With today’s buyer’s market, you can talk down the price of everything from flat-screen televisions to summer rentals. When it comes to home improvement, though, haggling is as risky as ever. Even if contractors are more willing to lower their prices nowadays, they’re still liable to get angry and to cut corners on the job.

To find out how consumers can safely play this give-and-take, we asked dozens of home-improvement pros around the country what approaches would work on them. Most didn’t want to talk about it, but we persisted, and a few revealed plum tips.

Stir up competition, get at least three bids so you know the market price range for the job. Tell each contractor that you’re getting other bids, so he’s motivated to give you a competitive number. (more…)

WEST JEFFERSON NC MOUNTAIN PROPERTY

87.5 +/- Acres Available For Residential Subdivision Mountain Development, 7 miles from West Jefferson, NC

Paved Road and Bridge Built To State Specifications.

Average of $23,000 per acre.

This Property Should Retail For Approximately $50,000 to $60,000 per acre.

ALL PROPERTY HAS LONG RANGE MOUNTAIN VIEWS

Contact Greg Stikeleather, Broker, 704.880.5247

or

email Greg at grstike@charter.net

click here for more information

The Skyline Drive is 105 miles long. The gateway to the scenic ride is Front Royal, a town that thrives on the tourists who pass through, heading to the Skyline Drive. Front Royal tourism coordinator Jennifer Keck says hundreds of thousands of people - make the journey each year.

"We see between 400,000 and 500,000 visitors annually that come in and use this northern gateway," said Front Royal tourism coordinator Jennifer Keck. "They're potential visitors to Front Royal to see all the great things we have to offer and to stop, spend the night, have lunch, dinner, that kind of thing."

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Cyclists Assault Mt. Mitchell The route began on South Church Street and continued to Highway 80 before entering the Blue Ridge Parkway for the last leg of the trip. There is an imposed rider count of 750 or 3:30 pm cut off time for riders to get on the Parkway at the top of Hwy.

All riders must first participate in the Assault on Mt. Marion ride the year before. That ride also started in Spartanburg Monday after the last group from the Mt. Mitchell ride leaves.The riders left in groups of 100 in one minute intervals.The route began on South Church Street and continued to Highway 80 before entering the Blue Ridge Parkway for the last leg of the trip.There is an imposed rider count of 750 or 3:30 p.m. cut off time for riders to get on the Parkway at the top of Hwy. 80, according to the race Web site.That's in accordance with organizer's contract with the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Web site said.

History of Cherokees, Smokies Intertwine CHEROKEE, NC - A walking trail edges the Oconaluftee River as it leaves the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and flows into the town of Cherokee. The water shimmers as it ripples across smooth stones.

Cyclists should try other routes There are some very safe, not heavily traveled, areas nearby where all the benefits of the cycling experience can be enjoyed. Less than 25 minutes from both Albemarle and Greene counties are the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Talk about “fresh air and beautiful scenery,” not to mention a wider road with a 35 mph speed limit, and no one there is in a big hurry to go anywhere. Tossing the bike on the carrack for a short, safe drive prior to a long safe ride might be worth consideration.

May  is traditionally the best month for viewing wildflowers along the Blue Ridge.

Mayapple, Bloodroot, Trillium, and a few Dogwoods are left over as well. Flaming Pink Azaleas should be showing soon along with Mountain Laurel. Trillium is still blooming nicely, especially from Linville Falls to Crabtree Meadows. From the Boone/Blowing Rock area, traveling south, look for Dogwood, Frasier Magnolia, and Sarvis. These are the most prominent blooming trees. (more…)