Ways To Save On Your Energy Bills

Recently, Carolina Country featured an article about Whole-house fans - a fan which is mounted in a ceiling that pulls hot air from living spaces into an attic. The air is then pushed outside through soffit vents.

The fan is used as a supplement to your air conditioning unit (it is not meant to function as an A/C unit). Advantages include:

• Reduction in your energy bills
• Fan cools walls, floors and ceilings (delays the start of your air-conditioning unit until later in the day)

Disadvantages include:

• Serious problems can occur if not installed or sized properly
• Whole-house fans are not recommended for people who have severe allergies or breathing problems. Windows must remain open in order for the fan to work property.

To read more about the advantages and disadvantages of Whole-house fans, click on the following links:
http://www.carolinacountry.com/StoryPages/howtos/trythis/trythis5.11.html

http://www.airscapefans.com/?gclid=CL-l0OGtg6kCFcxL2godDVA4Rw

Sources: Carolina Country, May 2011 Issue; AirScape


For the latest MLS listings, visit: www.AdvancedRealtyBoone.com
828-264-5111
800-264-6144

Frequent Questions on Home Purchases

In today's real estate market, several questions arise that may be holding you back from pursuing your dream of home ownership.

In the next several days, we will be listing questions and answers that hopefully will help you make the right decision.

Question: "IF IT'S POSSIBLE THAT PRICES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL, WHY SHOULD I BUY NOW?"

Answer: "While price is the major concern for anyone selling a home, cost should be your primary concern as a buyer. That means you have to take into account what your monthly payment will be, considering not only the price of the home, but also the interest rate of your mortgage. Waiting for prices to bottom out while rates are increasing can wind up costing more over the life of the mortgage.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the National Association of REALTORS®, PMI, and the Mortgage Bankers Association are all projecting interest rates will increase over the next several quarters. It's best that you meet with your mortgage professional to help you determine what an interest rate increase will cost you based on the expected size of your loan. That will help you make a decision."

Source: REALTOR® Magazine, 3 Questions You Need To Help Your Buyers Answer, April/May 2011 Issue.

Advanced Realty named "Best Real Estate Office in Watauga County"

Advanced Realty was nominated BEST REAL ESTATE OFFICE IN WATAUGA COUNTY in the 2011 Best of the Best People's Choice Awards!

Two of our Brokers (Vivian Woodard and Nena Alsaker) were also named finalists for Best Agents in Watauga County.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Your support and confidence in our company is greatly appreciated!

Transfer Tax Option Repealed

The following link is an article from NCRealtors.org explaining the repeal of the transfer tax option.

http://www.ncrealtors.org/news_display.cfm?nid=1560


For area listings and local information, visit: http://www.advancedrealtyboone.com/

Creating Curb Appeal

Last week we talked about getting your home ready for showings. As you are preparing your home for the spring market, it's a great time to spruce up the exterior.

Curb appeal means to make a home visually pleasing when viewed from the street. This includes the exterior as well as the property. Below are a few tips on how to create "eye pleasing" curb appeal.

• Pressure wash or freshly paint the exterior of your home
• Touch up or clean the front door and all other doors including the garage door, trim, shutters
• Clean and align gutters
• Wash windows
• Polish hardware
• Repair outdoor lighting fixtures or replace burned out bulbs
• Repair or paint porch, fences, gates
• Reseal driveway and tend to walkways and steps
• Tidy landscaping by removing weeds, trimming lawn and shrubbery
• Replace worn door-mats
• Replace weathered door bell
• Remove out-of-season decorations and tone down ornate lawn or home adornments

Source: Move Magazine by Homes and Land Affiliates

Visit www.AdvancedRealtyBoone.com for area listings and local information.

Watauga County & Boone NC is the ultimate outdoor playground!

Discover why the high country is one of America's favorite outdoor destinations.....Watauga County & Boone NC is the ultimate outdoor playground!  

For information on Real Estate in the High Country or Homes for Sale in the Boone Area contact the sales team at Advanced Realty; your mountain property specialists! 

www.AdvancedRealtyBoone.com

Video courtesy of www.ExploreBooneArea.com

Getting Your Home Ready For Showings

Whether you are putting your home on the market or wanting to do some spring cleaning, below are tips on how to tidy-up and organize your home.

• Steam clean existing carpet, clean tile and grout and polish hardwood floors
• Scrub bathrooms and kitchen to the point of sparkle
• Dust and polish all furnishings
• Dust or wash blinds; wash or replace window treatments
• Clean all appliances inside and out
• Clear all clutter such as toys, clothes, paper, files or piles of anything
• Organize items in boxes and create a separate space for storage - don't stuff the clutter in closets
• Clean and organize drawers and cabinets
• Don't forget the garage, basement and attic! While traditionally used for storage, make sure they are clean and uncluttered
• Consider hiring a cleaning service on a weekly basis
• Keep boxes and packing materials neatly in designated areas and don't block walkways

In our next article, we will discuss how to spruce up the curb appeal and making repairs to your home.

Visit http://www.advancedrealtyboone.com/ for area listings and local information.