Moths that thrive on wardrobes full of cashmere, wool, fur and other fabrics made from animal hair are a bane to many people. But there are plenty of ways to protect your clothes without resorting to mothballs.

Cleanliness is the first — and best — line of defense, said Cheryl Ann Farr, a professor of textiles and clothing at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., because dirty clothes are often what attract moths in the first place. Moth eggs, larvae and adult moths can all be killed by a hot-water wash cycle or by dry cleaning. And any that remain in the closet can be vacuumed up or removed by scrubbing. (more…)

The Malone Bay community features 18 lots at W. Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir. Fourteen (14) are Lakefront and meet private dock requirements. All lots have access to public water, saving owners from $5,000 to $10,000 on drilling a well. These lots have public water and will save you the cost of drilling a well. The entire development also features underground utilities.

This is a gated community with lots ranging from 2.3+- acres to 6.8+- acres on the Hwy 421 side of the lake just off South Minton Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

W. Kerr Scott Lake is 1500 acres with 50 miles of shoreline and is controlled by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It is clean water with good fishing and is excellent for boating, kayaking, skiing, and swimming. The property is surrounded by National Parks. Wilkesboro is a beautiful community and town with friendly people. It is located just 40 miles east of Boone and Blowing Rock, NC and one and a half hours northwest of Charlotte.

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New rules for lead paint removal go into effect April 22, adding a bit more time and cost to some home renovations.

The Environmental Protection Agency will require all contractors be certified to take out lead paint. Previously, no certification was required and homeowners could ”opt-out” of lead-safe practices if no children under six years old or pregnant women lived in the house.

The EPA estimates the new rules will add an hour to project clean-up and add just under $100 per job for most renovations. The agency estimates about 38 million homes and apartment units, or 40 percent of the housing stock, contain lead paint. (more…)

They may not be powerful enough to heat large, drafty rooms on their own, but portable heaters are good for saving energy if you use them to heat only the room you are in, and turn the temperature down in other rooms. They also work well as personal space warmers while you read or watch TV.

The model from Holmes, a 15-inch mini-tower, produced the hottest air and took only about 20 minutes to warm up the room by 10 degrees. It can be set to either high or low, or to a specific temperature between 60 and 80 degrees, in increments of 5 degrees. As the grill heats up, it changes color to remind you that it is hot, which is good because it’s not one you want to touch. (more…)

Waterfront on New River

Heritage Estates Lot 46. 1.3 acres. 100 feet on the river. Anchored gazebo stays. Septic permit. Shared well. Graded and ready to build on. Paved road.

MLS Number: 54345
List Price: $110,000

Very nice lot on New River. Good neighborhood, paved road to lot. Over 100′ on river, has a new gazebo anchored on lot that stays. Septic permit has been pulled as per seller. Grading has been done and shared well on lot. Ready to build on.

Ashe County
Lot Size, Apx Acreage: 1.37
Type: Waterfront
Suitable Use: Residential
Topography: Level, Stream/Creek
Utilities: Total Electric
Water/Sewer: Community Water, Septic Tank
Road Frontage: Private Road, Paved Road
Miscellaneous: 1-5 Acres

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Remodeling magazine noted in a recent article that you can expect to recoup only about 63.8 percent on every remodeling dollar spent. While not a bad return, that’s down 26 percent from its peak return of 86.7 percent in 2005. Unfortunately, it marks the fourth consecutive year that the return on remodeling has fallen.

George Christiansen, president of Pequot Remodeling Corp. in Southport, still thinks money wisely spent on remodeling is a good investment. At the very least, it can make your home stand out in a sluggish housing market. A home with curb appeal tends to draw more potential buyers. (more…)