Columbia (SC) Service Providers

Need a Columbia, SC Doctor, Dentist, Realtor, Insurance Agent?

I work with many relocation clients during the course of each year.  Oftentimes, folks want to know the name of a recommended doctor, dentist, insurance agent, mortgage professional, etc in Columbia, SC.    So, I've created "Mel Coker's Recommended Service Providers."   Click on the link below to view/print in PDF format:

Columbia (SC) Recommended Service Providers
(Realtor, Real Estate Attorney, Doctor, Dentist, HVAC/Heating & Air, Pest Control, Home Inspector, Mortgage Professional, Insurance Agent)





CLICK:  Mel's List of Recommended Service Providers in Columbia, SC

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Vacation Planning: Surfside Beach Vacation Rentals

Time to Plan 2011 Vacations:
Surfside Beach, SC



Barbara at our Surfside Beach Vacation Home

 Barbara and I bought a vacation home last year in Surfside Beach.   We sure enjoy our new vacation spot! 

With this blog, over the next few weeks, I'll have other suggestions for 2011 vacations, including: a great Colorado Dude Ranch and Cancun vacations.  Keep reading my blog, or, in the upper right hand corner of my blog, enter your email address for FREE subscription service to all blog articles.

We previously owned a Hilton Head Island condo that we sucessfully rented with an Internet presence.   That property was just a one bedroom condo.  We sold it last month after enjoying ownership for 14 years.

We purchased the Surfside Beach home late last summer.  Already, we have had several bookings and have more booked for 2011.  If you're looking to book a Beach Vacation home this year, please consider our home rental at Surfside Beach.  Quick Details for our Surfside Beach Vacation Home Rental:  4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms, televisions in each bedroom and family room, bicycles available, close to all of the fun and excitement at Surfside Beach and Myrtle Beach.  Our home is one block from a great beach access and we have a community pool for just 13 homes in the community.

Surfside Beach, SC

Surfside Beach Vacation Rentals Information websites: (rates, availability, more pictures, etc.)

SurfsideBeachSC.us

Rental Info at FlipKey

Ready to book or have questions?  Call Barbara at: (803) 932-2144 or click here to send message.

Another thought... if you are in the market to buy a beach vacation property, I can help.  I know of excellent Realtors at various South Carolina beaches and I can put you in touch with a Realtor to get you started.  One of my Lexington friends bought a condo last year in the Myrtle Beach area last year with my Realtor referral.  Now is the time to buy an investment or vacation property at the beach!

Mel Coker
Columbia's Internet Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 223-6214

Columbia SC Open House: Sunday, January 23rd

OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, January 23, 2010  from 1:00 -  3:00 p.m.
1933 Boyer Drive - Columbia, SC  29204

Directions:  From downtown, Forest Drive to left on Boyer Drive (just before Lizards Thicket)
Your agent host:  Kelle McCarthy

1933 Boyer Drive - Columbia, SC

All brick - 3 bedrooms - 2 bathrooms - very nice condition inside - fenced  backyard - hardwoods in foyer,
family room, formal dining and all bedrooms - sun room - large fenced backyard

GREAT locations - convenient to downtown Columbia, USC, USC Medical School, Fort Jackson

CLICK: Online Virtual Tour

Price:  $145,000

Stop by to see this really nice downtown Columbia area home this Sunday, January 23rd from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Mel Coker
CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES, e-PRO
RE/MAX Metro Associates
Each office is independently owned and operated
(803) 223-6214

QR codes: More information from Mel Coker

A little more QR code information from Mel Coker & A Contest



Mel's QR code (above)

 This is the post where I will present a little more QR code information and invite you to learn and win.   Winning a surprise gift from Mel Coker has never been so easy and educational!   Learn about QR codes and then get your QR reader for your smartphone.  QR codes are coming and I've got 'em for Columbia real estate!

I'm on the leading edge for using these new technology "enhanced bar codes" in marketing my real estate listings for Columbia.   It's a bonus for buyers and sellers.  When you're ready to BUY or SELL and want the most in professionalism and technology, call Mel Coker.  Call (803) 388-8011.

CLICK: View my latest QR code marketing brochure

CLICK:  Scan it!  Bringing Mobile Marketing Technology to Real Estate

Now...  get a QR reader app for your smartphone (like QuickMark for the iPhone) and start scanning.  Scan this image below to earn your free gift from Mel Coker.  Get to the right Internet page and you'll see what you win, what you will be eligible to win and the short list of rules/restrictions.  It's EASY and you'll have fun learning how to scan a QR code!

Scan this QR code
Get Your QR reader app





Mel Coker

Columbia's Technology Realtor (exclusive CyberStars Realtor)

Columbia, SC Real Estate

RE/MAX Metro Associate

Each office is independently owned & operated

(803) 223-6214

QR codes - Columbia, SC Real Estate

QR Codes Used by Mel Coker in Columbia, SC
I first started using QR codes in early 2010 for my real estate marketing.   As far as I can determine, I was the first Realtor in Columbia to use QR code marketing (actually, I don't know of anyone even currently using this).

What is a QR code?
QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) are 2-dimensional bar codes that have actually been around since 1994. They have widely used throughout Japan and in parts of Europe. With the increased adoption of mobile phones, they are increasing in popularity in the United States.

QR Readers:  Search on your mobile device for "QR Reader"

QuickMark

 

To the right is an example of a new QR code I just created with my picture embedded!   Scan it with your mobile device and a QR reader:

Get your QR scanner now.  Next week, I'll post a QR code that directs you to a webpage giving you a FREE surprise (Lexington, Newberry, Saluda, Kershaw and Richland counties only)!

 
Now, here here are QR codes for a NEW Lake Murray waterfront home listing - both home info & Google Map info:



Scan for Mel's Virtual Tour Website
 for 130 Heavens Edge Court



Scan for Home Location on
Google Maps



Finally, the marketing brochure I create highlights home features with QR codes incorporated.  Someone driving by the home, gets my maketing piece from the brochure box, scans with a QR reader on their mobile device, and instantly on their mobile phone have access to complete information about the home!   Cool.

Marketing brochure in PDF format with QR codes

Listing Brochure by Mel Coker
with QR codes

Considering SELLING your home?  Call Mel Coker to get the MOST in creative marketing!

Mel Coker

CRS, ABR, GRI, e-PRO, SRES

Your CyberStars Realtor in Columbia, SC!

RE/MAX Metro Associates

(803) 223-6214

Ready to Move to Columbia, SC?

Columbia, SC...
A Great Place to Live!   Snow really is rare in Columbia (although we had 5-6 inches last Sunday).





Columbia, SC Real Estate

Contact Mel Coker

(803) 388-8011

RE/MAX Metro Associates

All offices are independently owned & operated

Columbia, SC

SNOW today at Lake Murray and in Columbia

A BIG Snow Day in the Greater Columbia area and Lake Murray

Mel Coker at Lake Murray measuring snowfall

Snow started around midnight last night and continued all morning until about mid-day today.    Late this morning, my wife and I went out for some pictures at our home on Lake Murray.  It was beautiful!   I measured the snow and found an accumulation of about 5 inches.   Snow continued to fall for awhile afterwards.  

Snow is almost rare in the Greater Columbia area, so this is a big event: all schools were closed, most government offices closed, many businesses closed and lots of fender benders on the roadways.

ALL Snow Pictures in Picasa web album

SNOW at Lake Murray: Monday, January 10, 2010
(click on picture for larger image size)

Please DRIVE CAREFULLY

in the Greater Columbia area over the next few days. 

Melting snow will freeze to create dangerous driving conditions!

Mel Coker

Columbia & Lake Murray Realtor

RE/MAX Metro Associates

(803) 388-8011

Happy Birthday LAKE MURRAY!

I missed Lake Murray's 80th birthday last year... but, this year the Grand lake is 81 years old in 2011!   Lake Murray is South Carolina's BEST lake!  It's also one of the most recognized lakes in the Southeast.  It's a great place to live, fish or just have fun.




Dreher Shoals Dam at Lake Murray


Just today, I've created a NEW Lake Murray webpage:  Dreher Shoals Dam
Please take a quick look at the interesting information about this engineering marvel and see the cool pictures I've put together.

More Lake Murray information:
Mel Coker's Lake Murray Website
Mel Coker's Lake Murray Blog

Popular Mechanics Magazine: May 1931

Mel Coker
Columbia & Lake Murray Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
(803) 388-8011

Home Buying in Columbia, SC

10 Steps to Home Ownership

Tanya Gann-McCartha of Palmetto South Mortgage has helped me prepare a 10 STEPS TO HOME OWNERSHIP Guide.   Click on this link to preview or print.   Tanya will be able to assist you with all types of mortgages: conventional, FHA, VA, rural housing and more.

CLICK:  10 Steps to Home Ownership



Call Mel Coker:  (803) 388-8011 - Mention 10 Steps!

 When you're ready to buy a home, property or investment property in the Greater Columbia area, contact Mel Coker:
Internet
Telephone:  (803) 388-8011
email

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from Mel Coker in Columbia, South Carolina!

Mel & Barbara at Brookgreen Gardens

2010 was a very good year for me in Columbia real estate sales.  I had 30 closings in 2010.  That's a 30.4% increase from 2009.   Soon, I will post several blog articles on my analysis of real estate activity in the Greater Columbia area.  Watch for these articles soon.

In 2011, I will be promoting NEW home sales.  New homes offer excellent value and builders have become much more competitive with pricing and built-in amenities.   Already for 2011, I have 4 new homes closed or under contract for closing.   Watch for more information coming soon.

In 2011, I will continue to post articles about Columbia area real estate, Lake Murray, home improvement, energy savings ideas, Columbia happenings and much more.   If you want to get my articles as they are posted, please email me and ask for a FREE subscription to my blog and you will get my posts immediately by email.

Barbara and I greatly enjoy vacationing and I will post some articles about our Surfside Beach rental and other vacation ideas, including our favorite destination: Cancun.   Now may be the right time for you to consider buying a beach vacation/rental home.  If so, I know the right contacts, so give me a call.   Congratulations to my buddy, Steve Borden, on the acquisition of his new Myrtle Beach property last year!

My Lake Murray websites are popular with Lake Murray residents, visitors and those interested in Lake Murray real estate.  I will continue to post items of current interest in my Lake Murray blog.
Lake Murray Website
Lake Murray Blog

Please have a safe and healthy New Year.   Call me for any Greater Columbia area real estate need that you may have.

Mel Coker
Columbia, SC Realtor
RE/MAX Metro Associates
All offices are independently owned & operated
(803) 223-6214
email
Internet