it takes to ensure client satisfaction and we will always go the extra mile. Client Focused Cottingham Chalk agents always put their clients first. Our agents always have our clients best interests at heart and will support them with integrity and dedication throughout the home buying or selling process.
Marketing Experts Our agents are not only experts on the Charlotte market, but they are also marketing connoisseurs. Working with industry communication materials and technology they will market your home efficiently and expertly. Cottingham Chalk agents also have a full time staff on hand that offers additional support and marketing strategy.
Access to Technology We provide our agents with access to the most innovative technology available. • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) • Digital Brochures • Virtual Tours • On Site IT Support
• Electronic Docusign and Zip Forms Technology • Showing Time Digital Scheduling
SHOW INGTIME Sellers love ShowingTime because it’s simple to stay informed and easy to confirm appointments. Sellers can be notified of showings automatically, see feedback from potential buyers and view all activity on their home during the sales process!
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TEXT MESSAGE AND EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS Don’t have time to make or take a phone call? That’s OK! Electronic notifications are perfect for the busy homeowner. Easily confirm, decline or reschedule showings by text message or email. Don’t need to confirm appointments but want to be notified of all showings? That’s OK too! Sellers can be notified of just confirmed or canceled showing appointments by text message and/or email.
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HOMEOWNER’S LISTING ACTIVITY WEBSITE Every email notification includes a “Quick Link” that takes sellers directly to their personalized “Listing Activity Website”. Here sellers can see all activity documented for their home such as showings, feedback and more! No need to remember a username and password, simply click the “Quick Link” provided within the email notification and you’re in!
SHOWING FEEDBACK UPDATES Wondering what buyers and Showing Agents thought about your home? Not anymore! Then your agent receives new feedback remarks from a recent showing, that feedback can also be sent to you via email. This helps give homeowners complete insight on all showings!
8AM - 11PM EST DAILY | 800.SHOWING (800.746.9464) | SHOWINGS@SHOWINGTIME.COM
STAGI NG FOR ALL 5 SENSE S As you prepare your home for sale, keep in mind that there is more to the process than meets the eye. While we rely almost solely on sight in our daily lives and particularly as we shop for homes, sometimes it’s the subtle engagement of our other senses that make the biggest difference.
Importance of Engaging All 5 Senses: • Appeal to smell with fresh, subtle scents like flowers, plants, mild cleaning products, and candles that do not overpower. Smells from animals, damp spaces, or excessive cooking can be a major turnoff. • Silence is uncomfortable, especially in an unfamiliar house. Make sure there is some form of white noise – the fan on the HVAC system, light music, or even some open windows if it’s nice out. • Be sure the temperature is comfortable so people want to stay for a while, especially in summer and winter. Also, an inviting, relaxing place to sit can allow buyers time to take a load off and bond with a home. • Having small snacks available can be a welcomed pick-me-up for people, especially when they are touring many homes. And you can never go wrong with chocolate.
• People’s eyes draw them to a house before anything else, so a neutral, decluttered, beautifully staged home is a must. Personal photos are generally a no-no, but a few that showcase a desirable lifestyle can help buyers connect with a home.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GUIDE YOU
CARLA SHOBER REALTOR ® / Broker 704.877.6770 cshober@cottinghamchalk.com
COTTINGHAMCHALK.COM/CARLA-SHOBER