Colby Hudson, Myrtle Beach Realtor

Sellers: you need more than just a real estate agent. You need an expert in marketing.

Congrats to Mr. David Johnson who recently sold his home!

I'll be honest, we ran into a couple of hurdles on this one.

That deal was an FHA loan and after about 2 weeks into the process that deal fell through due to financing issues. So we went back on the market and a couple of weeks later we're back under contract.

About two weeks before closing it was revealed that the buyer had to switch over to FHA for his loan.

Mr. Johnson remained calm through the hoops and hurdles and we just kept pushing forward towards the finish line. I did extensive marketing for his property and invested hundreds of dollars into marketing and advertising this property for him.

Our marketing video received over 70k impressions. To put that into perspective, the population of Myrtle Beach is about 41k.

Sure enough, right before the 4th of July we successfully SOLD his home! 🎉

I'd also like to give a shout out to his sister, Ms. Lee, who was a huge help throughout this whole transaction!

Congratulations Mr. Johnson - could not be more happy for you!

- Colby

I am happy to report another seamless transition story for my clients Tyler and Lauren! They have been an absolute pleasure to work with. They are relocating to our area as Tyler joins First United Methodist Church in Conway as an additional pastor.

He was on a tight schedule with his relocation time frame and we looked at several homes over the course of a couple of days.

Sure enough, they found a home in The Farm in Carolina Forest and are currently getting settled. Tyler and I are also on the church softball team together so it has been great spending time getting to know him and I am so excited for both him and Lauren on finding their new home!

Welcome to Conway and welcome to the church family!

- Colby

Here are 4 MODERN MIRACLES you might have missed that are right in front of you...🏡

Okay, this first one is fascinating! How about the oven in your kitchen? Natural gas has been used since 1000 B.C. in Greece and was also discovered by Native Americans around Lake Erie. But up until the late 1800s, natural gas was primarily used as a source of light. With the invention of the Bunsen Burner and effective pipelines, it became a source of home heating and cooking. Most people prefer gas stoves to cook on...I know I do!

Turn a handle, and hot or cold water comes pouring out! Has this ever made you stop and go, "Wow!"? Isn't it amazing to think that, while the Romans figured out running water, there are most likely some of you reading this (on a computer nonetheless) who grew up without water piped into your house. I mean, did you know early settlers bored out logs to use for water pipes? This was replaced by lead and iron, copper after WW1, and now plastic PEX piping. Clean water is so crucial for health. It's really a modern miracle to have it on demand in your home!

Did you know it wasn't until 1882 in Appleton, Wisconsin that the first home was powered with electricity? Even though static electricity was discovered in 500 B.C., theories weren't published until the 1600s, and it really wasn't until the 1880s (when our great-grandparents were alive) that homes were wired with it. I think it's magical that you can walk into any room in your home, at any time of the day, and turn on a light!

Do you like being cold? I sure don't! I love a wood fireplace, but it's literally amazing how you and I can go to the thermostat and nearly immediately change the entire temperature of our homes. This wasn't the case until, really, the 1930s when modern central heating systems with electrical fans were possible. Before that, steam was used in big buildings. Most homes were using wood until the 1800s when Dave Lennox manufactured a steel coal-fired furnace using low-cost cast iron radiators. I'll forever enjoy a wood fire like the next guy, but the convenience of a digital thermostat is a miracle!

What other modern conveniences are miracles to you?

- Colby

🏡 **Open House Alert!** 🏡

Join me this Wednesday, July 17th, for an exclusive Open House at **232 Greenwich Drive, Conway**! Whether you're actively searching for your dream home or just curious to see what's out there, this is the perfect opportunity.

🗓️ **Date:** Wednesday, 7/17
⏰ **Time:** 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 **Location:** 232 Greenwich Drive, Conway

Come and explore this beautiful property, ask questions, and envision your future here. Can't wait to see you there! 🎉

Why did Sears stop selling homes in 1942?

These home kits were wildly popular in the early 1900s. When Sears released its “Sears Modern Homes” catalog line, it was complete with 40 ready-to-build homes. Eventually, it was expanded into over 400 different designs and layouts, with the option to add on plumbing and electrical for an additional cost. (For cities without municipal water systems, you could add on an outhouse for just $23!)

The prices ranged from around $650 to around $6,500 for the complete kit, which included pre-cut lumber. They advertised that you could build your own home in 90 days.

Most of the history of these homes was lost due to the destruction of sales records during the move to Sears Tower in the 1970s. However, it is estimated that they sold between 70,000 and 100,000 homes between 1908 and 1940. It is hard to say how many homes are still standing today. At least 5,000 of them have been identified, but most are still undiscovered. Experts believe around 70% of them are still standing.

The phrase “they sure don’t build them like they used to” is a direct reference to Sears homes. (Okay, that part might not be a fact, but it feels true.)

In 1911, Sears opened their own mortgage company in an effort to make the process streamlined for its customers. But this was likely their downfall.

The company faced a public relations disaster when the Great Depression hit. They ended up having to foreclose on many of their own customers’ homes. The final nail in the coffin was the lumber shortage in the early 1940s, due to the preparations for WW2.

They halted residential construction from fulfillment issues and had to refund deposits on homes that were made. They discontinued the catalog in 1940 and completely closed their sales offices in 1942.

Check out the photos of some of the most popular models that were sold.

If Sears made a comeback and released their Sears Home Kit catalog today, would you buy one?

- Colby

P.S. I included a photo of their school house kit at the end. It was only offered for one year in the catalog and it is unknown whether one was ever purchased.

"Some thoughts on the 4th of July"
It's not about the burgers
It's not about the beach
Today's about the lessons they won't learn if we don't teach
That freedom's always fragile
It's not in our DNA
We have to learn to love it so they grow up to do the same
It's more than just a day off
Spent with family and your friends
The Fourth's about what it means to be an American
So remember they're always watching
What you do, not what you say
Live a life that's worthy of this sacred holiday

- Colby

How To Save Money By Not Hiring A Realtor And Selling “For Sale By Owner” Instead

Many people think agents are lazy and get paid a lot of money without much work. Especially in this current seller’s market where Myrtle Beach homes are selling so QUICKLY.

So, in my professional opinion as a Realtor, here’s what I think every agent should be doing at the bare minimum.

Or, if you are absolutely, positively convinced that you do not want to hire a professional real estate agent like me to list your house… here’s what I recommend doing to sell your home for the highest price possible.

I'm going to share a "to do" list of what I personally do to promote my listings here in Myrtle Beach. I can’t fit all of this into one post, so I'll post my advice below.

Let me know if you have any questions, I'd be happy to give advice.

I'm hoping sharing this will build some goodwill in the future. Who knows, maybe 5 or 10 years down the road, you may decide to work with me! If not, that's cool too. I hope this advice is valuable for you.

- Colby

You know it, I know it, you know I know it, and I know that you know that I know you know it 💪🏽

Meet Terry and Janet! I recently sold two lots for them in Waterway Palms Plantation in Myrtle Beach. These two lots were only on the market for a few days before we had them under contract and the entire deal was closed in less than 30 days.

I have worked with them for several years, having helped them sell/buy multiple times over the past few years.

I also sold the lots to them a couple of years ago but their plans to build ended up changing. I have also sold a single-family house for them in Conway.

They are wonderful people and I am so thankful to have been able to work with them! Congrats Terry and Janet!

-Colby

1,511,487.

This is how many times people saw my social media last year. As far as I know, I am the only agent in Myrtle Beach, who does this kind of marketing.

Many of the ads I run on social media aren’t even about me—they promote my listings or help me find homes for my buyers.

The truth is, I get my sellers more exposure on their listings than any other agent and frankly, unless I promoted their house on US-17, a billboard would not even get that kind of reach around here.

So, I tell you that my ads were seen 1.5 million times last year not to brag, but to be real with you that using an agent with an exclusive marketing strategy will help get more exposure to your property than any other agent in Myrtle Beach. And it’s important to me that you know that.

- Colby

I was 7 years old in this photo.

Obviously, everyone has regrets in life. I sure as heck do. For starters, I should have been buying land and investing in real estate. But I was too busy being in the first grade.

This is for the family who has to visit a headstone instead of a barbecue. For the children who’ll watch videos to hear their dad’s voice or flip through pictures to see their mom’s smile. This is for the American hero who gave their life for everything we hold dear here in Myrtle Beach.

These brave men and women gave up the chance to do things I often take for granted every day. Cutting the grass in my own yard. Grabbing breakfast atJohnny D's Waffles & Benedicts, Myrtle Beach. Getting tacos with my family at TU TACO. Enjoying ice cream from Stella's Homemade Ice Cream in Conway.

So, I’ll do my best every day, but especially today, to appreciate and enjoy the freedoms they sacrificed everything for. Memorial Day is the ultimate reminder of what “boots on the ground” really means.

To those heroes, Thank You. 🇺🇸

- Colby

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there! Especially Alison H. Hudson!!Thank you for your love, support, and endless sacrifices. You are truly appreciated and loved. Enjoy your special day! 💐🌷🌸

What if I told you that this pencil could teach you one of the most profound lessons about human life? I’ll prove it to you!

First, just know that there is nothing unique or different about this particular pencil. It’s just a plain old, simple No. 2 wooden pencil - just like the ones we used in school.

Except that… there’s nothing plain or simple about it at all. Even though we’ve all owned multiple of these exact pencils throughout our lives, and we’re all very familiar with them, this seemingly insignificant pencil's existence is a true miracle.

Yes, a miracle. Here's why.

Pencils are made of these four basic materials: wood, graphite, rubber, and aluminum.

Assuming that you had each of these materials right in front of you, do you think you could turn them into a pencil? Probably not. It’s a lot harder than you think it is to create a pencil on your own… even when you already have the materials you need.

Even something common and mundane, such as a pencil, can not be created by just 1 person alone. It requires the cooperation of many, many people for it to exist.

Consider the wood. The wood used to craft this pencil is cedar wood from the Pacific Northwest. The tree that was cut down to create this pencil is one of the pencil's immediate "ancestors." But so is the logger who cut down that tree and the tools that were used to do so–ropes, saws, safety glasses, etc., and the people whose work is to create THOSE items. These are all considered ancestors of the pencil. This goes even further. Consider what was needed to bring the lumber to the mills and slat factories to produce the wooden slats. Roads, trucks, ships, and communication systems - as well as the individuals who maintain these - were all necessary for the production of the single slat of wood that would eventually turn into this pencil. And yet... that is just the wood!

The "lead" is graphite, which is mined in many areas around the world. A graphite and clay combination must be properly baked at nearly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. (My oven doesn't get that hot.) Many people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds must collaborate to produce the lead that goes into each pencil. They are also "ancestors" of this pencil.

This leaves us with the rubber and aluminum. The rubber used for the eraser requires ingredients from all around the world. Just like the wood and graphite that was used, the eraser and aluminum require the collaboration of millions of people across the globe.

But I haven't even mentioned the most interesting part of all of this yet.

The man who cut down the tree did not do so with the intention of creating this specific pencil. In the same way, the truck driver who delivered lumber to the slat factory did not have the intention of creating this specific pencil.

Yet somehow, for some reason, I have it right here in my hand... and it is only worth about 4 cents.

Do you see now why I call it a "miracle"?

The same perspective can be used to further appreciate the things we love about day-to-day life here in Myrtle Beach. Consider all that is needed to produce all of the amazing food at Sea Captain's House (a Myrtle Beach favorite), as well as our buildings and our homes.

I know firsthand how much work goes into helping people buy and sell their homes. And there is so much more behind the scenes that happens for the materials and work needed to build the homes that I help sell.

We all play a specific part in creating a better society for others, even in ways we may not realize!

So, never take anything for granted. Not even a little pencil.

- Colby

In 1999, someone at Pixar accidentally deleted all of Toy Story 2. The backup hadn't worked for a month. Executives were panicking. The movie was saved when someone on maternity leave revealed they had a copy of it saved on their home computer.

Here’s what happened:

“The Linux file server back in the day that they had was command-based. No graphical interface, no mouse. You navigated by keyboard and commands. Most likely what happened was one of the IT guys ran a delete command with the intent to clean up a specific folder. But they accidentally ran it at the root of the file system. So once they hit enter, it began to recursively delete files akin to a worm eating its way out of an apple. By the time they unplugged the server, about 90% of the movie had been deleted.

“The backups had also been dead for weeks. So they began to panic.

“But the technical director had a backup with a PC at home since she had just given birth to her son. So they brought the PC back to the office and fired it up, and the movie was saved.”

So, a mom saved the day….“a tale as old as time.”

Here's one thing I hope we can all agree on...

- Colby

If you’ve ever tried queso, you probably thought you were eating food. You were wrong. Eating chile con queso is actually a long practiced ritual. Many professional ghost hunters consume a bowl of queso, without chips, before entering the site of a haunting. Top quesologists suggest that because of its similarity to ectoplasm--the substance ghosts are said to be made of--queso may provide protection against the supernatural.

In the 1800s, when superstition was more common, queso was used regularly by the rich and powerful for many purposes: healing tonics, skincare, a store of value, and eventually as a dipping sauce at parties.

Even today, fMRI studies show that the brain activity of those who regularly consume queso is higher on average. A recent peer-reviewed study from the World Quesological Institute observed just how many of our greatest innovators such as Steve Jobs, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Jerry Seinfeld consumed queso daily.

Much like its culinary cousin, salsa, the production of chile con queso is serious business. Properly prepared queso, here in Myrtle Beach must be made from cheese that has been bathed in the light of the aurora borealis. The consistency will be too viscous with normal sunlight. Then, the sauce has Mozart played to it while it simmers. This has been the accepted practice among true queso purists for at least eighty-two years.

What I’m saying is that if you’re going to do something, do it right.

- Colby

🐰🌷 Wishing everyone a happy and blessed Easter! May your day be filled with love, joy, and lots of chocolate eggs. Let's celebrate the hope and renewal that comes with this special day. Happy Easter, everyone! 🌼🐣

Are you thinking about selling your home in 2024?

My listing tours consistently get over 30k views. For perspective, the entire population of Myrtle Beach is right around 40,000 people. So how do I do it?

Well, I can’t give away trade secrets. But, I can tell you that I have an exclusive marketing program here in the Myrtle Beach area. I make sure you get the best price for your home by investing more in marketing than most Realtors in the entire United States do.

If you're thinking of selling your home, my cell is (843) 457-3486.

Let's talk.

-Colby