iRaleighBlog.com

You can always tell when the summer is ending and school is getting ready to start. 

IT’S TAX FREE WEEKEND.

Friday, August 1st through Sunday, August 3rd  is tax free for clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; school instructional materials of $300 or less per item; sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item, computers of $3,500 or less per item; and computer supplies of $250 or less per item.

For a complete list of Tax Exempt Items, please visit:  http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html and have fun shopping!!  

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. 

Are you spending too much of your hard earned $$$ on utility bills?  If you’re like most Americans, you’re paying almost $1,300 a year.  Now, there’s help.  A new web site, www.energysavers.gov, set up by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, has hundreds of energy saving tips that you can follow that will save you money.

The “Energysavers” web site covers it all from insulation, weatherization, heating, cooling, water heating, windows, landscaping, lighting, to appliances.    Just by following a few of their inexpensive energy saving strategies, you see how easy it is to reduce your home energy use.  In some areas, you’ll be able to reduce your energy bills by 10 to 50 percent! 

You’ll not only save money and reduce your home energy use, you’ll be helping the environment by reducing pollution and conserving our natural resources future generations!

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.

Just A Little F.Y.I if you’re planning on going to Downtown Raleigh Friday Night.  Traffic will be affected downtown on the evening of July 25 as an event at the Raleigh Times will close Hargett Street between Wilmington and Fayetteville streets. The WSHA Jam Session will result in closing of the block from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. No other streets will be closed.

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. 

Do you think everything that makes you sneeze is living outdoors? Think again because some of the worst air may be right in your own home in the form of air-borne molds, chemicals and dust mites.

Here are a few simple fixes and changes you can make around your home to ease allergy suffering and maintain a healthy indoor environment!

1. Check your furniture first. Under the right conditions, mold can grow underneath drawers, dresser back panels or any unfinished furniture.  Even if the mold has been dead for years it will give off allergens. Cover the wood with a good coat of varnish to seal mold in and keep it from spreading. Upholstered chairs and couches can explode with clouds of dust mites and pet dander every time you sit down. Thoroughly vacuum  (seats and frame) once weekly with a good-quality hepa-filter vacuum cleaner.

2. Refrigerators. If your fridge has a drip tray underneath, it can be a mold-growing swamp, spreading mold around the house when the refrigerator’s motor switches on. Scrub the tray, the floor around it and lightly dust the tray with common table salt to retard mold growth.

3. Fish Tanks. Dust Mites love the old fish food that accumulates above the waterline in fish tanks. Clean off once a week.

4. Bathroom Rugs. These can be the dirtiest items in your home.  Bathroom rugs can trap a host of bacteria, mold, mites and yeast at an alarming rate. Wash with hot water and strong soap in the laundry at least every 2 weeks.

5. Down Jackets, Comforters and Pillows. Dust Mites think that down-filled fabrics are their very own Club Med. Putting down products in the dryer on medium heat for 20 minutes will kill Dust Mites and their eggs

6. Outdoor Coats and Jackets. Your outdoor clothing will be exposed to both outdoor and indoor allergens (pollens, spores, mold, animal dander and mites). Dry-clean or wash seasonally.

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. 

There are several steps you can take to not only shorten the sale time of your home, but help it sell for greater value.  The one “mistake” sellers often make is failing to see their home from the perspective of a potential buyer.  Here are a few helpful tips to think about:

• First, make your home available for showings.  This sounds obvious, but one of the most frequent complaints of REALTORS representing buyers is they can’t get proper access to the home. 
• Next, realize that “first impressions are lasting ones.”  Drive up to your home as a prospective buyer would.  What does the home look like from the street?  Is the front yard manicured?  Are trees cut back?  Pay particular attention to your entry area. 
• Next, get rid of clutter.  The way you live in a home, and the way you sell a home are two very different things.  So eliminate those knick-knacks, ceramic thimbles, and other distractions from the true features of your home.  The less “clutter,” the better.
• Next, remember that buyers are attracted to your home because of the “lifestyle benefits” they perceive they’ll get living there.  They’re looking for a “home” not a “house.”  So highlight those special features. A few areas to think about are the entry impression, the kitchen, master bedroom, and the master bath.  Make sure everything is light and bright.
• Next, fix problems ahead of time.  Consider getting a home inspection before you list or show the home.  This will root out any problems and give your home a documented “clean bill of health” to speed the sale.

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 or give us a call at (919) 877-8825.

There’s no doubt, your home is a substantial investment.  So it makes sense to protect it to maximize its value.  One way to do this is with regular maintenance.  While many homeowners keep their homes spotless on the inside, they may not be aware of what needs to be done to the exterior or “structural” areas of their home.  Here’s a quick checklist of items you should inspect and maintain every six months.

• Your Roof.  Climb up and look for damage.  Flat roofs frequently show soft spots, or areas where there may be ponding – signs of potential leaks.  Pitched roofs should be inspected for roof tiles and seams.  If you see a crack or problem, fix it immediately.

• Your Mechanical System.  Mechanical systems include your heating and air conditioning systems.  Heating systems should be checked for deadly cracks and leaks, and air conditioning systems should have filters changed and checked for their efficiency.  These small inspections will save you money, and quite possibly your life.

• Exterior Paint And Fascia.  Wood exterior needs frequent inspection and maintenance.  Small lapses can be costly.  Inspect the exterior of your home for signs of wear, and stay on top of any required maintenance.

• Safety Systems.  Check your smoke detectors and replace the batteries every six months.  After all, the time you need them most is not the time you want to learn they failed because of something so simple as a battery.  Also, make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector in or near every bedroom.  It could save your life if there is a gas or heater leak.

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.

Did you know that sunblock actually has an expiration date and if it doesn’t experts say to throw it away after 3 seasons.

So if you have a tube of sun block that’s been sitting in your beach bag for years, like I do, it’s time to get rid of it.  You definitely don’t want to find out after a day at the beach that your sunblock expired.

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.

In  July 2006, a short 3-minute movie was launched on the Internet called
The Dash.  Since then, over 40 million people from around the world have
watched it; and over 20,000 a day continue to watch it as a result of people passing it along.

The  movie has been more successful than anyone could have ever imagine.
More importantly, however, it has inspired many, many people to
reflect on their lives and ask that all important question, ‘Are my priorities
where  they should be?’

I  hope you enjoy this movie and share it with those who are close to
you.  http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/

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. 

This is a great night out that is FREE.  So pack up dinner, some lawn chairs and a blanket and head over at dusk to enjoy a Movie.  Oh, don’t forget the Popcorn ! !

Saturday, July 19 – “Charlie Wilson’s War”

Saturday, Aug. 2 – “The Bourne Identity”

Saturday, Aug. 16 – “Bucket List”

Saturday, Aug. 30 – “Nims Island”

Saturday, Sept. 6 – Transformers”

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. 

Fresh tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, string beans & peppers are all in season and there is no better place to get them than a local Farmers Market.

Raleigh Farmers Market
1201 Agriculture Street
Raleigh, NC
Mon through Saturday 5 am – 6 pm and Sunday 8 am – 6 pm

Wake Forest Farmers Market
South White Street in downtown Wake Forest
Saturday from 8 AM to Noon

Cary Down Town Farmers Market
Located between Harrison Ave & Academy at Amtrak Station
Cary, NC
Tuesday 3 pm – 6 pm and Saturday 6 am – 12:30 pm
 
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.