Thursday, April 14, 2022 / by Anne Rose
A FROG, or "finished room over garage," is a common feature in coastal North Carolina homes. Because homes on the coast don't typically have basements, additional living space can be realized by going upward, and the first place to do that is often over either an attached, or detached, garage.
Some homebuyers determine that the additional room would mostly go unused. They decide not to spend the money during construction to finish the raw space above the garage. They would rather invest their money in a Carolina room, larger first floor primary bedroom, or an extra room for a home office. Opting not to buildout a FROG also eliminates the stairway that would need to be added to the first floor, which can free space for a larger laundry room, pantry, or storage closet.
For a large majority of home buyers, however, a FROG is an excellent construction investment. A finished room over the garage is more than just a good place to stow a couple bunkbeds for the grandkids that vi ...
Read More
house hunting, tips for buyers, sell your home, home design
Friday, February 18, 2022 / by Anne Rose
Moving to a new home is exciting. It’s easy to forget how our pets can be affected. Pets can get nervous and anxious during the moving period. This guide can help you to ensure that bringing you furry or feathered friend along for the ride is less stressful for everyone.
Planning Ahead
Choosing a Home and Neighborhood with Pets in Mind
American Households with
1+ dogs - 47%
1+ cats - 46%
Scout various neighborhoods to find a new home in an area conducive to pets
If you have a dog, make sure you’ll have a safe place to walk him
Look for dog parks, walking trails and reserves
Make sure the living space is big enough and appropriate for your pet
If you have a cat, they’ll need space to climb and roam
If you have a younger/active dog, space to run and play is important
If you have an older dog, try to avoid moving to a place with lots of stairs
Hardwood and LVP are buyer favorites, but carpet and plenty of large rugs are more dog-friendly, especially ...
Read More
house hunting, tips for buyers, sell your home, tips for sellers
Friday, February 18, 2022 / by Anne Rose
8 Week Timeline for Planning Your Move
It’s official, you are moving!
Moving takes months of planning and then weeks of fixing what you forgot to plan for. To help ease some of that stress, here is a checklist of where you should be in the process for the eight weeks building up to your big move!
The Countdown
6-8 Weeks Out
Before doing anything, take photos of your home for memories.
Start a file of all move-related documents: contracts, contact list, etc.
Create a budget. Decide if you’ll move yourself or hire a professional.
Find referrals for covered doctors and dentists in your new town. Get copies of medical records and prepare school records to be transferred.
If you have children, make arrangements to have school records transferred.
Should it stay or should it go? Time for a garage sale and donations!
4-6 Weeks Out
Cut all unnecessary shopping. You don’t want to buy food in bulk like you normally might. It’s subject to be trash in ...
Read More
house hunting, tips for buyers, sell your home, tips for sellers
Thursday, February 17, 2022 / by Anne Rose
Inside your home
Remove pets - book daycare, crate in the garage, or take them for a drive
Hide pet bowls, toys, cat towers, litter boxes
Hide kids' toys and computer gaming systems
Remove as many personal items in bathroom as possible, including toilet brushes, trash
cans, throw rugs
Remove kitchen rugs and stow as many countertop items as possible
Take magnets off refrigerator and clear refrigerator top
Tidy up closets and create a sense of roominess if possible
Remove family photos
Create as much space as possible by removing or rearranging furniture
Outside your home
Mow, rake, and trim grass and shrubs
Tidy up flower beds and refresh mulch
Stow trashcans, yard tools, and hoses
Wipe down and straighten up yard furniture, raise umbrellas
Blow leaves and debris from driveway and walkways
Move cars, trucks, boats, RVs, trailers and other vehicles from front driveway
Cleaning
Clear and wipe all counters, fixtures and appliances in bathrooms and the kitchen
Close ...
Read More
sell your home, finance, tips for sellers
Thursday, June 10, 2021 / by Anne Rose
Kirk Pugh, on the State of the Real Estate market:
These video updates are when I normally give you a bunch of numbers and statistics and tell you how the market is, and my best advice to buyers and sellers. I'm not going to talk about numbers today. Market's great. End of story.
Not really...
My take away from today's market is, whether you are a buyer or a seller, in today's market it is absolutely vital that you have a seasoned professional helping you, either on the sell side or the buy side.
As a seller, you really need to take a careful, hard look at every offer you get on your home. As a buyer, you need to listen to your advisor and let them help you craft an offer that is likely to be accepted in this hyper-competitive market. It is very fast-paced. It is moving at the speed of light.
There are lots of reasons why we are in this situation. Increased prices due to demand, cost of materials, and cost of labor. Lots, and lots, and lots of reasons, and also because th ...
Read More
wilmington nc, house hunting, real estate broker, real estate agent, tips for buyers, sell your home, finance
