The Julissa Jumper Real Estate Team

Haymount NC Real Estate – Weekends Were Made for Strolling thru Downtown

jumperdj — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:46:57 +0000

Many people moving into Fayetteville, NC choose to buy their homes in the very popular Haymount neighborhood, and nearby neighborhoods like VanStory Hills and Murray Hills.

There are so many great reasons they do:

Location, location, location – Haymount is ideally situated. Commute times are short and Fayetteville’s most popular activities are very close-by.
The Terry Sanford School District is popular with folks with school-aged children, and Terry Sanford is the school district that services the Haymount, VanStory and Murray Hills neighborhoods.
Home values continue to appreciate over time, even in today’s market.
These are Fayetteville’s “established” neighborhoods with many homes built in the mid-1900′s and later, and they have all the charm (and sometimes the challenges!) of older homes.

And, finally, did I mention LOCATION?

There are plenty of great neighborhoods in which to live in the Fayetteville area, but one of the charms for me and my family (we chose to buy a home in VanStory Hills) is that on a lazy weekend, when you just want to enjoy each other’s company, it’s a short 5 minute drive to Downtown Fayetteville.

We love to stroll thru Downtown, sit by a fountain, look in the windows of the shops and restaurants, and watch people enjoying their day. And, we always start at one of our favorite digs, The Cupcake Gallery! After a couple of the best cupcakes around, we visit the rest of Downtown. Enjoy the photos:

via activerain.com

The “Best Clients” – The Gift That Keeps on Giving

jumperdj — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:08:36 +0000

There are those small, precious moments that are just priceless.

Well, it would be easy to put a value on them, but that’s not really what it is all about, anyway.

We have what we affectionately refer to as “melt-down” hour in our house. That’s the time of evening when everything is happening at once–dinner is being prepared, dogs are getting fed, children are looking for attention, and we’re all trying to share our day with each other. It’s the busiest time of the day, and as stressful as it can be, it’s also family time, and we love it.

But be warned, and make no mistake about it, getting little Faith fed, bathed and ready for bed is top priority. If you fail to complete that task by the required time, just like a nuclear reactor that gets too hot, you don’t want to be anywhere around! The melt-down is a terrible thing to see…

Last night, during melt-down hour, the phone rang. I was in the middle of making a Chinese stir fry, my husband was trying to feed the baby, and Abuela was chopping vegetables. Like all good real estate agents (probably more like Pavlov’s dogs!) I reached for the phone. “Baby, let it ring,” my husband said. Wise man.

Except it was my Google Voice number, which we use on all our marketing pieces and on my website, and it is programmed to ring on all of our phones–home phone, cell phones. They were all ringing at once, but I really could not stop and answer it.

So, we finished our work and I went to put the baby down. My husband checked the email transcript (I love that about Google Voice) and called me over as soon as I had finished with Faith. This is what every real estate agent loves to see:

“Hi, Julissa, this is ________. I’m calling because the __________s gave me your number. They said you were the best Realtor and we have to find a house by the middle of September and so we need the best Realtor…”

That’s priceless! On so many different levels, that is just the best!

First, after a long, hard, stressful day, it’s just really personally confirming to see something like that. I felt really special.

Also, it’s wonderful that staying in touch with my clients produces the results it is supposed to. And it has. Over 80% of my business comes from friend and client referrals.

But this is the spectacular part. I’m not really the best agent, but these were GREAT clients! They were referred to me and I sold their house when they were starting to believe that it wouldn’t get sold. I did some good marketing on that house, but they did the work. They listened to everything I told them to do, they prepared the house like I asked them to, and it sold in days, instead of lingering on the market like the other homes in their neighborhood. In fact, they had to move in such as hurry that my husband and son had to get a truck and move their furniture for them, as they were out of town and couldn’t complete it before the house closed.

That transaction took place at least 4 years ago. Those clients have referred several other clients to me in the past, and I can’t wait to get to work with these latest ones, helping them buy their new home.

It’s true that giving your clients great customer service is what it is all about, and when you do, your great clients are the gift that keeps on giving.

It’s priceless.

via activerain.com

Posted via email from JuliGrace

Fayetteville NC Real Estate Market Report – August 2010

jumperdj — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:08:44 +0000

The Fayetteville NC real estate market continues to be stable, both in existing home sales and newly constructed home sales. Sales are down from last year and from the height of the market in 2006 in both categories. Still, homes continue to sell and the market is anticipating growth in the year ahead, mostly due to the Base Closure and Realignment Commission activities that will bring several major U.S. Army commands and a large number of government employees into the area.

Click on the image below to read this quarter’s report in full screen:

Fayetteville, NC Real Estate Market Report – August 2010

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There is a large inventory of homes on the market right now. Sellers should be prepared to price their homes aggressively, ensure they are in top condition, and market them effectively to get them sold in a reasonable time frame. Not every house on the market right now will sell! A large number will linger on the sales market, receiving few showings, or be placed on the rental market. Competition is very intense, and existing homes also have strong competition from newly constructed homes.

The new construction sales market is relatively balanced in most price ranges. Builders are offering incentives to buyers, and buyers have shown over the last year that they prefer new homes and the amenities they can find in new construction. That is good for builders, but not for sellers of existing homes.

Some home sellers are able to get results by understanding how to price their home at the front of the market. Understanding the absorption rates for different neighborhoods and for homes similar to theirs allows sellers to know what price will make their home competitive. If you want to know more about absorption rate pricing, or need more information about this report, send me an email or give me a call at (910) 644-0303.

Oh, That Faith

jumperdj — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:52:25 +0000

This little girl has a way of getting into your heart…

Posted via email from JuliGrace

4 Bedroom Home Close to Fort Bragg

jumperdj — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:10:32 +0000

Looking for a 4 bedroom/2 bath home for sale that is close to Fort Bragg and ready to occupy?

Located just minutes from Fort Bragg, literally, this 4 bedroom/2 bath home is in excellent condition and ideally located for anyone who wants to be close to Fort Bragg, but still desires a quiet neighborhood.

This beautiful home is located in Roundtree, a small, out-of-the-way neighborhood that is less than 5 minutes away from either the Yadkin Road or Reilly Road gate to Fort Bragg. The neighborhood features single family homes, built only a few years ago, and offers, not only convenience to Fort Bragg, but to major shopping areas, as well. It is located on Chambercomb Court, a cul-de-sac, so the traffic on the street is limited to those who live there–it is not a “thru” street. Here is a Google map of the location.

Here is a video tour of this wonderful, 4 bedroom home.

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This home was built in 2003, and offers all the amenities one would expect in newer construction. The interior walls have been freshly painted.

Greatroom

It features a large greatroom with wood floor, gas fireplace and sweeping vaulted ceiling. It is a large and open space, ideal for gathering together with friends or family. The dining area and kitchen are a combination space, open and large, with space enough for any sized dining room furniture. The flooring is vinyl and it is new. The kitchen has ample cabinet space for storage, clean and modern appliances, and a large laundry room just off the entrance to the kitchen from the 2 car garage.

Master Bedroom

Want a little built in privacy and quiet? This home has a split floor plan, with the master bedroom suite located on one side of the house and the other 3 bedrooms located on the other. The master bedroom is very large, with space for any bedroom furniture, a walk-in closet, and a full master bath that includes a double vanity, separate shower and a garden tub made for relaxing. The master bedroom floor is wood and the master bath floor is vinyl.

The other 3 bedrooms all offer plenty of room with large closet spaces, too. The second bedroom has a huge arched window and wood floor. Bedrooms 3 and 4 have carpet. These 3 bedrooms share a bath that is large, clean, and has a tub with shower.

The rear of the home is very quiet and private. The deck is large and on the same level as the greatroom. It will comfortably fit an outside furniture set. Stairs lead down to the backyard. The backyard is fully enclosed in a privacy fence and features a quaint brick patio and a small pond with a relaxing, peaceful waterfall. This is an ideal space to sit and relax and enjoy the sun or listen to the water.

This home has so many desirable features and a location that can’t be beat! If you are looking to be close to Fort Bragg, in a location that allows time to come home for lunch or beat traffic on and off post, this clean and bright 4 bedroom home is a great choice!

Call your agent to schedule a showing or call or text Julissa at (910) 644-0303.

For more photos visit the photo gallery.

Click to view this Featured Home™ on REALTOR.com®.

Marketing My Listings – People ARE Watching!

jumperdj — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 13:13:25 +0000

A week or so ago, I listed a home for sale that is located in the Haymount neighborhood, in the Terry Sanford School District. As usual, my team did a wonderful job of photographing and creating a video to market the home. It’s a great home, at a great price, in a much-desired area of town.

Last night, when I was checking my email, I found this from a internet viewer who saw this Featured Home™ on REALTOR.com®:

Email Snip

Now, we all like to get confirmation that we’re doing a good job now and then, especially from someone who has no real reason to comment except that they are impressed.

But, in light of the fact that I’ve recently upgraded my photography and video capabilities, using better equipment and applying some of the techniques I’ve read about on Active Rain and other real estate websites that discuss how to photograph a home for the greatest impact, this comment carries weight with me, confirming that the extra effort we put into marketing a home really does make a difference with the viewing public. More importantly, it really DOES separate our listings from the others!

No amount of photography or write-up can convince a buyer to consider a home that is not well-maintained and is over-priced.

A home that is marketed effectively, on the other hand, is just what is needed to attract buyers to consider a home in today’s market, one where the competition among homes is steep.

When All is Said and Done, Selling Homes is Still about Relationships

jumperdj — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:33:12 +0000

Honestly, I have never felt quite this good about not getting a listing…

This is a short post about a home I did NOT list for sale in Country Club North, one of the neighborhoods in Fayetteville, NC in which I specialize. Country Club North is an established neighborhood of executive-style and single family homes in northwest Fayetteville, very near to Fort Bragg and very close to major shopping areas. Country Club North is a great neighborhood, featuring wide streets with bike lanes, gentle, rolling hills and lots of green spaces. Here is a Google map of the neighborhood.

For a few years, I marketed heavily to Country Club North, and had quite a bit of success there selling some wonderful homes. Recently, after a 2-3 year “sabbatical” in my business in which I had two very curly-headed baby girls, I resumed marketing and listing homes in Country Club North. Thankfully, sellers there remembered me, and I’ve been able to list a few homes.

The market in Country Club North has changed dramatically, however. While the homes there are still desirable, they can take some time to sell, with many remaining on the market for over a year. Competition is stiff among the homes for sale in Country Club North; The pricing and condition of the home must be excellent, and the marketing must be top-notch to generate the exposure that will get homes sold more quickly in the neighborhood.

And, I have been able to generate that kind of exposure for the homes I have listed for sale in Country Club North. My marketing is very heavily internet-based, although I also do direct mail marketing. My marketing has been effective–my listings have always sold more quickly than the absorption rates for the neighborhood.

So, toward the end of last week, I got a call from a seller in Country Club North who wanted to put his home on the market. “I’ve seen some of your stuff, and I thought I’d give you a call,” he explained. We made an appointment to meet on Friday evening, during which I would give him a listing presentation so that he could compare my marketing with other agents he was interviewing. I sent off a pre-listing packet to him, and started preparing for my listing presentation.

Unfortunately, trouble arose, and I had to meet to negotiate some repair issues on a listing that was scheduled to close. Of course, the only time that would work for my client and the buyer’s agent was Friday evening. I contacted the seller in Country Club North, explained the situation, and asked if we could reschedule.

“I definitely respect your priorities,” he said, “and would want the same from my agent.” I felt very good when he said that!

But, he had to leave town for a few days, and asked if I would send him some information, so that when we met on his return, he’d already be well-prepared. “I should be able to make a decision”, he said. “Again, I respect your priorities and work ethic.”

I love people who are so positive! They have a way of making you feel good, and professionally, they are a joy to work with. I was excited about the prospects for this listing, and was already formulating my marketing pieces!

Of course, as you’ve already guessed, the other shoe dropped!

Over the course of the weekend, I sent my clients and contacts in Country Club North some information about homes that were for sale in the neighborhood, and about a gorgeous home with a pool that had come back on the market after being under contract. As that particular home was just a few doors down from his, I sent the information to this seller, because the home would be stiff competition for his. I adjusted my listing presentation to account for this home, and asked the seller when we could meet after he got back into town.

Very kindly and professionally, the seller called me one day this week and explained. “You definitely have the best marketing of any agent I’ve interviewed,” he said. “But, we met with an agent and we just really liked her, and so we’ve decided to list our home with her. We feel very comfortable with her.”

That stung a little bit. I’m always a little disappointed when I don’t get a listing (I can be very competitive!) but I had hoped for this one, because I really like this seller! Still, you know, I feel pretty good about NOT getting it, because I know the agent he selected, I know he is in good hands with a capable agent and a company that has an excellent reputation.

I also know if I had been one of the agents he met with, I would have been the one he chose. But he would not have based his decision solely on my gee-whiz listing presentation.

Selling homes (or any other service business) is still about relationships, about connecting and trusting your agent, much more than it is about marketing.

I wish this seller the best in selling his home (and I’ll surely take any buyers I’m working with in that price range to see it); what a generous and kind person he was!

via activerain.com

Posted via email from JuliGrace

Nicely Updated 3 Bedroom Home in Haymount

jumperdj — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:54:12 +0000

A very nicely updated 3 bedroom/1.5 bath home in Haymount!

Here is a Google map of the location.

Located in the much-desired neighborhood of Haymount, this home is convenient to downtown, the major shopping areas and Fort Bragg. Haymount is a very popular neighborhood in Fayetteville, NC. It is an established neighborhood near the heart of the city. It features mostly single family homes that were built in the first half of the last century, and which have been upgraded to meet today’s needs. Haymount is a pretty neighborhood, with lots of trees and green spaces. It is also located in the Terry Sanford School District, one of the most desired school districts in Fayetteville, NC.

Here is a video tour of this home:

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This home has been well updated. It has very large rooms, unusual for many homes in Haymount, with soaring 9 and 1/2 foot ceilings. The rooms feature gleaming hardwood floors, wide base molding, and crown moldings in the formal rooms. The formal living room has a large picture window overlooking the pretty front yard, a gas fireplace, and access to the screened porch. It opens to the formal dining room, which has enough room for the largest furniture. It features a bay window.

The kitchen has been nicely updated, with modern appliances and plenty of cabinets for storage. The floor is tile.

The bedrooms are all situated of the main hallway, a quite dramatic space. Each room has the same soaring ceilings, wood floors, and plenty of windows. The middle bedroom features a bay window that mirrors the one in the dining room.

The home also has a screened porch, a great place to relax. It is on the front side of the home overlooking the front yard. The front of the home is very pretty, with a green yard and a white picket fence. The backyard is fully enclosed in a privacy fence.

For more photos, visit the photo gallery. Click here to see this Featured Home™ on REALTOR.com®.

via activerain.com

Posted via email from JuliGrace

Getting My Listings to the Top of Google – The Long Tail and Keyword Consistency

jumperdj — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:09:35 +0000

Who was it that first said, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”? Alexander Pope, I think, although others have borrowed it quite a bit.

Nevertheless, it’s very true, in my case

For a long time, I have been marketing all of the homes I have for sale in Fayetteville, NC on the internet, in a variety of different places–the MLS, Realtor.com, KW.com, my blog, Viddler, etc. Each time I would add a new home for sale, I would try to write a description of the home that would appeal to buyers, and would highlight some of the better features of the home. I was very good at making a home sound appealing!

Makes sense, right? Still, in those days, I did not have a well-proven method for getting my listings to rank favorably in Google. All of the homes I had for sale in Fayetteville were pretty much categorized as “Fayetteville NC Real Estate” or “Homes for Sale in Fayetteville NC.” So, despite the great descriptions, the homes I had for sale didn’t always rise to the top of Google. The keyword “Fayetteville NC Real Estate” usually returned a bunch of mega-real estate portals, real estate company sites or newspaper websites on Google. Very generic results for a very generic search term.

Active Rain Real Estate Network

Then I attended an Active Rain Rain Camp session (in Washington, DC) and learned how to do better. While it is true that a large number of internet searchers will type “Fayetteville NC real estate” (or any other generic search term, depending on the topic) into Google, many more will type in a more specific search term, like “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg.” That phenomenon is called “The Long Tail,” and the theory is that about 80% of searchers will type a more specific term while searching. The welcome benefit to me and my sellers is that those buyers tend to be more serious or further along in the home search process. The internet users who are “just looking” are the ones who use the more generic (about 20%) search terms.

Since I first learned about “The Long Tail” and how I could choose keywords that people use when they search Google for information, I’ve written all of my marketing descriptions to reach buyers who are looking for more specific features; such as, “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg,” or “homes for sale in the Terry Sanford School District,” or “homes for sale in Country Club North” (or other popular neighborhoods) here in Fayetteville, NC. Since I’ve done that, the homes I have for sale always rank at, or near, the top of Google when searching by those more specific keywords.

Ah, but it is important to be consistent with the keywords.

"3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg"

This morning, I did a search in Google for “3 bedroom homes close to Fort Bragg.” I wanted to see how my latest listing, a gorgeous 3 bedroom home that is close to Fort Bragg, was performing in the search engines. My results showed that my listing was not on the first page! Although I had other homes for sale close to Fort Bragg that ranked on page 1, this newest listing did not. I had checked only yesterday, and it WAS on page 1, so what gives?

"3 br home close to Fort Bragg"

Keyword consistency is what gives. I re-entered my search as “3 br home close to Fort Bragg” and the results showed my latest listing at the top of Google; in fact, 4 out of 10 results were homes I had for sale.

That little change, “3 bedroom” vs “3 br” made all the difference, and I learned a valuable lesson.

Choose your keywords deliberately and then use them consistently. It makes a difference, and it can be quite dramatic.

In this case, I’ve decided that internet searchers are more likely to use the term “3 bedroom home close to Fort Bragg” instead of the abbreviation “3 br” and so I’ve corrected my posts and descriptions to match the keyword.

It seems that such a little thing shouldn’t make such a big difference, but it does.

And the lesson was amplified to me when I entered “3 bedroom homeS close to Fort Bragg” and got a totally different result!

But that’s a post for another day!

Very Clean 3 Bedroom/2 Bath Home Close to Fort Bragg

jumperdj — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:11:46 +0000

Here is an ideal home for anyone who wants to be close to Fort Bragg, major shopping areas, and restaurants; who desires a home with upgraded features; and who wants it all at an affordable price!

Front View

This very clean and well maintained home is in Middle Creek subdivision. Here is a Google Map of the location. Middle Creek is an established neighborhood of single family homes and it is only a few minutes drive to post or to the mall. It is a very green subdivision; lots of trees and yards. Additionally, for anyone who has school-aged children, the elementary school is located right in the neighborhood.

Here is a video tour of the home:

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This home is very well cared for by the owners and they have done significant upgrades in the last few years. New heat and a/c unit in 2005; new roof, new windows, new water heater, kitchen re-model and new carpets in 2006; tile installed and bathroom remodeled in 2008; and master bath remodeled in 2010. The dishwasher, refrigerator and stove with microwave have all been replaced within the last 4 years.

Greatroom

The home features a very open floor plan. Enter into the foyer which opens into the greatroom. It is a very large room, fully tiled, with a fireplace and doors to the backyard. It is also open to the dining area and the kitchen–a huge gathering place for friends and family. In addition to the newer appliances, the kitchen also has a very large pantry, ample cabinet space for storage and is very clean.

The master bedroom is large enough for a king-sized bed and furniture. It has a bath with two vanities, huge shower, his-and-hers walk-in closets and plenty of storage for linens.The other two bedrooms are full sized with plenty of closet space. They share the second bath which is located between the two on the opposing wall. It is a full bath, including tub with shower.

This great home also has a two-car garage and the backyard is fenced.

To see more photos of the home, visit the photo gallery. Click here to see this Featured Home™ on Realtor.com®.