i
tEJje Cliarlotte
Real estate
THURSDAY, /WARCH 8, 2007
Watch for
buying
pitfalls
To have a successful home
buying experience there are
several potential pitfalls you
must avoid.
One of the biggest
mistakes many homebuyers
(particularly
first timers)
make is not
getting pre
qualified prior
to looking for a
home. A
lender’s pre
qualification,
or better yet
pre-approval,
will help you
identify the
maximum amount of home
loan you can afford. This
qualification can be used as a
home buying measuring
stick.
Also, understanding the
advantages and
disadvantages of the various
mortgage options can make
the world of a difference to
you and your family. Livinig
"house rich and cash poor”
could lead to a very
uncomfortable existence. It
can be very stressful if every
dollar you earn is directed
toward your house payment.
Many homebuyers believe
that they can save some
money by not hiring a real
estate professional. A
buyer’s agent will work on
your behalf to help you close
on the best deal available.
In North Carolina every
potential homebuyer is
entitled to representation in
a real estate transaction. This
representation is not limited
to resale homes. Actually,
numerous homebuilders
count on Realtors "business
as part of their market
strategy.
Another pitfall that too
many homebuyers fall prey
to is the “perfect home"
syndromes. This is one of
the most common excuses
for not owning a home. This
represents a buyers fear that
they will never find the
perfect home.
Another potential home
buying pitfall is not having a
home inspected. It is
considered a prudent
decision to have a home
inspected prior to accepting
it. This is your opportunity
to discover any hidden
defects or potential expenses
that you could inherit after
closing.
By doing your homework,
you can avoid some of the
most common home buying
pitfalls.
ROLAND K. HAWKINS is a .
Real Estate Agent with
Caldwell Banker United
Realtors. He can be reached
at (704) 840-5762 or
WWW. rolandhawkins. com
PAGE 7D
PHOTO/ARA CONTENT
Dimension is an important guideline in building a successful outdoor garden.
Make over garden
with these tips
ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCIATION
Whether you are looking to
create an outdoor retreat or
just want a great place to
entertain this summer, night
and day backyard
transformations can be a
blooming success with tips
from a pro any gardener can
follow.
Professional garden
designer and author of
“Container Gardens for
Florida” and "Instant
Container Gardens,” Pamela
Crawford shares the five
fool-proof secrets she used
to breathe life into the
gardens surrounding her
exquisite Georgia home.
1. Annuals are a quick fix
“Anriuals are the ‘prefect
solution for injecting color
into an outdoor scene,” says
Crawford. Look for bold new
color choices in annuals like
petunias, impatiens and
vinca along with intricate
pattern details in foliage
annuals like coleus.
“Plant sweeps of -color in
hues that pop, like reds,
pinks and oranges,” says
Crawford. “The ‘sweep’
technique draws the eye
across the space and lends to
an 'at ease’ feeling for those
that enter the garden.”
2. Fashion fabulous yet
functional containers
“A great container
arrangement adds instant
style to patios, porches,
walkways and even flower
beds,” says Crawford.
So what design guidelines
did Crawford adhere to in
building the container plants
that adorn her home? In one
word: dimension. “For the
front porch, I chose hanging
baskets filled with white wax
begonias, new guinea
impatiens, and caladiums.
Their vigorous growth habit
offers volume,” she says.
3. Feed them or forget it
“Many gardeners skimp on
providing their plants with
basic needs like food and
water," says Crawford.
"That’s why I recommend
that gardeners only plant as
much as they are realistically
willing to maintain.”
Crawford feeds her plants
with a slow release fertilizer
called Dynamite. It contains
both macro and micro
nutrients, and feeds plants
continuously for up to nine
months.
And along with food,
plants need plenty of water.
“Water well," says Crawford,
“It's a common mistake to
give plants too little water."
With both container and
bedding plants, remember
they prefer a slow soaking
rather than a fast hit with the
hose because it allows the
roots time to absorb the
water.
4. Invent depth with
illusions
Adding “wow-factor” to
your gardens can be as
simple as adding one major
feature or a series of mini
features. For the flower
border that outlines her back
pathway, Crawford installed
decorative black metal posts,
of varying sizes from 3 to 5
feet, in a staggered
arrangement throughout the
border. When planted with
lush, bountiful hanging
baskets, the posts created
mini focal points along the
curved pathway. While the
width of Crawford’s flower
border was a mere 2 1/2 feet,
the flower-adorned posts
added depth that created an
illusion of a larger space.
5. Accessorizing the
exterior
Well-placed accessories
like planters, garden
ornaments and fountains
make all the difference when
attempting to upgrade an
outdoor style, but selecting
and using them
appropriately can be a
challenge. When . working
with accessories, Crawford t
says to “think in terms of
scale and style.”
“Look at your home’s
architecture and
hardscaping for style clues,”
she advises. “Once you have
found your style, be it ultra
modern or cottage garden,
pick a theme and continue it
throughout the space by
adding other accessories of
the same genre.”
PHOTO/ARA CONTENT
Today’s homeowners have ail the tools
needed for a beautiful lawn and garden.
Pro advice for a
top-notch lawn
ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCIATION
Top-notch gardening tools, expert
landscaping advice and high-speed Internet —
whether gardening is your life’s passion or just
a now-and-then hobby, today’s homeowners
have everything they need to maintain a
beautiful lawn and garden right at their
fingertips. While gardening has always been a
favorite American pastime, the accessibility of
helpful tips, products and the expertise of
everyday outdoor enthusiasts reaches far
beyond the basics of lawn care available a
century ago.
It wasvthen that The O.M. Scotts Company —
known today as The Scotts Miracle-Gro
Company — launched its small mail-order seed
business. Often overlooked is just how much
the lawn has evolved during the last century: it’s
more drought-tolerant, disease-resistant and
heartier than when the concept of residential
turf first gained momentum.
Over the past 100 years, the company grew
right along with — and often ahead of —
homeowners' desire to transform lawns and
gardens into awe-inspiring works of art.
"The lawn is a masterpiece in its simplicity
and is the part of the lavm and garden equation
that deserves more credit,” says Bruce Augustin,
director of agronomy at ScottsMiracle-Gro. “A
healthy lawn enhances not only the aesthetics,
but also increases the environmental benefits of
a garden and landscape: without it, the whole
picture loses its allure.”
With the wealth of information, products and
tools available today, even the most
inexperienced homeowner can grow a beautiful,
healthy lavm. Augustin and ScottsMiracle-Gro
offer some helpful tips to repair trouble spots
and get your lawn growing healthy this spring:
• Choose the right seed: Spring is a great time
to walk the lawn and scout for areas that may
need repair. Today’s premium seed blends
contain the newest grass varieties and require
less lawn care and have fewer pest problems.
Local hardware stores, nurseries and garden
centers can help you select the right variety for
your lawn.
• Time it right: Spring is actually a great time
of year to seed (fall is as well), and you can
achieve great results by planting as soon as
possible. Ideally, you want to keep seedlings
from being nipped by a hard frost, while also
giving the grass time to mature before basking
in the hot summer sun.
• Prepare the soil: Remove excess dead grass
and work the soil to a depth of approximately 1
inch to promote good soil and seed contact and
to create a good environment for root growth.
For improved germination, add a quality soil
like Scotts Turf Builder Seeding Soil.
• Sow the seed evenly: Seed the area by using
a lawn spreader, either drop-type or rotary;
Scotts Deluxe EdgeGuard Broadcast Spreader ,
helps ensure products are applied only where
intended.
• Be sure to fertilize: Apply a starting fertilizer
the same day you seed to get seeding off to a
strong start.
• Keep the seedbed moist: To germinate,
water lightly and frequently, rather than deeply:
only the top 1/2 inch of soil needs to be kept
moist; spread straw or mulch to help contain
moisture until seedlings are well established
(typically 6 to 8 weeks).
REALESD^IE/CLASSMEDS/REALESI^/CL^^
lEMi:;
FOR RENT
APAnrfwl£MTS
NOW
is a good time to move to
KINGSPARK.
We are stili the
“Westside’s Best Kept Secret’
Judy Wiiliams, Manager
704-333-2966
FOR SALE
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$325,000. Call Skip Valentihe/Broker 919-669-9176.
www.vaientinelandandtimber.com
NO QUALIFYING 1
•Assumable Loans •
Seller Finance • Lease
Purchase* Work 4 Down Payment!
New and Existing Homes Available!
704-926-7100 704-541-7100
www.McGaryRealty.com
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www.AtthebeachNC.com: Holden Beach: 800-360-9770,
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Beach Rentals-Enjoy a family vacation at Sunset Beach,
NC. Over 415 island cottages to choose from. Visit
•www.sunsetproperties.biz or cdll 888-337-9214.
Ocean Isle, NC. Rent new, beautiful, private oceanfront
home. Close to Myrtle Beach and historic Wilmington.
Perfect for larger group retreat.
www.ChateauDeChef.com, 910-579-2800.
EASTER BREAK- Pawleys & Litchfield Beaches! With the Best
Discounted Rotes! Family Reunions with Al! The Extras! 1-
800-476-5651. James W. Smith Real Estate, www.jwsre.com
WATERFRONT
A Hunter's Paradise 53 AC- $149,900 2700' Waterfront!
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X.1767 Charles Watkeys, Broker.