Why use a REALTOR in a Real Estate Transaction?

  
All real estate agents ARE NOT the same!

Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84 percent of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.


Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.

Last year, a large independent real estate company in the Greater Columbia area dropped out of the Realtor organization.  With this dubious move, all agents in their company instantly became real estate sales agents rather than professional Realtors.   Obviously this was done as a measure to allow agents that don't sell many homes to "save" money.  Maybe these agents should not be in the real estate field if they cannot afford this one important "expense" to be in the real estate business.  Yes, it does cost individual agents some money to be a member of the National Association of Realtors - but, there are many benefits to the agent and their clients.  First for consumers, an obligation by a Professional Realtor to follow a strict Code of Ethics.   There is more, including: more professional training opportunties, more Internet presence as a benefit for listing marketing, and,  support of important national and local political issues that support homeownership (Washington politicians are always thinking of stupid ideas that will hurt home ownership). 
 
When you work with a Greater Columbia, SC real estate sales agent, make sure that agent is listed as a Professional Realtor at Realtor.com.   Check your "sales agent"  out to be sure they are a Professional Realtor!
 
Mel Coker IS a professional Realtor!  Mel is a member of the National Association of Realtors, South Carolina Association of Realtors and Central Carolina Realtors Association.  Mel Coker believes in ongoing professional education and holds the following important real estate designations:  CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES and e-PRO.
 
 

 
View Mel's Profile at Realtor.com
 
View a website listing Mel's Internet Presence (it is substantial!)
 
 
Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
All offices are independently owned and operated
(803) 388-8011

Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Columbia, SC?

Extreme Makeover Coming to South Carolina

"Move that bus!!!" may be coming to Columbia, SC very soon!

Due to my Internet marketing for Columbia, SC real estate, I've been contacted by the show producers seeking my help in finding someone whose home deserves an Extreme Makeover.   Ty Pennington and his crew have been all across the map and they are ready to drive that famous bus into central South Carolina.

What does it take to be picked for an Extreme Makeover?

We are in search of deserving families and deserving people - people who have amazing strength of character and who put their own needs aside to help others. Whether it’s a mom, a soldier, a teacher, or a fireman, we think deserving families are families who inspire those around them. In addition, the producers are looking for families whose houses need major alterations or repair- homes that present serious problems for the family and affect the family's quality of life.
ACT Quickly! 

The deadline: for nominations is October 14, 2011. BUT Don’t Delay! Please send story submissions as soon as possible!

CLICK HERE for more information


Mel Coker
Columbia SC Real Estate
(803) 223-6214
RE/MAX Metro Associates

Change Your Home Air Filters!

Is it time (or past time) for you to change your home HVAC air filters?   I change mine every 3 months and to keep it easy, I change on these dates: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31st.

I've seen dirty filters like this many times

Changing your home air filters may be the easiest and least inexpensive home maintenance chore that YOU can do yourself.  I see way too many dirty air filters in homes that I show to prospective home buyers (some have not been changed in years).  Changing your filter regularly will help in keeping clean air in your home AND protect your HVAC equipment.

I highly recommend buying premium filters. An electrostatic air filter with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of 11 or higher better protects your inside living environment and your HVAC equipment. A MERV number is used to help compare filters. The MERV efficiency rating is the filters ability to capture specific micron sized particles. A higher MERV rating indicates a better performing filter. A typcial $1 fiberglass filter will have a MERV rating of 1 or so.

Mel changing out a NordicPure Filter - EASY!

I buy premium NordicPure filters directly from the manufacturer and SAVE.  These are about 1/2 the price of similar filters in home improvement stores and are shipped FREE.  I change two filters each quarter in my home, so I buy 12 each time I have to re-order.

CLICK HERE to buy NordicPure filters at discount pricing with FREE shipping
TIP: enter 449600 in coupon code field on your first order and receive one FREE filter (offer may expire)

NordicPure filters arrive 6 to a box

Change your home air filters regularly!

Amazon Kindle Fire

Just Announced Today: Amazon's NEW Kindle FIRE!


Available NOW for pre-order.  Just CLICK HERE:
Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi


Ultra-fast web browsing, movies, apps, games, reading, music and more

Shipping starts November 15th - Orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis.  Order NOW for Christmas gifts!



Read about Amazon Silk web-browsing

  

Mel Coker - Selling White Houses!

OK, there's one White House I can't sell...

Estimated Value $292.5 Million; 132 rooms; large master bedroom; 16 guest rooms; 35 bathrooms; 3 kitchens; 3 elevators; 28 fireplaces; underground bunker and much more on 18 acres

But, I do sell white homes all over Greater Columbia.  See an example below:

Lexington area White Home for sale; 4 bedrooms, 2864 square feet; asking $221,798

Call Mel Coker to buy ANY color home in Greater Columbia.  Call (803) 223-6214

Columbia, SC real estate

Mel Coker

Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-PRO





New Columbia Homeowners!



Ready to sign closing papers - Notice RE/MAX billboard!



Congratulations to the Collins family on closing on their new home in the Columbia area yesterday!   They relocated from Utah and found their Columbia Realtor, Mel Coker, online.  When you are ready to buy in Columbia, SC, be sure to contact Mel Coker.



Signing Closing Papers with Attorney Tom Anderson





Call Mel Coker at (803) 388-8011.

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Real Estate
RE/MAX Metro Associates

Mel Knows Columbia Real Estate

I saw this t-shirt in Cancun, Mexico week before last... of course, I had to buy it.
CLICK for my Animoto Video for our vacation

But, I do know something about Columbia (SC) real estate, AND, Lake Murray, Irmo, Chapin, Lexington and Northeast Columbia.  When you need to relocate and buy in the Greater Columbia area, call Mel Coker.

Mel Coker
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 388-8011
Columbia Real Estate

Home Ownership

More pictures and video from the National Association of Realtors Home Ownership Matters Bus Rally at the South Carolina Association of Realtors office in Columbia on Monday, September 19th.

Your vote matters next November 2012 - Congress is looking to reduce and/or eliminate various provisions of law that will hurt home ownership.   The housing market has suffered long enough.  We do not need more interference from the White House and Congress.  The housing recovery is KEY to an economic recovery.

Mel Coker attends the NAR Home Ownership Bus Rally in Columbia, SC on September 19th