We’d Love to Help You in 2018

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I hope everybody had a phenomenal year in 2017. I hope you achieved your goals and are ready to make some new ones.

We saw more home appreciation in the Triad Area in 2017 than we had in the previous 10 years! I think that trend is going to continue right along in 2018. This is going to be the best year to sell your home in the last decade from what I can tell.

If you didn’t get your home sold this year, give us a call and we will make sure that it does. We were able to serve over 580 families in 2017 and we hope to serve another 1,000 in 2018. We’d love to add you and your family to our list of fantastic clients.

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We’d love to add you to our list of clients.

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If you have any questions for us about real estate or there is anything that you need help with, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.

Should You Worry About Asbestos in Your Triad Home?

Asbestos is relatively common due to all the older homes we have here in the Triad. How concerned should you be about it, though?

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We recently talked about the potential home issue of radon but what about asbestos? There are plenty of older homes here in the Triad and many of them still have asbestos pipes.

Should you be concerned by this?

Normally you don't have anything to worry about if your house has asbestos-wrapped pipes if you don't disturb it. However, if you need to get access or replace plumbing that's surrounded by asbestos, I highly recommend hiring someone who is trained in handling and removing asbestos. You certainly shouldn't try to remove it yourself.

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There are plenty of properties in the Triad with asbestos that I wouldn't shy away from.

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Some plumbers are licensed and/or certified in asbestos removal, making them good people to talk to about it. Again though, you typically don't have to worry about asbestos from pipes or your crawlspace getting up into your living space if it's not disturbed.

There are plenty of great properties here in the Triad that have asbestos that I wouldn't shy away from if I was buying a home. Just leave it alone and get some quotes on what it will take to remove or remediate it if need be.

If you have any other questions about asbestos or you need a recommendation for an expert for a quote about asbestos in your home, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We're happy to help.

What Does It Mean When a Home Has Radon?

What happens if the home you want to buy tests positive for a high level of radon? I’ll explain what radon is and how to get rid of it today.

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Buying a Triad area home? Search all homes for sale

Radon sometimes comes up in home inspections. What is radon and what should you do if you buy a house that has high radon levels?

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that naturally comes up from the earth. Radon has been linked to causing lung cancer over a prolonged period of time. How long is not really clear, as different studies have found different results.

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Radon has been linked to certain lung cancers.

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If the home you are buying does test positive for radon, you can install a mitigation system for $1,000 to $1,500 that will remove radon from your home.

Radon is commonly found in homes built with slab construction or homes that have a basement. Certain parts of the Triad area have more radon than others, so if you are concerned about radon, you can pay $125 for an air quality test during your home inspection.

If the home tests positive for radon, that’s not necessarily a reason to walk away from the deal. Again, there are things you can do to get rid of radon, so if you find the perfect house and it happens to have high radon levels, just go for it.

If you have any other questions about radon gas or buying a home, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Are You Missing Beyond Your Smartphone Screen?

Smartphones are essential tools that provide a ton of benefits, but letting them become a distraction to your day to day life leaves you at a disadvantage.

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Buying a Triad area home? Search all homes for sale

If you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed people who are glued to their smartphones all day every day. It’s pretty clear to see that technology can become a huge distraction during our day to day lives. 

Back in the day, when televisions were first introduced, they were a disruption to the family unit as it gave people something to stare at instead of interacting. Then in the 1980s, computers were introduced into the home, creating another distraction.

Now, all of the distractions such as TV shows, the Internet, and even video games are contained in one little device that people have on them at all times. Smartphones allow access to our favorite distractions at any time of the day, and it’s definitely affecting the workplace. I’ve even seen real estate agents who are guilty of letting their phones distract them.

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Slow down and engage with those around you.

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The fact of the matter is you need to live with intention and be where you are. If you are working or having a conversation with someone, be present in that work or conversation. Put the phone down, especially when you are driving. You know when you are letting it distract you, so be more mindful during your day and while having interactions with those around you.

Real estate-wise, 2017 is going to be an awesome year! We can’t wait to see what the year brings.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home or have any other questions, please feel free to reach out and give me call or shoot me a quick email. I’m always happy to help!

Why Is Your Rent So High?

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Some tenants in the Triad area rent apartments worth $250,000, but might not know it. If you’re paying $1,100 in monthly rental payments, you could be paying off your landlord’s mortgage.

For instance, a 30-year fixed mortgage for a $250,000 home requires a $1,100 monthly payment! Think about that. That tiny apartment could be as big as the master bedroom in your own home.

You might already be paying as much in rent as you would in mortgage payments.

Some of you renting now might not think you’re ready to buy a home, or maybe that you can’t afford it. However, you might already be paying as much in rent as you would in mortgage payments! I encourage you to take it to the next step. We can run you through the process of getting pre-qualified for a home. Every week, people come into our office and realize money is incredibly cheap right now.

Don’t make the mistake of renting these apartments. Consider investing in your own property. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the surrounding area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have!

Tips for Handling Winter Water Damage

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The Triad area experienced some water damage this winter. Maybe you experienced a flooded basement or crawlspace, overflowing gutters, or a similar issue. Likewise, we've had a ton of rain here this season. What can you do to repair and prevent water damage?

First, determine where the water is coming from. It might be as simple as having overflowing gutters. Gutters can dump a lot of water into crawlspaces or basements.

Also, ensure your downspouts push water away from your home. New build guidelines require that downspouts take water ten feet away from your property. Many downspouts just dump water right at the edge of your foundation.

Finally, check your flowerbeds. They might have settled and allowed water to flow directly into your home. Flowerbeds should slope away from the foundation. 

Most of these are simple observations you can make yourself. However, if you need to hire a professional, contact us! We can put you in touch with several great contractors to help you with your water issues. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would be happy to help you.

Are You Letting Obnoxious Solicitors Clog Your Mailbox?

There are many great Triad area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling you home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at (336) 553-0796 for a FREE home buying or selling consulation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Are you tired of getting all those credit card solicitations in the mail? If so, we've got some quick tips for you to stop them.

These credit card solicitations present a serious risk, as you could get your identity stolen. To opt-out of these annoying mail messages, call 1-888-5-OptOut. You can also follow the instructions on the Federal Trade Commissions website to get yourself unsubscribed. The website is www.FTC.GOV. They'll let you know how to stop those obnoxious solicitors from clogging up your mailbox. 

We just thought we would share this quick little tip to help you get rid of some of the junk in your life. As always, if you have any questions about real estate in the Triad area, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email. We would be pleased to hear from you!