Haley Smith - NC Lifestyle Home

01/31/2025

Buying a home in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know about due diligence fees.

If you're moving from out of state, one thing that often surprises buyers is North Carolina’s due diligence fee—something not found in many other places. This is a non-refundable payment made directly to the seller when an offer is accepted. It gives buyers the chance to inspect the home, secure financing, and make sure it's the right fit before closing. If the sale goes through, the fee is applied to the purchase price. If not, the seller keeps it.

In competitive markets, this fee can be thousands of dollars, so it’s something to be aware of when making offers. In recent years, we have seen due diligence fees offered in the range of $500 to $50,000 for a home.

Because North Carolina doesn’t have traditional inspection contingencies that many other states do, buyers need to be extra careful before committing a large amount to the due diligence fee. Issues with the inspection, appraisal, or financing can all cause a deal to fall through. That’s why it’s so important to understand the home’s condition, review comparable sales, and work with a lender upfront to avoid surprises.

If you have questions, feel free to ask. Have a great day!
— Haley Smith, Realtor Serving Winston-Salem

12/05/2024

The 23rd Historic West End Holiday Home Tour is back and better than ever this holiday season. This is a great opportunity to visit some of West End's most historic homes and buildings!

The Holiday Homes Tour will visit 5 homes and 3 commercial buildings beautifully preserved to maintain architectural styles original to Winston-Salem and dating as far back as the 1880s. Tickets are available through December 6th for $20 or for $25 at the door.

Event Details:
Date: Sunday, December 8th, 1 PM - 5 PM.
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 day of event. Tickets will be available online or on-site.
The tour begins at Joymonger's Barrel Hall, 480 West End Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC. The Lady Katherine Trolley will provide free Hop-On/Hop-Off shuttle service from Noon until 4:45PM during the tour.

Book tickets and find more info: http://historicwestend.org/2024-homes-tour/

10/30/2024

📍 Let's explore one of Winston Salem's most iconic attractions, the Reynolda House!

In 1914, Richard J. Reynolds, founder of Reynolds To***co Company, and his wife, Katharine, hired Philadelphia architect Charles Barton Keen to draw up plans for an English-style village and manor house to be built on 1,067 acres that Reynolds owned on the outskirts of Winston-Salem.

Reynolds planned the village to be self-sustaining for the needs of his family and estate workers, most of whom would live on the grounds. The village included a church, post office, greenhouse, blacksmith shop, dairy, school, administrative offices, barn, and a formal garden. The buildings and homes of Reynolda were constructed of white stucco with green tile roofs. This green roof and white facade shaped the trend in architecture of the affluent neighborhoods of Winston-Salem.
The Reynolda House cost $200,000 to build and took three years to complete from 1914 to 1917. The home had 64 rooms, including eight bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, and the most modern conveniences available including an elevator, telephones, dumb waiters, a central vacuuming system and an ice-block air-conditioning system.

Today, Reynolda House is home to over 200 works of art and more than 6,000 historic objects. Because only about a quarter of the collection can be displayed, pieces rotate frequently. Over the years, Reynolda Village has been transformed into a charming historic shopping scene featuring some of Winston's most loved restaurants, art galleries, and clothing stores.

SPOTS TO CHECK OUT:
- Reynolda Gardens
- Dough-Joe's NC
- Penny Path Café & Crêpe Shop Winston-Salem
- AR Workshop Winston-Salem
- All Through the House
- McCalls

10/23/2024

🎉 Let's talk about schools. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System or WSFCS for short, runs on a 'school-choice' system, which is very unique to the district.

THINGS TO KNOW:
- A student is guaranteed a spot at their residential school. Based on a home's address, a student is guaranteed a spot at their residential school.

- Can apply at any school in your zone. Parents also have the option to apply for their child to attend additional schools that are in their 'zone'. The district will often provide transportation to and from this school. See zones here: https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/page/school-locator

- Can apply at any magnet school in Forsyth county. Parents can also apply for their child to attend ANY magnet school in Forsyth county. However, oftentimes, schools cannot bus students to schools outside of their zone.

- Applications for choice schools have a deadline. Each year, the school system implements a timeline in which you can apply for choice schools. For the 2024 school year, the application period ended in March 2024.
See timelines here: https://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/.../2023-2024-assignment...

10/16/2024

An awesome way to meet friends and learn a new skill - The Triad Woodcarver's Club! 📢

A few weeks ago, we stumbled upon a hidden gem in Winston-Salem—the Triad Woodcarvers' Carving Arts Show! While we were there, we met dozens of friendly local woodcarvers showcasing their handmade art and they invited us to attend their next weekly meetings to learn more about woodcarving.

It's rare to be able to try something new without a large upfront investment but the Triad Woodcarvers Club is only $15/a year to join the club! That membership fee includes free carving lessons from experienced carvers and all the supplies you need for five projects. This is such a great way to learn a new skill plus make friends in the community. Currently, their club has over 80 members who come together throughout the year.

MORE INFO ON CLUB:
The Triad Woodcarvers Club meets every Monday from 3-9 pm at the Miller Park Recreation Center, 400 Leisure Lane, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Feel free to attend anytime from 3-9, many attendees are in and out throughout the evening.
Their mission is to spread the love of woodcarving. They do this by offering group carving sessions, workshops, seminars, classes, and a whole lot of fun activities.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
- Free woodcarving lessons from skilled instructors.
- Complete 5 basic woodcarving projects.
- Learn carving techniques from experienced carvers.
- A 10% discount on most items (excluding power tools) at Klingspor’s Woodworking Shop.
- Monthly carving programs that keep you carving all year long.
Opportunities to show off your skills at community events.
- A free logo sticker (small or large) and a Membership Card.
- Access to a library full of carving books and magazines that you can check out for inspiration.

You’ll also get to dive into related crafts like chip carving, pattern transfers, pyrography, power carving, relief carving, painting, and so much more.

UPCOMING EVENTS
- Carolina Classic Fair: October 4-13, Winston-Salem, NC
- Woodworking Extravaganza: October 25-26, Hickory, NC

Don't forget that they also meet weekly on Mondays from 3-9 PM at the Miller Park Recreation.

Website for more info: https://www.triadwoodcarvers.com

10/09/2024

Over the last few months, we've had several people ask for yoga studio recommendations. Here's an overview on some of the most recommended yoga studios in Winston-Salem:

Wildlight Wellness Collective
Wildlight Wellness offers a broad range of wellness classes including yoga, meditation, HIIT, and Tai Chi. They focus on holistic health practices like Ayurveda, aromatherapy, and bodywork.

Synergy Yoga & Wellness
Synergy Yoga specializes in various yoga styles, including gentle, restorative, and vinyasa, while also offering fitness classes and wellness services like massage therapy. Their offerings aim to provide a balance between physical fitness and holistic well-being.

YMCA Hot Yoga
This studio focuses on hot yoga, offering classes like hot power flow and traditional hot yoga. The high-temperature environment is designed to increase flexibility and detoxification while providing an intense workout experience.

Lotus Yoga
Lotus Yoga features a diverse array of classes for beginners to advanced practitioners. They offer mindful flows and restorative yoga with a focus on breathing techniques and meditation to promote overall well-being.

10/03/2024

Our hearts go out to Western North Carolina, just an hour from Winston-Salem, where many families and businesses have been devastated and remain stranded. It’s a place many of us hold dear, and we want to do our part to help.

Now through October 11th, we will be collecting supplies for , a non-profit organization airlifting essentials to those in dire need—people without power, water, or the means to leave their homes or towns. With donations, we’ll be purchasing supplies and delivering these to Operation Airdrop. Anyone can contribute, and we will use donations to buy the most needed items. We will keep everyone posted on items most needed here in the group.

We’ve also heard from many people about the need for Amazon wishlists, and while most donation centers aren’t able to accept deliveries due to a shortage of volunteers to process packages, we’ve set up an Amazon Wishlist to be delivered to my home and we will personally open, sort, and transport all packages received to Operation Airdrop! You can find the Amazon Wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/24YELR6YPX3NF?ref_=wl_share.

SUMMARY OF WAYS TO HELP

Donation to purchase essentials: Venmo

Amazon Wishlist to directly purchase essentials: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/24YELR6YPX3NF?ref_=wl_share.

Please consider donating or sharing this post to help spread the word. Every little bit makes a big difference, and we’re incredibly grateful to be part of such a great community here in !

10/02/2024

Make an impact in Winston-Salem by volunteering your time! Here are 10 organizations that are always looking for volunteers.

HOPE (Help Our People Eat) of Winston-Salem
HOPE supports children and families in need through various volunteer roles. Tasks include sorting and staging food on Fridays, gardening at their Operations Facility, and assisting with food pickups or deliveries. Volunteers of all ages, including children, are welcome.

Meals on Wheels
Volunteers deliver hot meals to homebound seniors, helping them stay healthy and independent. They also provide a vital social connection, offering a smile and check-in. Volunteers can assist with delivering hot, frozen meals, or groceries.

The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem
Opportunities include helping with set building, costumes, lighting, and backstage work for productions. Volunteers also assist with customer service, such as ticket taking and ushering during performances, with the chance to watch the show.

Forsyth Humane Society (FHS)
Volunteers play a vital role in caring for animals and supporting FHS operations. Opportunities range from cleaning, community outreach, to comforting animals.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat builds and renovates homes with the help of volunteers. They also need volunteers to staff their ReStores, which generate funds for the organization. Youth involvement is encouraged through Habitat Young Professionals and Youth Ambassadors, providing opportunities to raise funds and build homes.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
Volunteers can cook meals for families, prepare snacks, assist with daily chores, greet guests, and help monitor check-ins at family rooms. Regular volunteers may also engage in family support activities, such as crafts, bingo, or special events.

The Shalom Project of Winston-Salem
Volunteer tasks include setting up food distribution, sorting clothing, serving meals, helping in the medical clinic, assisting with fundraising, or joining the board. Opportunities are available weekly, monthly, or for special events.

City with Dwellings: A Community First Initiative
Volunteers assist with hospitality during outreach hours, meal prep, item collection, facility care, or join special teams like the Green Team for gardening, the Pet Team, and more. Roles include one-on-one guest support for recently-housed neighbors.

The Shepherd’s Center of Winston-Salem
Volunteers can offer transportation, home visitation, minor home repairs, office assistance, or support at fundraisers and community events.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC
Volunteers at Second Harvest assist with food sorting, community meals, and gardening projects. They also support mobile pantry distributions, community food events, and blood drives. No special experience is required, and individuals, groups, and community service projects are encouraged to participate.

These organizations offer a wide range of flexible opportunities to suit different skills and interests.

03/19/2024

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A mountaintop estate in Highlands, North Carolina, is set to break records with its market listing price of $49.99 million, a figure that doubles the previous highest real estate price in the Carolinas. The 40-acre property, known as Sagee Manor, is located about 100 miles west of Charlotte, in the....

02/07/2024