Coldwell Banker Ervin & Associates, Inc. 4290 Hwy 64 West, Murphy NC 28906 Local: 828 835 8500 Toll Free: 866 835 8500 If you don't see a navigation panel on the left, click here to reload our site. Helpful Time Saving Tips COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS #1 -- Real estate agents/offices will only show me THEIR listings. #2 -- If I don't see what I want, I should search other web sites. #3 -- There are so many listings to see, I should take time to see them all so that I don't miss the one that's right for me. #4 -- I should deal with a small local office because they know the area better. #5 -- I don't care about a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). FACTS ANSWER #1 -- Honest and reputable real estate agents will show you any available listing within their coverage area. Some smaller firms prefer to show you their personal listings to increase their commission percentages. ANSWER #2 & #3 -- There are NO web sites currently available that have the ability to show you ALL of the listed properties in a given area. Most pull their listings from select databases. If the property that's best for YOU is not in THAT database, you won't see it. Jumping to a different web site will provide similar limitations. If you don't see what you're looking for, you should contact a licensed agent for assistance. Coldwell Banker Ervin agents can pull data from no less than 4 databases. Our experience has proven that we can find 8 to 10 times MORE listings matching your criteria -- in less time -- than you can find on your own. RESULTS? You get a better selection. You save time. You have reduced anxiety and/or apprehension about finding the "right" property. ANSWER #4 -- Doing business with small local offices or large national franchises is a personal choice. Both can offer advantages. Do local offices know the area better? No. The agents working for the large franchise are STILL from the same area-- they merely represent a larger firm. While both types of agencies may offer similar features and qualified sales personnel, there are unseen differences that you owe it to yourself to inquire about. Primarily, this boils down to advertising -- or EXPOSURE. Exposure is critical to the real estate business. Real estate agencies MUST put their listings in front of a lot of people to generate substantial inquiries. This is where larger franchises have an advantage. In addition to greater database access (mentioned above), our ability to promote via national TV and print media -- tied in with global internet exposure -- greatly increases our exposure rate. "EXPOSURE" is the #1 way to turn FOR SALE signs into SOLD signs. ANSWER #5 -- Not all Multiple Listing Services are the same. Membership and coverage areas vary. Each organization is run differently -- and most importantly, their database software varies. In the Murphy North Carolina area, there are 2 services with overlapping coverage areas. While both services seem similar, The Northeast Georgia Board uses a completely updated software package, hosts nearly 7 times the total listings and covers 3 times as many counties in Western NC & Northeast GA as the smaller service (The Mountain Lakes Board). Furthermore, with over 5 times the membership size, these Northeast Georgia MLS listings enjoy a much greater exposure rate than The Mountain Lakes listings. HOWEVER, to provide you with maximum exposure, Coldwell Banker Ervin & Associates, Inc. subscribes to BOTH services! Buying OR selling, if you're already working with an agent -- ASK which MLS service they use! So... what if I don't see what I'm looking for? No problem. The online real estate listings shown on this site (and any other site you visit) are just a sampling of what's available in our area. Remember, we can find or show you ANY listing -- regardless of who listed it -- regardless of which database it's in. Save time and frustration by clicking one of our agent's links on the left of your screen. Let our experienced agents save you HOURS of search time. We'll email or fax the results to you within hours -- usually within minutes. Or.... just pick up the phone and call us. The toll-free number is clearly posted throughout our site. If you don't see a navigation panel on the left, click here to reload our site. © 2004-2006 Coldwell Banker Ervin & Associates, Inc.