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October 2020
THE GOOD NEWS MARK E T R E P O RT A monthly newsletter published by Bocook Realty
Volume 1, Issue 4
Win This! Win This! This month, we are giving away a $250 gift card to Nine Line! This apparel company is a local favorite that has been creating patriotic clothing and giving back to those in need since 2012. For a chance to win, take a picture of this newsletter and tag us @BocookRealty on Facebook!
Family. Community. Real Estate. Although Richmond Hill is now a thriving, growing city, when Randy Bocook was growing up in the 1970s, it was home to less than 2,000 people – mostly families that had been here for generations. With its historical connection to Henry Ford, it was once thought that Ford made the city and once he left, it would never recover. “But I can say without a doubt,” said Randy Bocook, “that not only did Richmond Hill make it, but we are thriving forward.” People from all over the world now call Richmond Hill home. With excellent schools, a great Mayor and government, amazing homes and subdivisions, and finally now new roads and schools to accommodate the new growth, it’s easy to beam with pride about our city of Richmond Hill!
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Real Estate Market Update
Harrison Bocook Buyer's Agent Bocook Realty
Richmond Hill’s buying and selling season is extended! Normally, when school starts in Richmond Hill, the
Just SOLD!
selling season for homes slows down. Typically, May, June, and July are the number one months in our market for both buying and selling. However, this year, due to COVID and the push back of many military orders, we had our most successful August ever and we were able to help 51 families. September was also a very active month, and, looking ahead, we can see that October is going to be a busy one as well. Interest rates are incredibly low and home inventory is lower than usual, so we find ourselves in a seller’s market. Many homes are selling within a week, and we are negotiating multiple offers for many of them. If you are thinking of selling your home or buying a home, you should definitely consider doing it now! Call us for a phone consultation at (912) 388-1714. BO
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888 Young Way Richmond Hill, GA $254,800
Richmond Hill Coming Together
The Show Must Go On! Did you know that Richmond Hill is home to its own community theatre? Richmond Hill Community Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre company that makes live theatre available locally and affordably. “Anyone can get involved,” said Hilary Taft, who serves as both a production director and a member of the board. “We’ve had kids as young as five as well as adults of all ages.”
Of course, the theatre company had to change their approach this year due to COVID, but the board “devised a plan” to continue their creative operations this season despite the pandemic. This month, their season will open with “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” a series of frightful monologies and plays that fans will be able to watch online.
Time to Sell? Mention this newsletter and receive 1% off your listing fee!
Taft also teaches theatre at the high school and runs the drama club there. Growing up in Richmond Hill, there weren’t many opportunities to get involved in theatre, and that’s part of the reason that the theatre company came about. “Teaching and directing theatre here in Richmond Hill means the world to me,” said Taft, “because I get to see people grow as actors and come together in new ways as the city grows.” Over the past several years, the RHCT board lost two beloved presidents in a row, Ashlee Farris and Dawn Berry, but the theatre company continues to move forward. “We have felt some loss,” said Taft, “but we want to continue to grow in their honor.”
YOU’RE HOME
YOU’RE HOME
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Meet The Irvins
Buyer Spotlight
Although Bobby and Jill Irvin are originally from North Alabama, they have lived in Richmond Hill since Bobby was stationed at Fort Stewart in 1999, and it feels more like home to them than their hometown does. However, with four children between the ages of 17 and 6, four dogs, and four cats, their original Richmond Hill home “seemed to get smaller day by day,” and they soon realized that “it was time to look for a more accommodating living space,” said Bobby. With a desire to stay local because of Richmond Hill’s outstanding schools and friendly community, the couple started looking for homes in Richmond Hill and were introduced to Bocook Realty agent Shallyn Watt by a friend. Soon enough, the family found a home that they loved, and Shallyn helped them to put in an offer. Unfortunately, this deal fell through through no fault of their own, but they appreciated Shallyn’s straightforwardness “and knew that any other property that we were to look at would be in the hands of Shallyn,” said Bobby. Over the next few weeks, the Irvins looked at several more homes and quickly stumbled upon the one they’d ultimately purchase. “As soon as we walked into the home, we knew it was the one! We are now happy residents in the Oak Pointe neighborhood and love not only the home and the atmosphere but also the friendliness of the neighbors,” said Bobby. Bobby works for Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and Shallyn’s husband is also in law enforcement, so the group had a lot in common and shared many laughs throughout the process. “Bocook Realty really made this a stress free (and fun) experience,” said Bobby. “We were overwhelmed at the lengths that they went through to ensure it was a painless process for us, and Randy Bocook and his team treated us like family. The team’s honesty, integrity, and work ethic were second to none and we will always consider them part of our family as well!” Now that the Irvins are happily settled in their new home, they plan to recommend Bocook Realty to anyone they know who needs to buy or sell. “Not only does Bocook Realty go the extra mile to ensure the home buying experience is more a pleasure than a job, but Randy’s commitment to community and his eagerness to make Richmond Hill a better place for us all is astounding,” said Bobby. “It takes a special kind of person to give so much back to the community.” BO
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Meet Shallyn Watt
Agent of the Month
Shallyn Watt has been living according to her motto, “closing deals in heels” since 2003 when she first got into real estate. At that time, she was in college and didn’t know what she wanted to with her life, but she had an opportunity to step into real estate and took the leap without knowing a thing. She quickly discovered that she had a knack for helping families with their home search and instantly found the task to be so gratifying. “I love helping people find their home,” said Shallyn, “but it’s also about educating them. People know when they’ve found their home - I don’t have to sell anything. I’m just there to educate them and help them make the best financial decision for their circumstances and answer any questions they have along the way.” Shallyn has lived in the Savannah area since she was ten years old and loves living by the water. She started working for Bocook Realty in 2008 and she currently resides in Richmond Hill with her husband and three sons. She feels lucky to have found her home in what she called, “such a closeknit, family-oriented town.”
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Don't Spend Money!
Bocook Tip
If you want to sell your home but feel like you have a long list of projects you need to
#WeAreRichmondHill
do first, this one is for you! We get several calls every single week from people who want to list their home with us, but tell us that first they need to paint, install new carpet, fix up the landscaping, etc. We normally tell them “Hold On! Don’t spend any money until we take a look at the home!” When you are in a hot market like our Richmond Hill market, buyers will forgive or look past a lot of things. In a tighter market, our answer is still “let us look first,” but usually, we recommend a few clean up items to make the home stand out. In this seller’s market though, there is really no need to put down new floors when the buyer will likely desire a different color. We have a full team that helps make each of our listings beautiful and appealing. From staging your home, to taking HD photos, 3D matterport tours, and drone shots, we can get a potential buyer through the door. No matter what improvements are made, buyers will always tell us that they are going to paint or
Thanks to those who sent in photos of their
change out the harvest gold appliances. So, let us put eyes on your home first and
summer adventures! Pictured here is Judy
let us make our recommendations for what you do or don’t need to do to quickly sell
Richardson with our flag in Whirligig Park,
your home.
Wilson, NC! COOK
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Did you know that we also run a fullservice property management company? Follow Bocook Home Rentals on Facebook for the latest homes for rent!
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Call us for a 10 minute market consultation: 912-388-1714 We're the community experts. Let our reviews speak for themselves!
BOCOOK R
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50 Edsel Drive Richmond Hill, GA 31324
912-388-1714 231 Reviews
379 Reviews 446 Reviews
Voted Best of Bryan County 6 Years in a Row
Not intended as a solicitation for currently listed or managed properties.
teambocook@gmail.com bocookrealty.com