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2009 Food Drive
We are pleased to announce that with the help of clients, friends, family and co-workers, we were able to collect 783 pounds of food to distribute to the Lowcountry Food Bank in our annual holiday food drive. This food will equal 612 meals for needy families in the Charleston, SC area.
If you are looking for a great cause, please give food or money to the Lowcountry Food Bank, you can reach them at 843-747-8146, on the web at Lowcountry Food Bank Website and the main contact is Amy Kosar...here is their mission statement:
Our mission is to feed the poor and hungry of the ten coastal counties of South Carolina by soliciting and distributing healthy food and grocery products to nonprofit agencies serving the poor, and to educate the public about the problems of and solutions to domestic hunger.
We will be working with the Lowcountry Food Bank throughout the year as their needs are year round not just during the holiday season. Thanks again for your help!
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Buying or Selling in Folly Beach or Charleston, South Carolina?
Call Randall Sandin at 843-209-9667 or email at rsandin@carolinaone.com. I specialize in the following areas of Charleston, SC: James Island, Folly Beach, West Ashley, Johns Island & Historic Downtown.
All I ask is for the opportunity to earn your business! I will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence and there is no obligation what-so-ever...I look forward to your call or email.
Search for Charleston, SC & Folly Beach, SC properties for FREE at CHARLESTON SC HOME SEARCH
747 Swanson Ave. featured in Post & Courier
747 Swanson Ave.
New Craftsman-style house on James Island matches high-end interior with vast decks, large lot
By Jim Parker Saturday, December 19, 2009
The builder of a new brick house off Fort Johnson Road is just six years removed from The Citadel.
Yet Grant Zinkon's work at 747 Swanson Ave. is notable for its appearance, which is in-line with experienced craftsmen.
The two-story home in the Eastwood neighborhood offers plenty of square footage on a half-acre lot.
Take something as basic as the front door. Rather than installing an entrance of attractive but less long-lasting wood, the builder chose solid mahogany, says Randall Sandin, broker with the Charleston Pier Partners group at Carolina One Real Estate. "It's custom-made," says Sandin, who is listing the house for $625,000.
The two-story, 2,900-square-foot-home is on a half-acre lot with a large fenced-in backyard. It is located in the existing Eastwood neighborhood on James Island.
"It's more of a Craftsman-style home - two-story brick, tapered columns, square edging," says Zinkon, who started Zinkon Development Co.
An unusual feature of the three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath home is a room over the garage that's set up as a loft or play area. It is at the head of the first flight of stairs, giving the house a spilt-level feel. There's a walk-in closet and a bathroom, so the space could be used as a fourth bedroom, Sandin says.
A wide-open kitchen showcases pendant lighting, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
The second floor contains the sprawling master suite. The master bedroom has space for a sitting area and the luxurious bathroom shows off a jetted tub with fitted towel slots and separate glassed-in shower. The tub and shower surrounds are three-quarter-inch marble - Zinkon cut the pieces in the shower ceiling to fit them because they were so heavy. Two sizable guest bedrooms on the second level are served by a large bathroom.
Spotlighting the first floor is an open kitchen. The center island has a granite countertop and a base of lyptus wood, a Brazilian hardwood. Stainless appliances include a Bosch dishwasher, GE Profile refrigerator and a cooktop, oven and microwave. An eating area beside the kitchen leads to a wide wood deck in the back. The kitchen also connects to the formal dining room at the front of the house.
To the right of the foyer is a narrow storage area with a half-bath decked in bead board at the far end. There's also a cozy family room, a full bath and a side alcove that leads to a screened-in side porch for grilling.
The house has three bedrooms upstairs. This spacious bedroom has recessed lighting.
Steps lead down to a small mud room with built-in shelves for supplies. The door opens into the garage, which has one garage door but has space for two cars and also has a built-in closet.
Floors are Australian cypress, which Zinkon says he likes because it is "very knotty."
The front of the house has dormer windows, ample front porch and sizable yard.
Sandin says the home would be alluring to a "young family with one or two kids that likes the laid back James Island lifestyle." This is also an opportunity for new construction in Eastwood, an established community.
"The whole neighborhood is family friendly," he says. Kids ride bikes along the street paths, and parents tool around in golf carts.
"What's cool is the neighborhood has old dirt roads," Zinkon says. The new Sunrise Park and James Island Yacht Club are at the end of one of those roads, nudging Charleston Harbor.
Located above the garage, the bonus room can be a play area, den or even an extra bedroom.
"It's a little bit of country, large lots one-third to one acre, plenty of room," Sandin says.
The house is near the northeast tip of James Island. Proceed across the James Island Connector, taking the Harbor View Road exit. Turn right on Harbor View Road and travel to its end at Fort Johnson Road. Turn left on Fort Johnson Road and then make turn on Swanson Avenue, which is the first left. Look for 747 Swanson, which is on the left.
Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com, photos by Leroy Burnell
Agent: Randall Sandin, rsandin@carolina.eom
Office: Carolina One Real Estate
Phone: (843) 209-9667
Philosophy: "My goal is to develop long-term relationships with my clients by giving the highest level of customer service, detailed market knowledge along with an honest and realistic analysis of market conditions. Open lines of communication are key so my clients are informed and understand their individual situations."
www.CharlestonPierPartners.com
Wild Dunes Resort - Major Price Reduction
OWNERS ARE READY TO SELL THIS WILD DUNES HOME
WE JUST REDUCED TO $599,000
If you have clients looking for turn-key investment property, a second home or a primary residence in Wild Dunes, please make sure you show them 20 Lake Village Lane. This single family home is being sold fully furnished and is an easy walk to the beach and the Grand Pavilion and Village Plaza at Wild Dunes. 
20 Lake Village Lane - Wild Dunes
3 BD, 2 BA, hardwood floors, fully furnished $599,000,
MLS# 2925875, VISUAL TOUR
Call Randall at 209-9667 for rental history info.
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Buying or Selling in Folly Beach or Charleston, South Carolina?
Call Randall Sandin at 843-209-9667 or email at rsandin@carolinaone.com. I specialize in the following areas of Charleston, SC: James Island, Folly Beach, West Ashley, Johns Island & Historic Downtown.
All I ask is for the opportunity to earn your business! I will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence and there is no obligation what-so-ever...I look forward to your call or email.
Search for Charleston, SC & Folly Beach, SC properties for FREE at CHARLESTON SC HOME SEARCH
Red Flags from the Home Inspection
As we all know, the home inspection is one of the most important parts of the real estate transaction. It is critical to have an experienced and qualified inspector who knows what he or she is doing. Here are a few "red-flag" items to make sure you look out for whne buying a home.
Poor water pressure. Aside from issues of comfort and convenience, low water flow may indicate plumbing problems, such as corroded pipes that will need to be replaced down the road. Tearing out old plumbing and replacing it with copper pipes can run $2,000 to $15,000 or more in a typical 1,500-square-foot home. A less costly alternative is cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) piping, which unlike rigid copper piping, is flexible and easier to install (approved for potable use in all U.S. model plumbing and mechanical codes, but may not be approved in local building codes).
Among tests you can do: Run water in a bathroom sink and check for weak flow. Flush the toilet while the water is running. Does the faucet flow drop off during the flush? In the bathroom located farthest from the water heater, turn on the hot water. Is there an unduly long delay before the water turns hot?
Ceiling stains. Something's leaking. If the stain appears beneath a bathroom, odds are the shower is leaking. It may merely need recaulking or regrouting, but it could also require ripping out tile and replacing the shower pan, a much more costly process (about $1,500). Most roof leaks result from neglected flashing that seals "valleys" in the roof or around a chimney or vents (cost to repair: $200 to $500). But roof leaks may also mean it's time to replace shingles -- at $100 to $350 per 100 square feet for asphalt shingles and $210 to $1,000 for wood shingles.
Troublesome doors. Are the doors hard to close? Do they swing open by themselves or fail to open fully? If you have one bad door, it may simply have been installed incorrectly. But more than one may indicate a serious structural issue, such as a foundation that has settled or framing that is deteriorating. Fixing this problem can require structural and geotechnical engineering reports and thousands of dollars in repairs.
Overloaded electrical outlets or lots of extension cords. Today's electrical demands may exceed the capacity of homes built as little as a decade ago, says Kuhn. You'll spend $75 to $250 to have an electrician add a 120-volt outlet to an existing circuit. Or, if the electrical system is very outdated, it may require a new electric panel. A new, 100-amp panel will cost $1,500 to $2,500.
Exterior features that slope toward the home. A porch, patio, driveway or grading that slopes toward the home all but guarantees water in the basement. And that may lead to structural decay, mold and insect infestation. In the basement, a musty smell may indicate previous flooding or ongoing moisture problems. Check the walls for stains, dark or light, which are tell-tale signs that water has penetrated the walls.
Solving the problem may be as simple and cheap as adding gutter extensions or regrading soil away from the home, or it could require thousands of dollars to excavate and build drains. Some homes may require exterior drains (one at the bottom of a sloped driveway, for example) as well as buried drains.
Odors. Cigarette smoke and pet odors can be hard to get rid of. And if a home smells too clean -- heavy with the scent of cleaning products (especially bleach) or plug-in deodorizers -- the seller may be trying to cover up an odor, such as mold or urine. If so, you need to inquire further, says Richardson, of the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Synthetic stucco siding. This must be installed precisely or else moisture will be trapped behind it, resulting in mold and decay. In the worst case, the siding will have to be replaced. For a medium-sized house (1,250 square feet of exterior surface area), replacing vinyl siding can cost $2,500 to $8,750, while wood or fiber cement siding can cost $5,600 to $10,000 or more. Especially in humid climates, you may want to pay for a special inspection. HouseMaster charges $600 and up, depending on how much of the material has been used and the size of the house.
Make sure you fully understand the issues with the home you are lookign to purchase and do not feel bad about asking for more inspection time or getting a second opinion. Remember, once you buy the home, all of the good and bad things come with it.
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Buying or Selling in Folly Beach or Charleston, South Carolina?
Call Randall Sandin at 843-209-9667 or email at rsandin@carolinaone.com. I specialize in the following areas of Charleston, SC: James Island, Folly Beach, West Ashley, Johns Island & Historic Downtown.
All I ask is for the opportunity to earn your business! I will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence and there is no obligation what-so-ever...I look forward to your call or email.
Search for Charleston, SC & Folly Beach, SC properties for FREE at CHARLESTON SC HOME SEARCH
Mornings at Folly Beach, South Carolina
Thinking of getting that beach home...finally?
Here is your view during your morning walks on the beach!
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Buying or Selling in Folly Beach or Charleston, South Carolina?
Call Randall Sandin at 843-209-9667 or email at rsandin@carolinaone.com. All I ask is for the opportunity to earn your business! I will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence and there is no obligation what-so-ever...I look forward to your call or email.
Search for Charleston, SC & Folly Beach, SC properties for FREE at CHARLESTON SC HOME SEARCH
SOLD on James Island, SC
Just sold 662 Clearview Drive, Charleston SC 29412
Here is what my client had to say:
"I think I can finally say I'm settled in! That said I don't think I ever took the time to thank you as much as I should have. As you know the process of selling my house was a very emotional one for me and you were unbelievably patient and supportive. I can't begin to tell you how much that helped.
I told several friends about how easy it was to get in touch with you when I needed to and how much information you had whenever I asked questions. Most of them were surprised. It seems they didn't have the same story to tell with realtors they've worked with. For all of my complaining about 'keeping it clean' the way appointments were scheduled was relatively easy too.
So thank you again, so much, for everything you did and the time you spent making sure it was as easy as selling and moving can be- especially in these times."
Buying or Selling in Charleston, South Carolina? Call Randall Sandin at 843-209-9667 or email at rsandin@carolinaone.com. Let me earn your business! I will be happy to discuss your situation in confidence and there is no obligation what-so-ever...I look forward to your call or email.
Search for Charleston, SC & Folly Beach, SC properties for FREE at CHARLESTON SC HOME SEARCH
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