Around Town -- Asheville Summer Happenings

Asheville is a wonderful place to live and visit all year long. Everyone knows about the splendors of fall in Western North Carolina but summertime is also an amazing time of year to be here. Asheville rolls out the red carpet and invites you in to share in a plethora of musical, culinary and cultural events to keep you entertained all summer long. Below is a list of some of the exciting things to do around the city this summer!

1. Biltmore Outdoor concerts
The Biltmore House is Asheville's biggest tourist attraction and during the summer, it puts on a concert series that is well loved by both visitors and locals. It's a must see for everyone in the city.

2. Downtown After Five
Downtown After Five provides free live music concerts in Downtown Asheville every third Friday, May through September. Be one of the thousands that gather on North Lexington Avenue from 5-9 PM for the free event, celebrating its 25th year! 

3. Asheville Tourists
What's summer without baseball? The Tourists are Asheville's minor league baseball team. You might get to see a rising star in action (Russel Wilson played here) but at the very least you'll get to enjoy the nation's pastime with family and friends as the Tourists fight to regain their division title.

4. Shindig on the Green
Maybe Asheville should change it's name to music city. These hills come alive with music during these steamer months and Shindig on the Green is another opportunity for people to be a part of the music experience. This music series offers free mountain bluegrass music and dance in the center of downtown Asheville at Pack Square Park in front of the Asheville City Hall.

5. Visit a Swimming Hole
Need to escape the summer heat? Nothing says summer in Asheville like a dip in a swimming hole and there are plenty of them around town. Throw in a tube and drift the say away. You can thank me later.

6. Brevard Music Festival
Not quite Asheville but close enough! This Festival is truly a musical delight in the mountains. Four hundred of the most talented students in the world join Brevard's artist faculty to present more than 80 concerts in a beautiful setting.Take a picnic basket and enjoy the beautiful music while sharing a romantic meal. 

7. Second Saturdays in the River Arts District
Join the artists of the River Arts District the second Saturday, May-December, for a day of artist demonstrations, classes, open studios and fun. Spend the day hopping from studio to studio to view a range of mediums and an abundance of creativity.

8. Too Many Food Events to list here
The food scene in Asheville is dynamic and growing. You can try some of the best restaurants in the South in this one small city. From acclaimed Chef Katie Button to the food trucks at The Lot, a culinary adventure awaits you at every turn.
  
9. Bele Chere
One of the city's premiere music festivals, this may you last year to experience Bele Chere. The festival is taking a break after this summer and it's anyone's guess when of even if it will be back.

10. Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
The Craft Fair showcases work by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, with over 900 members throughout the mountain regions of nine states. Members' work must be juried and accepted by a committee of peers, based on quality, design and craftsmanship. 

If this list doesn't whet you appetite for a fun-filled summer in Asheville, check out this link to see what else is going on around town: http://www.romanticasheville.com/summer_festivals.htm

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

Homes For Sale in Black Mountain & Weaverville

We are continuing to supply the market with new listings to help keep up with buyer demand.  Here are a couple of our newest listings.

215 Chestnut Hill Road; Black Mountain, NC  28711

$100K under current appraisal. Private mountain retreat, artistically renovated home on 32 acres w/a bold rushing creek, walking trails, multiple decks for entertaining/relaxing, an artist studio & exterior storage. Inside you will find vaulted/beamed ceilings, rich hardwoods, an open GR, an inviting sitting area w/wood-burning FP, luxurious mstr suite w/sunken hot tub, & so much more..all just 15 min to town, convenient to Fairview & Black Mountain.

9 Fairway View Drive; Weaverville, NC  28787

Like new Lindal Cedar home in Fairway View Estates, a popular Weaverville golf course community just minutes to shopping & dining in town. Inside you will find a light & bright open floorplan, custom granite kitchen, exposed beam ceilings, & a vaulted main level master suite w/double pedestal sinks, jet tub & large walk-in closets; there is also a family room & wet bar in the basement, & a large deck in the back great for entertaining. 

Want more information on either of these homes or would like to see similar homes?  Give The Puffer Team a call today, 828-771-2300.  Be sure to also check out our website, www.homefinderasheville.com.  We look forward to the opportunity to help you find your next Asheville area home!

See also:

Homes For Sale - Black Mountain

Homes For Sale - Weaverville

This Month In Real Estate - June 2013

Check out this video via www.kw.com with tips on how to find a home in a seller's market.

...and for information about the local Asheville area real estate market, check out the flyer below.

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

How To Keep Your Home Safe While On Vacation

Summer vacation — for most people, this phrase conjures images of sandy beaches, amusement parks, lakeside cabins, or family road trips.

For burglars, summer vacations are the perfect opportunity to take advantage of unoccupied homes and garages. In fact, property crimes spike during summer months, peaking in July and August.

Here are a few tips for protecting your home while you’re gone this summer (courtesy of American Home Shield):

Stay secure.
Before you leave, double check that all doors and windows are locked. Don’t forget the upstairs windows: AC units, ladders, nearby trees, and even garbage cans can give thieves access to those windows. Trim or remove shrubs that offer easy hiding places. Don’t leave spare keys outside; thieves know where to look, too.

Privacy matters.
Don’t post vacation plans on social media sites. You can’t completely control who sees your updates, regardless of your privacy settings. Have a trusted friend periodically check your home, but resist the temptation to announce your departure on the Internet.

Leave the light on.
Make it appear you haven’t left home at all. Stop your mail, or have a friend or neighbor collect it. Have someone mow your lawn if you’ll be away for a longer period of time. Set timers for inside lights or even a television. Don’t leave a porch light on continuously, though, as that could signal that you’re not home. Instead, install motion-sensing floodlights, even on the sides of your home. Many homeowners light up the front and back of their houses, but leave the sides dark, making it more inviting to burglars.

Don’t forget tiny invaders.
Bugs can also take advantage of empty homes. Before you leave, make sure all trashcans are emptied and cleaned. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink, and wipe any stray crumbs from kitchen countertops. Many bugs come inside in search of water, so fix any leaks before you leave.

American Home Shield is providing the information for general guidance only. Due to the general nature of the property maintenance and improvement advice in this material, neither American Home Shield Corporation, nor its licensed subsidiaries assumes any responsibility for any loss or damage which may be suffered by the use of this information.

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

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

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.