BiggerPockets

Small Town Life Near the Big City in Waxhaw NC

Monday, April 09

Located just half an hour from Charlotte, Waxhaw, NC offers a homey, small town feel within a stone's throw of the bigger city life. As one of the first towns in the County, Waxhaw offers a glimpse into history, with some buildings in the downtown area dating back more than 100 years. That doesn't mean we're stuck in the stone ages, though. Citizens can keep up with what's happening in Waxhaw as well as leave comments on the City's Facebook page or via their website.

Horses are a large part of the Waxhaw lifestyle. The McNeeley Farms Equestrian Center, for example, is situated on 70 acres of open area. You can take a lesson, board your horse, give him a vigorous workout in one of the arenas or saddle up and take a nice ride through one of the trails that meanders through the gorgeous scenery. If you are a horse lover, there is plenty of acerage availabe in the Waxhaw area to put down roots.

The Waxhaw Business Association (WBA) believes in creating strong relationships between local Waxhaw businesses and the citizens they cater to. This bond helps a community thrive. The local government also believes in listening and responding to what its residents need. Volunteers are always welcome to join one of the town committees to help improve on the way of life here in Waxhaw (Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, Parks and Recreation, Small Town Main Street, just to name a few).

The Waxhaw school public school system employs enthusiastic teachers who provide an exceptional education to their students. Students wishing to pursue their studies after high school don't have to go far for a quality education. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Queens University, Pfeiffer University and Wingate University (just to name a few) are close to home, which helps keep costs down.

If you're looking for small town life without the big city fuss, Waxhaw, NC is the perfect place for you. Its location 30 minutes from Charlotte allows you to enjoy a much more relaxed life but still keeps you close to the action when you want it. A horse-lover's paradise and family-friendly atmosphere have helped many people call Waxhaw home. When you're ready to look for a home in the Waxhaw area, please contact me.

Robin Husney, Your Charlotte NC Real Estate Specialist

Originally posted on my Charlotte NC real estate blog here: http://www.realtown.com/robinhusneyrealtor/blog/living-in-waxhaw-nc/.

FOR SALE: 11407 Olde St Andrews Court #D, Charlotte NC

Friday, March 16

Located in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte, NC, 11407 Olde St. Andrews Court #D is full brick, ranch-style condo that has been impeccably maintained by its owners. This two bedroom home maintains its airy feel with an open floorplan. Ceramic tile covers the floors. Warm yourself by the gas fireplace and enjoy the weather from your very own sunroom. A neutral color pallette throughout compliments any decorating choices.

The community offers many wonderful amenities, including a clubhouse, community pool, pond and fitness center. Your HOA fees cover the cost of water, sewer and exterior maintenance. A new roof was added to the condo in February 2012, a new furnace was installed in October 2011 and the air conditioning unit was replaced in September 2010. While not included in the sales price, the refrigerator and washer/dryer are negotiable.

If you or anyone you know is interested in viewing this or any other Charlotte area home, please feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to take you on a personal tour.

Robin Husney, Your Charlotte NC Real Estate Specialist

Originally posted on my Charlotte NC real estate blog here: http://www.realtown.com/robinhusneyrealtor/blog/11407-olde-st-andrews-ct-charlotte-nc-condo/.

7588 Natalie Commons Dr, Denver, NC Home for Sale

Friday, March 09

Located in a lovely Denver, NC subdivision, the barely lived-in, beautiful brick front home at 7588 Natalie Commons Drive offers a transitional open floor plan.  As you walk in, your breath is immediately taken away by the amazing two-story entry way.  Archways elegantly frame the living room and bonus/sunroom area.  An eat-in kitchen offers recessed lighting while the dining room features a chair rail and picture frame moldings.  Also included in the kitchen are an electric range/oven, self-cleaning oven, microwave, garbage disposal and dishwasher.  The open, airy feeling is carried on upstairs with vaulted ceilings in the bedrooms.  A trey ceiling and large sitting area make the master bedroom a true retreat.  Neutral colors throughout complete this open, yet cozy home.

Entertain friends and family or simply unwind from the day on your backyard patio.  It's easy to relax when you have beautiful trees surrounding you.  The community pool offers fantastic recreational opportunities.  If you or anyone you know is interested in viewing this wonderful Denver home, please feel free to contact me.  I'll be happy to take you on a personal tour.

Robin Husney, Your Charlotte NC Real Estate Specialist

Originally posted on my Charlotte NC Real Estate blog here: http://www.realtown.com/robinhusneyrealtor/blog/7588-natalie-commons-dr-denver-nc/.

FOR SALE: 7588 Natalie Commons Dr, Denver, NC

Monday, February 20

7588 Natalie Commons Drive is a beautiful, barely lived-in, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, brick front home in the lovely Villages of Denver subdivision with a pool.  The home features a wo-story entry way that leads into an eat-in kitchen and dining room.  Elegant archways frame the living room and bonus/sunroom.  The  kitchen has recessed lighting with a chair rail and picture frame moldings in dining room.  Vaulted ceilings grace the upstairs bedrooms, with a large master sitting area.  The master bedroom features a trey ceiling.  Neutral colors maintain the beauty of the home throughout.

Robin Husney, Your Charlotte NC Real Estate Specialist

Quick Kitchen Makeovers for Less

Thursday, December 29

They say that the kitchen is the heart of a home.  It's also the way to a buyer's heart.  Kitchens continue to be the most popular selling point for Charlotte home buyers.  If you are planning on selling your home within the next six months, you may need to give your kitchen a good once-over to make sure it is up to snuff.  That doesn't necessarily mean that you need to spend thousands of dollars on a major overhaul.  Here are a few quick kitchen makeovers that cost anywhere from a bit of elbow grease to a few dollars.

A Good Scrubbing - Everyday cleaning isn't enough.  Get down into the real nitty-gritty by moving the fridge and stove to get the floor and walls behind them clean.  Scrub down the backsplash and oven hood to remove any built up grease.  Take the top off the stove to get the drippings that fall down below.  Wash the baseboards and molding.  Get the cobwebs out of the corners.  Spring clean no matter what time of year it is.

Update/Add Hardware - Drawer pulls and cabinet knobs are cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk.  Changing out existing hardware or even adding some where there isn't any can completely change the look of the entire room even before you add any paint.

Add a New Coat of Paint - At less than $20 per gallon, you can customize your paint colors to freshen up the look of the room.  Get rid of the ugly avocado greens, mustard yellows or too bright colors you experimented with a few years ago.  Keep the room bright but not fluorescent.

High End Additions - Spring for a serious upgrade in select areas of the kitchen rather than spending a fortune on the entire area.  Adding a nice trim, expensive tiled backsplash above the stove or even a custom hood range may cost a few extra bucks, but can make a dramatic impact on a potential buyer's eyes.

As you can see, you don't have to take out a second mortgage to make your Charlotte home shine.  These quick kitchen makeovers can be done with little to no money and will only take you a weekend to get done.  Let me know when you're ready to put your Charlotte home on the market.  We'll get it sold!

Robin Husney, Your Charlotte NC Real Estate Specialist

Originally posted on my Charlotte NC Real Estate blog here: http://www.realtown.com/robinhusneyrealtor/blog/kitchen-makeovers-for-less/.

What to Expect From a Home Inspection

Friday, December 09

Whether you are purchasing a Charlotte NC home or considering selling your property, real estate professionals recommend that you get a home inspection.  For buyers, the inspection will help shed light on potential problems that may not be easily seen on your initial walk through.  For sellers, a home inspection will point out what areas need to be taken care of, giving you the chance to fix them before placing your home on the market.  Since buyers tend to overestimate how much something will cost to repair by as much as double the actual cost, fixing these problems before you sell may help you negotiate a better sales price.

What to Expect From a Home Inspection

A typical home inspection will review the following areas of your Charlotte NC home:

• Heating System (will not disassemble system but check that system is heating)
• Air Conditioning System (will not disassemble system but check that the system is cooling)
• Electrical System
• Interior Plumbing
• Roofing (will not go on top of roof but will inspect with binoculars)
• Chimney (visual inspection – will note if more involved inspection is needed)
• Attic (including visible insulation and vents)
• Walls
• Ceilings
• Floors
• Windows
• Doors
• Basement
• Foundation
• Crawl Space
• Decks/Porches
• Visible Structural Components

Please note that for all systems, the inspector will only test what is visible and will not open walls to inspect.

What Isn't Covered in a Home Inspection

A home inspector is not required to move any furniture or other structures in order to inspect what's behind it.  However, a good inspector will still do all they can to make sure they have investigated the property in question to the best of their ability, including moving pictures or other objects if possible.  The areas of the Charlotte property in question that will not be covered in a home inspection include:

• Septic System
• Sewer Drain Lines
• Phone, Cable or Satellite Equipment
• Burglar/Fire Alarms
• Personal Property (refrigerator and/or washer/dryer)
• Bugs/Termites
• Radon
• Mold (an inspector may notate it but is not required to test it)

Don't worry.  You can't fail a home inspection.  The point of the inspection is to let the buyer or seller know the condition of the Charlotte NC home.  Your inspector should give you pointers on what is in good condition, what should be fixed now and what may need repair at a future date.  This is information any buyer or seller can use in their real estate transaction. 

This post is meant as a guideline for buyers and sellers only.  I am not a home inspector.  If you want more information about home inspections, please visit the American Society of Home Inspectors' website.

Robin Husney, Your Charlotte NC Real Estate Specialist

Originally posted on my Charlotte NC real estate blog here: http://www.realtown.com/robinhusneyrealtor/blog/what-to-expect-from-a-home-inspection/.