Tuesday, May 17, 2022 / by Anne Rose
Being a homeowner is about much more than the walls that are around you. An experienced real estate agent understands all aspects of purchasing a home, from finding the neighborhood that best fits your lifestyle, to the financial intricacies of negotiation and closing.
If you are a buyer considering new construction for your next home, working with a real estate agent will ensure that you have a professional who is looking out for your interests. Although it is easy to walk into a model home and work directly with a builder, buyers often find that it is both confusing and frustrating to navigate the process on their own.
Here are some of the advantages of working with a real estate agent when you are buying new construction:
1. No Additional Cost
Working with a buyer's agent does not cost a prospective homeowner any additional fees, and does not increase the price of a new construction home. Buyer's agents are paid at closing by the builder/developer. Most real estate agents hav ...
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house hunting, real estate broker, real estate agent, tips for buyers
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 ...
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house hunting, tips for buyers, sell your home, home design
Monday, March 28, 2022 / by Anne Rose
Updates and Happenings from beautiful Southeastern Coastal North Carolina.
"Success is actually a short race - a sprint fueled by discipline just long enough for habit it kick in and take over."
- Gary Keller, Founder of Keller Williams
What's Up | our favorite garden centers
Tinga Nursery, 2918 Castle Hayne Road, Castle Hayne
The largest retail and wholesale nursery in the area, Tinga Nursery is family owned for since 1913. Over the last 100+ years, they have built a business on flowering shrubs, vegetables, cut flowers, and many of the Wilmington area homeowner favorites.
The Plant Place, 6114 Market Street, Wilmington
Specializing in locally owned and locally grown bedding and houseplants. Find hanging baskets, garden accessories, and seasonally appropriate plants for your best garden space. Browsing their 37 greenhouses and gift shop is a gardeners' dream.
The Transplanted Garden, 502 South 16th Street, Wilmington
Historic Downtown Wilmington's nursery is stocked year ...
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wilmington nc, tips for buyers, around the azalea coast, news and events
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 ...
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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 ...
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house hunting, tips for buyers, sell your home, tips for sellers
