What a year! With 2010 now history I want to take this opportunity to share with you some successes and highlights of the last year and tell you about some of the new tools and resources The Craig Harding Team is rolling out for 2011. I would like to reaffirm my commitment to bring you the best service possible while assisting you with your real estate needs. Most importantly, I want to say thank you for your continued business, support and friendship.
Welcome To The Family…
In March, my wife and I excitedly welcomed our baby girl Shayla to our family! She is healthy, energetic and so much fun! We are very blessed. I took her on her first showing at about 3 months old…..she was not quite as excited about it as I was. I guess I will have to work on that!
Now At A New Location
In June, our Re/Max office merged with Re/Max Renaissance Realtors of Chattanooga. While this change means our office in Ocoee is no longer open, I continue to enjoy working with mountain properties. I am in Polk County twice a week selling homes and land from Ocoee and Reliance to Copperhill in addition to my business in the Cleveland and Ooltewah areas.
In late September our brand new Re/Max Renaissance Realtors office opened in Ooltewah. It is conveniently located right off I-75 and Exit 11 in the new Publix shopping center. This is the office I now call home. We have a state of the art office space and conference rooms to serve your needs. Our awesome support behind the scenes will ensure your experience is smooth, convenient and comfortable.
Seeing Homes In HD
Over the past year we have made several substantial investments in cutting edge technology. We have purchased high end camera equipment and software that will solve one of the most common problems in marketing real estate. Due to lighting issues we have had to compromise interior details of the home in order to capture outdoor shots and gorgeous views. On the other hand we may completely miss the outdoor shots to focus on those interior details. This is now a thing of the past. We are now using HDR technology to capture the best of both the inside and outside features into a single photo! Starting in 2011 we are doing every home in HDR with just about 20% of the photos remaining standard definition photos. Why does this matter to you? Because prospective buyers want to see still photos more than anything else in the marketing of real estate. Now your home will stand out more than ever.
No More Paper Or Pens Needed…
We have gone GREEN! We have for the first time ever, completed a listing transaction completely PAPERLESS! With so many environmental concerns this item has been on the horizon for a while but the technology has consistently fallen short. Now for the first time ever we can offer every client the option of completing the transaction process without signing a single piece of paper or lifting a pen. Besides being environmentally conscious it is actually easier! All you need is access to a computer and an email address. If you are more comfortable with the traditional paperwork we can certainly accommodate you but we feel confident that you will be thrilled with this new Docusign Technology.
Some exciting things for the future….. Starting in April of 2011 we will begin to send out a quarterly real estate insider’s market report. This can come to you via email or print. This report will consist of data that is specific to your market area. To be sure you don’t miss out on this valuable information, send an email to craig@craigharding.com or call 423-443-6460 and specify your preference.
New Team Member…
Another huge exciting step forward is that I have hired a buyer’s agent, Scott Brankshire. Scott will be working exclusively helping match buyers to homes that meet their specific needs. One of the things that has always been a concern for me is that as my business grows, I want to ensure that every client have the experience that they have come to expect from me. This is a great way for buyers to be able to see homes and have property searches done in a quick and efficient manner. I will still be involved throughout the transaction and able to offer my expertise in the negotiating and closing process while offering no delay in the actual home search. Scott is a detailed and friendly member of the new Craig Harding Team and I think you will enjoy getting to know him!
Learning More, To Give You The Best…
Over the past year we have also made many investments in our training through continuing real estate education and real estate certifications so you can feel confident we are putting our knowledge to work for you. This year I was able to add two real estate designations to the two I had already attained which included CDPE training to better assist people facing foreclosure and the ABR designation for Accredited Buyers Representative. I now hold a CRS designation (Certified Residential Specialist) which is one of the most prestigious certifications available in the real estate industry. This designation is held by only 3% of the over 1 million realtors nationwide. I also received the RFC designation (Residential Finance Consultant) which has given me the tools and knowledge to help buyers find the right financing options and to analyze whether a person is better of renting or buying based on their specific financial situation.
It has been a great 2010 despite the challenging economy and real estate market! Whatever 2011 holds, I look forward to finding new and innovative ways to meet your real estate needs in the most friendly and helpful way I can.
Thanks again for your ongoing support! If you know of anyone looking to buy or sell I would appreciate your referral!
All my Best,
Craig Harding.
Posted on January 10th, 2011 by Craig Harding
Filed under: Bradley County, Polk County, South East Tennessee | No Comments »
