Video showing before and after of rehab in Montford Historic District

If Houses could talk . . .

I love to research the history of homes . . . who lived there and what did they do, what was going on at the time the home was built. Each clue brings the story alive that we like to tell in some way to prospective buyers. Here is a great blog about being a "house detective". If you'd like to find the story about your home but don't have the time, let us know and we can help!

If This House Could Talk

Air Quality Tips: WNC Regional Air Quality Agency

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

"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

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

Current Real Estate trends for Asheville, NC

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

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