Wanna know what makes Winston-Salem a great place to live?

If you do not follow/read Hello Winston Salem. You should.

Courtesy of Good News For Winston Salem, below is an article you may enjoy. 

We have numbers to prove the Twin City is one of the best cities to live in America. 

With Winston-Salem constantly growing and undertaking multiple high-profile developments this year, we figured it was time to talk about what the Twin City is known for. 

Livability has ranked Winston-Salem among the top 25 best places to live in the Southeast. 

The Twin City is recognized for its quality of higher education — including top-ranking HBCU Winston-Salem State University, Wake Forest University, Salem College and UNC School of the Arts. 

Housing affordability + living cost The median household income in Forsyth County is $56,830 according to the most recent data available from the US Census Bureau — that’s compared to $62,317 for residents in Winston-Salem. 

When it comes to the cost of living, the median gross rent for the city is $880 compared to $1,163 nationwide. 

Still not convinced? The average home price of $260,000 is 37% below the national median and the cost of living is 6% below national average, according to Redfin. 

 Here are some other accolades the Twin City is known for: 

• No. 3 most diverse suburb in North Carolina 
• No. 13 best large cities to start a business 
• No. 17 best places to retire in America Overall, Winston-Salem ranks highest for housing, environment, and transportation.

To Find out more, real this newsletter.   You will be glad you did!

5 Things You Should Not Put in Your Dishwasher

Information courtesy of a great Company.  Maids.com

Washing dishes is a real pain, which is why automatic dishwashers are one of the most helpful kitchen appliances. If you read our blog, you know your dishwasher can clean much more than dishes, pots, and pans. From sanitizing baby toys to cleaning light fixtures, a dishwasher gets the job done and may leave you asking, “What is not dishwasher safe?” But have you ever thought about what not to put in a dishwasher? Unfortunately, your favorite multi-tasking kitchen appliance can only do so much, so we’ve compiled a list of things to definitely put on the “hand-wash only” list in your home below.

What Shouldn't You Put In the Dishwasher?

1. Acrylic Or Plastic Dishes

Plastic, acrylic, and melamine dishware typically have bright colors and unique patterns that bring a festive touch to any meal. This popular dishware is lightweight and highly durable but, unfortunately, often not dishwasher safe. The hot water, drying temperatures, and dishwasher detergent can be too harsh for plastic dishes. After repeated washes in the dishwasher, many melamine and acrylic dishes can crack, fade, and even break. While many plastic insulated tumblers are labeled dishwasher safe, it's best to wash these items by hand. The high temperatures and abrasive detergent in your dishwasher can cause plastic tumblers to crack and fade. If they are washed in the dishwasher too often, the heat can cause the thermal seal to fail, making the tumbler useless. Plastic dishes, glasses, or utensils should be at the top of your list of what not to put in a dishwasher.

2. Knives And Other Sharp-Edged Tools

Knives are often in the mix when people ask what can and can't go in the dishwasher. Let's set the record straight —kitchen knives and other sharp-edged tools should never be washed in your dishwasher. Dishwasher detergent can dull the cutting edge, leading to the need for more frequent sharpening—and a shorter life for your cutlery. The heat of the drying and washing cycles can cause knife handles to loosen or crack. To keep your cutlery sharp and long-lasting, wash it by hand. Hot, soapy water will usually get the job done, but use caution handling the sharp blades. Rinse the knives with warm water after washing and hand dry them with a microfiber cloth to prevent lint. Once dry, store your cutlery properly. If you choose to wash some of your cheaper knives through the dishwasher, load them properly to prevent accidents.

3. Cast Iron, Carbon Steel, And Nonstick Cookware

The proper way to keep food from sticking and the iron from rusting is to season cast iron cookware with oil each time you wash it. The oil seeps into the iron, creating a protective coating against corrosion and an ideal cooking surface. When you wash a cast iron pot in the dishwasher, the detergent and hot water strip away the oil. To keep your cast iron cookware at its best, wash by hand with hot, soapy water, rinse, and dry. Carbon steel pots and pans give you many of the benefits of cast iron and stainless steel, but they aren't dishwasher safe. Like cast iron, carbon steel should be seasoned for optimal performance and longevity and it can be cleaned with soap and water. If you have stuck-on food, you can boil water in the pot to loosen it and use coarse salt to scrub away the rest. Most nonstick cookware is labeled dishwasher safe, but you can get better performance and longer life for your nonstick pans by hand washing them. Even high-end cookware with a nonstick surface can take a beating from the high temperatures and detergents. The harsh conditions in your dishwasher could cause nonstick coatings to scratch or chip, and that's often the beginning of the end.

4. Delicate Glassware And Fine China

Fine china and crystal are beautiful and elegant, but they are fragile and absolutely not dishwasher safe! Harsh detergents and hot water can wreak havoc on delicate dishes and serve ware, and all that turbulence can cause chips and breakage. Even hardy lead crystal can become cloudy and etched if washed in a dishwasher. To protect china or porcelain heirlooms or your favorite crystal wine glasses, handwashing is the way to go.

5. Wooden Spoons, Bowls, And Cutting Boards

The high temperatures and detergents in your dishwasher will strip the natural oils from wooden utensils, dishes, and cutting boards. The natural oils in these items provide moisture, and without them, wooden items will crack and even fall apart. The resulting cracks can also create the perfect environment for mold and bacteria to grow. If you want to keep your wooden cutting boards and utensils food-safe and performing their best, always hand wash them. Warm water and dish soap are usually enough to clean wooden dishes and other items but don't let the things soak, or the wood could swell and warp. To disinfect your wooden utensils, scrub the wood with lemon juice and baking soda, then wash and dry.

Save on Maintenance by Caring and Cleaning Your Dishwasher

If you've been washing some of these items in your dishwasher for years, it's not too late to change your ways to spare your dishes (and appliance) any further damage! You can still keep your finest dishes and best kitchen utensils clean, and you'll help them look, last, and perform their best. Regularly cleaning your dishwasher and following the manufacturer's best practices should give you years of service. Not only will a well-maintained dishwasher churn out clean dishes day after day, but it can also help you with other household cleaning. And if your dishwasher features a sanitizing setting, it makes for a pretty handy disinfecting tool.

Carolina Living Real Estate - All about Stellar Property Management Service

Winston Salem FULL SERVICE Property Management at the Guaranteed Lowest Rates

"We strive to provide courteous, professional and available service throughout the Charlotte and Winston Salem areas. We take pride in managing your most important asset(s).  Unlike some other companies, we do not manage hundreds of properties.  We feel that this hinders our ability to provide the best customer service possible.  We manage very carefully our list of available properties so we can focus on getting YOURS rented." 

 At Carolina Living Real Estate, our services are intended to provide you peace of mind and to protect the value of your real estate investments. We value our relationships with our owners and our tenants, and we are here to make the rental experience a better one for everyone. 

 Full-Service Property Management: What Does that Mean? Our expert services include, but are not limited to: 

• Marketing and advertising your property for fast tenant placement. 

• Thorough tenant screening. 

• Move-in inspections that document the condition of your home. 

• Rent collection and disbursement that’s fast, efficient, and reliable. 

• Preventative and emergency maintenance that’s professional, thorough, and affordable. 

• Regular visits and inspections to ensure the tenants are taking care of your home and following the terms of your lease. Beyond the Day-to-Day: How We Really Serve You Exceptional Customer Service 

– We provide personalized services. Real people answer the phones, and our staff has the time and resources to really communicate with our owners and tenants. You won’t find this at larger companies. 

We are here to accommodate you, and we’ll adjust to your preferred method of communication. No Hidden Fees – We don’t charge any start up fees! We’ll take the time to talk about the services we provide and the fees we charge, and you’ll see those reflected in our management contract. A property management company needs to be transparent about the expenses associated with rental property and how it’s managed. We’re straightforward and open about what you’ll pay. 

 Tenant Guarantee – You don’t need to worry about evictions, and if it becomes necessary to remove a tenant from your property, we’ll handle the whole process. We’re good at finding high quality tenants who pay rent on time and take care of your property. While screening, we review credit history, verify employment and income, check criminal records, and talk to current and former landlords. 

 Local Expertise - We keep up-to-date with landlord and tenant laws so you don’t have to. We understand fair housing and manage tenant complaints. As experts in the local real estate market as well as the local rental market, we’ll help you find the right property, market to the right tenants, and make the right upgrades and repairs to ensure you attract and retain outstanding tenants. 

 We are professional property managers, and we use our experience to help you succeed as a landlord and increase the value of your largest investment.

Roby Robertson Proud To Add Certified Negotiator To His Service Offerings.

 

If you would like for me to go over some of the techniques, please visit www.RobyRobertson.com and ask for assistance of call me on my cell phone.   

Trying To Live Life Like Jimmy Buffett

 Jimmy Buffett.

I have been saddened recently by the death of Jimmy Buffett.    I grew up with him, well kind of.  Some might argue, I have some growing still to do!    However, as we get older and lose those that inspired us or entertained us, it brings mortality into focus. 

An acquaintance of mine wrote these words from his interview with him:

JB: You know, I didn’t try and create all of this. It just happened while I was having a good time. I wanted to have a good time, so I wrote about what I know. Life is hard, and I wanted to create a place where it wasn’t

From Dave Matthews.  

Whether planned or coincidence, every time I ran into Jimmy it was like seeing an old friend. He was brilliant and a genuinely good and generous man

If you read all the tributes to Jimmy Buffett, you have a roadmap for a life well lived.   I realize he had wealth beyond what most have.   However, he had these qualities before he ‘made it’.  He just lived a life of giving and fun.  

I try to live my life with a smile on my face.   Whether I am helping my real estate customers, playing golf with friends or just spending time with family,  I try to make others smile and not stress about whatever we are involved in.    

Jimmy’s passing has been a reminder that I sometimes have to work harder at ever present smiles. However, I will continue to work at being generous, smiling a lot and just treating others like Jimmy Buffet!   #RIP JB

A Personal Story to Tell

 Ever Been Stung?

I have a doozy of story.  I will try to be brief.    My family was visiting friends in Miami when I was somewhere in the 3rd grade range.   A bunch of kids decided to go fishing in one of the numerous ponds around the area.  

While fishing a 'Florida' thunderstorm came up.   There was one of the cranes around the pond.  The kind with the big arm and shovel at the end.  The thing goes around on those track things like a tank.   We ran to it and shoved our fishing poles between those tracks and the guard over them.

Well, it had to be me but when I put my pole there, I knocked down a large nest of what we think was wasps!!  

Once that happened, I ran crying with my friends.   I was stung all over my face, neck etc.  

It just so happens we are leaving that day, so my mom shoved me and my sisters in the car to start home.  Still crying, I think I was making my mom mad at me.   She did not know the extent of my stings, I guess.

Anyway, we just started out and, last I remember, one of my sisters told my mom something was wrong.  Evidently, she immediately went to emergency room.    

I had slipped into a coma from a bad reaction and the doctor told my mom, 'The next 24 hours are critical to him making it.'    

About 36 hours later, I woke up.   All I can say is thank God for the doctor that new how to handle that situation and also for not making it my time.

There is a lot more that went on the next few years in the way of testing and getting shots to build up an immunity.   I won't bore with all those details!  It was not fun...

As you can imagine, even all these years later, I am not too keen on any flying insects.

BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY DAY!

Winston Salem | New Listings as of August 2nd in Triad Area

 New Listings are picking up.  In the chart below you can see July was the most active so far in 2023 and August is off to a hot start.  There are still buyers looking in spite of the interest rates!  Information comes from our MLS.

Month Number of New Listings Jan 34 Feb 58 Mar 146 Apr 198 May 242 Jun 508 Jul 906 Aug 102 Are you Thinking of selling? Ready to get started? Contact me and we'll review your options. Thinking of selling your home?   There are buyers out there.  Visit Free Property Valuation (robyrobertson.com) to get a FREE property evaluation.