December 2012 Local Market Overview

We're in the last month of the year and real estate is still going strong, below is an overview of how our market looked through the the end of November.

If you would like help interpreting this information or you're ready to talk to an agent about buying or selling, give The Puffer Team a call at 828-771-2300, or visit our website:  www.homefinderasheville.com. 

Amp Up Your Curb Appeal

Looking for ways to spruce up your homes outward appearance?  Below is a great article from Realtor Magazine with great tips for you.

 A property’s curb appeal naturally makes a critical first impression. “If everything within the front space is well-chosen and in perfect repair—from the mailbox and house numbers to the walkway and landscaping—buyers will think, ‘This house is obviously well-cared for,’ ” says Lisa Grant Vail, a real estate professional with Keller Williams Atlanta Perimeter and coauthor of Creating Curb Appeal (Schiffer Publishing, 2009). “This message is imprinted on their brains, even if the rest of the house is actually not as well cared for. It’s very hard to change a first impression.”

While most real estate professionals advise their clients to tend to the yard work, trim the trees, and put out a new welcome mat, they may miss other opportunities to help sellers improve a home’s curb appeal. Staging and real estate professionals offer some compelling ideas for sprucing up exteriors.

Front door

A front door can be a home’s focal point—but you don’t want that to be because of its peeling paint or dinged hardware. Replacing an entryway door with a new steel door (which costs about $1,200) actually offers among the biggest bang for the buck at resale (an average of 73 percent of the cost may be recouped, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2011–2012 Cost vs. Value Report, which analyzed 35 remodeling projects’ payback potential).

Sometimes a front door can be salvaged with a fresh coat of paint. Just don’t overdo it: Vail recalls when her clients went too bold with their door’s hue—a vivid blue that didn’t complement the home. It had dated brass handle and lock hardware, too. (Satin nickel and black or oil-rubbed bronze are more the trend these days.)

Windows

Wash them—inside and out—and remove the screens for added sparkle. Then, try dressing up the windows with flower boxes, suggests Peggy Johnson, owner of Redesign + More, a Charlotte, N.C., interior design and staging firm. Also, consider a new color for shutters. The trend is a shift away from high-contrast green, red, or black to more monochromatic palettes that blend with the rest of the house, according to the Paint Quality Institute.

Garage

Depending on its orientation to the house, a garage can make a huge impact. Does the door need paint or repairs? Should it be replaced? While sellers might not be willing to spend on a stylish new cedar wood door, they can find more budget-friendly options in metal or fiberglass. A new steel garage door can cost about $1,500, but sellers, in average, recoup nearly 72 percent of that investment at resale, according to the Cost vs. Value Report.

Front porch

Don’t overlook this key selling point. “It’s an iconic symbol of American living,” Vail says. “‘Sell’ your front porch as additional square footage by staging it with as much care as you would other rooms. Invite buyers to ‘sit a spell’ with a pair of rocking chairs, Adirondacks, a porch swing, or even an outdoor living suite.” And don’t forget to “add a coffee and a side table for writing up contracts,” Vail notes.

Driveway

Is the driveway covered with cracks and oil stains? If sellers can’t afford a complete resurfacing (which may cost about $2,000 for concrete driveways), encourage them to look into patching up cracks using premixed concrete materials, Johnson says. Driveway cracks a quarter-inch or smaller may be able to be filled with asphalt or concrete that comes in caulk-like tubes. A patching compound for asphalt can be used for larger cracks. Some experts recommend kitty litter for removing oil stains, though hardware stores offer designated products, too.

After dark

Evening curb appeal also matters. “Conceal a couple of portable outdoor lamps and aim them at the house or a beautiful tree for low-cost, high-value impact,” Vail says. Have outdoor lights on a timer so they’re always on for nighttime showings. Interior lights, too, work to create a warm glow from the curb. If the home isn’t wired outdoors, line a pathway to the door with solar lights. “The technology has improved considerably over the past few years, and solar lights are much cheaper to install than hardwired lights,” Vail says. “Plus, sellers could probably take the lights with them when they move.”

----------
Need a professional opinion on other ways to improve the looks of your home?  Call us today!
The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com

Winterizing, Decluttering, Buying or Selling Your #Asheville Area Home

In looking back over the posts we have done in the last few months, we thought we would re-publish some of the most popular articles on our blog in case you may have missed one of them.

Winterize Your Home Now To Save On Costly Repairs

De-Cluttering Your Asheville Area Home

So You're Buying Your First Asheville Area Home

10 Ways NOT To Sell Your Home

5 Confessions Of A First Time Home Buyer

It appears the most popular choices are about buying, selling, or fixing up/maintaining a home - which is what we like to see.  We are in the business of helping people buy/sell real estate and would love to be the one you call when you're ready to make a sale/purchase.  Keep The Puffer Team in mind, we would love to help you with your endeavors. 

----------
The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com

This Month in Real Estate (US) December 2012

The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com. 

Asheville Area Christmas Events

Are you looking for something to do with your friends and family to enjoy the holidays outside of Christmas parties and gatherings?  Here are some great ways to spend time with the people you love and entertain them at the same time.

The Lake Julian Holiday Festival of Lights

The 30th Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular

Ginberbread House Decorating Classes

Candlelight Evenings At Biltmore

Visit the Gingerbread Houses at Grove Park

...and more!

There is lots to do in our great town.  Be sure to shop downtown and in the River Arts district for great Christmas gifts and support our local businesses.  Enjoy the holidays, enjoy your friends and family!  Merry Christmas from The Puffer Team!

*What are your favorite things to do in the Asheville area to celebrate the holidays?

----------
The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com

10 Hottest Trends in Kitchen Countertops

 
Have you been thinking about updating your kitchen?  Here are the 10 hottest trends in Kitchen Countertops.
While granite and marble remain the most popular choices for kitchen countertops, young homemakers are opting for a surprising number of chic, new countertop choices.

“These trendy alternatives offer a clean, sleek, sometimes industrial look that suggests heavy duty cooking is going on here,” say designers at architectural firm Freshome.

The hottest countertop materials available today include:

Poured concrete – Stain resistant when sealed, they are relatively inexpensive and can be tinted to any color. Appearance improves with age, but while the concrete is heat-resistant, the sealer is not. It requires trivets under hot pots and cutting boards for chopping.

Butcher block - Elegant yet casual and environmentally friendly, butcher block requires monthly sealing and oiling to prevent drying or cracking. Its soft surfaces require cutting boards, but cleanup demands only mild dish detergent and a light cloth or sponge.

Reclaimed wood – Salvaged from older homes, reclaimed wood is attractive, sturdier than newer wood, and saves trees. It requires the same maintenance as butcher block.

Cork – Dense, sturdy and lightweight, cork is a sustainable option with sound-cutting properties. It is resistant to water and heat and has antibacterial properties.

Stainless steel – Elegant, sleek and classy looking, these counters are water, heat and germ resistant. Susceptible to dings and scratches, they show every fingerprint, but maintenance requires only washing and polishing.

Soapstone - A natural stone quarried like granite, soapstone is a softer surface that is sturdy but not impervious to dents and scratches, which may be sanded or oiled away. The color is naturally gray and darkens with age, offering a smooth, matte feel.

Recycled glass – Like reclaimed wood, this is a ‘greener’ choice, available in many beautiful colors and patterns. With a life expectancy of 50 years, it is easy to clean and care for. This option is a bit cheaper than granite.

Pewter – Offers a less clinical look than stainless steel, but is softer and susceptible to nicks and dents, although a hammered, antique look can mask damage. This muted, dark silvery color looks good in any kitchen.

Slate – A natural, fine-grained rock, slate is softer than granite but harder than marble. Slate resists bacteria and cleans with soap and water, but is not entirely heat-proof.

Quartz – An extremely scratch-resistant mineral, easy to care for and clean. It needs no sealing and has a long life. It also offers a more unique look than granite.

Copyright© 2012 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.

----------
The Puffer Team Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com.

Two More Houses Sold In 10 Days!

The Puffer Team sold two more homes after they were on the market for 10 days...that's just over a week!

Check out these stats:

 


10 Duncan Creek Road; Fletcher, NC  28732

Listed:  $325,000   Sold:  $305,000, that's 94% list to sell!






615 Fairview Forest Drive; Fairview, NC  28730

Listed:  $300,000   Sold:  $300,000, 100% of list





Neither of these properties were in a multiple offer situation, they were priced right and ready for the right buyer.

Do you have a home in the Buncombe/Henderson area that you need to put on the market?  Put The Puffer Team to work for you, call Brad Puffer today!  828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com.