"D" Day

Here is an article on the subject of "D" Day which describes the history of this special day. (courtesy of Wikipedia):

  

Normandy landings

The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations on 6 June 1944 (termedD-Day) of the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the invasion of German-occupied western Europe, led to the restoration of the French Republic, and contributed to an Allied victory in the war.

Planning for the operation began in 1943. In the months leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial military deception, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to mislead the Germans as to the date and location of the main Allied landings. The weather on D-Day was far from ideal, but postponing would have meant a delay of at least two weeks, as the invasion planners had requirements for the phase of the moon, the tides, and the time of day that meant only a few days in each month were deemed suitable. Hitler placed German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in command of German forces and of developing fortifications along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an Allied invasion.

The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne assault—the landing of 24,000 British, US, and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight. Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France starting at 06:30. The target 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword Beach. Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the beach clearing teams difficult and dangerous. Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using specialised tanks.

The Allies failed to achieve all of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô, and Bayeux remained in German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July. Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five bridgeheads were not connected until 12 June. However, the operation gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over the coming months. German casualties on D-Day were around 1,000 men. Allied casualties were at least 12,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead. Museums, memorials, and war cemeteries in the area host many visitors each year.

The actions by these brave men and woman, allow us to enjoy the many freedoms this country has to offer.

Freedom to buy and own a home is one that comes to mind. Remember to exercise that option as we are in this busy Real Estate Season.

Rob (USCG) and Bob (USMC) are both veterans.  Each served during a different era and we are both very proud to have served.

Let us help serve you in the process of buying or selling your home.

We look forward to hearing from you.

God Bless America

Petit Home Team

(704) 728-6944

www.PetitHomeTeam.com

Happy Flag Day 2014, 6 Seller Secrets for Summer Real Estate, and More in This Month’s Newsletter!

In this month’s newsletter:

1. Happy Flag Day, June 14th 2014!2. 6 Seller Secrets for This Summer’s Real Estate Market3. The Benefits of a Well Maintained A/C System4. HUGE List of Free Summer Fun Ideas for Kids Around Charlotte

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Flag day is right around the corner on June 14th, 2014!

 

 Flag day represents our unity as a nation. Take a moment to show respect for our flag’s glorious history,
and those who designed this symbol of our independence.

 

Don’t forget to brush up on your Flag Etiquette for this special day!

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6 Seller Secrets for This Summer’s Real Estate Market

1. Right Now = A Great Time To Sell
The winter home selling season was crippled by the polar vortex, especially in the east and northeast,
so there’s pent-up demand from buyers who’ve been waiting for better weather to brave the house hunt.
Mortgage rates are still at historic lows, so buyers ARE poised to buy and ready to hit the streets.

2. Know Your Numbers: 60 percent
Sixty percent of all homes in 2014 will be bought and sold from May to August.
Putting your home on the market at the beginning of the selling season will help your chances of snagging a
winning offer before buyers turn their attention back to school starting in September.

3. Price It Right
Many metros in the country have seen double-digit price increases in the past year. But this last quarter,
prices started to slow nationally – and pricing is a critical component to getting your house sold. With this fluctuating
market, you need to look at comps of similar homes in your area, and recency matters:
make sure you’re looking back no more than 60 days. The sale price of homes that sold recently paints a much better
picture of what to expect than the price of homes that sold six months ago (or of homes that have yet to sell).

4. Bidding Wars Aren’t Back (Phew!)
Bidding wars were common in the summer of 2013, but we’re hearing less about them right now.
So don’t bank on fielding two or three offers at once. There is, however, a good chance that you’ll still
get the one that will be a win/win for both you and the buyer.

5. It Pays To Be Ahead Of The Curve
Trying to get a jump on the competition? Right now we’re on the cusp of prime selling and buying season,
and if you list soon, you’ll have less competition. Since it’s still early, your home can have its ‘moment in the spotlight’

 more than it will when inventory increases – and the buyers who are braving the cold to house shop are clearly motivated.

6. Make It Pop Off The Computer (Or Smartphone) Screen!
In this new mobile era, a huge percentage of buyers use apps to start their home search. And that percentage
is expected to rise this year as more buyers take advantage of easy access to the wealth of information online.
Get in on this trend by making sure your home pops on those computer screens. Great homes with mediocre

quality photos will be quickly discarded and ultimately get less showings.
Sellers should insist that their agent take the time to beef up their online listing so the quality of
the home jumps off the screen and gets buyers’ attention.

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HUGE List of Fun and Free Summer Activities for Children Around Charlotte

Your kids can have fun in the Charlotte area this summer without putting a hurting to your wallet!

Roller Skating

 Skate For Free is a national program that allows kids to roller skate for free this summer
in many rinks across the country. Two rinks in Gastonia are participating.

Bowling:
Several bowling alleys in the Charlotte area are participating in programs that allow
kids to bowl for free all summer. In some cases there are great deals for adult family members as well.

Free Swim Lessons:
Charlotte’s two public outdoor pools, Cordelia Pool at 2100 N. Davidson Street, and Double Oaks Pool,
at 1200 Newland Road,  offer free swimming lessons throughout the summer.

Reed Gold Mine:

 Reed Gold Mine, just a short drive away in Midland, is a great outing for kids.
It’s free to tour the mine. Pay just $3 to pan for gold.

Dan Nicholas Park:

 Also a short drive away, Dan Nicholas Park in Salisbury is definitely worth a visit or two this summer.
Everything there is either free or just a couple bucks, including an old-fashioned carousel, a mini-train ride,
sprayground, nature center, paddle boats, mini golf, animals, and gem mining.

Drop-in Day Camp at Gaston County Museum:Gaston County is offering a free drop-in day camp for kids age 5-12 on Thursday mornings starting June 12.
Kids will learn about life in the 1800s through hands-on activities.

Cheap pools and free spraygrounds:
Charlotte Park and Rec’s spraygrounds and swimming pools opened for weekends and will be open every day
of the week starting soon. The spraygrounds are free and the swimming pools cost just $1 to visit.

Free outdoor movies:
Once again, several Charlotte area locations are showing free outdoor movies this summer.

$1 (or less!) Weekday Morning Movies:
Many Charlotte area movie theaters are offering weekday movies for $1 or less for kids.

Summer Reading Programs:

 In addition to Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s great program, several bookstores offer kids prizes for
summer reading. Read about three Charlotte summer reading programs.

Kidgits Summer Camp at Concord Mills:
It does cost $5 to join the Kidgits Club, but that’s for the whole year. After that all the activities are free, including this
“summer camp” at Concord Mills. Mondays through Thursdays from June 23rd through July 17th there
will be kids’ activities at Concord Mills, including music, movies, science, mini-golf and more.

Outdoor concerts:
Free summer concerts are held all over the Charlotte area. These are family-friendly and sometimes include
special activities for kids like face-painting and bounce houses.

Terrific Tuesdays at ImaginOn:
ImaginOn is presenting free performances for kids on Tuesdays at 11am and 1pm.
Although they are free, tickets are required and they go quickly. You can reserve the tickets online.

Libraries:
Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries offer free activities and events for all kids, from babies up through teens.
Search their events listings for dates, time, ages, and the type of event your child is interested in.

Free crafts and projects:
Michaels, Lakeshore Learning, Lowes, and Home Depot all offer regularly
scheduled free crafts and projects for kids on Saturdays.

Schiele Museum:
The second Tuesday of every month, Schiele Museum in Gastonia is free.

Energy Explorium:
Always free to visit, Energy Explorium at McGuire Nuclear Station in Huntersville gives kids a chance to
learn about energy, weather, the environment and nature through interactive activities at the visitor’s center.
There’s a mile-long walking trail along the shore of Lake Norman and a picnic area.

Nature Centers:

Charlotte Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation operates three nature centers, each within a nature preserve,
Reedy Creek, McDowell and Latta Plantation.

ImaginOn:
ImaginOn is a joint project of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Children’s Theatre of Charlotte.
It contains the Spangler Children’s Library and presents dynamic shows for kids of all ages.
Although tickets are required for theatre presentations, visiting ImaginOn is always free and there’s plenty to do.

Lego Mini-Build:
The first Tuesday of every month, the LEGO Store in Concord Mills holds a free mini-build for kids,
who get to build a little model and take it home with them.

Greenways:
Mecklenburg County maintains over 35 miles of developed greenways, and more are on the way.
The greenways run along creeks and are a great place to walk and ride bikes.

UNCC Botanical Gardens:
UNCC Botanical Gardens include two outdoor gardens to explore, and a greenhouse.

Kids love the butterfly terrrace, Asian Garden, bridges and ponds with waterfalls. It’s free to visit.

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Petit Home Team

What's your autograph worth?

After each softball game, I give a game ball to one of the girls on the team that earned it. Last week, a first year player received the game ball and she asked me to sign it. That was such an honor! It certainly is not worth any money, but the gesture alone made my day. In case you were wondering, you can buy a Babe Ruth autographed baseball for $12,000 on ebay.

Who ever thought that a person's autograph could be worth money? It's just ink and most of the time you can't make out the name of the person who signed it! Look at a person's signature on an important document though. If you are signing an offer to purchase or listing agreement, the signature is remarkably readable. The autograph is not worth money, but the piece of paper you just signed means a lot. Your signature binds you to the outcome, good or bad, and that's what your signature is worth. Depending on how important the document is, usually determines how clearly written the autograph is!

Realtor's understand that your signature, on any piece of paper, portrays trust and confidence when it comes to buying/selling real estate.  Your signature alone proves that you have made a commitment to the outcome. This gives us the opportunity to work for YOU! When you work with the Petit Home Team, we write down our commitment to the client on day 1. And we sign it!

Your comPETITive Realtor!

Rob Petit
www.PetitHomeTeam.com


 

Real Estate Madness

It's March Madness time! I'm not talking about your busted NCAA bracket either. The spring real estate market is in full effect and all indications show there is no slowing down. Properties that appear well kept and priced accordingly, will get multiple showings. Here are some tips for sellers to prepare their home for when the herds of buyers come through:

1. Landscaping: A first impression goes a long way. Flowers are beginning to bloom and trees are budding with all different colors. Make sure the front entrance way looks welcoming to prospective buyers. You want to make them feel at home and welcomed when they enter the front door.  When buyers review all the homes they saw with their agent, most will describe the properties they liked from the first thing they saw when they pulled up to the home. "I really liked the home with the wrap around porch and American flag waving in the air."

2. Start packing and clear away clutter: You are going to have to do it anyways! If you start now or prior to the home being listed, this will help eliminate last minute stress. Start with cleaning your closets, basement, garage or attic. These are items you rarely use and if you begin putting stuff away in boxes, you'll be glad you didn't wait until closing day to pack up the Christmas tree.  

3. Make minor improvements: While you do not necessarily want to do a major, expensive renovation project before you sell your home, you can make minor repairs and improvements that will give your home a fresher look to buyers. Small items such as replacing the caulk and grout in your bathroom, updating old ceiling fans and light fixtures, changing electrical switch plates or kitchen cabinet doorknobs provide for a clean and neat appearance. Fresh paint and cleaned carpets give the home that "updated" feeling.

Rob Petit
www.PetitHomeTeam.com

Time to Spring Forward, Biggest Home Seller Mistakes, and More in this Month's Petit Home Team Newsletter​!

In this month's newsletter:

1. Time to Spring Forward!2. 12 Things You Forget To Check When Buying a Home3. Just Listed!4. Biggest Home Seller Mistakes

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 1   Time to Spring Forward!  

It's that time again! Set your clocks forward at 2:00AM on Sunday, March 9th for Daylight Savings Time.

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 2  12 Things You Forget To Check When Buying a Home

Buying a home can be an overwhelming process. Often, so many things are overlooked because we're too busy to remember
to check every little thing. Here are the top 12 things buyers forget to check when purchasing a home.

1. Check the cell reception. 

2.  Check the outlets to make sure they're plentiful and modern.

3. Make sure restaurants deliver to the house.

4. Test out the work commute during traffic hours.

5. Enter the address into the online bedbug registry and into neighborhood watchdog.

6. Visit the home at night to see what the noise level is like.

7. Take measurements.

8. Take plenty of pictures to look back on.

9. Take a look at what's going on under the sink and in cabinets.

10. Check the parking signs on the street.

11. Talk to the neighbors to see what the neighborhood and area is like.

12. Check the hot water and water pressure.

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 3  Just Listed!  

22511 Torrence Chapel, Cornelius, NC

Currently Offered at $700,000

WATERFRONT home on Lake Norman in an amazing location on Torrence Chapel Rd! Huge lot with over 1 acre of land.
Full brick veneer,Ranch style home features opportunities galore!Back loading garage door, full walkout basement
and boat ramp for HOA members. Home has 3 bedrooms,2 full baths, two sided fireplace between kitchen and living rm and
many windows overlooking the water. Motivated sellers!

22511 Torrence Chapel, Cornelius, NC

Currently Offered at $700,000

WATERFRONT home on Lake Norman in an amazing location on Torrence Chapel Rd! Huge lot with over 1 acre of land.
Full brick veneer,Ranch style home features opportunities galore!Back loading garage door, full walkout basement
and boat ramp for HOA members. Home has 3 bedrooms,2 full baths, two sided fireplace between kitchen and living rm and
many windows overlooking the water. Motivated sellers!

132 Colville Rd, Mooresville, NC

Currently Offered at $210,000

Wonderful home for sale @ Waterlynn Community in Mooresville! Stunning first floor with hard woods throughout.
Large open layout with kitchen and living room. Fireplace adds that warm ambiance to the whole first floor! Sliders to back patio and 2 car garage.
Second floor features 3 bedrooms and loft area. Great location for another living rm, study area or bedroom! Community has pool and trails!Fantastic home with a dream kitchen in Withrow Downs! Granite countertop upgrades and tile back splash makes this kitchen stand out.
First floor open layout, living rm w/fireplace, dining rm and kitchen.Second floor boast open loft area, master bedroom w/huge closets,
laundry and two other bedrooms. Large yard has back patio,2 car garage and front porch. A must see home, close to everything!Fantastic opportunity to make this property your new home!
Full brick Ranch style home, features include large kitchen w/ island counter, 3 beds, 1.5 baths.
Huge fenced in corner lot has storage shed and large deck. Easy show, call today!

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