WORKING WITH MELISSA
With a lifelong connection to the real estate industry, Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping others to her role as a trusted real estate professional. Growing up in Lancaster, SC, Melissa spent her formative years immersed in the family business, cutting keys at her father’s established real estate company.
Following her education at Clemson University, Melissa embarked on a career in the financial industry. For nearly 14 years, she excelled in the banking sector, honing her skills in client relations, finance, and strategic decision-making. However, Melissa felt compelled to step out from behind the computer screen and forge more personal connections with clients.
Driven by a genuine desire to make a meaningful impact, Melissa made the transition into real estate, channeling her expertise and unwavering work ethic to guide clients through one of their most significant life decisions. Her joy stems from being a trusted advisor and facilitating a seamless buying or selling process for her clients.
In recognition of her exceptional performance, Melissa closed an impressive $10 million in sales during her first full year, solidifying her reputation as a top-tier real estate professional. Her outstanding achievements were further underscored by being honored with the esteemed “Rookie of the Year” award, a testament to her dedication and commitment to delivering exceptional results.
Beyond her accomplishments, Melissa takes great pride in witnessing the remarkable growth of the beautiful city of Charlotte and delights in sharing all that it has to offer with her clients. Her deep appreciation for the city’s vibrant culture, diverse neighborhoods, and flourishing opportunities adds a personal touch to her service.
When you choose Melissa as your real estate partner, you gain the advantage of her extensive market knowledge, professionalism, and unwavering integrity. She takes pride in being a part of her clients’ journeys, ensuring a positive experience throughout the process.
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.
MARKET LEADERS
• 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
Offer Key Terms You Should Know:
Due Diligence Fee: This non-refundable fee is paid directly to the seller to secure the property for our due diligence process upon entering into a contract. It is imperative to have these funds available promptly. It is necessary to note that this fee is credited towards closing, offsetting the amount due at the time of settlement.
Earnest Money Deposit: This deposit is placed in escrow and held until the closing date. It also contributes towards closing costs. Typically, it is deposited into the escrow account of your chosen closing attorney upon contract execution, necessitating availability of these funds. This deposit is refundable if the buyer chooses to withdraw during the due diligence period. Similarly to the due diligence fee, this deposit is credited towards closing, offsetting the amount due at the time of settlement.
Due Diligence Period: This designated timeframe allows for thorough examination of the property, including inspections, appraisals, loan approvals, and contractor assessments. It provides the opportunity to negotiate repairs and ensures buyer confidence in proceeding with the purchase. During this period, the buyer retains the right to withdraw without penalty, forfeiting only the due diligence fee and any incurred expenses.
Settlement Date: This is the culmination of the purchasing process, where all involved parties convene with the chosen closing attorney to execute final documentation for the acquisition of the property.
Closing Costs: Typically ranging from 1-2% of the loan value, closing costs encompass various expenses such as attorney fees, recording fees, title insurance, property taxes, and homeowners’ insurance. Your lender provides a Good Faith Estimate of Closing Costs, which may include additional fees such as commitment fees, underwriting fees, and courier fees.
Additional expenses to be aware of as a buyer include appraisal, survey, inspections (general and specialty such as HVAC, pest, radon, chimney, etc), home warranty, etc.
Melissa’s Services Include:
Getting Market Ready…
• Conducting a comprehensive analysis of your home to determine the most effective pricing strategy.
• Arranging for professional measurement of your home, including the creation of a custom floor plan with detailed room dimensions and square footage for buyer reference.
• Organizing professional photography sessions to capture high-resolution images and virtual tours for MLS and marketing materials.
• Providing expert staging advice and implementation services as necessary to enhance the presentation of your home.
• Overseeing any required repairs, renovations, or improvements to optimize the property’s appeal.
• Dedicate time within your home to identify special features and areas to highlight, resulting in a personalized and detailed hard copy brochure for display, along with the creation of a digital brochure/flipbook for distribution through MLS and social media channels.
• Obtaining relevant documents such as surveys, title policies, covenants, restrictions, and HOA documents to assist prospective buyers.
Upon Listing…
• Crafting a customized Canopy MLS listing containing professional photography, property data, floor plans, and disclosures. Canopy MLS, with its extensive reach of over 16,500 subscribers, ensures the dissemination of accurate and comprehensive property information. The listing is then syndicated to popular internet listing platforms including Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, Redfin, and others.
• Delivering hard copies of custom brochures to your home and installing a distinctive Cottingham Chalk sign on your yard or property.
• Utilizing print advertising, digital platforms, and social media channels to promote your listing effectively.
• Ensuring your home is prepared for showings by arriving early to turn on lights and set the stage when you are unavailable.
• Conducting follow-up communications with agents who show your property, utilizing email and phone to assess interest and solicit feedback.
• Potential Events include:
• New Listings Weekly Tour: Every Thursday morning, local brokers are cordially invited to tour the latest Cottingham Chalk listings.
• Broker Event: Host a Coffee/Luncheon event at your home, inviting local brokers to preview your property within the initial two weeks of its market debut.
• Public Open House: A highly effective means of reaching a broad spectrum of potential buyers, the Public Open House is extensively advertised within the MLS, through targeted email marketing campaigns, and across various social media platforms.
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. To do this, we will:
• 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
• Painting
• 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 long-standing 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 Virtual Reality Tour
• Professionally drawn floor plan with measurements
• Customized property brochure
• Digital property brochure via Issuu. com
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
• Digital & Social Media —
• Highlighted on Cottingham Chalk’s social media
• Featured on select outside social media
• Search Engine Optimization
• Paid Social Campaigns
• Email Marketing Campaigns
• Website Syndication
• Print Advertising — Our marketing team has relationships 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.
WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY
“I can’t thank Melissa enough for guiding me through my first homebuying experience. Not only was this my first house but Charlotte was also a new city to me. She listened to what I was looking for plus my budget, and provided me with great knowledge of the city and what neighborhoods she thought I would like. In just one weekend, we found the house for me. Melissa always acted in my best interest and ultimately negotiated a price below list (in the current market - that is unheard of!) with some additional credits. Throughout the process, she kept me informed and updated on progress, hiccups, and everything in between. It was so nice to not worry and have complete trust that everything was being handled by a great person and professional. I am very thankful for Melissa and would not hesitate to recommend her and Cottingham Chalk to my family and friends.” — Hillary S.
“I am blown away by Melissa’s knowledge and cando attitude! My overall experience was amazing from the first conversation with Melissa about selling my home to the closing date. She was proactive in every aspect of the selling process and knew how to handle any tough decisions. I highly recommend Melissa to anyone that is looking to buy or sell their home. You wont be disappointed!! Plus, she was able to get more than asking which is phenomenal.” — Jeff S.
“Melissa was both professional and personal. She went the extra mile to make sure I found the home I loved and was there for each detail. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking to find their new home in Charlotte.” — Jenna W.
“Melissa was the best partner for my first home buyer process. She was responsive, quick to act, and diligent in our search. She did so much research on every place we looked at (going so far as calling HOAs to ask questions) and we were often the first showing for most places. She listened to me when I talked through my thoughts without swaying me one direction, and we ultimately found the perfect spot for me and my dog, Gus in a neighborhood that checked all the boxes for me (at a great price). 12/10 would recommend Melissa!”
— Jane C.
“Absolutely THE BEST! I don’t think that our deal would have closed without Melissa! She kept my husband and I sane through the entire process and we are extremely grateful. Plus she helped us with choosing our new neighborhood! We recently moved from NYC and did not know much about the different neighborhoods. She listened to our interests, desires, wish list and delivered the most amazing place we could dream about! Thank you Melissa! P.S we already recommended her to a few people we know in Charlotte!” — Alex & Kristina
