Here are a few Thanksgiving day quotes to start off your HOLIDAY week!!

• “Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year because it reminds us to give thanks and to count our blessings. Suddenly, so many things become so little when we realize how blessed and lucky we are.” -Joyce Giraud

• “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” -Dalai Lama

• “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” -Anonymous

• “I love Thanksgiving because it’s a holiday that is centered around food and family, two things that are of utmost importance to me.” -Marcus Samuelsson

• “Forever on Thanksgiving day the heart will find the pathway home.” -Wilbur D. Nesbit

• “Each day I am thankful for nights that turned into mornings, friends that turned into family, dreams that turned into reality and likes that turned into love. Most importantly though, I am thankful for you today and everyday.” -Anonymous

• “You are my pumpkin pie. I love you and am so thankful to have you in my life.” -Anonymous

• “Thanksgiving after all, is a word of action.” -W.J. Cameron

• “Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.” -E.P. Powell

• “Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make everyday a holiday in which you celebrate just living.” – Amanda Bradley

• “Family isn’t always about the people in your life who are blood relations. It’s about the people in your life who want you to be in theirs. It’s about the people in your life who accept you for who you are, support you in the things you choose to do and no matter what, are there for you. It’s the people in your life who love you, respect you and who you can depend on. Now that’s family!” -Anonymous

• “We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.” -Anonymous

• “We have so much to be thankful for. One day a year hardly seems adequate…”-Anonymous

• “An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.”-Anonymous

As we all know the housing market ebbs and flows in Asheville and the surrounding areas . Right now it's a seller's dream to get top dollar for their home. For buyers it can be frustrating, from getting out bided to not being able to find anything that suits your needs. That perfect home seems like a dream to many. Remember to try to be flexible with what you really need in a home, as compared to what you want. You can't change the location of the home but you can update, add on or even build something new.

If you are serious about buying a home it is always best to get pre qualified first. Get your finances in order and pay off as much debt as possible before you try to get a loan. Your credit score and debt to income ratio all come into play when getting pre-approved for that dream home. 

Having a knowledgeable real estate broker that is on top of things hitting the market is a buyer's best bet. They will not only help you find that perfect home but also help you negotiate the best deal possible. It's a big deal buying a home and having someone you can trust makes a difference.

Give us a ring we would love to help.

The Smartest DIYers Know to Avoid These 6 Amateur Mistakes

The savings. The personal satisfaction. The increased resale value. Taking on your own kitchen remodel  can deliver countless financial and emotional perks, if done right. But done wrong, yikes! Poor-quality workmanship can easily decrease a home's value, earn your bragging rights and keep your home's value intact (and rising) by avoiding these telltale signs of DIY gone wrong:

#1 Gaps Around Cabinetry

Why it happens: Because homes aren't perfectly level. And when you hang cabinets to be level (which you should), that leaves gaps next to the wall.

How the pros do it: For a finished look, you have to go the extra mile, Fill the gap with wood shims. (If you've ever wedged anything under a table leg to stop it from rocking, you've used a shim. The same technique works here, except you can actually buy ones that work better than a folded napkin.) Then cover the shims with the same molding used in the rest of the room.

#2 Misplaced Light Fixtures

Why it happens: Whenever light fixtures don't line up over a sink or a kitchen island, that indicates a DIY job that wasn't well planned or often forget about lighting, or don't think about it soon enough to budget for it, then end up having to live with the old lighting.

#3 Cracked Floor Tiles

Why it happens: Usually because the subfloor is uneven or the underlayment is wrong. If the subfloor is uneven, or has too much "give," it leaves room for the rigid tile to crack and shift.

How the pros do it: They test to make sure the subfloor is level, then secure it to the floor joists, and then (this is crucial) install the appropriate underlayment for your specific tile type, such as a liquid one in the case of concrete or porcelain tile. Your tile supplier can help you figure that out. The key is to do it. It helps cushion against any unevenness that may happen as you use the floor.

#4 Sloppy Paint

Why it happens: Because inexperienced painters usually try to take shortcuts. Uneven transitions, paint on light switches, thinly veiled cracks, dents, and bumps. All are marks of a paint job that lacked proper preparation and cleanup.

How the pros do it: They spend more time prepping than they do actually painting:

• Repairing wall surfaces

• Removing outlet covers

• Covering light fixtures with plastic wrap

• Use masking tape to cover hardware

• Using painter's tape along the ceiling and molding

To get clean lines around the ceiling and molding, remove painter's tape before water-based paint has dried completely, then go back and touch-up any smudges.

#5 Poorly Spaced Tile

Why it happens: There's a good chance the design wasn't fully planned prior to ordering materials or beginning installation. Grout-filled gaps and oddly pieced-together tiles, whether on the edge of a backsplash or in a corner of the floor, are dead giveaways of novice work,

How the pros do it: Use grid paper to make sure the design covers all bases: include all obstacles, whether they be electrical outlets or door frames. Then, use this model to lay out your tile design, starting in the center. Then double-check your calculations and do a test run in an inconspicuous spot.

#6 Gaps Between the Floor and the Wall

Why it happens: The baseboard or shoe molding probably wasn't removed before adding the new floor, making it impossible to not have a gap, even if it's just a tiny one.

How the pros do it: Always remove any molding. Install new flooring so that it gets as close to your walls or cabinets as recommended by the manufacturer. Then install a baseboard or shoe molding to cover the wall and floor's meeting place.

When you are thinking of doing a remodel yourself, take your time .Slow and steady wins the race. Take pride in the work you do and you will get years of enjoyment out of the space you created.

We would love to help you find that perfect place.

Selling your home?

Selling a home is more complex than ever. You need an experienced real estate agent that can help you navigate the rapidly evolving real estate markets and help you overcome complicated regulations, contractual obligations and timelines that you will inevitably encounter throughout the process of selling your home.

We expect mortgage interest rates to remain low in 2020 and 2021 as a result of Coronavirus, housing inventories will likely remain constrained. If you need to sell your home, we would love to assist you in this process. Give us a call so we can do a free market analysis on your home. It's a sellers market right now, don't miss out on the perfect time to sell and get top dollar for your home!!

Now is a great time to consider cleaning out your closet. It's getting colder and with season changing so will your wardrobe. Take this opportunity to go through all the clothes that don't fit anymore, the sweaters with moth holes in them and shoes you haven't worn in years and let them go. You can pack up your summer clothing into bins with a cotton sheet in the bottom of it, this will help keep your favorite clothing fresh through the winter. Store them until late Spring, giving you more space for your winter attire. Also make sure you clean off those sandals and dirty flip flops before storing them as well.

Dust off those shelves and clear out the old cobwebs to make room for something new. You can even take it a step further and totally up fit your closet. If you're looking for a great local company https://www.facebook.com/WNCCabinetSolutions can help you with your organizational needs.

Organizing your closet will in turn help you organize your life. It's the little things we can do for ourselves that can make our lives better. As the saying goes.... Out with the old and in with the new. We can always improve and we can always be better!

How to Keep Trick or Treat 2020 Safe and Fun

Whatever trick or treat looks like for you and your family this Halloween, here are a few tips to make it safe and fun for everyone:

Trick-or-Treaters

What would Halloween be without costumes and candy? Keep these social distancing best practices in mind to keep everyone safe.

• Stay home if sick

• Trick-or-treat with people you live with

• Remain 6 feet apart from people not in your household

• Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose (even under/over your Halloween mask)

• Hand sanitizer (with sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol) frequently while out, especially during key times like before eating or after coughing/sneezing

• Wash your hands as soon as you return home

Homeowners

The traditional Halloween decorations might look a little bit different this year. Check out these tips to create a safe celebration setup for your neighborhood ghosts and monsters.

• Do not hand out candy if you are sick

• Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose

• Take the Safe House pledge and register as an official Halloween Safe House

• Use duct tape to mark 6-foot lines in front of your home and leading to you driveway/front door

• Position a distribution table between yourself and trick-or-treaters

• Distribute candy on a disinfected table to eliminate direct contact

• Wash hands often

Parents

If you’re like most parents, safety is always top of mind this time of year. Here are a few tricks to keep your children safe and ensure a fun time is had by all.

• Stay home if sick

• Talk with your children about safety and social distancing guidelines and expectations

• Guide children to stay on the right side of the road always to ensure distance

• Carry a flashlight at night and ensure your children are wearing reflective clothing

• Wear a face mask covering BOTH your mouth and nose

• Wash your hands as soon as you return home

• Inspect candy

Halloween is the kick off to our HOLIDAY SEASON

Parents drees up on their favorite costumes with their kids full of  excitement and wonder as they get to TRICK or TREAT around the neighborhood. Showing off their favorite movie/cartoon character or prince/princess costume. The joy we all get seeing these kids running around in their attire is priceless. Not to mention all the dog and cat costumes. During this unprecedented time we all need to be as careful and safe as possible. Think of things to do that are special for these little kiddos around the house. Some pumpkin carving, a makeshift * candy hunt* ( Because kids love candy).Bobbing for apples, or a spooky story around a campfire while camping out in the backyard. 

No matter what you do they will LOVE it because you made it a special day just for them.

We all have home ownership goals. There are things you can do to help you achieve that goal. Paying down some looming credits cards is one of them. Your debt to income ration should be less that 36%. Meaning you only are using 36% of your credit available. Also, having steady income and work . During this last year many of us have lost work or had hours cut. Always check with your mortgage lender on this things before trying to get a loan. Get pre qualified from your lender before you start looking too. It will save you and your awesome agent time and energy and  also give you a realistic budget.  There is no need to go and see a home you can not afford.

We can help you take that first step towards making your dream home a reality. Send us a message to start your search for your dream home today.

When you are trying to figure out how to make this new house you just bought into a home. Here are a few simple things you can do. 

Put some indoor plants in your home . Nothing is better than to watch something grow. If you don't have a green thumb you can always put a cutting into water. This way you never have to remember to water it.

Create your own space. A place to create art or just read your favorite book. A place to relax, do some yoga, or just chill with a cup of tea(or your favorite beverage). This is your space, make it your own. Fill it with photos you love and things that make you feel good. You work hard and you deserve a break from it all. Never feel guilty for making time and a space for yourself.

Fill your home with things from your travels. You know that piece that brings a smile to your face. The one you bought at the local flea market or craft fair. Put it somewhere you can always see it. No one ever says they regret taking a vacation or traveling. Remind yourself of that happy place.

Keeping your home clean and clutter free, which may seem impossible at times. If you have pets, it's the muddy pet paws, or a puppy, with the stuffed animal parts everywhere. The kids shoes, clothes or smelly socks everywhere (or your partners).  Possibly all the dirty dishes left over from last nights delicious meal. We can try to keep it all tidy and perfect, but life isn't always perfect. It is usually a mess, full of mayhem and wonder.

Just remember, wherever your heart is .....there is a home.

We would love to help you find a place to fill up with love and laughter.