Category: Yancey Blog

Green thumb or not, every homeowner should try their hand at growing fresh herbs. Here are 5 easy-to-grow herbs you can pick up and start tending to today.

1. Mint. The perfect addition to a cool, refreshing summer drink, mint can be grown indoors in a wide pot of moderately rich soil. They recommend placing this herb in indirect light in an area with temperatures no more than 65 to 70 degrees during the day.
2. Basil. This plant thrives off plenty of sunlight and warmth, so plant its seeds in a pot and place in a south-facing window. Once ready, this herb is a great addition to any tomato sauce or Italian dish.
3. Oregano. Another Italian food staple, oregano is a great addition to your indoor garden. This herb requires direct sunlight and should be turned occasionally. Make sure to select a pot with a drainage hole and be careful as oregano plants are sensitive and can easily be killed by overwatering
4. Chives. Commonly used to top scrambled eggs, soups, baked potatoes, and more, chives are a great indoor herb. Choose a 4- to 6-inch pot with well-draining soil to plant your seeds. This herb requires at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day and should be turned periodically as it tends to grow towards the sun. 
5. Cilantro. Have an affination for Mexican food? Then you’ll definitely want to add cilantro into the mix. Plant the seeds in an unglazed pot with a lot of drainage holes to allow for moisture and air to pass through and place in the sun for four to five hours per day.

Most homeowners will experience a little fruit fly trouble throughout their lifetime. These pests are easily attracted to things like moist, fermenting fruits and vegetables, empty bottles, drains, mops, garbage disposals, and more. Although small in size, these flies can be irritating and unsightly. Check out the below natural, DIY ways to remove them from your home.

After a nice nightcap of wine or beer, leave a little bit of alcohol at the bottom of the bottle and set it out without a cap or cork. Flies are attracted to the sugar and scent and will become trapped due to the skinny neck of the bottle. Throw in a couple of drops of dish soap to help the process.

Grab a cup and pour a little apple cider vinegar in the bottom then cover the top with plastic wrap. Secure the cover with a rubber band and poke several holes in the plastic to allow for the flies to enter. Alternatively, you can opt for using a mason jar. 

Just screw the lid on and punch small holes through the metal. Attracted to the scent of the apple cider vinegar, the fruit flies will enter the cup but will be unable to leave once inside.

Take a small bowl and fill the bottom with vinegar then add 3 to 4 drops of dish soap. The flies remain attracted to the vinegar and the soap breaks the surface tension of the vinegar and makes the solution thicker, which sinks the flies to the bottom.

With a little bit of diligence and a combination of these solutions, you should have your kitchen back to yourself in no time!

You’ve moved into your new home with the high-tech kitchen and spacious dining and living area of your dreams! Now that you’ve unpacked and decorated, it’s time to start planning all the incredible dinners, parties, game nights, and more ahead of you. And what modern-day host or hostess has a get-together without a charcuterie board to complete it? That’s why we’ve outlined the easiest way to create your own from scratch! 

The Cheeses

When you are shopping in the cheese section, it’s important to select a variety of flavors, textures, and colors. Select three to six different types of cheeses, depending on the size of the board you’re creating, such as mild or medium cheddar, sheep or goat milk cheese, gruyere, gouda, brie, blue cheese, and more.

The Meats

Most standard grocery stores have a great selection of aged meats perfect for your board. Some fan favorites include prosciutto, sopressata, pancetta, and pepperoni. These are full of flavor and pair well with different types of cheeses.

The Sides

Here’s where your creative side can really come out! Consider picking up some fruit to garnish your board, like strawberries or grapes, and selecting a couple of jams and preserves to pair with your cheese, such as fig butter or apricot jam. Pickled vegetables, olives, and nuts, like macrona almonds and cashews, are also a popular addition. Finally, purchase a variety of crackers to complete your charcuterie board.

With the ongoing quarantine, now is a great time to do some research, and order a pretty board offline to build the charcuterie platter of your dreams once this is over and we can entertain again!

Our team is working around the clock at home to ensure all your real estate needs are met during this uncertain and unprecedented time! If we can help you in any way at all, please let us know!

Call us at 704.467.8877 today! 

#WFH#StayAtHome#HereForYou#YanceyRealty#InThisTogether

March Housing Market States are here courtesy of Canopy Realtor® Association. Want to learn even more? Click here!

For most people, retirement feels like a long way off. But, if you don’t start preparing as early as possible, you may find yourself in a place of financial insecurity when the time does come! To avoid this, consider implementing the following tips. 

1. Calculate your target savings. In general, it’s recommended that you save between 10 to 15% of your income for retirement. However, you can always use an online savings calculator to determine the amount you need to save for your specific needs and goals.
2. Contribute to your employer’s retirement savings plan. Does your job offer a 401(k), traditional IRA, or Roth IRA? Sign up, and start saving as soon as they allow you to! It’s recommended to set up automatic paycheck deductions and, once the money is in your retirement fund, don’t touch it. 
3. Take advantage of employee benefits. Many employers offer matching, which generally requires you contribute a certain percentage of each paycheck and your company will then contribute a matching amount with funds of their own. They might also offer health savings or flexible savings account. By contributing to these accounts, you reduce your amount of taxable income, allowing you to save more money!
4. Pay off your debts. Start by paying off any high-interest credit card debt first. Then look at other debts, such as student loans and car payments, and make a plan for paying those off incrementally.
5. Reduce daily spending. Although this feels like a no-brainer, spending your money thoughtfully now can make a big impact later. Seek out areas of your life where you can cut costs and stick to a budget.

Your moving day is set and it’s time to start preparing! As you’re making your lists and checking them twice, don’t forget to factor in your furry friends. Here are some tips for making sure the process goes smoothly.

Medical records. When moving to a different city or state, one of the main things you need to take into consideration is finding a new veterinarian that is the right fit for both you and your pet. If you have family or friends in the area, ask for recommendations, or do your own research by reading reviews and news articles. Once you find one, contact your current vet to initiate a transfer of medical records. Then schedule a “get to know you” appointment shortly after your move.

Transportation. Whether it’s a short drive or a long plane ride, you pet will likely need to be put into a carrier. For most pets, this is a foreign concept, and they require time to get comfortable with it! Start acclimating your pet as early as possible and use comfort items, like treats and favorite toys to make the experience a positive one for your pet.

Acclimation. Pad your moving schedule with ample time to get your dog or cat acclimated to their new home. While the movers are still hard at work, keep them safely away from foot traffic to reduce stress. Once they’ve left, make sure to clear anything that could be dangerous, and block off areas as necessary…then let them free to get a lay of the land on their own!

Subleasing or subletting, is becoming more and more common in today’s real estate market. It can be a great tool for all parties involved; convenient, timely and most importantly, financially beneficial.

Subleasing is the contractual agreement of a third party (new tenant) to take on the terms of a lease (including paying rent) from the original tenant, while the original tenant’s name remains on the lease.

On the surface, a sublease is straightforward, however failing to outline timelines, obligations and other details at the inception of the agreement can lead to a stressful and negative experience.

The Subleasing Process

Every sublet involves three parties; the landlord, the original tenant and the person taking over the lease, often referred to as the subletter. The first step in the sublease process is determining if you are allowed to sublease the space based on the current contract. If a sublease clause is not included in the lease, you must first reach out to your landlord to determine if a subletter is allowed, and under what conditions. 

After you have determined if a sublease is allowed, and what the conditions under which it is allowed, the next step is to begin to find a qualified subletter. This process can be difficult and time consuming, however there are businesses and services available to help, such as Un-Leased (www.Un-leasedus.com), they specialize in helping to find a qualified subletter, as well as coordinating move in and move out dates, and filing all necessary paperwork. Identifying the right subletter is critical to the success of the subleasing process, as the original tenant does remain responsible for paying rent in the event of a defaulting payment. It is important to perform appropriate interviews and background checks prior to agreeing to a sublet, similar to how landlords interview and vet prospective tenants prior to renting to them.

Once you have found the right subletter, the next steps are to determine logistics and signing the necessary agreements and paperwork. The extent of additional paperwork often depends on your landlord, so make sure to follow up with them on everything that might be needed. The logistics portion includes coordinating security deposit and monthly rent payments – again this is largely dependent on what your landlord requires in order to properly sublet, some might be ok without a security deposit, while others may require a typical 1 month rent. 

Along with move in and move out dates, logistics that should be agreed upon ahead of time include: if the space will be furnished or not, who is responsible for paying utilities (and if the account needs to be transferred to another person), and what options the subletter may have available to them at the end of the sublease term (is it a hard move out date, can they go month to month, or do they have the option to resign and at what rate, etc). 

Once agreements are signed, you are almost done! The last step is to ensure required payments have been received, and then move out and let your subletter move in! 

We often recommend checking in with the original landlord on a monthly basis to ensure that there are no issues. 

Step by Step

1. Determine if a sublease is allowed under your current lease
2. Find a qualified subletter – we recommend services like Un-Leased to help with this process
3. Coordinate logistics and necessary paperwork
4. Sign contracts & confirm payments
5. Move out! 

FAQs

What are some of the pros of subleasing?

Subleasing can provide flexibility to a tenant, allowing them to move earlier than anticipated without having to continue to pay double rent or a lease breaking fee (often 1.5 to 2 times monthly rent, if allowed at all!) For the subletter, it can provide a way in which to find a lease with a non-standard length (like 4 or 8 months, not typically offered) at a great rate. For landlords, it continues to keep their space occupied, and provides a new potential next tenant. Needless to say there are wins all around! 

What are some of the cons?

Finding the right subletter can be difficult, and can run the risk of still being left with a lease if they default.

Is the original tenant still responsible for the lease?

In the event that a subletter defaults on payment, the original tenant is technically still responsible for ensuring that payment is made. 

Who pays the landlord?

In most situations, the subletter will pay the landlord directly; however, in some cases, a landlord may want the original tenant to continue to pay the rent, and have the subletter pay the original tenant (this is most often not the case). 

Is a security deposit required?

This depends on the landlord’s requirement, typically a landlord will require the original security deposit to be paid by the subletter, and relinquish the original tenants security deposit back to them.

Do you have any questions about subletting, or thoughts on the above article? Feel free to reach out directly to Shaan Dadlani, licensed NC Broker/Realtor® by email at Shaan@YanceyRealty.com .

It may be a uncertain time right now, but don’t put your dreams of homeownership to the side! If you need any help with your home search, the Yancey Realty team is here for you!

Give our team a call today at 704-467-8877 to get started!

Joseph Thompson of Black Slaughter & Black is here to help us better understand what title insurance is!

Purchasing a home is one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences in one’s life. It can also be a very confusing process for first-time homebuyers or for people that do not deal in real estate transactions often. One of the more confusing aspects of a real estate purchase is the importance of title insurance. Prior to sitting at the closing table, very few buyers have ever heard of, let alone understand, the concept of title insurance. Title insurance can protect the buyer and the lender, if a home loan is required for purchase, from undue loss caused by a defect in title. A potential defect in title can appear in several circumstances, to include a bordering landowner’s easement or, in the extreme, a competing claim to ownership of the property.

Generally, if there is a potential defect in title and the owner/policyholder receives notification of a claim against the property, the policyholder must immediately reach out to the title insurance company that wrote the policy to file a claim. The title insurance company will then conduct an investigation to determine the validity of a claim and the company’s requirements under the policy. If it is found that the title defect is legitimate and covered under the terms of the policy, the title insurance company will defend the policyholder in that legal action. In the unfortunate case the policyholder is on the losing side of a title dispute, in most cases, the title insurance company will honor the policy and indemnify the homeowner up to the value of the property or the limits of the insurance policy.

Real estate purchasers can protect themselves from the possibility of a title defect claim by closing their real estate transaction with a law firm that is experienced in navigating the complexities of real property title. If you have a question regarding title insurance or are interested in using our services for closing your real estate transaction in North Carolina or South Carolina, the attorneys at Black, Slaughter & Black are available to assist you.

If you’d like to speak with Joseph about Title Insurance, you can reach him at 704.970.1593 or via email at JThompson@LawFirmCarolinas.com.

You can find more information about Black Slaughter & Black by clicking here!