iRaleighRealEstate Blog

Today, we’re updating Triangle real estate sales figures and answering the “how hot will summer sales be in Raleigh-Durham” question. In an earlier blog post, I reported that there were 2,083 home closings in May for Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties, up 26 percent over the same period last year, according to the Triangle Multiple Listing Service. Well the numbers are in for July and sales, unlike the outdoor temperatures, have cooled with only 1,354 closings for the month, which is a 35% dive over a two-month period. That’s also down 35% from the same period last year as closings in July 2009 in the same four counties numbered 2,052.

Get my full story, Hot NONE In the Summertime…Real Estate Sales on Vacation, online.  Find more timely statistics on Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Check out my blog post at Rick Freeman’s DayTripping Series – Mayberry, NC – It’s For Real and In Living Color. See more things to do in Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Check out my blog post at Rick Freeman’s DayTripping Series – Nascar Hall Of Fame in Charlotte. See more things to do in Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Check out my blog post at Rick Freeman’s DayTripping Series – Tax Free Weekend. See more things to do in Raleigh Durham and search the great Raleigh homes for sale and buyer’s market incentives on Raleigh real estate at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

It’s more value-added information from your Raleigh realtor, Rick Freeman and the Freeman/Davis Home Team.

Summer is one of the most popular seasons for holding a yard sale. But simply holding a yard sale doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll end the day with lots of extra money in your pocket. If you’re planning on clearing out your clutter this summer, here are ten tips to help make your yard sale a success:

1. Start your yard sale earlier than other yard sales in your area so shoppers will start their shopping day with you.
2. Don’t schedule your yard sale on a holiday weekend or during a big event in your area (like a sporting event or festival).
3. If it rains, take down your signs and reschedule your sale so you can maximize traffic on the day of your sale.
4. Before your own yard sale, visit other sales in your neighborhood to get an idea of typical prices.
5. Place all of your items (except for large items) on tables so shoppers don’t have to bend.
6. If you plan to sell electrical items, have an outlet and extension cord handy so you can show shoppers that the items work.
7. If you want to sell larger ticket items, look for those items in a local circular and then attach the ad to your item so shoppers can see that they are getting a great deal.
8. If you have a variety of items that men would like, place them on their own table. If married couples stop by your sale, both parties will enjoy looking.
9. Advertise your sale ahead of time in your local newspaper classified section, on community boards at your local food stores, and online at places like www.Craigslist.org.
10. Wait until the morning of your garage sale to hang signs in your neighborhood, and make sure you take them down that day to avoid any fines from your homeowner’s association or your town. You don’t want to have to use all the cash you earn to pay a fine!

And remember, a successful sale is also a safe sale. Keep money in a pouch around your waist instead of in a cash box (which could get stolen while you are helping shoppers), don’t accept checks (which could bounce), and never allow strangers inside your home to use the bathroom or telephone.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to having less clutter in your home, and more cash in your pocket!

This Weekend, Oct. 7 through Oct. 9, is a tax-free weekend on Energy-Saving Appliances and covers items like washers, freezers, refrigerators and other appliances that carry the “Energy Star” label.

Remember, it must have the “Energy Star” label to be eligible for the tax-free incentive.

Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling real estate, The FREEMAN/DAVIS TEAM would love to help.  For more information, please visit www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com

OK…it’s only a few more days til Halloween and if you have not done so already, better work on that Jack-o-lantern before the ghouls start knocking at your door.  As is usually the case in such situations, we’re here to help…this time with our pumpkin carving tips!

• Choose a large pumpkin.  The larger the pumpkin, the easier it is to carve.  Avoid any pumpkins with bruises or moldy stems, as they will spoil much faster.  Pumpkins with a lighter color tend to be softer and easier to carve.
• Draw your design on the pumpkin with a water based maker beforehand.
• When cutting out the top, place the knife at a 45 degree angle so that the lid will have a place to rest when you replace it.  If you cut straight down, the lid will fall through.
• Remove seeds and pulp.  When cleaning the pumpkin, save the seeds .  Toasted pumpkin seeds make a healthy as well as tasty snack.  Use a large, heavy metal serving spoon or ice cream scoop to scrape the insides.
• When carving, keep a portion of the knife blade in the pumpkin and use slow, steady strokes.
• Carve the facial features closest to the center first and work outward.  Cut the larger features in sections.
• Remove carved portions by gently pushing them into or out of the pumpkin.
• Flatten a spot at the base of the pumpkin for the candle, but avoid digging too deep because the pumpkin becomes prone to rot.
• The best way to make a carved pumpkin last longer is to slow down the dehydration process.  To do this, take a Q-tip and Vaseline all the cut edges on the face that you previously carved.
• A small battery operated touchlight is a safer choice than candles for lighting your jack-o-lantern.
• Sprinkle the bottom side of the pumpkin lid the ground cinnamon, nutmeg and/or cloves to let your jack-o’-lantern to double duty as an air freshener.

OR….

• You a can purchase the eyes, ears, nose (and probably a few other Jack-O-Lantern) anatomical attributes and just stick them on the pumpkin.  It’s kinda like decorating Mr. Potato Head only the head is a lot heavier!

Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling real estate, The FREEMAN/DAVIS TEAM would love to help.  For more information please visit www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com

Frost – Frost breaks down the chlorophyll all at once, this trapping the chlorophyll resulting in longer lasting leaves and color

Rain – A rainy summer and dry fall is best for the leaves. However there is a thin line between too little and too much.

Slope – The high angle of a mountainside causes rain to run off the soil so it is well drained. This allows trees to have drier roots, thus, tree color on these slops is consistently beautiful.

Temperature – Warm temperatures results in the leaves turning color later in the fall, usually meaning a shorter season.

Stress – When a tree is stressed this causes the leaves to turn color and fall early. Stressors include man made factors such a nearby lighting, or natural such as a tree fungus.

Optimal Conditions for brilliant colors are cool clear days combined with an early frost, hopefully around the end of September

Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling real estate, The FREEMAN/DAVIS TEAM would love to help.  For more information, please visit www.FreemanDavisHomeTeam.com