My goal is to combine superb service and accrued market knowledge in order to put my clients at ease in our dynamic Charlotte marketplace. It is all about the client- I help my clients discern with confidence what is best for them.
I have a long history both in Charlotte, and at Cottingham Chalk. I joined Cottingham Chalk because of its high professional standards and its commitment to the client. Having lived and worked in Charlotte my entire life, I understand the different nuances of its many neighborhoods.
I have a long history both in Charlotte, and at Cottingham Chalk. I joined Cottingham Chalk because of its high professional standards and its commitment to the client. Having lived and worked in Charlotte my entire life, I understand the different nuances of its many neighborhoods.
I love what I do. As a buyer’s agent, I am a match-maker, striving to find the best home for my clients. As a listing agent, I am determined to present my clients’ home in the best possible light, setting the stage for my clients to receive the highest possible offer and the terms that meet their needs. My clients appreciate my level of detail and attention, and they understand that my fiduciary capacity is with them.
I am a self-proclaimed house-a-holic. I studied architecture and landscape architecture at the University of Virginia, and I am very interested in everything about houses, both inside and out. I often consult with friends, family, and clients on their projects.
It is a privilege for me to show newcomers around Charlotte, introducing them to its unique attributes and culture. There are so many good things to share about our city and its people.
• Full service & full time
• Consistent communication
• A targeted & tailored approach
• A life-long resource – I’m here for you long after the “transaction” ends
• The “golden rule” – I treat you as I like to be treated
• A fiduciary relationship – I represent your interests, confidentially
• Power in numbers – we are family at Cottingham Chalk – you’re not just getting me, you’re getting the entire company
• Support – I’m backed by a full marketing team
• Local & global reach – our Relocation Department has relationships with the best brokers around the globe
• Expertise – I focus on specific areas of Charlotte. If I’m not the expert in your area, I’ll connect you with someone who is
• The inside scoop – I have a pulse on off-market listings & sales
• An advisor – after 30 years I’ve developed best practices to guide & advise you every step of the way
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
• Higher Sales Price to List Price Ratio
• Lower Days on Market
• Higher Sales Volume per Agent
• Higher Average Sales Price
• Higher Average Years of Experience
We work with buyers relocating to Charlotte from across the country & across the world. We’re Local. We’re Global.
MILLION GLOBAL TRANSACTIONS ANNUALLY
BILLION IN U.S. HOME SALES IN
CLIENT INTRODUCTIONS MADE DAILY WORLDWIDE
OF TOP U S MARKETS WHERE A LEADINGRE AFFILIATE RANKS NUMBER
“We knew we needed the perfect realtor to hold our hand throughout each step and we are so thankful we found Lucy. She understood our interests, provided appropriate advice based on extensive market knowledge, and was accessible at all times for each of our questions from the most basic to extremely complex. I am confident we would not have secured our dream home without Lucy’s thoughtful and spoton advice. I strongly recommend Lucy to any first-time home buyers new to Charlotte, as well as Charlotte natives looking for a change. Thank you, Lucy.”
“Lucy knows the market. She priced my home well above what I (and her competitors) anticipated it was worth and it sold quickly. Her staging skills are legendary. The time and energy she devoted to making my house stand out told me how much she loves her job and cares about her clients. I wouldn’t use anybody else!”
— Katie G.“Lucy Butler provided us with exceptional service and guidance in the recent acquisition of our townhouse in Charlotte. Lucy is everything one could hope for in a true professional:she is knowledgeable, responsive, levelheaded, even tempered, and very experienced in deal dynamics. We could not recommend her more highly.”
— The Gutermans“I was a full-time residential real estate agent for 30 years. I say this only so that you fully appreciate my endorsement of Lucy Butler. I dealt with a lot of agents during those 30 years. Lucy is among the very best of the best I’ve encountered. When my husband and I moved from Nashville to Charlotte in 2017, we were given Lucy’s name. We spent a couple of intense days looking, and finally agreed to “settle” for one home, although it wasn’t exactly what we were looking for. Even though Lucy had this sale “in the bag,” and even though she knew she could go to closing and collect a commission without showing us anything else, she called and insisted that we look at one more place, a listing that had just come on the market. Because she had listened so carefully when we described what we were looking for, she knew that we would much prefer the new listing. She was right. It exceeded our expectations. A week never goes by that I don’t look around our new home and offer thanks to Lucy for going the extra mile for us.”
— Susan L.
I am disappointed in the lack of comparable sales available to do a proper “current market analysis”. You see, the Charlotte market is experiencing an extremely low supply of homes and high demand. We had only 14 -24 sales in the past year- depending on how one defines our target market. The median price per heated square foot is @ $380. This does not take into account the variables of condition, finishes, floor plan deficiencies, and amenities such as pools or outdoor fireplaces, etc. We have a very small pool of homes that vary greatly in all of the aforementioned features. Because of this, I can’t really show you on paper without writing 50 pages of why I think your house will sell for $2,200,000- $2,300,000. I would like to sit down with you and go through the four houses that I think point to price range. I usually wait to final price a property when we have finished preparing it for sale. Yours should list no lower than $2,200,000. At that price, it should receive multiple offers.
Your property is superior in quality, floor plan, lot configuration and privacy. It is a pool yard/ soccer yard/ private, level, well- landscaped yard. Your outdoor living space is exceptional, sans a pool. The curb appeal/ elevation and architecture are well above average, as well as the interior features. The portecochere adds beauty and function, and your interior driveway is large enough for a great basketball game. The over-sized garages with the epoxy floor and bike room with the batman stairs offer great storage. Once a buyer steps inside the front door, they will be sold as the house feels entirely like a custom build. Conger was the builder, and the finish level is well above average, as is the floor plan. The wood paneled study and formal dining room along with the wine storage and wet bar are an entertainer’s delight. The downstairs home office, tucked away out of sight, is practically located by the side entrance, close to the downstairs laundry room. The main draw of the house is the great room/kitchen/ breakfast combination that opens to the porch and terrace. This space feels warm and spacious and is designed well for everyday living and for entertaining. Features such as the door hardware, the doors quality, the pretty glass door on the pantry, the quality of the millwork and coffered ceiling. Though the kitchen is slightly dated, the upgraded appliances and layout will entice someone to take on a small renovation project there, as well as in the primary bath. This space is in need of a water closet that is easy to add when updating other aspects of the bath. The second level bedrooms, baths, common spaces etc. are also impressive. Having such a lovely bonus room with a fireplace, a sizable rec room, and the tucked away home office is a rarity. The circular stairs are the icing on the cake.
My recommendation for your is to hire me to help you do the following, in order to achieve the highest price for your home in the shortest amount of time:
• Edit furniture - remove what is not needed and add what the market requires. (Staging is provided by me- moving your items is not. )
• Stage with additional lamps, art, accessories, furniture as needed
• Painting where needed and a deep clean
I oversee this process and will be involved totally from start to finish. Once this staging process is complete, measuring and photos and copy for brochures done, etc., we go to market.
I suggest a “coming soon” status starting on a Monday and beginning showings on a Thursday after a broker open house. I am not opposed to having a public open house if you insist, but I do not recommend it as I have no control over who comes in.
You will see that this information is repeated in my marketing plan, but I want to be sure that you understand that along with my assistant who is there to help you and me with the process, I will guide you at every step from start to finish in a full-service capacity. I take pride in what I do and truly enjoy helping clients like yourselves achieve your goals. My fee is 2.5% which includes staging for two monthsthat should be all that is needed if we prepare properly and the cost of the marketing (photography, measuring, social media and brochures). I can offer contact information of my most recent clients whose homes have been in your target market if you should care to contact them. I enjoy a good reputation amongst my peers and friendly competitors and am well connected in the community. I am very active with buyers and sellers in the $2,000,000 -$3,000,000 price range in south Charlotte, so I understand the market extremely well.
I hope you enjoy this upcoming Labor Day weekend,
All my best,
Lucy Butler
I have been in most of these homes and was the buyer agent for 4026 Saint Germaine Lane and the listing agent for 4003 Sherbrooke Drive.
In preparation for placing your home on the market, I will…
• Prepare a comprehensive Comparative Market Analysis of your property
• Help you determine the best possible listing price in today’s market
• Complete explain and review the listing agreement with you
• Personally help you to prepare your home for sale by
• staging
• suggesting improvements and repairs
The goal of my marketing strategy is to give your property as much exposure as possible.
• Place a distinctive Cottingham Chalk sign in your yard. This is still one of the most effective types of traditional advertising and sets a positive branding for your home.
• Place your home in Carolina Multiple Listing Service (CMLS) which exposes your home to over 7,000 Brokers, Realtors®, and other real estate professionals.
• Your home will appear on our website individually under the Property Search section on www.cottinghamchalk.com. It will also appear on dozens of regional real estate web sites and many world-wide web sites where your home will be marketed 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.
• Arrange for professional photographs and a virtual tour to showcase your home at its best.
• Provide attractive, detailed brochures on your home, complete with color pictures, feature sheet, lot map, and more. These brochures will be available in your home for all buyers and agents.
• Prepare flyers on your property for brochure box., if appropriate
• Send target email flyers to real estate offices and agents who will have interest in your particular area and price.
• Personally call my friendly competitors to give them a “heads up” about your house.
It is important for you to be informed about the marketing process.
• From the moment your home is shown, I seek feedback from each agent who has previewed or brought a prospective buyer to your property. Their comments, positive as well as negative can assist our on-going marketing strategy.
• Keep in touch at least once a week
• Handle incoming inquiries about your home 24 hours a day.
• Be available to you through my office, mobile, e-mail, voice mail system, and my licensed personal assistant.
To ensure successful negotiation of the sales contract.
• Act solely as your agent in its fiduciary capacity and closely monitor the terms of the contract with regard to dates for inspections, appraisal, and loan commitment, closing, etc.
• Determine your goals and negotiate with them in mind.
• Promote your best interests at all times in a courteous, professional manner.
Once an offer is received and accepted, I will
• Stay in close communication with you regarding the terms of the contract.
• Address any and all situation that may arise in regard to lenders, underwriters, appraisers, inspectors, attorneys, buyers and their agents.
• Handle scheduling of all appointments, i.e. mechanical, structural, termite, appraisal, and others.
• Assist in the completion of negotiated repairs, if any.
• Be in close communication with attorney to ensure, to the best of my ability, that all closing details are addressed and handled prior to closing.Request the final closing statement prior to closing and make available to you for questions.
• Cover with you, all aspects of seller’s responsibilities at closing such as keys, garage door openers, home warranty payments, repair invoicing, termination of utilities, homeowners insurance, arranging for power of attorney when necessary and assisting you in disbursement of your proceeds should you be absent at closing. (Please note that your proceeds are available after the new deed is recorded)
This opinion has not been performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, is not an appraisal of the market value of the property, and may not be used in lieu of an appraisal. If an appraisal is desired, the services of a licensed or certified appraiser shall be obtained.
FOR NORTH CAROLINA This opinion may not be used by any party as the primary basis to determine the value of a parcel of or interest in real property for a mortgage loan origination, including first and second mortgages, refinances, or equity lines of credit.
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA This Market Analysis may not be used for the purposes of obtaining financing in a federally related transaction.
Listings as of 9/1/2023 at 8:00 am, Page 2 of 3
This opinion has not been performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, is not an appraisal of the market value of the property, and may not be used in lieu of an appraisal. If an appraisal is desired, the services of a licensed or certified appraiser shall be obtained.
FOR NORTH CAROLINA This opinion may not be used by any party as the primary basis to determine the value of a parcel of or interest in real property for a mortgage loan origination, including first and second mortgages, refinances, or equity lines of credit.
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA This Market Analysis may not be used for the purposes of obtaining financing in a federally related transaction.
Listings as of 9/1/2023 at 8:00 am, Page 3 of 3
This opinion has not been performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, is not an appraisal of the market value of the property, and may not be used in lieu of an appraisal. If an appraisal is desired, the services of a licensed or certified appraiser shall be obtained.
FOR NORTH CAROLINA This opinion may not be used by any party as the primary basis to determine the value of a parcel of or interest in real property for a mortgage loan origination, including first and second mortgages, refinances, or equity lines of credit.
FOR SOUTH CAROLINA This Market Analysis may not be used for the purposes of obtaining financing in a federally related transaction.
