Posts by : Adrianne Anderson

Termites:

By far, the most important bugs to become familiar with in our area are termites. Termites look like winged ants and they eat wood. That includes trees in the forests and also includes the lumber that makes up the frame of your home. If your home is not regularly treated for termites, it’s not a question of if you’ll have termites, it’s a question of when. Termites can cause very serious damage to a home and can it be severe enough to render a home structural unsound and uninhabitable. Our standard South Carolina real estate contract includes a special section dedicated to a CL-100 report. This report details the findings of a wood eating organism inspection. This inspection wi...

Decorating a small bathroom that expresses your personality and aesthetic can be challenging. Usually, these bathrooms are in high-traffic areas that see a lot of use. For that reason, care needs to be taken when planning how style and function can blend well together to create the best small bathroom possible. Here are some ideas to inspire you on your quest to make a big impact when designing your small bathroom:

Get rid of clutter — Before embarking on any renovation or design upgrade, take a good, hard look at the room to see whether it needs to be decluttered. The rule of thumb is that less is more, and this is especially true in small spaces. You want to make sure all the surfaces ...

While preppy style started as a fashion trend, it has also influenced the understated interior design of the same name. Ralph Lauren, considered the father of all things preppy, has marketed both preppy fashion and interior design, making it accessible to a mass audience. Preppy style mimics the imagined interior spaces of "old money" Northeasterners. It allows those living anywhere in the country to present themselves as preppies even if they have never been to Cape Cod. Here are some recommendations for achieving the real preppy look through a few decorative details:

Pattern play

While the preppy home may look comfortable and easy, it is anything but. What makes the signature preppy s...

From the scorching summer heat to the bitter cold of winter snowstorms, it is essential to make your home weather resistant no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. An added benefit is that weatherproofing prevents mold and mildew from growing, which can have a negative impact on your health. Here are some practical tips that even a newbie homeowner can do to make the exterior of their home weather resistant right now:

Inspect the roof

Your roof is your home's first line of defense against the elements. It is important to inspect your roof regularly to check for any damaged or missing shingles. These should be replaced immediately. In regions that receive heavy snowfall, make sure yo...

You may not have to look any further than your parents' attic and basement to uncover authentic treasures from the 1970s. With the recent appreciation for maximalist style, it's little wonder why '70s style would come bouncing back to the interior design scene. The '70s were known for over-the-top "more is more" style. There is a wide variety of eclectic styles from the era to choose from, including hippie chic, boho, disco and psychedelic.

The warm, earthy, burnt orange and avocado green tones of the '70s can still pleasingly mingle alongside bolder oranges, yellows and greens to create this retro color palette. While shades of brown were all the rage back in the day, the more muted col...

A HELOC allows you to borrow against the equity in your home. Equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what your home is worth. Say your home is worth $400,000 and you owe $200,000 on your mortgage. That means you have $200,000 in equity.

You might then qualify for a HELOC of $170,000. With a HELOC, though, you don't have to borrow the full $170,000. You might borrow $40,000 for a major kitchen remodel. If that's all you borrow, then that's what you pay back, with interest. You'll pay back what you borrow with regular monthly payments.

Homeowners like HELOCs because they come with flexibility: You only borrow what you need. That's how this borrowing vehicle dif...

Micro cement coating has become a popular option for both indoor and outdoor walls, floors and ceilings due to the many advantages it offers. What are some of these advantages? To start, micro cement is a smart choice for bathrooms and kitchens as it provides a hygienic and stain-free surface. The material is slip-proof and mold free, which makes it a smart choice for shower floors as well. Because it is a good conductor of heat, many choose to install micro cement over underfloor heating.

Micro cement adheres well to the top surface of many renovation projects without creating any waste. This includes tile, wood, plaster, marble and ceramic surfaces. Another feature in its favor is that...

Adrianne and I can guarantee that we will sell your house if you have infinite resources and no requirements for updates or timeframe or price. Most of our clients, however, have a bottom dollar and they have circumstances in their lives that provide challenges when selling their property. When we meet with our clients, we consider their timeframe, the condition of their property and the price they want to sell it for. Our goal is to help our clients sell their home while balancing time, price and condition in an ever changing market. If it doesn’t make financial sense or our clients don’t have the ability to make updates, we often list properties that need updates. If our clients don’t m...

The open kitchen concept has its fan base among those who love the idea of seamlessly integrating their kitchens with their living and dining rooms. In this configuration, the cook is not isolated in the kitchen. The open plan allows for the chef to share food prep and cooking responsibilities with family and friends in a more inclusive way.

But before you decide to start taking down walls, here are some of the pros and cons to consider:

The pros

Inclusiveness — As already mentioned, the open design allows for the kitchen to become more inclusive. The kitchen not only functions as the place for food preparation, but it can also be the place where children do homework while being superv...

May is a great month in coastal South Carolina for a variety of reasons. With our sub-tropical climate, the weather warms up and most cold snaps are gone. The temperature ranges from the 70’s in the morning and evening and 80’s during the day. Because schools aren’t out, the restaurants and tourist attractions aren’t over crowded. This is the perfect time as a local to get out and about and enjoy all the things that make our area a popular destination for visitors. 

Our family likes to enjoy the beach all year but the strand is typically less crowded in May and you can bring outdoor games that take up room. In the summer, it can be rude to set up bocce, Kuub, or horseshoes when other fol...

April is the beginning of the “Spring” market when traditionally, more folks list their home for sale. Families with children begin a plan to move around the school schedule and will list in April in hopes of a June closing. Our market is impacted by this but, since we are a destination and retirement area, many of our buyers aren’t concerned at all about the school calendar. April can also be the month where folks finish their taxes and (A): get a rebate check to help with a down payment or (B): are told by their accountant about the tax benefits of having an investment property. 

According to the Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors, the median price for all property types increase...

SCHEDULE: April 27, 12:00PM-3:00PM

1294 River Oaks Dr. UNIT 6i Myrtle Beach

Great opportunity now available at beautiful Fairways at River Oaks! This community enjoys a gorgeous pool, spa and picnic area with close proximity to area beaches and award winning golf. This 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit on the second floor has a screened backporch and convenient open concept living area. Perfect option that offers short term rentals, long term rentals, and could be a great second home or primary residence.

Virtual Tour

2683 Pegasus Place Myrtle Beach

Gorgeous home now available in Summit at Meridian! Better than new, this 2023 home offers 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a functional layout that ...

2450 Craven Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC

Join us this Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm for an open house. This 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home has so many upgrades you have to see it for yourself. The main level features the primary suite, guest bedroom and full bathroom, bonus room (perfect office, den, or fourth bedroom), Carolina Room, chef's kitchen, and living room. The second level is it's own retreat with living area, office area, full bathroom, bedroom with walk-in custom closet and large storage area. Make sure you stop by to see this beautiful home!

Virtual Tour

838 King James Court, Murrells Inlet, SC

Join us this Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm for...

With spring just around the corner with warmer weather and longer days, its time to start your garden in Zone 8b of coastal South Carolina! A couple of weeks ago, I shared my process for starting seeds indoors. With the seeds sprouting in their trays, it’s now time to transplant them to a larger pot and hardening them off before planting them outside in the garden. To prepare for the process, I partially pack small peet pots with a mix of garden soil and compost. I try to leave the same amount of space in the peet pot as what I estimate is size of my seedling and the soil pod that contains its root ball. I also have labels or I write it on the peet pot so that I can identify the plant lat...

This article is the first of hopefully many articles as I provide tips and ideas on having a vegetable garden in Coastal South Carolina. Click through to learn what I’m growing and how I’m starting my seeds for this year’s garden. 

Some of you reading this article will not believe that in Zone 8b, it’s already time to start seeds. I’m too southern to plant my garden my summer garden until the week of Easter, but I’m starting some of my seeds indoors this week. There’s something symbolic about planting during the Easter season that I really enjoy: new life, new beginnings and hope of a full harvest!

This year, I ordered from the Burpee seed catalog the following plants and I’ve categoriz...

At the South Carolina Realtors Capitol Conference, I was thrilled to hear a housing market update from my favorite economist, Dr. Joey Von Nesson.

At the South Carolina Realtors Capitol Conference, I was thrilled to hear a housing market update from my favorite economist, Dr. Joey Von Nesson. Dr. Von Nesson is with University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business and delivered another thorough and easy to understand presentation. Here are a few of my biggest takeaways:

- We still haven’t experienced the most predicted recession in history. 

- Our economy, which was overheated by 6 trillion dollars of government stimulus money, is cooling down.

- The stimulus was mostly sp...

Working with professional experts means having the absolute best toolkit at our disposal that we are putting to work for you. From the first time we meet or talk, we are already putting together the plan and tools that will help you. We have created checklists and guides that can take you from overwhelmed to a solid plan. We provide market data by analyzing your property, properties similar to it, and what is going on around your property to help you understand where you are and where you need to be, and collaborate with you on a strategy based on facts not feelings. We walk you through the process of buying or selling a home every step of the way, making sure that you understand the ‘how...

Embarking on a kitchen remodeling project is an exciting adventure. It can transform the heart of your home into a functional and stylish space.

However, without careful planning and consideration, mistakes might be made, which could easily lead to costly setbacks and unsatisfactory results. To ensure a successful kitchen renovation experience, try to steer clear of these four common mistakes.

Underestimating the Budget

Perhaps the most significant mistake when it comes to remodeling your kitchen is underestimating the budget required for the project. Costs can quickly add up.

From materials and appliances to labor and unexpected charges, there are many expenses to consider. So, befor...

Plaster provides luminosity and texture to walls, transforming the appearance of any home. While plaster may be more expensive than drywall (it requires at least three coats to install), it is also more durable, virtually maintenance-free and visually more pleasing. Plastering walls does require troweling skills and patience, as you will need to let each layer dry before applying the next. Additionally, modern plasters utilize environmentally sound materials that align with today's eco-conscious consumers.

The following are the five different kinds of wall plasters currently available on the market:

White Venetian — A choice with a "wow" factor. This natural-looking texture is known for...

The first month of 2024 is in the rear view mirror! This January brought us what most Januarys bring us: more inventory. Fewer folks list their homes during the holidays and many make a New Year’s Resolution to sell their second home, investment property or finally make the move in the real estate market. What is special about January 2024 is that it continued the trend of more homes being put on the market. In 2022, 449 new listings were added in January followed by 493 in January 2023 and last month 664 new listings were added. That’s more than a 1/3 more listings than last January! That’s a lot of new years resolutions! 

When thinking about the market, I encourage you to always think ...