High Country Living

Winter in the High Country

2009-01-08T09:59:00.009-05:00

Winter in the High Country of North Carolina is a particularly exciting time of year.

From the first weekend after Thanksgiving when we go out to "Choose and Cut" our own tree, to the "Wooly Worm Festival", through the WinterFest in Blowing Rock to Skiing at any of the Four Ski Slopes in this area.

The Fun Never stops here in the High Country!

Check out the Winterfest activities in Blowing Rock this month and maybe we wil see you at some of the activities!

Winterfest January 22-25, 2009
11th Annual Blowing Rock Winterfest!
Chili Challenge Cook-Off
The Icy Polar Plunge
Kids Activities
Free Hot Chocolate & Hayrides!
Blowing Rock WinterFest

Selling Your Home

2008-05-09T17:39:00.007-04:00

Increase The Value of Your Home and Make it Sell Faster!
Profitable Home Updates Every Seller Should Consider

Historically, there are a few updates and home improvements that are sure and proven winners when it comes to increasing the value of your property and adding a "WOW" factor that will make buyers want to purchase your home! If you are thinking about selling your home, consider these home improvements as a must!

Minor Bathroom Remodel
Generally this will return a 100%+ return

It is a generally accepted fact that home sellers who spend money to remodel their bathroom are likely to see their investment come back to them when they sell.

This is especially true if the improvement is focused on the master bath. Often older homes have smaller baths that are crowded. To create the openness, most buyers seek, you may consider replacing the tub with a glass-enclosed shower. Make certain to also replace the toilet and sink at the same time. Other accessories like glass or wooden shelves can add pizazz to the space.

The Kitchen
Kitchen Update/Remodel - Percentage of cost recovered: 98.5%

Provided the kitchen has a good flow and functions well, a minor remodel will generally pay very good dividends at resale.

Typical minor updates could include a cabinet reface with new doors and drawers (don’t forget the pulls too), replace old appliances with new appliances, update your flooring with a durable - resilient flooring and replace your counter tops with solid-surface (or even laminate) counter tops.

To complete the project, add a fresh coat of neutral wall paint. Be careful not to penny-pinch producing a cheap looking kitchen.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from wild colors. I know... all the designers on TV shows do some crazy things.... and that may be your preference but most buyers have a difficult time "seeing" past colors and clutter.

Make is easy for them to see themselves in this as their home and your sale will go much quicker.

Welcome to Echota

2008-02-23T09:46:00.000-05:00

Welcome to High Country Living!

Thank you for visiting my blog. The first thing I would like to do to is to introduce you to ECHOTA in Foscoe, NC just outside of Boone and Blowing Rock.

Award-winning Echota is in the heart of the best the Blue Ridge has to offer. This region, the North Carolina High Country, is a growing destination of choice for vacationers and retirees. They have discovered that it is, indeed, a special place. Here, you can pick a wildflower, climb a cliff, catch a trout, hike, golf, revisit history, nap under a shade tree, ski the slopes, enjoy the arts or frequent shops filled with antique treasures... all while surrounded by the nobility that is sculpted into miles of expansive mountains and the valleys they overshadow.

Echota is special in every way. Towering alongside legendary Grandfather Mountain and just minutes from Boone, Banner Elk and Blowing Rock, Echota's 250 acres feature affordable yet elegantly crafted Adirondack-style homes, townhomes and condominiums and estate sites for custom homes. The land that has been environmentally preserved with a private conservation area. At altitudes reaching 3,700 feet, the community's clubhouse, exercise facility, health spa and indoor pool accentuate the air of comfort and relaxation found in this special place. Live in one of the most beautiful locations in the high country, Echota.