Month: November 2017

South Carolina

Should you Visit South Carolina During Christmas?

Dinner cruises, light displays, timeless concerts and oh-so-charming people make South Carolina a glorious Christmas destination. Thanks to our charming small towns, South Carolina has become one of the most popular winter stops in the country. If you are an out-of-state visitor and can spare a few days this season, we strongly suggest you put South Carolina’s festive enthusiasm to the test!

Beautiful Towns, Spirited Activities

The Palmetto State has a variety of Awesome Christmas towns you can visit. You could try Charleston, Aiken, Anderson, or Greenville, just to name a few. Charleston, South Carolina, has most things to see – beautiful old homes in the downtown area, plantation homes, the old open air market, beaches, museums, art galleries…you name it! Or you could go to Myrtle Beach area. It’ll really get you in the Christmas spirit. There are many fantastic activities in the area, and a lot of shopping opportunities. Rock Hill is another small town that makes the state really quite during Christmas.

https://www.palmettopark.com/blog/best-christmas-towns-in-sc/>> Check out our article on the 5 best Christmas Towns in South Carolina.

What to do in South Carolina during Christmas

No matter what your interests are, there’s always something to make your holiday in the South truly memorable.

Mountain Christmas in Greenville

Christmas comes early in Greenville, one of Carolina’s most popular small towns. On 5th of December this year, you can participate in the Poinsettia Christmas Parade in Downtown Greenville. This lively parade involves marching bands, as well as school and community groups dressed for the season.

Throughout the holiday month of December (1st – 30th), the Roper Mountain Holiday Lights in Greenville feature a towering display of lights to depict the holiday tradition. There are more than 200,000 lights – complemented by animation and landscape lighting – that provide a spectacular Christmas light show.

Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade

See marching bands, floats, popular performing groups, classic and vintage vehicles, and of course Santa on December 5th in Columbia, SC. This year’s Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade will start at the corner of Bull and Gervais street.

Christmas in the Hopelands

Every year in December (13th–23rd, 26th-27th), the Hopelands Gardens in the town of Aiken are illuminated with more than 100,000 lights. You get over 1.5 miles of spectacular lighted pathways where you can enjoy a thrilling Christmas time with your family between 6.00 pm and 9.30 p.m.

ChristmasVille in Rock Hill

On 3rd – 6th of December this year, Rock Hill will become ChristmasVille, bringing plenty of holiday cheer to the historic town. This annual transformation makes Rock Hill one of the perfect places to spend a day or night and kick off your holiday season on a high note. ChristmasVille has proved to be one of the most fun street festivals in the whole state.

Night of a Thousand Candles

One of Palmetto State’s premier light festivals. Brookgreen Gardens comes to life in the soft glow of thousands of hand-lit candles and numerous parking lights. You can enjoy a warm cup of coffee, take in the sounds of holiday music, and celebrate the season in style with family and friends.

 

 

 

South Carolina

5 of the Best Christmas Towns in South Carolina 2017

From ‘ChristmasVille’ Rock Hill to ‘Holy’ Charleston, South Carolina is home to some of the most enchanting, magical Christmas towns. Around this time, most towns here in the Palmetto State are glowing with festive enthusiasm and the Christmas spirit. We have narrowed down our 5 best Christmas towns in South Carolina this year.

1.      Rock Hill – Get into the Holiday Mood

Rock Hill, aka ChristmasVille, is home to unbridled Christmas fun and festivities. Every year since 2006, Rock Hill transforms into a hive of Christmas activities. This Southern town is great if you’re looking to stir your Christmas moods. The Main Street here has an ice rink where kids can skate, and Santa is all over town for the whole family. Whatever else you could ask for, Rock Hill delivers. There’s a Polar Express trackless train, downtown performances, countless opportunities for a tasty meal, an annual Gingerbread House contest, and plenty of costumed characters!

2.      Charleston – Spend a Coastal Christmas

Christmas-light wrapped palm trees, decorated historic homes, an iconic annual festival of lights, great Southern food, and being able to build a snowman out of sand are just a few of the things that describe Charleston during Christmas. Head to Marion Square (home to the city’s official 60 ft. holiday tree) for a diversity of family-oriented performances and activities. The annual holiday parade will kick off at 2.00 pm on December 4. On December 10th, you can spend your evening enjoying the Parade of Boats, a local holiday tradition where scores of lighted boats proceed through the Charleston Harbor. Pub crawls and dinners, shopping at the old City Market, and concerts at Drayton Hall just make your stay in Charleston incredible. During Christmas time, numerous hotels – including the Francis Marion Hotel, Belmond Charleston Place, and HarbourView Inn – offer special holiday packages.

3.      Greenwood  – Whimsical Holiday Décor

Greenwood is the classic American small town, complete with a downtown main street. In the weeks before Christmas, the town dresses up its Main Street in hundreds of thousands of lights to set the stage for the tree lighting ceremony. The Santa on Main Parade, which draws most of the town, to the downtown district, is a must-go for kids.

4.      Greenville  – Fun All Holiday Long

During Christmas, Greenville, South Carolina, is a real charmer. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do. For starters, the Roper Mountain Science Center creates these beautiful light displays that breathe the holiday spirit right into you. This is a drive-through display so you can enjoy the spectacle with your family in the car and avoid the cold. Catch some entertainment at the Peace Center, do a little bit of shopping in historic downtown Greenville, and be merry in one of the many hotels and holiday rentals in the town!

5.      Aiken – Breathtaking Walk-through Exhibit

The 26th Annual Christmas in Hopelands single-handedly makes Aiken one of the best Christmas towns in South Carolina. This is an enchanting walk-through exhibit featuring over 2 miles of lighted pathways and holiday displays. Additionally, there are many exciting holiday packages, festive shopping opportunities, magical events, dining experiences, and caroling on the street corners that makes Aiken an all-round awesome holiday destination.

Just in case your town didn’t make it to our list this year, we know the Christmas Spirit is everywhere in South Carolina! You can let us know what makes your city awesome during Christmas in the comments section!

 

Selling

How To Prepare Your Home For Real Estate Photos

When it comes to preparing one’s home for sale, most people generally understand that getting their home as clean and organized as possible is more or less a requirement. However, rarely do homeowners put too much thought into preparing their homes adequately for real estate photos. According to the National Association of REALTORS, 92% of homebuyers begin their home search online so it is important to make the first impression count!

Professional and attractive photos increase the likelihood that a potential buyer will decide to schedule a tour of your home. If you are getting ready to sell your home, preparing for real estate photos will take some work so give yourself adequate time to get your home picture perfect.

General Guidelines for Real Estate Photos

Everyone knows that first impression matters. The exterior is the first thing that people will see when they pull up to the house making it extremely important that the curb view is neat and tidy.

General rule of thumb when prepping for these photos is that less is more. It is always best to clear the clutter out of every room because a clean space makes a room look larger. The goal is to create generic but pleasing rooms that a potential buyer will find inviting and attractive to picture himself or herself living in your home.

It’s very important that all areas are also thoroughly cleaned and spotless. You’ll want to walk through your home and remove hard water build up, dirt or anything else that might be visible. Wipe down all the windows so they are spotless of marks and fingerprints.

Last, you’ll want as much light as possible to show how bright and vibrant your home is. Prior to the photo session you’ll want to turn on all of the lights in the house to make sure the light bulbs are in working order. It’s also always best to raise all of the window shades and blinds at the same length and in the same direction as well. Below you’ll find we’ve created a list to help you prepare your home for the best real estate photos possible.

Kitchen

  • Put away any dishes in the sink
  • Clear as much as possible off counters including food, cutting boards, and small appliances
  • Remove fridge magnets and other items off the fridge
  • Remove dish liquids/towels, cleaning products as well as garbage bins, brooms and mops
  • If possible, put out a bowl of fresh fruit or a vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen table
  • Clean windows and all shiny surfaces

Bathrooms

  • Clean tub area/toilet and leave the shower curtain open
  • Clear off the counter tops including toothbrushes, soaps, razors, lotions and beauty products
  • Remove garbage cans, bath mats, scales, spare toilet rolls, and toilet brushes
  • Remove shampoo and other products from the shower/tub area
  • Close toilet lid

Bedrooms

  • Remove items from bedside tables, including books, magazines, cell phone chargers and jewelry
  • Clear away clothes, shoes, laundry baskets, and make sure that nothing shows under the bed
  • Put away stuffed animals and excess toys from kids rooms
  • Remove portable fans, heaters and waste baskets

Dining Room

  • Clear table, dust and polish the table top
  • Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
  • Use decorative place setting if available
  • Feature one center piece such as a bouquet of flowers
  • If you have a China cabinet make sure things are straight and tidy inside.

Living/Family Rooms

  • Put away all TV/stereo remotes
  • Conceal all electric cords as best you can
  • Remove piles of newspapers and magazines
  • Remove excess clutter

Exterior

  • Move garbage and recycling bins out of sight
  • Keep lawn moved and trim trees/overgrown shrubs
  • Close Garage Doors
  • Sweep porch and sidewalks
  • Remove pool equipment from homes w/ pools
  • Remove visible water hoses

Pets

  • Hide pet beds, toys, water and food bowls
  • Hide pet crate
  • Secure pets in hidden crate or outside
  • Clear back yard of pet waste & toys
  • Use lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair

*Handy Tip: Your photographer will not photograph inside your garage, so it is a good place to store excess items.