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Posts

Mar 08th 2011

Sumter Real Estate My Home vs. The House

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Seller Information
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Many sellers struggle with putting their homes on the market.  Homes are a personal thing.  Homes are where we live.  Where we retreat to after a long hard day.  Where our families met up each day to discuss their days and activities. …....SCREECH!  Stop those thoughts!

As a seller of a home in Sumter, you need to think of this property as a HOUSE.  It is bricks, vinyl, mortar, sheet rock and flooring.  A HOUSE has less emotional attachment than a home.  As a Realtor, one of the first things I learned was a property is a HOUSE to the Seller and a HOME to the Buyer.  It is the emotional attachment that is the only difference.  

So as a seller, you are now living a in HOUSE.  Realizing this h...

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Mar 06th 2011

Willard Farms Welcomes Spring to Sumter

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Activities In and Around Sumter
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Last fall, we visited Willard Farms for their pumpkin patch and enjoyed a hay ride and family time walking through the pumpkin patch and learning more about the farm.

Willard Farms MarketWillard Farms is a family run farm that has expanded beyond traditional row crops and is reaching out to consumers in the area to help develop agricultural knowledge in the community.  They are kicking off the spring season with a remodel of the market store.  They have had a new tile floor installed and are moving the candy kettle out of the kitchen and into the store for all to see.  Jamie and Mrs. Willard cook up over 400 different types of fudge!  Along with the traditional flavors, they have a specialties like Southe...

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Feb 24th 2011

Sumter Restaurants: Georgios Sumter

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Activities In and Around Sumter
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Georgio’s is a family run business that offers up great pizza, subs, pasta, salads, casseroles and Parmesan dishes.  I first visited Georgios II on Pinewood Road when I lived and worked on that side of Sumter.  After leaving the area and moving back, I returned to the Pinewood Road location and was told about the Shaw AFB location on Sycamore, which is very close to my home.
 

Georgios Sumter Genoa Salami Sub

Both locations serve the same menu and have dine in and carry out available.  I have never found anything I didn’t like on the menu only favorites, including the Georgio’s Special Sub!  A hot sub that makes my mouth water and is worthy of a show like “What is Your Favorite...” on Food Network. 
Ton...

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Feb 16th 2011

Search the Sumter MLS Like a Realtor®

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information
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Search the Sumter MLS like a Realtor®!  I am so pleased to be able reveal my new website with the enhanced search features.  As a Realtor® in Sumter, I have always been disappointed with the search options available from our MLS on many websites.  I always wanted to offer more to my clients but was never able to find one.  

I have been a skeptic and when AgentOwned offered their Agent-Owners premium websites through Myrsol, I did my research.  I quickly learned the search feature offered what I had wanted to be able to offer my clients for years.  

So please take a look at Search Listings and give it a try.  It is the best around!!!  When looking for Sumter Homes or Sumter Rentals, your ...

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Feb 08th 2011

January 2011 Sumter SC Real Estate Market Report

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Sumter Real Estate Monthly Report
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Market Summary Thru January 31, 2011      
 

Market Statistic

December 2010 

January 2011 

Trend
Median Price of Homes Sold

$142,500

$120,306

+

Average Price of Home Sold

$150,567

 $133,783

+

Least Expensive Home Sold

$6,000

$19,900

+

Most Expensive Home Sold    

$550,000

$318,000

+

Price/ Sq. Ft.

$73.67

 $74.95

+

Average Days of Market (DOM)

197

 150

+

Total Active Inventory

1280

 1356

+

Median Home Size

1735
 1620

-

Median Number of Bedrooms

3

3

 ...

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Feb 01st 2011

Memorial Park Sumter South Carolina

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Activities In and Around Sumter
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Sumter Real Estate Sumter Memorial Park
Tucked back in a city block among historical homes is a nice quiet park in the Historical District of Sumter, SC.  Sumter Memorial Park Sumter HomesThis park is almost a city block and is surround partially with a brick and iron fencing. The park features a 1/3 mile walking trail around it and a large center walk way leading up to covered area.  Sure this has a name but not sure the proper name!
Sumter Memorial Park Sumter SC HomesThere is a nice play area for the kids with a slide area for smaller tots and a larger triple slide for 5 to 12 year olds as the sign says, but I have seen an adult on there!  There are two sets of swings, one with child safety seats and the second with regular swings.
A large open area is great for playin...

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Feb 01st 2011

Venting A Range Hood in Your Sumter Home

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Home Projects and Gardening
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Ever since moving into this house, I have wanted an exhaust hood that actually vented to the outside!  Thanks to my old microwave not heating food the way it should my dream has come true!  

Last Saturday we stopped at our favorite appliance store, Ard’s Appliance.  Ard’s is a local Sumter business who offers great service from the knowledgable owners and son, free delivery, and a wide variety of brands.  We had the microwave in a matter of minutes loaded into the back of the vehicle and were headed home. 

Sunday afternoon was the install day.  I was the helper for the day and was pleased with how easy my husband seemed to make it!  We did the prep work while our daughter napped and then...

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Jan 24th 2011

Paint Meet Crayon

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Seller Information
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Maddie's Artwork on the WallYou know that distinctive sound.  The sound a crayon makes when a child uses it on a hard surface like a door or wall.  A hollow sound, just like the hollow feeling you have in the pit of your stomach. That whirrrr whirrrr sounds to your ears makes my stomach do whirrrr whirrrr flip flops.
Thank goodness for that wonderful invention of washable crayons and markers.  But even with those, not 100% of the color and crayon are removed from some surfaces. 
So thus, as my daughter Madeline has discovered crayons and the walls, so begins my search for ways to remove crayons from paint.  I found a great list of 21 Ways to Remove Wax Crayons from Tipnut.com.
 
In my house my first...

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Jan 21st 2011

House Hunting Priorities

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information

House Hunting Priorties Sumter Real Estate

Last week as I thinking about real estate and what buyers are looking for, I watched my daughter as she moved around the living room.  She was huddled up against the wall, then slowly moved out and I realized she was playing a game she has since a tiny baby.  She was making shadows and playing the sun.  

Since I was thinking about real estate, I thought if we stripped away all our adult thoughts and notions what would we really want in a home?  I know for my daughter it would be windows that let the morning sun shine in with some moderation.  After all if the room is filled with too much sunlight, how can one make shadows?  

For Maddie, this would mean exactly the house we have.  With sid...

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Jan 07th 2011

December 2010 Sumter Real Estate Market Report

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Sumter Real Estate Monthly Report
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Market Summary Thru December 31, 2010
 

Market Statistic

November 2010

December 2010 

Trend
Median Price of Homes Sold

$132,450

$142,500

+

Average Price of Home Sold

$136,259

 $150,567

+

Least Expensive Home Sold

$5,000

$6,000

+

Most Expensive Home Sold    

$329,000

$550,000

+

Price/ Sq. Ft.

$71.55

 $73.67

+

Average Days of Market (DOM)

156

 197

+

Total Active Inventory

1375

 1280

-

Median Home Size

1707
 1735

+

Median Number of Bedrooms

3

3

 

M...


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Jan 06th 2011

November 2010 Sumter Real Estate Market Update

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Sumter Real Estate Monthly Report

Market Summary Thru November 30, 2010
...

Market Statistic

October 2010

November 2010

Trend
Median Price of Homes Sold

mce_markerlt;span style="font-size: small">128,870

$132,450

+

Average Price of Home Sold

mce_markerlt;span style="font-size: small">132,962

$136,259

+

Least Expensive Home Sold

mce_markerlt;span style="font-size: small">15,000

$5,000

-

Most Expensive Home Sold

mce_markerlt;span style="font-size: small">370,000

$329,000

-

Price/ Sq. Ft.

mce_markerlt;span style="font-size: small">68.95

$71.55

+

Average Days of Market (DOM)


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Dec 30th 2010

Why are Rents so High?

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information
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I will be up front with you about this post, it was generated based upon a bad experience of an agent in our office.  She had been showing a possible tenant rentals, when he fly into a tirade in her office about how expensive rentals were when base housing allowance was $X and he needed a larger place because he had a large family. Rent prices in any area comes down to supply and demand.  You remember the concept that was taught in our high school economics class.  It applies to the real estate market for buying and selling properties as well as renting properties. Sumter is experiencing an increase in demand that is higher than the available rentals.  This isn’t uniques to Sumter eithe...

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Dec 30th 2010

Renting in Sumter

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information
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The rental market in Sumter is HOT right now.  Many service members who are being stationed at Shaw are choosing to rent due to their short stay at Shaw.  There are many options available for rentals in the Sumter area.  Rentals include single family homes, duplexes and apartment complexes.
I have been asked many times by renters the procedure and what is required to rent a property.  Through many of the Real Estate Brokerages, a renter must complete a rental application and have a credit report pulled for review.  This normally does include in $35 fee for the credit report.  
Most larger apartment complexes have their own rental offices with their own staffs and real estate ...

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Dec 30th 2010

Thank You Buyer's Agent

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information
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First, I need to thank a real estate agent who will remain anonymous.  This agent had a buyer and sold one of my listings.  I was present for the home inspection as I didn’t know if my seller was going to be home or not.  I followed the home inspector and buyer around the property and listened to the comments and any issues that arose.  Since the buyer and seller were both present I introduced them and they became fast friends.  (Yes, I know this isn’t the normal thing to happen, but it did.)
Then it happened, one day I was working and my phone rang.  It was my seller.  Cool, we were getting close to closing on the property and needed to discuss that last few details.  To my surpr...

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Dec 30th 2010

Why I like Sumter

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Activities In and Around Sumter
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Why I like living in Sumter.....

Every town has its good and bad points. I have lived in enough towns to know that. But last week it really hit me about what I like about living in Sumter. We always talk about how Sumter has some of the box stores and restaurants of the larger towns, but still maintains that small town feel.  

This was proven to me again by an afternoon of being out with my daughter. Before I even left the house, there was a police car at the end of the driveway. I was putting Maddie into her car seat and saw it pull up out of the corner of my eye. I turned and looked and the young officer greeted me. Then he said “You don’t remember me?” Then it dawned on me it ...


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Dec 30th 2010

Riverbanks Zoo

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Activities In and Around Sumter
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Activities in and around SumterWith family visiting, we decided to take a trip to the zoo in Columbia, SC. From Sumter, this zoo is about a 40 minute drive. For a quick trip with the family, it is a true treasure that is quickly reached and affordable. While having plenty of attractions, it is easy to get around the zoo in a few hours when you have small children.
Toucan Riverbanks ZooI think the best part of the visit for us was when the penguins were waiting to be fed. They get very active and swim across the entire pool area. For us, the biggest joy was watching our daughter Maddie’s reaction. She was so excited she was shaking with excitement and laughing! Pure joy to a parents’ ears.
Though Riverbanks may not compare to o...

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Dec 30th 2010

Do You Still Qualify for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit?

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information
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The 2010 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit provided an automatic extention for uniformed service members and other Federal Government employees who had been out of the country working from December 31, 2008 through May 1, 2010.  The credit is good for that person or their spouse in the purchase of a primary residence.  The IRS provides information on their web page with the specifics.

 

If you or your spouse were assigned duty out of the country for 90 consecutive days during the time period listed above, you will qualify for the tax credit for an additional year.  The property you are purchasing must be under contract by April 30, 2011.  
 
So for many people in the Sumter area, the t...

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Dec 30th 2010

Home Inspection Repairs

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information
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Repairs from the Home Inspection

After a home inspection is completed, repairs may be needed for items throughout the home.  Any seller, unless selling property "as-is", needs to be prepared to complete repairs on any items required by the Agreement to Buy and Sell Real Estate. 
 
Repairs that are required from an inspection are listed in paragraph 19 of the South Carolina Realtor Association Agreement to Buy and Sell Real Estate.  The agreement specifically states "the cost of all repairs to heating system, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical system to be conveyed, and to make the roof free of leaks, to address environmental concerns and to make the dwelling structurally sound ...

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Dec 30th 2010

Friday Red, White and Blue

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Activities In and Around Sumter
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Friday is Support the Troops day around AgentOwned. Since I started with AgentOwned in December 2007, the tradition has been around. Mama Liz in our Mt. Pleasant office has pushed this tradition with her offices leading the way.
But it is a tradition I try my best to adhear too. Wearing red, white and blue is a small thing we can do to show our support for the men and women who fight for our freedom daily. Freedoms many of us take for granted.
So, THANK YOU to our troops for protecting our freedoms and the sacrifices they make.

Friday is Support the Troops day around AgentOwned. Since I started with AgentOwned in December 2007, the tradition has been around. Mama Liz in our Mt. ...


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Dec 30th 2010

Buyer Agency in Sumter Real Estate

 Posted By: Kim PeasleyParker In:   Buyer Information
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Buyer Agency Buyer Agency is a term used to describe the relationship between a real estate purchaser and a real estate agent.  Every buyer is a customer until a Buyer Agency Agreement is signed.

As a customer, the buyer receives limited services limited to:
Present all offers in a timely manner
Account for money or other property received on your behalf
Provide an explanation of the scope of services to be provided
Be fair and honest and provide accurate information
Disclose any "adverse material facts" about the property of the transaction which are within the licensee's knowledge
As a buyer you have every right to remain a customer.  As a customer,...

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