Customer CARE by Michael Grant

This customer service verses customer care position may seem trivial, but I have noticed that my customers want to know that we care about them first, then the service that follows is elevated to a higher level. In a recent client conversation I realized this and was able to communicate my intention and commitment to caring about my clients concerns.

How is this any different than service. Well think of it this way, I go to my doctor for care, not for service. I want to know that she is looking after my best interest. In this case it is my health and well being. When I care for my client, I am looking out for their best interest. I want their home built correctly, with good craftsmanship and that my “house side manner” is comforting and reassuring.

If I take this doctor care comparison a little further, then think of your new home as designed for health, toxic free, filled with light and supportive of healthy living. It is what I would want, it is what I want for you.

Michael Grant, Realtor, Care Giver…….

from a Client’s Perspective…

Rich & Susan Haydel
Ellijay, GA 30540

Over the past 30 years, we have built three houses. This experience with Coldwell Banker High Country Realty and Modern Rustic Homes, by far, has been the most pleasant and rewarding. From day one, our contact with Michael Grant has been a journey that any homeowner would relish. If we could script a perfect real estate and home building experience, this would be it. Our intuition, after speaking with Michael for the first time, was…here is a trustworthy, meticulous and professional Realtor and builder. While Michael provided real estate, design and architectural expertise, his team also included a builder, Joe Dixon and a real estate partner, Joe Folsom. Without exception, at all levels, everyone we came in contact with (carpenters, plumber, cabinetmaker, painter, etc.) were professional, courteous and skilled and cared deeply about the quality of their work. To this day, seven months after completion, we are still in contact with Michael and his team. They promptly return phone calls and follow up on any questions or requests that we have . I am proud to say that not only did we end up with a spectacular home, but we also ended up with true lifelong friends.

Rich & Susan Haydel

Can You Name This Flower?

I will get to the question posed in a minute.  But I first want to tell you about a personal journey. 

Like so many that I work with, I have been literally buried in technology…running as fast as I can to stay relevant.  From the classes I’ve been teaching to those I’ve recently attended, my days seem to be filled with nothing but digital experiences.  Surrounded by multiple screens and hardware, each displaying a myriad of programs, I travel through my work and personal day.   I attended a brilliant program at last week’s Real Estate Technology South conference.  It seems there is extensive medical research proving that efficient multi-tasking is simply an illusion, and alarming evidence shows the very real, exponential growth of a very real addiction – the inability to shut down.  Simply put, a growing population of humans around the world is addicted to technology, social media, new gadgets, etc.  Online use has sky rocketed, up nearly 4 hours per day in just 10 years.  We are chained to our machines, large and small!

So, I am taking a personal stand.  I’ve made a commitment to set technology boundaries.  I will take control of the constant stream of communication bombarding me daily.  I’ll enjoy meals with my family and friends without having my iPhone in reach!  And I will get back to the very reason my husband and I moved to the beautiful north Georgia Mountains.  I will stop to smell the roses. 

This past weekend, with a picnic in the cooler and our four-legged family members we once again travelled to Vogel State Park in Blairsville.  The park is a very easy drive and centrally located from Blue Ridge, Hiawassee, and Murphy.  Sometimes we camp at the park, but this trip was simply a few hours of “off the grid” enjoyment.   If you are a serious hiker or just want to traverse an easy but beautiful trail you’ll find one that is just right for you at Vogel State Park.  This past weekend the park was covered with blooming dogwoods and an abundance of wild flowers.  We spotted this lovely north Georgia favorite along the lake trail…the Big Foot Violet. 

What are your “off the grid” favorite things to do in the mountains?

Can you name this flower

Affordability in North Georgia and Across the Country Hits Record High

For more information, contact:
Walter Molony 202/383-1177 wmolony@realtors.org

Housing Affordability Index Hits Record High

Congratulations to Our October Agents of the Month

Listing

Blue Ridge

                Volume                                                Mike Miller

                Units                                                     Suzie Soave

Ellijay

                Volume                                                Bill Pierce

                Units                                                     Marilyn Drake, Irene Witt

Hiawassee

                Volume & Units                                Mary Lynn Durfee

Murphy

                Volume                                                Pat Adams

                Units                                                     Pat Adams, Lisa DiCuffa, Sandy Daley, Anita Davis

Team

                Volume & Units                                Team Daves

Sales

Ellijay                                                                     Susan Cone, Janice Herzog

Hiawassee                                                          Mary Lynn Durfee

Murphy                                                                Anita Davis

Blue Ridge                                                           Mike Miller

Team                                                                     The Scott Nichols Team

Meet Our Ellijay Team Member Bill Pierce

NAME: Bill Pierce

DESIGNATIONS, DEGREES, ETC: BS, MBA

BIRTHDAY: August 22

HOMETOWN: Fort Mitchell, KY

LENGTH OF TIME IN REAL ESTATE:28 years

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY:  My wife Jane is regional VP for a company that partners with small, private colleges to provide facilities and recruit students for their non-traditional programs whereby working adults earn bachelor degrees. Daughter, Samantha is in her senior year at UGA pursuing two degrees while riding on the equestrian team and interning with the Atlanta Hawks.

YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Presently helping a Danish company establish their first venture in America. Located a 51,000 SF building for them and we are now crossing hurdles for licensing and EPD permitting.  If successful, may lead to multiple locations across the country.

YOUR PASSIONS:

1. Wife & Family

2. Church (Sixes UMC in Canton)

3. Cherokee Chorale (75-voice choir in Canton) and

4. Traveling (by car, plane, motor home or motorcycle).

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS: Peace, quiet, slower pace, less traffic

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT REAL ESTATE: Every day is different. We are able to do things that make a difference in people’s lives. Most recently, I have become involved with Better Home Town/Ellijay. I am looking at the city from a Real Estate perspective as we try to improve the viability and livability of Ellijay. As downtown Ellijay gets stronger, so does all of Gilmer County, which benefits all of us.

Meet Ellijay Team Member Jack Brown

NAME: Jack P. Brown

DESIGNATIONS, DEGREES, ETC. : GRI, ALC, BS from Auburn University in Textile Mgmt

BIRTHDAY:  4-2

HOMETOWN: West Point, GA

LENGTH OF TIME IN REAL ESTATE: 43 years

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY: Wife-Short Brown, Daughter-Amy Brown Burnett, Son-In-Law-Gordon Burnett, Grandson-Joe Burnett, Granddaughter-Anna Grace Burnett, Son-Carter Brown, Daughter-In-Law-Jenna Brown, Grandson-Jack Brown, Granddaughter-Mary Beth Brown

YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Having 2 great children and having 4 wonderful grandchildren. Working with the Realtor Land Institute and restarting the Georgia Chapter in the early 1970’s

YOUR PASSIONS: Fishing, volunteering on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad, using my farm tractor, finding a real bargain on an investment home to rent or remodel and sell.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT LIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS: The beauty of just being in such a scenic area. I was a U.S. Army officer in West Germany for almost 2 years and this area reminds me of Germany.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT REAL ESTATE: The constant challenge of trying to put buyers and seller together.

Is the Real Estate Market Improving? by Jack Brown

Almost everyone wants to know ,”Is the real estate market improving?”

We in the real estate business are faced with the daunting task in giving an accurate assessment of current market conditions.

The facts tell me that this a wonderful time to purchase for a number of reasons.

Almost all lenders have foreclosed properties for sale, and they are often lower their asking prices on their REO “real estate owned” properties if they do not sell quickly.  They do not want to hold these foreclosed homes on their books.

The other great thing about our current market conditions is the incredible low interest rates that are being offered to homeowners and investors.  At this writing, an owner occupied home may be financed for as low as 4% for 30 years, and for as low as 3.75% for a 15 year loan.

If you have an inclination to buy a home for your own use or an investment, you could hardly find a better time to purchase a super buy.

My final thought is that you cannot find a better place to live and work or just vacation than the North Georgia Mountain area near Ellijay or Blue Ridge.

You may decide that your biggest problem may be planning which festival to attend or which beautiful lake you should  use for boating.

Remember that this area has plenty of real estate bargains available, and is a great area to have fun.

Jack Brown, GRI, ALC

Where Else but in America by Michael Grant and Joe Folsom

Last Saturday morning I watched four “boxes”, which are what we call systems built housing modules, roll into Gilmer County on specially designed flat -bed carriers.  Waiting at the job site was a 90 ton crane positioned in place to pick up each box to sit it on the foundation we prepared two weeks before. Prior to this day, we spent many hours with our customer to design, and then specify finishes and fixtures for an 1800 square foot cabin in the woods.  With two bedrooms, 2 ½ baths, loft space, laundry room, pantry, large kitchen, vaulted ceilings and an open plan design, this cabin is exactly what the clients wanted.  The boxes took eight days of production time to manufacture in our Nationwide Custom Homes Plant in Martinsville, Virginia.

The cabin is called “Mountain Cove”, respecting the natural setting surrounding it.   By 9:30 a.m. the first box was prepped to be picked up by the crane and positioned onto the foundation.  Fast forward four hours and all four boxes are now assembled.

My clients and I walked through the cabin to check it out.  What we saw were floors that were level (I mean level, not just sort’a level), plumb walls, square corners, drywall in place, cabinets, bath fixtures, lighting, electrical, plumbing, duct work, all were where they needed to be. Behind the drywall and paneling was spray foam insulation to provide high performance energy efficiency.  Needless to say, I also saw a lot of smiles and nods of approval.

Over the next 30 days we will add the porches, complete the exterior siding, and mend the mating walls.  Our clients are planning a big Thanksgiving celebration.  I plan to be there and have some pumpkin pie.

This is America at its best, figuring out a way to do something better and doing it.  It is our mission at www.modernrusticliving.com to provide a better solution for our clients.  Allow us to show you what we can do that is a better solution for your housing needs.

Michael Grant and Joe Folsom

Coldwell Banker High Country Realty Agents of the Month for September

Listing Agents of the Month

                Blue Ridge

                                Volume & Units                Mike Miller

                Ellijay

                                Volume                                Mike Stover

                                Units                                     Mike Stover & Marilyn Drake

                Hiawassee

                                Volume & Units                Mary Lynn Durfee

                Murphy

                                Volume & Units                Sandra Daley

                Team

                                Volume & Units                The Scott Nichols Team

Sales Agents of the Month

                Blue Ridge                                           Donna O’Neal

                Ellijay                                                    Marilyn Drake

                Hiawassee                                           Mary Lynn Durfee

                Murphy                                                Lisa DiCuffa

                Team                                                     Team Daves