New Website Will Offer Live Chat, Added Features, and a Helpful Labrador Retriever

On June 29, 2010, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty will launch a new version of its website, SeaCoastRealty.com. The new and improved site with offer consumers a fresh look, customization options, live chat assistance, and powerful new features unmatched by other area real estate companies.

"We spent months designing the all new SeaCoastRealty.com and tailoring it to what consumers told us they wanted, like Google Maps with street views for every property,” said Tim Allen, Sea Coast Realty’s Director of Information Technology.

The new SeaCoastRealty.com offers a “My Property Retriever” feature that allows consumers to create a login and save their favorite properties and searches for later. The feature is headlined by Sea Coast Realty’s mascot, a yellow Labrador retriever named Barkley, but users can customize their accounts by uploading their own images. Consumers can even opt to receive email information about new listings, upcoming open houses, and price changes. “My Property Retriever” is integrated with Sea Coast Realty’s mobile website, Mobile.SeaCoastRealty.com, so that consumers that save properties on their mobile phones can look at the same properties when they log in to their “My Property Retriever” accounts online.

By creating a “My Property Retriever” account, consumers also gain access to a wealth of information for each property, including recently sold properties nearby, detailed information about nearby schools, community statistics, and maps with points of interest, like nearby restaurants and businesses. Even without a “My Property Retriever” account, users have access to a professionally-narrated slideshow, price and property details, maps, and agent contact information for each property. Users can even live chat with a team member at Sea Coast Realty.

For more than a decade, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty has been southeastern North Carolina’s largest and best-selling real estate company. It operates nine offices with more than 325 sales associates and staff in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, & Onslow counties. For more information, please visit http://www.seacoastrealty.com/.

Tips for Making Long Distance Relocation Easier

Moving can be a complicated process, especially when the new home is in a different state or across the country. Buyers must research the town, school systems, job market, and neighborhood all before settling on a new location.

The professionals at Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty recommend taking the following steps to ensure that when it comes time to move to a distant location, the process goes as smoothly as possible.

First, Get Organized.
When moving many miles away it makes sense to compile a list of the key information required before deciding where to live. Important questions that will need to be answered include:

• What is the cost of living? How far will the new money go?
  
• What is the price of a similar sized house in the new location?
  
• What is the community like? Crime rates?
  
• How is the school system?
  
• What is the noise factor?
  
• Will this be a good area for my spouse to find work?
  
• What is the public transportation system like?
  
• How long will the commute be?

Due Diligence.
To learn more about the typical lifestyle of the new town, as well as community events and crime rates, get a few back copies of the local newspaper, or log on to the local paper’s Web site. This third party information, together with information from the local Chamber of Commerce, will give a sense of the area.

Use the Internet.
When it comes to selecting the home itself, the Web is an invaluable tool. Web sites such as http://www.coldwellbanker.com/ can provide visitors with an abundance of useful information. Functions like the Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index will calculate approximately how much a house will be worth in the new market, which as a result will provide insight into the cost of living. Visitors also can find a variety of community and neighborhood information including median age and income, percentages of married couples and children, recent home sales, and a listing of elementary and high schools with demographic information on the schools.

Feet on the Street.
Begin to work with a real estate associate early on when visiting the new city. Look to see how much new construction and remodeling work is taking place. This will indicate whether the neighborhood is growing and developing, and whether current residents plan to stay. Also, have the sales associate take you through the neighborhood “after hours” to see what the neighborhood looks like when all have returned from work and school.

Coffee Talk.
If possible, try to have a few conversations with the “locals” near a prospective home. More than anyone, they have their fingers on the pulse of the neighborhood and the community at large.

Work With Your Employer.
If your spouse will be in need of a job, make it clear to your new employer. The company likely will have relationships with relocation experts and executive recruitment firms to help in the spousal job search process.

Simplify the Move.
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty associates can offer assistance with all aspects of the move. They have lots of relocation experience and can recommend service providers and offer advice.

For more information, please visit http://www.seacoastrealty.com/ or find us on Facebook.