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Century 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.'s is a local Real Estate firm established in 1976 by Mike D. Bono. Our Century 21 franchise was the first to be purchased in the state of Louisiana. We are located at 4410 Nelson Road in Lake Charles, La. We specialize in residential, commercial and land sales. The company is staffed by professional experienced agents supported by closing, processing and accounting departments. The company and all agents are active members of the SW Louisiana Association of Realtors, Louisiana and National Association of Realtors, Local and National Chamber of Commerce. We are the #1 Top Selling agency for the State Of Louisiana in 2009 and 2010. We are the winner of the President's Award, Centurion Award and Quality Service Pinnacle Award.
"Buying our house has been a nightmare through Century 21, Lake Charles. I'm in the process of filing an ethics complaint, Attorney General complaint and various other complaints against the realtor, Charlotte Curran and broker, Mike Bono. I made the mistake of using the seller's realtor, Charlotte Curran as a dual realtor. First it was, the seller needs 60 days to move, which was fine. It was to be from the time we signed the contract to buy. After that, Charlotte spoke with her seller further and now he wants 60 days AFTER closing. Charlotte sent me an amendment to allow this. I was very hesitant. After Charlotte sent this amendment, she called me on the phone in an effort convince me to sign. I told her we couldn't afford to pay rent and a mortgage while the seller lived an additional 60 days in our house. Charlotte assured me there wouldn't be a problem since we will own the house and we can charge seller/former owner rent. I texted Charlotte what we are paying for rent and we expected seller to pay that amount for the 60 days he would be living in our house after closing. The rent we wanted simply amounted to reimbursent and was extremely reasonable. Rather than respond in writing, Charlotte calls to inform me that she will talk to the seller when it was closer to closing. Well, when we were close to closing, the seller turned out to be very unreasonable. He refused to pay rent because he said ,it's not in the contract! I trusted the Charlotte Curran to protect us as our realtor. She should have known to put rent in the contract, if it needed to be included. How would I know...I'm not the realtor... Why didn't you put it in the contract, Charlotte? Shame on you. I told Charlotte my intent to contact an attorney and have seller evicted after closing, since he wouldn't agree to a rent back contract. Charlotte gave me the name and number of an attorney, Skipper Drost to contact. She highly recommended him. I learn later this is an attorney, who has a questionable reputation and was even disbarred for 2 years previously. An attorney who happens to represent that particular Century 21 franchise. I called Mr. Drost and told him my story. He said he needed a copy of the contract and would call me back with my options. I had Charlotte email him the contract. The next thing I know, he won't call me back and our closing date is coming up. There's a contract deadline for closing. My lender kept telling the realtor that we needed to close. So right after I talk to this attorney (who won't return my calls) and actually represents the broker and his Century 21 agency...Charlotte now begins to claim she can't get in touch with the seller for an extension, or to close on the house. The contract closing date expires on a Friday. Monday after the contract expires, the seller is available again. Coincidence, I think not. This was a strategic ploy to let the contract expire. Partially to protect the seller from eviction and mostly because the realtor didn't do her due diligence by adding rent to the amendment. It has legal implications for Charlotte. After Charlotte and the seller let the contract expire, she and her assistant, Lorie Kascak began to coerce me to sign another amendment, stating the seller lives rent free for 60 days after closing and we don't get the keys to our own house. I was informed if, I refuse to sign, the seller will refuse to sign a closing date extension. (The extension that was needed because of the seller and realtor.) We had been ready to close for 3 weeks prior. If I didn't sign their amendment, we don't get the house. It's basically blackmail. All this occurred while my husband was in the hospital and had just received a liver transplant. We couldn't start from scratch again to find another house and lose money, especially when it is the perfect home for us. I tried contacting the Broker, Mike Bono prior to closing and after closing via electronic communication. Mike Bono has never called me. He did briefly respond via email letting me know he stands by his realtor and refuses to reimburse us the 2 months rent which his realtor cost us, while we make mortgage payments on a house we can't live in. Meanwhile the seller has been paid in full for his former house by my mortgage company Mike Bono has absolutely no empathy that we have been put in a financial bind because of his realtor. My husband and I are both disabled, we are on a fixed income, and have medical bills related to my husband's transplant. We had saved just enough money for our down payment and closing costs. My recommendation to anyone after this experience is to never do business with a dual realtor agent as a buyer. Definitely not with Century 21 Lake Charles. A dual realtor is supposed to be unbiased and not to divulge confidential information from either party to the other. Charlotte Curran was never unbiased and she divulged my confidence to the seller. That was apparent by the last minute change in the amendment. The agents and the broker have conducted themselves in an unethical manner. Giving a seller 60 days free rent while the new owner has no access to their own property is outrageous and unheard of. We have a house, but we are confined to a tiny 200 square foot rental, while my husband is recovering from major transplant surgery. Meanwhile, the former owner is living rent free in our house while we pay both rent and a mortgage. All due to Charlotte Curran and Mike Bono. I'm glad this is my last house purchase because I will never trust another realtor or broker again. BTW, I spoke with another attorney and he informed me that dual agents never represent the buyer. They are required to, but it's always about the seller... which violates the Louisiana realtor ethics commission standards for a dual realtor."
Paula L on October 2023
Century 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.'s is a local Real Estate firm established in 1976 by Mike D. Bono. Our Century 21 franchise was the first to be purchased in the state of Louisiana. We are located at 4410 Nelson Road in Lake Charles, La. We specialize in residential, commercial and land sales. The company is staffed by professional experienced agents supported by closing, processing and accounting departments. The company and all agents are active members of the SW Louisiana Association of Realtors, Louisiana and National Association of Realtors, Local and National Chamber of Commerce. We are the #1 Top Selling agency for the State Of Louisiana in 2009 and 2010. We are the winner of the President's Award, Centurion Award and Quality Service Pinnacle Award.
"Buying our house has been a nightmare through Century 21, Lake Charles. I'm in the process of filing an ethics complaint, Attorney General complaint and various other complaints against the realtor, Charlotte Curran and broker, Mike Bono. I made the mistake of using the seller's realtor, Charlotte Curran as a dual realtor. First it was, the seller needs 60 days to move, which was fine. It was to be from the time we signed the contract to buy. After that, Charlotte spoke with her seller further and now he wants 60 days AFTER closing. Charlotte sent me an amendment to allow this. I was very hesitant. After Charlotte sent this amendment, she called me on the phone in an effort convince me to sign. I told her we couldn't afford to pay rent and a mortgage while the seller lived an additional 60 days in our house. Charlotte assured me there wouldn't be a problem since we will own the house and we can charge seller/former owner rent. I texted Charlotte what we are paying for rent and we expected seller to pay that amount for the 60 days he would be living in our house after closing. The rent we wanted simply amounted to reimbursent and was extremely reasonable. Rather than respond in writing, Charlotte calls to inform me that she will talk to the seller when it was closer to closing. Well, when we were close to closing, the seller turned out to be very unreasonable. He refused to pay rent because he said ,it's not in the contract! I trusted the Charlotte Curran to protect us as our realtor. She should have known to put rent in the contract, if it needed to be included. How would I know...I'm not the realtor... Why didn't you put it in the contract, Charlotte? Shame on you. I told Charlotte my intent to contact an attorney and have seller evicted after closing, since he wouldn't agree to a rent back contract. Charlotte gave me the name and number of an attorney, Skipper Drost to contact. She highly recommended him. I learn later this is an attorney, who has a questionable reputation and was even disbarred for 2 years previously. An attorney who happens to represent that particular Century 21 franchise. I called Mr. Drost and told him my story. He said he needed a copy of the contract and would call me back with my options. I had Charlotte email him the contract. The next thing I know, he won't call me back and our closing date is coming up. There's a contract deadline for closing. My lender kept telling the realtor that we needed to close. So right after I talk to this attorney (who won't return my calls) and actually represents the broker and his Century 21 agency...Charlotte now begins to claim she can't get in touch with the seller for an extension, or to close on the house. The contract closing date expires on a Friday. Monday after the contract expires, the seller is available again. Coincidence, I think not. This was a strategic ploy to let the contract expire. Partially to protect the seller from eviction and mostly because the realtor didn't do her due diligence by adding rent to the amendment. It has legal implications for Charlotte. After Charlotte and the seller let the contract expire, she and her assistant, Lorie Kascak began to coerce me to sign another amendment, stating the seller lives rent free for 60 days after closing and we don't get the keys to our own house. I was informed if, I refuse to sign, the seller will refuse to sign a closing date extension. (The extension that was needed because of the seller and realtor.) We had been ready to close for 3 weeks prior. If I didn't sign their amendment, we don't get the house. It's basically blackmail. All this occurred while my husband was in the hospital and had just received a liver transplant. We couldn't start from scratch again to find another house and lose money, especially when it is the perfect home for us. I tried contacting the Broker, Mike Bono prior to closing and after closing via electronic communication. Mike Bono has never called me. He did briefly respond via email letting me know he stands by his realtor and refuses to reimburse us the 2 months rent which his realtor cost us, while we make mortgage payments on a house we can't live in. Meanwhile the seller has been paid in full for his former house by my mortgage company Mike Bono has absolutely no empathy that we have been put in a financial bind because of his realtor. My husband and I are both disabled, we are on a fixed income, and have medical bills related to my husband's transplant. We had saved just enough money for our down payment and closing costs. My recommendation to anyone after this experience is to never do business with a dual realtor agent as a buyer. Definitely not with Century 21 Lake Charles. A dual realtor is supposed to be unbiased and not to divulge confidential information from either party to the other. Charlotte Curran was never unbiased and she divulged my confidence to the seller. That was apparent by the last minute change in the amendment. The agents and the broker have conducted themselves in an unethical manner. Giving a seller 60 days free rent while the new owner has no access to their own property is outrageous and unheard of. We have a house, but we are confined to a tiny 200 square foot rental, while my husband is recovering from major transplant surgery. Meanwhile, the former owner is living rent free in our house while we pay both rent and a mortgage. All due to Charlotte Curran and Mike Bono. I'm glad this is my last house purchase because I will never trust another realtor or broker again. BTW, I spoke with another attorney and he informed me that dual agents never represent the buyer. They are required to, but it's always about the seller... which violates the Louisiana realtor ethics commission standards for a dual realtor."
Paula L on October 2023
Property appraisals FAQs
An appraisal is an opinion of value, so anything that is expected to boost your home value is likely to work in your favor when it comes to the appraisal. Things like improving your curb appeal, painting, refinishing floors, and taking care of minor repairs are all good investments prior to ordering an appraisal. It’s also a good idea to clear out any clutter and complete a deep clean beforehand to show your property in the best light possible.
Appraisals aren’t required by law to complete a real estate transaction, but it’s unlikely that a lender will allow a buyer to close on a property without an appraisal, so, effectively, they are usually required. Your mortgage lender uses the property as collateral for your loan, and the appraisal is what the lender will base the mortgage on to confirm the value is there to justify their investment.
The average cost of a property appraisal is around $355, but different appraisers in your area could charge anywhere from $250 to $500. Appraisals for larger properties will often cost more, as will valuations for older properties. Appraisers will use homes in the surrounding area to help determine a valuation as well, so if your home doesn’t conform to the neighborhood standards, the valuation will require more work and will likely cost more.
A licensed appraiser is the only individual that can carry out a property appraisal. You should always check to ensure an appraiser you’re considering has the proper licensing from your state. Additionally, since an appraisal is meant to be an unbiased opinion of a property’s value, you should confirm that the appraiser doesn’t have ties to any other party in the sale of the property.
Anyone can hire a property appraiser to confirm the inherent value of a property, but the buyer or buyer’s lender will usually choose the appraiser and pay the individual for their opinion. It’s also not uncommon for the seller’s side in a real estate transaction to hire an appraiser in order to justify an asking price or negotiate a higher selling price.
