Friday, May 31, 2013

Executive Living in Arden, NC

Are you looking for a home that has it all?  Just listed in Ashley Woods, 423 Purple Finch Ct  in Arden, NC has everything you could imagine.  Convenient to shopping/dining at Biltmore Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Biltmore Estate, and just 10 minutes to downtown Asheville.

This is an immaculate executive home in an established neighborhood, situated on a private lot on a cul-de-sac. Inside you will find cathedral ceilings, hardwoods throughout most of the living areas, a granite/stainless kitchen, a stacked stone peninsula FP, formal dining area & separate breakfast room, spacious master suite, sunroom, tons of living space in the basement, & so much more. Enjoy entertaining on the back deck & taking in sounds of the creek...welcome home.



If you would like more information about this home or would like to schedule a showing, please don't hesitate to call us here at The Puffer Team, 828-771-2300, or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.

See also:

Homes For Sale - Arden


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Secluded Mountain Living in Fairview, NC

Check out this great new listing at 263 Crystal Falls Drive; Fairview, NC.  Panoramic mountain views of Pisgah/Mt Mitchell & all the way to the Smokies. This totally solar home has tons of living space & upgraded features such as granite countertops, cherry cabinets, tiled bathrooms, oak hardwoods, & woodwork throughout... also 3 screened-in porches & wraparound deck. Perfect mountain getaway or year round retreat. Enjoy having a level yard, established garden, sauna & sounds of rain on the metal roof. Portion of PIN

If you would like additional information about this listing, or to schedule a showing, please call The Puffer Team office at 828-771-2300, or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.

See also:

Homes for Sale -- Fairview

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

How to Hold the Perfect Garage Sale

When you need to either store or get rid of a lot of "stuff" to make your house look its best while on the market, holding a garage sale may be the ideal solution. Not only will your current house stage easier, but you will lighten the load of what needs to be moved to the new home - and make money in the process.

To be successful, a garage sale requires some planning and preparation. In fact, planning the sale may be the key to its success.

Planning the Garage Sale

I once knew a real estate agent who was so excited over her first listing that she planned to hold an open house the weekend after the home went on the market. She did no advanced planning – just chose the date. Nobody showed up at the open house – not even one person. It turns out that she was holding her open house on Super Bowl Sunday and the local team happened to be one of the teams playing.

When you settle on a date for the sale, dig out the local TV listings to ensure that there isn't a major sporting event that will be televised on that day. Also make sure there isn't a local event, such as a popular festival or parade. Although there are a lot of die-hard garage sale fans, even they will skip a sale if there's something else competing for their attention.

The Yard Sale Queen suggests that if you have a major corporation in your area, find out when the employees get paid and hold your sale the weekend after payday.
Here are a few other things to consider during the planning stage:
  • Have everything ready the night before the sale so that you're not running around in the morning.
  • Sketch out a plan for the sales floor, allowing room to move between aisles and ensuring that you can see all items from your perch.
  • Make a list of each item you're selling and the price you'll be asking. During the sale, cross out each item sold and make note of the price received.
  • Price items clearly.
  • Ensure that you'll have sufficient help the day of the sale and that everyone is in agreement over pricing and bargaining policies.
  • Have an extension cord on hand so that customers can test electrical items.
  • Save grocery bags in the weeks leading up to the sale so that you can bag the items your customers purchase.
  • The Yard Sale Queen suggests that you go through all the pockets of clothing you plan to sell, check compartments in handbags, and fan books to make sure there's nothing of value, or even old credit card receipts that may contain private information.

The Day Before the Sale

Now that you're prepared for the sale, it's time to make sure folks know about it. There are several ways to get the word out about your garage or yard sale. One of the best is by placing an ad on Craigslist. Here are a few other things to do the day before the garage or yard sale:
  • Make signs to be placed around the neighborhood and to direct customers from a main thoroughfare. They should be large enough to be seen from the road and directions should be clear. Arrow-shaped signs are ideal.
  • Go to the bank and get some cash, such as rolls of quarters, 20 to 30 $1 bills, and five to 10 $5 bills.
  • Consider how you will hold the cash during the sale. A cashbox isn't a good idea as it's too easy for someone to walk away with it. Wearing a "fanny sack" around your waist or keeping a wallet in your pocket are much safer ways to hold your cash.

Sale Day

  • Move sale items out onto the driveway if that's where you've decided to set up the sales floor. Remember to put the most desirable items out front to entice customers to stop their cars. The Yard Sale Queen suggests placing some "manly" items out front, such as lawnmowers or power tools, to make it easier for wives to get their husbands to stop and shop.
  • Set up the neighborhood and directional signs.
  • Ensure that all items are clearly marked with the price.
  • Greet people as they arrive to make them feel comfortable. Ask if they're looking for anything in particular.
  • Keep an eye on customers, but don't hover over them.

Considerations

If you lived in a gated community, getting people into the sale is a bit more challenging. Contact your homeowners association first to determine what rules they have about yard sales and if there are any restrictions. Many HOAs hold annual community-wide sales where the gates swing open and the public is allowed to stream through.

Check local regulations to make sure your street signs aren't in violation of any city or municipal codes.
Be aware of some of the more common scams:
  • When making change, don't immediately pocket the bill the customer gives you. Either hold it in your hand or place under a paperweight while you make change. This way, the customer can't claim to have given you a larger bill.
  • Large groups of customers arriving at once or rowdy children can be distracting. Have someone help you keep an eye on folks when you feel they may be deliberately trying to distract you.
  • The Yard Sale Queen suggests that you always look inside any large items that you sell before allowing the customer to leave with them to ensure something else isn't hidden within.
Click here for more home tips and also for Market Insider information.

If you're ready to buy or sell a home, give The Puffer Team a call, 828-771-2300, or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Happy Memorial Day



Via Wikipedia

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May.[1] Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.[2] Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service[3]. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.


To all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom, we at The Puffer Team salute you. 

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

Designing A DIY Water Feature

Water features come in all shapes and sizes, from tabletop fountains to the powerful, towering jets at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. Obviously, the construction of large water features is best left to the professionals, but for smaller projects, it's possible to design a DIY water feature in a single afternoon.
This article will outline some of the things you should consider before shopping for materials and building a DIY water feature.

Style and Materials

The materials you use for your DIY water feature should complement the materials and style of your home and garden. For example, if your home is formal, symmetry, formal shapes, and classic materials such as concrete basins and finials will look best in your garden.
If your home is more rustic or located in a more natural setting, a water feature made to look like a natural creek bed may be more fitting.

Scale and Proportion

How much space do you have for your DIY water feature? How will the water feature be viewed, and what kind of statement do you want to make? For example, if you live in an apartment or condo and you want to build a DIY water feature for your balcony, the space may be tight, and you could probably create a DIY water feature using a couple of small, ceramic or concrete pots. However, in the same space, you may want to make a grand statement and construct a taller wall fountain instead. The scale and proportions should be in keeping with the feeling and aesthetic you are trying to create.

When thinking about scale and proportion, also think about how the water feature will be viewed in relationship to your home. You don't want the water feature or your house to look too big or too small when seen together.

Also consider how the water feature will be viewed. Will it be seen from a few feet away or 50 feet away? Obviously, a water feature that is farther away will need to be larger or it may not have the visual impact it needs. It would be a shame to spend time building a water feature and then realize that it's too small to get any attention.

Basins and Pools

Water features can be constructed using a variety of materials. A simple DIY water feature can be constructed using a ceramic pot and a bamboo spigot. Concrete or ceramic pots are one option. Formed concrete basins can be built for larger projects. These can be left unfinished, finished with ceramic tiles, or colored using stains or integral color. For natural-looking, pond and creek bed designs, you will need a pond liner of flexible PVC. Whatever material you choose, your pond needs to be as watertight as possible. The point is, a DIY water feature does not have to be complicated, but the materials you choose should be appropriate to the size, scale, and complexity of the project.

Water Volume and Pumps

Just like the tiny pumps in a fish tank, the pump you use in your DIY water feature will be submerged in water. Typically, the pump is located in the lowest basin of water. For example, if you create a basin with a tiered fountain, the pump will sit in the basin at the bottom and pump water up to the top tier. The water then falls down over the tiers simply through the force of gravity.

The pump for your DIY water feature needs to be the appropriate size. Fountain pumps are sized by gallons per hour (gph) and usually have a small knob on the top or side that allows you to adjust the flow of water. For a small water feature, like the pot with bamboo spigot as mentioned above, a 20- to 40-gph pump will be large enough. If you are moving larger volumes of water, however, you will need to spend more to get a pump that can move more water volume per hour.

Safety Concerns

Children should never be left alone near a water feature as they can drown in a very small amount of water. Keep this in mind when designing your DIY water feature. For families with small children, a water feature that recirculates using a closed reservoir of water and without an open pool may be best.

Pool regulations require a fence around open water beyond certain depths. Check your federal, state, and local regulations before constructing any DIY water feature.

Planting Around Your DIY Water Feature

Finally, depending on the style and location of your water feature, you may want to plant around the edges. This is especially important if you have constructed a natural, creek bed water feature. A water feature of this type should be planted with native plants from your area. In general, it is best to use plants that like moisture. Although you have done your best to make your water feature watertight, it will lose a bit of water every day from splashing and evaporation. Plant a combination of shrubs, trees, and perennials that will not be adversely affected by this additional water.

The sound of water in the garden can sooth the nerves and block unwanted neighboring noises. Whatever your reasons for constructing a DIY water feature, the above design considerations should get you started.

Click here for more DIY tips and also for Market Insider information.

If you're ready to buy or sell a home, give The Puffer Team a call, 828-771-2300, or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.


Friday, May 24, 2013

10 Mistakes Movers Make

Getting ready for a move because you just bought/sold a home?  Getting everything packed in such a way that it's easy to get settled in can be difficult, for a list of 10 things NOT to do when moving, click here.


If you need a list of professionals to help you get the job done please don't hesitate to give The Puffer Team a call, 828-771-2300, we'll be happy to you in touch with someone qualified to assist you. 

Still need to talk to an agent about buying or selling a home?  We will be happy to help you with that also, feel free to call us or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Amp Up Your Back Yard For Summer

With temperatures finally rising and the season finally changing, it's time to start thinking about your back yard and how you want it to look for Summer (if you  haven't designed something already).  HGTV has some great ideas for for making back yards feel like getaways, check them out here.

Here at The Puffer Team we have some great listings available with great spaces for taking in the scenery, relaxing and entertaining, here's an award winning example:

20 Chaucer Road; Black Mountain, NC  28711

Looking to make a move?  Give us a call today, we have a team of Buyer Specialists ready to help you find your Asheville area mountain retreat.  Call us today, 828-771-2300, or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Open House Sunday 5/19, 17 Trinity Chapel Rd; Asheville, NC 28805

Come check out this great house in a convenient Haw Creek/East Asheville location, being held open this Sunday 5/19, 2:00-4:00.


Immaculate & Convenient! This home has had lots of updates completed 2007-2011, shows like new. Features include a light & bright open floorplan w/3 BR’s on the main level & family/bonus space in the bsmt, a well landscaped lot (w/Tennessee flagstone stairs, patios, walls & raised garden), updates to the BA's, kitch, interior painting, basement & exterior. Walkable to Haw Creek Elementary, convenient to downtown Asheville & the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

For more information about this home feel free to call our office, 828-771-2300, or visit our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.

Be sure to also check out: