Carolina Historic Homes

Air Quality Tips: WNC Regional Air Quality Agency

2011-09-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

As we head into the fall, here are some good tips about indoor air quality from Ashley Featherstone of The WNC Regional Air Quality Agency

In regards to maintenance and testing indoor air quality, EPA and CDC recommend having a licensed HVAC contractor perform an annual inspection and tune up (if needed) on heating and cooling systems. The beginning of the heating season is the perfect time to get this done. They also recommend that everyone with combustion appliances (oil, gas, propane, etc.) have a carbon monoxide (CO) detector.

Click here to read more about CO.

Click here (or right click to download) more information about combustion appliances in the home.

With the exception of radon testing, EPA does not recommend mold testing or general indoor air testing because there are no standards for mold and most other pollutants that are applicable in the residential setting. Mold is allergenic and some molds are potentially toxic. If you can see it and/or smell it you may have a problem and it can usually be addressed without the added expense of testing. Finding the moisture problem and correcting it are the first steps, followed by proper clean up.

More information from the EPA's website on mold.

Click on Minnesota or Connecticut for info on indoor air and testing on their state websites.

Good additional information about indoor air in the home can be found on the EPA site.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or need more
information,

Ashley

Ashley Featherstone
Engineering Supervisor
WNC Regional Air Quality Agency
49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: 828.250.6778
Fax: 828.255.5226
www.wncairquality.org
All correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

Carl Sandburg's Connemara

2011-07-27T04:58:00.000-07:00

"A man must find time for himself. Time is what we spend our lives with. If we are not careful we find others spending it for us. It is necessary now and then for a man to go away by himself and experience loneliness. To sit on a rock in the forest and to ask of himself "Who am I? and Where have I been? and Where am I going? If one is not careful, one allows diversions to take up one's time. The stuff of Life" - Carl Sandburg

Historic Connemara in Flat Rock is a great place to go back in time visiting the home, take a hike on the beautiful grounds, and learn about a great American writer's life.

Spirit of Asheville

2011-07-04T05:41:00.000-07:00

This is a great video about Asheville, the happiest city in the country:

Current Real Estate trends for Asheville, NC

2011-06-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

The real estate market has sure been challenging over the last two to three years. The environment remains a solid buyers market, and some recent numbers for the Asheville area show some real signs of improvement in the economy.

Click for link to larger image

For median and lower priced homes, especially during the last six months, there has been a definite new trend in the available supply of homes on the market, though the size of the supply still firmly favors buyers.

Click for link to larger image

For higher priced homes, the numbers show a similar trend, though the number of homes available for sale remains much higher than the rate of home sales. Especially for the highest priced properties, the market remains a challenge, and this can be a real opportunity for a prudent home buyer.

Home Energy Efficiency Program Presentation

2011-06-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Wednesday June 22, 12:00pm All Welcome

Neighbor Saves presents: Team Based Energy Saving

WHERE: AB Tech Main Campus Simpson lecture hall
WHEN: Wednesday June 22nd 12:00pm-1:00pm
COST: FREE

Open to the public! All welcome.

There will be a short presentation at 12:00 PM
followed by Q&A

Neighbor Saves is an innovative program aimed at empowering participants to Save Energy, Save Money, Improve Comfort and Build Community in a team based fun environment (not just neighbors!) Participants get trained by and complete work on each others' homes with an experienced supervisor.

100% Financing for projects is available through Self-Help Credit Union for qualifying participants.

The following is a list of potential retrofits to be undertaken through Neighbor Saves: Air sealing in the attic and under the floor, attic insulation, duct sealing and insulating, caulking and weatherstripping around doors and windows, water heater wrap, hot water pipe wrap, programmable thermostat installation, showerhead and faucet aerator change-outs, light bulb change-outs, fireplace pillow installations, Carbon monoxide detector installations.

Come learn how you can be part of the solution today.

Find out more at: www.neighborsaves.org

Directions:

http://www1.abtech.edu/content/campus-police-and-security/directions-campus

Campus map:

http://www1.abtech.edu/content/a-b-tech-locations/asheville-campus

COST: Free

For more information, please contact: Jacob Sadler, Residential Outreach Coordinator
Western North Carolina Green Building Council
828-254-1995

info@wncgbc.org

www.wncgbc.org

Matt Siegel, Director
Western North Carolina Green Building Council

828-254-1995

matt@wncgbc.org

www.wncgbc.org

Smoky Mountain Log Cabin Rental

2011-06-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

One of our past clients has recently completed a beautiful rehab of this cozy cabin that is being offered for vacation rental and has already gotten raving reviews from her guests!

Mountain Cabin North Carolina (Click for link to the site)

Check it out and make a reservation!

Waterside Cottage . . . on the banks of beautiful Trout Lake

2011-05-11T08:44:00.001-07:00

Why Western North Carolina?

2011-03-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

Montford Historic District, Asheville, North Carolina | Best Old House Neighborhoods 2011: The South | Photos | Home & Real Estate | This Old House

2011-03-10T09:36:00.000-08:00

Montford Historic District, Asheville, North Carolina Best Old House Neighborhoods 2011: The South Photos Home & Real Estate This Old House

Historic Charles Joyner house video

2011-02-15T07:01:00.000-08:00

Renovation, Repair and Painting Certification

2010-10-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

There is a lot of controversy over the new lead-safe work practices and certification required by contractors that disturb lead-based paint in homes built before 1978. Recently I became RRP certified and wanted to share a little information about the new law:

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
EPA requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Individuals can become certified renovators by taking an eight-hour training course from an EPA-approved training provider.
Lead-safe remodeling is the law if you are a contractor and smart if you have kids. Since I have kids and work a lot with buyers and sellers of historic homes, I recently took the 8 hour course and became certified.

Lead poisoning remains a major environmental-health concern, and though it is commonly associated with youth, high levels of lead exposure are linked to serious adult health conditions, such as high blood pressure and dementia.

Locally, the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program works to promote lead-safe environments in Buncombe and Henderson counties by providing the community with educational resources, identification of lead hazards in the home and training for professionals. “Although we don’t see many children who are lead-poisoned, low levels of lead, once thought safe, have been shown to be harmful,” says Program Coordinator Linda Block. If you are pregnant, or have children or grandchildren under the age of 7, call for a free lead inspection of your pre-1978 home. There are upcoming workshops on lead-safe work practices for remodelers, renovators and painters.

See the following links for details:

Local RRP Training info

Details of EPA requirements

Then and now pictures show progress

2010-09-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

stripping wallpaper and foundation work can lead to an overwhelming desire to stick with the desk job

What Have I Gotten Myself Into

2010-09-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

I was always very cordial to the elderly lady that lived across the street from us in the small 1920's bungalow, but one day a few years ago as I was taking out the trash she approached me on the sidewalk and accused me of trying to steal her house. This accusation was a shock because the thought had never entered my mind and I have absolutely no similarities to Donald Trump that would make her suspect that.

Fast forward to 6 months ago an auction sign went up in front of that house. That day I was in a rush to get my 4 year old to school and then to work and I was still a little drowsy from helping take care of our 6 month old during the night. The sign obviously caught my interest and I knew that it was a matter of time before something would happen to the dilapidated bungalow after the elderly owner moved to assisted living, but no way I'd have time to consider it and I'm no Donald Trump.

Fast forward to a few months ago and I'm the highest bidder for a house that needs LOTS of work and immediately I'm second-guessing why I would try to tackle something that I don't have the time or money to accomplish.

Fast forward to a couple of months ago and after pulling all the equity out of our house the bank will allow, I've gone up the chain of command at our local bank and somehow persuaded them to do an in-house loan on a major fixer-upper in a down market. Now I'm starting to feel like Donald Trump, but not really. I've worked in a lot of dirty old houses but that was before I had a wife and 2 kids. We close on the house and my beautiful wife says she trusts me, and no way she's setting foot in that filthy house.

Fast forward to now and, after several weeks of wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into, the first payment came due and I finally got motivated to start cleaning out the mess. In this post are only the before pictures for shock value. I'll be posting updates as I go along . . .

Mortgage Rates Still Low

2010-08-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level on record for the sixth time in seven weeks.

The average rate for 30-year fixed loans this week was 4.49 percent, down from 4.54 percent last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That's the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971.

The average rate on the 15-year fixed loan dropped to 3.95 percent, the lowest on record. Other rates dropped: 5-year-adjustable, 3.63 percent, from 3.76; 1-year ARM, 3.55 percent, from 3.64.

The last time home loan rates were lower was during the 1950s, when most mortgages lasted 20 or 25 years.

Low rates have sparked some activity in the weak housing market, but not a massive boom in refinancing.

-AP

Asheville, NC continues its reign as top BeerCity USA 2010

2010-05-25T12:48:00.001-07:00

Asheville, NC continues its reign as top BeerCity USA 2010

Posted using ShareThis

Update on Buncombe County Housing Market - May 2010

2010-05-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

Existing home sales jumped a surprising 68% in Buncombe County last month, apparently fueled by tax credits and more optimism about the economy, but prices were still relatively weak. The number of existing homes sold in Buncombe has risen substantially every month but one since September, prompting hope the fall in the area's housing market has finally stopped. The pending expiration of federal tax credits for home buyers accounted for a good portion of the sales increase in April.

Even with the rise in sales, buyers still have more power than usual when it comes to settling on a sales price. The number of homes available for sale is still much higher than the level regarded as equilibrium. The median home sale price — the point at which half are higher, half lower — dropped from $208,000 in April 2009 to $186,000 in April 2010, a 10.6% decline. There were 237 existing home sales in Buncombe County in April, up from 141 in April 2009 and 203 in March 2010.

Those who do buy now will be able to buy more house and have more choices than they would have a year ago — good news for buyers, but a headache for sellers. Sellers are being forced to adjust their prices downward if they want to sell. There are still far more homes on the market than it can currently absorb, according to N.C. Mountains MLS data. Industry experts generally consider a market in equilibrium if a six months' supply of homes is available for sale.

Staying Power: The Joys and Challenges of Historic Homes

2010-04-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

Real estate professionals like to offer as many kinds of properties to prospective customers as there are different personalities of buyers. And few real estate properties have more personality than a historic home.

By the standards of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, any structure at least 50 years old may qualify for historic-landmark status. This is determined by a home or other building’s demonstration of particularly significant architectural features or now-rare styles, or its role in important past activities or events.

To be sure, such homes present many challenges. The older the house, the more likely certain toxins will be present that aren’t in newer homes (such as asbestos and lead paint); these will have to be dealt with. And restoring the historic character to a possibly-neglected house can be a costly and time-consuming effort.

But there’s much to be said for the personal satisfaction of remaking a house by your own effort, and restoring an example of America’s past that can help keep us mindful and proud of our heritage. Also, where there are historic homes there are likely to be whole historic neighborhoods, which preserve and offer to the homebuyer just the kind of old-fashioned community qualities that today’s home-seekers are craving and today’s developers are trying to re-create.

If your home is on or considered eligible for local, state or national registers of historic places, various rules will be in effect for building materials, renovations, and uses of the structure which most fit the historical period in which it was built. Although these requirements can be an inconvenience, many states offer tax and other incentives for owning and rehabilitating historic homes found to meet historic-preservation officials’ criteria. And owners of homes on government registers of historic places still have broad latitude in selling, altering and using their property.

Before buying such a home, you’ll want to check into several factors to determine whether the investment you’re making in history is the right one for you: What laws apply to local historic buildings and districts, how much restoration does the house require, and what contractors are available who are knowledgeable about handling historic homes are a few of the major questions you’ll want answered before making a commitment.

Proper preparation and the right professional expert can help ensure that your historic home will give you nothing but happiness to look back on.

Having grown up in an 1890's Victorian home that was in a state of repair my entire childhood, the lead paint may have dulled my senses a little but I've continued to gain experience through my own renovations and through assisting others. I love history and the discoveries that can be made when researching a property. These discoveries, I believe, can add value to your property. We now offer the services of a "house historian" who can efficiently find the story that your property has to tell.

So whether you're considering selling or buying an historic property, or if you'd just like to have us research the history of your property, you've come to the right place. We can provide testimonials, references and look forward to discussing the possibilities.

Great News in the Real Estate Market

2010-03-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

We want to share with you some great news about the Buncombe County real estate market. The number of home sold in January 2010 was up 19% over the number of homes sold just a year ago in January 2009. There was also a 12% increase in the dollar volume of homes sold in Buncombe County. We feel that many consumers are taking advantage of the historically low mortgage rates as well as the Home Buyers Tax Credit.

Follow are a few links of updated information about the Asheville area real estate market for February 2010.

Active Listings in WNC—February 2010
Closed Listings in WNC—February 2010
Percentage Sold in WNC—February 2010
Sales Trend Report in WNC—February 2010
5 Year Sales History Report—February 2010

If you have questions or need more information on the above, please visit our website at www.CarolinaHistoricHomes.com or call 828-230-4054.

New Legislation to Extend and Expand Tax Credit

2009-11-09T09:07:00.000-08:00

New Legislation to extend and expand Tax Credit

New legislation, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which was signed into law on Nov. 6, 2009, extends and expands the first-time homebuyer credit allowed by previous Acts. The new law:

•Extends deadlines for purchasing and closing on a home.
•Authorizes the credit for long-time homeowners buying a replacement principal residence.
•Raises the income limitations for homeowners claiming the credit.

Under the new law, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2010 and close on the home by June 30, 2010. For qualifying purchases in 2010, taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 return.

For the first time, long-time homeowners who buy a replacement principal residence may also claim a homebuyer credit of up to $6,500 (up to $3,250 for a married individual filing separately). They must have lived in the same principal residence for any five-consecutive year period during the eight-year period that ended on the date the replacement home is purchased.

People with higher incomes can now qualify for the credit. The new law raises the income limits for homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009. The credit phases out for individual taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) between $125,000 and $145,000 or between $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers. The existing MAGI phase-outs of $75,000 to $95,000 or $150,000 to $170,000 for joint filers still apply to purchases on or before Nov. 6, 2009.

General Information

Homebuyers who purchased a home in 2008 or 2009 may be able to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer credit. The credit:

•Applies only to homes used as a taxpayer's principal residence.
•Reduces a taxpayer's tax bill or increases his or her refund, dollar for dollar.
•Is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed.

The credit is claimed using Form 5405, which you file with your original or amended tax return.

See the following link for details from the IRS site: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html

Retirement in Asheville - From CBS News

2009-05-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

(CBS) Mountain air is not enough for a generation determined to ban boredom in retirement. Martha Teichner visited Asheville, N.C., to explore how some are designing more creative retirements:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Bauer was a high school teacher in Michigan before retiring to Asheville, and getting a part-time job as a tour guide at the Biltmore Estate.

"Why do I wanna keep on teaching when I can retire financially and I can try something completely different?" he asked.

Americans just aren't retiring the way they used to ...

"We don't want to just sit down and vegetate," said Jim Wyatt.

And you don't have to go very far from the Biltmore Estate to see how they're redesigning the whole notion.

Nancy Long spent her career writing for newspapers and magazines. Now she's a volunteer docent at the Asheville Art Museum.

Long and her husband, Al, were attracted to Asheville, N.C., because for a small city, it has a lot going on culturally.

But the big selling point was the fact that they could live right downtown and walk everywhere, a growing trend among retirees.

The Longs live in a compact loft in an old commercial building, but here's the kicker: When they retired, they actually lived in Florida … and moved away.

Why?

"We thought it'd be boring," Martha told Teichner.

"Boring," Al agreed.

Ron Manheimer, who heads the Center for Creative Retirement at the University of North Carolina in Asheville, said, "People are saying, 'Well maybe Florida isn't the place to go.

"What I see is very high expectations that something special should happen in and around this time of life, and I think I see people searching for what that would be."

Asheville has been a beneficiary. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it is on just about every top ten list of the best places to retire in the U.S.

It says something about Asheville that it's got a Center for Creative Retirement, where $115 a semester will buy you an all-you-can-eat menu of classes taught by retirees themselves … a cross-section of courses in Latin, French, bookmaking, or a how-to class on navigating senior benefits.

Then there's deepening inner stillness.

Asheville property developer Jim Anthony thinks they're looking for a healthy, outdoorsy lifestyle he calls "wellness."

Taking Teichner on a helicopter tour of the area, Jim Anthony said, "I look right down and there's about ten acres right there that we have set aside wildflowers and trail system, because that's what people are looking for."

Anthony is 65, but has no intention of retiring himself. He loves to fly prospective buyers over what will be the first golf course in the U.S. designed by Tiger Woods.

"I think we'll attract more people for this whole setting, this mountain top setting with the trails and the spa and wellness center than for golf."

Anthony is marketing a kind of "Blue Ridge Mountain high" to aging baby boomers with money, whose retirement may turn out to be a third of their lives.

"We walked into Asheville, said 'This reminds me of the Sixties without the Vietnam War,'" said Bill Dorfman. "I loved the Sixties."

The spirit of the '60s is alive and well in Asheville, including the need to do good.

Don and Lisbeth Cooper had all the retirement that money can buy. He'd been in finance, she was in fashion. They built the house of their dreams at the top of a mountain outside Asheville.

And then reality intervened. Lisbeth wasn't satisfied with the care available for her daughter, Danielle, who's had bouts of mental illness. She suggested to Don starting their own mental health care facility.

"And what did you say?" Teichner asked.

"No way, Jose," Don said.

Famous last words.

Together they raised ten million dollars and built the not-for-profit Cooperriis Center which seems more like a working farm than a hospital.

"We're making a wonderful improvement in many people's lives, and it's been very rewarding," Don said.

And they're still at it.

"This was 80 hours a week and still is because we're building a second center in Asheville," said Lisbeth.

"Now, was this your idea of your retirement?" asked Teichner.

"No, I had no clue," said Don.

"He used to tell me he was bored," Lisbeth said. "He's not bored anymore."

No, indeed. Gone are the days when retirement meant the end. In Asheville, it's clear retirement is the beginning.

To See Video,
Watch CBS Videos Online

6th Annual Montford Music & Arts Festival

2009-05-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

6th ANNUAL MONTFORD MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2009

This year’s festival will feature a great variety of food, so come hungry. The Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society will once again sell their delectable breads and desserts, Satay a Go-Go will be back with authentic Thai food, and Twin Cousins will serve delectable Cajun cuisine. We hope that Mr. Gene’s, a Goombay favorite, will be offering fried chicken and fish specialties. If you’re thirsty, fresh lemonade will also be available. For those who want to eat inside, Nine Mile Restaurant will serve up its menu of Jamaican food all day to match Pure Fiyah Reggae Band’s music.
Artists and crafters will be everywhere this year. The winners from last year will be back: Les Powell with his pottery, Wonderland 5 with their fabric creations, and Scott Owen with his fabulous jewelry. A previous winner, Una Barrett, will return with new jewelry designs. Many festival artists show their work on www.etsy.com Check out www.montfordfestival.com for links to the artists’ websites.
The festival is a great opportunity to learn more about nonprofits such as the Animal Compassion Network and the Asheville Vegetarians. The Alzheimer’s Association and Odyssey Community School, among others, will also be represented. So join the fun and spend the day. As always, we’ll have a limited number of chairs available for folks who want to sit and listen to the music. This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Oh yes—the Health Department asks that you please leave your dog at home. See you on
Saturday, May 16!

Performers

Snake Oil Medicine Show, Pure Fiyah Reggae Band, Good Old Boyz, and Ira Bernstein and John Herrmann will headline the Six Annual Montford Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, May 16. The party will start at 10:00 a.m. and keep going until around 8:00 p.m. on Montford Avenue between Cullowhee and Waneta Streets. Other performers include Tater Diggers, Kon Tiki, Vollie McKenzie and the Lead-Foot Vipers, and WestSound. The Montford festival is unique
in that every act features performers who are current or former residents of the neighborhood.
Highlighting the diverse strengths of Asheville’s most historic neighborhood, this year’s festival will offer a wider array of arts and crafts than ever. The juried art show is regarded as one of the best in the region. And the food available on the long block promises to be outstanding!
Celebrating its sixth anniversary, the Montford Music and Arts Festival is free to the public. The festival is produced by the Montford Neighborhood Association and made possible by the generosity of corporate and individual sponsors. Dozens of Montford volunteers make this festival go, and we want to give special thanks to the festival committee: Sharon Fahrer, Ben
Scales, Mitch Russell, Ross Terry, David Patterson, Laurence Pamer, and Wanda Hawthorne.

Performance Schedule

10:00 a.m.—Tater Diggers. This trio enjoys digging into the songs and styles of the mountains,and they’ll sprinkle in a sea shanty or two as well.

11:00 a.m.—Kon Tiki. Tropical lounge swing will make late morning on Montford Avenue
feel like an evening on the beach at Waikiki.

Noon—Ira Bernstein and John Herrmann. John, the Zen Master of Old-Time, will put
Ira through the paces of Ten Toe Percussion.

1:00 p.m.—Vollie McKenzie and the Lead-Foot Vipers. Step to vintage jazz, swing,
and blues with influences ranging from Hank Williams and Ray Charles to Appalachian string bands and gospel.

2:00 p.m.—WestSound. This family band mixes gospel favorites with high-energy soul and R&B.

3:15 p.m.—Good Old Boyz. These rock and rollers can sure enough play outlaw country,
conjuring some of the legends of hard-edged country music.

4:45 p.m.—Snake Oil Medicine Show. Danceable, zany, and crazy, this troupe will cure
what ails you with their potent mixture of music and art.

6:15 p.m.—Pure Fiyah Reggae Band. “Our music is the sounds of the system, the good,
the bad and the oppressed ones.” Move to this powerful music and feel the positive vibration.

Throughout the day, enjoy the artistry of: Asheville Morris Men and Ashgrove Garland—traditional dances of the British Isles melmacpink—hoop dancing.

Don’t miss the Maypole celebration at around 1:00 p.m.!

ERA Real Estate Announces Make a Change. Make a Difference. Consumer Sweepstakes Campaign

2009-04-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville is pleased to announce the launch of the national ERA Real Estate Make a Change. Make a Difference. sweepstakes, inspired by the yearlong national sponsorship of "do-it-yourself" home improvement icon, Ask This Old House. The sweepstakes will run from April 1, 2009 through July 4, 2009.

The Make a Change. Make a Difference. sweepstakes provides Asheville-area consumers with information to guide them through the various stages of homeownership from buying and maintaining to selling, while also offering the chance to win a free room re-design.

"This sweepstakes is centered around all the ways in which we can help Make a Change. Make a Difference. in our community," said Sid Border, local ERA® representative. "ERA Sunburst Realty is so much more than a company that buys and sells houses. We truly care about the quality of our community members' lives. Through this campaign, we have the chance to help our customers with every aspect of homeownership, from being more energy efficient, to staging a home for quicker sale, while offering them the chance to win prizes that will Make a Change. Make a Difference. in their own homes."

To enter the national sweepstakes and learn more about how ERA Real Estate can help you Make a Change. Make a Difference.:
Visit www.ERA.com/Ask
Watch at least one (1) video tip on the various stages of homeownership, provided by ERA Real Estate and Ask This Old House
Complete the sweepstakes entry form shown after the video
There are 10 different videos clips, so consumers can enter up to 10 times

Three winners will be randomly chosen to receive a $2,500 gift card from Lowe’s and a Staged to Live Consultation from StagedHomes.com, as well as a $200 gift certificate from American Home Shield. There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN and NO LISTING OR PURCHASE OF A HOME REQUIRED TO ENTER OR WIN. Odds of winning depend on number of entries. Promotion begins at 12:00:01 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. EDT on July 4, 2009. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. States and DC (except residents of N.J. and Ohio) who are 21 years of age or older at time of entry. Void in N.J. and Ohio and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Subject to full Official Rules, available at www.ERA.com/Ask. Sponsored by ERA Franchise Systems LLC, 1 Campus Drive, Parsippany, N.J. 07054.

"Greening" Your Historic Home

2009-03-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

10 helpful tips to green your home while maintaining its historic integrity.
Keep original windows intact. Studies show that older windows can perform as well as vinyl replacements. Weatherstrip them so that they seal tightly, caulk the exterior trim, and repair cracked glazing or putty around glass panels. You'll reduce landfill waste and the demand for vinyl, a nonbiodegradable material that gives off toxic byproducts when it's made.
Use light paint colors for your house's exterior. Light colors reflect heat better than darker colors.
Insulate the attic, basement, and crawl space. About 20 percent of energy costs come from heat loss in those areas.
Reuse old materials such as brick, stone, glass and slate when making home improvements. If you're rebuilding a staircase, for example, use wood from a summer kitchen or shed that couldn't be saved.
Install fireplace draft stoppers, attic door covers, and dryer vent seals that open only when your dryer is in use. An open dampener in a fireplace can increase energy costs by 30 percent, and attic doors and dryer vent ducts are notorious energy sieves.
Plant trees. Evergreen trees on the north and west sides of your house can block winter winds and leafy trees on the south and west can provide shade from the summer sun. Using old photos of your house, try to match the historic landscaping.
Have an energy audit done by your local utility company, or visit Home Energy Save (http://hes.lbl.gov). Audits can help pinpoint problem areas, and measure energy savings after you improve your home's efficiency.
Open the windows and use fans and dehumidifiers, which consume less energy than air conditioning. Many old homes were designed with good cross-ventilation; take advantage of your home's layout.
Keep doors airtight by weatherstripping, caulking, and painting them regularly. Recent studies suggest that installing a storm door is not necessarily cost effective.
Restore porches and awnings. Porches, awnings and shutters were designed for shade and insulation. To save energy, draw shades on winter nights and summer days.

2009-02-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville Announces National Sponsorship with Ask This Old House

Campaign will provide community with greater access to exclusive home how-to information

Asheville, NC (Grassroots Newswire) 2009 -- ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville is pleased to announce that it is part of a yearlong national sponsorship campaign with "do-it-yourself," home improvement icon, Ask This Old House. This sponsorship gives ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville the ability to provide their consumers with information to guide them through all the stages of homeownership, from buying and maintaining to selling.
"This sponsorship brings two powerful brands together to provide consumers with the most trusted home improvement information out there," said Sid Border, local ERA® representative. "We are proud to be associated with such a respected, well-known name in the home improvement industry, and we believe this relationship will help raise awareness of both ERA Real Estate and Ask This Old House as trustworthy, dependable resources for homebuyers, homesellers and homeowners. ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville is in a unique position to use this relationship to benefit our community with special initiatives throughout the year."
Through this sponsorship, ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville will help support the national broadcast portion of Ask This Old House programming on PBS. In addition, ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville will have the ability to offer their community unique and specialized content by leveraging the print and online outlets of Ask This Old House, including This Old House magazine and ThisOldHouse.com.
Broadcast programming aired on PBS beginning October 2008. Check local listings for show broadcast dates and times in your area or visit www.thisoldhouse.com/tvschedule. To find out more information about the sponsorship, visit www.ERA.com/ask or contact ERA Sunburst Realty in Asheville, located at 111 Central Ave., at 828-258-1284.

See a Demonstration: Improving the Energy Efficiency of Older Homes

2008-11-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

You don’t have to look hard to discover that energy costs are on the rise. In the last year
alone, propane has increased in price by 35%, natural gas by 40%, and heating oil by
57%. Although current building techniques and innovative products are making new homes
more efficient, what can be done with older homes? Many homes in the Asheville area were
built before insulating was a standard practice, but insulation alone is not the answer.

Homes need to be viewed as a system. It is important to understand how the different elements
work together to effectively heat, cool, and control moisture. If the house is not viewed
as a system, it is likely that only minimal improvements can be achieved, or worse, that
making changes can actually cause a serious problem to develop.

The key to avoiding these problems is the involvement of professionals who understand
building science. Building professionals use a variety of techniques to diagnose issues and
then develop a comprehensive plan to improve the entire system. On the simple end of
things, a visual inspection can identify many of the more common problems that lead to
energy loss, but this approach can miss some of the hidden issues that exist within a home.
There are several advanced tools and techniques that allow a professional to take objective
measurements and pinpoint unseen issues. These techniques include blower-door testing,
duct-blaster testing, and thermal imaging. When combined, these tools quantify the extent
of the problem and help to identify the cause.

Blower-door testing is a technique that pressurizes the house in a controlled manner to
measure the rate of air leakage from the home. A duct blaster uses a similar technique to
measure leakage from a home’s ductwork. Thermal imaging gives a visual representation
of hot and cold spots. The equipment used is sensitive enough to spot missing insulation
behind a wall. Some of the more sensitive equipment can even see mold growing inside the
wall cavity.

Endless Supply Company is offering to bring together a team of professionals to demonstrate
the effectiveness of these tools. Sid Border has volunteered his house at 170 West Chestnut
Street as a test case. We will perform complete diagnostic testing, including blower door,
duct blaster, and thermal scan. Members of the Montford community are invited to come by
and see the testing in action. After testing, we will address the issues identified and then
perform the same testing to demonstrate the improved efficiency. Results of the testing and
images will be posted to our blog so community members can follow the progress.

We will offer a 10% discount on services to Montford residents for a period
of 90 days after the testing. Residents who sign up for an evaluation the day of testing
will receive an additional 5% off for a total discount of 15%.

Send me an email (sid@realtor.com) if you'd like more information about the demonstration and results.