The Latest

Trends in home inspections, warranties

 

Any potential home buyers or sellers in the market for a home inspection or home warranty may want to see some of the changes being offered by Advantage Inspection. In the tradition of Welcome Wagon kits, the Greenville business is offering gift boxes to clients to have an inspection done by them. The boxes promote the nonprofit Safe Homes for Safe Kids program and include everything from smoke detectors to coupons to information on homeowners insurance discounts. Advantage is also offering a new home warranty program that rewards owners of homes with less risk. “We can do this because we do the inspection and have been in the house,” says Marie Pritchett, who explained Advantage's new offerings at Dynamic Realty's Community Connection on Oct. 8. Pritchett also has advice for homeowners about to get an inspection. “They need to change the air filters and remove the leaves from the gutters,” she says, “because we have to report that. Those are things they can easily take care of.” For information, visit www.advantageinspection.com or www.advantagehomewarranty.com.

Straight talk about adoption and foster children

 

For those who haven't been through it, the foster care and adoption systems carry many misconceptions and stereotypes. Upstate parent Dan Bracken has been through it, and he shared his experiences with Dynamic Realty Oct. 1 as part of the real estate company's Community Connection series. He and his wife, Nicole, have two birth children and one adopted daughter. Bracken also serves on the state foster care review board. The Brackens had been looking to adopt from Guatemala when they were offered the chance for an emergency adoption of an American-born child. Jillian is now four years old. Members of the S.C. Children's Foster Care Review Board monitor attempts to place foster children in permanent situations. He says the process is often nit-picky in reviewing potential foster parents and sometimes too lenient in putting children back with birth parents who have a history of drug abuse. “We have to do better at making this system work,” Bracken said. What can we do? “You start with awareness,” Bracken said. There are also volunteer opportunities available through local churches and local efforts are underway to provide more organized assistance to orphaned children. For information on how to get involved, visit www.govoepp.state.sc.us/fcrb/links.html.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 

With Domestic Violence Awareness Month coming up in October, Julie Meredith of Safe Harbor paid a visit to Dynamic Realty's Community Connection event Sept. 24. Safe Harbor serves victims of domestic violence and their children. It has shelters in Greenville and Anderson that served as a “safe harbor” for more than 500 women and children in 2008. “A lot of our victims, because we are an emergency shelter, have been involved in physical abuse,” Meredith said. But domestic abuse can also be sexual, emotional or psychological. “Emotional abuse can be a whole pattern of controlling and abusive behaviors,” Meredith said. “Sometimes it can be very extreme before a victim even realizes this is abusive.” In addition to the shelters, Safe Harbor offers transitional housing, legal advocacy, counseling, classes, outreach programs and a 24-hour crisis line (1-800-291-2139). It accepts cash donations as well as furniture and clothing. For information, visit www.safeharborsc.org or call 467-1177.

Getting ready for flu season

 

With the kids back in school and the nights getting cooler, flu season can't be too far away. There is more concern than ever thanks to continued warnings about the swine flu, or H1N1 virus. Kent Berg of BioCare Inc., an environmental services firm, briefed local Realtors on the topic Sept. 3 as part of Dynamic Realty Inc.'s Community Connection series. “When it hits again this fall, it's going to be more virulent,” he says. Predictions are all over the place concerning the number of deaths that could occur, but it is worth pointing out that even in a normal year, approximately 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. “Remember, we really don't know where it's going to go,” Berg says. “We could sail through it like it's a regular flu season.” Most people get sick from touching contaminated objects, he says, so “hand washing is huge.” Berg recommends www.cdc.gov for information. he advises folks to try to stay healthy, “and if the flu hits, try to isolate yourself socially as much as possible.”

Going green with Upstate Forever

 

While Upstate Forever is known for dealing with big issues such as regional growth and real estate development planning, it may also have ideas on how homeowners can go green in small ways. Dynamic Realty held its Aug. 27 Community Connection event at the headquarters of Upstate Forever on Pettigru Street near downtown Greenville. A former residence built in 1916, the building was recently renovated to environmentally friendly standards. Rain barrels capture roof runoff and pervious concrete walkways prevent additional stormwater runoff. The grounds are landscaped with drought-tolerant, native species. Inside, floors include recycled wood from old shipping pallets and mill flooring. The carpet is made from recycled materials and shelving is a particle board utilizing wheat and sunflower shells. Skylights and solar tubes reduce the need for artificial lighting. Executive director Brad Wyche says Upstate Forever is seeking certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. “We anticipate receiving the highest level of certification,” he says. Visitors are welcome to see if any of Upstate Forever's ideas can be incorporated into renovation or homebuilding projects. Go to www.UpstateForever.com for details.

Operation Shoehorn helps kids put best feet forward

 

There is a Gatorade commercial that refers to a young Kevin Garnett having to stick cardboard in his shoes to cover up holes. While Garnett has come a long way since his childhood in Mauldin, there are still many Upstate youngsters who could use a decent pair of shoes. That's where Operation Shoehorn comes in. The organization, whose history goes back 40 years, works with Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources Inc. to put more than $20,000 worth of new shoes on local children's feet each year. “We buy shoes all year long,” said Lou Sagedy, who runs Operation Shoehorn with wife Joan. “SHARE gets the applications for the shoes and then they qualify them,” Sagedy told a group of Realtors Aug. 20 as part of Dynamic Realty Inc.'s Community Connection series. “Then they take the children to the store.” Operation Shoehorn focuses on raising money, which comes via local churches, individual donations, and the Downtown Sertoma Club of Greenville. The recession has increased demand for shoes while also making it harder to raise funds. The Sagedys can be reached at 422-0423. To learn about SHARE, visit www.sharesc.org.

Peace Center, downtown Greenville resound with artists

 

Many people who visit the Upstate on business fall in love with downtown Greenville. Performers such as Robin Williams and James Taylor are no different. “All of the artists that come through here never want to leave,” says Charles McAfee, house manager at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts. “A lot of people come here early because they want to spend time in Greenville.” McAfee led a tour of the Peace Center campus Aug. 6 as part of Dynamic Realty Inc.'s Community Connection series. The $42 million facility opened in 1990 and features a 2,111-seat main concert hall and 434-seat Gunter Theater. It sits on a former textile manufacturing site and incorporates some of the 1800s-era buildings into the campus. Reclaimed mill wood is used for its sound-projecting properties and a devotion to acoustics has the Peace Center rated among the world's best venues. “We have a lot of people that (perform) and don't even use amplification,” McAfee says. “Wicked” highlights this season's schedule and information is available at www.peacecenter.org.

Police seek vacant homes for K9 training

 

Realtors and real estate investors have an opportunity to support law enforcement – and perhaps keep their own neighborhoods a little safer. Cpl. Michael Austin, K9 officer with the Greenville Police Department, spoke at Pleasant Valley Connection July 30 as part of Dynamic Realty's Community Connection series. He introduced everyone to his partner, Fox, and explained the role of dogs in local law enforcement. “It's a really cool job – I probably have the best job in the police department,” he said. He also mentioned that K9 officers can utilize vacant homes. “We're always looking for places to train,” he said, and homes that have not been cleaned out yet can be the perfect place. “Having us come out and train is a crime deterrent,” he added, given the heavy police presence in a neighborhood during training exercises. “It makes a huge impact when all the dogs come out,” he said. For information, contact Austin at 467-5365 or maustin@greenvillesc.gov.

See you in Summary Court

 

It is important for people in the real estate industry to know their way around magistrate's court, or summary court, as it is referred to in Greenville County. Judge Charles Garrett of Chick Springs Summary Court gave an update on how the legal process in his court works as part of Dynamic Realty's Community Connection series on July 23. “Our arm is going to extend out even further,” he said. Currently, they can handle civil cases up to $7,500 dollars, but that is expected to increase to $12,500. Summary court also handles disputes over earnest money (referred to as an interpleader action), as well as many landlord-tenant actions. Garrett and his staff also recommended against entering into any written or implied lease-option arrangements, which cause difficulties if an eviction is necessary.

Greenville puts more cops on the road

 

Just days after Upstate police solved a multiple-homicide case in Gaffney that drew national attention, Dynamic Realty Inc. toured the Greenville County Law Enforcement Center. The center includes headquarters for the Greenville County Sheriff's Office and Greenville City Police, as well as the county jail. City police officer Courtney Palmer led the July 9 tour as part of Dynamic's Community Connection series. She said the typical patrol officer spends less than two hours of their 12-plus-hour shift at the LEC. Greenville began the year with 193 sworn officers, the city having beefed up its ranks in recent years. “It used to be we were lucky to have 11 people on the road at one time,” Palmer said. “now we have 16-18.” Palmer pointed out two opportunities that many local citizens may not know about. First, there is a police museum at 426 N. Main St. Also, licensed businesses in the city of Greenville can join the Business Watch program, which e-mails daily information about crime patterns, recent cases, and wanted criminals. For information, visit, http://police.greenvillesc.gov/.