South Carolina homes are often said to have 'southern charm.' While you might find several styles of houses in the region, including farm houses, lakefront cabins or country cottages, houses in the south capture visitors' attention because of unique architecture and also exterior colors, which are prevalent in southern states as well.

There are several exterior paint colors that are conventional choices for many homeowners in South Carolina. The color of a house can either boost or reduce curb appeal, which is a key factor to piquing a prospective buyer's interest in a particular home. Houses with low curb appeal tend to sit on the market a lot longer than those with aesthetically pleasing exteriors.

Exterior paint colors that are popular in the South

One of the colors you will often see on the exterior of southern homes that you might not find so often in the north is pink. There is a specific shade of pink known as creole pink  that never seems to go out of style in coastal regions. In South Carolina, you are also likely to find some colonial style homes, which are often painted in 'colonial blue.

Classic white, often with a traditional blue or red front door for a pop of color, is another common exterior paint choice for southern homes. Homeowners who want the focus features to be the landscape or sky might choose a Texas leather color for the exterior of their homes. This is a hue that is similar to taupe.

What if a buyer loves a house but hates the color?

As a real estate agent, you might encounter situations where you are showing a home that has an unappealing exterior color. In such cases, it's helpful to highlight other features in online listings and in person as you interact with buyers. Emphasizing spacious rooms, for instance, or a beautiful in-ground pool or a primary location, might help convince a buyer that the home is worth making an offer on, even if the exterior color isn't a favorite.

It is also possible that a seller might be willing to negotiate price so that a buyer has funds on hand to get the house painted. Some sellers might even be willing to have the house painted before going to closing. When a particular issue like this is impeding a sale, an agent's negotiation skills might be the key factor needed to secure a deal.

Purchasing a home is typically one of the largest investments a person will make in his or her lifetime. It is an investment that might take place several times over a span of years. For first-time home buyers, it can be an exciting and rewarding experience, from searching homes online, scheduling showings and deciding when to make an offer.

Unfortunately, some buyers get in over their heads by locking into mortgages they can't really afford or overlooking certain issues in a home, such as expenses for repairs that need done. There are several things that first-time buyers should keep in mind and ways you can provide encouragement, guidance and support as a buyer's agent.

First-time buyers have expenses beyond a down payment

When first-time buyers find the home of their dreams, it is understandable that they may be eager to make an offer. Many people have already set aside funds at that point for a down payment. However, it's important to keep in mind that there are many other costs associated with a home purchase, including closing costs, as well as rental fees for a moving truck and other move-in expenses.

Being unprepared to meet such costs can turn an exciting first-time home purchase into a financial disaster. If your clients want to discuss overall cost when considering making an offer on a home, it's always wise to mention the additional expenses that may be associated with the transaction.

Determining which type of mortgage best fits a buyer's needs

If a person has no background in real estate, he or she might think of a mortgage in a broad sense, perhaps, not realizing that there are numerous types of mortgage loans available. Before making an offer on a home, it is best to determine which type of loan best fits a particular buyer's needs.

For instance, a military veteran who does not have enough money for a substantial down payment may want to look into securing a VA-backed loan. With this type of mortgage, the Veterans' Administration (VA) does not loan a home buyer money but, rather, agrees to back the loan in case the veteran's mortgage goes into default at some point. There are also mortgage loans specifically designed for rural home buyers or buyers with needs in other categories.

Buyers should look beyond the house itself before making an offer

What a disappointment it might be for first-time home buyers to move into a home only to discover that they are dissatisfied with the neighborhood or that the schools in the area are not up to par for their children. Looking for a home to buy for the first time involves carefully researching additional issues as well, such as the crime rate in a particular community, local tax information, public transportation or access to the nearest interstate.

It's wise to check out the hospitals that serve a particular area or the atmosphere in a local worship center, if that issue is important to a buyer. As a buyer's agent, you will do well to stay updated on local information so that you can answer questions easily or at least provide sources where your client can access information.

Your clients will appreciate your support

Helping first-time home buyers achieve their goals is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a buyer’s agent. Establishing yourself as a go-to for information on local amenities and other issues not only means you will be able to help your clients find a home that fits their needs but you will also likely enjoy getting referrals from your satisfied clients when they have a friend or family member who is wanting to buy or sell a home.

In order to become a profitable real estate agent in South Carolina or elsewhere, you must do a lot more than list houses on the market or schedule showings for buyers. In addition to the clerical aspects of the business, it’s also important to focus on generating leads and being an active member of your community. There are many ways to serve your community.

Community service can definitely help you get your name out there with regard to establishing a business presence in the area. However, it’s also personally rewarding and satisfying to know that you’re doing whatever you can to help your fellow townspeople, which, in turn, can have a positive effect on your business.

Create a partnership with a local charity business

It can be stressful for homeowners to deal with a surplus clothing or furniture that they don’t plan on taking with them when they’re selling their house. As a real estate agent, you can help your clients and serve your community at the same time. Consider partnering with a local charity organization that accepts donations of clothing or furniture.

If the company is willing to pick up donations, your clients will have more time to focus on other aspects of their moving journey. At the same time, you are working with a local business as an active member of your community to help them acquire donations.

Serve your community by helping students launch a microbusiness

Another way to serve your community as a real estate agent is to connect with high school or college students in your area. Many of them may be looking for a way to earn extra cash to help with tuition or to gain experience as a business owner. Consider hiring students to provide snack trays and beverages for open houses.

Allow students to shadow you in your daily rounds at work

You can also provide a valuable community service by inviting students to shadow you at work. There are no doubt teenagers in your community who might be a good fit for the real estate sales industry. By allowing them to tag along as you carry out the normal duties of your work day, you give them an inside look at a day in the life of a real estate agent.

A great way to find students who wish to shadow you is to attend career days or job fairs at your local high schools and colleges.

Always be active in your community

The more involved you are in your community, the likelier it is that you can generate leads and increase visibility for your real estate business. It also shows your neighbors and fellow business acquaintances that you care about the community and are willing to give some free time up to help others and to make it a better place to live.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a new career in home sales, you’ve no doubt considered whether your personality and work ethic are a good fit for the industry. To be profitable in this type of career, you’ll need to be self-motivated, ambitious and hard-working. Real estate agents do more than list homes on the market or help buyers find their dream homes.

There are also many administrative tasks that agents handle on a daily or weekly basis. To determine whether you’re cut out for a career in real estate, you must not overlook these details. To be successful in real estate, you have to be a good fit for the field work (listing and showing homes) as well as the behind-the-scenes duties that will require your attention.

The administrative side of the real estate industry

There’s a lot of “hustle and bustle” in real estate. If you don’t consider yourself a “go getter,” you’re probably better off choosing another industry to work in because selling houses takes a lot energy and hard work. The following list includes some of the clerical tasks you’ll be taking care of regularly if you decide to pursue a career in real estate:

• Filling out paperwork and filing documents that include lease information, buy/sell agreements and more
• Developing marketing campaigns to promote your business
• Studying comparative market analyses
• Researching all active and pending sales in your region
• Updating blogs, websites and social media accounts
• Responding to emails, returning phone calls and text messages, etc.
• Sending out postcards, newsletters, flyers, etc.
• Working on weekly, monthly or annual budgets

Granted, some of the tasks included in this list can be delegated to others. For instance, you might decide to hire a marketing or copywriting team to handle your social media accounts. However, you would still maintain oversight and provide input to the team as far as your vision for a particular social media platform and the goals you hope to accomplish with your accounts.

You can customize your real estate business

Flexibility and the ability to enlist support from others are key benefits to a real estate sales career. The important thing is to make sure you have a clear understanding of the overall type of work you’ll be doing as a sales agent. If you feel like you’re a good fit for both the in-the-field work and desk work that are integral components of a real estate business, you might be ready to take the next step, which is to earn your license to sell homes.

Once you’ve completed your 90 hours of pre-license education, passed your state exam and submitted your license application, you’ll be closer than ever to working with clients. It’s an exciting yet challenging and anxious time. As a new real estate agent in South Carolina, the sky’s the limit, and there are numerous things you can do to build a profitable business. One of your priorities will no doubt be to generate leads.

Not every lead you generate will turn into a closing, so the more leads you get, the better. Once you have your license in-hand to start selling homes, you’ll be perpetually “on the lookout” for clients. As time passes and you gain experience in the industry, as well as a list of (hopefully) satisfied customers, your list of leads will continue to grow, but you’ve got to start somewhere, right? So, here are several great ways to generate real estate leads, particularly if you’re a new agent in the field...

Take these steps to find new clients in real estate

One of the perks of owning your own real estate business is that you can customize and personalize your company to be unique and stand out from your competitors. Something all agents have in common, however, is a need to generate leads, which you can do more easily if you keep the ideas included in the following list in mind:

• Ask friends and family members to help spread the word by handing out your business card to people they know or meet who want to sell or buy a home.
• Take advantage of networking opportunities at community events, such as a church picnic, your child’s baseball or soccer game, etc.
• When you have a successful closing, give the client a few of your cards and ask for referrals by inviting him or her to share your contact info with others.
• Be active on social media, both on your own platforms and other pages, and make sure you include your business contact info in your social media profiles.
• Use #realestate hashtags in your posts to increase visibility for your business.
• Offer free presentations on current real estate trends in your area at your local library, community center or other locations.
• Host an open house in order to interact with people in your selling region.
• Send out postcards to introduce yourself and offer your services to people in your community.
• Answer questions on sites like Quora to establish yourself as a go-to resource for real estate issues.

Even doing one of these things can help generate leads. If you do several of these things on a regular basis, you’re bound to gain leads and a few new clients to boot!

Make the most of all the tools available to you

There are many things you can do in person throughout your community, as well as online or via the postal mail, to raise awareness about your real estate business and to gain potential clients. Always be thinking ahead and using innovative and creative means to grow your business.

You may have procrastinated for quite some time when you first started thinking about finding a new career. Perhaps you were not 100% sure what you wanted to do, other than knowing that you didn’t want to keep doing whatever you were doing at the time. At some point, becoming a licensed real estate agent may have popped into your mind.

If you’re now nearing completion of your studies and preparing for your real estate exam, you’re well on your way to achieving your goal. It would be unfortunate for you to come this far only to bomb your test due to lack of adequate preparation. There are several things to keep in mind that will help you be as ready as you can be when Test Day arrives.

Create a study plan for your real estate exam and stick to it

Unless you have a photographic memory, you’re unlikely to remember every single thing you learned in real estate classes. You may have mastered certain concepts easily and struggled to understand others. It’s okay, as long as you engage in comprehensive study that provides an overall review of concepts that will be covered on your final exam.

Using a well-designed study guide can be helpful when preparing for the big day. Whether you purchase one or design it yourself, make sure you schedule time to study in an organized, structured manner. What you’ll want to avoid is studying in a rogue or random type of way, which might be somewhat helpful but is unlikely to help you earn your best score possible.

Don’t neglect vocabulary or math lessons

As you get ready for your final real estate exam, remember that there will be math concepts on the test, as well as terminology that is common in the real estate industry. You’ll want to practice your real estate math skills, such as how to calculate square footage or acreage, as well as make sure you understand vocabulary words, such as amortization, contingency or capital gains.

Take practice tests ahead of time

Another helpful study tool to increase your chances of doing well on your final real estate exam is to take practice tests. You can also ask friends and family or fellow real estate students to quiz you by using flashcards or asking questions. There are also real estate practice tests available for purchase.

Avoid burnout with the Pomodoro study technique

There may have been a time in your life when you considered it normal to stay up all night to study for a final exam. This type of ‘crash’ studying often leads to headaches and grogginess on test day. Instead, you might consider using the Pomodoro method of study, which is sort of like HIIT exercises in physical fitness. The idea is to focus on a specific area of study in an intense way for approximately 25 minutes, then rest your mind and your body.

You can do several ‘sets’ of studying in this manner: 25 minutes on, 5 minutes to rest. If you complete four 25-minute study sessions, then it’s best to extend your rest to 30 or 40 minutes after each fourth session.

Invite other students over for group study

Private study is helpful when preparing for your final real estate exam, and it’s also helpful to study in a group. Fellow students can provide strong support to each other. For instance, if your strength lies in a particular area where another student is struggling, it may help him or her if you study together.

Group study provides a sense of community, as you and your fellow students work toward a similar goal. Practicing good study habits like those mentioned in this post may not only help you “ace” your real estate exam, it sets a positive tone and lays the groundwork for a successful future in the industry.

When a South Carolina real estate licensee joins the National Association of Realtors, he or she voluntarily agrees to abide by a certain code of ethics in the real estate industry. The code contains various articles and accepted procedural operations that form the backbone of ethical behavior when representing clients in real estate transactions.

Numerous articles within the NAR Code of Ethics directly pertain to the relationship between sales agents and clients. As a member of the NAR, you agree that you have certain duties to fulfill regarding interactions in which you engage in a professional capacity with real estate customers. Unfortunately, surveys consistently show that real estate agents are among professionals whom the general public is least likely to trust. Conducting yourself according to a standardized code of ethics may help improve the public’s perception.

Always keep these client-related duties in mind

The following list includes numerous duties that are reflected in the NAR Code of Ethics regarding interactions between real estate licensees and clients or customers:

• As an agent, you should always do your best to protect and promote your client’s interests in the home sale/purchase process.
• You must also act with fairness to anyone else involved in the process.
• Ethical behavior includes cooperating with other licensees as they protect and promote their clients’ interests.
• You should only receive compensation from one party unless full disclosure and consent has been secured.
• Make sure all contract details are placed in writing and that all parties of interest receive copies.
• Never exaggerate, misrepresent or conceal relevant features or facts associated with a particular home for sale.

This list provides examples of the articles listed in the NAR Code of Ethics, which pertain to the relationship between an agent and clients or customers.

NAR members also have duties toward the public and toward other realtors

As a South Carolina real estate agent who has become a member of the NAR, you would also agree to uphold certain ethics and duties that relate to the general public and to other realtors. As you continue your education after earning a license to sell homes, it’s a good idea to take classes that focus on ethics.

Your reputation can either make or break your success in the real estate industry. While one of the duties realtors have toward other realtors is to only make truthful and objective comments about fellow licensees, your professional behavior will definitely begin to precede you. If you act with integrity at all times, you will gain the trust of your colleagues and clients alike, which is a key attribute to building a profitable real estate business.

From either side of a home sale—whether you’re a listing agent or buyers’ agent— the exterior appearance of a house that has been placed on the market is going to be a selling point or an impediment to your ability to secure a closing. Nowadays, most prospective home buyers begin their real estate searches online, which means that the first views they have of a home are provided through photographic images.

Many people will also drive by a house that has caught their interest to catch a glimpse of it in person before deciding whether to schedule a showing. These are some of the reasons why curb appeal is so important. If buyers don’t like what they see in online images or passing by the exterior of a home, they’ll never want to look inside. There are several curb appeal mistakes that can keep your selling client from getting offers or your buying client from wanting to negotiate a deal.

House in visible need of repair

It’s not necessarily a deal breaker for a home that is for sale to have a few flaws or need a little bit of work here or there. Such issues are often incorporated into a contingency contract. However, if the exterior of a home is in visible need of repair (think, hanging gutters, broken steps, roof that is worn, peeling paint, etc.) it’s likely to deter more offers than it gains.

Sometimes, a seller might be listing a house ‘as is’, which means that buyers understand that they will be responsible for any repairs or renovations that are needed. If that’s not the case, however, it’s best to avoid the curb appeal buster of visible disrepair.

Additional curb appeal busters that deter real estate offers

Besides disrepair, the following list includes other issues that might be present on the exterior of a home for sale that can make it sit on the market longer than necessary:

• Hard surfaces like driveway or sidewalks full of cracks, pot holes, overgrown weeds, etc.
• Garbage or other clutter and debris lying around the property
• A yard full of weeds, unmown grass and untrimmed trees

Each of these issues has the potential to deter buyers. If someone arrives to see tall grass, weeds and trees hanging dangerously close to a roof, the first impression might be that the home requires too much maintenance. And if there’s a lot of debris or garbage on the outside, buyers might assume the interior of the home is the same.

Sales agents often speak to each other after a showing

If you’re working as a listing agent, you can learn a lot about what might be deterring offers on a particular home by speaking with a buyer’s agent who has shown the home. Don’t be surprised if the issues mentioned in this post or other curb appeal busters are part of the problem.

If you’re a buyer’s agent, and you find that lack of curb appeal is an issue that is keeping your clients from wanting to make an offer on a home, you might consider mentioning the issues to the listing agent. Overall, curb appeal is a valuable selling point that helps real estate agents on both sides of a home sale. The nicer a home’s exterior is, the greater a chance there will be that people will want to tour the inside and, perhaps, make an offer!

Nowadays, most home buyers begin their searches online. If you’re a listing agent, however, focusing all of your efforts toward online marketing might cause you to overlook the valuable resource of strategically placed sandwich board signs on your clients’ property. There are several benefits to using this type of signage in real estate.

There’s a difference between simply plunking a generic “for sale” sign in a yard and displaying a well-designed sandwich board sign to attract attention. In fact, the type of in-person signage you choose to advertise your client’s home can either help generate leads or largely go unnoticed by passersby.

A well-designed, strategically-placed sign draws attention

If your goal is to become a profitable listing agent in South Carolina, you’ll want to use sandwich board signage to your advantage. As mentioned earlier, home searches today usually begin online, which is why quality photographs and well-written property descriptions are imperative to real estate sales success. However, a well-designed, strategically-placed sandwich board sign can attract a lot of local attention as well as create visibility to outsiders who are driving through the neighborhood to “check it out” as a possibility for relocation.

Sandwich board signs are typically conspicuous because of their unique shape and structure. They naturally draw attention from those who are walking or driving by.

Sandwich board signs can help establish your brand

Building a strong brand is a key to real estate sales success. Using a particular color theme, font style, profile image, etc., in all of your marketing campaigns is one way to make your brand familiar at a glance. You can incorporate these ideas into a sandwich board sign, which not only advertises a home for sale but also advertises your real estate business.

Think of it this way. Someone might be passing by who is not necessarily looking for a home in the area but, perhaps, has a home that he or she needs to sell. If you do a good job establishing your brand and providing contact information for your business, the sign you use to advertise a listing might garner you some new clients as well.

Neighbors might know someone who’s in the market for a home

Another benefit of quality signage might be that you install a sign across the street or in the same neighborhood of someone who has a relative or friend who is in the market for a home. The neighbor will see your sign and tell the buyer, “There’s a home for sale in my neighborhood.”

Information to include on a sandwich board sign

Make sure your signs include your company name as well as your email address and phone number. You might include your website address, the logo of the brokerage you partner with (if applicable) and/or your QR code.

For sale signs come in many styles, including sandwich board signs, which you can use as a valuable marketing tool in your real estate business.

After you obtain your license to sell homes in South Carolina, you’re always going to be looking for ways to generate leads, get offers and secure closings. It’s that simple. These will be primary goals in your career, and you can tap into many resources to help accomplish them. As a listing agent, you’ll undoubtedly make use of the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) system.

Within the MLS system, there are tools you can use to make your clients’ offers stand out from the rest, to catch attention and, hopefully, acquire interest for showings. One such tool is known as a “feature sheet.” MLS posts have built-in formats to enter useful information for potential buyers. Creating a feature sheet, however, helps you to highlight features in your seller’s home, which can refine the overview of the property in a more personal, detailed way.

Things to include or omit in a feature sheet

When you incorporate a feature sheet into an MLS post, you’ll want to include specific categories or features in the home. It’s important to know what NOT to include as well. For instance, a feature sheet is not the place to list major repairs that have been done on the home. Such information is best left for property disclosure forms. You also want to omit any type of special feature or item that does not convey with the home sale.

The following list shows numerous highlights that should be included on a feature sheet:

• Renovations or remodeling that has been done in the past six months
• New flooring
• Any interior or exterior surface that has been freshly painted
• Landscape upgrades
• Upgrades that are not immediately noticeable, such as under cabinet lighting or shower heads and fixtures, etc.

Keep the 6-month time frame in mind. Even if there’s a feature that your client loves about his or her home, if it’s outdated, it’s typically best to omit it from a feature sheet.

Divide a feature sheet into home area sections

If you list everything all at once in a feature sheet, the page may appear cluttered, and a potential buyer will be more likely to just skim over the content, perhaps missing key details. To avoid this, use white space strategically and keep a feature page organized by using headers to highlight various areas of the home, such as:

• Exterior
• Entry ways
• Garage
• Basement
• Laundry room
• Outdoor living spaces
• Roof
• Kitchen
• Bathrooms
• Master rooms
• First floor, second floor, etc.

Under each subtitle, list all of the updates and special features that you wish to highlight, such as new appliances under the kitchen section or a new floor, door or windows in an entryway. Take time to read over a feature sheet as if you were a potential buyer and re-organize or refine it as needed. Learning how to use a feature sheet to your client’s advantage can help you boost showings, which is a key factor to become a profitable listing agent.