Office Makeover!

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vincent Properties is excited to announce that our front office recently had a makeover! We are thankful to Ashe County artist Alfredo Martinez for our beautiful new desks, and Vincent Properties is also sporting a new window display with light-up panels. We are grateful to have been able to update our office and elevate it with rustic and contemporary details. It’s still a work in progress, so stay tuned for the journey!

Before… After!

We still have a blank wall that needs some decor! What should we put here? Message us with your best ideas!

Tips to Being a Good High Country Neighbor

September 28^th, 2020 is ‘National Be a Good Neighbor Day.’ Here in the High Country, we take great strides to be a united community, and that starts with being a good neighbor. Having healthy relationships with those around you can make your living situation better, and life happier. Although

Neighbor

Build Relationships with Your Neighbors

You can create a healthy relationship by connecting with your neighbors. The best way to do this is to start by introducing yourself first to seem friendly and approachable. One way to do this is by bringing over a goody basket. This is a great practice to start especially when someone new moves in. This will help your new neighbor feel welcome. Being involved in your local community is a great way to connect with your neighbors. Try attending neighborhood meetings or events.

Being a Good Neighbor During Social Events

Another great way to connect with neighbors is by inviting them to your social events for a chance to get to know them better. When hosting social events always try to be respectful to your neighbors even if they were not invited. When having guest park be sure they never block a neighbors driveway, road, or cars. You should always keep the noise level of your gatherings down especially late at night. If a neighbor does ask you to quiet down try not to argue or get defensive. It is best to apologize and try to keep the noise level down.

Curb Appeal

You want to avoid being the house that “drags the neighborhood down” by keeping a clean and appealing look to your home. Doing so will help the whole neighborhood look better. This can be done by always maintaining curb appeal. Click here to see some of our tips on curb appeal!

It is always good to practice being a good neighbor to those around you! Live somewhere you are happy with not only your own home but your surroundings. Here at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vincent Properties, we can help you find the perfect neighborhood to fit your needs.

Image 1- Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Image 2- Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

8 Fall Tips For Your Home!

Can you smell it in the air? Or have you seen the little pops of color in the trees? That dirty 4 letter word that starts with F. YES Ladies & Gents I mean Fall- is on it’s way! Now, don’t get me wrong, ~~Fall~~, ahem, Autumn is a colorful time of year, and as one of the capitals of “Leafin’ Season”, the High Country is proud to be an authority on all things “Fall”. We love the array of colors, that spread across the tree tops, plus the tasty treats with pumpkin spice, nutmeg, and everything nice. As it starts to cool down, we can all gather around campfires to stay cozy with no pesky bugs nibbling on you and who can forget- S’MORES?

If you are a homeowner though, Autumn is a transition point from Summer to getting ready for Winter. What do you need to do to make sure the house looks nice and being well maintained? Below are 10 fall updates for your home that will not break the bank, typically will only take a few minutes of your time, and make you rest easy when it comes to your property.

1.) Roof and Gutter Check

Having a roof over your heard is one of the main reason you bought a house! Make sure that it stays in shape by making sure it is ready to handle the heavy weight and moisture in the coming months. Furthermore, you need to check your gutters. Clogged gutters lead to bad irrigation around your property’s foundation. To take care of both of these, it is as simple as climbing up on a ladder and visually examining both the gutters and shingles. If your roof is not to steep, you can cautiously walk on your roof to make sure there are not any weak spots or missing shingles, especially around your chimney.

Not comfortable with getting on a ladder? Or perhaps you already know there is a soft spot in your shingles? Then give our office a call, we can connect you with a local Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vincent Properties approved Handyman or construction service.

2.) DIY Leaf Garland and Ornaments

Great one to share with kids! After collecting all your old fabric scraps, take a quick nature walk to gather as many different shaped leaves- or download a stencil. Using a fusible paper and iron, make stiff fabric squares. Once the fabric is not bendy, trace the leaves onto the fabric, and cut out the leaf shapes. Use bright embroidery thread around the edges to give it a more “handy” feel. For ornaments, use a short piece of string, pierce the leaf either from the bottom (stem) or one of the points, and make a loop. Hang from windows and door knobs for a nice accents.

To make a garland, use a longer piece of string, and again, pierce the leaf where desired, but make to put a little knot to keep the leaf in place on the string (like a bead). String and hang up in door ways or on stair railings!

Photo by Andrew McCaul

3.) Check and Replace filters for De/Humidifiers & Furnaces

These filters are an integral parts to the functioning systems in your home. If they are clogged or damaged the machines may not work properly or cause a fire hazard! If you are unsure what kind or size of filters to get, simply pull out the old filter and snap a picture of the specs with your phone. Show the picture to service rep at your local construction supply store or Lowe’s/Home Depot.

For your furnace, it a good idea to take a vacuum hose to your heat vents and their openings in each room of your house-especially if you have furry pups like we do!

With your dehumidifiers, make sure that your drainage pipes are cleared and insulated for cooler temps. If your humidifiers have been in storage, make sure to disinfect the tank before you use them.

4.) Plant Your Bulbs for Spring Flowers

Iris, Tulip, Daffodil, Hyacinth, and Lilies are great bulb flowers that you can plant this fall, and will grow on their own the coming sprin. Yay for low maintenance! BUT-make sure to plant them BEFORE the ground freezes. Oh- for all our foodie readers- don’t forget the garlic!

5.) Store Summer Tool & Organize Winter Tools

You aren’t going to be needing the weed-whacker, garden hoes, and lawn mower when the ground is covered in snow. But these hefty (and expensive) tools need to be stored properly. Click Here for 3 Easy Winterization Steps for your Lawn Mower. In turn you need to make sure that your snow shovels, snow blowers, and ground salt are accessible and fueled up.

6.) Fall Smells

As I said before, pumpkin spice and everything nice! Nothing beats walking into a home with an incredible smell! There are many ways you can achieve good smells- candles, oil burners, and plug-ins- but my favorite goes down a more genuine route. BAKING! Click here to read up on some great baking recipes that all feature…you guessed it.. PUMPKIN!

7.) Check Your Water Heater

Maintain the efficiency and safety of your hot water heater by cleaning sediment from the tank. You will need: A bucket, Plumber’s tape, Rags, and Slip Join Pliers. Learn the step by steps by clicking here!

8.) PUMPKINS

You didn’t really think I would forget these guys did ya? Pumpkins are the staple of Autumn decor! Did you know most Christmas Tree Farms double as Pumpkin patches? The vines pumpkins help protect the Christmas Tree as they grow. One of my favorite pumpkin patches is Frosty’s Christmas Tree Farm in Ashe County. They make picking out your pumpkins a fun, family event! Many other local produce stand will carry pumpkins in an array of sizes so you can adorn your porch steps, dinning room table and mantle! Is it too early to get excited for Jack-o-lanterns?

As the cooler temperatures come rolling in, we hope you and your home stay cozy and safe. We hope that you find these to will be helpful and maybe even a few of them to be fun! Please remember, Vincent Properties is here to lend a helpful hand for whatever life may bring and would love for the opportunity to be your neighbor, so feel free to give us a call! Happy Fall Y’all!

828-295-0700 | info@bhhsvp.com

Reviews for Team Henderson & Perry

Our BIGGEST compliment is our client’s vote of confidence!

Team Henderson and Perry would like to thank all of our past clients for sharing their kind thoughts. It was a pleasure getting to know you and getting to share our passion for the High Country.

If you would like to learn more about Team Henderson and Perry, please click here.

We had the pleasure of working with Vickie and Ben on the purchase of our second home in Banner Elk. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and follow through was outstanding. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wants to buy or sell a property in the High Country.

-Kay Y

Vickie did an excellent job in marketing and selling our house. As anxious sellers, Vickie was a very good listener and addressed various questions and concerns that we had. We had a significant number of showings and she made sure the house was effectively presented. Overall, we were pleased with the job Vickie did in selling our house.

-Bob and Kathy W

I am so grateful to Ben and Vicki for hanging in there and helping me through some rough patches while trying to sell an old house in need of repairs. Their support and many suggestions helped me navigate a long and winding road to the sale. They were both professional and caring.

-Julie S

As first-time home buyers, Vickie was interested and knowledgeable, plus offered both encouragement and advice to get us into our forever home. We could not have done it without her! In addition to her hard work, she is just so friendly and pleasant to home-search with!

-Jamie N

My wife and I were first-time home buyers. Vickie helped make this process so much easier, especially during a pandemic. She advised us of specific things we were unaware of, offered encouragement and a gentle perspective, and made sure we were happy with our final decision. We are very pleased with her knowledge and assistance and it led us to our forever home!

-Michael N

Ben could not have been friendlier or more accommodating. We came down from Maine and so had limited time to offer him, but he scheduled things so that we were able to see everything that we wanted to see. He knows the area very well and was able to give us a great sense of life in Boone and the surrounding towns.

-Cristy M

Ben Henderson was wonderful to work with, he was diligent, always accommodating, and basically held my hand through the whole process. Ben is a kind, delightful, extremely hard-working man and I can’t praise him highly enough.

-Adrienne F

Mrs. Perry was an exceptional agent.

-Edith P

Ben was very helpful when I was trying to sell my rental doublewide. He found contractors to improve the property and provided advice about the paperwork involved. I greatly appreciate his help and am very glad the sale went thru so smoothly.

-Linda L

I found Ben by calling about a property that we were interested in. I quickly knew that he was the realtor for me. He was friendly, kind, and knew everyone and everything about the area. But why wouldn’t he? He’s lived in the area for 40 plus years! Little did I know, his teammate, Vickie, made this experience twice as good!!! She is smart, detail oriented, and has never met a stranger. Their teamwork allows for work to be done at twice the speed. I HIGHLY recommend them to help you with your home search. The knowledge they have about houses and the people they know in that area, make buying a home or property a fun process!!! They truly just want to help. I will be recommending them to anyone and everyone that is looking in the HIGH COUNTRY. 🙂

-Dana and Thomas Q

I had been looking six months for property in the NC mountains. When the time came to look at a few I had selected in Ashe County, Vickie was the right agent to call. She and Ben know the area, are very professional, and are easy to talk and work with. After viewing 3 properties I was ready to leave empty handed. Were it not for Vickie’s determination I would have missed seeing the property I eventually purchased. From showing to closing, Vickie and Ben helped me every step of the way. With their team approach, they referred me to a good home inspector, engineer, surveyor, closing attorney, and even to the roofing company that re-roofed the house. I am extremely happy with my purchase and my experience with the two of them as buyers’ agents. I look forward to working with them in the near future with some land matters in that area.

-Tony S

My husband and I had a wonderful experience with Team Henderson and Perry. They made us feel so welcome when we met in the office. They answered any and every question we had without hesitation. They were extremely responsive to our calls, texts, and emails. They made out entire experience pleasant and stress free. I would highly recommend their team to anyone!

-Lori I

Thank you for choosing to be a part of our monthly newsletter list!

We are honored to share our passion for the NC High Country and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with you.

We strive to be at the pulse of our community and be a friendly, informative neighbor.

If you are thinking about buying or selling property in the mountains, or in need for a recommendation for a good handyman or plumber, we are here as your concierge for whatever life may bring.

Click here to start your property search! | Click here to start talking to an award winning Vincent Properties agent today. | Click here to learn more about Vincent Properties

Going Green For Spring!

Soon we will be shedding our winter coats, flowers will start to bud, and we’ll see the green leaves creep up the mountainside. Observing nature start anew is refreshing and shows us how truly delicate it can be. Did you know the Appalachian Mountains are technically a temperate rainforest? This makes our eco-system multifaceted and truly unique. Our firm Vincent Properties is dedicated to the preservation of our beautiful surrounding mountains, meadows, and rivers. We would love your help! Here are some easy ways to ‘Go Green for Spring.’

Spring Earth

Bamboo- it’s not only for Pandas it’s for Spring

Bamboo is an incredible resource that is flexible, durable, and can be used in many ways. Growing an incredible 3 feet per day, this renewable resource is great for making paper towels, toilet paper, flooring, and various composting plastics. Furthermore, the production of bamboo creates only 1/3 the carbon footprint versus its traditionally used counterparts such as trees. This makes bamboo an environmentally friendly substitute from sprout to finish.

**Compost- Because a rind is a terrible thing to waste!**

Over 20% of carbon emissions come from landfills and food waste is one of the most impactful. You can help tackle this problem from home! Try investing in a compost waste bin or by installing a garbage disposal in your sink to grind up organic materials. By adding a disposal to your system, many enzymes in food will help break down other wastes found in your septic system. New age compost bins, such as the Vitamix FoodCycler, can easily break down a week’s worth of food waste into homemade fertilizer in less than 24 hours with no looming odors.

“Bee” A Friendly Neighbor This Spring

As you may have heard, the bee population is in great need of our help! The bee’s ability to pollinate plants affects many different eco-systems. This, in turn, influences many different forms of life, including us. The easiest way to help bees is to avoid harmful pesticides in your gardens. Bees tend to be a little OCD, focusing on one kind of flower at a time. Therefore, you can assist them by grouping your garden with similar blooms and allowing plenty of space between your flower beds. In addition, most species of bees live in the ground so having an area that is not often disturbed will help the bees create more habitats.

Take Photos, Leave Only Footprints

This is the golden rule of being an outdoorsman, and it is a rule we highly encourage. When you find yourself among the trees in the next few months, hiking or visiting parks. Please only take photos and do not take pieces of the forest with you. That could be some little critter’s home or food source! The exception to this rule is if you find trash or obvious non-native articles. It may seem unpleasant to pick it up, but please be a good steward of the earth and dispose of trash properly. Which brings us to the second part of that motto- please leave no trace of your visit, only your footprints!

It’s Time to Spring into Action

So, there you have it, folks. Try incorporating these 4 simple tips into your routine and make the High Country a little greener. To quote the superhero Caption Planet “The power is yours”! For further questions on how to be green at home click here to download “The Eco-Friendly Home Checklist” by Conscious Abode. If you want more information on how Vincent Properties can use their real estate superpowers to help you in the sale of your property, please do not hesitate to call.

Banner Image by DreamyArt from Pixabay

Earth Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images form Pixabay

Panda Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay

Bee Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

5 Things We Love About The NC High Country

There are many reasons to love the NC High Country; whether it be the scenery, community, or events- there is something for everyone. At Vincent Properties, the NC High Country is our driving passion for why we work in real estate. Since February is all about sharing the love, our agents thought they’d share their reason for loving the NC High Country.

A Tight-Knit, Giving Community-Jay Vincent

Jay Vincent enjoys the High Country because it is a caring and involved community, describing it as “Small town USA, you know the people and they know you.” Jay is part of several different organizations in the community, such as the Western Youth Network (WYN), The Hunger Coalition, and the Watauga Humane Society. Jay particularly loves the work conducted by the Western Youth Network, which strives to positively impact at-risk youth in Watauga County. Their mission statement “is to transform our High Country community by nurturing and empowering our children so that they live HEALTHY, ENGAGED and FULFILLED LIVES.” By providing mentoring, after school, summer camp, and high school success/college training programs, WYN has helped raise our community for over 30 years.

At Vincent Properties, we not only love to help people but also animals. Jay and our office sponsor animals through the Watauga County Humane Society often!

Never to Cool for School -Josh Honeycutt

When he isn’t working diligently as an NC Realtor® Josh Honeycutt is the Watauga High School soccer coach. His favorite thing about the High Country is our school system. Watauga County has an excellent school system, they are ranked in the Top 10 School Districts in North Carolina by Niche. The Watauga County School District was named an Accomplished District by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standard. If you are looking to raise kids in the High Country, our school systems should exceed your expectations. With great accomplishments, comes great opportunities! For instance, Blowing Rock Chamber of commerce provided funds to Blowing Rock Elementary School for a 3D printer. The 3D printer club has become an outstanding program for students. They even took home second place at the Annual Digital Design Manufacturing Competition. For more information on the 3D Printer Club, check out the article on the Watauga Democrat.

NC High Country

NC High Country- It’s Adventure time, Kiddos- Lindsay Pinckney

Since having her second child, Lindsay Pinckney’s favorite thing about The High Country is the family fun activities. Her favorite place, or really, her eldest son’s favorite place is Tweetsie Railroad. This is a local amusement park that opened in 1957 and has since become a staple of the High Country. The western-themed amusement park boasts fun activities for the whole family, such as Diamond Lil Can-Can Dancers, magic shows, gem mining, a petting zoo, arcade, wide selection of rides, and the famous Wild West Adventure train ride. The High Country is packed full of adventures for kids (or the young at heart), Mystery Hill is best known for their Gravity Vortex! This is a room that defies the laws of gravity. No matter how hard you try to stand up straight you will be standing at a 45-degree angle. In the warmer months, Lindsey enjoys bringing her kids to play at the Blowing Rock or Valle Crusis Park. These are just some of the many attractions in The High Country, click here to see our Pinterest board filled more fun attractions for kids of all ages!

That’s my JAM- Frankie Lancaster

Our agent Frankie Lancaster’s favorite thing about The High Country is the music. In the High Country, you can find many exceptional bands, both local and touring musicians. Frankie likes to attend the various free summer concert series held in the local parks. Throughout one weekend, there are dozens of shows being offered at Blowing Rock Park, The Best Cellar, Valle Crucis Park, and The Jones House. Many restaurants in the area have music weekly which is perfect in the colder months. As a graduate of the Miriam Canon Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University, Frankie also likes to see the many inspirational artists that visit the ASU Schaefer Center. This cultural arts center has hosts many National and International musicians, bands, and other arts groups. Check out their upcoming calendar by clicking here.

Take a Hike in the NC High Country- Kelli Burleson

As a dedicated outdoor lover, our agent Kelli Burleson and her pup Hutch’s favorite thing about the area is the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains- from hiking trails, cruising Watauga Lake, or just visiting the many national parks for a picnic. Kelli’s favorite place to be is on the Blue Ridge Parkway, checking out her favorite trails such as Rough Ridge, Linville Falls, Moses Cone, Watauga Lake, and the Boone Fork Trail. If you are looking for exceptional views from an easy hike Rough Ridge is perfect for you, despite its name. The hike is less than a mile and offers views of Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct. Looking for scenery with water? Linville Falls is just one of the many waterfalls in our area. The NC High Country such gorgeous views and hiking for hikers of all skill levels. To see more of Kelli’s adventures, click here to follow her Instagram page!

Kelli Hiking in the NC High Country

Seems like there is something for everyone in the NC High Country. Do you have a reason to love our area, or perhaps you are aching for a reason to explore? Come visit and fall in love, ’tis the season! Once you are hooked by cupid’s arrow, one of Vincent Properties award winning agents will be happy help you fall in love with a High Country Home !

2019 Highlights and Hopes for 2020

As this year (and decade for that matter) come to a close, all of us are reminded of the wonderful blessings and lessons this year has given us. The Vincent Properties Realtors® and staff feel we have had many highlights this past year and are eager to see what a roaring good time 2020 will be! Join us as we look back on what made 2019 awesome and how we are gearing up to make 2020 even better!

Jay Vincent

As Jay Vincent says, when you get to be his age every year is a blessing and he’s happy to be able to count so many. For the holidays this year, Jay expressed this message that can resonate with us all year long:

In the busyness of life I cherish peace and quiet which gives me time for reflection, but as Jennifer Warren of Western Youth Network in her Christmas message this week points out, joy can bring us much ‘specialness’. Lionel Ritchie in his song Zoom, says “greet the sun each morning, walk among the stars at night, and taste the honey in your life”. May each of you today and in the coming year experience much joy and taste lots of honey.

Chad Vincent

What an exciting year 2019 has been for Chad Vincent! Not only was he voted as Watauga’s BEST Realtor® for 2019, he married the love of his life (besides Real Estate, that is) on the beautiful coast of Exuma!

In 2020, Chad says he hopes to find a little more time to ride his Harley on the Blue Ridge Parkway and take his pup, Finn, on a few more hikes. Perhaps Chad will invest in a side car, so Finn can ride along too!

Stephen McDaniel

Stephen McDaniel has been a productive Realtor® in 2019! So much, Stephen was awarded “High Country Top 50” by Movement Mortgage! Congratulations Stephen!

Although winning the award, Stephen and his family did face some hardships over the past year- and with it, the McDaniel family witnessed an incredible amount of love and support from their community. For that, they would like to openly send a very heart warmed thank you to everyone. They feel very blessed because of everyone’s generosity, and wish everyone love, compassion, and good health in 2020.

Lee Gillette

Lee Gillette has been a busy bee! Not only when it comes to being a Realtor® but chasing his toddler, Benjamin, around the High Country. These two peas are thick as thieves, and that puts a big smile on our faces!

Over the past year, Lee has been fixing up his childhood home. As the renovation nears completion, Lee is excited to begin raising (perhaps, growing?) his family in such a treasured homestead.

Melissa Boone

Melissa Boone has also been chasing around a toddler, Mr. Lincoln James. Over this past year, little Lincoln has grown into quiet a character with a bright and bubbly personality! It has been especially great to see him grow alongside his cousin, Scarlett.

In this upcoming decade, Melissa is hoping to keep it simple with good health, smiling faces, and lots of laughter.

Frankie Lancaster

For Frankie Lancaster, 2019 has been a tune-up year, meaning it has been filled with music! Frankie has played an integral role in his church, Cornerstone Summit, grow their fellowship in their brand new building and being a rock star in their worship band.

In 2020, Frankie and his family are excited to be welcoming a bouncin’ baby boy to the clan. As you can see, Adelaide is quite excited to be a big sister. Congratulations, Big Poppa Frankie! UPDATE: William “Parker” Thomas Lancaster decided to show up early, on December 28th!

Josh Honeycutt

This guy… this guy is a champ! Not just speaking metaphorically, Josh Honeycutt and the Watauga High School Men’s Soccer Team were season champions this year, making it all the way to finals in the State Championship. For all his hard work, they named him Coach of the Year! But even after all these awards, Josh says his greatest achievement for 2019 was hitting his 10 year anniversary with his wonderful wife, Angela. (Awwww)

In this upcoming year, Josh is hoping to WIN the State Championship!

Lindsay Pinckney

Lindsay Pinckney and her family welcomed a new little boy to their brood, Mr. Graham McLeod Pinckney in 2019. Lindsay is excited to see her two boys grow, and her eldest, Owen, become a great big brother.

For 2020, Lindsay in hoping to tune up her photography skills to help her become an even better Realtor® than she already is. To boot, Lindsay says she hopes to do some traveling out of the country, preferably somewhere with little umbrellas in the drinks 😉

Kelli Burleson

Eye of the Tiger, or perhaps German Shepherd in Kelli Burleson‘s case. For Kelli, 2019 has been a successful year full of hard work, dedication and a lot of iced coffee! Kelli has hit the ground running this past year to provide great customer service and real estate professionalism to her clients. Kelli also welcomed a new loving face to the family, of the furry persuasion that is. His name is Hutch, and we love him a whole BUNCH!

As the new year begins, Kelli is ready to invest less in ice coffee and more into finding a balance between her four loves: Real Estate, Hiking, Samaritan’s Purse, and her new littler fur baby!

Shalamar Blevins

Our Marketing Director, Shalamar Blevins, is very happy to say she got engaged in 2019! Wedding planning has been an interesting feat to say the least but the happy couple is ready to celebrate under the stars in 2020!

3 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

A new year means a fresh start and new beginnings for many people. Start the New Year off by making life easier, and what better way than with your home? From cleanliness and organizing, to eco-efficiency and safety- these 3 New Years Resolutions for Your Home will set 2020 off to a great start and make your home happy!

Start with a Deep Cleanse

Out with the old and “in” with freshly cleansed and organized spaces! Start out with a good de-clutter session, such as cleaning out clothes that no longer t, out of date cleaning supplies, magazines/junk mail, and dissolving all those long dreaded ‘piles’. You know the ones we are talking about, the piles of disarranged items that you throw together to ‘sort through later’ so your home appears tidy. If you still have a bit of clutter, do not worry! Simply sort into similar groups,and stash them in decorative bins or labeled totes in the closet. Once you have tossed all the junk in the trunk, give everything a good cleaning! Now that the hard part is over, make sure you keep on track with cleaning charts. Breaking things down into ‘small to bigger tasks’ or ‘monthly, weekly and daily’, lists are an easy way to keep the family on the same page while maintaining cleanliness throughout the year.

Be Eco Efficient

Like using cleaning charts to make sure chores work smoothly, ‘going green’ around your home can make life (and the Earth) Flourish. One easy way to start is setting up a well designed recycling and compost
area. These would preferably be in a pantry, a mudroom, or just outside your kitchen. Conceal your bins with well crafted storage areas with securing lids to keep out critters and odors. The key to efficient recycling is proper sorting, specifically with plastics and glass. Composting is a wonderful way to cut down waste, while creating nutrients for your vegetable garden or landscaping. Dogs also make superb compost-ers!

Home Safety Counts!

Eleanor Evert once said “For safety is not a gadget, but a state of mind.” We can’t think of a better way to be in 2020- feeling safe at home. In this age of technology we have many gadgets that can help us achieve safety and find peace of mind. Start off by installing fresh batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Then, with the whole family, do a test run of your safety evacuation plan. Don’t forget to check your fire extinguishers! Next, maybe add a few safety updates to your home. These can range from getting new bath tub mats with extra grip, adding lighting to a walkway, or full upgrades like security alarms and cameras.

These 3 New Years Resolutions for Your Home can help maintain your property’s value, and provide a peace of mind that starts 2020 with a boom!

Chad Vincent’s 4 Frugal Tips for Fall

In negotiating the best deals for our clients, we have learned many ways to save money, especially when it relates to home care. Saving money on your home doesn’t end with the purchase price, it is an on-going cycle throughout the
seasons. Therefore, I have outlined a few of my Frugal Tips for Fall.

Superhero Smart Power Strips

Did you know that electronics, even if they are turned off, will pull small amounts of electricity (called phantom loads)? A Smart Power Strip will cut itself off when the plugs are not being used (example: when you go on vacation) and will turn itself back on when needed. The latter can save you up to 10% on your electricity bill, not to mention it is good for the planet!

You’re in Hot Water

Most water heaters by default are set to 140°F, which is scalding hot. You do need higher temperatures to ensure your water system does not grow harmful bacteria. Therefore, never set your water heater to go below 120°F. At this setting, you can still get a great hot shower, sanitize your dishes, keep bacteria at bay, AND save you up to 10-15% on your bills.

Light Up My Life

Lighting creates the ambiance for your home, whether you are throwing a dinner party, reading to relax, or working diligently in your home office – the right lighting is key! To help set the stage, the right kind of light bulb, dimmer switch, and timers can prove to be worthy of your consideration. These tools are also known to cut cost of electricity and maintenance bills. Did you know the average American home has 40 light bulbs and by switching to long lasting LEDs, you can save up to$11,500 over 20 years?

Stay Toasty

This is a big money saver! Keeping your home warm is one of the largest yearly expenses. As the temperatures get colder, the prices for fuel typically go up. Most fueling companies offer discounts if you: fill up early in August or September, join their automatic fill up services, or pay with cash. To make sure your furnace is pumping out the heat efficiently, inspect (or pay a professional to) all vents for build-up and change your filters. These practices can help with your heating costs, and are a aid in fire prevention.

We hope you find these tips helpful to keep your home cozy and wallet a little fuller this fall.
If you ever need assistance achieving your real estate goals, please call one of our agents at Vincent Properties!