5 Ways to Course-Correct When Your House Hunt Takes Too Long

Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases a person makes in their lifetime.  The process can have it's ups and downs and can take some time.  Here's a great article from Trulia on how to be sure the buying process goes smoothly and with the least amount of stress possible.

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Some people have home-finding stories that are the real estate equivalent of the sky written marriage proposal tales. They drove by their dream home, knocked on the front door and the elderly owner offered it to them for a song. However, most recent home buyers have tales on the other end of the charming-and-easy spectrum; tales of year-long house hunts and fruitless offer after fruitless offer, followed by a nerve-wracking, hair-pulling, interminable negotiation with the bank are much more typical. 

If you've been in the market for a home for what seems like a very long time to no avail, here are five strategies for getting things back on track.

1.  Know how long is (truly) too long. If you've been saving up, primping your credit and fantasizing about your dream home for 5 years, then waiting for exact right moment in your life and the market to pull the trigger for 4, viewing 15 houses over 3 weeks might seem like an interminable amount of time.

And if you make an offer that is rejected? The agony of that defeat is outweighed only by the pain of your dream (home) being deferred. 

Be aware that today's market is a very slow-moving one. It's completely normal in some areas for buyers to view dozens of homes over as many months, and have several offers rejected before getting into contract. Talk with your agent about how long local buyers normally have to prowl today's market before getting some home buying satisfaction.

2.  Identify where your process is breaking down. In order to course-correct your wayward house hunt, you first have to figure out what the problem actually is. If you're looking at lots of homes, but not finding anything that suits you, you might have an expectation issue. These range from having champagne tastes on a beer budget to being part of a pair of buyers with conflicting expectations that no home will ever be able to satisfy (e.g., husband wants a fixer, wife wants move-in ready). 

If you're finding places you like, but your offers are consistently being shot down, you might need to work on bringing your home picks into alignment with your budget by increasing your price range, decreasing your wish list, or looking at a lower price range and making higher, more competitive offers.

Fact: an experienced buyer's agent is an expert diagnostician of house hunt ailments. If your agent told you 7 months, 43 prospective homes and 9 offers ago that your expectations are out of whack or that you need to consider some compromises, you might circle back to that advice - and consider taking it.

3.  Remember how many houses are in the world, but don't try to see them all. It's easy - but unproductive - to get upset about "the one that got away;" counter that frustration by reminding yourself that you are house hunting in a market relatively flooded with housing inventory.  On the other end of the getting-out-of-your-own-way spectrum, if you do find a home that really works for you in your price range, get over the idea that you have to see everything in town before you make an offer.

One more mindset reset along these lines: understand that the *perfect* house does not exist - at any price range. Petra Ecclestone just dropped $80 million in cash to buy Candy Spelling's Hollywood home and reportedly had the whole place gutted because the decor was not to her taste. In the same way people with curly hair wish they had straight and vice versa, people who have hilltop vistas wish they lived nearer to the grocery store and people who can walk to the store wish they had better views. No single home will ever satisfy every single one of your preferences, so don't hold out waiting for one that will.

4.  Rethink your deal-breakers. The greater the number of absolute deal-breakers you've communicated to your agent, the fewer prospective homes you'll see. And the more flexible you can be about which listings you'll look at, the higher the chances you'll find something you like.  I recently read an article in an architectural magazine about a woman who house hunted ad nauseum in a very small neighborhood she needed to be in, only finding success when her agent showed her a fourplex she could convert into the single family home she was looking for.

If you think your agent simply doesn't understand what you want, ask them to remove all pricing filters and send you homes that reflect what they think your dream house really is.  Alternatively, drive around and find homes for sale or visit Open Houses that you think are closer to what you want - then investigate their list prices, or send the addresses of "suitable" homes that aren't for sale to your agent to find out what that house would go for today. 

These exercises will get you and your agent communicating on the same page; will help you understand tradeoffs, wants and needs more concretely; and will very likely flick some of your mental switches around what you can expect from a property at various price ranges.  This strategy is especially useful for reality-checking the expectation of home buyers relocating to a town with a higher cost of living than their current hometown.

5.  Ignore the peanut gallery. People who have not bought a home in your town, your desired neighborhood and your price range at the same moment in time you find yourself house hunting are not authorities on any of the following:
     (a) how dirt cheap 'those foreclosures' are,
     (b) how much of a discount you should be able to negotiate,
     (c) how much is too much for you to pay, or
     (d) how desperate the banks or sellers are to sell.

That lack of authority, though, will not stop your family members, friends and neighbors from chiming in and offering their own critiques, exasperation, suggestions, or "what I would do if I were you is. . ."-style analyses of your own home buying strategies. Many a would-be homeowner has remained just that - a would-be homeowner - by following the advice or suggestions of someone who read a headline but has no idea of the real market dynamics you face.

Depending on where you're buying, those dynamics might include:

• banks that refuse to do repairs and may take 6 months to green-light a short sale,
• sellers who are so upside down they can barely afford to sell for the list price -- and certainly can't afford to sell for less, and
• areas in which the norm is for foreclosed homes to sell above asking after receiving multiple offers.

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Are you ready to begin the home buying process with a real estate Professional?  Call The Puffer Team today, 828-771-2300, www.homefinderasheville.com.

6 Unexpected Advantages of Having the Right Agent

Another GREAT article from Trulia, this one is on reason on why it's so important to find the right agent to assist you with your home search.  We at The Puffer Team pride ourselves on providing the BEST in customer service; that's why our motto is "Committed to Excellence....Producing Results".

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I once worked with a buyer who had to fly to the other end of the world within a couple of days after we placed her offer. Needless to say, she was agitated and anxious about the prospect of being so far away during inspections and contingency removals, especially since I’d earlier stressed how important it was for her to be present.

Rolling with the punches and poor timing, we sat down just before she left and talked through the timeline, including which events would take place on every day of her absence - including some harmless glitches that commonly arise along the way.

I never will forget her laughter when the occasional glitch of this sort did, in fact, come up. She would say: “I would have been stressed out by that. But since I knew to expect it, I’m not!”

The list of pleasant surprises in real estate matters is really, really short. Normally, we all want things to tick along precisely according to plan, and almost anything unexpected causes us inconvenience or plain old stress. But there is one relatively common set of real estate surprises that is actually quite delightful: the unexpected perks of working with the right real estate pro.

Most sellers come to their real estate agent relationships expecting help selling their home on a particular time frame, and marketing the place to make that happen.  Buyers are most often seeking an agent’s help finding the right home and negotiating to buy it.

But both buyers and sellers are often pleasantly surprised at the other resources, strategic counsel and expertise their agents ultimately provide.Here are some of the biggest benefits that catch them off-guard:

1.  Insider knowledge.  In a recent survey, home buyers said one of the biggest benefits they got from their agent was an understanding of how the buying process would unfold. When it comes to something as infrequent, complex and high stakes as buying or selling a home, having an insider advisor who is dedicated to your success can alleviate your anxieties and otherwise put you in a power position, when it comes to making smart decisions and moves.

2.  Lifestyle design advice.  I recently spoke with Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Workweek, The Four Hour Body and his brand-new book, The Four Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything and Living the Good Life. I asked Tim flat out what would be in his dream kitchen, if he were in the market for a home and he answered without hesitation: a six-burner Viking range.

And that was it. No Carrera marble. No European soft-close drawers. To a world class cook, what really matters is the stove. In fact, he explained, he was briefed on the importance of the range, and only the range, to a great chef’s kitchen by chef extraordinaire Alice Waters.

The right agent can and often does precisely what Alice Waters did for Tim Ferriss: they can course correct you around what home features, transaction terms and even timing nuances will help further the lifestyle you are trying to create - and which won’t - based on their past experiences working with buyers and sellers in similar situations.

You might think that you are desperate to live in a particular neighborhood, but your agent can help you understand the realities of the commute in a way you didn’t before. You might want to wait to list your home until the summertime, but your agent can point out the wisdom of getting started prepping the place during your holiday vacation time so that you’ll be poised to take advantage of pent-up cold weather demand at the first thaw. Of course, for your agent to be able to do this, you have to give them as much information as possible about the lifestyle you aim to create.

3.  Save you from yourself.  As we discussed last week, there are many instances in which even the smartest buyers and sellers are their own worst enemies, committing unintentional acts of self-sabotage like overpricing, lowballing, overspending and the like.  If you equip your agent with a deep understanding of the overall life picture, financial picture and then home picture you’re trying to create with your buy or sale (or both), they can help point out when you’re about to take an action that will be inconsistent with or counterproductive to what you say is important to you.

Ultimately, it’ll be your decision whether to take a given red flag-waving step or not, but your agent can be a very valuable coach to gently point out when you might be getting in your own way.

4.  Stop you from buying the wrong house.  A surprisingly high number of home buyers report that their agent actually talked them out of buying the wrong house for them. Whether because the inspection results come back and are deeply worrisome, the sellers simply want more money than you can healthily afford or experience has taught them that a buyer with your priorities will not be happy with a house like that, the majority of agents would rather sell you the *right* home for your family next month than sell you the wrong one right now.

5.  Devise an pre-buying or -selling action plan. What a tangled web we weave, when first we fail to properly plan and prep to buy or sell our home. Okay, so it doesn’t have quite the ring as the original saying, but you get the gist nonetheless. Agents love nothing more than to get a call way in advance of when you think you’ll be ready to make your move. Calling them in advance allows them to sit down with you in an unhurried, unpressured environment to map out an action plan that sets you (and them) up for successfully achieving whatever your real estate goal is.

And that, in turn, can help you prevent the overwhelm, procrastination and eventual last minute scrambling and freak-outs that arise when your ducks are not all in a row.

Things an agent can help you plan out, significantly in advance of your target move-in or move-out date, include, among many others:

• Referrals to mortgage brokers, financial planners, contractors, stagers and relationship counselors (just kidding on that last one!).
• Setting up action steps you need to take and helping you understand when you need to take them to meet your target time frames.
• Getting clear on the relative costs (and financial prep it will take) to buy in any of several neighborhoods, cities and even property types that you are considering.

6.  Illuminate options you weren’t aware were even possible. There’s no shame in not knowing everything there is to know about real estate - even very active real estate consumers will only buy or sell 5, maybe 10 homes in a lifetime. But your agent does this all day, every day, for their entire career. So off the top of their head, they might be able surface options in terms of

• properties
• neighborhoods
• pricing plans
• contract terms
• marketing tools
• negotiation strategies
• and even post-closing protections and service providers

that you would never have known existed, if not for them.

The theme here is this: don’t limit your agent and the help they can provide you by what you *think* their job is, or what you think they do or don’t know.  Make sure that when you’re getting referrals or meeting agents online and in person early on in your agent selection process, you pay attention to their references and marketing plans, but also to how well your personalities mesh.

Ideally, you’ll find and work with an agent in whom you can confide everything from your big picture life vision to your truly confidential financial details.

Bottom line: The more you feel comfortable sharing with your agent, the more likely you are to be pleasantly surprised with the ways they can help you.

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Call The Puffer Team today, 828-771-2300; www.homefinderasheville.com.  

Keep Your Asheville Area Home Safe

Helpful Tips for Keeping You AND Your Home Safe Throughout the Holidays

Keep windows, garages and sheds locked, and don't forget to
....use deadbolts.
• Use timers to turn on lights and a television or radio.

• Maintain at least a foot of space between a burning candle and....anything that can catch fire.

• When hanging lights outdoors, avoid using staples or nails which can....damage wiring. Use UL-rated clips or wires instead.

• Don't overload electrical circuits with holiday lighting; unplug your tree and ....outdoor lights before going to bed.

• Don't leave a spare key in a "hiding place." Burglars know where to look.

• Lock your power box with an electricity authority lock (lock to which....you and the electric company have a key) so that your home security....alarm system can't be cut off from the power supply.

Courtesy of The Puffer Team, Keller Williams Professionals, 828-771-2300

www.homefinderasheville.com

Asheville Area Homes Under $200K

The median sales price continues to hover around $190,000.  There are still lots of homes on the market to help buyers get into a home they can afford, click here for a list of great homes in the WNC Mountains!

Here are just a few of the homes The Puffer Team has available, click on the addresses for more information:

183 Wiggins Road; Candler, NC  28715

564 Old Hwy 20; Alexander, NC  28701

 703 Blythe Street; Hendersonville, NC  28719 

And Just Reduced:

3003 Saint Augustine Place; Asheville, NC 28805 

Give The Puffer Team a  call today if you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Asheville area, 828-771-2300 or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.

Home Maintenance Checklist

It's easy to stay on top of home maintenance when you routinely follow certain procedures.

Prevent tomorrow's problems with this month-by-month chart of tasks for your home. (source)

MONTHLY
 
• Fire Extinguisher: Check that it's fully charged; recharge or replace if needed.
• Sink/Tub Stoppers and Drain Holes: Clean out debris.
• Garbage Disposal: Flush with hot water and baking soda.
• Water Softener: Check water softener salt drum and replinish salt if necessary.
• Forced-Air Heating System: Change filters once a month if user's manual recommends fiberglass filters.
EVERY 2 MONTHS
• Wall Furnace: Clean grills.
• Range Hood: Clean grease filter.
EVERY 3 MONTHS
 
• Faucet: Clean aerator.
• Tub Drain Assembly: Clean out debris; inspect rubber seal and replace if needed.
• Floor and Outdoor Drain Grates: Clean out debris.
EVERY 6 MONTHS
• Smoke Detector: Test batteries and replace if needed.
• Toilet: Check for leaks and water run-on.
• Interior Caulking: Inspect caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks; replace any if it is deteriorating.
• Forced-Air Heating System: Change semi-annually if user's mannual recommends high efficiency pleated or HEPA-style filters.
• Garbage Disposal: Tighten drain connections and fasteners.
• Clothes Washer: Clean water inlet filters; check hoses and replace them if they are leaking.
• Clothes Dryer: Vacuum lint from ducts and surrounding areas.
• Wiring: Check for frayed cords and wires; repair or replace them as needed.
• Range Hood: Wash fan blades and housing.

EVERY SPRING
 
• Roof: Inspect roof surface, flashing, eaves, and soffits; repair if needed.
• Gutters and Downspouts: Clean them out or install no-clean version. Inspect and repair weak areas; check for proper drainage and make repairs if needed.
• Siding: Inspect and clean siding and repair if needed.
• Exterior Caulking: Inspect caulking and replace any that is deteriorating.
• Windowsills, Doorsills, Thresholds: Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint; replace if needed.
• Window and Door Screens: Clean screening and repair or replace if needed; tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint if needed; replace broken, worn, or missing hardware; tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.

EVERY FALL
 
• Roof: Inspect roof surface, flashing, eaves, and soffits; repair if needed.
• Gutters and Downspouts: Clean out. Inspect and repair weak points; check for proper slope.
• Chimney or Stovepipe: Clean flue (more frequently if needed); repair any cracks in flue or any loose or crumbling mortar.
• Siding: Inspect and clean siding and repair if needed.
• Exterior Caulking: Inspect caulking and replace any that is deteriorating.
• Storm Windows and Doors: Replace any cracked or broken glass; tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint if needed. Replace damaged hardware; tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.
• Window and Door Weather Stripping: Inspect and repair or replace if it is deteriorating or if it does not seal.
• Thermostat: Clean heat sensor, contact points, and contacts; check accuracy and replace thermostat if it is not functioning properly.
• Outdoor Faucets: If you live in an area with freezing winters, shut off valves to outdoor faucets. Open spigots and drain, store hoses.

ANNUALLY
 
• Septic Tank: Have a professional check the tank (watch for backup throughout the year). In many areas, it is recommended that the tank be pumped every year.
• Main Cleanout Drain: Have a "rooter" professional clean out the main line, particularly if there are mature trees in your yard whose roots could have cracked the pipe in their search for moisture.
• Water Heater: Drain water until it is clear of sediment; test temperature pressure relief valve; clean burner and ports (gas heater).
• HVAC System: Have a professional tune up your heat/air conditioning system.

From Sunset Books, JoAnne Liebeler's Do It Herself

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

 

Turkey Tips for a Tasty Thanksgiving

Check out these great tips for preparing a great Thanksgiving meal for your family this year, provided by www.asheville.com:

As Thanksgiving approaches, cooking the traditional turkey dinner gives rise to anxieties and questions. What kind of turkey should I buy? Should I buy a frozen turkey or a fresh one? How do I store my turkey? A few simple steps will not only ease your holiday fears, but will ensure a delicious and a safe meal for you, your family, and your friends.
Fresh Turkeys:

• Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
• Buy your turkey only 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it.
• Keep it stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook it. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak.
• Do not buy fresh pre-stuffed turkeys. If not handled properly, any harmful bacteria that may be in the stuffing can multiply very quickly.

Frozen Turkeys:

• Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
• Keep frozen until you're ready to thaw it.
• Turkeys can be kept frozen in the freezer indefinitely; however, cook within 1 year for best quality.
• See "Thawing Your Turkey" for thawing instructions.

Frozen Pre-Stuffed Turkeys:

• USDA recommends only buying frozen pre-stuffed turkeys that display the USDA or State mark of inspection on the packaging. These turkeys are safe because they have been processed under controlled conditions.
• DO NOT THAW before cooking. Cook from the frozen state. Follow package directions for proper handling and cooking.
• Allow 1¼ pounds of turkey per person. Once you've selected a turkey, there are three ways to thaw it safely — in the refrigerator, in cold water, or in the microwave oven.
  • In the Refrigerator (40 °F or below)
    Allow approximately 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. Keep the turkey in its original wrapper. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak. A thawed turkey can remain in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. If necessary, a turkey that has been properly thawed in the refrigerator may be refrozen.
  • In Cold Water
    Allow approximately 30 minutes per pound. Wrap your turkey securely; making sure the water is not able to leak through the wrapping. Submerge your wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed. Do not refreeze.
  • In the Microwave Oven
    Check your owner's manual for the size turkey that will fit in your microwave oven, the minutes per pound, and power level to use for thawing. Remove all outside wrapping. Place on a microwave-safe dish to catch any juices that may leak. Cook your turkey immediately. Do not refreeze or refrigerate your turkey after thawing in the microwave oven.
  Don't forget to remove the giblets from the turkey cavities after thawing, and to cook those separately. The next step is cooking your turkey. Most Thanksgiving turkets are roasted, but some folks opt for grilling or deep frying their Thanksgiving bird. If you're sticking with the traditional roasted turkey, the tips below might be useful:
  

Set your oven temperature no lower than 325 °F.

Place your turkey or turkey breast on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.

For optimum safety, stuffing a turkey is not recommended. For more even cooking, it is recommended you cook your stuffing outside the bird in a casserole. Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the stuffing. The stuffing must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

If you choose to stuff your turkey, the ingredients can be prepared ahead of time; however, keep wet and dry ingredients separate. Chill all of the wet ingredients (butter/margarine, cooked celery and onions, broth, etc.). Mix wet and dry ingredients just before filling the turkey cavities. Fill the cavities loosely. Cook the turkey immediately. Use a food thermometer to make sure the center of the stuffing reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F.

A whole turkey is safe when cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured with a food thermometer. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook turkey to higher temperatures.

If your turkey has a "pop-up" temperature indicator, it is recommended that you also check the internal temperature of the turkey in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast with a food thermometer. The minimum internal temperature should reach 165 °F for safety.

For quality, let the turkey stand for 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to set. The turkey will carve more easily.

Remove all stuffing from the turkey cavities. It is safe to cook a turkey from the frozen state. The cooking time will take at least 50 percent longer than recommended for a fully thawed turkey. Remember to remove the giblet packages during the cooking time. Remove carefully with tongs or a fork. Optional Cooking Hints:

• Tuck wing tips under the shoulders of the bird for more even cooking. This is referred to as "akimbo."
• Add ½ cup of water to the bottom of the pan.
• If your roasting pan does not have a lid, you may place a tent of heavy-duty aluminum foil over the turkey for the first 1 to 1 ½ hours. This allows for maximum heat circulation, keeps the turkey moist, and reduces oven splatter. To prevent overbrowning, foil may also be placed over the turkey after it reaches the desired color.
• If using an oven-proof food thermometer, place it in the turkey at the start of the cooking cycle. It will allow you to check the internal temperature of the turkey while it is cooking. For turkey breasts, place thermometer in the thickest part. For whole turkeys, place in the thickest part of the inner thigh. Once the thigh has reached 165 °F, check the wing and the thickest part of the breast to ensure the turkey has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the product.
• If using an oven cooking bag, follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the package.

• Remember to wash hands, utensils, the sink, and anything else that comes in contact with raw turkey and its juices with soap and water. 

What kind of holiday traditions do you and your family have?  What are your favorite memories?

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

A Season For Giving

Thanksgiving is a time for use to remember all we are grateful for.  There are a lot of families in the Asheville area who are barely getting by and organizations that could use some support.  If you are looking for a way to help others during this holiday season here's a list of ways you can contribute.

(source)

The holidays are approaching, and everyone is trying to come up with this year's perfect gift. With the colder months on the way, local non-profit organizations need your support to make the season bright. No amount of time, money, or talent is too small to help your neighbors this winter.

• Don't forget the Red Cross this holiday season! Give the GIFT OF LIFE at the Asheville - Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. For blood drive schedules and current blood needs, click here. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment to give.
• What’s in your pantry?
  • MANNA Food Bank needs non-perishable food donations including -but not limited to - soup, mac and cheese, dried beans, oatmeal, grits, canned meat, powdered milk, rice, and cereal. Volunteers and monetary donations are always welcome as well. MANNA has several holiday projects:
  • Asheville.com and Leslie and Associates are partnering to hold a food drive for MANNA Food Bank. The collection spot for the drive is the office of Leslie and Associates, inside the Manor Inn Apartments at 265 Charlotte Street in Asheville. Drop off your food items between the hours of 8:30-5:30 weekdays, or in a collections box and the door to the office on weekends. Call Aville.com at 828-693-8069 for more information.

Be someone's Santa Claus!

• The YWCA of Asheville’s MotherLove Giving Tree will be on display in the lobby of the YWCA at 185 S. French Broad Avenue starting November 17. The Giving Tree is made of stars, each bearing wishes from a local teen mother. The public is invited to come to the YWCA and pick out a star to help make someone’s holiday brighter by providing gifts for them and their children. The purpose of the Giving Tree is to assist with the holiday expenses of teen mothers in the YWCA MotherLove program. For more information, call Tangela Ballard Bowman at 254-7206 x 116 or visit the YWCA website, www.ywcaofasheville.org.
• The Arc (Association for Retarded Citizens) of Buncombe County is sponsoring Operation Santa Claus for special needs individuals throughout the country. Volunteers are asked to “adopt” a child to help spread the joy of Christmas to these individuals who have no immediate family or support systems. Contact the Arc office to recieve details about the adopted child and their needs. To ensure gift delivery by Christmas, all gifts and monetary donations are asked to be dropped-off by Friday, November 12 at the Arc office: 50 S. French Broad Ave, Asheville NC. Call 828-253-1255.
• Aston Park Health Care Center is in great need of gifts for each of its 142 senior residents to be given at their Christmas party. Suggested donations are gift bags labeled Male/Female that can be matched with a resident(at this time there are more women than men). Gift bag items might include: lotion, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lap blanket, stuffed animal, large print books and puzzle books, stationary, kleenex, purfume, shaving cream, a framed print or 2008 picture calendar to hang in their room etc. No food items please. All gifts are asked to be donated by December 15th. Cash donations are accepted if you'd like us to purchase these gifts. All donations can be dropped off at 380 Brevard Road, Asheville. Call 253-4437 x317.

One of the most recognizable means of fundraising for The Salvation Army is the Red Kettles at Christmastime. The donations left in these kettles provide funding for Salvation Army programs and services throughout the year. Please consider a donation to the Red Kettles this season!

• Individuals, groups, and businesses can host an online red kettle this holiday season: http://give.salvationarmyusa.org. Host your own personalized Red Kettle online and invite friends, family, and collegeaues to support your efforts. It's an easy way to help the Salvation Army warm the hearts and souls of those in need at Christmastime and year-round.

Housing Authority of Asheville is in need of volunteers who can teach holiday crafts classes for elderly or disabled residents of public housing. Volunteer led craft times are preferably once a week (Mon-Fri) for 1-1.5 hours, late morning or afternoon from now until December 10. Casual dress. Volunteers should bring craft supplies needed for their projects. Volunteers could also assist in organizing a Holiday Crafts Bazaar where the residents could sell their handmade craft items on Saturday, Nov. 22. Ages 16-17 accepted with adult supervsion. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-258-1222. Housing Authority of Asheville is also requesting craft items for residents to use in making holiday items such as: wreaths, ornaments, handmade gifts. The craft supplies need not be new. Suggested craft supplies include: wooden or plastic items that can be painted attractively; styrofoam balls; yarn; wreath bases; pine cones; old ornaments that can be re-painted or made to look new; old holiday cards; glue guns; paint brushes of varying sizes; acrylic paints; glitter; old magazines for collage making; craft books; beads and jewelry making items; fabric and felt; sequins, ribbon, etc. Donations can be dropped off at 165 S. French Broad Ave. 

Habitat for Humanity's Home Store needs small groups (up to 6) to help with assembling artificial Christmas trees at the Home Store throughout November. A time period of 4 hours is suggested, and can be scheduled between 9:00am-5:00pm on Monday, Thursday, or Friday. Additionally, evening hours from 5:00 - 8:00pm are available on Wednesday evening. Youth ages 16-17 accepted with adult supervision. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-251-5702.

Are you great at gift wrapping? Volunteers are needed to wrap gifts in two hour shifts at Barnes and Noble for donations that will go directly to the Literacy Council of Buncombe County. There will be a wrapping table and chairs for each volunteer to work including all paper, tape, ribbon, etc. The Literacy Council will also provide brochures for people to take. All volunteers will be given a small description of the Literacy Council and the mission of the orgainization beforehand. Youth ages 14-17 welcome with adult supervision. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-254-3442.

Spread a little holiday cheer! Work on your own or get a group of friends together to make holiday related items to be given to patients who are served by Carepartners Hospice Solace Center. The following items would be welcomed: placemats for patient trays, tray favors (small wreaths, decorated candy canes, etc), festive holiday note cards, or small wreaths that could hang in patient windows with suction cups (no larger than 8 - 10 inches in diameter). Open to seasonal decorations for Thanksgiving or the December Holidays. Please deliver donated items to Danny Johnson at CarePartners Hospice Solace Center. Call 828-255-0231 for more info and directions.

Animal Compassion Network needs 3 volunteers for each shift at PetSmart to take picture of people w/ their pets as part of the Santa Paws project. A portion of the "Santa Paws" event proceeds will be donated to Animal Compassion Network's adoption programs. This event will take place on 3 weekends in December before Christmas. Volunteer shifts can be divided (11:00am-1:30pm/1:30-4:00pm). There will be costumes available for the volunteers provided by PetSmart. Ages 16+ welcome. Call 828-277-7647.

Three Streams Family Health Center offers affordable, compassionate medical care to the uninsured of WNC. Three Streams is in need of volunteers to deliver special holiday giftbaskets to its individual and company supporters. Volunteers will pick up the gifts at 1710 Old Haywood Rd. and deliver them around the Asheville-area. Volunteers need a good sense of direction, good walking shoes and a good attitude. Youth ages 16-17 accepted with adult supervision. Ages 18+ welcome. 828-285-9725 for more information.

"A Winter's Tale" is a fun, family-friendly evening event exploring the ways cultures endured winter with stories, dance, arts and the spirit of the season. With entertainment, food, decorations, crafts and animal presentations, WNC Nature Center hopes to share educational programs for its guests. Visiting camels, native arts and Santa will be included. Volunteers are needed to share in the crafts, sell hot beverages, greet guests, and more. This is a family tradition for hundreds of families in the Asheville area! This is all outdoors, so volunteers should come prepared with warm clothes. Youth volunteers ages 12-17 accepted. Ages 18+ welcome. Call 828-298-5600.
(Images provided by Jennifer Amann and the Salvation Army.)

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