Blog
May 11

Professional Builder’s 2012 Housing Giants Rankings

Categories: Uncategorized

The Jones Company/Consort Homes is #93! 

Professional Builder’s 2012 Housing Giants Rankings

By Professional Builder Staff May 6, 2012

 

2012 RANK COMPANY 2011 HOUSING REVENUE 2011 CLOSINGS
1 PulteGroup $3,950,743,000 15,275
2 D.R. Horton $3,665,523,000 17,176
3 Lennar Corporation $2,624,785,000 10,845
4 NVR $2,611,195,000 8,487
5 Toll Brothers $1,475,882,000 2,611
6 KB Home $1,305,299,000 5,812
7 Hovnanian Enterprises $1,244,817,000 4,216
8 Standard Pacific Corporation $895,943,773 2,563
9 Ryland Group, The $890,733,000 3,413
10 Meritage Homes Corporation $860,884,000 3,268
11 M.D.C. Holdings $805,164,000 2,762
12 Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company $767,777,718 1,912
13 A.G. Spanos Companies $720,900,000 4,393
14 Beazer Homes $712,721,748 3,249
15 Taylor Morrison $700,000,000 2,327
16 Shea Homes $671,028,000 1,628
17 David Weekley Homes $624,270,000 1,926
18 Highland Homes $591,236,000 1,673
19 Villages of Lake-Sumter, The $554,026,000 2,307
20 M/I Homes $550,850,000 2,278
21 Drees Company, The $513,471,000 1,532
22 Habitat for Humanity International $436,000,000 4,970
23 Perry Homes $371,134,000 1,370
24 Clark Builders Group $365,819,418 3,002
25 MHI $336,000,000 1,221
26 Ashton Woods Homes $323,400,000 1,210
27 GL Homes of Florida $308,071,000 815
28 AvalonBay Communities $297,100,000 1,161
29 Albert D. Seeno Construction/Discovery Builders $269,475,000 554
30 NRP Group, The $267,410,000 2,057
31 William Lyon Homes $238,813,415 674
32 First Texas Homes $232,600,000 878
33 Woodside Homes $215,666,000 888
34 Gehan Homes $196,000,000 952
35 Orleans Homebuilders $194,657,679 538
36 Epcon Communities Franchising $190,326,551 763
37 John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods $187,067,492 386
38 Stanley Martin Homes $186,910,744 380
39 McBride & Son Companies $185,855,851 879
40 Fischer Homes $183,336,000 736
41 Hunt Companies $182,118,964 1,275
42 Embrey Partners $176,643,000 946
43 Darling Homes $176,400,000 409
44 Harkins Builders $164,000,000 1,629
45 Mattamy Homes $155,268,000 616
46 Van Metre Companies $152,601,422 451
47 Polygon Northwest Company $151,680,324 636
48 Wood Partners $149,000,000 856
49 Ivory Homes $140,329,327 486
50 Heartland Homes $138,000,000 402
51 Grand Homes $136,634,996 386
52 The Mungo Companies $131,207,000 764
53 Partners In Building $127,000,000 202
54 Legend Classic Homes $120,809,780 632
55 ICI Homes $116,614,200 372
56 DSLD $115,850,063 687
57 Chesmar Homes $115,727,066 514
58 Beechwood Organization $115,000,000 200
59 Craftmark Group $114,424,159 248
60 Westport Homes $114,000,000 651
61 EYA $113,825,692 179
62 Rausch Coleman Homes $113,764,000 823
63 Fulton Homes Corporation $110,000,000 343
64 Caviness and Cates Communities $109,800,000 624
65 LeCesse Development Corporation $108,350,000 463
66 American West Development $107,364,384 441
67 Neal Communities of Southwest Florida $106,335,785 384
68 Dan Ryan Builders $104,872,232 505
69 H & H Homes $102,469,162 577
70 Haseko Development $100,602,000 165
71 Miller and Smith $100,431,555 243
72 Fortune-Johnson $92,811,000 100
73 Essex Homes Southeast/Premier Homes $91,575,993 395
74 Dominion Homes $87,000,000 478
75 LGI Homes $85,900,000 627
76 West Hills Development Company $85,097,388 238
77 Arthur Rutenberg Homes $82,340,362 145
78 Landon Homes $81,000,000 280
79 Signature Homes $80,967,348 320
80 True Homes $80,000,000 438
81 New Home Company, The $79,700,000 96
82 Centerline Homes $79,056,073 270
83 Corky McMillin Companies, The $78,736,000 439
84 Gentry Homes $77,888,000 157
85 Newmark Homes Houston $77,626,954 256
86 Wayne Homes $77,000,000 375
87 Westin Homes $76,371,004 281
88 Armadillo Construction Co. $74,464,065 419
89 HHHunt Corporation $73,669,217 281
90 American Legend Homes $72,323,400 234
91 Bill Clark Homes $70,583,329 303
92 Century Communities $70,365,000 252
93 Jones Company of TN, The/Consort Homes $70,120,071 224
94 TRI Pointe Homes $68,500,000 104
95 Bloomfield Homes $67,101,702 323
96 Sares-Regis Group $65,845,000 126
97 Jeff Benton Homes $64,689,337 223
98 Lombardo Homes $64,665,000 278
99 Ryan Building Group $64,000,000 218
100 Tilson Home Corporation $62,800,000 303
101 Warmington Group, The $62,316,000 179
102 Ball Homes $62,189,035 300
103 CastleRock Communities $62,000,000 359
104 Grayhawk Homes $61,243,724 303
105 Allen Edwin Homes $61,000,000 368
106 SummerHill Homes $61,000,000 125
107 United-Bilt Homes $59,842,676 436
108 Home Creations $59,760,000 417
109 Oakwood Homes $59,230,460 263
110 MBK Homes $58,429,845 99
111 ForeverHome $57,000,000 207
112 Traton Homes $56,789,712 147
113 Desert View Homes $55,643,350 372
114 Betenbough Homes $55,478,000 334
115 Eagle Construction of Va. $55,126,058 170
116 AV Homes $55,100,000 174
117 Elite Properties of America $54,825,416 163
118 John Mourier Construction $54,000,000 155
119 Keystone Custom Homes $53,055,084 204
120 Buffington Homes $52,900,000 234
121 Hills Communities/Inverness Homes $51,911,400 369
122 Ideal Homes $50,165,533 282
123 Flournoy Construction Company, LLC $49,620,079 3,259
124 Community Builders, The $48,793,805 225
125 Landmark 24 Homes $48,574,112 241
126 Ole South Properties $48,040,585 291
127 Main Street Homes $47,109,843 127
128 S&A Homes $45,967,000 201
129 Charter Homes Building Company $45,849,000 211
130 Eastbrook Homes $45,825,000 200
131 History Maker Homes $45,600,000 315
132 Marlyn Development Corporation $45,000,000 326
133 CBH Homes $44,290,000 316
134 Scott Felder Homes $44,076,000 142
135 Goodall Homes $43,753,030 207
136 WCI Communities $42,550,000 128
137 FNE Holdings $42,544,000 230
138 Jimmy Jacobs Homes $41,931,090 108
139 Olson Company, The $41,757,000 135
140 Sitterle Homes $41,523,500 95
141 Bozzuto Group, The $41,120,000 97
142 Cheldan Homes $41,028,000 263
143 Skogman Homes $40,444,000 169
144 Elliott Homes $40,135,000 125
145 Jagoe Homes $39,600,000 216
146 Gemcraft Homes $39,564,729 151
147 Heritage Building Group $39,555,000 104
148 James Engle Custom Homes $39,000,000 114
149 Sumeer Homes $38,393,033 147
150 Simmons Homes $37,706,000 216
151 Marrano/Marc Equity Corporation $37,518,000 112
152 Sharp Residential $36,932,464 95
153 Regency Homebuilders $36,800,000 186
154 Paul Taylor Homes Limited $36,795,676 76
155 Cornell Homes $36,511,268 129
156 Capital Pacific Homes $36,334,894 113
157 Doster Construction Company $36,214,067 722
158 Stevens Fine Homes $35,442,982 161
159 Style Craft Homes $34,490,000 128
160 Wathen Castanos Hybrid Homes* $34,104,000 177
161 Comstock Home Building Companies $33,562,097 149
162 Magellan Development Group $33,332,000 48
163 Alpha Construction Co. $32,528,000 175
164 Highland Holdings $32,198,200 197
165 Forbes Capretto Homes $32,100,000 59
166 Stylecraft Builders $32,000,000 200
167 KM Homes $31,868,000 98
168 Hans Hagen Homes $31,333,347 177
169 Kaerek Homes $31,250,000 118
170 Epoch Properties $31,000,000 276
171 4 Corners Homes $30,343,630 113
172 SC Bodner Company $30,000,000 360
173 TK Constructors $30,000,000 172
174 Capstone Homes $29,854,039 101
175 Granite Ridge Builders $28,671,013 180
176 Bonterra Builders $28,548,947 108
177 Providence Homes $28,492,556 99
178 Woodland Homes of Huntsville $28,484,504 89
179 Rodrock Homes $28,117,542 84
180 Herman & Kittle Properties $27,596,000 706
181 Bill Beazley Homes $27,481,755 136
182 Pratt & Associates $27,301,034 94
183 Trend Homes $26,995,389 100
184 McCaffrey Group, The $26,816,000 95
185 Payne Family Homes $26,241,042 101
186 Columbia Residential $26,050,000 409
187 Peachtree Residential Properties $26,048,797 54
188 Shugart Enterprises $25,773,555 171
189 Destination Homes $25,730,000 108
190 Wormald Companies, The $25,175,000 68
191 Southern Homes of Polk County $25,000,000 171
192 Homes by Dickerson $25,000,000 64
193 Wynn Construction $24,771,838 139
194 Galaxy Builders $24,600,000 616
195 Spinell Homes $24,461,480 81
196 MJC Companies $23,863,962 130
197 Berks Homes $23,439,145 87
198 Keyland Homes $22,500,000 80
199 T.H. Properties $22,123,000 87
200 Viking Construction $22,000,000 115
201 Boone Homes $21,738,579 43
202 SunRiver St. George Development $21,177,390 55
203 Grand View Builders $20,771,000 121
204 Streetman Homes $20,603,135 73
205 Caruso Homes $20,000,000 48
206 Keystone Group $19,992,300 273
207 Ence Homes $19,371,029 97
208 McKelvey Homes $18,572,148 47
209 Tim Lewis Communities $18,190,000 63
210 Regent Homes $17,994,356 102
211 Westrum Development Company $17,556,903 52
212 Piedmont Residential $17,476,719 92
213 Antares Homes $17,316,827 111
214 Onyx Homes $17,266,000 97
215 Imagine Homes $17,000,000 70
216 McGuinn Homes $16,000,000 106
217 Legacy Homes $16,000,000 76
218 Braselton Homes $14,950,000 75
219 Southern Crafted Homes $14,832,346 54
220 CB JENI Homes $14,589,545 58
221 Legend Homes $14,435,823 46
222 Consolidated Development Group $13,123,000 92
223 Sabal Homes $12,845,462 55
224 Homeway Homes $12,641,900 63
225 Bayway Homes $11,372,000 69
226 SeaGate Homes $11,352,965 58
227 Conaway Homes $11,092,308 68
228 RidgeCrest Properties $10,738,861 43
229 Devon Street Homes $10,541,751 69
230 Cristo Homes $9,904,098 58
231 Builders Group of West Alabama, The $8,865,200 52
232 McBee Homes $8,169,581 34
233 Cimarron Homes $8,071,908 43
234 Reliant Homes $7,477,000 34
235 Impression Homes $6,240,000 48

Source:  http://www.housingzone.com/awards-giants/professional-builders-2012-housing-giants-rankings

Apr 20

Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now

Categories: Uncategorized

The Best Cities To Buy A Home Right Now

 

Buying a home is not a decision to be taken lightly. Personal finance gurus warn against purchasing unless you plan to keep it for a minimum of five years and, since the housing bubble burst, many say it’s best to buy only if it fits your lifestyle – not your investing portfolio.

For first-time home buyers shopping for a permanent, full-time residence, it’s advice to heed. But say you do simply want a place to park some of your hard-earned money, perhaps a fixer-upper you could occupy for a few years or maybe a house you believe you could rent out right away and easily oversee?

You wouldn’t be alone: investment-homes sales jumped 64.5% from 2010 to 2011, with investors making up 27% of all single-family, condo and co-op purchases last year, according to the National Association of Realtors.  And it’s no wonder why. Home affordability is at the highest level ever in the 42 years that NAR has been tracking it. Nationally, home prices are down more than 30% from their 2006 peak. Mortgage rates hover near all-time lows, with 30-year fixed loans just under 4%. And while the 10-year Treasury note yields around 2% and a 1-year CD an even stingier 1% or less, housing investments, specifically homes purchased as rental properties, return a 6.3% yield on average, according to Goldman Sachs.

So you have cash or financing to make a purchase, you’re aware of the responsibilities that come with homeownership, and despite the woes continuing to hinder a full-on housing market recovery, you believe in brick and mortar investments. Now comes the tricky part: where to buy that house.

“A lot of what we read is national but you have to take housing down to the local level and look at the reasons why a market may be turning around, may be a good place to buy,” says Steve Berkowitz, chief executive of Realtor.com, a Campbell, Calif.-based home listing site.

   

10. St. Louis, MO

Median List Price: $159,000 (down 0.5% y-o-y)

Inventory Level: 12,819 homes (down 17% y-o-y)

Median Days On Market: 103 days (down 11% y-o-y)

Price Drop From Peak:14.3%

Unemployment Rate: 8.9%

Source: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mhj45hlfg/10-st-louis-mo/#gallerycontent

Apr 05

St. Louis – One of the BEST American Cities for Business

Categories: Consort Homes, Live Consort, Live Green, New Homes St. Louis, News, St. Louis homebuilder, Uncategorized

As the economy struggles to gain traction, American cities also are hard at work to keep current businesses as well as bring in new ones. According to a report by consulting firm KPMG, some cities are better positioned to attract the headquarters, factories and office space of America’s businesses. 24/7 St. Louis Building New HomesWall St. examined the 10 most competitive cities to find out what makes them so attractive. What it generally boils down to is how cheap these cities are for businesses.

Interestingly, the most competitive cities — the least expensive ones for businesses — tend to have the lowest economic production among the cities covered in the report. While, for the most part, the least competitive cities — because they are most expensive — are also the cities with the highest gross domestic product……

And Ranking at #7

St. Louis, Mo,
 - GDP: $125.22 billion
 - Unemployment: 8.4%
 - Median Income: $50,913

St. Louis’s competitiveness, according to the KPMG report, arises from its low factory lease costs and cheap electricity. Tax Foundation Ranked St. Louis 14th best among 51 cities for taxes conducive to new businesses. According to KPMG, the city has burgeoning aerospace, biotech and telecom industries. In addition, the metropolitan region is among the five cheapest for green energy, auto manufacturing and agri-foods business, with the lowest electricity costs in each of these sectors across all 27 U.S. metropolitan regions.

Read more - Best American Cities for Business – 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/04/04/best-american-cities-for-business/#ixzz1rB5WyTO0

Feb 19

Consort Homes receives award in Customer Satisfaction

Categories: Uncategorized

News

Tuesday, February 07, 2012 : 18 Builders Earn Builder Partnerships Achievement Awards in Customer Satisfaction

The Builder Partnership Achievement Award (BPAA) was created to provide customer-centric home builders with third-party customer satisfaction validation from a credible source. To assure a high integrity process, Builder Partnerships put together a team of industry experts to effectively survey home builder customers, analyze the results, benchmark the applicants’ performance, and validate them for a BPAA achievement level.

The BPAA is not a contest, pitting builders against each other, but rather a validated benchmark that recognizes builders who develop great homes and relationships with their customers. The measurement is based on not only on a home buyer’s willingness to recommend a builder, but also the home buyer’s enthusiasm for their builder. The success of the BPAA program speaks for itself.  In just its second year, the BPAA applications grew 60 percent.

BPAA is awarded in two classifications “Customer Satisfaction” and “Highest Distinction in Customer Satisfaction.” Recipients will receive recognition at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., during Builder Partnerships reception on February 7, 2012 with a trophy presentation. Builder Partnerships will profile a winner monthly, and the entire group will be presented in a feature article in Professional Buildermagazine.

The builders who earned Builder Partnerships Achievement Awards for Highest Distinction in Customer Satisfaction are:

  • Knez Construction, Painesville, Ohio
  • Wayne Homes, Uniontown, Ohio
  • Northland Residential, Burlington, Mass.
  • Consort Homes, Chesterfield, Mo.
  • DSLD Homes, Denham Springs, La.
  • HHHunt Homes—Raleigh Division, Richmond, Va.
  • Maracay Homes, Scottsdale, Ariz.
  • Schmidt Builders, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • The Jones Company, Nashville, Tenn.
  • True Homes, Monroe, N.C.
  • Vantage Builders, Colorado Spring, Colo.

The builders who earned Builder Partnerships Achievement Awards for Customer Satisfaction are:

  • Ryland Homes—Houston Division, Calabasas, Calif.
  • Shaddock Homes, Plano, Texas
  • M. Christopher & Company, Lucas, Texas
  • Standard Pacific Homes, Irvine, Calif.
  • HHHunt Homes—Hampton Division, Richmond, Va.
  • HHHunt Homes—Richmond Division, Richmond, Va.
  • Thompson Homes, Owensboro, Ky.

If you or your home building company would like to apply for BPAA 2012 validation, you may still do so until March 31, 2012. Contact Monica Wheaton at Builder Partnerships for more information. mwheaton@builderpartnerships.com

Source: http://www.builderpartnerships.com/Default/News/d51279fd-d925-428e-9816-9fe70064839d

Oct 11

Build your dream kitchen at Countryshire Townes!!!

Categories: Uncategorized

Build at Countryshire Townes and you can have your dream kitchen!!!

For the month of October you can get these items included at no added cost to your new Townhome!

  • Wood flooring in Kitchen/Dining/Powder and Foyer
  • Granite kitchen countertops
  • Pendant lighting above breakfast bar
  • Micro/hood combination over range
  • Upgraded Birch cabinetry
  • 42” tall wall cabinets in kitchen for extra cabinet space
  • Cabinet over the refrigerator

AND…

  • $2,000 in closing costs!!!

 

Email:  Kstarling@consort-homes.com

or call (636) 561-2051

www.myconsorthome.com

*See Sales Manager for details. Offer valid ONLY on contracts written 10/1/11 – 10/31/11. Offer cannot be combined with other offers. Offer expires October 31, 2011.

Sep 19

Need a home NOW?!

Categories: Uncategorized

Quick Move In home available in Countryshire for only $110,000!

 

Walk in closets, deck, rear entry garage, and READY TO MOVE IN! 

This is a brand new townhome floor plan in the beautiful Countryshire neighborhood. Craftsman architecture that creates an exterior appeal you can be proud to call home! Enjoy the playgrounds throughout the community, play on the sport courts, take a stroll on the walking trails or spend the summer relaxing at the pool. Consort Homes makes your decision to go Green easy by making Green standard with this Consort home. We’ve made the energy investment on your behalf to conserve resources, reduce waste, promote energy and water efficiency, and enhance indoor environment quality so your world will be a better place to live.

Call Kyle at 636-561-2051. 

Sales office is open Monday noon-5, Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.  Countryshire is located at the intersection of Sommers Road and Countryshire Drive.  (between Hwy N and DD.)

Jul 27

Why build NEW instead of “previously lived in”?

Categories: Uncategorized

1. Choice/Selection/Personalization – This is the biggest investment you will ever make – Why Not Have Your Home, Your Way?
 
2. Space – in addition to the typically more open floor plans found in newer homes – older homes don’t usually have the CLOSET or storage space that newer designs have.
 
3. Design – the latest, greatest floor plan designs accommodate how people live TODAY, not yesterday. For example – do you ever use your formal dining room?? Huh? Do ya?
 
4. Less Maintenance – new homes have BRAND NEW operating systems, like plumbing, HVAC, etc…and usually don’t require maintenance until years down the road.
 
5. Energy Efficiency – New Homes are typically somewhere in the neighborhood of 50%+ more efficient* on energy bills! *varies by house and lifestyle, of course
 
6. Modern Conveniences – New homes have the latest new appliances, new windows, new product technologies, and are often built in locations near the latest and greatest of everything. 
 
7. New = Built to CURRENT Codes – not the Codes of many years ago – meaning that some issues that could have been considered OK when it originally passed inspection – are now no longer acceptable building standards.
 
8. WARRANTY – New Homes usually have a WARRANTY.  Meaning – usually you have 1 year to address any issues that don’t seem right with your builder – and they will come and fix them for you.  No hiring contractors.  In addition, for up to 10 years (our warranty is 1-10) you have coverage on any STRUCTURAL items.
 
9. Emotional Factor - The fact that you are the one and only person who’s ever lived in this home.  It’s YOURS and yours alone…built for you…to your specifications.

10. PRICE – Although a new home may be slightly more on the front end – in the long run – you’ll save $ on energy bills, operating costs, and maintenance while you live there!
 
11. TIME – Your time is valuable.  Would you rather spend your weekends doing maintenance – or enjoying your new home?
 
12. Enhanced Electrical Systems for today’s lifestyles – Now that we all have computers, microwaves, etc…some of the eleactrical systems found in older homes are simply not sophisticated enough to handle today’s modern technology.
 
NEW can save you thousands of dollars for years to come in peace of mind, comfort, and energy savings!

Source: www.livejones.com

Jun 27

Patricia Davis takes on three Consort neighborhoods

Categories: Uncategorized

New Community Sales Manager Takes on 3 Consort Homes Neighborhoods

ST. LOUIS, May 14, 2011 –   Consort Homes welcomed Patricia Davis to its sales team in mid-April and is definitely capitalizing on the veteran professional’s 24 years of new home sales experience in major markets spanning the country from the East Coast to Colorado.

Thoroughly familiar with the St. Louis region, Davis has been assigned the role of community sales manager for three of Consort’s residential developments – Stone Creek and Windcrest, both in Arnold, and Seckman Crossing in Imperial.

Davis’ office is located at Stone Creek, which is open daily and enjoys a private setting off Jeffco Boulevard, 1.5 miles south of Hwy. 141 and just east of I-55.  Now half-sold, Stone Creek offers buyers an outstanding selection of walk-out and ingrade homesites and 17 single-family home designs, starting from $209,990.  Eight represent the builder’s popular Hometown Collection; nine are from the upscale Heritage Collection and include a standard 3-car garage.

The combined portfolios showcase ranch and multi-level plans with three to four bedrooms and 1764 to 3215 square feet of living space.  Of particular interest to today’s buyers, Consort Homes is the only volume builder in St. Louis to provide the energy-efficiency and added comfort of 3rd-party-certified “green” homes in all of its communities.

Visitors to Stone Creek will find the site humming with activity.  A new display model is under construction and scheduled for completion by mid-summer.  The 2490-square-foot “Sheridan” is a

4-bedroom two-story from the Hometown Collection with a central staircase, wonderfully open first-floor layout, and a bonus room on the upper level.

Also available for viewing is a market home version of the Sheridan, set on a large homesite and ready for immediate occupancy, priced at $278,300.   In addition, Stone Creek’s current display – a stunning,

4-bedroom “Livingston” ranch – has just been listed for sale at $270,000.

Off Old Lemay Ferry Road, midway between I-55 and Hwy. 21 in Imperial, Seckman Crossing is open for viewing from 1:00 to 4:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.  Consort’s 16 Hometown and six Heritage designs start from the low $180’s and are beautifully suited to Seckman Crossing’s generous homesites.  Public education is provided by the highly rated Seckman School District, and two market homes – a “Cheshire” ranch and a “Camden” two-story, both offered for $195,000 – are move-in-ready

Just 3/4-mile from Stone Creek, Windcrest is an intimate residential enclave that features a variety of

2-story plans on easy-to-manage homesites, with rear-entry 2-car garages and economical pricing from the $140’s.  A 3-bedroom “Dover” has been halted at the drywall stage, allowing the future owners of this charming market home to personalize the interior.

For detailed information on any of these Consort Homes neighborhoods, visit www.consort-homes.com, or contact Davis at Stone Creek (636-282-1963).

 

 

Contact:  Barbara Wilson

               MIND OVER MARKETING

               636-398-4891

               mindovermarketng@aol.com

Jun 10

Tips for selling your existing home

Categories: Uncategorized

Daily Real Estate News | June 9, 2011 | Share
3 Seller Tips to Stay Ahead of the Competition

Bankrate.com recently featured a range of tips for first-time sellers to help them stay competitive in today’s real estate market. Here are some things you may want to discuss with your sellers:

  • Pricing a home competitively from the beginning is important. “Your largest number of showings will occur in the first two to three weeks,” says Mark Ramsey, broker with the Ramsey Group/Keller Williams Realty in Charlotte, N.C. “The (multiple listing service) systems and the Internet tend to drive the majority of showings.” That’s why real estate experts stress that it’s important sellers get a competitive, realistic price from the start.

  • Consider sweetening the deal. Sellers may be able to lure more buyers by offering some extra incentives, whether that’s leaving that top-of-the-line gas clothes dryer or other items that would be difficult to move, like the two wall-mounted, flat-screen TVs. The perks may add a little extra to attract buyers and become extra selling points too.

  • Make sure the home is show-ready and in move-in condition. In smaller homes, for example, clutter can mean the difference between cozy and cramped, experts say. Be sure the sellers keep homes clean and clear of clutter, particularly kitchen and bathroom countertops that tend to accumulate personal items that can hamper showing the home’s features.

However, make sure sellers don’t go to the other extreme and clear away too much.

“Don’t neutralize it so that it’s sterile,” says Pat Vredevoogd Combs, vice president of Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt in Grand Rapids, Mich., adding that small mementos and photos help make a house feel like a home.

Real estate experts also stress the importance of sellers’ getting a home in move-in condition–such as fixing all repairs and replacements–before it is even listed.

“From a presentation standpoint, you want them to feel it’s turnkey — ready to go,” says Mark Ramsey, broker with the Ramsey Group/Keller Williams Realty in Charlotte, N.C. “Because your competition is doing that. In this market, it’s not just a price war but a beauty contest at the same time.”

Source: “7 Tips for the First-time Home Seller,” Bankrate.com (June 2011)

May 31

Stltoday.com – Consort Homes and Coldwell Banker Gundaker Celebrate Successful Entry into Carlton Glen Estates

Categories: Uncategorized

WENTZVILLE, MO  – Consort Homes in conjunction with Coldwell Banker Gundaker is pleased to announce their commitment to the Carlton Glen Estates community.  The Consort Homes recent acquisition of  approximately 300 home sites in Carlton Glen was kicked-off with the grand opening of another flagship community.

 “We’re thrilled to team-up with Coldwell Banker Gundaker,” said Ed Petras, director of sales and marketing for Consort Homes. “Both companies are committed to re-energize this community and showcase its home options.”

 ”The opening of Carlton Glen exceeded our expectations,” said Jim Wannstedt, new homes account manager with Coldwell Banker Gundaker.  Coldwell Banker Gundaker represents Carlton Glen through a marketing relationship with Consort Homes.  “We had a great turnout for the grand opening and are receiving a wonderful response from potential buyers and Realtors.”

 The grand opening introduced home shoppers to two of Consort’s most successful design collections – the Heritage Series and the Hometown Series.  A third model series is currently on the drawing boards and expected to be unveiled at Carlton Glen later this year.

 In addition to the innumerable high-quality components built into every Consort Home at Carlton Glen, customers can select an outstanding array of optional amenities.  Consort Homes is the only volume homebuilder in St. Louis qualified as 100 percent “green,” providing the energy-efficiency and added comfort of a 3rd-party-certified “green” home to all of its owners as a standard feature.

 Homes in Carlton Glen are grand opening priced from the $150’s to mid-$200’s, and three stunning homes are available at various stages of completion for prompt move-in.  For driving directions, floorplans, and additional information, 636-327-4390, or visit www.consort-homes.com

 Working with Consort Homes is not new to Coldwell Banker Gundaker.  The company has been providing marketing services for more than 25 years to the owners of Consort Homes, who were former principles of the Jones Company.

 Coldwell Banker Gundaker, the leading residential real estate brokerage company in St. Louis, operates 24 offices with nearly 2,000 sales associates serving metropolitan St. Louis and east-central Missouri. Coldwell Banker Gundaker is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company.  NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices.  For more information, please visit www.cbgundaker.com.

source: http://interact.stltoday.com/pr/business/PR05251112076171

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