One of the benefits that CENTURY 21 Sweyer offers to our agents is the 100 Days to Greatness training. We offer it in our Wilmington, NC office as well as our Jacksonville, NC office. Agents in both locations that have taken the classes have implemented the ideas into their business and have seen great results.

A little about the 100 Days to Greatness training…

Brian Buffini is a National real estate guru who created a program for real estate professionals called 100 Days to Greatness.  This program develops skills, tools, and action plans to build a business based on referrals.  The system will teach Agents how to increase referrals from their sphere of influence, family, and friends. 

Pam Chumley, an agent with our Hampstead office, talks about her experience with the 100 Days to Greatness…
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Deion Sanders stars in Century 21 Super Bowl ad

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Wilmington, NC  / January 23, 2012 – CENTURY 21 Sweyer & Associates hosted their 9th annual “Kickoff Rally” on January 20^th to gear up for their 25th year in business in 2012.  All CENTURY 21 Sweyer sales associates, managers, and staff attended the motivational kickoff, which covered techniques for success in the evolving  real estate market .

Owner, Jeff Sweyer spoke about goals and introduced campaigns for the new year.  He announced that CENTURY 21 Sweyer’s theme for 2012 is “Smarter. Bolder. Faster.”  Sweyer said, “In order to grow our business we feel it’s important to provide an atmosphere that embraces this theme.  SMARTER about trends in the market; BOLDER about getting homes sold; FASTER about getting out of the gate as quickly as possible.”

 The meeting kicked off with several clips from Sweyer agents sharing what they believe it means to be “Smarter. Bolder.  Faster.” in real estate.  “One of the main reasons we have a kickoff annually is to help everyone get refocused for the new year”, Sweyer said.  Jeff Sweyer has the entire organization, from the Sales Associates to the support staff focused on the same message so they can offer the best customer service possible to their clients and provide them with the most up to date information available to help them with their real estate decisions.

Further demonstrating what it means to be  “Smarter. Bolder. Faster.”,  for the first time in the 40-year history of CENTURY 21, they will air a commercial during the Super Bowl, the most watched television event of the year.

“We feel confident that 2012 is going to be a great year for CENTURY 21 Sweyer.” Sweyer saidSimilar Posts:

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• Day 11: Happy Holidays from the Sweyer Sales Staff!

Kure Beach, NC is a truly amazing place to work and live. I love that I get to sell ” a small piece of paradise ” every time I sell a home here and know the new buyers are going to love it as much as I do.

Many of you know that I love to walk each day. As I was walking a couple of weeks ago along Kure Beach, I came upon this seal trying to get back in the water. I couldn’t get my phone out quick enough to try to take a picture. It was really an amazing feeling. It is just another reminder of why I do love to live here at the beach.

When the weather gets warm, the beach comes alive with beach goers, tons of fun events, fireworks, live music and relaxing summer nights. But, Kure beach truly is a year-around destination. During the winter months you can explore indoor attractions like the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, browse local shops and restaurants, or venture to nearby Wilmington, NC. Two signature events take place in February, the NC Jazz Festival and the Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Festival.

Everyone who moves to the beach quickly becomes part of the community, and more importantly part of the beach family. It’s a place where you know your neighbors, wave at cars passing by, walk to local restaurants, piers and shops, and most importantly live the island life!

Once here, you will not want to leave this quaint beach with tons of small-town charm!

Article by: Chris Oliver

Chris is a real estate professional with CENTURY 21® Sweyer & Associates and works out of our Monkey Junction office.Similar Posts:

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While Wilmington, NC is considered a very safe place to live, even the safest of neighborhoods can become victim of a break-in.  Check out this great article by Protected Homes about how to stay safe and avoid unwelcomed guests…

Home Security Tip 10: Don’t Showboat

Leaving certain things lying around your yard or in plain sight from the road can unwittingly lure thieves onto your property like frantic bargain hunters to a flea market. First, if you have a bicycle or scooter that someone could easy to walk away with, roll it inside or into your garage.

 Also, after purchasing a new plasma screen television or other pricey electronics or appliance, don’t leave the box out beside the trash can or recycling bin. That tells people you have something brand spanking new that could fetch decent dollars on the street. It may also leave them wondering what other goodies are inside your home.

You may also be showing off too much to people walking by your house as well. Open up your curtains, blinds or shades and stroll around the house and see what’s visible. If you have a number of expensive items within plain sight or near windows, think about doing a minor redesign to move them out of view.

Home Security Tip 9: Fake Them Out

If burglars can tell that someone is home, there’s a greater chance that they won’t attempt to break in. Remember, more break-ins occur during the day when many people are at work. For that reason, when you leave the house, create an illusion that someone’s still there.

You can leave a light on, along with music or your television for good measure. Of course, if you’re going to be burning up that electricity by not turning off lights when you leave, make sure you’ve installed compact fluorescent bulbs that last longer and are better for the environment.

You can also mentally fake them out by putting a home security system sign in your yard. This won’t guarantee they won’t test out whether it’s valid, but it could deter them. According to the Office of Community Oriented Police Service, most residential thieves stay away from houses with such signs.

Home Security Tip 8: Secure Sliding Doors and Windows

You can easily break into some older sliding doors by simply popping them off of their frame, even when locked. It’s harder to do that with newer ones, but you should still take extra precaution to secure them since they can be an inviting entry for burglars. Simply take a strong dowel, steel bar or two-by-four and slide it into the back groove. That way, even if people can pick the lock, the rod stops the door from sliding back and opening.

Although you should always lock your windows before leaving the house, you can install a simple pin or nail into to the frame to stop it from raising more than a few inches. This will add an additional layer of security in case someone pops off the screen and you have left the window unlocked. If you have a wooden window frame, you can drill a hole at your desired height above the sash, where the top and bottom window meet. Then, insert a thick metal pin or a sturdy nail into the hole. You can remove the stopper if you want to open the window completely and put it back in for security.

Also remember to check window air conditioning units. If you can jimmy the window up from the outside, add a stopper to that frame.

Home Security Tip 7: Don’t Leave a Spare Key Out

It may seem like a good idea to leave a spare key hidden under a flower pot or doormat in case you get locked out of your house. But that’s an open invitation for a burglar to walk inside without any difficulty.

Someone could also see you retrieve the key at some point, giving away your hiding place.

Instead, give a spare to a neighbor you know well or friend who lives nearby for safekeeping. Since most people now own cell phones, if you lock yourself out you can call for help or walk over to the person’s house. You could also put the spare into a combination lockbox and hide that somewhere outside.

Remember to never put any identifying information on your house keys. If you lose them, and someone else finds them, it would be fairly easy to trace them back to your home and break in.

Home Security Tip 6: Secure Your Yard

Tall shrubs and overgrown trees are welcome hiding places for criminals to wait until the coast is clear to get into your house. That doesn’t mean you need to cut down every plant in your yard. Just keep things manicured. Low shrubs in front of windows remove additional covering for thieves if they attempt to break  in through one. Cut away any tall tree branches that reach upper story windows and protect against attacks from above. Regularly trimming larger bushes and tree branches also eliminates dark shadows that help hide intruders.

This type of security measure is referred to as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). CPTD strategies aim to prevent crime by creating an outdoor environment that makes it difficult to pull off. Its 4 tenets are:

1. Natural surveillance — keep entryways to your home visible to prevent people from being able to sneak up.
2. Territorial reinforcement — using landscaping and design to define your territorial space.
3. Natural Access Control — adding hindrances to easily access your property. For instance, grow holly bushes or other thorny shrubs around your house.
4. Target Hardening — structural security, such as deadbolts and double-paned windows.

Home Security Tip 5: Get Police Help

Police can help you stop crime before it happens, rather than just responding to it. For instance, if you’re leaving town for a while, let the police know and request that they drive by your property to check on things.

Many police stations also offer free security evaluations for your property. If your local jurisdiction has a crime prevention officer, find out if he or she can survey your property and help you identify any security steps you can implement.

Take advantage of a recent trend in police practices called community policing. Community policing involves officers being assigned to neighborhood beats where they make a greater effort to build relationships with the residences. This may include walking instead of driving through or setting up community safety workshops. If the police in your area practice this, get to know the officers who patrol your neighborhood. Successful community policing has been linked to lowered crime and healthier neighborhoods and could lower the chances of break-ins.

Home Security Tip 4: Prepare Before Vacation

Residential crime spikes during July and August as people set off on summer vacations [source: OIsen]. As mentioned earlier, if you are going out of town for an extended period of time, call your local police and let them know. Also, alert neighbors you trust about your trip and ask that they keep an eye on your property during that time.

This mailbox screams, “My owner isn’t home this week, so feel free to break in.”

More importantly, when you leave town, don’t leave signs of an empty house. That will only make your house look like a giant bulls-eye to a thief. First, if you have a home phone, don’t change your message to alert callers that you have left town. Also avoid having piled up mail, over grown lawns and newspapers strewn about your yard that send surefire signals you’re miles away.

Have a friend house sit or at least pick up your mail and newspapers. Ask them to move your car periodically to make it look like you’re still around. During the winter if you live in a cold weather climate, consider having someone shovel snow from your driveway. In the summers, arrange for someone to cut your lawn.

Home Security Tip 3: Know Your Neighbors

Getting to know the people you live around is one of the most important safety steps you can take.

Closer-knit neighborhoods generally report fewer break-ins [source: Olsen] because strangers will stick out, and people are more likely to keep a casual eye on other people’s security. Neighborhood Watch Programs, started in the 1960s, can be very effective at lowering and preventing crime. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, more than 30 million people in the United States have joined these groups [source: National Crime Prevention Council]. Studies have consistently found that watch programs effectively reduce crime and violence in neighborhoods. The National Sheriff’s Association oversees the nationwide watch group organization and offers a number of resources for starting and joining one.

If you rent a house or apartment, you have more incentive to get to know your community because renters are 85 percent more likely to experience a break-in [source: National Crime Prevention Council]. This may be because renters aren’t as likely to watch out for one another or have any sort of community watch program.

Home Security Tip 2: Stay Vigilant!

Although it’s nice to know you have people watching out for you in your neighborhood, you also need to watch out for yourself. If you aren’t paying attention to what you’re doing, you could unknowingly be rolling out a red carpet for a burglar to waltz through your front door.

While it may seem like a symptom of paranoia, keep your identity and any travel plans on the down low.

For instance, only put your street address on your mailbox. Give away your last name, and someone could find your phone number, work place and a host of other stats with a few mouse clicks. Before you jet off to Bermuda, don’t talk about it openly in public because a sinister stranger could be taking note.

Educate yourself as well about crime in the area. Check the crime section in your local newspaper to see if your neighborhood has been hit recently. Also, local police stations, particularly in larger cities, have online crime maps that will show you precisely where reported incidents occurred around you. If you notice a lot of criminal activity, that’s your signal to pay extra attention to security. And always keep an eye out for suspicious activity in neighborhood. A little added effort can go a long way to protect your home and your safety.

Home Security Tip 1: Lock it Up

Locking windows and doors is the most important thing you can do to stop a break-in.

As mentioned earlier, more than 40 percent of break-ins happen without the use of force. That means a lot of people are leaving their houses without locking the doors and windows. If you have a thumb latch lock and a deadbolt on your doors, always lock the dead bolt. Double-check weaker doors such as patio and sliding ones to make sure their locks are strong enough to withstand kicks. When you leave your home, don’t forget to lock up the door leading from the garage to inside. Even if your garage door is down, someone can easily open it.Similar Posts:

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We are proud to announce our December 2011 Top Agents from our Wilmington, Jacksonville, Hampstead, and Monkey Junction offices.

The CENTURY 21 Sweyer Top Agents include:

Dave Robertson (Landfall Office), Scott Morrison (Jacksonville Office), Timmy Evans  (Hampstead Office), Dick Schouten (Monkey Junction Office), Terri Parrish (Landfall Office), Pam Chumley (Hampstead Office), Regina Drury (Landfall Office), Taylor Greene (Jacksonville Office), Patrick Canady (Hampstead Office), Van Coley (Monkey Junction Office). Congratulations to you all. Keep up the hard work!Similar Posts:

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We are proud to announce that 55 Century 21 Sweyer employees and agents will be participating in our annual Dump Your Plump weight loss contest!

The Sweyer family believes very strongly in incorporating more health awareness into the company to help inspire employees and agents to get into shape. 

Dump Your Plump will run from January 4th to March 28th, and prizes will be awarded to the three people who have lost the highest percentage of weight. During this time, Sweyer will be bringing in local health and wellness specialists from the Wilmington, NC and surrounding areas, to help participants meet their goals. We would like to wish good luck to everyone who is participating, and we look forward to a healthier 2012!Similar Posts:

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Head to the Post Office in downtown Wilmington, NC, tomorrow and sing the classics. Starting at 6pm join a group of carolers and entertain open businesses and restaurants with festive tunes! Bring the kids and spread some holiday cheer to you neighbors and frinds. For more information, visit WahtsonWilmington.com.

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Today we are offering a two-for….two great recipes in one day! With Christmas right around the corner (boy, this month has flown by), it time to start figuring out what to cook for the big day. We have found a couple of yummy recipes (with the help of foodnetwork.com) that will hopefully lessen the stress of what to cook…

The first recipe is for the simple yet fun Pepperment Bark:

 Ingredients

Directions

Ingredients

For the Cake:

For the full recipe visit www.foodnetwork.com

Whether you are spending Christmas in the Wilmington, NC area or traveling to be with family, we hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!Similar Posts:

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We would like to congratulate Terri Parrish, an agent at our Wilmington, NC office for being awarded the prestigious CENTURION award! Internally only 2% of CENTURY 21 agents achieve this award. Terry surpassed 60 Closed Units for the year.

 Terri, broker/REALTOR® at CENTURY 21 Sweyer & Associates said “I am very happy to achieve CENTURION for the 3rd year in a row. I appreciate all the support from my clients and cooperating Realtors that helped make this happen.”

“I’m extremely proud of Terri’s hard work and achieving this great accomplishment” said Jeff Sweyer, broker/owner of CENTURY 21 Sweyer & Associates.Similar Posts:

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Last night we hosted our Masters and CENTURION Dinner. Each year the top agents for Century 21 Sweyer in the Wilmington, Jacksonville, Monkey Junction, and Hampstead NC areas gather to celebrate the year’s accomplishments.  It’s a night full of great food, great people, and of course GREAT PICTURES! Here is a glimpse of our wonderful night…

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We at Century 21 Sweyer would like to thank everyone who donated a toy for the 2011 Marine Toys For Tots. Our box was overflowing, which shows what a great community we have throughout Wilmington NC and surrounding areas. There is nothing greater than to see the smile on a child’s face when opening presents on Christmas morning, and thanks to our generous donors, there will be a lot of smiles throughout Southeastern NC this year!

  Toys For Tots is a local toy collection campaign that typically starts in October and lasts until mid December. Members of the Wilmington, NC and surrounding areas dropped of new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes at the Century 21 Sweyer real estate offices located in Wilmington, Jacksonville, Hampstead and Monkey Junction. Today we had coordinators come pick up the toys and they will be storing them in a local warehouse. While in the warehouse, the toys will be sorted by age and gender. When Christmas rolls around, local community members will distribute the toys to the less fortunate children of the community.  The program is successful thanks to the support of the local community and the generosity of the people who donate.

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Looking for something fun to do at your Christmas Party? Well, here’s a sneak peak of the people who are behind the scenes at Century 21 Sweyer during their Dirty Santa Gift Exchange.

If you would like to host your own Dirty Santa Gift Exchange…

Someone writes the numbers 1 through 10 (or however many are participating) on ten little pieces of paper, places the 10 little pieces of paper into a bowl, and everyone draws a number. Before the game begins, if you and another player agree, you may exchange numbers if you wish. There is no need to keep who has which numbers a secret. In fact, it might help the game move faster if everyone knows who is next in sequence; and, it gives the players a chance to plan their strategies. Whoever is next is usually ready to jump in and start playing the game so it is usually not a problem with folks forgetting their numbers. A hidden advantage of knowing the sequence of the players is it gives those later in the sequence time to make a bathroom stop, get a drink refill or get seconds on desserts.

• The 10 gifts are put in the center of the room or on a table where everyone can easily pick-up, shake, inspect and select a package.
• Late arriving game players can add their gift to the pile of gifts when they come in and become number 11 and so on.
• Player #1 picks a gift and opens it, shows it around, models it, reads it or demos it (depending on what it is of course).
• The person with slip of paper #2 is next. That person can either select another unopened gift or take the gift #1 had opened.
• If #2 takes #1′s gift, #1 must select another unwrapped gift.
• Next it is #3′s turn. #3 has two choices. #3 could select a new unopened gift, or take an already opened gift (#1′s gift or #2′s gift).
• Then, if #3 were to select #2′s gift, #2 has two choices. #2 could select another unopened gift or select #1′s unwrapped gift. However, a gift can only be “stolen” twice before it is permanently not a choice.

Click here for more details about how to conduct your own Dirty Santa Gift Exchange!

Thanks to everyone who participated today!Similar Posts:

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The Sales Staff for Century 21 Sweyer in Southeastern NC would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday!

Video was shot in Wrightsville Beach, NC.Similar Posts:

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A great article from WHQR.org about a Wilmington, NC resident and the Wreaths Across America program…

Wilmington resident Norma Luther is riding in a caravan of about 20 trucks and busses for the Wreaths Across America program.

WHQR’s Michelle Bliss caught up with Luther who started the journey last week when the caravan picked up more than 90,000 wreaths from Maine for a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Saturday.

Luther is the national president of the American Gold Star Mothers, a group for women who have lost a child during or as a result of military service.

She’ll be laying a wreath on her son’s grave in Arlington tomorrow. Army Captain Glen Adams, Jr. died in 1988.

“When he graduated from West Point in ’84, he decided to fly helicopters—that’s what his service was. And he was serving in Germany and had a crash on a foggy mountaintop and lost his life there.”

This year, more than 330,000 wreaths will be laid in 25 countries for the Wreaths Across America program. There will be ceremonies at more than 700 cemeteries across the US, including Wilmington.Similar Posts:

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If you are in the Wilmington, NC area and looking for something to do this Friday, head on down to Halyburton Park off 17th Street for a Mistletoe Kayak Trip!

Starting at 8am tomorrow morning, you can paddle the sounds of coastal NC, and surround yourself with festive holly trees and mistletoe. The day is open to novice or experience kayakers, and the trip will end around 3pm. For more information, call 910-341-0075, or email info@hayburtonpark.com.

For everyone in the Jacksonville, NC area- Show off your child’s creativity! The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department has teamed up with the Jacksonville Mall to host the Christmas Card Design Contest.

All entries must be received by 5pm tomorrow. Be sure to include your child’s name, grade, and school name on the back of the card. Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each age division. To top it off, all cards will be displayed December 15th-22nd in the mall! Click here for more information.

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 It’s time to take the family and friends on a hunt for the perfect Christmas tree.

With tree lots stretching from Wilmington, NC to Jacksonville, NC, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your home. Once the tree is up, then comes the fun part (after figuring out which pesky strand of lights is causing the rest to not work) …DECORATING! Whether you prefer traditional ornaments that have be hand-made by your children, or decorations you have cumulated throughout the years, it’s always fun to see how different trees are decorated! For those who are looking for a fresh design this year, check out some pictures below from freshome.com for inspiration.

And remember, if you buy a live tree this year please water it daily!Similar Posts:

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The 2011 holiday season is in full swing. There are already lights on the trees of downtown Wilmington, NC, Christmas songs on the radio, Santa popping up all around Southeastern NC, and festive movies on the TV.

Although Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, it can also be the most stressful holiday for me. As much as I love to shop, I cringe at the idea of what to get the people that I love.  When asked, most will respond “you don’t need to get me anything” or “I don’t know, surprise me” (both of which leave me completely clueless and kicking myself for not starting the investigation earlier). Being guilty of said offense myself, I decided that asking people what they want would lead me nowhere. My next thought always brings me to the wonderful world of Google. Since I “Google” almost everything else I need to know, why not “Google” gift ideas? After a while of searching, I found a great site that is ideal for figuring out what to buy for those “I need nothing” and “surprise me” people. If you find yourself in the same predicament, try www.gifts.com.

They have a wide variety of gifts and gadgets for men, women, teens, and kids (although most kids are pretty fast about telling you what they want…I wish adults still had this power). I hope this is helpful for those of you in the same predicament!Similar Posts:

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As our Countdown to Christmas continues, we bring you two festive goodies today:

Hosting a Christmas Party? Or looking for something festive to serve with dinner? We have the perfect festive drink recipe to get everyone in the holiday spirit!

Candy Cane Cooler:

Infusion:

Thoroughly wash 2 cups of mint leaves and place them in a decanter or jar. Empty one bottle of quality vodka into container and muddle slightly to release the essential oils. Store in a cool, dark place for at least 3 days-longer if you want a stronger taste.

For cocktail:

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Have nothing to do this brisk Friday night?? Well now you do!

If you are in Wilmington or the surrounding areas, gather the family, grab your jackets, and head on down to Carolina Beach, NC for the Island of Lights Festival: Christmas Parade!

The parade will start at Atlanta Avenue heading down Lake Park Boulevard to the Federal Point Plaza. Starting at 7:30 PM, enjoy floats, bands and a special visit from the man himself…Santa Clause. And best of all, it’s FREE! Click Here for more information!

For those of you in the Jacksonville, NC area we have a perfect night for you as well!  Get in the holiday spirit with A Christmas Carol presented by the Legacy Theater Company.

The show starts at 7:00 PM tonight at the Kingdom Life Fellowship, and tickets range from $12 for students under 17 and $15 for adults. You will want to get your tickets in advance because this show sells out! Contact 910-545-2296 for more information and to get your tickets. Click Here for more information!

Enjoy a night on the town with family and friends, and stay tuned all this month for exciting holiday events and tips!Similar Posts:

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