It may seem as if the biggest decision was whether to put your home on the market to sell it.  In fact some of your more difficult decisions may come as you prepare your home to sell.  What do you need to have on hand in your home and what can you put in storage until your present home sells? Realtors agree that overcoming clutter is one of the biggest obstacles to selling a home.

Reduce and remove before relocating.

Greybeard has a whole page on how to prepare to sell your home which you can check out the seller's tips page here. Perhaps the most challenging for many people is de-cluttering your home. Everyone seems to understand that a home should be clean and well kept. Successfully preparing your home goes beyond sweeping the floor, however. You really need to pare down and remove most personal items so that potential buyers can imagine themselves in the home.  That's really hard to do if the house if full of personal photos, including the ones in magnet frames on the refrigerator door.

And while you're in the kitchen, be sure to remove everything from the counter tops.  Put the small appliances out of sight and be sure to take any old, unusable food out of the cupboards.  Even if you've found the kitchen storage space to be limited, you need to create the appearance that there's more than enough room for the new owner's canned goods! And please don't just put the toaster into the coat closet.  Potential owners open closet doors.  Closets should be neat and organized, again giving the appearance that there is room for everything in the home. Are there clothes out of season or out of favor in the closets? Box them up, label them, and put them into storage. Just think, it's one less thing you'll have to do once the home sells and you're ready for moving day.

If it all seems overwhelming, choose one room at a time and really be thorough with that room.  Consider removing furniture and putting it into storage as well.  Do you need his and her recliners right now? Having less furniture in a room makes it look larger. While you're taking the other boxes to storage, take some of your furniture as well. Box up the knick-knacks that are meaningful to your family but clutter for new home buyers. And think about the fact that whatever you pack up, you will have to unpack at the new house.  Can you part with some of the items and perhaps donate them somewhere?

With the tracking we do, we know that the real estate numbers are improving in the Asheville market, you need an edge to sell your home more quickly. When preparing your home to sell, just remember that less is better, especially when it comes to furniture, personal items and photos, and items on the kitchen counter. And again, doesn't it make sense to downsize on some possessions now and reduce what you have to pay the movers to transport? All of your hard work prior to showing your home will make your own transition to a new place that much easier. So go out and get those boxes. And don't forget the sharpie markers to label the boxes.

While much is made about the outdoor adventure activities in the area, there's also a lot to be said about the city life available to those people living in downtown Asheville. With its eclectic arts scene and its various and varied dining spots, Asheville city residents have the experience of city living in a very tranquil, mountainous [...]

First quarter numbers for home sales in Buncombe County are in, and the real estate market momentum seems to be building. While the most recent numbers are not back to levels of the peak market times in 2007, the solid numbers seem to lay a firm foundation for continued real estate growth in the Asheville [...]

Greybeard Realtors understand western NC real estate.

When Janet Randolph became a Realtor in the Asheville area nine years ago, she noticed that people wanted large homes perched on the North Carolina mountainside.  Nowadays, she's noticed a shift.  People still want homes in western North Carolina, but now they want smaller homes located right in smaller towns like Black Mountain.

Janet, who brought her NC real estate expertise to Greybeard Realty almost three years ago, epitomizes the type of Realtor Greybeard has.  She is focused, knowledgeable about real estate trends in western North Carolina, and very committed to the area.  Originally from Texas, Janet fell in love with the area.  "The friendly people and the beautiful mountains stole my heart," she notes.

At present, Janet has two particular listings of interest.  Swannanoa NC 80 Green Forest, with its southern exposure, has a nice flat driveway yet offers incredible valley views.  Located on more than 14 acres, this property was once part of the Davidson family post Revolutionary War land grant.

Black Mountain NC  1585 High Rock Acres is a cozy mountain home that provides views of Mount Mitchell and the NC Parkway.  With an artist studio located above its two-car garage, this ideally-located property has a recent home inspection available already.

To check out these properties or any of Greybeard's other Western North Carolina homes for sale, please contact Janet or any of Greybeard's Realtors.  Like Janet, our other real estate agents all have a commitment to western North Carolina and have a special place in their hearts for the area.  Come see what Greybeard can do to help you find the NC mountain home of your dreams.

If buying a vacation cabin now for a later Asheville retirement is on your to-do list, you may appreciate knowing that Greybeard Rentals, the rental arm of Greybeard Realty, just passed a major milestone.  Greybeard, a home-grown company that only lists homes they would like to rent themselves, just surpassed the 30,000^th reservation mark.

Retire or retreat, Asheville can't be beat.

Greybeard Rentals has received recognition for its fine quality property management and strives to prepare each Asheville rental cabin with meticulous care for its guests.  Prior to each new guest arrival, each rental home is given a personal inspection to ensure it is in pristine condition.  To welcome each guest, Greybeard Rentals leaves a loaf of freshly-made pumpkin bread. Their commitment and attention to detail are only one aspect of Greybeard's property management plan.

So, why would a real estate buyer want to know this information?  First of all, as noted before, renting an Asheville home is a great idea if you are considering buying a home to help you assess each community's assets.  In addition, if you have been thinking about buying a home in Asheville for retirement later, now could be a great time to do so.  As these Asheville real estate market statistics indicate, the market is solid and headed upward. It's a great time to consider buying an Asheville home.

So why does it matter that Greybeard Rentals has reached this milestone? It shows that Asheville renters appreciate Greybeard's quality rental homes. And it may just be the impetus you've been looking for to head on up this way and buy a piece of property in the happiest city east of the Mississippi.  Come see what 30,000 other renters have already come to learn:  Asheville and its environs are a great place to be.

For more information on renting an Asheville home or to speak with a member of our property management team, please contact Greybeard Rentals.  And if you're ready to invest in your own Asheville home, then contact Greybeard Realty.

Buying a home in Asheville requires understanding the area and appreciating the various communities that make up our real estate market.  One great way to experience the Asheville area is to rent a home within one of the communities and venture out from there to explore what the area has to [...]

If you need one more reason to invest in Asheville real estate, a recent study may just provide you with that extra incentive.  A recent study by a University of Vermont mathematician ranked US locales by using  a happy meter, and Asheville landed in the top 10.  Not only was Asheville in the top ten, but it was the only city east of the Mississippi to make the top 10.

Study proves Asheville is happy place!

By using a device called a "hedonmeter", analysts considered national tweets and noted the number of happy words used by residents of different areas.  In fact, all they needed was to take a trip to Asheville, and they could have experienced the goodness of the town firsthand. In fact, the recent study was only the latest recognition of Asheville as a great place to live.  Even President Obama got into the conversation recently when he noted he and Michelle would like to consider living here after the White House.

One option to discover Asheville's charms firsthand is to take advantage of one of Greybeard Rentals' long term rentals which lets you sample retirement before you settle in.  If you want, you can look into Asheville vacation homes and invest now for your future retirement.  If you're thinking about moving here while still raising children, you will want to check out our school report blog.

Regardless of your level of readiness, it's always a good time to check out the Asheville real estate market.  As our economic statistics indicate, the Asheville real estate market is on the upward track. For more information about buying a home in Asheville contact Greybeard Realty.  And head on up here and check out Asheville; Come on, get happy!

During his brief visit to Asheville last week, President Obama eluded to a possible retirement in Asheville.  "Love coming to Asheville.  Michelle and I always talk about how, after this whole presidency thing, we're looking for a little spot to play a little golf, do a little hiking, fishing, barbecue."

Obama may vote for an Asheville retirement.

If you want to beat the President here, it may be a good time to head up this way and see what Asheville real estate has to offer.  If you, like the President, still have some work to do before you can move here, consider purchasing one of Greybeard's vacation homes for sale.  With these homes, you can find the perfect home for retirement and rent it until you're ready to retire.

If you like the idea of Asheville but haven't had a chance to experience it first hand, check into one of Greybeard's rental cabins and see for yourself what Obama is talking about.  Our Guest Services can set you up with tee times and our staff is always willing to share some of our favorite hiking and picnic spots for our rental guests.

If you are familiar with the area but would like just a little bit more time to see if it's a good fit for your retirement plans, Greybeard's long term rentals can provide you with an extended stay to really let you try out an Asheville retirement.

If you have any questions about whether retiring in Asheville NC is right for you, now is the time to look into it. If the Obama-to-Asheville rumors are true, you will be able to beat the rush. For more information about Asheville homes for sale or the best rental homes for trying out retirement, contact Greybeard Realty.

Asheville real estate sales show strength in numbers.

Even a quick glance at the Asheville real estate numbers for 2012 indicates positive signs for the western NC market.  In Buncombe County, the number of homes sold increased 21% for the year while in Black Mountain homes sold moved up 8%.  In addition, total sales volume increased 25% for the County and 17% for Black Mountain. These numbers confirm what Realtors in our market have been feeling all year.  The Asheville real estate market is back in business.

It is easy to see in the numbers provided by MLS that units sold and sales prices have bottomed out and are definitely rebounding.  What's even more impressive is that, for the first time since 2007, sales volume, price and median price for Asheville area homes all improved. While still not at the peak of 2007, the picture painted by the 2012 real estate market numbers is certainly a positive one.

While the numbers show that 2012 was a very good, solid year, the statistics also bode well for the 2013 real estate market as well.  One example to support this positive outlook is the sales to list price improving to 94%, indicating that homes are regaining value.  In addition, inventories of homes on the market decreased which indicates that supply is tightening a bit which should lead to higher prices if that trend holds true.

In assessing the 2012 numbers, the only statistic not showing improvement is Days on Market, but it is anticipated that that number will improve in 2013, particularly with the decrease of homes on the market.  For anyone waiting until the market bottoms out to enter into the buyers' market for Asheville, it's time to move forward.

Overall, the Asheville real estate market was very positive in 2012. For the most recent Asheville market numbers, check out our latest market statistics and trends. Yes, prices are still below peak prices before the recession, but almost all of the numbers indicate a very impressive upward trend.  And with the decrease in number of homes on the market, the prices should continue rising. In short, with the basic economic theory of supply and demand as support, the market is well on its way toward recovery. For more information on western NC real estate listings, contact Greybeard Realty.

With our commitment to continually improving service, Greybeard Realty is happy to announce its website redesign, completed in time for the New Year.  With a fresh look and even simpler selection options, we look forward to assisting you in making your selection for a new home in western North Carolina.

Greybeard Wishes you Happy 2013

In addition to more prominently offered selection options, we also increased our one-click options so that you can now check out our mountain homes with views or our homes near Asheville's River Arts District, for example.  In addition to our new website, our Realtors, all with North Carolina ties, can assist you as search for your Asheville dream home.

If you're considering purchasing a home for later retirement, check out our vacation rental homes for sale.  Perhaps you have a special community in mind such as Black Mountain log homes or Weaverville.  If you need a new home for your Asheville business, check out our commercial property listings.

We hope we've made your search for a western North Carolina property even simpler.  For more information about our listings, please contact Greybeard Realty.  And when you've had a chance to check out the new Greybeard website, please let us know what you think. We're aiming to make things simpler as we move forward into 2013.  Happy New Year from Greybeard Realty.