Your Western North Carolina Real Estate Resource

Built by George Washington Vanderbilt II (youngest son of railroad tycoon William Henry Vanderbilt), the Biltmore estate is one of Asheville‘s most opulent icons.  Over 2,000,000 square feet in size and still owned by Vanderbilt descendants, the Biltmore House welcomes thousands of guests every year.  Christmas comes to the Biltmore in Asheville beginning this Friday, November 4, 2011 with the Christmas at Biltmore Daytime Celebration.  The following weekend (November 11, 2011) is when this opulent estate begins their Candleight Christmas Evenings.

During the daytime celebration, guests will be treated to the most magnificent holiday decorations you are liable to ever feast your eyes on, including a 35 foot Christmas tree, decked out in ribbons, traditional ornaments and tons of lights.  This is only one of the several Christmas trees you’ll find around the estate.  Garlands sweep along the elegant banisters.  And Antler Hill Village, located on the grounds, is a perfect place to relax with the family and take in the sights.  The conservatory is bursting with red poinsettias, tropical flowers, white Christmas cactus and so much more.

At night, the estate simply glows from the millions of lights strewn about.  The ambiance of the estate takes on a totally different look when lit by thousands of candles.  The warmth of the lit fireplaces will get you in the holiday spirit as well.  The exterior lighting displays will simply take your breath away.

Fine dining is available at the Christmas style buffet.  You’ve never taken a wine tour like this before!  Wine tasting is even better by candlelight.  Do some Christmas shopping for that one-of-a-kind gift that evokes the feeling of days gone by.  The Winter Garden Choir helps ring in the holiday season with Christmas carol favorites.  There’s even a six foot long gingerbread replica of the Biltmore House set up in the main kitchen.

If you’re interested in experiencing Christmas at the Biltmore in Asheville, visit their website to reserve your tickets for the daytime festivities, candlelight evening celebration or even to spend a couple of days there.  Even though Thanksgiving is still a couple of weeks away, it’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit.  And what a unique way to do it!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Western North Carolina real estate blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2586145/christmas-at-the-biltmore-in-asheville.

Even with winter weather coming in soon, Hendersonville residents shouldn’t neglect their landscaping.  Before your lawn goes into hibernation for the winter, you should give it a good mulching.  Mulch is a great way for your plants and lawn to get the rich nutrients it needs without harsh chemicals.  The City encourages mulching your Hendersonville lawn before the cold settles in for good to help keep it healthy during the frosty winter weather.

Why Should I Mulch My Lawn?
There are several reasons mulch is important to Hendersonville lawn care.  First and foremost, it keeps your lawn healthier and greener than simple watering alone can ever do.  Its natural high moisture retention levels actually keep water where it’s needed (the base of landscaping) rather than sitting on top where it evaporates quickly.  This means you use less water, which saves you money and helps reduce water waste.  Mulch also acts as a natural barrier for soil erosion.  Since it is made up of dead material (leaves, clippings, etc), bugs are not attracted to it and weeds won’t be able to prosper in it.  As mulch naturally breaks down, even more nutrients are created for your lawn to thrive.  Finally, it just looks prettier than plain old dirt.

Free Mulch Giveaway
Going on now and continuing through October 22, 2011, the City of Hendersonville will be giving away free mulch to all citizens at the Hendersonville Wastewater Treatment Plant (139 Balfour Rd).  A backhoe operator will be on-site every Thursday and Friday from 3:30pm-7pm and every Saturday morning from 8am-12pm until October 22nd.  You are welcome and encouraged to come to the treatment plant to get as much of your own nutrient-rich mulch for your lawn, plants and flowerbeds as you want while supplies last.

Keep your landscaping healthy even during the chilly winter weather by mulching your Hendersonville lawn now.  The next free mulch giveaway won’t be until next Spring.  Help keep the natural beauty of our Western North Carolina community intact by taking care of your lawn in a natural, healthy way.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Active Rain blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2543745/mulching-your-hendersonville-lawn.

The warm summer days are behind us.  Western North Carolina in the fall is absoutely breath-taking.  Soon, however, the leaves will fall from the trees and the cold reality of winter will set in.  With the price of natural gas and propane going up, it is important to cut costs as well as energy loss wherever you can.  Since not everyone can afford to go completely green (ie solar or wind powered), we have to find other ways to cope.  If you want to save money and energy this winter, I’ve got a few suggestions for you.

Shop around.  There may be more than one company available in your area to provide natural gas, propane or even electricity to your Hendersonville home.  Ask each company for their rates and compare them to what you are paying now.  Also, check with your current provider to see if they have programs available that you may qualify for.  It never hurts to ask and you may be surprised at the savings you can find.

Insulation.  This can be a relatively inexpensive way to keep you warm during the cold winter weather.  Check the insulation in your attic and walls, especially if you are in an older Hendersonville home.  You may need to add or replace what is currently there to get the most bang for your buck.  Look into purchasing insulated curtains for your windows as well.  These can help keep cold air out and warm air in.

Look for Leaks.  Windows and exterior doors are notorious places for cold air to creep in.  Sometimes, simple caulking or weatherstripping can do the trick.  However, if your windows are especially worn and in need of replacement, buy energy-efficient replacements.  You may even be eligible for a tax credit by doing so.  Storm windows and doors are also great forces against the elements.

Additional ways to stay warm during cold Hendersonville winter months are to use extra blankets and wear warm clothing while indoors.  Add an extra blanket at night or put on a wool sweater instead of turning up the thermostat to help keep your costs down.  Follow these tips to save money and energy this winter.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Active Rain blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2532533/save-money-and-energy-this-winter.

Here in Western North Carolina, we love nature, we love apples (the North Carolina Apple Festival was just a few days ago, in fact) and we love art of all kinds. So, I’m happy to let you know that you’ll have the opportunity to start loving the arts in Asheville over the next couple of weekends with the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s Heritage Weekend, Art in Autumn street festival, Heritage Craft Weekend at the NC Arboretum and the Pisgah Mountain Craft Show.

Heritage Weekend – September 17-18, 2011
Folk Art Center (Milepost 382, Blue Ridge Parkway), 11am to 5pm.  Cost: FREE.  In addition to the many heritage craft demonstrations, there will be live traditional mountain music and dancing, including clogging.  Local experts will be on hand to teach you how to whittle, create pottery, beekeeping techniques, basket weaving, wood carving, quilting, blacksmithing and much more. There are plenty of nice grassy areas to have a beautiful family picnic.  You definitely don’t want to miss the World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition being held on Saturday from 2pm to 3pm.  The Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle is an Appalachian stick toy.  Parking is free, too.  For more information, please call 828-298-7928.

Art in Autumn – September 17, 2011
Main Street, Downtown Weaverville, 10am to 5pm.  Cost: FREE.  For the fifth year in a row, downtown Weaverville plays host to more than 100 local artisans showing off their talents. But that’s not all!  There will be live bluegrass music (traditional to the great Smoky Mountains) as well as fantastic food to enjoy.  For more info on this event, please email artinautumn@visitweaverville.com.

Heritage Craft Weekend – September 24, 2011
North Carolina Arboretum (100 Frederick Law Olmstead Way), 11am to 4pm.  Arts and crafts created from a wide variety of mediums will be available to view, including those made from local, natural materials as well as recycled materials.  Learn the art of basket making, spinning and weaving as well as enjoy live music.

Pisgah Mountain Craft Show – September 24-25, 2011
Blue Ridge Parkway (Milepost 410), Pisgah Inn, 10am to 6pm.  Cost: FREE.  Live glassblowing demos, painting and jewelry are just some of what you can expect from 70 of the area’s best and brightest artists and crafts people.

So, if you enjoy the beautiful Smoky Mountains and all they have to offer, learn more about what inspires local artists and even become one yourself by attending one of these fun arts and crafts events.  Pretty soon, you’ll be loving the arts in Asheville, too!

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my Active Rain blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2507480/loving-the-arts-in-asheville.

As you may be aware of, the threat of identity theft can be a big and expensive problem.  If you throw out your old bank and credit card statements without ripping them to unrecognizable shreds, it’s like throwing out an invitation for identity thieves to steal your information.  Make sure your documents are shredded in a secure manner by attending the City of Hendersonville‘s Shred Day on Wednesday, September 21st.

Every Hendersonville citizen is allowed to bring up to two boxes (50 lbs total) of old checks, credit card and bank statements, payroll stubs, old tax returns, medical forms and any other financial statements to the Grey Hosiery Mill Building (301 4th Ave E) from 10am to 12pm for shredding.  The American Security Shredding truck will set up shop in the Grey Hosiery Mill Building’s parking lot. You can simply drop your documents off or stay and watch them get properly and securely shredded.

You need to protect your credit wherever you can, especially if you are considering making a major purchase like a home in Hendersonville or anywhere else. The best offense on identity theft is a good defense.  To protect yourself from possible identity theft in the future, follow these general rules:

1. Put your trash out on the curb the day of trash pickup. Once it is on the street, your trash is public domain.  Anyone can come by to go through it.

2. Always shred financial papers, credit card receipts, cancelled checks, etc, before throwing them away. A diamond paper shredder will reduce your financial documents into unrecognizable and, more importantly, unusable confetti.  You may be surprised how enterprising and creative identity thieves can be.  It’s not beyond them to take the time to tape torn statements together to get the information they need.  A diamond paper shredder will make this virtually impossible.

3. Pay for all online purchases with a credit card. Credit card companies are required by federal law to fight any unlawful purchases made with your credit card.  Debit cards and online payment services don’t necessarily offer such protection.

4. Go through your bank and credit card statements thoroughly every month. If you recognize any purchases on your credit or debit cards that were not made by you (no matter how small the purchase), report it immediately.  Some thieves will make a few small purchases to check that the information they stole is valid before they start to really tear into your credit.

5. Check your credit report from all three agencies: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian). Legally, you are entitled to one free report from each agency every 12 months.  It’s a good idea to ask for a different credit report every four months so that there isn’t such a big lapse in time between checking. Not all credit purchases made are reported to all three agencies.  That’s why you need to go through all three.

If you believe that you may have had your credit information hijacked by an identity thief, contact the Federal Trade Commission to file a complaint. It can be a lengthy process to straighten out your credit after someone steals your identity.  So, be patient.

Safely get rid of your old financial documents at the City of Hendersonville‘s Shred Day on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. And follow the tips above to protect yourself from the prying eyes of identity thieves.  Protecting your credit is especially necessary when you want to buy a Hendersonville home.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Originally posted on my blog here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2485168/city-of-hendersonville-shred-day.

Yep, folks.  It’s that time of year again.  The 2011 North Carolina Apple Festival is almost here! Held every Labor Day weekend in Hendersonville, the North Carolina Apple Festival has been entertaining families for more than 60 years now.  This year, it will be held from Friday, September 2nd to Monday, September 5, 2011.

Henderson County apple growers are responsible for growing approximately 65% of the apples grown in the entire state. That’s no small feat when you consider that North Carolina is the 7th largest apple producer in the country.  So, it makes sense that we celebrate all things apple-related.  But, the North Carolina Apple Festival isn’t just a place to purchase apples (which you can, by the way, in small batches or by the bushel).  There are children’s activities, a street fair, plenty of live entertainment and, of course, the big King Apple Parade on the final day of the festival.

Here are just a few of the fun events scheduled for the 2011 North Carolina Apple Festival:

Friday, September 2, 2011

• Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast – 7am to 10am (First Baptist Church, 312 5th Ave W, Hendersonville).  For just $6 per person, enjoy pancakes, bacon, grits, coffee, milk, apple juice and nice, warm, cooked apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar.  What a fantastic way to start the festivities.
• Opening Ceremony – 10am (Historic Hendersonville Courthouse, Main St & 1st Ave).
• Apple Orchard Tour – 9am to 12:30pm.  This will be the only tour of the apple orchard open during the entire weekend.  You need to make reservations ahead of time to secure a spot.  Please call 828-697-4891 if you’re interested.
• Big K Big Band – 7pm to 10pm (Main Stage at the Historic Courthouse).  Bring a chair and enjoy the big band sounds of the Big K Big Band.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

• Lions Club Country Breakfast – 7am to 10am (First Baptist Church, 312 5th Ave W).  Get a full country breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, grits, biscuits and gravy, coffee and apple juice for just $6 per person.
• Pardee Apple Festival and Chic-Fil-A Moo Mile – Begins at 8am and ends at 11am, with registration beginning at 6:30am.  This event starts at the Pardee Hospital (800 Justice St) and continues along an 8K mile scenic course throughout Hendersonville and Laurel Park.  All proceeds from this event will benefit the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce.  It only costs $10 to participate.
• Mountain Music Jamboree – 3pm to 5pm (Henderson High School, 311 8th Ave).  Listen to bluegrass music and watch some talented cloggers for just $10 per person.  Tickets can be purchased at the Visitors Center, the Opportunity House and right at the door.
• The Caribbean Cowboys – 5:30pm to 7pm (Main Stage at the Historic Courthouse).  Live music.
• The Mighty Kicks – 7:30pm to 10pm (Main Stage at the Historic Courthouse).  The Mighty Kicks perform Top 40 hits, Motown favorites and classic rock and roll music.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

• Breakfast With the Elks – 7am to 12pm (Elks Lodge, 546 N Justice St).  For $7 per person, the Elks will be offerring pancakes, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, grits, milk, coffee, juice and, of course, apples!  Kids ages 6 and under are free.
• Farmer’s Market – 11am to 4pm (7th Ave and Maple St).  Stock up on jams, jellies, fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products flowers and much more from local farmers.
• Still Cruzin’ – 5:30pm to 7pm (Main Stage at the Historic Courthouse).  Live music.
• The Legacy – 8pm to 10pm (Main Stage at the Historic Courthouse).  Come listen to The Legacy perform some of Motown’s greatest hits.

Monday, September 5, 2011

• King Apple Parade – 2:30pm (N Main St and Five Points to Caswell St).  Antique aircraft will perform a flyover to kick off the North Carolina Apple Festival’s King Apple Parade.

In addition to all of this amazing fun, there will be an apple recipe contest, an arts and crafts fair, the regular street fair, a window display contest, a car show and open houses held at the WNC Air Museum and Mineral Museum throughout the entire weekend.  The toughest decision you’ll have to make is where to go to first!  The North Carolina Apple Festival officials request that you leave your pets at home since city ordinance won’t allow them in the area during the festival.

Don’t miss out on all the fun to be had at the 2011 North Carolina Apple Festival in Hendersonville this Labor Day weekend.  It really is fun for the entire family.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Officials in the City of Hendersonville, much like other cities across the nation, have encouraged water conservation to help combat dry weather conditions. Even little changes can help.  The following are the top five water conservation tips for Hendersonville residents to do their part in using less water:

Tip #1: Check the Plumbing. Leaky plumbing makes up for approximately 15% of a Hendersonville household’s water use.  Replace O-rings on leaky faucets and tubs.  A couple of drops of food coloring in your toilet tank is a simple way to determine if you toilet is leaking.  If the color shows up in the bowl before you flush, you need to replace the flap.  If the water meter still moves after you have completely shut off all water coming into the home, you have a leak.  Check the connections to your outside hoses and faucets as well.  Replace or repair faulty plumbing as soon as possible.  Missing even one leak can waste as much as 500 gallons of water every month.

Tip #2: Curb Indoor Water Usage. Flushing the toilets and bathing comprise approximately 70% of the entire Hendersonville household water usage.  If you can’t afford to replace your toilet with a low-flow model, you can achieve the same effect by placing a glass jar, a plastic jug or even a plastic bag filled with water, pebbles or other density items to keep it from floating in the toilet tank.  This will take up space, which means that the toilet will use less water to fill it.  If you want more water, use a smaller container.  Turn off water when brushing your teeth.  Limit your showers to between two and five minutes.  Take large buckets in the shower with you to capture water before it goes down the drain to use for daily watering of plants.  You can take bucketfuls of your bathwater when you’re done to water plants as well.

Tip #3: Use a Little Elbow Grease. Yes, power washing does an amazing job when it comes to cleaning off your driveway and deck.  However, the particulates (debris, oil, etc) end up in our local Hendersonville waterways.  So, instead of busting out the garden hose, use a broom to sweep up.

Tip #4: Be Smart When Using Appliances. Only run a full load of dishes or laundry.  These activities account for approximately 20% of your Hendersonville home water usage.  If your dishwasher or laundry washer are older, purchase newer Energy Star appliances.  Ask your salesperson about rebates from Energy Star as well as local government agencies when you go to purchase.  You can save money when you buy the appliances as well as when you use them.  Good deal!

Tip #5: Use a Commercial Car Wash. Most commercial car washes recycle their water.  This reduces the amount of water needed to clean your car by as much as 40 gallons per wash.

Following these top five water conservation tips for Hendersonville residents will significantly reduce water usage in our neck of the woods.  In turn, the precious water we do have can be used to keep our mountains green and beautiful for future generations.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Not to be outdone by the award-winning Asheville recycling program, the City has made recycling in Hendersonville even easier.  As of July 4, 2011, the City has begun picking up recycling bins on the same day as the regular trash collection for Hendersonville residents.  If you are unsure as to what can be placed in your blue recycling bin for pickup, here is a list you can use:

• Aluminum, Steel and Tin Products (clean pie plates, rinsed out soda cans, clean foil, etc)
• Aerosol Cans (completely empty and without the plastic cap)
• Books (paperbacks)
• Cereal Boxes
• Cartons (soda and beer)
• Corrugated Cardboard (flattened, no bigger than 4′x3′x12″ stacks)
• Egg Cartons
• Envelopes (paper, manila and window)
• Frozen Food Boxes (white inside)
• Glass Bottles and Jars (brown, green and clear only)
• Newspapers, Magazines, Catalogs, TV Guides and Phone Books
• Plastic Bottles (no lids, deli containers or plastic tubs allowed)
• Paper (office paper, construction paper, junk mail, post it notes and wrapping paper).  Shredded paper is accepted as long as it is placed in a paper bag and closed on top.
• Toilet Paper and Paper Towel Rolls

There are several items that are no longer allowed to be collected in your regular Hendersonville household trash bins because they have been banned from our landfills. These items must be recycled:

• Aluminum Cans
• Bottles From ABC Permitted Businesses
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Lead Acid Batteries
• Oil Filters
• Plastic Bottles
• Used Tires
• White Goods or Appliances
• Wooden Pallets
• Yard Trash (lawn clippings, shrub trimmings, etc)

Yard waste from your Hendersonville yard can be placed in an open container and set out for collection with your regular trash. Do not bag it up and do not mix it in with your regular trash.  It is collected and ground into mulch to distribute to Hendersonville residents at a later time for free.  If you have old appliances that need to be picked up, contact the City of Hendersonville and let them know that you will be leaving them at your curbside for pickup.  Make sure to remove the doors from refrigerators and freezers for safety.

Used tires can be placed at curbside for pickup as long as they aren’t set on a rim. They can also be brought to the Henderson County Transfer Station (828-697-4505) during normal business hours.  The transfer station will also accept lead acid batteries.  But, it’s best to return the battery to the store you bought it from.  Rechargeable batteries can also be taken to the transfer station.  Regular batteries (AAA, AA, C and D) can be thrown out with your regular household waste.

We live in a beautiful area of the country and we want to do everything we can to keep it that way.  By making it easy to recycle in Hendersonville, we are doing our part to help keep this place beautiful for our children and our children’s children.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist

Western North Carolina is very proud of its rich history. This is evident in the loving way we have preserved the best of our past in cities all around the area.  Hendersonville is no exception.  Hendersonville’s Main Street houses several historic buildings as well as antique shops and boutiques.  The Henderson County Courthouse was completely renovated just a few years ago (2008) and City Hall (built in 1924) was recently restored to its former glory.  If you’re a history buff, you simply must visit these historic districts in Hendersonville:

Druid Hills is a residential area located across from Patton Park in Hendersonville. More than 70 buildings have been preserved here.  Some of the styles of architecture you will see in this neighborhood include Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and Craftsman Bungalows.  The community was built with plenty of open area, mature trees and winding streets.

The Hyman Heights/Mount Royal area is another residential district located to the northeast of Five Points and consisting of more than 120 historical buildings.  Originally, this neighborhood was where most of the doctors working at Patton Hospital (Hendersonville‘s first official hospital) built their residences.  Included in the historic buildings is a Gothic Revival home named Kilarney that dates all the way back to 1858.

To the east of Five Points and Main Street is the Cold Spring Park residential area. This was where the city’s working class people lived.  With just 37 historic homes, this is Hendersonville’s smallest historic district.

To the southwest of downtown Hendersonville is the historic residential district of Lenox Park. This area was set up in a grid pattern that was typical of the early 1900s.  Some of the architectural styles you will see include bungalows, Queen Anne and Four Square, amongst others.

While it’s fun to look at historic Hendersonville homes, you may be interested in checking out the historic commercial districts of the city as well. The Seventh Avenue Depot District (two blocks to the northeast of Main St) originated in the late 1800s around the city’s first depot.  The Main Street Historic District is laid out in a typical grid pattern and dates back to 1841.  The area has been restored to its turn of the century splendor.

When you come to Western North Carolina, please visit the historic districts of Hendersonville.  If you love history, architecture or both, this is definitely the place for you.  It’s easy to see why residents are so proud of Hendersonville real estate.

Rich Cooke, your Western North Carolina real estate specialist