Team's Blog

We are in a market place that was pretty much bullet proof to the media "doom and gloom" until about October and since we have had a really challenging market. We have tried to encourage our team members with hints on generating leads in creative ways.  

I was just curious if any of you have found any successful advice that you have passed on to your buyer's agents or Realtor partners.....

Wow!  We went to the grand opening for the Windshear facility yesterday and it is a unique project that we were fortunate enough to land in Cabarrus County.   From my understanding not another one like it in the world and is quickly booking at a faster than anticipated rate.  Great for our economy.  Another example of why we need to keep the track here and appreciate what racing does for our economy in Cabarrus County!  "Start Your Engines!"

        Hearing the diagnosis can be overwhelming. Mother, sister, daughter, friend. . . each of us knows someone who has had breast cancer. And with the diagnosis comes decisions that need to be made - related to work, family, and the course of treatment for the breast cancer itself.

As the most prevalent type of cancer in the country, one out of eight women will develop breast cancer by the age of 85. However, early detection can save lives. Unfortunately, women in Cabarrus and the surrounding counties are not scheduling mammograms as suggested by their medical providers.
In 2007, only 36 percent of the women in our community had a screening mammogram. And as the number of diagnosed cases continues to rise, it is more important now, than ever, that convenient access to the most advanced breast health resources is available.

Mother, sister, daughter, friend. Every woman deserves the chance to work, play and care for her loved ones. The volunteers conducting the NorthEast Foundation Breast Health Campaign and its network of support provided by physicians, nurses, social workers and more, will deliver a superior level of care to the women of our community. I am chairing this $5.5 million campaign and the gifts to the NorthEast Foundation Breast Health Campaign will enhance lives, giving hope to women in our community.   To learn more about the campaign, visit teamhoneycutt.com and click on the pink ribbon. 

Most importantly of all, find out your community's statistics and get involved in making a difference in the lives of others.  The important thing to remember here that the key to surviving breast cancer early detection and mammograms, self breast examinations and an annual breast exam by your health professional all can lead to early direction.  Women....take the time to look after yourselves and men....encourage all of the women in your life to be proactive! 

 As Realtors, we find that when potential home buyers are looking at a home to purchase they are often curious about electric bills. We thought we would share some hints you might want to pass on to your buyers and sellers.

If you're looking to stay cool and save on energy bills this summer, look up. A good ceiling fan, when properly used and maintained, can help keep your cooling and heating costs down throughout the year.

To reap the maximum benefits - in comfort level and savings - it's important to make sure that ceiling fans are properly installed and that you use the right size and model for the room.

Consider ceiling fan blade spans, which range from 29 to 54 inches, and room size, and be sure that the fan is mounted in the middle of the room, at least 7 feet above the floor and 18 inches from the walls. Other performance factors to consider include the motor type and grade (performance, medium or economy), and the blades' pitch and material. The fans with the best blade and motor designs are most efficient and quieter as well. Look for models with the highest air flow efficiency, which is measured by cubic feet per minute per watt (CFM/watt) at each speed.

An Energy Star-rated fan is 50 percent more efficient than a conventional fan and can save $10 or more annually on utility bills. If this doesn't seem like much, consider the additional savings that come from adjusting the thermostat accordingly and keeping air conditioner (or heater) use to a minimum.

Ceiling fans keep people cool, not the spaces they're in, so be sure to turn off the fan when not in a room. In the summer, make sure the fan is moving in a counter-clockwise direction so that it produces the downward windchill effect; in the winter, reverse the direction and use the fan at a low speed to force the warm air near the ceiling up and then down along the walls and floor.

And don't forget about the lights. Most ceiling fans include some kind of light fixture, which is often used as the main light source in a room. Be sure to use an energy-efficient light kit and to turn it off when a room is empty.

Source: www.energystar.gov

Thunderstorms can bring severe consequences to areas like ours here in Concord, N. C. in a matter of minutes. Thunder is the only thing in a thunderstorm that cannot cause damage. Lightning is extremely dangerous and can cause deadly fires. Winds can cause damage the equivalent of a tornado.

Heavy rains can cause flash flooding, which can occur in minutes. Even though you don't live in a flood plain, you need to be aware of flood hazards. Low-lying areas that are harmless in dry weather can fill with storm water run-off and pose a threat to your safety. Approximately 140 people die per year from floods. This is the number one killer from thunderstorms. Hail, which comes in all sizes is another serious problem and causes much damage to cars and homes.

Turbulence often turns into funnel clouds or tornadoes. During our summer season thunderstorms are a very common occurence. Our television and radio systems give us warnings and track thunderstorms to give us information as to the storm in relation to our location. Survival in severe weather depends on knowing what to do.

Go to www.fema.gov/areyouready for more information on how to prepare your family plan for safety and survival.

All of us on Team Honeycutt at Allen Tate Realtors in Concord, N.C. wish you a happy and safe summer.

Opening in late July 2008, the new Windshear facility will once again confirm that Concord, North Carolina is directly in the heart of race country. It is already creating a buzz throughout the region, as it will be the only rolling road testing facility of its kind in the world.

Peter Zierhut, Windshear's manager, sites both the proximity to the airport and the enormous accessibility to the racing industry as the main reasons for choosing Cabarrus County, and more specifically Concord for the location of the facility. It has taken nearly 2 years to complete the 40 million dollar 40,000 square foot facility that sits on 5 acres near the Concord Regional Airport.

Windshear has already been reserved for use by 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup teams and many Formula 1 teams. These teams will be the first major racing programs to use the new rolling road technology that will use a continuous steel belt, one millimeter thick, running beneath the vehicle similar to a treadmill to simulate the road beneath a racecar. This belt can accelerate from 0 to 180mph in less than a minute and can help the teams test by getting a feel of the open road. In laymen's terms it will be the world's first full scale, single belt, rolling road wind tunnel facility.

Windshear sessions will be sold in 10-hour intervals, which will cost Formula 1 and NASCAR Sprint Cup teams up to $40,000 per session. To ensure privacy each testing bay will be separated by concrete walls and each will have its on kitchen area. Depending on their budget, teams may visit Windshear weekly or annually.

Windshear's 40 million dollar pricetag was hardly a bargain but to everyone in the Cabarrus County area it is an investment that was more than worth it. As the racing industry continues to grow Windshear's technology will attract teams to Cabarrus County from all over the World...So please join us at Team Honeycutt in welcoming Concord, NC into the International racing industry!

            Located off of Rocky River road in Cabarrus County, Kensington Forest offers easy access to shopping, schools, restaurants, and endless entertainment options. One of Niblock's newest communities, Kensington Forest will offer 188 new home sites on which to build homes ranging from $380,000 to $500,000. Each lot is wooded and will average around half an acre. The community also offers an easy commute to downtown Charlotte and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport via I-85 making it perfect for the commuting professional and business traveler.

            As for the kids, the community will offer a playground area and a swim club with a junior sized Olympic pool. The current public school placement as of 2008-2009 will be Harrisburg Elementary, C.C. Griffin Middle School, and Hickory Ridge High School.

            Be one of the first to see this new Niblock community, and be ready to enjoy the beauty and friendliness that Harrisburg has to offer!

Everyday we hear stories from Realtors about sellers who already believe that they know what their home is worth before they analyze the local market. Despite the advice of their Realtor, they insist on listing their home at what they think it is worth, and not what it will SELL for! Usually these sellers end up perturbed with their Realtor and re-list with another Broker at a substantially lower price at which the home usually sells.

In today's Real Estate market the answer to this problem is simple: pricing... more specifically correct pricing. The price that a home will be put on the market for is the most important job that a Realtor will do for his or her client. If the Realtor and client both want to survive and thrive in today's market they must analyze the evidence included in recent sales around the area and set the price of the listing accordingly.

            Do your homework! Educate your sellers so they will have the knowledge needed to place their home on the market at a price that will sell. Stop wasting your time with listings that you know won't sell! Today's market is challenging, but is also full of potential for the Realtors who learn and use this lesson!