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5 Delicious Upstate Restaurants To Visit (Plus A Bonus!)

September 3, 2021 by RHA Team

The Upstate is filled to the brim with amazing places to eat. Greenville and the surrounding area is truly a foodie paradise.

To help you explore, here are five (PLUS A BONUS!) delightful restaurants that we personally love.

S.B.H. BBQ CO. (Greenville) – There’s a difference between “barbecue” and “competition barbecue.” Barbecue is that beautiful combination of tradition, hard work, love and (sorry people from out west) pork. That’s right, I said it, barbecue is pork. For most of us, competition barbecue is the kind of thing we see on TV but never get to experience, typically involving a bunch of bearded men in aprons staring at their smokers and cooking beef brisket. I don’t mind the beards and aprons, but in my experience brisket doesn’t make very good barbecue. It’s finicky, hard to cook, and if it isn’t done right it’s like eating an old dry leather belt. One exception is the brisket at S.B.H. BBQ Co. Competition Style BBQ. They’ve got plenty of ribbons, trophies and awards in their restaurant to prove that they know what barbecue is all about. Their brisket is tender, juicy, buttery, thick cut and sublime in every way. Try their brisket sandwich with cheese on top, hand cut fries and a little slaw on the side. I recommend the “sweet” barbecue sauce, but they’re all good. S.B.H. also has smoked pork and chicken, but I just can’t pass up the brisket (please don’t tell my southern friends). Eat local y’all!

JAVA BISTRO & CAFE (Simpsonville) – If you’re hungry, and in the Five Forks area of Simpsonville, you’ve got to visit Java Bistro. Good coffee, great food, friendly staff and a laid back atmosphere. My family has been going there for about 10 years and it’s a permanent fixture on our breakfast and brunch rotation. Try the sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a buttered croissant or the patty melt with their fresh cut home fries – you won’t be disappointed!

ALPHA RESTAURANT (Taylors) – A lot of people are afraid to try new restaurants. “How do I know if the food is good?” Use your nose. Drive into the parking lot, roll down your window and smell. At Alpha you’ll smell the glorious aroma of grilling meats and crispy thick cut fries. Mmmm. I like to order their “Philly Cheese Steak” plate. Tender thin cut steak, caramelized onions and bell peppers on a soft roll. Give it a try!

NEW ENGLAND SEAFOOD (Greenville) – Good seafood can be hard to come by when you’re away from the coast. If you’re anywhere near Haywood Mall and in the mood for a good, solid seafood meal without the pretentiousness of a fancy restaurant atmosphere give New England Seafood a try. My favorite is the fish and chips (#17 on the menu). It’s a big beautiful piece of golden fried haddock that comes with slaw, shoestring fries and thin cut onion rings. Even better with a cup of “chowdah!”

KITCHEN SYNC (Greenville) – Kitchen Sync has a fun, creative southern comfort food inspired menu with lots of locally sourced ingredients. This is a great place to step out of your comfort zone and order something you normally wouldn’t, like their incredible tomato pie (cheesy, gooey, flaky, awesome), the catfish fish and chips (so good!), or the “Beets by K” organic fried beets appetizer (I know, I don’t like beets either, but these are crazy good). The relaxing back patio is a great place to spend the evening eating and sipping a cocktail or two. Eat local, y’all!

PLUS A BONUS…

Anyone who knows me, has read my other food blogs, or has seen my waistline knows that it would be very rare for me to use the words “salad” and “satisfying” in the same sentence, but the ribeye salad at Palmetto Fine Foods on Laurens Road in Greenville qualifies without question. A large portion of perfectly seasoned thin cut diced steak, crisp greens and the best house made buttermilk ranch dressing you’ve ever had. Super good. They even add the old south traditional pickles and hard boiled egg – simply perfection.

If you’re in the neighborhood please don’t pass up Palmetto Fine Foods. Family owned and operated, you’re likely to be greeted by the owner himself. This isn’t your average diner. High quality ingredients, friendly service and a part of this town that I hope lasts forever. I’ve tried almost the entire menu and have never had a bad meal. Try the steak fingers with tots, gyros or anything else on the big menu board, you won’t be disappointed.

P.S. If you have kids, make a day of it. Go to the Greenville Zoo (about 2 miles away) then take your family to Palmetto Fine Foods.

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“Let me just start out saying… this agent is AWESOME!!!! He looks for what you want. He goes far beyond expectations to make sure there are not any flaws with the house, and if so he lets you know. I felt very comfortable with him. He made the process so easy.”

R. Dickerson

How “Qualified” Are You?

August 10, 2021 by RHA Team

I often see the terms “pre-qualification” and “pre-approval” used interchangeably by buyers, sellers and their agents, but there are important differences you want to know when looking to buy or sell a home in Upstate, SC.

Definitions may vary a little from lender to lender, but these descriptions are a good start:

Pre-qualification: The lowest and often least accurate expression of a buyer’s ability to complete a home purchase. The lender (or lender’s website in many cases) has compared the potential buyer’s income and debts to conclude that the buyer can likely afford to purchase a home in a certain price range. The lender typically runs the buyer’s credit, but the buyer’s financial information is not verified.

It’s often said that “pre-qualification” letters aren’t worth the paper they’re written on, as the potential buyer may not have disclosed their full financial situation and without further investigation their ability to purchase cannot be completely verified.

Pre-approval: Similar to a pre-qualification, but more valuable to both buyers and sellers because additional due-diligence has been done by the lender. Buyers are often required to submit a few financial documents (bank statements, pay stubs, tax records, etc.) for verification prior to the lender issuing a “pre-approval” letter.

Pre-underwriting: The most comprehensive and certain form of buyer pre-approval. The lender collects, analyzes and approves all necessary financial documents from the buyer and issues their final financial approval of the buyer. Very few lenders will “pre-underwrite” a buyer as the process is time consuming and expensive, but sellers and their agents are generally impressed by buyers that are fully approved in this manner.

So what does this mean to YOU?

If you’re a seller…

Pre-approved and pre-underwritten buyers are less risky. If you accept an offer from one of these buyers there’s a much smaller chance that your sale will fall through and you’ll have to put your home back on the market.

If you’re a buyer…

Let’s be honest, the loan application and approval process is a hassle. Lot of time, and lots of paperwork, but you’ll have to do it either before you find your new home or after you’re under contract. It’s best to give your lender all the financial documentation they ask for (before you start submitting offers) to get “pre-approved or “pre-underwritten” to ensure that you’re financially qualified to purchase and to reduce the risk that your lender will deny your loan at the last minute.

If there’s a problem you definitely want to find out sooner rather than later, potentially after you’ve completed and paid for your home inspections and appraisal, sold your current home, or terminated your lease and gotten excited about moving into your new home.

—> Like this post? Check out “5 Must-Knows Before Hiring A Real Estate Agent” next by clicking HERE.

R. Dickerson

A Little Detail That Makes A Big Difference

May 14, 2021 by RHA Team

When it comes to selling and buying a home in the Upstate of South Carolina, it’s often the little things that can make a big difference in how you love your home.

In the video below, pro Chris Webb shares an easily overlooked detail that you often see in flipped homes. If you are considering updating your home or buying a home with barn doors, check out this video for an easy tip to improve the way homeowners will love the home.

Check out some helpful ways to explore the Upstate of SC HERE!

The Must Do’s & Don’ts To Get Your Home Ready To Sell

March 1, 2021 by RHA Team

When it comes to selling your home, you’re going to be bombarded with a lot of opinions and clutter about what all you need to do in order to get your house market ready. Here’s the good news… you can ignore most of it.

With 25 years of experience in real estate, we’ve learned what is truly a MUST-DO to sell your home. So, we’re sharing this helpful guide with you to help relieve a little stress and help you cut through the clutter!

DO:

Give your home some curb appeal. You don’t need a full yard renovation before putting your house on the market. Creating curb appeal is all about making your home look welcoming. How do you do that? Focus on the key exterior items that show a home has been taken care of. Mowing the lawn, trimming the bushes, and removing cobwebs/debris from your front door is a solid start. If you want to add a little more pizazz, touch up the paint on your mailbox and hang/plant a few flowers for a pop of color.
Clean up and de-clutter. A potential buyer wants a fresh start in a new home. Make it easy for them to see the possibilities by creating a clean slate they can project their life onto. First, start with simply deep cleaning. Go through each room and clean it like your mother-in-law is coming to stay for a few weeks. Then, take a hard look at the items in the room. Are there places to de-clutter and create more visual space? Use this as the opportunity to start packing and remove items you don’t really need anymore. (It makes YOUR move easier, too.)
Repair small items. Potential buyers tend to be a little anxious — buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most families make. Every home buyer has heard horror stories about buying a home and only finding out there are major problems after the close. So, don’t give them reason to worry. By repairing small items that can be seen, you’re giving the sign that you’ve cared for your home and they don’t need to worry it’s a money-pit waiting to happen. Front door locks that don’t work, dead light bulbs, a broken screen, and toilets that don’t easily flush may seem like small things, but they trigger someone to wonder WHAT ELSE you haven’t you been taking care of? Take a weekend for those honey-do repairs you’ve been wanting to do and don’t give a potential buyer a reason to worry.
Make your home smell gooooooood. Smell is one of the most powerful senses, with the olfactory system located in the same part of the brain that effects emotions and memory. By creating a warm, welcoming scent throughout your home, you’re helping your house to stand out amongst the crowd. When it comes to smells, be careful and don’t go overboard. Think grandma’s house or a hotel lobby you love. Choose a scent that evokes either warmth and home (like cookies baking or a light vanilla), or one that reinforces how clean and loved your house is (lemon, a little lavender, or lemongrass do the trick).

DON’T:

Remove all of your family photos. It’s not necessary to completely depersonalize your house. A potential buyer wants to know they’ll be happy there, too. Seeing pictures of your family and you being happy can reinforce it’s a home, not just a house.
Remove furniture that helps demonstrate an effective way to furnish a room. If you have furniture that fits well in the room and can help the buyer imagine themselves in it, you can leave it. A good example is a king/queen size bed that shows there is plenty of space in a bedroom.
Feel the need to paint every room the same neutral color. It’s okay to have some personality in the house. If you have a nice paint palette already in the house, don’t spend your time and money painting neutral walls. When it is worth painting is if you have a bright orange Clemson room or dark purple in your kid’s space. Painting something that extreme a neutral color will give the buyer the flexibility to see the rooms as they’d like to use them.
Assume that you have to do a major renovation before listing your home. Minor upgrades that are very visible (like new track lighting or a fresh carpet if it’s run down) are worth the energy. But, you don’t have to spend thousands on a new bathroom to show the value of your home. Potential buyers like to bring their personality into their new home, so give them the chance to do that. Only spend bigger dollars if it’s a major flaw that will hold up the sale, like a broken AC or a room with a major leak.

Hopefully this guide helps you to focus on the improvements that truly matter and remove a little stress from the selling process. When you’re ready to sell, give Reliable Home Advisors a call and let us help you navigate the buying and selling process with ease.

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R. Dickerson

Should You Replace Your Single Pane Windows?

February 19, 2021 by RHA Team

Pro Chris Webb shares how one update can increase your resell value, reduce energy costs, AND save your furniture.

Check out the video below to find out how, and give us a call today to help you buy or sell your home in Upstate, SC.

Follow us here and on social media for more tips, tools, and videos coming your way!

3 Insider Tips To Buying a Home You Love

February 9, 2021 by RHA Team

Buying a new home is a major moment in life. How do you make sure the house you choose is the one you’ll love — and KEEP loving?

Below, Chris Webb shares three insider tips he suggests for all home buyers:

Buy the house that fits your lifestyle, not just your budget. Say you find a house with a great price. Now, walk through it and imagine a week in it. If you like to entertain, is there cabinet space for your platters and an oven big enough for multiple items? Do you hate sharing a bathroom with someone? Then, look for at least an extra half bath for when guests are in town. Looking beyond just the price and seeing yourself LIVING in the house is the key to selecting the right HOME.
Bigger doesn’t mean better. There’s an old adage in the real estate business (and a reason it’s stayed relevant) — don’t buy the biggest or most expensive home in the neighborhood. If you buy the biggest/most expensive house, you’re limiting your potential appreciation, as your neighbors can weigh you down. If you’re paying the most in the neighborhood, you’ll also limit the audience of buyers when you’re ready to sell.
Give your house a good look under the hood. Just like a car, you want to know what’s really going on before you buy it. That’s where a good home inspector is critical. That $200 could save you thousands in the long run, and they’re an unbiased third-party to give you real insights on the health of your home.

Those are just a few quick pro tips to help you navigate the buying process. Follow us here and on social media for more tips, tools, and videos coming your way!

R. Dickerson