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Real Estate News
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C H A R L O T T E
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home design dedicated to showcasing charlotte’s distinctive homes
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“I love how Union County feels like country living, but it’s just minutes from a variety of amenities, dining, shopping and recreation.” - Deb White, RE/MAX Executive
Uniquely Union County Where the convenience of the city and the charm of the country collide - story on page 6
real estate news
design instyle
real estate spotlight
straight talk
What’s new p4
Fall dining p12
Owner of Joe Purvis Photos p16
To rent or buy? p22
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|real estate news
what’s new? compiled by Whitney Berongi
HM PROPERTIES LISTS HOME OF FORMER WASHINGTON REDSKINS DEFENSIVE END RENALDO WYNN Former Washington Redskins Defensive End Renaldo Wynn just listed his home for sale in the gated community of Pine Creek in Kannapolis, N.C. Wynn was selected in the first round NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997. He played for multiple NFL teams until retiring in 2009 after his last season with the Redskins. The property is on an acre lot at 5920 Rolling Ridge Drive and is priced at $1,250,000. This 7,860-square-foot, five-bedroom, 5.3-bath luxury estate was built in 2005 and was designed by Wynn and his wife, LaTanya, with privacy and security in mind. Special features of this three-story home include exquisite architectural details, covered and screened porches, main-level owner’s suite, elegant formals, grand two-story foyer and library, chef’s kitchen, great room with stone fireplace, media room with bar on the second level, and a finished basement with billiard and rec rooms, home gym and guest suite. There is also a separate service entrance and three-car garage with a separate golf cart bay. HM Properties recently made real estate history in the Charlotte region when the highest-priced residential home was under contract four days after it went on the market for $7,995,000. For additional information, please contact listing agent Josh Tucker of HM Properties at 704-634-8323 or joshtucker@hmproperties.com or visit hmproperties.com. M/I HOMES OPENS TWO MODEL HOMES AT SUMMERS WALK IN KANNAPOLIS M/I Homes has opened two model homes at Summers Walk, a new community of 88 home sites on the border of Kannapolis and Davidson. M/I Homes’ first community in Kannapolis features ranch and two-story homes from 2,688 to 4,108 square feet. Prices start in the low $400,000s. Buyers can choose from nine plans from M/I’s Traditional Collection, with up to six bedrooms for home offices or guest rooms. All home plans feature open-concept layouts, including open kitchens, spacious rooms for entertaining, flex rooms, owner suites with large walk-in closets and second-story bonus rooms. Popular amenities include hardwood floors and granite countertops. The model homes will showcase the Ridgewood and Wilson II home plans. The Ridgewood has up to four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Main-floor highlights include a wide front porch and open family room that connects to the kitchen and breakfast area, with access to the back patio. The formal dining room space could be an optional fourth bedroom with full bath. A generous loft area upstairs provides flexible space. The Wilson II offers up to five bedrooms. Features include a tray ceiling in the formal dining room, full wall stone fireplace in the family room, back paved patio with fire
pit and grill island, and owner suite bathroom with sitting area in the shower and large tub. The model homes are located at 17240 Summers Walk Boulevard in Davidson. For more information, visit mihomes.com/summerswalk, email SalesCharlotte@mihomes.com or call 704-286-6498. IVESTER JACKSON COMPLETES ONE OF THE HIGHEST RESIDENTIAL SALES IN CHARLOTTE REGION Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties, the North Carolina affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, successfully brokered the recent record closing of an estate home on the west shore of Lake Norman valued at over $6 million. The estate, featured by Christie’s in its Rockefeller Center NYC world headquarters, sits on a one-of-a-kind gated island on Lake Norman’s main channel, complete with a helipad, pool/spa and panoramic views of the lake’s 7-mile expanse. Located in the exclusive gated community of Norman Estates in Denver, N.C., the home and its sellers were represented by luxury specialist Lori Ivester Jackson of Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties and Christie’s International Real Estate. Tracy Davis, also with Ivester Jackson and Christie’s, represented the private buyers. The sale was Ivester Jackson’s 37th estate sale transaction this year in excess of $2 million in value. Email real estate news to homedesign@charlotteobserver.com. C H A R L O T T E
home design Editor
Coordinator/Designer
Christina Darnell
Melissa Kennelly
Creative Strategy & Real Estate Advertising
New Home Builder Advertising
Buck Brice, bbrice@charlotteobserver.com
Suzanne Parker, sparker@charlotteobserver.com
Sales Director Vic Bowers, vbowers@mcclatchy.com 336-402-4673 Section published by The Charlotte Observer • 550 S. Caldwell St., Charlotte, NC 28202. Editorial material in this section is the responsibility of the Observer Content Studio, 704-358-5185. It did not involve the news staff of The Observer.
Is there a neighborhood you’d like to see featured? Do you know of a new design trend on the rise? Did you use one of our ideas for your own home or home purchase?
We’d love to hear from you. homedesign@charlotteobserver.com
facebook.com/TheCharlotteObserverHomeDesign *Copyright 2020 by The Charlotte Observer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without written permission.
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|living in union county DID YOU KNOW? The Hunter Family Farm that backs up to the Highgate and Steeple Chase neighborhoods on Providence Road is in conservancy, meaning it cannot be developed for at least 100 years.
EAT Via Roma Head to this popular Italian restaurant in Waverly for its rigatoni and stay to enjoy its extensive wine collection in a casual yet upscale atmosphere. conterestaurantgroup.com
PLAY The Club at Longview Play a round on this iconic Jack Nicklaus-signature golf course, and don’t forget to take in the “long view” of Uptown Charlotte from the 13th fairway. theclubatlongview.com
EXPLORE Cane Creek Park Have fun in Waxhaw at this sprawling lakefront park, boasting fishing, boating, swimming, camping, horseback riding and more. unioncountync.gov
by Julie Cooper
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ot many places can boast having all the conveniences of the city with the peace and charm of the country, but Union County sure can. Here, great shopping, schools, restaurants and more collide with farmland, wildlife and stunning displays of nature to create an atmosphere that’s hard to replicate. It’s easy to see why Union County residents couldn’t imagine themselves living anywhere else. “I love living in Union County,” says Lisa McCrossan with Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties. “I can zip around to shopping, restaurants, schools and my kids’ activities with little to no traffic. And I also love that I can drive about three minutes away from my house and cruise by pastures with cows and horses, making it feel like I’m in the country. It’s so peaceful.” She considers Union County an idyllic place to live. “I marvel at the amount of deer, hawks and heron I see on a regular basis,” she says. “Once, I was even lucky enough to see an eagle flying over Providence Road near Highgate. And there’s a field that blooms amazing sunflowers right next to the produce stand that I frequent.” And it’s no secret either—McCrossan says people from all over the country are flocking to Union
County for its great quality of life. “I’ve even had clients recently move here from the Myers Park and Dilworth areas because they wanted more space, bigger houses and bigger lots,” she says. “Your money goes further in Union County.” Neighborhoods like Skyecroft, Brookhaven, Highgate, Longview, Hunter Oaks, Marvin Creek, Providence Downs South, Somerset and Atherton are some of the area’s most notable thanks to their location in award-winning school districts. They also offer enticing amenities like swimming pools and clubhouses, making it easy for new homebuyers to move in and make connections. If new and shiny is more appealing, though, McCrossan says Union County has that too. “New developments are popping up all over,” she says. “Right now, there’s a new subdivision going in off Hemby Road and another off of Weddington Road near Antioch Elementary.” “There are several choices when it comes to finding the perfect neighborhood with opportunities at all price points,” adds Deb White with RE/MAX Executive. While housing prices are definitely a perk, they’re not the only one. Union County also boasts low taxes,
only adding to the area’s long list of desirable qualities. It’s also rife with things to do for families, foodies, adventure seekers, professionals and basically anyone looking for a welcoming, relaxed place to settle down. “Union County residents are friendly and have a more laid back approach to life,” says McCrossan. “And there are plenty of things to do here, like walking across the railroad bridge in Waxhaw, hitting a festival in Matthews, hiking in Cane Creek, shopping at Waverly or grabbing take out from one of the many great restaurants. I also really love watching the kids play soccer, baseball and football on any given weekend at the WCWAA athletic fields.” And those that need to commute are happy knowing that I-485, Center City and the airport are just an easy drive away. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that the future of Union County is bound to be bright. “Union County will remain a desirable place for buyers in the future,” says White. “The real estate market is doing fantastic. And many homes are selling quickly with multiple bids in some cases. I love how Union County feels like country living, but it’s just minutes from a variety of amenities, dining, shopping and recreation.”
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living in union county| WAXHAW 8700 Thornbury Place, Waxhaw, NC 28173 Price: $1,250,000 MLS: 3662212 Listing Agent: Deb White, RE/MAX Executive, 617417-6070, debwhite@remax.net Gorgeous long-range views from this golf course home on the 14th green of gated Longview Country Club. This charming section of Longview is reminiscent of a European village with tree-lined streets, gas lanterns, custom homes and professional landscaping. This home features upgrades, from 5-inch hand-scraped hickory hardwoods and designer lighting to custom built-ins and millwork. The open concept kitchen has upscale appliances, a large granite island and walk-in pantry. Palatial first-floor master features golf views and spa-like bath. Upper level boasts large secondary bedrooms and media and bonus rooms. Amenities: golf, range, tennis, fitness, kids’ club, resort pools and clubhouse with dining. Social membership required. Lawn maintenance included in HOA.
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WAXHAW 1101 Firethorne Club Drive, Waxhaw, NC 28173 Price: $875,000 MLS: 3669434 Listing Agent: Peggy Peterson, HM Properties, 704-904-6279, peggypeterson@hmproperties.com Full brick custom home on 0.7-acre corner lot with finished walk-out basement. This home underwent a $300,000+ remodel in 2016-17 and features an open concept great room/kitchen with cathedral beamed ceiling, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and two sets of French doors that open to the outdoors. Chef’s kitchen features custom “Alder” wood cabinetry with custom drawers and roll-outs, leathered granite counters, oversized island with seating and stainless appliances. Owner’s suite on main. Lower level offers second living quarters with kitchen, guest suite, rec room with bar and fireplace, and office. Two outdoor woodburning fireplaces, two garages, two driveways, new flooring, TimberTech deck and covered patio with separate grill area.
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living in union county| WEDDINGTON 109 Redbird Lane #3, Weddington, NC 28104 Price: $1,325,000 MLS: 3621218 Listing Agent: Lana Laws, Savvy + Co. Real Estate, 704-779-9005, lanalawsrealtor@gmail.com New construction designed to maximize the comforts of home without sacrificing luxury. Grand entry, formal dining, butler and guest powder rooms, great room with gas fireplace, exposed kitchen ceiling beams, four-panel slider and rear screened loggia. Plus, family-friendly zones galore, including main-floor master retreat, guest suite (or study), laundry center and family foyer with drop zone and direct access to auxiliary stair to the second floor lounge and bonus room. Home on 1-acre lot with plenty of room to sprawl, yet just a short drive to all that Waverly has to offer. Ask for a brochure of the specs, finishes and house plans for more details. Completion slated for Summer 2020.
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|living in union county WEDDINGTON 224 Chaucer Lane, Weddington, NC 28104 Price: $749,200 MLS: 3667316 Listing Agent: Lisa McCrossan, Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties, 704-620-0328, lisam@ ivesterjackson.com Beautiful home on 5+ acres with barn and pastures in gated community close to shopping. This property offers the equestrian lifestyle and plenty of privacy on a cul-desac lot. The two-story great room has large windows that let in plenty of natural light. First-floor offers an office with French doors, guest suite with great views and a kitchen that opens to breakfast area with fireplace. Enclosed porch with an additional fireplace is the perfect place to cozy up and gaze out on the pasture. Spacious master suite with large walk-in closet. Upstairs laundry room located near all the bedrooms. Fresh paint. The threestall barn has paver flooring, tack room, work shop, equipment storage, hay barn and leads to trail riding. INDIAN TRAIL 315 Brief Road W, Indian Trail, NC 28079 Price: $2,299,000 MLS: 3555647 Listing Agent: Liza Caminiti, Ivester Jackson Distinctive Properties, 704-526- 6695, liza@ ivesterjackson.com Equestrian estate situated on ~39 acres. Home set back from main road by a refreshing 5-acre lake stocked with fish. Private gated drive in leads to breathtaking estate, which features an open floor plan with master and guest on main. Upstairs features bonus and theater rooms. Attached three-car garage with built-in bar, plus a three-car detached garage. The rear slate veranda porch and screened-in porch overlook plush backyard. In-ground pool with waterfall feature and covered pool gazebo area. Eightstall barn with heated lounge/grooming and wash pit, half bathroom and 20-foot breezeway, plus separate guest cottage. Additional track of land ~74 adjacent acres available for purchase with hay barn. Home is smart wired with security cameras and 1500-watt Generac generator.
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Photos by Four Hands
|design instyle
Fall dining Refresh your indoor entertaining spaces with these dining furniture trends by Vicki Donatelli
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hen the weather cools and the leaves turn, most of us begin planning for fall entertaining. This year, the safest setting is outdoors—but Carolina weather doesn’t always cooperate with our best-laid plans. If outside entertaining isn’t possible, you may decide to move the party indoors.
Whether you’re entertaining immediate family or your bubble of close friends, you may be contemplating new dining furniture. Depending on what you have, it might not be necessary to pitch everything and start from scratch. Based on this fall’s furniture introductions, you may decide to
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follow the trends and mix and match some innovative pieces with what you already have. Matching dining sets have not been in vogue for several years—today, it’s about function and style. You be the judge. Keep what you love and update the look with new chairs or a new table. One fresh take on the traditional pedestal table is the Peoria dining table by Four Hands. Its gunmetal finished base and rounded white marble
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tabletop can be paired with your existing chairs. For a complete transformation, consider adding the Crete dining chairs. The slim, black-iron frames and ladderback honey-finished oak slats provide a contemporary panache with a linen cushion for comfort. Another play on pedestal design is the Creston dining table. Light oak is trending again, and this table base is right on point. The white marble tabletop is easy to clean and works for everyday dining as well as special
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occasions. Pair it with a set of Flora dining chairs. Inspired by Swiss-French architects Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, the chairs feature solid oak framing available in distressed cream or a flat black finish. Looking for ways to update your farmhouse style? Replace your chairs with a blended collection of upholstered seating options. A banquette settee is a marvelous alternative. For a traditional or French look, select a tufted upholstery style. Mix in leather and wood side chairs.
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The biggest trend in furnishings and home décor is light wood finishes, rounded edges and softer curvatures. The hard metal and dark wood look of the industrial style is being replaced with more finely sculpted silhouettes and expressive grain patterns. The Lunas oval dining table is an excellent example of the progression to mellower woods and curves. That doesn’t mean you can’t keep your midcentury-inspired or industrial chairs if they exhibit a smaller profile and provide
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a restful place to sit. Before you invest in new dining furniture, really consider the entire space. Make a list or what you like and what you don’t. It is expensive and overwhelming to tackle an entire room all at once, but you do need to have an idea of the direction you want. The worst thing you can do is invest in a piece of furniture and end up with buyers regret. You don’t have to make all the decisions at once, but start building your design board on Pinterest, Houzz or whatever platform you use to organize your ideas. As you begin to fine tune your vision, start to develop your total budget
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based on actual prices. Look for places to cut back without losing touch with your overall concept. Invest in furniture you truly love and that has style sustainability for the next five to 10 years. Everyone’s style develops and matures over time. Enjoy the process as you cultivate your individual bravura.
Vicki Payne Donatelli is an interior designer, project coordinator and popular speaker for renovation and new construction projects. She is the host of the national PBS series “For Your Home.” Visit her blog at ForYourHome.com.
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|real estate profile
Joe Purvis Owner of Joe Purvis Photos by Bethany E. Starin
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our years ago, Joe Purvis relocated to the Queen City from Austin, Texas, re-launching Joe Purvis Photos, his commercial photography business. Purvis shoots architecture and interiors across Charlotte with his keen eye for marketing and real estate, honed by his years of experience and passion to go the extra mile for his clients. Purvis’ favorite shot to date was of the exterior of the home of former Panthers coach, John Fox, at twilight. When not at shoots, the army soldier turned MBA grad turned expert interior photographer might be found honing the perfect fall photo on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Q: Describe your niche in photography. A: “I’m an architectural photographer and a real estate photographer. My work is a combination of marketing and photography. I only do houses. When I photograph for a realtor, the goal is to get that realtor their commission as soon as possible, so I will shoot about 30 photos an hour. When I work for a hotel, resort, builder or architect, the goal is creating photos for long term use. They operate on a higher-caliber image so I take about two photos an hour. Different quality of photos based on different needs and demands.”
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Q: What’s your background? A: “After highschool, I joined the army to be able to afford college. From the army, I spent four years overseas and then went to Indiana University and studied business. I had a job in manufacturing when the economy collapsed so I moved to a better economy relocating to Austin, Texas—and then I enrolled in a masters program. I was climbing the ladder but realized I wasn’t in a place I really loved.” Q: What finally put a camera in your hand? A: “I always had a camera and took pictures for fun. Photographing a hot air balloon contest in Austin, I saw another photographer doing the same. He said he was so tired because he had photographed eight houses that day. I said, “Wow, that must be boring!” He looked at me and said, “But it pays the bills—how are you going to sell your hot air balloon photos?” This
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little comment made me realize I could be making money with photography. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur but didn’t want to open a restaurant or a store, and I thought this might be a path to my own business.” Q: How long did it take for you to make a full-time income? A: “I had a camera, did research and went out and made a bunch of mistakes until I got better. When I started photography in Austin, I wasn’t that great so my appeal was a cheap price. Eventually, I was stuck being far too busy shooting but for very little pay. When I came to Charlotte, I started over and thought, ‘What business do I want to have? Who is my ideal client?’ I made the decision to run my business, not let my business run me.” Q: What brought you to the Queen City? A: “My wife’s family lives in Charlotte and we decided to relocate to be
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Q: Describe photos in a few words. A: “The best version of what you see with your eyes. I don’t try to embellish or make it better than it really is but my photos are honest.”
Q: What are some misconceptions about your photography field you would like to debunk? A: “Most people take pictures, but they don’t understand that a photographer makes pictures. Most people have a camera or a phone and they push a button and pretty much what you see is what you get. But photographers have a lot of different techniques—they do many different exposures and can put those together to pull off something much better than what you see. This is also why there is much more work behind the computer than behind the camera.”
Q: What’s your day-to-day like now? A: “Currently, I have clients who give me the keys to the house and let me do what I do. I work for people who need the best in photography to help grow their business—it could be a $2 million house or a $200,000 home, but they want to do better marketing than the average real estate agent or architect. They need someone who can do the best in photos and that is really the market I am trying to serve.”
Q: How does your editing process work? A: “I take photos that are ingredients to a recipe that creates a finished product. You take one photo for the overall room shot but then you address the bright window differently in a second frame and then you merge those two photos together. I paint one of the pictures onto the other picture. It is kind of a funny thing—it comes out as magic but it’s a pretty complicated discipline.”
closer to her family about four years ago. We moved at Christmas but soon after both my wife and I started knocking on doors, marketing to realtors, architects and builders. The funny thing is you never know what you are made of until you are desperately trying to create your own income. It was pure hustle for a year.”
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Q: What would your advice be to young photographers? A: “Most photographers starting out don’t understand they are climbing a ladder that leads to somewhere. If you think being busy is being successful then you can easily chase being busy. But you have climbed the ladder to the wrong place. The best advice is to grow your business thinking of your definition of success. Have the discipline to identify what kind of life you want and have the discipline to say no.” Q: What’s your favorite photograph you’ve shot? A: “I photographed the back of John Fox’s (former NFL coach of the Panthers, Bears and Broncos) house—a beautiful mansion in Quail Hollow. I had just moved here and didn’t know anyone and was trying to figure out how to show that I’d do a great job, so I did this photo of the back of John Fox’s house for a realtor and for a luxury home magazine. The sun was going down and it took an hour and 50 different photos. There were many different challenges and it was not the most ideal setup. I spent the whole next day editing and sent it out, and it ended up in the
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magazine. That was the first photo that a lot of people in the area got to see. That led to a lot of builders reaching out to me—it was like my first trophy, something I’m proud of.” Q: How has Covid-19 affected your business? A: “Covid has been a challenge because I have really looked at my profession to ensure it’s done safely, and it can be challenging to ask people to comply with those safety measures. Part of getting a home photographed in a safe process is that you allow the photographer to come and do a job without anyone else on the property. My work puts me in and out of people’s homes all week and if I don’t operate ethically and safely, I could be the one to be getting people sick. It’s been challenging because I like meeting new people and it’s not that we just need to forego handshakes but forego being around each other. We are going into the winter so we have to operate smartly.” Q: What are your future goals? A: “I am helping entrepreneurs make money and they are really good people, so I am right where I want to be.”
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JOE’S 5 MUST-HAVE’S FOR INSPIRATION: 1. Human Element “I have realized why my career is a good fit—it provides a challenge and I’ve learned that I need to be helping people. There are a lot of things you can do to make money, but there is this reward for going out of your way to help people. This is what causes me to go the extra mile with my photography.” 2. Daily Challenge “I am someone who gets bored sitting behind a desk churning out numbers. Every day I go into a new house, it’s a new take on four walls and some shingles. You never know what you are going to do the next day, and I love that.” 3. Humility “You would think if you’ve shot a thousand kitchens then you have tried every way to shoot—but I try to step outside the boundaries. I’m not the best, so I do something to get closer to the best. I search online or look through magazines for how other photographers do their work, their lighting techniques and editing. I ask why do I like this so much? Where are the
shadows? What is bright and what is dark, how are these shown?” 4. Weekend Getaways “As my own boss, it’s hard to turn work off. Until you get on the road and it’s impossible to work, you don’t really get away from it. Weekend trips are fun, a needed time to put things down and enjoy life. My wife and I moved from Texas, which was hot and flat. The trees were not very tall—they really didn’t have leaves. So since we moved here we take trips to the mountains. It’s nice and cool to hike and drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.” 5. Ethics “I am always looking at the value I provide versus the dollar amount I am charging. For example, clients say they would like aerial photos or a twilight shot and I do careful research and sometimes say, to be honest I’m not sure that will help you sell your home. I’ll refund some of their money. To run an honest business where I am in tune with providing what people actually need makes me feel good.”
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|straight talk
To rent or buy? With rental options growing, what should you add to your tool chest, and what should you borrow? by Allen Norwood
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owe’s, which announced a new tool rental program in August, says the items most rented by DIYers include aerators, dethatchers and rototillers. As lots of homeowners know, those are all machines used to repair and maintain the yard in the fall—and all can be a handful. They’re powerful and hard to manage if you don’t know what you’re doing—and nevermind getting them home without help. This seems a good time to talk about when to buy and when to rent, at the peak of fall yard season and in the wake of Lowe’s new program. Joe McFarland, Lowe’s executive vice president for stores, says the Mooresville company has talked for the past 18 months about better serving professionals. “We know that more than 70 percent of pros currently utilize tool rental programs,” he told me in an email. So, the company will open tool rental spaces at select stores across the country over the next several years. The first has opened
in Charlotte. Items the pros rent most often include paint sprayers, scaffolding, trenchers, excavators, skid steers, scissor lifts and floor sanders. They rent for the same reasons you and I do: The tool is expensive, they’re only going to use it occasionally and it’s a lot of trouble to store and maintain. One important difference, though, is they’re more likely to have experience with the equipment they rent. I asked McFarland what Lowe’s would tell DIYers about knowing their own limits when renting. Be sure to have all the protective equipment to complete the job safely, he says. Ask yourself whether you’ve worked on something similar in the past, and therefore have the know-how and physical ability to handle the job. He listed something I learned from a wise old rental guy: Do you have time to complete the project? You don’t want to rent something for the day and have the
work stretch for a week. Get ready before you rent. I once rented a trailer-mounted wood chipper. A big, loud grinder. The rental guy suggested that I do all the sawing and lopping and gather all the limbs in one place before renting the chipper. I did not want to be dragging brush out of the woods, he explained, while the chipper was sitting there costing me money. McFarland said the Lowe’s tool rental outlets will have experienced employees on hand to offer advice just like that and to provide hands-on demonstrations. So, ask lots of questions when you decide to rent. There are some tools every homeowner ought to own: A quality, variable-speed drill, for instance, even though McFarland says DIYers rent lots of small, handheld power tools. There are some tools you’ll only fully appreciate after you buy—a belt sander taught me that. There are some tools that should be used regularly to perform properly, say, anything with a small, two-cycle engine. All of
those are considerations when deciding whether to rent or buy. Renting gives you an opportunity to take a tool for a test drive, to see if you want to add it to your workbench. If indeed you have a work bench. McFarland says the growing popularity of urban living has made space for tool storage more important in the renting vs. buying conversation. If you have one shelf for tools in your condo or townhouse, you can’t collect a garden shedfull. If space is tight, then rent. You’ll find lots of helpful advice online when deciding whether to rent tools. Visit a site you trust, like thisoldhouse.com or popularmechanics.com. Lowe’s offers tips on its tool rental site, lowes.com/rental. Oh, and if you do rent an aerator this fall, figure out how you’re going to unload it at home before you load it at the rental store.
Allen Norwood: homeinfo@charter.net
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SUNDAY OCTOBER 18 2020