About Us
Who
We’re the people you want at your side. Friends at heart. Professionals in practice and mind. We train our agents to be the best. Then we back them up with a world-class team.
Every agent of ours must meet a certain experience level and criteria to join us.
Where
Charlotte. The Queen City. Our first love. Our home.
2330 Randolph Road Charlotte, NC 28207
dickensmitchener.com 704.342.1000
As agents, we know this city’s neighborhoods like our closest circle of friends. We tend to this relationship as much as we do our connections to you. Place matters. Knowledge counts.
How
Agents who help more people end up better at their jobs. It’s like going to the gym — the more you go, the better your results. This is why we only have full-time, fully committed agents. We train them constantly on the changing market, new tech, negotiation strategies and people skills.
We get to work with top-of-the-line agents. You get what you want, wrapped in the best possible experience.
hello neighbor!
About Me
• Jeff is a native North Carolinian, born and raised just north of Charlotte in Troutman.
• After earning a degree in marketing from Western Carolina University, he lived in St. Louis, MO, and Birmingham, AL for work opportunities.
• He settled down in Charlotte more than 15 years ago and has become a true expert on all the development and happenings in the area.
• Jeff currently lives in the Cotswold neighborhood.
Fun Facts
205-276-6488
jmurdock@dickensmitchener.com
Milestones & Memberships
• Canopy Multiple Listing Services
• Canopy REALTOR® Association
• National Association of REALTORS®
• North Carolina Association of REALTORS®
• South Carolina Association of REALTORS®
• Strategic Pricing Specialist (SPS)
• Certified in the Kaizen Method of Problem Solving
• Communications Advisory Group Executive Committee - Canopy REALTOR® Association/Canopy
Multiple Listing Services, Inc.
• REALTOR® Care Day Core Committee
• Dickens Mitchener Top Producer 2013-2023
• He has a Facebook page dedicated to Charlotte’s latest news, developments, and restaurant reviews.
• In his free time, Jeff loves to explore the city and as a selfproclaimed foodie, he enjoys trying new restaurants.
• He also enjoys spending time outside, gardening and landscaping.
• REALTOR® Care Day site captain.
• Duke Mansion Gardens & Home Tour volunteer.
• Mad About Modern Mid-Century Modern Home Tour volunteer.
• Various neighborhood HOA committees.
• Homeowners Impact Fund Patron
THE IMPORTANCE OF BUYER REPRESENTATION
YOUR HOME BUYING ADVOCATE AND TRUSTED ADVISOR
Having representation from a Buyer’s Agent is the only way that you can be confident that you have someone looking out for your best interests and allowing you to make informed real estate decisions.
ALIGNMENT WITH A PROFESSIONAL
Our high quality reputation is backed by its membership in Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® an invitation only global community in over 70 countries. Membership is awarded to firms based on rigorous standards for service and performance.
UNPARALLELED MARKET KNOWLEDGE
Our brokerage is rooted in the communities we serve. We possess deep local knowledge, an understanding of local housing regulations and trends to help you make smarter, informed decisions. We bring an authentic “Main Street” perspective to real estate that many of our competitors cannot claim.
NEGOTIATION WITH MARKET EXPERTISE
Understanding your goals, desires and concerns Is fundamental to skillful negotiation, coupled with strong market knowledge and financial acumen. Your Buyer’s Agent will work on your behalf and negotiate the best possible price and terms for your home purchase.
SERVICES TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS
Our services are distinctive, extensive, and personalized for you, as our longstanding reputation was built on consistently delivering high performance to every client. Our strong local culture is well-aligned with your market-specific needs.
A STREAMLINED PROCESS
Your Buyer’s Agent will simplify the process and guide you through the necessary steps making the most efficient use of your time. From your home search and negotiation to contract and closing. These are just some of the steps where your Buyer’s Agent will facilitate.
✓ Market Analysis
✓ Lender Pre-Approval
✓ Offer
✓ Negotiation
✓ Contract Review and Approval
✓ Purchase Agreement Finalized
✓ Home Loan Approval
✓ Inspection/Due Diligence
✓ Apply for Home Insurance
✓ Title Exam
✓ Loan Approval
✓ Prepare Finances and Documents for Closing
The Home Buying Process
Meet With A Real Estate Salesperson
Discuss the type of home you’re looking for, including style, price and location.
The Real Estate Salesperson will review the SC Disclosure of Real Estate Brokerage Relationship and the Exclusive Right to Buy Buyer Agency Agreement with you. You will be asked to sign these agreements to hire our firm to represent you.
Get Pre-Approved
You will need pay stubs, W2s and bank statements. Knowing what you can afford is critical to a succesful home buying experience.
Search For Homes
The fun part! Your agent will schedule showings and help you find the perfect home.
ADVANCED SEARCH: not all real estate websites are the same. Your real estate professional has tools and systems to ensure you see every available home that meets your criteria.
Make An Offer
Your agent will prepare the offer based on the price and terms you choose. At this time we will determine who is paying the buyer agency fee: you the Buyer, the Seller, or a combination of the two.
Negotiating & Contract
Your agent will offer advice on best strategies and negotiate.
Under Contract
You and the seller have agreed to the price and terms.
Due Diligence
You will hire an attorney and inspector. You will order a survey and appraisal.
Preparing For Closing
You will be finalizing your loan, reviewing documents and securing your homeowners insurance policy.
Closing
The transfer of funds and ownership. An attorney typically acts as an independent third party to facilitate the CLOSING.
Under Contract Timeline
CONTRACT
DATE
CLOSING
DATE
Financing
Due Diligence
This is your opportunity to conduct inspections on the property.
Buyer’s Right To Terminate
You may terminate your contract during this period if you aren’t satisfied with the inspection findings. If you terminate, you will be obligated to pay the seller the termination fee agreed to in the contract.
- 100
Due Diligence Ends
After your due diligence ends, you may have several days or weeks before closing (depending on the terms of your contract).
Termite/CL
Apprasial
Under Contract Guide
In order to provide you with the very best service, the following is a guide to let you know what to expect as we move toward closing.
ONCE CONTRACT IS SIGNED & DELIVERED TO YOU
2-3 WEEKS BEFORE CLOSING
Immediately proceed with your loan process & inform me of the lender you’ve chosen
Set file up for closing with an Attorney
Perform inspections & specialized evaluations
Negotiate repairs with Seller
Attorney to perform title search & order a property survey
Lender to order appraisal and other HOA documents
Review any restrictive covenants, bylaws if applicable
Obtain homeowners insurance
Confirm your desire to move forward with the contract
DAY OF CLOSING OR DAY BEFORE CLOSING
Arrange for utilities to be connected or transferred for the day of closing (see Convenience List)
Schedule re-inspection of repair items and obtain proof complete
Determine if you prefer re-inspections or a walk-through and we can schedule those
Schedule final walk-through on the day before closing
Confirm day and time keys will be released to you
Schedule movers & deliveries
Schedule appointment to wire funds to Attorney for closing
Perform a final walk-through of your new home
Receive and review your Closing Disclosure statement
Wire funds to Attorney
All Buyers must bring drivers license to close
AFTER CLOSING
Welcome Home!
Applying For A Loan
Lenders require that you complete several forms for your home loan application. Some of the forms need to be entirely filled out, signed and dated. Others only need to be signed and dated in certain sections.
Below is a list of items that your lender will need from you.
Bank statements for the past 2 months
Pay stubs for past 30 days
Address history for the past 2 years
Employment history for the past 2 years
W2’s/1099 for the past 2 years
Past two years’ federal tax returns
Signed copy of offer to purchase & contract
IF APPLICABLE:
Gift letter (If you are having someone help you with the down payment)
Year-to-date profit and loss statement and balance sheet (if self-employed)
List of any other properties owned
Divorce decree (if applicable)
Complete bankruptcy documents (if you have declared bankruptcy in the last 10 years)
Photo I.D.
Buying Costs & Fees
Below is a list of typical buying costs and definitions. Some charges may not apply to your situation.
Appraisal Fee: $400-$800 varies by loan type and property. Charged by the appraiser for an estimate of the value of the home.
Attorney Fee: $800+ charged by the Closing Attorney providing title search & facilitating closing.
Buyer Agency Fee: This is compensation to our firm for services outlined in the exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement.
Credit Report: $15-$75, obtained through a credit reporting agency to ascertain the Buyer’s debts, payment habits, etc.
Discount Points: If desired to reduce the interest rate, one point is 1% of the loan amount. They are charged by the Lender as a yield on a certain interest rate.
General Home Inspections: $450+, professional evaluation of the condition of the home.
Homeowners Insurance: Usually 14+ months required at closing for first years worth of coverage plus extra for escrow account.
Loan Origination Fee: Usually 1% of the loan amount, charged by the Lender for processing the loan documents and the closing documents.
Prepaid Interest: Interest is charged at closing for the day of closing plus any days left in the month of closing.
Private Mortgage Insurance: Fees differ depending on percentage of down payment. Required to offset foreclosures on loans with less than 20% down.
Recording Fees (Deeds): $25+ charged to record the legal documents that transfer title to the property.
Real Property Taxes: Annual tax bill will be pro-rated at closing.
Structural Inspection: $500+ if required, checks potential structural defects of the house.
Survey: $500+. Provides plat with lot dimensions, easements, encroachments, setbacks.
Termite Letter: $85-$120, required by the Lender to be certain the home is free from wood destroying insects & pests.
Title Insurance: $2/$1000 of sales price. Protects Buyer from loss sustained by back taxes, liens or encumbrances.
HOMEBUYERS: HERE’S WHAT THE NAR SETTLEMENT MEANS FOR YOU
Buying a home is one of the largest financial transactions most people will ever undertake. Agents who are REALTORS® are a trusted source of advice and stand ready to help you navigate your homebuying journey and make the choices that work best for you. NAR’s recent settlement has led to several changes that benefit homebuyers, and we wanted to clearly lay them out for you
Here is what the settlement means for homebuyers:
• You will sign a written agreement with your agent before touring a home.
• Before signing this agreement, you should ensure it reflects the terms you have negotiated with your agent and that you understand exactly what services and value will be provided, and for how much.
• The buyer agreement must include four components concerning compensation:
a. A specific and conspicuous disclosure of the amount or rate of compensation the real estate agent will receive or how this amount will be determined.
b. Compensation that is objective (e.g., $0, X flat fee, X percent, X hourly rate) and not open-ended (e.g., cannot be “buyer broker compensation shall be whatever the amount the seller is offering to the buyer”).
c. A term that prohibits the agent from receiving compensation for brokerage services from any source that exceeds the amount or rate agreed to in the agreement with the buyer; and,
d. A conspicuous statement that broker fees and commissions are fully negotiable and not set by law.
• Written agreements apply to both in-person and live virtual home tours.
• You do not need a written agreement if you are just speaking to an agent at an open house or asking them about their services.
• The seller may agree to offer compensation to your agent. This practice is permitted but the offer cannot be shared on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) MLSs are local marketplaces used by both buyer brokers and listing brokers to share information about properties for sale.
• You can still accept concessions from the seller, such as offers to pay your closing costs.
These practice changes will go into effect August 17
Here is what the settlement doesn’t change:
• Agents who are REALTORS® are here to help you navigate the homebuying process and are ethically obligated to work in your best interest.
• Compensation for your agent remains fully negotiable, and if your agent is a REALTOR®, they must abide by the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and have clear and transparent discussions with you about compensation. When finding an agent to work with, ask questions about compensation and understand what services you are receiving.
• You have choices. Work with your agent to understand the full range of these choices when buying a home, which will help you make the best possible decision for your needs.
More
details about these changes and what they mean can be found at:
facts.realtor
Options of Buyer Agent Compensation
Options of Buyer Agent Compensation
OPTION 1
Buyer pays the total amount agreed upon in paragraph 5 of SCR Form 130, (Exclusive Right to Buy, Buyer Agency Form).
OPTION 2
Listing Brokerage pays Buyers Broker compensation as negotiated through SCR Form 120 (Compensation Agreement).
There are multiple ways for a buyer side brokerage (e.g., buyer agency brokerage, buyer side transaction brokerage) to properly pay and or receive compensation. Here are a few:
OPTION 3
Buyer brokerage compensation is paid through a combination of negotiated compensation on SCR Form 120 (Compensation Agreement) and the remaining amount in paragraph 5 of SCR Form 130(Exclusive Right to Buy, Buyer Agency Form) is paid for by the buyer.
Homebuyer’s Glossary
Appraisal: A written analysis of the estimated value of a property prepared by a qualified Appraiser.
Buyer Agent: Agent who acts solely on the Buyer’s behalf. The Agent has full fudiciary responsibilities, which includes reasonable care, individual loyalty, confidentiality and full disclosure. This means the Agent places the Buyer’s interest above all else.
Buyer Agency Fee: This is compensation to our firm for services outlined in the exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement.
Private Mortgage Insurance: Fees differ depending on percentage of down payment. Required to offset foreclosures on loans with less than 20% down.
Closing: A meeting at which a sale of a property is finalized by the Buyer signing the mortgage documents paying closing cost and transfer of the deed to the property.
Closing Disclosure: A detailed cash accounting of a real estate transaction showing all cash received, all charges and credits made and all cash paid out in the transaction.
Competitive Market Analysis (CMA): A comparison of the prices of recently sold homes that are similar to the home listed in terms of location, style and amenities.
Contingency: A provision in a contract that requires a certain act to be done or a certain event to occur before the contract becomes binding.
Counteroffer: A new offer made in response to an offer received. It has the effect of rejecting the original offer, which cannot be accepted thereafter unless revived by the offeror.
Deed: A document which, when properly executed, conveys title of real property.
Deed of trust: An instrument used to create a mortgage lien by which the Borrower conveys title to a Trustee, who hold it as security for the benefit of the note holder (the Lender).
Disclosure: By law, a Seller of real property must disclose facts that affect the value or desirability of the property. Unless exempt, the Seller completes and signs specific disclosure forms, including the Residential Property Disclosure Statement, to disclose those material facts.
Due Diligence: The due diligence period in a home purchase contract is the time during which the Buyer conducts any and all inspections of the home that she/he chooses.
Due Diligence Fee: This termination fee is paid directly to the Seller in the event Buyer wishes to terminate contract during the Due Diligence period.
Earnest Money Deposit: A deposit made by the potential Buyer to show that he/she is serious about buying the house.
Fixture: An item of personal property that has been converted to real property by being permanently affixed.
Homebuyer’s Glossary
Foreclosure: The legal process by which a Mortgage Lender (Mortgagee) or other lien holder obtains a termination of a Mortgage Borrower (Mortgagor’s) equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law (after following a specific statutory procedure).
Home Inspection: A thorough inspection that evaluates the structural and mechanical condition of a property.
Homeowners Association (HOA): An organized group of homeowners whose members help to regulate and enforce the rules and standards of their respective communities.
HVAC: An acronym for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.
Loan-to-Value Ratio: The relationship between the amount of the mortgage loan and the value of the real estate being pledged as collateral.
Listing Agent: The person(s) who represents the Seller in the real estate
Market Value: The most probable price property will bring in an open market under normal conditions.
Multiple Listing Service (MLS): A marketing organization composed of member Brokers who agree to share their listing agreements with one another in the hope of producing ready, willing and able Buyers for their properties more quickly than they could on their own.
Radon: A naturally occurring inert and radioactive gas formed by the decaying chair of uranium in the earth. It is an odorless, colorless gas and hence, undetectable to the human sense. The particular hazardous chemical can only be detected by correct testing by a professional.
Realtor®: A person who acts as an agent for the sale and purchase of buildings and land; a real estate agent.
Recording: The act of entering or recording documents affecting or conveying interest in real estate in the recorder’s office established in each county. Until it is recorded, a deed or mortgage ordinarily is not effective against subsequent purchasers or mortgages.
Short Sale: A sale of real estate in which the proceeds from selling the property will fall short of the balance of debts secured by liens against the property and the property owner cannot afford to repay the lien’s full amounts, whereby the lien holders agree to release their lien on the real estate and accept less than the amount owed on the debt.
Survey: A drawing or map showing the precise legal boundaries of a property, the location of improvements, easements, rights of way, encroachment and other physical features.
Time is of the essence: A phrase in a contract that requires the performance of a certain act within a stated period of time.
Title Insurance: A policy insuring the owner or mortgagee against loss by reason of defects in the title to a parcel real estate, other than encumbrances, defects and matters specifically excluded by the policy.
877-776-2427
Settling
855-243-8892
855-874-3147
855-243-8892
866-445-5880
Suppliers of water service, sewage, and solid waste removal vary with the counties and municipalities. For details about specific providers that serve your community, contact your municipal or county clerk.
Love it. Forms
Supporting our Community
Own A Home?
OPEN UP POSSIBILITIES FOR OTHERS
THERE’S STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. Never has that been truer than when coming together in the real estate community to combat homelessness.
THE HOMEOWNERS IMPACT FUND, a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit, invites participants who are in the home closing process to make a small donation that adds up to a substantial gift to local organizations working to lift men, women and children out of homelessness. Because when you harness the power of community, you can weather any storm.
HOW IT WORKS
If you’re fortunate enough to have a roof over your head, please consider supporting the Homeowners Impact Fund to help others in need. Funds raised are distributed directly to reputable nonprofit organizations that support individuals and families in finding a path out of homelessness.
Every day, you experience the joy of a place to call home. Every day, more than 3,000 people in the Charlotte area experience homelessness. Every day, more than 580,000 people across the US experience homelessness. Together, we can make a difference.
MAKE AN IMPACT
Become a supporter by following this link: homeowersimpactfund.org/donate For more information, email info@homeowersimpactfund.org
