Mint Hill Homes: Charlotte NC Area Real Estate

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Mint Hill NC Real Estate Profesional=Rich Ferretti

“As business professionals, we all look to align ourselves with others having greater experience or results, in hopes we will learn ourselves. I personally have found several that meet that mold, and Rich Ferretti is among the top tear. I have gotten to know Rich over the past year pretty well, and I am amazed at how much effort he puts into everything he does, and every person he meets. My wife & I are not real-estate agents, but we have purchased and sold 5 homes in the past 10 years. I can say without a doubt, Rich provide a superior service than any of the agents we have had. In this down turn economy, as a buyer…. Or seller, you need the best to accomplish your goals, and Rich Ferretti is the guy that will help you do that. Joe Balich President Meridian DesignBuild, Ltd.” March 20, 2010

Thank you Joe….

Rich Ferretti, your Charlotte NC, Matthews NC, and Mint Hill NC real estate professional offering you most stressless NC Real Estate process

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Tips for First Time Home Buyers

Owning a home can bring comfort and stability, however the process to get there can seem daunting. While there comes a point in life when a person should own a home in the interest of their future, many do not quite know how to handle this task in a way to decrease stress. Here are some tips for first time home buyers:
1) Make a list of what you’re looking for and the price.

-Sure, we all want the mansion with seven bedrooms and a swimming pool, but it probably will not fall into your price range. It is important to set a price range, and then think about areas you want to live in, number of bedrooms, amenities such as washer and dryer and central air and heating. What are the things you cannot live without? What are the things you would like, but don’t necessarily need? Setting up a list will allow you to narrow down the number of options and will ensure you aren’t make compromises when you don’t have to. When visiting the houses, it is encouraged to bring the checklist and a digital camera. This helps keep track of the homes, while also organizing your thoughts and feelings on each home and the amenities it has to offer.

2) Give yourself adequate time to process.

-How motivated are you at this point? Sometimes people will look for years for a home, but those are people who are looking for fun, not out of necessity or a drive to own a home. Motivated buyers will probably find their home in two weeks, depending on scheduling. If you want to see many, many homes, it will take you longer. Remember, you do not want to overload your brain. While a highly motivated buyer could ask to see 20 or 30 homes in a day, details will be lost and that buyer may be mistaken about which home is right. Instead, set the cap on seven home tours a day. This may take you longer to find the perfect house, but this way you are sure to remember the important details.

3) Go with instinct but don’t jump before you leap

- Remember to ignore your instinct to shop around. Sometimes we find something we want at a store and we feel the desire to visit other stores to ensure we are getting the best deal. You must suppress this urge when buying a home. Once you find the perfect house, it is important to make an offer quickly before another person takes it from underneath you. However, this does not mean you should be hasty! Going to see the home a second time is recommended. Going to see the home at different times of the day and week is also recommended. Listen to your real estate agent; they are required to point out what may need to be fixed. Don’t allow the initial excitement of finding the home that looks perfect on paper cloud your judgment. It may be in a great neighborhood and have the exact number of bedrooms you want, but what if all the pipes need to be replaced? Pay attention to detail, be aware of what repairs and changes you’re willing to do, and once you find the home you love, visit often and make an offer.

Are you interested in more information about the Mint Hill, Matthews and Charlotte area real estate market? Check out http://www.minthillrealty.com/

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Mint Hill North Carolina 28227

Click here to search for homes in Mint Hill NC, Matthews NC and Charlotte NC.

Mint Hill NC Homes

Want more information about the Mint Hill, Matthews and Charlotte area real estate market? Check out http://www.minthillrealty.com/

Mint Hill NC Homes for Sale

Mint Hill NC, where Mayberry meets the 21st Century.

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Call Rich Ferretti, your Mint Hill Real Estate Professional at 704 564 0807 or visit him on the web at www.RichFerretti.com

Find out why I call Mint Hill NC home.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Keeping Cool this Summer—Rich Ferretti Mint Hill North Carolina

Here’s some tips on keeping your house cool this summer. I know how hard it can be during these days when temps are in the 90s with high humidity….

Tricks to Keep Your House Cool this Summer

By Paige Tepping
RISMEDIA, June 17, 2010--As the temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the cost of keeping your home cool. While homeowners across the country come to depend on air conditioners to keep the temperature down during the warm summer months, there are other options that will keep you cool while keeping your energy bill low.
Fans and ceiling fans
-If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
-You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also, make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.
Shades, drapes or blinds
-Install white window shades, drapes or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.
Internal Heat
-The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices and lighting. Be aware of devices in your home that are generating heat and if you have air conditioning, use it wisely.
Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make the thermostat think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.
-Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.
-You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities such as cooking on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will use less energy to cool it.
Plants
-Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides will keep your house cool in the summer and allow the sunlight to warm the house during the winter.
Roof and Walls
-Paint your roof white – If you’ve got a flat roof, paint it with a specially formulated reflective paint or just paint it white. The reflective effect will help to keep the rooms under the flat roof much cooler.
Other things to remember
-Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering and cooking. When you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.
-Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.
-If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it now. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10%.

Rich Ferretti is your Mint Hill NC Real Estate and Charlotte NC relocation professional.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

South Park Shopping Charlotte NC

Walk to South Park and all the fine restaurants.

This unit has all the upgrades: Granite counters, ceramic tile, hardwood flooring, extra special storage unit. Wonderful balcony that over looks all the action.