your home SELLING
Work hard work, provide excellent service and act with integrity. I approach every opportunity with that in mind. My clients are always my top priority and I strive to exceed their expectations.
GET TO KNOW KIM
Originally from Trumbull Connecticut, I decided to make Charlotte my home 30+ years ago. I love the area and have enjoyed watching Charlotte turn into a destination city with amazing restaurants, professional football and soccer teams, thriving uptown and beautiful suburbs.
In 2003 I started my 18 -year Corporate Services career at Bank of America. Working in large corporate environments taught me about – time management, communication, influencing at various levels with a wide range of personalities, contracting and vendor management to name a few. It also gave me the opportunity to have a side career managing investment properties. For years I bought, renovated, lived in, leased and then sold homes with ‘good bones’ and ‘potential’ a passion that naturally led to my career in real estate.
I am grateful to spend each day doing what I truly love - sharing my passion and knowledge of the Charlotte metro area with others and assisting with one of life’s biggest transitions. My clients are always my top priority, and I strive to exceed their expectations.
I recognize moving isn’t as fun for others as I think it is and love that I can help make it less stressful and seamless. The greatest compliment I can receive from my clients is that I made buying or selling a home easy!
ACHIEVEMENTS & DESIGNATIONS:
• Licensed in North & South Carolina
• National Association of Realtors®
• Member of the Becky McGrath Team – Top Producers 2021-2024
• North Carolina Association of Realtors®
• South Carolina Realtor® Association
• Canopy Realtor® Association
• Senior Real Estate Specialist
• Accredited Buyer Representative
• Certified Military Specialist
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
• Charlotte Mecklenburg School – Volunteer
• Ballentyne Families Food Pantry – Volunteer
• Ronald McDonald House – Volunteer
• Touchstone Homeowners Association – Volunteer Board Member & past President
• Piper Glen Speed Demons Running Group – Member and past Coach
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH BECKY MCGRATH TEAM
Listing property with Becky McGrath means receiving the following benefits:
Experience • Integrity • Skilled Coaching • Fiduciary Representation Advanced Technology Intimate Knowledge of the Charlotte Market • Seasoned Negotiating Skills • Caring Approach • Loyalty
So, there is something special about selecting Becky McGrath as your Realtor®! In addition, you should know about the many beneficial services you will also receive as part of our “Quality Personalized Service” program.
OUR REPUTATION
1. A critical quality our business and the #1 reason for our success.
2. This is our career, and we enjoy many raving fans because of our candid, straightforward and focused business sense.
3. We have been in the business since 1997, and we bring our experience to bear on your unique needs when we work together. Our clients have come to depend upon that again and again. EXPERIENCE
5. We are skilled at e-transactions, and can effectively communicate and share information by email, text, phone or via the Internet making it a virtual paperless transaction.
MARKETING
7. This is where we shine! Our interest and research in this field gives us an understanding and a unique approach that is successful and light-years ahead of the industry norm.
6.
4. We are licensed and experienced in both North Carolina and South Carolina, and since we work by referral only, we are available where you need us. LOCATION
THE STRAIGHT-TALK MARKET ANALYSIS
Together, we will determine the realistic market value of your home in two ways: 1) A careful review of the unique characteristics and improvements in your home, and 2) A plain, no-nonsense analysis of recent sales, active listings and expired listings to determine what the buying public is telling us.
8.
UPDATES AND STAGING
We spend a lot of time making sure that a home is ready for that buyer audience. We understand what the buyer consumer is looking for and help our sellers get their “product” ready to sell. We arrange painters, carpet cleaners, repair professionals, and anything else needed to ensure that home is in great shape without spending a fortune on it.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR
2024
TOP PRODUCERS
CALLIE KELLY Sales Associate of the Year
BELL TEAM Sales Team of the Year
BECKY MCGRATH TEAM LUCY BUTLER GROUP LEIGH C. CORSO
LISA WARREN
HEATHER MONTGOMERY LISA RUPP
HUNEYCUTT TEAM
CHRISTIE HANSEN
CINDI HASTINGS TEAM SARA ROCHE TEAM KALIE KOIVISTO KRISTEN PEGG
LINDSAY REDFERN JOHN OGBURN
KATIE SCHULMAN ENSMINGER TEAM
MELISSA BRANNAN
CHRYSTIE TILLERY Rookie of the Year
TUCK TEAM KATHRYN PEARSON REBA HATFIELD
LAURIE HALT TEAM CAY CRAIG
CHIP JETTON
HEATHER WOLKING
KIM’S MARKETING
• Price position your home to attract the most buyers.
• My design team and I will work to get your home market ready.
• Directly communicate with all Charlotte agents who have recently sold a home in your neighborhood.
• Hire a professional photographer to take photos of your home’s exterior, interior and photos as well as those which highlight special features that we want a buyer to remember.
• Create a virtual tour of your home.
• Hire a licensed home measurer to measure your home and create a dimensioned floor plan.
• Place the photos, virtual tour, and floor plan on the Multiple Listing Service and all websites which we will utilize.
• Create a full color brochure to be placed in your home for buyers. This brochure will include:
- The professional photos
- Your home’s floorplan
- Your home’s special features listed by room, if appropriate
- Information on any neighborhood amenities
• Your listing will be on Realtor®.com – the #1 visited real estate website.
• Monitor your home on additional websites. It is downloaded to hundreds of websites. Properly marketing your home on the Internet is becoming increasingly important as 89% of buyers first see the home they ultimately purchase on the Internet.
• Check-Up: I will walk through your home regularly and ensure that your home is in top “showing condition.”
• Follow-up with all agents who show your home for feedback from their buyer clients then provide you with that feedback.
• Follow-up with those agents with buyers whose buyer clients have expressed interest in your house if there has been no word from them in several days.
• Offer possible recommendations and solutions if your home has not sold within a reasonable time frame.
• Include your home on the first available Agent Tour.
• If needed, host at least one REALTOR® Lunch or Coffee. Getting other local REALTORS® into your home often increases the likelihood that it will sell in a shorter amount of time. Seeing your home in person is always better than looking at pictures on the Internet. And sometimes a REALTOR® will come to such a function without a particular client in mind but after seeing your home, will remember a client or prospect who should see the house.
• Create descriptive signs to be placed in your home to highlight certain items which a buyer might miss such as stairs to a basement or third floor, “red flag” items which you are planning to fix, or unique features which we want to ensure a buyer sees.
• Contact every agent who has previously shown your home to let them know the new price and get more detailed background on their client as well as more detailed feedback to determine the reason(s) they have not come for a second showing.
• Negotiate repairs and, if desired by clients, find contractors to make repairs.
• Track the buyer’s loan process to ensure that they can obtain financing, if applicable.
• Interface with the appraiser, if possible and allowed by law.
• Troubleshoot and solve any problems as they arise throughout the process.
• Help to maintain your home if you choose to vacate before closing.
• Coordinate the closing with the attorney, lender, appraiser, and surveyor.
• Review the closing disclosure statement and deal with all last-minute closing issues that often arise.
• Attend the closing.
• Help you with any post-closing issues that arise.
SIMPLY THE BEST
Cottingham Chalk consistently outperforms the market. Our agents draw on the collective knowledge and experience of our company. No house or person is the same. We get that. As a boutique firm, we’re able to provide a customized and tailored experience. Simply put, we set the standard for real estate excellence in Charlotte.
Our invitation-only network was responsible for $272 billion in annual home sales volume among the top 500 U.S. real estate firms in 2024.
2024 U.S. HOME SALES VOLUME AMONG THE TOP 500 U.S. REAL ESTATE FIRMS.
Volume shown in billions of dollars.
LEADINGRE*
KELLER WILLIAMS
COMPASS
COLDWELL BANKER
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES
EXP REALTY
RE/MAX
THE REAL BROKERAGE, INC.
CENTURY 21
DOUGLAS ELLIMAN
REDFIN
HOMESMART SIDE
UNITED REAL ESTATE
SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
$25 $24 $21 $21
*Volume(s) included in LeadingRE Home Sales Volume may replicate volume(s) set forth elsewhere in this chart, as LeadingRE member firms may be affiliated with other real estate organizations.
AT A GLANCE COTTINGHAM CHALK
Daniel Cottingham President
Dan Cottingham Co-Founder & Chairman
Leigh C. Corso VP of Branding & Engagement
Built on a foundation of integrity and trust, Cottingham Chalk has a long history of serving the Charlotte community.
From the beginning, our focus has been on people. Attracting the best brokers to build their careers under our roof and empowering them to provide excellent service to our community, and in turn, attracting the best clientele to trust us to shepherd them through the process of buying or selling a home.
We identify wonderful people and develop them into excellent real estate agents, not the other way around. Our focus on homegrown talent has created a collaborative environment where brokers work together, share ideas, and support each other — and our clients reap the benefits of working with agents who are their best selves. Our brokers start here, learn here, grow here, and flourish here. They are leaders in our community and our industry.
Now in our second generation of leadership, we are a family business more than ever. We help each other, we trust each other, we care about each other. When you work at Cottingham Chalk, you are part of the family. When you hire a Cottingham Chalk broker, you have the entire company in your corner.
As a local, independent company, we are free to focus on the big picture as opposed to next quarter’s numbers. We can stay the course when it is the right path, and we can adjust quickly when change is appropriate. As an exclusive member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, we are equipped with market leading resources to serve our clients both locally and around the globe.
MEET OUR MARKETING TEAM
Successfully marketing a home requires industry know-how, skill and relationships. The award-winning Cottingham Chalk marketing team understands the complexities of marketing a home specific to each of Charlotte’s unique neighborhoods. Our team assists our agents with the following, making sure your home looks its best and gets in front of as many targeted potential buyers as possible:
Nicole Hannon Senior Marketing Coordinator
Meade Dadkhah Senior Marketing Coordinator
“Our team is constantly innovating and staying on top of industry best practices so that we can incorporate the most effective tools available when marketing our homes. Showcasing your home looking its best to the most targeted audience possible is our goal with each home that we are entrusted to help sell.”
MEET OUR RELOCATION TEAM
This dynamite team has received numerous awards recognizing their excellence in service. Suzanne Lail brings over 30 years of real estate experience to her position as Relocation Director. She cultivates relationships with corporations relocating to our area and is often involved in the recruiting process, working closely with global relocation management companies and training our brokers on the process. She counsels transferees moving into and out of Charlotte, making sure to maximize their relocation benefits. Melissa Alatsis’ background in marketing, program development and client services makes her excel as our Relocation Coordinator. She fosters our affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® by growing our broker-to-broker referral business. With this elite, invitation-only affiliation, we are proud to give our sellers incredible global exposure.
Consistent nominees, leaders & winners of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® annual conference awards
I’M LOCAL I’M GLOBAL
Local Expertise, Global Connections, Powerful Marketing
As a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) and Luxury Portfolio International®, Cottingham Chalk can advertise your luxury listing around the globe. LeadingRE is a network of over 560 independentlyowned firms in over 70 countries on 6 continents. Membership in LeadingRE is by invitation only and reserved for market leaders. Cottingham Chalk is proud to have been affiliated with this organization for many years.
100
BILLION IN HOME SALES VOLUME IN 2022
24,000
AFFILIATE-TO-AFFILIATE
CLIENT INTRODUCTIONS MADE EACH YEAR
COUNTRIES WHERE INTRODUCTIONS WERE MADE IN 2022
190
CLIENT INTRODUCTIONS MADE DAILY WORLDWIDE
ANALYZE YOUR HOME
Effectively pricing your home is critical. As experts in the Charlotte market, we take a targeted and tailored approach to prepare a top notch pricing strategy and game plan.
• Preview active competition and recent sales
• Complete a comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Analyze factors affecting saleability:
Location Condition Marketing Price
PREPARE YOUR HOME
We’ll help you prepare your home from the inside out, making sure to highlight all its best features. Showing condition is critical to obtain the highest possible offer. We will help you by providing recommendations and facilitating any necessary updates to maximize your home’s value, such as:
• Professional staging
• Cosmetic updates
• Landscaping
• Minor repairs
• Professional cleaning & decluttering
CAPTURE
YOUR HOME
In this digital age, buyers will see your home online first, so capturing it with quality professional photos is paramount. With our in-house marketing team and longstanding relationships with local real estate photographers, we make sure your home stays at the forefront of buyers’ minds by offering the following services:
• Professional photography
• Matterport VR Tour
• Professionally drawn floor plan with measurements
• Customized property brochure
• High quality print and digital
PRESENT
YOUR HOME
For Sale Sign — We are highly regarded as real estate experts in the Charlotte community. Our sign in your yard signals you’re working with the best.
CMLS “Matrix” Database — Our listings are included on the MLS where Realtors can easily access important information to share with their clients.
Company Tour — Your home will be featured on our new listing Tour. Each Thursday, we invite brokers with potential buyers to preview our new listings.
Broker Event — Host a coffee, luncheon or wine and cheese to invite our network of brokers to view your property and spread the word.
Open House — Effective way to showcase your home to potential buyers.
HOME TOUR
PUBLISH YOUR HOME
Direct Mail — Neighbors love to spread the word. We deliver “Just Listed” postcards within your neighborhood and nearby spots targeting potential buyers when appropriate.
Print Advertising — We have partnerships with select local magazines. You’ll find us in SouthPark Magazine, Charlotte Home Design and Decor Magazine, Myers Park Life, SouthPark Life, QC Exclusive Magazine, and more. We have demographics and reach data to determine where best to publish your home when appropriate.
SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL
• Highlighted on Cottingham Chalk’s social media channels
• Featured on select outside social media channels
• Search engine optimization
• Paid social campaigns
• Email marketing campaigns
• Website syndication
FROM START TO FINISH
WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY
“Kim made selling my house an absolute breeze. Not only is her expertise and efficiency impressive but she truly made me feel comfortable every step of the way. She helped cover all the tedious details from prepping the house all the way to the closing period. I can’t say enough good things about her professional communication. Highly recommend working with Kim for any of your realtor needs!”
Krista Cross
“Kim was such a pleasure to work with. She was there with us every step of the way and extremely thoughtful and compassionate with every process. Thank you for everything!”
Tiziana & Justin
I recently found myself in a situation where I needed to sell of my house ASAP…sooner than ASAP! I called Kim and within two days we had a plan and a timeline that I felt comfortable with. From our first conversation, I felt 100% confident working with Kim through a process that can be so stressful. Every step of the way, Kim communicated exactly what needed to happen. She was involved, resourceful, and organized. I needed a contractor – Kim set it up! I needed an electrician – Kim set it up! I needed stagers – Kim set it up! Above all else, Kim showed patience and empathy towards me as I said goodbye to my very first home. Now, in my search for a new home, Kim continues to be “all-in” for me!
Amy B
Kim was the BEST to work with when buying our first home. She actively listened to our desires and wants. She is a woman of integrity, honesty, and compassion. We could not have been happier working with her, and we recommend her to all our friends!
— Kelly Reyer
UPDATES & STAGING
The most important factor in getting a home sold is making sure it appeals to the largest possible audience. The homes in great, show ready shape are the ones getting quick, top dollar. If a house does not sell quickly it can get the dreaded “label”. Neighbors and buyers saying in a near whisper… “there must be something wrong with that house if it is not selling.”
It can be tough. You have poured your heart, soul and money into that home. You made it the place that perfectly suits your personal style, a reflection of you, THE very vessel that holds your memories! It can be hard to let go.
Buyers are just people and people want to fall in love. You would not go on a first date wearing sweat pants, a dirty t-shirt and unwashed hair and declare, “he can see past all this and imagine what I could be,” and yet, folks say that all the time when they are trying to sell their house.
UPDATES & STAGING
Smart sellers understand that sometimes taking some extra time and spending a little money will reap big rewards in getting that home sold for top dollar. A little paint and pine straw can go a long way in helping those buyers fall in love.
I spend a lot of time making sure that a home is ready for that buyer audience. I understand what the buyer consumer is looking for and help my sellers get their “product” ready to sell. I arrange painters, carpet cleaners, repair professionals, and anything else needed to ensure that the home is in great shape without spending a fortune on it. I have extra lamps, decorative items and bedding to bring over if needed. I work tirelessly to make sure that the house is in fantastic condition and a property that buyers will love. By the time the sign goes in the yard, sellers are confident that I am working hard to get top price for their home!
FRESH PAINT & FEW CHANGE S
MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT A
HELPING YOU PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL QUICKLY
before after
HELPING YOU PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL QUICKLY before after
SELLERS CHECKLIST
INTERIOR
INTERIOR
• Walls should be freshly painted (neutral color), free of nail holes, scuff marks and free of any unframed pictures, posters, etc.
• Floors should be clean and in good condition
• Carpets should be vacuumed; clean them if needed
• Clean HVAC registers and grates
• Clean all windows and doors; Ensure that all open and close easily
• Make certain all cabinetry doors and drawers open easily
• Repair or replace faulty wall switches, outlets and light fixtures; make certain all light bulbs work!
• Tighten or repair leaky faucets and/or noisy toilets
• Ensure all kitchen cabinets, countertops & appliances are clean (inside & out)
• Bathrooms should be sparkling clean, including tile and grout. Faucets should be polished; bathtubs and showers should be caulked as needed
• Bedrooms should be straight, clean and free of clutter
• Remove all clutter from rooms and closets. Clutter will always make a room or even an entire house appear smaller!
• Make certain there are no food or pet odors
• Have an aroma that will make a prospective buyer feel at home: fresh bread, cookies, cinnamon on the stove, etc.
• Make your house as light, airy and spacious as possible
• For every showing, open drapes, turn on lights, turn the stereo on, keep pets in a contained area, and set the heat/air at a comfortable temperature
SELLERS CHECKLIST
EXTERIOR
EXTERIOR
• Remove all debris from yard (rotting lumber, sticks, leaves, and trash)
• Lawn should be cut and trimmed; cut in diamonds by mowing at right angles. Aim to leave the grass 2” high
• Spray or remove weeds from driveway, natural areas, patio and sidewalk
• Trim/prune shrubbery. If you have older shrubs/trees, trim them for a fresher look
• Apply a fresh layer of mulch/pine needles in natural areas and around trees
• If you have heavy tree cover, trim to allow additional light
• Plant flowers, seasonal bulbs; place “welcome” flowerpots at your entrance
• Power wash exterior, patio, sidewalk and stoop; no mildew should be present
• Gutters should be cleaned out, any holes repaired; downspouts should be routed away from the house, allowing for proper drainage
• Put a new door mat at the front door
• Clean screens, windows and storm windows
• If necessary, paint exterior. No exposed wood or peeling paint should be visible
• Replace any deteriorated exterior siding, etc.
• Repair any loose bricks at porches, stoops, etc.
• Caulk or mortar any area where there is a gap (brick siding, patio, steps, siding, around chimney, etc.).
• Remove firewood away from the house
• Remove any wood debris from the crawl space or basement
• Crawl space door should be in good condition
• Straighten entire garage and/or basement
Cottingham Chalk has put together a helpful checklist for sellers that want to make an excellent first impression to potential buyers.
MARKETABILITY
COMPARATIVE MARKET ANALYSIS & PRICING
We start by conducting a comparative market analysis for a realistic guide to estimate the best price obtainable in the current market. Our goal is to price your property realistically and competitively, without overpricing, so you can benefit from interest among buyers in the shortest time possible. We make sure to consider the competition, housing market conditions, and current supply of buyers to list your home at a price that challenges the competition, attracts attention, and ultimately generates activity.
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PRESENTATION
We’ll help you prepare the interior and exterior of your home, showcasing the unique features and architecture that will attract buyers. We have a long list of trusted painters, landscapers, and vendors than can get your home ready for viewings.
MARKETING
We’ll also compile a unique marketing plan to broaden your listing’s reach to potential buyers. Our plan includes print and digital channels that are frequently used by potential buyers.
EXTERNAL FACTORS
We believe it’s important to educate our clients about the external factors that may affect the success of a listing.
They include:
Physical Features
Location, size and acreage, floor plan, architectural style
Market Conditions
Interest rates, financing availability, buyer demand
The Competition
Number of similar properties for sale, competitor pricing, financing, location and physical condition
OBTAINING THE BEST PRICE FOR YOUR PROPERTY
I will create a comparative market Analysis which will take many factors into consideration.
The three main factors include:
• Our competition
• Housing market conditions
• Current supply of buyers
One of the best things to keep in mind the market dictates the best price obtainable!
THE RISK OF OVERPRICING
By pricing your property realistically and competitively from the start, you can benefit from the greatest interest among real estate professionals and buyers. It also helps your property sell in the shortest time possible.
To get the best price obtainable for your house, it will be most important to list it at a price that challenges the competition, attracts attention, and generates activity.
