Chapel Hill Durham Real Estate

The Chapel Hill Public Library offers so much more than just books.  Along with its friendly atmosphere you will also find many scheduled events for the whole family! Events including “Story Time”, “Teen Music Club”, computer classes, and book sales are offered free of charge.  They also have many handy resources available for their readers, as well as meeting spaces for the public. 

For permanent residents of Orange County, getting you library card is easy and best of all, FREE! To download an application to become a member, please visit their website.  Once you have filled it out bring it to the library at 100 Library Drive in Chapel Hill along with identification.  Acceptable forms of identification include:

Driver’s License Social Security CardPassportStudent ID

As the days get shorter and the weather colder there are a few things you should keep in mind about caring for your pets. 

• Water bowls should be checked often to make sure the water is not frozen.
• If indoors, pets should have bedding off of cold floors and away from drafts.
• If outdoors, pets should have dry shelter out of the wind.  If weather gets too severe, be sure to bring pets indoors.
• Be sure to remove ice, snow, and mud from your pets fur as soon as possible. If there is any signs of frostbite be sure to talk to your vet right away.
• Staying warm means extra calories.  Pets may need extra food this chilly time of year.

Entering these holiday seasons be sure to watch out for a few things that your pets may get into while your not looking.

• Cats and kittens have a dangerous habit of taking naps on top of warm automobile engines.  Be sure to honk the horn, or check under the hood before starting up your vehicles.
• Be sure to keep antifreeze out of reach of pets.  It is sweet and smells very good to pets, and even small amounts may be harmful. Clean up spills and store your antifreeze in a safe location.
• The holidays don’t always just pack on the pounds for humans, pet owners feel extra generous this time of year, sneaking their pets human food.  While your pets may love your extra bit of kindness, they’re bodies will not thank you.
• Many holiday plants can be toxic to your pets.  For a list of plants poisonous to pets, click here.
• Some holiday decorations can also be harmful to your plants. Things like electric cords, tinsel, glass ornaments, candles, spray on-snow (some are non-toxic-read the label), ribbons, plastic or foil wrapping may not be good.

Great Triangle Homes - The Shuping Advantage Team is a proud supporter of both the Animal Protection Society of Durham and the Orange County Animal Protection Society.

Visit our website to see how you too can support these wonderful organizations!

Since 1932, the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium has been gratifying audiences with outstanding performances in opera, ballet, orchestral music, theater, comedy, and popular music concerts.  Performances by some of the nation’s greatest artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Prince have filled every inch of this eighty-thousand square foor masterpiece.  Dazzling Broadway musical presentations such as Cats, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and Rent have also graced these glorious halls.

As we near the end of 2007, we can expect more wonderful performances.  A few upcoming events include - in date order -  Cinderella, Peter and the Wolf, My Fair Lady, and an annual holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol.  For tickets to these must-see shows (and more!) visit Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Thinking about relocating?  Why not come and see what The Shuping Advantage Team can do for you! 

Fall is here and it’s time to clean the gutters on your home.  Unless you have gutter protectors, maintaining gutters can be labor intensive this time of the year.  Improper gutter maintenance can lead to clogged or damaged gutters causing thousands of dollars in damage to your homes foundation, exterior trim and basements.  For some homeowners, their gutters require frequent cleaning from early November through December. Unfortunately some homeowners think that as long as it hasn’t rained, they don’t have a problem and they wait for the last leaves to fall from a tree only to have it rain before they have cleaned their gutters.  

For those who like the do-it-yourself option, gutter cleaning can be a difficult and costly project to undertake, however, it is doable. 

• To begin, make sure you have a sturdy ladder.  If you do not own one, borrowing or renting is your next best option.  Ladders can be rented  for around $40 per day at most hardware stores. Be sure to keep away from power lines, trees, and windows while using ladders.  Another important tool to have when cleaning your gutters is a ladder stabalizer.  This ensures that you don’t slip and don’t crush your gutters in the process of cleaning. Ladder stabalizers run about $30 and can be found at most hardware stores. Now you can simply remove leaves and debris from your gutters.
• Next, if you have gutter screens or guards remember that they do not mean that you get to skip the gutter cleanings.  Leaves blocking the gutter guards will force water over the gutters making them useless.  Be sure to clean the screens or gutter guards while your up there. You should also test the gutters to make sure they are working properly by running some water into them.
• The next step is to be sure that the downspout is free of leaves and debris. If necessary, use a hose to clean out the downspout.
• While cleaning your gutters, be sure to inspect them for any damages or parts that need replacing.

If you’d rather save some time and money you can always use a gutter cleaning service. Window Gang is an exceptional company right here in the area that will service your gutters.  They also provide many other home maintenece services including power washing, house washing, and window cleaning.  Click here to get a valuble printable coupon for Window Gang services.   

As the winter season quickly approaches, make sure your home is prepared ahead of time! Here are some quick ideas to help keep the cold out, keep utility bills down, and keep your family safe!

• Caulk around window and door glass and trim, and all exterior trim. Install or replace weather stripping on all doors and windows. Check for cracks around pipes and electrical outlets entering or exiting the walls.
• Have your HVAC unit serviced annually by a licensed HVAC technician, and ensure that it is functioning properly.
• Install storm windows and doors if you have them. Consider purchasing storm windows if you have older windows that are not made from modern insulated glass.
• Check gutters and clean them if necessary.
• Replace any roof shingles that are missing or damaged.
• Trim trees away from the house. Have dead trees and branches removed by professional tree trimmers, or do it yourself.
• Disconnect hoses, and drain and shut off outdoor water faucets.
• Check fire extinguishers and charge and replace as necessary.
• Replace the batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and check to make sure these are all in working order.
• Make sure you have adequate supplies of rock salt, sand and snow shovels on hand!

Stay safe and warm this winter!