Brian R Kelly

Category: Agents

  • Discover Best Lifestyle with 410 One North Shore Condo Rental Chattanooga TN

    Discover Best Lifestyle with 410 One North Shore Condo Rental Chattanooga TN

    Discover why the rental at 410 One North Shore condo gives you the best of Chattanooga lifestyle.  Living at 410 One North Shore gives your morning coffee a  richer flavor as you look out over the parks and Tennessee Aquarium from one of your two private outdoor covered balconies.  Views are wonderful from any room as the floor plan is open providing plenty of natural light in the dining and living room.  The open rooms have recently been decorated with a light neutral palette.  Each of the two bedrooms enjoy a door to the outside space of a covered patio.  The living space of the condo is subtly divided into a kitchen, dining, living and office area.  There are two full bathrooms and a separate laundry room.  410 One North Shore features over 1,600 square feet of heated and cooled space but also comes with an additional storage room.  If you do choose to use a car then you can venture out of your enclave using your remote gate opener to leave the lower parking deck because the unit comes with  2 side-by-side parking spaces in a lower secured garage.

    Life at One North Shore condominiums is becoming the standard for enjoying downtown Chattanooga and a growing North Shore area.  North Chattanooga is flourishing from new green space and trails of Renaissance Park, Coolidge Park, Walnut Street walking bridge,  Tennessee River access, along with new shopping and dining opportunities.  Whole Foods Grocery is a short walk across the road and Publix Grocery is just around the corner.

    Fitness opportunities are plentiful indoor and outdoors.  You can find your fitness niche in the area because just a few include the following:  yoga, paddle boarding, kayak, martial arts, trails, and swimming.  Water is one of One North Shore’s features with their resort style pool that allows you to walk in beach style.  You can enjoy the inside workout equipment at One North Shore fitness room if weather is bad.

    Your social life can only be enhanced with party areas such as the 6th floor penthouse club room, or the outdoor/indoor cooking and bar areas overlooking the pool at One North Shore.  North Chattanooga’s most popular vertical neighborhood also enjoys their very own concierge service.

    You can begin to imagine why 410 One North Shore condo rental on 200 Manufacturer’s Road provides you a unique Chattanooga lifestyle experience.  Schedule your visit to 410 One North Shore by calling Brian at 423-665-9768 and see this condo and rental opportunity in person. See more photos here at http://www.homes.com/property/200-manufacturers-rd-chattanooga-tn-37405/id-219002266/

    Youtube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1728gHjLWCU

  • Honest Politician and A Christian Realtor Go Into A Bar

    Honest politician and a Christian Realtor go into a bar. Sounds like the makings of a fun joke. What is the punchline? For me? everything. I have worked to reconcile faith and work over 2 decades.Brian Kelly Realtor

    Being a Christian and a business man has been more challenging for me than it needed to be. What is so difficult about going to Church on Sunday and living this faith during the week? I was talking to another agent about the fish symbol people put on their car. “I don’t want to put that on my car because of the way I drive, I don’t want others to think that Christians always drive too fast and cut people off!” was their reply.

    Full disclosure, I do not have a fish on my car, or the little stick family people either. Not that there is anything wrong with them. God has not asked me to do that ..yet. So what does working out my faith look like? I can tell you what seems to work so far and what does not work.

    What works?

    1. Daily submission and surrender. My Maker made my heart to serve. If I am not serving Him or another person, then I will serve myself or a god that I make. One little god I made in the past was a marketshare report.

    2. Focusing on customer’s needs. Not a lightning bolt theory, but surprising how often I have not called a client back because I was too busy thinking about myself at the time.

    3. Thinking about the true finish line. Heaven is the goal and the ultimate “Home” of a Christian Realtor. Helping other people find more “life” in their temporary home and pointing the way to that ultimate “prize” is our chief purpose as Realtors.

    4. Working for our Maker. A listing does “technically” belong to the broker. Our heart is gathering listings for the pleasure of a higher authority. There is a noble calling in serving. He is calling me to be the best Realtor possible to lead others and serve clients and customers well.

    What does not work?

    1. Not working. The old joke in Realtor training class was that the “good” Christian Realtor marketing plan was to plant a sign and pray. No need to follow up and “work” to market the house. Marketing a home takes diligent effort. Lots of it. Not sure where being a Christian means being light in work. Somehow our culture seems to think that being a Christian is code for being lazy and watching prosperity TV preaching. Read Colossians 3:22-25.

    2. Competing in wrong race. I used to think that I was competing with others. Now I realize that I competing against selfishness and resistance. The real competition is laying down my “old man” as a Christian and taking up my Maker’s cause.

    3. Thinking about money. Money is simply a certificate of appreciation for work well done as a reward of diligent effort. Money becomes really elusive when it is your reason for striving. A focus on profit instead of customers is the beginning to a transactional business without a heart.

    Honest politician and a Christian Realtor go into a bar. They enjoy each other’s company and agree to honor each other with respectful hard work.

    Doesn’t have to be a joke. Can be the start of a great story. and they lived happily ever after….

  • Are you buying real estate? Look at the whole enchilada

    Are you buying real estate? Look at the whole enchilada.

    Helping a part time investor this evening look at a house. The area is on an upswing. Houses around are selling faster. He is excited.

    As an agent who has seen a few things, he asks what should I be concerned with? Look at it through the eyes of an investor who is buying for a long term hold. Here are some keys:Aerial View of Real Estate

    1. See what is around the property. What is the value of the homes adjacent and opposite side of street. What types of zoning are nearby?

    2. Land… is it sloping? Where is the water going? How has the water impacted the improvement?

    3. Vegetation – How old is it? Chattanooga has lots of trees. Trees provide shade but otherwise produce leaves, stopped up gutters, drains, roots rip up sidewalks, drives, foundations, etc.

    4. Structure – Stand on other side of street and go to corners. Take a look at how the roof lays. Is there any swag or humps? Walls.. are the walls bowed at all?

    5. Rust – indicator of moisture, possible flooding in basement, etc. Recently a buyer noticed rust on fireplace screen. Ventless gas log sets produce a lot of moisture as a by product of combustion. Something counter intuitive to many.

    6. Cracks in sheetrock – May indicate roof loads that are not adequately supported by piers, among many other things.

    7. Soft spots on floors near water, such as bathrooms, and kitchens. That is indication of past leaks and potential damage, possible termites.

    8. Foundation cracks. Stair stepped cracks = mostly settling issues. Straight line cracks through block = something worth considering a structural inspection.

    These are a few things I look at when helping a buyer with property. Good to be a detective to figure out the issues of real property. Are you buying real estate? Look at the whole enchilada.

  • What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?

    What would you tell your younger self? This is a frequently asked question of Entre Leadership podcasts from Dave Ramsey. It is a super question. I sometimes think if I could go back in time and have coffee with young Brian. What would I tell him? Here are a few topics:

    1. Turn to God frequently and for little things. Early in my adulthood, I thought my Maker wanted me to handle as much as I could on my own and rely on Him for the big important stuff. Wow… was I wrong on that one. God is into the details.Young Ross Man

    2. Embrace asking others for help. Learn to receive it. Slow down and ask for help.

    3. Invest in counseling early. You think you are only sporting a carry on. There are a few trunks of crap you ain’t seeing yet.

    4. Take more time with your beautiful wife. Shut up, face her, look her in the eyes and listen.

    5. Keep a journal daily and don’t give excuses about why you couldn’t do it. You need to find your heart.

    6. Be intentional about spending time with a few guys. Maybe take up golf earlier or play in a band, or camp/hike.

    7. Spend more time with your children when they are little and do not think that your work is so important. It isn’t.

    That is a good start to the coffee conversation… Oh, and one more thing Brian… wait one year before you sell your house in Franklin, TN. The value will nearly double. Oh… and yet just one more thing… buy some Apple stock. The brand will be stronger than Coca-Cola by 2013.

    What would you tell your younger self?

  • Realtors Beware Of Over Engineering Real Estate Business

    Realtors beware of over engineering the real estate business. Real estate is all about people. People buy things from others with emotion and feelings of trust. Don’t get me wrong here. We need good process flow and checks and balances. What I am talking about is making the business too transactional and less relationship focused. Looking at efficiency, profit, and lots of data is fun for an engineer. I is one.

    I jumped into a family real estate business from manufacturing consulting. I looked at processes and ask questions, drew charts, asked more questions. Why do you do this? Why do you fill this form out? Why? Why? Why? I was an adult 2 year old.Jaw Breakers

    I did the same thing with real estate. I drove my first broker crazy. I wanted to break the rules, because at the time they seemed stupid to me. As an example, I take a listing and with a pen fill out a form that has all the information about the property. Then I take it into the office for the salaried administrator types it into the computer. Why touch it twice? Why? (Once I became a broker I started understanding “liability”) You do not need an agent taking a shortcut to change a list price if both seller and buyer have not signed a paper authorizing it. Example…

    I am noticing that teams and mega agents are putting more layers between them and the client or customer. It is causing problems.

    Talked with a person today, about a former real estate deal. He said that his agent was not present at the closing, and neither was the buyer’s agent. Both sent a proxy. Substitutes are fine but it does not relieve responsibility. The title company left off the home warranty payment on the closing statement. The money was not collected at closing. The warranty company was not notified. The parties were looking at the seller to pay. The closing was months ago. He did sign an agreement that he would pay the money, but he did not catch it and neither did the title company, or substitute agents. They are left with a few problems and shared liability. It still leaves the problem of who pays for the HVAC repair or replacement that just happened?

    I spoke with another gentleman who had his home listed for quite some time and he said that the listing agent never bothered to call him after his listing expired. He did not know why it did not sell. He wanted feedback. Perhaps he lied to me, but his perception was that the listing agent did not follow up and give him news.

    These are things that I am guilty of right now in the feedback lacking department and not providing enough hands on direct work with clients. It is not easy to manage the balance of being personal and providing the amazing level of details for many clients over time. That is an agent or broker’s challenge. How do you foster personal relationship and trust? If you want more income and more free time, you try to put processes and people in place that are trustworthy.

    I do know that sellers and buyers want to work with their Realtor. They do not want to feel slighted by working with a substitute and sure do not want to experience a drop in service. That is not good for word of mouth referrals. Realtors beware of over engineering real estate business.

  • What is a Broker's Price Opinion?

    What is a Broker’s Price Opinion? Simply stated it is the opinion of a licensed real estate agent of the most likely sales price (value) of real property. The National Association of Realtors states a Broker’s Price Opinion (BPO) should contain 7 things in writing. They are as follows:

    1. The identity of a subject property
    2. The date of the opinion
    3. A defined price or value
    4. Limiting conditions (Statement of Purpose and Intended Users)
    5. Any interest of the agent including Agency Relationship to Owner
    6. Basis for Opinion and sources of Information
    7. If not an Appraisal by licensed Appraiser then state the fact

    On a practical level, number 3 is the most important. So, what determines a good value?

    Ever watch Antiques Road Show? People are so surprised or sad when the “expert” tells them the value of their heirloom. One common theme I hear from the evaluator is “in recent auctions, similar items sold for $3,500”. They are referencing what someone else was willing to pay for a like item.

    The same concept applies to homes. Recently sold properties (last 3 months) of nearby comparable properties provide best indicator of value. Value is so deceptive relative to square footage, floor plans, construction, and land. A good agent will make many adjustments for differences.

    Another factor I consider are the comparable homes that did not sell. Failures can bring out features the market is rejecting.

    I was with a seller today who knew what the adjacent homes sold for. She was curious why I did not give the same value to her home. Her home did not have re-finished hardwood throughout, or tile in bathroom, etc. Her home was roughly the same overall size but on 2 floors instead of one. All of these factors must be considered in the equation.

    Is a Broker’s Price Opinion (BPO) the same as an appraisal? No, it is not. An appraisal is made by a licensed professional Appraiser. Although they also look at recently sold properties, they are also looking at replacement construction value and perhaps income as well if investment property. Appraisals have specific formats generally for the benefit of lenders. Appraisals are great tools. BPO’s are great tools as well, because they will pick up on many subtle details that pertain to the current “buying public”. As an example… appraisers generally do not affect value based on aesthetics like colors, etc. Realtors are sensitive to those things because we listen to buyers constantly giving feedback. Realtors know that a seller’s specially decorated walls may only reach a small amount of buyers’s tastes.

    The best way to determine the most accurate value of a property is to hold a well advertised absolute auction. That will bring out the competition to level the marketing playing field. Most people are not comfortable with that approach, because the buyers may not think so highly of your place as you do. So the next best thing is to ask a Realtor for a BPO or broker’s price opinion. What is a Broker’s Price Opinion? The best professional determination of what your house is worth.

  • Buyer's Agent or Listing Agent? Which One Do You Want To Be?

    Buyer’s Agent or Listing Agent? Which One Do You Want To Be?

    Real estate is a service business. The consumer wants service during evenings and weekends. That is the most convenient time for buyers. Sellers have a need to relocate. They need a consistent campaign. So how do Realtors focus and choose which of the two main areas to work on?

    A listing agent is a more traditional path to Realtor success in the long run. Realtors like this path for the following reasons:

    1. More structured schedule. You set the plan with the seller when you call for feedback. You schedule Open Houses and marketing events.
    2. Marketing yourself is a self perpetuating machine for additional listings down the road.
    3. You will be good at marketing to your fellow professional as well. You will need their buyers.

    A selling agent serves the buyer. Here are characteristics of a good buying agent’s business.

    1. The buyer is more demanding of your schedule. The Doctor that is coming into town and may or may not get the job wants to see 10 houses over the weekend. You gladly do this because your contact will continue to send you referrals and one will get the job.

    2. There is generally less overhead associated with advertising expenses with this model. (As a general rule)… Note : I have seen some buyer agents (with sophisticated marketing campaigns) who have spent big bucks to find steady streams of buyers.

    3. You see lots of inventory and know your negotiating skills. You also have formulated good questions to ask everyone.

    Of course there is a balanced approach and do both. My experience has been that people tend to choose one route more than another.

    As an overall observation, I would say that Buyer’s Agents tend to be savvy negotiators, frugal, and generous with their time.
    Listing agents tend to be more promotional, marketing driven animals.

    Buyer’s Agent or Listing Agent? Which One Do You Want To Be?

  • Real Estate Investor's Chattanooga House Disappears Suddenly

    Real estate investor’s Chattanooga house disappears suddenly. The house was lost forever but the land remained. Let me tell the story from the beginning.

    An investor came into my office (circa 2004) rather exited and said “the house I bought is gone!” This statement is not the usual way a broker starts his day. I invited him in to discuss the case of the missing dwelling. He started his story from the top…

    I went into this house which was in rough shape close to downtown Chattanooga. There was bad damage to parts of the structure,but it was not too much for my construction crew. I planned to repair the place within weeks and rent it out. The electricity was on, I made assumptions that it had been lived in recently.

    “A reasonable plan, although thorough inspections are best”, I said. “Continue”

    The investor said, “A carpenter I was planning on hiring lived down the road. He called me and said “I thought you were hiring me to work on the house down the street?” …”I am ” he told the carpenter. “Then why is a bulldozer and loader taking the place down?” “%#$%(12***”,,,I don’t know! .. was the owner’s reply.

    Confronting the workers, the owner found out the City of Chattanooga had condemned the property. The tear down had been scheduled for months. Even prior to his purchasing the property.

    Not only did the City tear down the building, they sent him a bill for the cleanup and disposal.

    After digging into the details, we found out several facts. The seller lived in another state. He had a received the notice of condemnation and hatched a plan of deception. He took down any of the condemnation notices, spruced up the property a bit and put it up for sale with a Realtor. His master act of cover up was bribing someone to get electricity to a property that had been condemned.

    How did the property transfer with a title search and insurance? Turns out that condemnation, at the time this happened, is not recorded at the courthouse. There are no recorded liens or encumbrances placed on the property for a condemnation action. The seller acted fraudently. The seller had not lived in the property; therefore, was exempt from filling out the long form of the Tennessee Property Disclosure.

    The investor could have sued the seller and the agency representing him. He chose not to pursue that action because of the expense and time to win.

    Moral of the story? Always dig to find out as much as you can about a property. A “great” visible deal may turn out to be like this real estate investor’s Chattanooga house suddenly disappearing.

  • Real Estate Sales Done Daily Wins

    Real estate sales done daily wins. Winners in real estate awards used to get plaques. The certificates behind plexiglass would read how many in millions were sold. I remember certain sales people would stack their awards beside the desk because they did not have enough wall space. The consistent top producers did their activities daily. Diligence over time wins great achievement.

    I just returned from a meal with family. 41 days ago, I felt called to write a blog post every day for 45 days about real estate. I had no idea what writers for newspaper columns faced when a deadline was coming up and the blank page was staring back at them. It is 10:02 on a Thursday evening. I need to print out a disclosure and covenants and restrictions for a showing in the morning. I need to complete another 6 hours of online continuing education, and I have two hours to complete a story. My commitment to this daily blog is haunting me. So I am fighting back resistance with some stories about daily discipline. Back you devil!

    Allow me to tell you a story:

    One of the Realtors I admired early in my career was Mary Ruth Cook. Mary Ruth had discipline and perhaps some type of special power. She had daily routines that were admirable, but the oddity that most intrigued me was what she did not have. She had nothing on her desk! I concede she had a phone, but nothing else! No awards, papers, magazines, nada, zilch. She did use these things at times, but when she left the area, the desk was clean.

    Mary Ruth had been in the real estate business for 50 years. When we drove down the street on tours, she could tell you the history of families that lived in homes. She had an amazing mind for details.

    I specifically remember one office agent home tour. We piled out of 2 cars and quickly went through a red 2 story near East Ridge. The house was cluttered and I remember thinking, how in the world will they sell without getting rid of stuff? I was more intrigued by the piles of things around the property than the old home.

    When we got back to the office, I wanted to watch the habits of Mary Ruth and how she operated. She took out some notes and picked up the phone. I will never forget her phone call to the buyer. Mary Ruth acknowledged the buyer and went back through the what she heard the buyer wanted and said, “well let me tell you about the perfect home for you”. Mary Ruth painted the home to the buyer over the phone in detail. Like an artist she covered the entire canvas with details I had never noticed about the cluttered home. They met at 1pm and before the afternoon was out, a full price offer was submitted.

    There are many lessons in Mary Ruth’s efficient style of working. The most important for the sake of this blog post is listening to clients daily, observing the details, and keeping all the other noise and clutter away from the process of showing respect and service to her clients. Doing this consistently and daily allowed her to prosper through the decades.

    Well, it is only 10:44 now and hopefully I have encouraged you with 2 true stories. One of a diligent professional who kept the important things in front of her, and the other of a 2 decade Realtor that is learning the practice of daily discipline in internet marketing. Real estate sales done daily wins.
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  • Realtors Fake It Till You Make It Because Buyers Are Liars and Sellers Are Too

    Realtors fake it till you make it because buyers are liars and sellers are too. Why do real estate agents embrace these quotes? Why are they perpetuated years in the industry? At the foundation of the words is blame shifting. Something happened because I am not willing to take personal responsibility for the outcome. My encouragement to you and myself is to be bigger than that.

    Keep asking the question “What can I do to make a difference?”

    How do you take responsibility when many individuals depend on each other? Keep asking the questions “What can I do ?” What could I have done differently?” “Can I go to someone for help or training?”

    It may be the loan officer’s fault that the loan fell through. What could I have done differently in the process to insure that it will not happen again?

    Real estate agents owe a responsibility and duty of care to their clients. It may have been another person’s fault the showing information did not get to the seller. But ultimately the “buck has to stop somewhere”. Let it be with you.

    Shifting blame may seem to make you look better for a moment, but in the end you are destroying a bit of your own soul when you play the victim to circumstance.

    Please understand that this is a difficult post to write because I am seeing me in the mirror as I write this. This is a wake up call to myself and all fellow Realtor professionals.

    Let’s make our industry better by raising our level of performance. We can do this by asking ourselves “what can I do to …” because
    the weak and the blaming are the ones that encourage Realtors fake it till you make it because buyers are liars and sellers are too.