The Perils of Hosting a Holiday Party
A Must read to be sure you are protected by insurance and tips of what to do. http://ping.fm/zW1Yi
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
My Desires for You in 2010
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address!
In simple words ............
May 2010 be the best year of your life!!!
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address!
In simple words ............
May 2010 be the best year of your life!!!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
What should you do with your crawl space vents in the winter?
As a Realtor I am asked quite often what should you do with your crawl space vents? Leave them open or close them?
As I thought about itI would have thought the obvious would be to close them. Think of all the water lines that may be in the crawl space and a cold winter night with a bone chilling 20 mile per hour wind. Common since says to close them. So lets go to the experts and see what they say. Below is a question and answer from a home inspector and I agree in the fullest!
I have a question about the Winter Check list article. One of the things the checklist said to do was close the vents to the crawl space (especially near plumbing).
In the past, I have heard not to block the vents unless it is going to be below freezing for a long period of time. I was under the assumption that venting under a foundation, and an attic was just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Am I wrong?
You are correct, it is important to keep from building up excessive moisture in the crawl. It is also important to keep the pipes from freezing. This is always a source of confusion when we talk about venting in the cold weather.
In attics, you have the heat rising up from the house meeting with the cold air of the attic, and creating a condition for moisture if not properly vented. This makes the cold months the ones that create the best conditions for having moisture problems in the attic.
The summer months create the best condition for moisture in the crawl space. However, anytime you have two different temperatures getting together you have moisture concerns.
I recommend leaving the crawl space vents open until the temperature gets below freezing. This will keep pipes from freezing. But, make sure to re-open them when the temperature gets above freezing.
As a Realtor I am asked quite often what should you do with your crawl space vents? Leave them open or close them?
As I thought about itI would have thought the obvious would be to close them. Think of all the water lines that may be in the crawl space and a cold winter night with a bone chilling 20 mile per hour wind. Common since says to close them. So lets go to the experts and see what they say. Below is a question and answer from a home inspector and I agree in the fullest!
I have a question about the Winter Check list article. One of the things the checklist said to do was close the vents to the crawl space (especially near plumbing).
In the past, I have heard not to block the vents unless it is going to be below freezing for a long period of time. I was under the assumption that venting under a foundation, and an attic was just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Am I wrong?
You are correct, it is important to keep from building up excessive moisture in the crawl. It is also important to keep the pipes from freezing. This is always a source of confusion when we talk about venting in the cold weather.
In attics, you have the heat rising up from the house meeting with the cold air of the attic, and creating a condition for moisture if not properly vented. This makes the cold months the ones that create the best conditions for having moisture problems in the attic.
The summer months create the best condition for moisture in the crawl space. However, anytime you have two different temperatures getting together you have moisture concerns.
I recommend leaving the crawl space vents open until the temperature gets below freezing. This will keep pipes from freezing. But, make sure to re-open them when the temperature gets above freezing.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Possibly the BEST Views in the County and all of Brevard NC
Seller is very motivated and says sell this home. Owners have used it as a week end home every few months so is like new. Furniture is available if desired.
This large custom-built mountain homeis on a quiet and secluded 5-acre site just 15 minutes from town. The views are unlimited, and the home has been built and designed to capture the views from the large open living area as well as the two porches on the view side of the home. The home also features a two-car oversized garage, emergency generator, gas log stone fireplace, much more. The 5 acres lot next door can be purchased if Buyer desires.
The home sits atop a private knoll at a 3000+ foot elevationand on a secluded 5-acre site that's only 15 min. to town. Just over 7 miles to Historic Downtown Brevard. Paved roads and drive as well as a circular drive at the main level and lower level features and over sized 2 car garages with shop area.
The Views are Spectacular!Not only Long Range Mountain views to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but you are blessed with a view of the largest lake in "Connestee Falls". The views are totally spectacular!
The owners designed and custom builtthe home to by one of our top area builders, to capture the expansive views from nearly every room. The free flowing open floor plan & living areas accented by a grand living room that features custom built-ins, a soaring 22' ceiling, Windows with electrically operated shades. rock fireplace with gas logs (wood burning also), & Oak Hardwood floors.
In the grand living room is a custom designed and built staircase that leads to a larges sitting-reading area with views, full bath in a quest suite style bedroom.
The Gourmet kitchen features top of the line appliances with granite tops and once again a view that will captivate any chef.
There is extensive decking systems including a screen porch. There are so many features call or e-mail me for the floor plan and further details as I could go on and on about this extremely well priced mountain home.
For more pictures and other listing click here: http://ping.fm/XFaDn
Seller is very motivated and says sell this home. Owners have used it as a week end home every few months so is like new. Furniture is available if desired.
This large custom-built mountain homeis on a quiet and secluded 5-acre site just 15 minutes from town. The views are unlimited, and the home has been built and designed to capture the views from the large open living area as well as the two porches on the view side of the home. The home also features a two-car oversized garage, emergency generator, gas log stone fireplace, much more. The 5 acres lot next door can be purchased if Buyer desires.
The home sits atop a private knoll at a 3000+ foot elevationand on a secluded 5-acre site that's only 15 min. to town. Just over 7 miles to Historic Downtown Brevard. Paved roads and drive as well as a circular drive at the main level and lower level features and over sized 2 car garages with shop area.
The Views are Spectacular!Not only Long Range Mountain views to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but you are blessed with a view of the largest lake in "Connestee Falls". The views are totally spectacular!
The owners designed and custom builtthe home to by one of our top area builders, to capture the expansive views from nearly every room. The free flowing open floor plan & living areas accented by a grand living room that features custom built-ins, a soaring 22' ceiling, Windows with electrically operated shades. rock fireplace with gas logs (wood burning also), & Oak Hardwood floors.
In the grand living room is a custom designed and built staircase that leads to a larges sitting-reading area with views, full bath in a quest suite style bedroom.
The Gourmet kitchen features top of the line appliances with granite tops and once again a view that will captivate any chef.
There is extensive decking systems including a screen porch. There are so many features call or e-mail me for the floor plan and further details as I could go on and on about this extremely well priced mountain home.
For more pictures and other listing click here: http://ping.fm/XFaDn
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Home Is Where the Heart Is during Holiday Season
The study of Weichert.com visitors found that 51% would choose a new house if they could have just one holiday wish granted this year, while 21% would wish for a new car. Surprisingly, despite today’s challenging job market, only 14% had a new job at the top of their list.
When asked where they would most enjoy spending the holidays, it was clear Americans still equate the holidays with home. A majority of respondents, 55%, said they would most enjoy spending the holidays in their own home, 27% opted for time at a relatives and 3% preferred to visit with close friends. Still, the holiday is seen as a time to get away and vacation for 14% of Americans. However, only 1% of respondents felt they would most enjoy spending the holidays at a restaurant.
“The home often serves as the backdrop for many warm holiday memories,” said James M. Weichert, president and founder of Weichert, Realtors, one of the nation’s largest independently owned real estate companies. “From a mantle to hang the stockings to a roof to display the lights to a dinning table to gather around, a home offers many ways to celebrate the holidays and share special moments with family and friends.”
The survey also revealed that the joy of giving remains the best gift of all during the holiday season. Nearly nine out of 10 respondents said giving a gift that makes someone’s day is more satisfying than getting a gift that lets you know someone cares.
Winter here but Spring around the corner so Review The Landscape Before You Buy Or Sell
Spring is typically a good time for homeowners to start preparing to sell their homes because families interested in moving will often look now so that they can buy a home just in time for the kids to go on summer break.
Landscaping and curb appeal are among the top areas that buyers notice first. In fact, some studies show that good quality landscaping can increase the value of a home from 5 to 11 percent. Elements such as curving flowering beds and design sophistication attract buyers more easily than just rectangular boxes filled with flowers. Plant size and the diversity of plant material are also important to buyers. And colorful plants that often don't cost much to put in such as annuals can really brighten the look and the appeal of a yard.
That's why as the country gradually starts to thaw out, many sellers start to spiff up their homes and gardens to make them irresistible to buyers but these things can bring unwanted guests as well. If you don't plan carefully, you could be building an attractive garden that leads a trail of ants right inside your home.
"If you build a beautiful mulch garden around your home, you want some sort of a concrete barrier or some other material besides wood between the mulch area and your home," says Nic Izatt, branch manager for Antac Pest Control.
Izatt says it's very important to not have any earth-to-wood contact. He says that having a garden too close to your home without any barrier can encourage ant and termite colonies to develop.
So while you may be looking to create value and appeal give consideration to things that might not only attract insects (which can be a minor or major problem) but also consider how the overall landscape is working in a yard.
The American Society of Home Inspectors cautions buyers and sellers that, as they are enjoying the pretty landscape, they need to be sure to give a careful check on how the elements all function together. For instance, are the plants healthy? Is the placement of large trees, the garden or lawn in a hazardous position or sloping toward the home? Is foliage too close to the home? Again, this can become a breeding ground for insects. Taking note of these types of possible landscape issues can help to ward off future headaches.
Here are a few things to watch for when either getting your yard ready for sale or when looking to buy.
Get to the root of it: while seeing exactly where trees roots are located can be a bit difficult, spotting any obvious signs of lifting or cracking sidewalks or driveways can be an indication that there is a root problem. The opposite also poses a problem. If you see areas where the yard is sunken in, that could indicate a leaking sewer line resulting from a root interference problem.
Know the topography: understand potential risks such as if you're located at the bottom of a hillside. In heavy rains the water will flow downward toward the foundation of your home, possibly causing flood.
Limb control: notice if tree limbs are out of control, branching out in every direction and touching the roof or interfering with power lines. Watch out for tree limbs that are hanging over chimneys as animals can climb down the chimney but also the branches could block the draft, creating higher carbon monoxide levels in the home.
Close-up look: closely examine plants in your yard and be sure that you don't see mushrooms or fungus growing at the bottom of the trees as that can be a warning sign of a health issue.
Landscaping that's been thoughtfully created and taken care of will be a huge benefit to both the seller and the buyer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)