A natural high.

The Hilton Head bridge allows all those that cross over a chance to transition.  Some are leaving behind their stress, others are reaching for more time together, while others are simply returning from Home Depot.  One of the best parts about living on an Island is that we have a bridge to remind us of the natural beauty that surrounds us.  Everytime we cross the bridge towards the Island, we get a natural high and are reminded  to slow down in life(and speed) as we hit the pavement.  So what does the bridge mean to its visitors, its residents and to you?

Parachute everything on arrival to the Island!

For Island visitors the bridge offers a chance to leave everything behind and start anew.  It can be seen in every visitors face as they cross over the bridge for more important things in life including time with family, time with nature and time to breathe.  The bridge allows all of us to parachute the things we wish to leave behind as we cross over to Hilton Head Island.

Jumpstart tired batteries!

For the second home owner, the bridge is a jumpstart to their tired batteries.  As this group heads over their bridge, they feel recharged as they head to their place of personal power.  The bridge gives them the chance to think about all the great things they work so hard for.  Crossing over the water triggers memories of all the wonderful things ahead.

The luckiest group of all!

For the full time resident, we are the luckiest group of all.  Sometimes though it takes crossing the bridge to remind us of everyting we have.  Perhaps it should be an “Islander Requirement”  to cross the bridge at least once a week to refresh our reasons for living here.

As you cross over the Hilton Head Island bridge, what are your thoughts?  It is my hope that as you cross over that you feel recharged, that you leave your stress behind and that you breathe a sigh of gratitude.   If you wish to join the luckiest group, email us at islandrealtor@hargray.com .

Hi Robbie,

I just wanted to take a moment to give you a quick update on the current market. We are seeing an unbelievable number of new clients in the last six weeks. People are buying and are excited to be taking advantage of the amazing prices available in our market. Deals are going smoothly and rates are still at record lows on conforming and jumbo mortgages.

The single biggest difference we have noticed is that we are now meeting with clients prior to them shopping for a property. This is working extremely well. The clients know what they can comfortably spend. Their realtor knows the clients are pre-approved and that there is financing available for the price range they are shopping in. We can even help with how the contract needs to be constructed for financing purposes. It basically eliminates unwanted “surprises” that can be deal killers in this environment.

Please encourage your clients to get their financial strategy in order prior to signing a contract. It really helps us be more effective as lenders and helps us get deals closed in a smooth and timely fashion.

We are looking forward to a fantastic 2010!

David

David Crowell
dcrowell@mortgagenetwork.com
Senior Loan Officer
Mortgage Network, Inc.
1000 William Hilton Parkway
Suite 205
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Office: 843-842-4004
Fax: 843-785-6404

Here is a great formula that helps your local community stay local and it is not too difficult.  When was the last time you visited a local studio, attended a gallery hop or spent $50 in a local market or shop.  These shops are the backbone to our tourism industry.  So attend the gallery hop or this weekend enjoy the local shops.  You will make a difference.

Have you heard about the 3/50 Project? 

An amazingly easy formula designed to save the brick and mortar our nation is built on.
 
Here’s how it works:

3:

Pick three locally-owned businesses you’d hate to see disappear, and visit them. Pick up a little something that makes you happy.  You are keeping the shop in business today.

50:

Commit $50 each month to supporting locally-owned businesses, shops or restaurants.  If half of the employed in the US would do that, we’d generate more than $42 billion each year for our local entrepreneurs.

68:

With each $100 we spend in locally-owned businesses, $68 stays within our community.  Big box stores? Only $43.  Internet shopping?  You guessed it… nada. 

It’s that simple.

All companies are not the same on Hilton Head Island. 

Many of the boutique real estate companies are listing companies and not selling companies.  Their company profile is typically 25% sales, 75% listings.  Right now these companies are having difficult times because they carry a lot of inventory.  They typically do not have the ability or people to sell their own inventory and rely on the MLS.  My company and our production is closer to 50/50 with a strong focus on selling.  In fact, that is how we personally finished up 2009.

All salespeople are not the same on Hilton Head Island. 

No one within or outside of our company can provide you a higher level of service, better market exposure and better results than Jane and I.  We are focused, we are positive and we can get agents to make a move.  We also email all agents weekly on your property and push them to stay focused and make a sale (sometimes these agents need a boost to get the job done).

Jane Hyers and Robbie Bunting offer you the following advantages:
• Magnificent Communication
• True Focus
• Better Exposure/Marketing
• Great systems and work philosophies
• Results

The benefits to you include:
• More agents in your villa
• More Potential Buyers
• Shorter Days on the Market
• Faster adjustments to meet market changes

Our unique relationship works  in this changing market. 

We know what we want and we work our very best to achieve it.  I personally have been selling real estate for 25 years with Dunes Marketing Group.  Jane Hyers worked for the Hilton Head MLS for 3 years before we started working together 5 years ago.   We know the agents very well, we know the Island and we know real estate.  Our relationship with Island Realtors is better and we are always pushing ourselves to become better.  We want to create raving fans by helping our buyers and sellers succeed by providing exceptional service.  We look forward to your inquiries.

Palmetto Previews is my companies quarterly publication.  It is mailed to all Palmetto Dunes, Shelter Cove and Leamington Property owners as well agents mail this every quarter to their buyers that live off the Island.  With a distribution of over 35,000 copies we have recently started distributing this publication to the Oceanfront Marriott and the Oceanfront Hilton Hotels.  It is also distributed all through Palmetto Dunes and Shelter Cove in easy take one racks. 

Dunes Marketing Group is the only real estate company in this publication. 

The newspaper style newsletter offers Island events, interesting articles about the Island and real estate information across the Island.  This seasonal guide also offers shopping and dining information for Palmetto Dunes. 

Click here for the FALL/WINTER Palmetto Previews

If you have interest in any of the articles or would like more information on any of the properties please email us at islandrealtor@hargray.com .

All the best~

Robbie Bunting

800-932-3652

P.S.  To search other properties or the MLS on Hilton Head Island +++CLICK HERE+++

Dear Friends, Clients and Fellow Associates~

We asked Cary Griffin of McNair Law Firm to provide a list of communities and their respective transfer fees for buyers, sellers and agents.  Simply click for a readable (and printable) list of these fees below:

                                       Plantation Dues & Transfer Fees 2009

 Please do not take a chance on time…the costs are low for what you get.  Come dance on the beach and enjoy life now!  

All the best,

 
Robbie Bunting &
Jane Hyers

Dear Clients, Friends & Fellow Associates ~

A long time ago, a fellow agent pulled me aside and said, “Robbie, clients really do not care know how much you know, until they know how much you care!”  This has helped shaped my future dealings with all buyers and sellers.  Along the way though I have also learned that buyers and sellers want a few basics before they get down to business.  These basics include competence, confidence and an intent statement.  They become a road map for the sales process to flow smoothly.  +++CLICK HERE to read about freebies, competency and intent!

Here are some other interesting links:

+++CLICK HERE if air conditioning replacement is suggested!

+++CLICK HERE for new remodeling trends for villas and homes!

+++CLICK HERE for pre-packaged golf rounds on Hilton Head!

+++CLICK HERE for five great Open Homes this Sunday!

We are building our business on each success, this is a recommendation written by one of my clients recently:

“Robbie is efficient, personable and effective. Always gets answers, always stays on track, always listens and does whatever is humanly possible to work with your through a project. Highly recommended.”

Enjoy Fall on an Island~~

Robbie Bunting

& Jane Hyers 

robbie@robbiebunting.com

800-932-3652 

P.S.  This is the time of year to think cozy and intimate.  la famiglia is located in Plantation Center behind Santa Fe and offers a great Eggplant Cutlet Parmigiano at lunch.  CLICK HERE+++ for four special offers.

Dear Clients, Friends and Fellow Associates~

Why renovate before you sell your property?  The benefits of remodeling now include making your space more livable with savings that are available today.  I asked Bunting Construction on Hilton Head Island to give us some insight to remodeling.  Although Bunting Construction has built intricate ocean-front homes with artists that paint ceilings, they started their business remodeling older homes in the Sea Pines area.  The company does not settle for middle and simply does things right with a high standard and a fair price.

A note from Scott Bunting of Bunting Construction

Thanks for calling us about the building and remodeling trends on the Island.  We have found that our clients often know what they want and have some very good ideas on how we can help them when it comes to remodeling projects on their homes.  We have been blowing out spaces to create new and exciting environments for them.  We recently completed a remodel on an oceanfront villa in Palmetto Dunes and took this villa to the studs(see our website below) and redefined and improved the space.  

Our recent projects include:  

+ Kitchen Areas – A kitchen is the heart of a home and many of our clients are opening up their kitchen to other areas of their home.  The advantage to this project is we can take this space and make everything open and brighter with the benefit of more space.  We often remove walls and relocate cabinetry to accomplish a better utilization of this space.  Many of our kitchens are also adding new granite countertops, additional counter space, cabinetry, recycling centers, walk in pantries, and island work areas.

+Sun Porches – Bring in the Sun!  Given the cooler temperatures we are experiencing outside, many of our clients are looking to add a screened in porch to their existing home.  We have found that these porches can coexist with side or back areas of the home as they meet set-backs.  We have also been adding some skylights so we do not darken interior spaces that are adjacent to these porches.  As many of our clients wish to use these spaces year round, we have also been adding windows and doors to create a great sun room.

+Master Suites – It is said kitchens and baths can sell a home and many of our clients are looking for more closet space in their existing master bedrooms.  We have found that often we can combine space from other areas including screened porches, offices, closets and hallways to reconfigure the space and provide bigger and better master suites.  Our projects usually include adding linen closets, separate showers, higher vanities, and whirlpool tubs. 

Despite the economy, remodeling is still one of the better and stronger investments anyone can make because you get to enjoy it now. At Bunting Construction we are set to help your clients with these projects.  We work closely with both an interior decorator and designer to make this process seamless and easy.  Our pride is in our craftsmanship. 

If you have something that you would like us to look at give us a call or have your clients contact us directly.  Thank You.

Sincerely,

Scott Bunting
Bunting Construction Company, Inc
sbunting@buntingcompany.com
www.buntingcompany.com
0ffice 843-842-9033  Fax 843-842-9209  Cell: 843-384-7468

If you have Air Conditioning problems, be advised!

After December 31, 2009, new conditioning units and those requiring repairs to any part of the cooling function components(evaporator coils or compressors) will no longer be allowed to use the standard refrigerant fluid, R22. Instead, a new material, 410A, must be utilized. This replacement substance operates at a higher compression rate and temperature than the old standard R22 material and this has caused and the need for an expansion valve to be added to compensate for this characteristic on existing units which previously operated with that old coolant.

We are hearing from a number of homeowners and realtors they are being told by some HVAC companies that they can not work on their existing units at all after 12/31/09 and the whole system has to be replaced where those components described above may require repair / replacement.

This is simply not true and appears to be a sales pitch to oversell unnecessary products in an otherwise slow market for HVAC activity while building activity is off.  As a repair item and one of the aspects licensed home inspectors emphasize their focus on, this has been a “deal killer” according to some of the realtors who have contacted us about this new regulation.

The cost differential could be enormous and we hope this saves you money and your deal.

From an Island that loves AC,

Robbie Bunting and Jane Hyers