Homes for Sale Inventories are Low

Today is April 16th and I am sitting here in the office watching the snow fall.  It’s too warm to stick here in Maggie Valley, but I have seen cars with about 2 inches on them.  The higher elevations, above 4000 ft. must have gotten a late season snow fall this morning.  According to the weatherman, we should have temperatures in the mid 70’s later this week.  If you don’t like the weather here in the mountains….. just stick around.

During the downturn in our economy the last few years, sales of homes dropped off which caused inventories to rise.  I remember running the numbers each month and having from a 33 to 36 month inventory of homes on the market here in the county, based on monthly sales.  I ran numbers this morning.  We have approximately a 6 month inventory of homes for sale based on sales the last 30 days.   I have watched our market switch from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market.  A short time ago, a buyer could make a fairly low offer on a property and negotiate a good discount.  Now with a seller’s market, most homes are selling very close to the listed price.  Some homes even sell above the list price when there are multiple offers on the same home.

In the Asheville area (Buncombe County) inventories are even tighter.  I ran the numbers for Buncombe County and they have approximately a 4 month inventory of homes for sale based on sales the last 30 days.  My daughter saw a home in North Asheville that had come on the market as a “fixer-upper”.  She was interested in buying the home and fixing it up for a rental investment.  I called the listing agent and found the home already had multiple offers, some above the listing price.  The home had only been on the market for 3 days!

If you have a home here, and are considering selling your home, NOW is a great time.  Give us a call and we can do a Competitive Market Analysis on your home.  This will let you know what your home is worth based on similar homes that have recently sold in our area.

My Experience with Flying Squirrels

I don’t know if you have ever had that sinking feeling of lying in bed and hearing little creatures scurrying around in the attic.  Well, unfortunately, my wife and I recently experienced that feeling.  Flying squirrels are cute as they can be, but I didn’t want them in my attic.  So I called Terminix.  When most people hear Terminix, they think of exterminating termites, but Terminix does offer other services.  A wildlife specialist from Terminix called me, and made an appointment to assess the situation.  He looked at the vents, soffits and fascia boards all around the perimeter of my roof spotting possible entry points for the flying squirrels.  He found 4 points of possible ingress.  He then entered the attic and found signs of flying squirrels and of bats in the attic.  He informed me that if flying squirrels find their way inside, bats will often follow.

After a thorough examination, he quoted me a price to rid the attic of the flying squirrels and bats.  I asked how they convince those cute little flying squirrels to leave their new found home.  They actually apply drops of Fox urine to cotton balls, and place those cotton balls strategically around the attic.  It seems that flying squirrels want nothing to do with a Fox.  After the little critters are gone, they block entry with heavy screen wire, or flashing if necessary around all those points of entry.   Terminix provides a one year warranty against the squirrels returning, and an additional year warranty can be purchased.

After the flying squirrels are gone, and their return blocked, Terminix will clean the attic.  They will remove all the insulation, and vacuum the attic, then spray a disinfectant solution.  They will then blow in insulation that has been treated with boric acid.  It seems that no rodents, even mice, like boric acid.

I will do a follow-up blog and let everyone know how everything turns out after Terminix has finished the job.  Hopefully my flying squirrel issue will be history by then.

 

Estate Sales 101

This is another great article from Michelle Munson ([email protected]) explaining how to organize a loved one’s estate for an estate sale.  Thanks to Michelle at The Art of Downsizing. How to Liquidate an Estate, from Knickknacks to Furniture When faced with a task you’ve never had to tackle before, it’s often best not to procrastinate because it’s likely going to take longer than you anticipate. A death in the family hits like a ton of bricks. And before you have time to properly mourn, you’re forced to learn how to liquidate an estate of a loved one. With the compassionate team at Art of Downsizing on your side, you’re never alone in the process. When you begin to plan how to liquidate an estate, you must first know what exactly it is you’re selling. Removing or sequestering the things you know you want to keep and then nailing down a list of items you want to include in the sale eases your stress and keeps you organized. Once this is done, you can roll up your sleeves and start researching, tagging and pricing. The Game Plan The reality of any successful operation begins with extensive planning. Do you think the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018 without a rock-solid plan for success from the start? Nope! Developing a plan of attack where everyone does his part is as essential to the success of an estate sale as it is for a football game. Believe it. Arranging and staging items in highly specific categories may seem tedious in the moment, but it ultimately helps you organize a successful estate sale. For example, don’t simply create a section or room of furniture and collectables. Instead, group and display items according to categories, such as: Outdoor summer furniture Antique furniture Hummel figurines Baseball card collection Divide and Conquer One thing we always have to remind people is that it’s OK to ask for help. American culture really puts pressure on people to do things themselves, sometimes to the point of nervous breakdowns. When you are forced to learn how to liquidate an estate because there’s no one else in the family who has time to do it, don’t go it alone; not only will it be labor-intensive, but you’ll make mistakes as well. Whether you choose to hire Art of Downsizing or rally up some willing friends and beg family to aid in the liquidation process, getting help is a positive move in every way. Use your strengths in organizing or in sales, and let others pick up where you lack the skills or expertise. There’s no shame in asking for help. Follow instead the rule of that great 60s band and “get by with a little help from your friends!” Process of Elimination The main facet of how to liquidate an estate is knowing when to compromise. It can come in the form of a haggler trying to whittle down the price of an item or settling debates between two family members who want the same keepsake. Because all of the pieces in your sale might not be high demand liquidation material, it’s important to keep things in perspective. If there are certain “big ticket” pieces you want to sell first — like expensive furniture, china or jewelry — place those on your list of high priorities. Market them properly to your potential buyers so they understand you know the value. Consider holding the sale over two or three days with sequential discounts in order to entice buyers back who were hesitant to purchase on the first day. Offer a bid box for those who want to make an offer on an item in the case that it doesn’t sell. Be sure to exhaust all your options. Develop back-up plans upon back-up plans. Focus less on things with low monetary value, especially if you don’t mind donating them. And bring in professionals when you just can’t do it alone or when you want someone else to take care of everything for you. Call Art of Downsizing at (828) 772-5959. We listen to your needs and make informed suggestions to help accomplish what you need done.

The Power of Pets

It seems that most of our clients and customers now own pets.  The infographic below is from the National Association of Realtors and it provides some useful information as to what pet owners are looking for in their community and also when they purchase a home.  Being a pet owner myself, I thought this information was useful.

More on Estate Clean-Outs

The article below is from Michelle Munson at “Art of Downsizing”.  The article has some great advice for cleaning out a loved one’s estate.

Why Putting Your Parents’ Things into a Storage Unit Is a Bad Idea

It’s human nature to want to take the easiest way out. And who would blame you? Easy is just so much more convenient! In many cases, the easy way is also the most efficient. Unfortunately, with an estate clean-out, the only way to avoid making more work for yourself in the long run is to be extremely thorough in the beginning. Give up any ideas of a quick and easy way through the process and accept the idea that you need to deal with it now.

When your parents pass, you may be put into the unenviable situation of grieving while trying to put their affairs (and belongings) in order. Sticking your parents’ possessions into a storage unit might seem like a simple and effective form of estate clean-out. But it only delays the inevitable while costing you more money.

Remember that you’re not alone in this process! Call on your surviving family, your friends and Art of Downsizing. We can help by providing extra sets of hands and a calm, sensible head for handling the estate clean-out details and drudge work.

More Stuff Equals More Problems

During an estate clean-out, it may be rather tempting to throw stuff into a storage unit and forget about it, especially if you are in a hurry to put the home on the market. But storage units often lack proper weather-resistance, which can put your parents’ items in danger. Storage units, no matter how well sealed, can’t protect the value of your parents’ items when the once pristine vintage sofa succumbs to temperature changes, insects or just neglect.

If you’re storing items that you don’t care about, then you should just get rid of them now and save yourself the expense. If you’re storing items you do care about, you should know that items put in storage units often depreciate in value. So, it’s far better to bite the bullet and sell it all before time decreases its monetary value.

An Avoidable Financial Drain

With an estate clean-out, you’re basically deciding between two things: losing time or losing money. Sure, it’s a large undertaking to go through everything your parents owned, but allotting a few weekends to the large task ensures you’re done in a timely manner and the items are treated with care. And with a few extra, caring hands on board, the task doesn’t have to be so daunting. That’s the value of an estate sales service. We can do this for you and provide you with a complete inventory for probate or taxes. We’ll can also leave the house empty so that it is ready to be shown to potential buyers in it’s best, uncluttered light.

Storage units drain your funds while the stored objects lose value. Unless you can attend to the unit sooner rather than later, the items inevitably collect dust while money drains out of your wallet. Looking at it big picture, you’re much better off taking a few days out of your schedule for a complete estate clean-out. Don’t take the easy path of storage when dealing with things now makes so much more sense, emotionally and financially.

A Worthwhile Switch-Off

Put the cash you were going to send for a storage unit into hiring an estate sales service like Art of Downsizing. We’ll get the job done with the least amount of stress for you and make money for the estate instead of draining your inheritance. We provide a clear voice, giving you options to get the task done while honoring your parents’ memory. We listen, help you plan and handle all the details.

That nagging feeling that comes with having unfinished business disappears. You can relax knowing that you’ve taken care of things in a respectful, yet practical way. You can continue to grieve if you need to, and you will have some extra cash in your pocket!

Thanks to Michelle Munson of “Art of Downsizing”  for this thoughtful article.  She can be reached at https://downsizewnc.com, or 828-772-5959.

Housing Market Starts 2018 on Positive Note

For this week’s blog I am posting an article from Daily Real Estate News regarding the National Housing Market, for your information:

More from “The Art of Downsizing”

7 Things to Consider When Cleaning Out a Parents’ Estate Another great article from Michelle Munson on getting a parent’s home ready for an estate sale after a parent’s death.  I have been through this myself and know the process is difficult.  Michelle has given some helpful advice in this article should you have to go through this personally. You may not have time to clean your own homes, much less the house of your parents. And though grieving a parent is one of the most heart-wrenching situations you can face, the responsibilities just pile up if left undone. While our hearts and prayers go out to you, here’s some valuable advice. The process of dividing up things to keep, sell and give to charity is difficult because there’s no exact science to it. When you find yourself reluctantly cleaning for an estate sale, consider bringing in a third party who’s not as invested in the emotional ties to material things and can sort more objectively. Also, review this list of helpful tips to make it as painless as possible. The Big Picture Cleaning for an estate sale takes a measure of foresight. Devising a preliminary plan of attack is equally as important as doing the dirty work. These three tips focus on some baseline things to keep in mind when starting the process: Know thyself. Getting your parents’ home in order after a death requires a certain level of self-awareness. If you know you’re more of a big picture thinker, stick to the planning. Leave the cleaning for an estate sale to a sibling, another relative or even a professional. Divide and conquer. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning out an entire house or apartment. But when you schedule certain sections of the house to tackle every day, you keep yourself sane and busy with a set pattern. Stick to a deadline. People tend to work better and more efficiently with a deadline. After mapping out exactly how you plan to prep the house for the sale, set a date to hold yourself and your family accountable. Advertise the date to further solidify the event. You can also leave the whole estate sale process to a professional team like Art of Downsizing. The Nitty-Gritty Now it’s time to carry out your plan. Roll up your sleeves, put on your favorite music and get to work! Our experience has taught us to consider many things when cleaning for an estate sale. Let us share the most important ones: Be thorough. When going through your parents’ things, locate all the important documents and store them in a safe place. You wouldn’t want your dad’s financial records accidentally going home with a stranger who bought his desk. Lists, lists, lists! Have your family members write down what they want before you sell, and use it as a checklist while you’re cleaning for an estate sale. If your sister wants the china and your brother wants the ship in a bottle, putting pen to paper is the only way you’ll be able to keep it all straight. Label EVERYTHING. You may get ridiculed by some family members if you’re a bit crazy with the magic marker, but you’ll be the one laughing in the end. Separating and labeling things by the smallest commonality is only going to make things easier for you when it comes time to sell. Keep the end in sight. There are going to be days when you just want to cry and give up, but you can persevere with the right mindset. Give yourself plenty of time, even weeks to accomplish this task. Use the experience to bring you closer to your parents’ memories. Let the experience heal your grief. Know that this too shall pass. Use available help when you find yourself stuck. We’re here to see you through this because we’ve been in your shoes.

 

by Michelle Munson Thanks to Michelle Munson at “Art of Downsizing” for this article.  You can reach Michelle at: 1465 Sand Hill Road Suite 2005 Candler, NC 28715 828-772-5959 https://downsizewnc.com Copyright © 2017 Art of Downsizing, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Suite 2005, Candler, NC 28715 (828) 772-595

The Art of Downsizing

I received an email from Michelle Munson entitled “The Art of Downsizing”.  Michelle does professional organizing services, and estate sales.  I thought her email was very appropriate for this time of year, as we are all formulating our New Year’s Resolutions.  With Michelle’s permission, I am forwarding her informative email below.  You can contact Michelle at 828-772-5951 or on the web at https://downsizewnc.com.  Her office is located at 1465 Sand Hill Road, Suite 2005, Candler, NC, 28715.

Start the New Year Right by Letting Go of Old Stuff Around this time of year, it’s impossible not to be bombarded with talk of New Year’s resolutions. Going to the gym three days a week, eating healthier and yes, even cleaning out your home are all common goals people set as January rolls around. Whether you’re a believer or not, New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to get motivated and make even small improvements in your life. As the saying goes: a cluttered room or cluttered desk is indicative of a cluttered mind. With this in mind, you can only imagine what that means for a cluttered home! You simply can’t expect any of your other resolutions to stick without first decluttering your home. It can be a long process, but you’re not alone in starting the journey at the beginning of the year. Plan It Out Knock out two birds with one stone by staying organized in the New Year and keeping it clean once you’re done. When decluttering your home, have a plan about which rooms to tackle first. This way, it’s far less daunting of a task and you’ll finish even before you realize it. Writing things down keeps you accountable and less likely to divert from your goals. Making to-do lists and putting helpful reminders up around your home are proven to aid your productivity. Since you’re now deep into the technology age, you can use one of many reminder apps (with alarm and notification if you like) on your handy dandy smartphone to tell you to go to the gym and streamline your DVD collection at the same time! Of course you can also use it to remind you to tackle organizational tasks too! Sweat the Small Stuff When decluttering your home, it’s best to start small and work your way up. Knocking out your linen closet or that one pesky drawer that seems to have accumulated a whole bunch of nothing can feel better than you’d even imagined. As with anything, baby steps are a great way to ease yourself into a task and decluttering your home is no different. Don’t be afraid to get rid of or throw away perfectly good items you never use if they just cause clutter. The small things are what often make the biggest difference. What can seem insignificant when you’re cleaning and sorting can add up to the largest amount of clutter. It may be more annoying to clear out your junk drawer or expired makeup, but when it’s over and done with, your entire life feels more organized — and you may even find that you can think a little more clearly. Decluttering Your Home Down Memory Lane We acknowledge that letting go is difficult. Decluttering your home can turn into a truly emotional experience, in both good and bad ways. Instead of feeling like you have to become an emotionless robot with no material attachments, let the decluttering process take you on that emotional journey of unearthing old memories. Let your feelings paint a beautiful portrait of pain and joy — instead of avoiding them or letting them own you. While you want to keep the items with the most sentimental value, treating other pieces with respect and then letting them go to other people who can get joy from them can be a truly enriching experience. No matter what people say, your material items mean a lot to you, and letting them go in your own special way is important. The team at Art of Downsizing would be honored to come help too, especially if decluttering your home is just too rife with memories. We’ll respect your space and your feelings while giving you the tools to move forward. Happy New Year!

The Historic Maggie Valley Bank Robberies

I am taking a bit of a different track on the blog for mid-December.  When I first moved here in the 1970’s, everyone was still talking about the Maggie Valley bank robberies.  There was only one bank in Maggie Valley and it was flush with cash around the first of every month in order to cash the checks for all the Ghost Town Amusement Park employees.  Coincidentally, this was also the time for District Court to convene in Waynesville, the county seat.  We didn’t have too many policemen, sheriff deputies, and highway patrol back then.  Since district court was in session, most of the law officers had to be in court for all the citations and arrests they had made that were coming before the court.

Sure enough, one or more enterprising bank robbers had figured out the surplus of money in this bank, coupled with a lack of law enforcement close by.  They robbed the bank in Maggie Valley and headed up Soco Road in a get-away car toward Soco Gap.  As memory serves, one policeman gave pursuit.  The bank robbers turned off on Black Camp Gap Road.  Surely the policeman had them now, as this was a dead-end road.  The car continued up Black Camp Gap Road until the road became gravel, and onward until the road became a dirt track.  Finally reaching the end of the road, the robbers abandoned their get-away vehicle and ran on foot through the woods.  It just so happened that it is a very short distance from the end of the road to Black Camp Gap, where there is a Masonic Monument,  just off Heintooga Ridge Road, which leads to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  As you might guess, there was another vehicle waiting at the parking lot of the monument.  The robbers left down the Parkway, with no one even having a description of their vehicle.   The get-away vehicle they left behind turned out to be a stolen car.  So, no evidence of their identity was ever found.

This would be a great story on its own merits.  However, as they say on the infomercials, “But Wait! There’s More!”

Move forward in time one full year.  The bank in Maggie Valley was flush with cash again, district court was convening, and most law officers were again occupied at the Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville.  Yep!  You guessed it.  The bank robbers hit again.  They left the bank with a policeman in distant pursuit.  They again turned onto Black Camp Gap Road, and headed for the Masonic Marker.  They ran through the woods to a waiting vehicle, and were gone again, leaving no evidence for the law officers to find.

The above is true to the best of my recollection.  I may have a detail or two in error, but I am close.

I was reading a newspaper a few years after these robberies occurred.  I was drawn to an article about 2 bank robbers who were being sentenced for bank robberies in Maggie Valley.  The bank robbers were from Soddy Daisy, Tennessee.  As I recall the article, they were charged by the FBI for conspiracy to commit bank robbery.  It seems the Feds had suspected these people of bank robberies, but had no proof.  The Feds obtained a wire-tap warrant, and recorded them talking about the Maggie Valley robberies over the phone.

I guess sometimes it’s not what one does but what one says that gets one into trouble.

State of the Market in Haywood County

November and Thanksgiving have come and gone.  We are now beginning December and nearing the end of our year.  I wanted to reflect a moment on the home and land market over the last few years here in the mountains of Haywood County.

Home sales continue to be somewhat brisk with buyers continuing to search for their dream home before our historically low interest rates begin to rise.  Our inventory of homes that was once too high, is beginning to decrease, particularly below the $350,000 price point.  As homes available on the market become fewer in the lower price points, prices begin to rise.  The average sales price of all homes sold in Haywood County has risen from $197,228 in November 2014, to $241,593 in November 2017.  This represents a 22% rise in the average sales price over a 3 year period.  Also I like to look at average price per square foot.  In November 2014 the average price per square foot of homes sold in the county was $105.  In November 2017 the average price per square foot of homes sold in the county was $133.  This is a 27%  increase over the 3 year period.  Keep in mind this includes all homes sold including mobile homes.  (Mobile homes usually sell for much less per square foot than stick-built homes.)   Some upscale homes are now selling in the $200 per square foot range and more.

Land sales have begun to improve somewhat.  In November 2016, only 7 properties were sold in Haywood County.  In November 2017, 28 properties were sold in the county.  As inventories of homes continue to diminish, some buyers are purchasing lots or land with plans of building their dream home.  The uptick in sales of land or acreage should continue as home inventories continue to fall.  However, we still have a large inventory of lots and land available, making this a buyers’ market.

So, the state of the market in Haywood County is good.  Hopefully the market will continue to improve in 2018.