The Porch Defines and Reflects the Historic Character of a Home

Why is a home with porch space so special? The porch adds two distinct functions to the value of a home: The front entry and the display of the architectural period statement and the intrinsic value, or the actual use of the porch. The relationship of space, features, materials, and finishes, give a home historical character. The porch can have multiple advantages. Whether it is the main, formal entrance to a grand, large home, the formal entrance to a more modest home, perhaps not the ‘front door’ but the entry from a porte-cochere, or the rear of the home overlooking the gardens or another scenic view, it is a place of quiet, family and friend times. The impact to the character of the house in coordination with doors, fanlights, sidelights, pilasters, entablatures, columns, balustrades, and stairs adds value beyond financial gain and benefits you and your family for years to come.

The design of a porch creates an architecturally significant, welcoming entry, that focuses on views of the landscape, provides a retreat, and/or to serves as an extension of the living space of a home.


It can be enclosed by screen, latticework, windows, or design featured walls, and in the beautiful homes in Salisbury North Carolina, they often incorporate period design and statement architectural integration. They are usually architecturally unified with the rest of the house, while decks which are typically open to the sky are not usually architecturally integrated with the home design.

Porches are extra rooms

Providing protection from sun and rain, porches can become an exterior room that generates more square footage to the home that can be used as living space. Accommodated with chairs, tables, and other furniture, the value of the home is greatly enhanced with a porch providing a place of relaxation and entertainment.


The key to a good porch is good design.

When looking for a new home in Salisbury NC, or when putting your existing home on the market, look at the porch and ask the following questions:

Does it match and complement the house? • Is it in the best location? • How functional and convenient is it? • Is the size too big/small for the yard and house?  If you are putting your home up for sale, you may wish to consider updates and features for your porch. You might want the flexibility to have screen windows that could be changed to glass doors. Consider the location of the entry and exits, and the flow in relationship to the main house entry. It may be possible to utilize an existing window or door opening to fit in with the scheme of the house. Does the porch overlook a garden or pool, the street or a scenic view? Are there built-in amenities? How does sun and wind affect the living space?


Curb Appeal: Can A Front Porch Increase The Value Of Your Home?

Beyond the beauty of a porch there are also several practical benefits including a good return-on-investment, enlarged living space, protection for your front door and foyer and more.   These benefits include:

Curb Appeal:  An impressive front entry is a critical aspect of curb appeal. The difference between a “flat-faced” home and a home with a full, covered front porch is most dramatic. Front entryways gracefully defined with architectural components beautifully complement a home’s style.

Added Value: Enhanced curb appeal is always desirable, and can translate into a higher selling price for your home down the road. Real estate agents often mention the importance of the front entry in photo listings and buyer visits.

Protection from the Elements: A front entry with no covering exposes your guests and home to damaging sun and rain. A porch or portico provides great protection for the front door, hardware, trim, lighting—and even, foyer. And your guests will truly appreciate it on rainy or hot, sunny day. It can even help lower your summer energy bills.

Magnetic Affect: If you have children or neighbors, nothing beats a covered front porch for entertaining! It’s a wonderful place to socialize, catch up on the latest news or just relax and enjoy the company.

Living is Easy: An expansive, shady front porch offers a delightful retreat. Add ceiling fans, comfortable chairs and tables and you’ve just added a lot more square footage to your home, not to mention, a special place to unwind and watch the rest of the world whirl by.

As a reflection of your home, an invitation to passersby and an open window to the world around you, the porch can be the threshold to the outdoors, a getaway to read a good book or a place to share coffee and conversation with friends. It will be a place where you build your memories, watch your children grow, enjoy a cool drink in the summer, and the place you find your private moments to take in life.

 

Looking for a home with a porch to build your memories?  Call your local Salisbury NC Realtor Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 to see a wide variety of homes in Salisbury NC with fabulous porch designs.

Remember to Do a Final Walk-Through on Your New Home!

Congratulations!  You have submitted an offer on your new Salisbury NC home for sale and it’s been accepted by the seller.  On the day you close on your new home, all the papers will be signed that officially close the deal!  Ownership of your new home will be transferred to you.

At that point, all obligations and responsibilities of the seller are over.  That is why it is very important for you to conduct a final walk-through of your soon-to-be new home.

Most home sale contracts allow you to do a walk-through inspection anywhere from a few hours to five days prior to closing. 

The final walk-through ensures that the condition of the property has not substantially changed since you agreed to buy it, that all required repairs have been completed or are in the process of being done, that items the seller agreed to leave have not been removed and items the seller agreed to remove are gone.

During the final walk-through, it’s a good idea to be accompanied by an experienced Salisbury NC real estate professional, who knows what to look for and can help you examine the house thoroughly.  It can also be helpful to reference your purchase contract as you inspect the property.

You’ll want to give yourself plenty of time for your walk-through inspection so that you’re not rushed and possibly miss something significant.  And if you do see an item that needs to be addressed, let your agent know so that they can get it rectified before closing.

If you are not totally satisfied during the final walk-through, you can ask to postpone the closing until the necessary repairs have been made by the seller. You will want to check the house from top to bottom, including:

• Run water & look under sinks for leaks
• Test all appliances
• Turn on and off every light fixture
• Check garage door openers
• Flush toilets
• Open and close all doors
• Inspect ceilings, wall and floors
• Check for any signs of mold growth
• Test heating and air conditioning
• Run garbage disposal and exhaust fans
• Make sure all debris is removed from the home
• Open and close windows

Remember, it’s never a good idea to waive the final walk-through when buying your new home in Salisbury, NC.  To close on your new home, contact Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 today!

429 Park Ave., Salisbury, NC | Powered by Postlets

429 Park Ave., Salisbury, NC | Powered by Postlets

Who says houses aren't selling? Success = The Right Home + The Right Buyer...and the Right Realtor!

I am a SUCCESS STORY!

SOLD!  Who says this is not the right time to place your home on the market? Who says homes aren't selling?  If you are considering putting your house on the market and you are feeling this way, perhaps the right combination of real estate agent, property, and buyer have not yet been considered. Successes are happening!  This charming Arts & Crafts bungalow at 511 Heilig Avenue in Salisbury NC just sold! 

Classic Built-In Cabinetry in Dining Room

This 1920's Bungalow comes complete with 2 fireplaces, classic built-in's in the dining room, large closets, daylight cellar, covered front porch, and a HUGE kitchen.  It's new owner will enjoy a GREAT back yard and side lawn. This home is in mint condition and was Sold-As-Is.  Was the price right?  Yes!  Listed less than tax value at just $37,000 in the family oriented neighborhood of Fulton Heights, this 3-bedroom sweetheart home found the right buyer.  How? 

One of (2) Fireplaces

By contacting Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846.  That's how! 

Be the next to tell your success story here!  Call Greg Rapp for your home buying/selling needs.

511 Heilig Avenue ~ SOLD!
Greg Rapp 704.213.6846
http://www.realestatesalisbury.com/

425 Elm Street ~ The Arts & Crafts Bungalow ~ NEW LISTING MLS 52109

During the 1920's and 30's, the Bungalow was America's favorite house. In many areas of the country, entire neighborhoods were created with Bungalow designs. At the turn of the 20th century, Bungalows became associated with the Arts & Crafts Movement. It was an idea that centered on the idea of preserving traditions of handcraftsmanship.

The 425 Elm Street Arts & Crafts bungalow is in the heart of the highly desirable Fulton Heights neighborhood in Salisbury NC with easy access to Interstate-85 with multiple choices for shopping, restaurants, employment centers and excellent schools at a great price!! Located in a historic district just minutes from downtown amenities, 425 Elm Street offers unique Arts & Crafts movement designs with a downstairs master bedroom, a large “rocking chair deep” front porch, and more.

This 1917 Arts & Crafts style Bungalow offers the features you'd expect from the time period. This 3-bedroom, 1,787 square-foot, American Craftsman bungalow typifies the common styles of the American Arts and Crafts movement, with common features to include low-pitch roof lines on a gabled or hipped roof; deeply overhanging eaves; exposed rafters or decorative brackets under the eaves; and a front porch beneath an extension of the main roof.

The Front Porch: 425 Elm Street’s most exciting feature, common to the architectural style, is the front porch beneath an extension of the main roof. Note that no matter the style of bungalow, they have one important feature in common - the bungalow porch. Bungalows have great porches. Because of the nature of design, the bungalow porch creates a sense of community. Homeowners would sit on the porch after a hard day’s work to rest and talk with neighbors and friends. There's nothing quite like sitting on a bungalow porch and watching the world go by. This 10x21 foot front porch is ideal for relaxing & entertaining.

The Butler’s Pantry with Built-in China Closet: Built-in furnishings have been a part of domestic architecture for centuries, but built-ins reached their full potential during the Arts & Crafts movement. Built-ins are much of the reason that bungalows can be compact and still "live large." These fittings are common to Craftsman houses and 425 Elm Street is no exception with its fine built-in china closet in the butler’s pantry.

Many built-ins, such as benches, bookcases, and china cabinets, were assembled in place by carpenters. (To determine if a built-in was constructed in place, check the back—a cabinet with a plaster back wall was likely built in place.) There were many options for design including art glass doors, window sashes, moldings, and the rest of a house's millwork to match. When the builder started working on the house next door, he could choose completely different built-ins and put them all into a bungalow that was otherwise identical to the neighboring one, giving it a completely different look and level of customization. This is how many bungalow neighborhoods developed; enough choices existed to make each bungalow unique.

425 Elm Street features transoms in the Living Room & Master Bedroom, and beautiful French doors leading from the Living Room to the Dining Room. There are hard wood floors throughout – the Living Room and Dining Room LR & DR have oak strip flooring. The Dining Room has unique windows for placing buffet or sideboard underneath. The bungalow’s kitchen is complete with new counter tops and cabinets in addition to the original built china closet. Special and very popular features of the large bathroom is the claw-foot tub & plenty of closet space. A large unfinished walk out basement leads to wonderful fenced back yard. The current owners did all the hard work so this charming Arts & Crafts bungalow is ready and waiting for your finishing touches.

The restoration movement over the past two decades has embraced all styles of older homes. The Bungalow, however is considered by national housing experts as the most treasured of all older homes, primarily because of its charm and unique features. To see this beautiful and affordable specimen of fine American architecture in an ideal neighborhood, contact Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846. Wallace Realty, MLS 52109

Arts & Crafts Homes in Salisbury North Carolina

Homes in Salisbury, North Carolina are rich in the Arts & Crafts period style of architecture. From the turn of the 20th century to World War II was the unique period in American architectural history where ordinary people could afford finely crafted detail such as rich wood trim, art glass, and colorful mosaics in their homes. The Arts & Crafts movement made rich detailing a mainstay of home design. The Arts & Crafts architectural styles — Prairie, Craftsman, Mission, Four Square — are purely American styles. Unlike previous house styles that designers adopted from European models, American Arts & Crafts homes are homegrown. No other nation, with the exception of Canada, has anything like them.

Owners of Arts & Crafts homes possess a true gem — an American original — full of handcrafted details that are rarely seen in modern housing. Newly built homes are full of 1/2" gypsum board walls, painted MDF moldings, and carpeting over OSB subflooring. The Arts & Crafts home is full of thick, plaster walls, varnished quarter-sawn oak moldings with oak strip flooring over a thick pine subfloor - a work of art.

The Arts & Crafts movement began as a rebellion against the heady excesses of the late Victorian age. Victorian architecture, also prevalent in Salisbury NC, celebrated the abundance made possible by mass production and industrialization. Inexpensive trim and moldings could suddenly be made by machines, could be easily shipped anywhere in the U.S. on our newly built railroad system, and were used with elaboration to embellish Victorian architecture. By the end of the 19th century, ornamentation had reached its zenith, but by the 1890s many had had enough of industrialization. A widespread rebellion against mass mechanization and a longing for simpler times fostered the Arts & Crafts style. The thought prevailed that the former days of villages, craft shops, and artisans were healthier and more humanizing than assembly-line work in factory towns shrouded in smoke and dust.

Before finally dying out around 1910, the Arts & Crafts Movement in America spawned a stunning revolution in architecture and design that largely dominated the 20th century until the 1940s. The Arts & Crafts home styles are generously represented in Salisbury’s older and established urban neighbor¬hoods. The architecture lasted just 50 years, then, with the end of the 2nd World War, Arts & Crafts styles quietly died. Challenged to build unheard of numbers of houses to meet the ravenous postwar appetite for new housing, homebuilders quickly abandoned the leisurely, handcrafted detailing of the Arts & Crafts period. While it was sad to see such wonderful artisanship go by the wayside, it was a new era. America had changed, and so had its housing needs.

The legacy of the Arts & Crafts movement is still alive in Salisbury, North Carolina in the form of hundreds of Arts & Crafts houses throughout the area. Salisbury is a town of just over 30,000, conveniently centered between Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, NC - about 45 minutes from each. It is close to major shopping and sporting or arts events. Its housing prices are very attractive when compared to the rest of the country, and it offers a moderate climate. It has a historic downtown mere blocks away, and ten Historic Districts. To see an Arts & Crafts listing in Salisbury, or to list your gem with a Realtor, contact Greg Rapp at 704.213.6846 today.

425 Elm St, Salisbury, NC | Powered by Postlets

425 Elm St, Salisbury, NC | Powered by Postlets

City of Salisbury Property Improvement Grants Available

Got Spring repair projects planned for your home? The City of Salisbury NC offers grants for exterior improvements to residential or commercial properties located in its eligible Historic Districts.  Grant applications are now being accepted by the City of Salisbury's Historic Preservation Commission for painting, roofing, porch repairs, and other exterior maintenance work.

Grants can cover 50% of your total project cost, up to a maximum grant of $2,500. Low-to-moderate income applicants are eligible for a higher grant award. Owner-occupied homes and businesses in the North Main Historic District are eligible.

To apply for a grant, call 704.638.5207 or stop by 110 N Main Street to request a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for your project. Most projects can be reviewed as Minor Works, with approval within a few days or less! You must obtain at least one estimate for your project. Submit your grant application, the COA, and your project estimate to the address on the grant form. Applications are due April 13, 2011 so don't delay!

Don't have a home or business in one of Salisbury's Historic Districts?  Let me show you what's available.  You won't be disappointed and in the future you'll be able to take advantage of this unique grant program offered by the City.  Call Greg Rapp/Wallace Realty at 704.213.6846.