The Freeman/Davis Home Team Blog

As most of us are aware, the first day of public school traditional calendar was yesterday, August 25th and according to www.wcpss.net there were 4,269 more students enrolled this year than in 2007.  The school will check these figures again on the 5, 7 and 10 day of school.  Should be interesting to see how much these numbers change.

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. 
 

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) Campaign

The concept of “ICE” is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name “ICE” ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn’t know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as “ICE.”

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!

Let’s spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!
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. 

Is Household Mold Making You Sick?

Household mold can cause a host of ailments, particularly among children and older adults.  Symptoms include respiratory problems, headaches, fatigue, and rashes.  Controlling common household isn’t as tough as you might think.  To minimize your exposure to household mold, scrub small visible patches of mold with a solution made with a cup of bleach added to a gallon of water.  Rinse thoroughly. For large areas of dried mold, call a professional.  Tackling this yourself can release toxin-carrying spores into the air.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers these tips to prevent the growth of mold:

• Clean bathrooms with anti-mold products.
• Use a dehumidifier to keep indoor humidity below 50 percent.
• Fix leaky or broken pipes quickly.
• Remove or replace previously soaked rugs and upholstery.
• Don’t place carpet in moist indoor areas, such as bathrooms and basements.
• Make sure ventilation in all rooms is adequate.

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.

If you go to the Freeman/Davis Team website, www.FreemanDavisHomeTeam.com, and scroll down just a little, you’ll find a box called “Neighborhood Snapshot.”  It’s a cool little tool that allows you to get neighborhood specific statistics free.  We have a team of automated bits and bytes and widgets ready to crunch the numbers for you so don’t let these guys spend too much idle time surfing the net.  Put them to work and find out what’s going on in YOUR neighborhood or maybe, a neighborhood you would like to move to.

Now a lot of people have been asking me about Heritage Wake Forest recently.  If you’ve driven through the neighborhood, you know that the streets are FULL of for sale signs.  It’s not a sign that something is wrong with the neighborhood but rather a supply/demand cycle that is far from balanced, a condition I feel has been brought on my a rapid pace of new home building that has totally exceeded demand.  Unfortunately, the loser is the “resale” seller on the market who is seeing days on the market climb while deep pocket builders offer deep discounts in an effort to sell their standing inventory.  

Statistically, here’s what Heritage looks like.  These numbers are for the $300k to $700k price point, only detached homes and all sales are within six months.

RESALE HOMES
45 Active - 16 Months Inventory
17 Closed - Average Sales Price = $395,385
1 Pending Sale

NEW CONSTRUCTION HOMES
55 Active - 5 Month Inventory
68 Closed - Average Sales Price = $436,215
5 Pending Sale

TOTAL HERITAGE
100 Active - 55% New vs. 45% Resale
85 Closed - 80% New vs. 20% Resale
6 Pending Sale

In summary, 80% of the homes sold in Heritage are New Construction, yet New Construction makes up only 20% more of the market than does resale homes, which on average sell for 10% less than the new homes. 

With five months inventory of new homes on the market, I would think that builders would plan to maintain (or slow) their rate of building as well as cut back on some of the incentives offered in an effort to maintain that 5 to 6 month inventory of homes (which is close to normal).   If the number of buyers increases, and that may be after the election, then we’ll see the resale inventory start to decrease and begin to see some balance between these two areas.  I also believe that the rate of new home sales will need to slow down (a result of fewer incentives and price reductions) because gas prices and other economic factors will impact the building pace.  Construction costs are up somewhat and I think that is a pinch that many builders are beginning to feel.

That’s the state of things in Heritage and it’s not the news we want to deliver.  But there is good news too.  If you are buying, homes are selling at lower prices in Heritage and there are deals.  Just remember to take a closer look at the resale market.  The resales are only a few years older than the new homes currently on the market AND you’ll benefit from, in many cases, owner installed features like window treatments, fences, custom landscaping and additional appliances (such as freezers, washer/dryers and refrigerators).

Give it some thought and search on our website, www.FreemanDavisHomeTeam.com for homes in Heritage, including our beautiful listing at www.1032HiddenJewel.com.  At just five years old, it’s a true gem and with all the upgrades, the finished basement and more storage space than you can imagine, when compared to the slightly newer homes out there, it’s definitely a diamond in the rough!   Call or email us and we’ll be glad to show it to you!   

It is always advisable to have a professional inspector look at a home before you purchase it, but you can do some of the legwork beforehand.  You will need to look at the overall structure, the basic systems, and for any signs of previous damage.  Here are some specifics to check:

• Walls – Be sure they are straight and show no signs of bowing.
• Sturdy Floor – Test for signs of improper flexing.
• Sound Roof – Does it appear to be relatively new and well maintained?
• Quality Fixtures – Pay particular attention to the baths and kitchen.
• Electrical System – Look for adequate outlets and in the main box for a minimum of 100 amps of service.
• Heating And Cooling System – Are all rooms connected, and is the system adequate?
• Insulation - Look for a minimum of R-19 in the roof.  The walls can be less, but they need to be well insulated.
• Quality Workmanship – Look at the fine details.  They will give you a lot of insight.
• Water Damage – Be sure water is draining properly outside, and that there are no signs of interior damage.

If these items look good to you and you are interested in the home, it is time to hire an inspector to take a more thorough look.  They can often find “hidden” problems you may have missed.  An inspector usually charges $300-$500.  You can call the American Society of Home Inspectors at 847-290-6012 for a registered inspector in your area.  It is also wise to ask a realty professional for inspectors they trust. 

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. 

Attorney General Roy Cooper and local sponsors are donating their time and resources to sponsor free scam jams and shred-a-thons.  You can learn more about identity theft and how to protect yourself at the events listed below.  Shred-a-thons are a perfect way to destroy old tax records, employment records or credit applications.  You do NOT need to remove staples and paper clips from the documents. It usually takes about 10 minutes to dump the materials, sign a release and watch the documents shred.  
 
If you know anyone who is interested, please pass along this information.  It is a free service offered to help prevent identity theft. 

RALEIGH – SHRED-A-THON
Saturday, September 20th
9am – 12:30pm
Ridgewood Shopping Center
3540 Wade Avenue, Raleigh
Local Sponsors: BBB, Pro-Shred, Attorney General Roy Cooper
 
NORTH RALEIGH – SHRED-A-THON
Saturday, September 20th
9am – 12:30pm
Falls River Town Center
Intersection of Durant Road and Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh
Local Sponsors: BBB, Pro-Shred, Attorney General Roy Cooper

RALEIGH – SHRED-A-THON
Saturday, September 27th
9am – 1pm
Bedford Community
4390 Falls River Ave., Raleigh (Watch NBC-17 for changes)
Local Sponsors: NBC-17, Shred-It, Attorney General Roy Cooper

CARY – SHRED-A-THON
Saturday, September 27th
9am – 1pm
The Peninsula at Amberly in Royal Oaks, Cary
(Watch NBC-17 for changes)
Local Sponsors: NBC-17, Shred-It, Attorney General Roy Cooper
 
RALEIGH – SHRED-A-THON
Tuesday, October 14th
10am – 2pm
RBC Center
1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh
Local Sponsors: RBC, Iron Mountain, Attorney General Roy Cooper

For all your real estate needs, The FREEMAN/DAVIS TEAM is always at your service.  Please visit our web site at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com for free money-saving home tips.

The 2008 High School Football Season is almost here and to start things off Wake Forest/Rolesville and Wakefield High School will be hosting scrimmages tonight.

Wake Forest/Rolesville High School will be hosting THE PIGSKIN KICK-OFF at Trentini Stadium with Bunn, East Wake, Louisburg and Millbrook scrimmage at 6:00 PM and Clayton, Garner, Leesville Road and Wake Forest/Rolesville scrimmaging at 8 PM.

Wakefield High School will be hosting THE WAKEFIELD JAMBOREE with Cary, Knightdale, Nash Central, Chapel Hill and Wakefield scrimmaging at 6 PM.

Come on out and show your support ! !

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. 

What A Great Opportunity! !  Come check out Mordecai Historic Park on Friday, August 15 for FREE.  There will be a guided tour of the Mordecai House and surrounding outbuildings.  You will also get a chance to visit an antebellum plantation house and stroll along a “village street” of historic structures, including the birthplace of Andrew Johnson, 17th president of the United States. Tours will begin on the hour and half hour from at 10 a.m – 3 p.m.  Grounds open from sun-up to sunset.

Mordecai Historic Park is located at 1 Mimosa Street, Raleigh. For more information, please call  (919) 857-4364 or visit www.raleighnc.gov/mordecai.

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.

The Olympic Rings was designed by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914 and contains five interlocking rings on a white background.  The five interlocking rings represent five continents or major geographical areas of the world. The five main regions: Africa, the Americas (North and South America are combined), Asia, Europe and Oceania.

The interlocking rings are symbolic in showing that the Olympic Games are intended for all nations to compete against one another in unity and symbolize the friendships to be made during this international competition. The colors were chosen because at least one of them appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games.

For a complete schedule and results of the Olympic Games, please go to http://en.beijing2008.cn/

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. 

Jump-starting a vehicle can be very dangerous to the person doing it and to the vehicle.  Read the car owner’s manual first before touching a dead battery because some directions are unusual.  Improper jump-starting can cause electrical surges through the vehicle’s electrical system.

When working with a battery, wear splash-proof goggles. If the battery explodes, eye protection can prevent injuries from flying fragments or chemicals.

Here’s how to attach the cables:

1. Connect one positive cable (+ or red) to the positive terminal of the dead battery.
2. Clamp the remaining positive cable to the positive terminal of the good battery.
3. Clamp the negative cable ( - or black) to the negative terminal of the good battery.
4. Make the last connection by clamping the black or negative cable on the engine block (not on the negative post of the dead battery) of the stalled vehicle.

Now you are ready.  Start the car with the good battery and then the disabled car.  When finished, remove cables in reverse order.

For all your real estate needs, The FREEMAN/DAVIS TEAM is always at your service.  Please visit our web site at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com for free money-saving home tips.