Charlotte.com: Allen Norwood

Sealing stone can bring out its natural sparkle

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:00 EDT

Q. I just completed a landscaping project, and installed some stone steps. I'd like to seal the stones to create a “wet” look. Will that be OK? Jim Vincent, Charlotte

Yes, you can seal stone to bring out color variations and other natural elements, just as you'd varnish wood to highlight the grain.

Today, homeowners are using stone for walkways and patios, for retaining walls, for ponds and waterfalls. And the variety of stone, from local granite to sophisticated manufactured products, is more diverse than ever.

In addition to sealing, homeowners face decisions about cleaning and maintaining all sorts of stone, in umpteen types of settings.

You don't need to seal stone, said Johnny Massengale of Ponders in Harrisburg, but sealing won't hurt anything.

“It's not necessary, but you can do it," said Massengale, whose company specializes in ponds, waterfalls and other landscape features made of stone. "You can use concrete sealer. That works.”

Ponders (www.pondersonline.com) sometimes seals stone for its customers.

For instance, Massengale said, some homeowners choose native N.C. stone with flecks of micah, and sealing highlights the silvery sparkle.

The makers of Sakrete and Quikrete offer clear sealers you can apply with a garden sprayer, roller or brush.

You're likely to have to apply several coats of the acrylic sealer to achieve the “wet” look. And, Massengale warned, you'll have to apply more every couple of years to maintain that appearance.

You can even seal manufactured stone pavers if you choose, he said. “(Sealing) actually works better on man-made stone, because it's more porous than natural stone.”

Don't use sealers on stones in fish ponds or water gardens, he said, because some products might harm fish or plants.

For removing algae from walkways and other stone surfaces, Massengale recommends a product called Algae-Off. It's created to be safe for controlling algae in ponds, so it won't damage fish or plants.

On the other hand, why worry about constant cleaning?

“If you're going to get a natural product," Massengale said, "why not let it be natural?”

Palisades HomeArama has houses for horses, too

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:28 EDT

When HomeArama opened at The Palisades back in 2005, the neighborhood was so new that the entrance road asphalt was still warm and the mortar in the entry monument was still wet.

When the annual new-home showcase begins its second stint at The Palisades in October, visitors will see amenities that were only blueprints back then. “You saw the renderings – now you can see the real thing,” said Jim Medall, president of Palisades developer Rhein Interests.

The soccer fields and clubhouse are in place in The Palisades, off N.C. 49 above Lake Wylie, he said, and the new Episcopal School is open. The HomeArama site is in The Ranch, a gated equestrian neighborhood inside the 1,500-acre development, and there's a huge new commercial horse barn that will be available to any horse lovers.

“Galloping trails” ramble through The Ranch, the way 18 holes of green space might twist through a golf course community.

Lots are 1 acre and average $340,000. Each lot will accommodate a two-horse stall. Medall said he expects some horse lovers to buy two or three lots to create larger estates.

He expects homes to range from 4,000 to 10,000 square feet – and the three HomeArama houses, the first in the neighborhood, are on the imposing end of that range.

Lots of other changes are in store for HomeArama this year, too.

It was moved to the fall from its traditional summer run. Dates this year are Oct. 4-Oct. 26.

Charlotte's builders decided to schedule their Parade of Homes in the spring, during what's traditionally a busy buying season, and move the 24th annual HomeArama to the fall so it wouldn't compete with the parade.

“It takes longer to build and decorate homes of this magnitude,” said Mark Baldwin, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Charlotte.

The builders have tweaked the hours and added more special events. Gates will open at 10 a.m. but close at 7 p.m., an hour earlier. Visitors on the site then will be able to continue touring the homes until 8 p.m.

HomeArama will be closed on Mondays, which is new this year. Also new will be a special “women's night out,” although details haven't been set. On chef's day, area chefs will prepare dishes in the home's kitchens, and the interior designers will answer visitors' questions on Fridays.

Tickets will be $15, with discount tickets available at Harris Teeter stores. Parking will be available on the site.

And the featured homes?

Well, one 7,000-square-foot house is joined by a 2,000-square-foot guest house – and its builder says all three properties will dazzle visitors.

“Ours is a classy estate, the ultimate entertainment home,” said Chris Jasinski, an owner of Jordan James Builders. “I've been very impressed with the other two houses, as well. There's a lot going on in all three.”

The Jordan James house, inspired by a Hamptons estate, features an exterior of stone and stucco. The interior designer is Andrea Robinson. It's priced at $2.5 million.

The other showhouses are by Persis-Nova Construction, with interior by Michelle Buchheit; and Anderson Custom Homes, with interior by Jaime Kent.

To reach the Palisades, take N.C. 49 south from I-485 and turn left on Grand Palisades Parkway.

War on ants: Don't give 'em path to victory

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:09 EDT

Occasionally, I take my own advice about the timing of regular household chores. I discovered this week why I should do that more often: I won a small skirmish in the war against ants.

When you're battling ants, you should celebrate even the tiniest victory – because they keep marching relentlessly against you.

Anyway, in my annual month-by-month chore calendar, I suggested cutting trees and shrubs back from the house at midsummer. You want to be sure bushes aren't crowding the heat pump and tree limbs aren't rubbing the roof. You can find the calendar at www.charlotte.com/home. Then click “WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?”

I trimmed back some vines and bushes that were against the house, and discovered that one trumpet vine was a sort of interstate for ants. The vine was I-77 – and our house was Exit 25. I trimmed that vine and closed that off ramp to the house.

If you're battling ants, check the greenery around your house to make sure you're not giving the ants easy access.

Let's discuss pliers, then we'll talk about filters

Her phone message said she was a single woman and a new, first-time homeowner, living alone in a condo bought with the help of her grandmother. She had read last week's column about grit from municipal water-line work possibly gunking up home plumbing. Specifically, she spotted the line about cleaning the little water filters on washing machines.

Her questions were basic.

“Where are they, and what do they look like?” she asked. “And remember, you're talking to someone who doesn't own a pair of pliers.”

First things first: A new homeowner really should own pliers.

I'd recommend pliers with a tongue-and-groove joint, often referred to by the brand name Channellock. They're the ones with the jaws set at a slight angle to the handles. They're a bit easier to use than regular slip-joint pliers. The jaw width adjusts to more positions, and they grip tighter.

Don't buy them off the bargain table, but you don't need to spend a fortune. You can find a good pair for about $10.

While at the hardware store, pick up a multi-bit screwdriver. It should have at least four bits: large and small straight bits, and two sizes of Phillips (X-shaped) bits. You'll use the No. 2 Phillips most, but will need the others by and by.

Multi-bit screwdrivers are widely available – they're often on hardware store checkout aisles, like celebrity mags at the supermarket – and you can buy one for $5.

Buy a hammer, too. (Pliers and screwdriver handles don't make good hammers. Ask anyone who has tried to drive a picture-hanging nail with either.) A 16-ounce claw hammer will cost about as much as the pliers.

Now, back to those screens or filters.

They're built into the water valves on the washing machine, where the hoses attach to the machine.

To get to them, first TURN OFF THE WATER to the hoses. Have a small bucket – or a pot from the kitchen – ready to catch any water that drips from the hoses, then detach the hoses from the back of the machine.

Clean any grit from the screen. A small brush, even an old toothbrush, will help.

Debris is most likely to clog the cold water side, but it's worth checking on the hot water side. Replace hoses securely.

Many hoses have built-in screens, too. Detach the hoses from the spigots on the wall. You should see the screens near the end of the hoses. You probably can remove those screens to clean them. Replace screens, then reattach hoses securely.

Turn water on slowly and watch for leaks. If you see a drip, tighten hose a bit – gently! – with new pliers.

Water-main breaks can plug up lines in homes

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:30 EDT

The good news is, that break in a massive 54-inch water pipe just off Providence Road – and the smaller water line breaks it spawned – are repaired. Utility officials said early this week that things should be close to normal by week's end.

The bad news is, such major disruptions can send debris – usually tiny pieces of minerals and other deposits – into the water pipes in your house, causing problems.

The good news is, you can fix many of them yourself.

Charlotte plumber Ron Steele said he regularly hears from people with clogged plumbing after water-line work.

Debris can clog up the aerators at your kitchen and bathroom sinks. Aerators screw into the ends of spigots and soften the flow to prevent splashing. When they get clogged, they block the flow of water.

They're easy to remove and clean – just rinse them thoroughly. “I would suggest to people, if they have any concerns at all, to go ahead and take those aerators out and clean them,” Steele said.

Don't forget the little filters in the supply lines to your washing machine.

Steele said debris also can clog pressure-reducing valves – which some of his customers aren't even aware they have.

The reducing valve does just what its name implies: reduces high water pressure coming from the line in the street to a lower pressure more compatible with household use.

Many Charlotte-Mecklenburg utility customers added reducing valves eight or nine years ago at the request of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities. The utilities increased pressure in some areas to better serve homeowners at the outer reaches of the system, said spokesman Cam Coley.

Debris in the reducing valve might cause any of several problems. “That can cause the pressure to drop or the volume of water to drop,” Steele said. “Somebody not too long ago said the valve was making a knocking noise or a banging noise.”

If your valve is clogged, you might notice a ringing or “singing” noise when you use water.

If you have a reducing valve, it might be in the water meter box at the street, or in a separate in-ground box nearby. It might be near the whole-house cutoff in the utility room, Steele said, or on the main water line under your house.

Steele, of course, recommends that you call a pro if you suspect you have debris in your reducing valve. That might be a good idea if you're not sure what you're doing.

Some valves have strainers to catch debris. In fact, some manufacturers recommend that you clean the strainer every six months. If you know what company made your reducing valve, you can look for how-to instructions online. (Don't skip over the portion of the instructions that says TURN THE WATER OFF.)

Coley said the debris that gets into water lines typically consists of minerals and other deposits dislodged from pipe walls by changes in water pressure. Workers try to raise and lower pressure gradually to prevent that, he said.

When a line as big as the one off Providence Road breaks – it serves some 100,000 homes in the eastern and southern Mecklenburg – water is rerouted through the system to reach affected households. That also can cause debris. “Even a change in direction can cause it to wash off,” Coley said.

Any time you have a problem with your municipal water – discoloration or air in it, for instance – run some water for a few minutes to see if it clears up. If you still have problems after water-line work, Coley said, report them to 311 or your local water utility.

Best bet to sell your home: Go pro

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:19 EDT

Can you sell your own home yourself? You can try, and you might succeed.

But that's not how to bet. The late Robert Bruss, whose syndicated real estate column appeared in the Observer until his death last fall, used to share the same advice several times a year.

When selling, interview three successful agents who are knowledgeable about your neighborhood. They won't mind – because they know that most FIZZBOs (For Sale By Owner) list with an agent in 30 to 60 days, usually one of the agents interviewed.

Bob often pointed out over the years that 80 percent of home sales were handled by agents. In his columns and more in-depth bulletins, he said that tough economic times and complicated disclosure forms increase the odds that you'll need a pro to handle a sale with no problems.

And, heaven knows, these are tough, complicated times.

My wife and I sold a Charlotte home without an agent years ago. I stuck a sign in the yard on a Sunday morning and we had an offer by dark.That was then – this is now.

I'd never try the same thing in this market. Our current home is for sale – listed with an experienced agent.

Not-so-funny FIZZBO

I made a joke in last week's column that provoked more confusion than laughs. So let me set the record straight: Dot Munson, president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association, is not selling her own home as the typical for-sale-by-owner.

Nor is she trying to bypass the regional multiple listing service or avoid fees to a buyer's agent.

In last Saturday's column, Dot talked about putting her own home on the market amid all the economic uncertainty. I jokingly asked her which agent she'd listed with. She jokingly replied that it was a “FIZZBO.”

For that, I'm told by friends of hers, she's being pilloried by a few members of the association. For some of them, “FIZZBO” is a four-letter word.

She's a seasoned pro, but she shouldn't endure attacks because someone missed the point of something I wrote.

Her home in Barclay Downs is listed through her own firm, RE/MAX Executive Realty. She's the listing agent, of course, hence last week's quip.

Market may have hit bottom

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:45 EDT

Dot Munson spent two months sprucing up her house in Barclay Downs, and listed it for sale a week ago. She priced it a bit below the appraised value. Now she's waiting and hoping, like thousands of other home sellers across Charlotte.

“Who'd you list with?” I asked her.

“It's a FIZZBO,” she said with a laugh.

FIZZBO is shorthand for for-sale-by-owner, of course, and if you recognize her name you understand why the question brought a chuckle. She's with RE/MAX Executive Realty and president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association.

Like her clients, she's facing the realities reflected in dry sales statistics.

The May statistics are out for the Charlotte market, and it's more of the same.

Contracts on homes, condos and townhouses, the most current snapshot of activity, are down 27 percent from the same month last year. Closings are down 26 percent.

The average closing price is down a sliver and, these days, a sliver is good. The average residential closing price last month through Carolina Multiple Listing Services was $223,946.

My instincts, for what they're worth, say that the Charlotte market has found a bottom. It's bumping along, down about a quarter to a third, waiting for some nudge to turn it upward.

Munson said she pretty much agrees.

“I think that if we can maintain the status quo for a few more months, that we probably will be in good shape,” she said.

Dan Cottingham of Cottingham-Chalk thinks the market is at a bottom – “Like all markets, it will gyrate around a little bit at the bottom” – and predicts improvement this fall.

Munson and Cottingham say the fall presidential election, whatever the outcome, could provide a lift by eliminating some uncertainty about the future.

It sounds backwards, but Cottingham also thinks an increase in mortgage rates could boost the market.

Many borrowers hold off while rates are falling, but rush to buy or refinance when an uptick signals that rates are as low as they're going for a while.

That uptick is coming, said Cottingham.

“This will be the first market I've ever seen that was improved by rising rates,” he said.

This home editor is leaving the building

Fri, 30 May 2008 22:36 EDT

This is a goodbye, of sorts.

After 12 years as home editor – and 33 years in this building on South Tryon Street – I'm retiring. I'll write columns, and welcome your e-mails, but you won't find me at the office.

It has been an amazing run, and the finish line comes at an opportune time. The home section this month was named the best in the country for papers our size by the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

I've won some honors over the years. For columns and editorial writing and, as home editor, for furniture coverage. The latest recognition is especially rewarding because I care so much about the section, and because it was a group honor.

I've hugely enjoyed working with this team, with the designers, copy editors, artists and photographers who produce the home section.

As a columnist, I helped cover hurricanes.

I remember the look in the eyes of a shrimp-boat-captain-turned-school-principal as we waited for Hurricane Diane to slam the Wilmington area in 1984. He promised all of us who took shelter in his school auditorium that we'd get through it, and we did.

For years, I rode the elephants from the train to the coliseum when the circus came to town. I rode a couple of them, India and Susie, more than once. I liked India best. Susie tended to break ranks and wander when we passed patches of clover – and there's no steering wheel on an elephant.

Being home editor, I'd say, falls somewhere in between.

Production days can be like gathering storms, and quickly teach you to appreciate steady, seasoned hands.

Covering your first HomeArama, or the furniture show in High Point, is kind of like getting on your first elephant. All you can do is take a deep breath and climb aboard.

I've lost track of the showhouses I've covered, but I enjoyed every one.

Peter Leeke of Kingswood Custom Homes and I chatted this spring in the showhouse he built to benefit St. Jude.

In passing, he offered that I really seemed to enjoy his business.

I told him that I admired folks who care, whatever their craft or calling.

During nearly four decades of newspapering, I've met and written about lots of people who care. They care about their jobs, about their churches and their communities, about sick kids who need help.

North Carolina's embattled furniture industry is dotted with workers who care about their creations. Factory owners care – you can see it in their eyes when they talk about layoffs.

Realtors tend to worry about their public image, but based on my calls and e-mails, they shouldn't fret so much. And, after a dozen years dealing with agents and brokers, with staffers at the regional association, I can tell you that the industry is filled with pros who care.

As I told Peter, the building industry is, too.

I'm no expert, of course, but it seems to me that to be happy you ought to find something worthwhile to care about and unabashedly give it your very best.

I'll be stepping down, but the others on that team honored by NAREE will be here. I've never worked with journalists who cared more.

They'll still be putting out your Home&Garden section.

Foreclosures even hitting neighborhood groups

Fri, 23 May 2008 18:53 EDT

Local neighborhood associations are cutting back on pool hours, landscape maintenance and other services as cash-strapped homeowners renege on association fees.

“One neighborhood we manage had to fire their landscaper,” said Gail Pizetoski of Jorel Association Management. “They have volunteers cutting the grass.”

In some neighborhoods, the problem is magnified by foreclosures.

When a lender takes control of a house, any back association fees are eliminated. “Even if the association had filed a lien on the house.... the fees are wiped away,” said Pizetoski, whose company manages 40 associations.

And some lenders that foreclose, according to news stories, simply refuse to pay any additional association fees after the foreclosure. I asked Pizetoski if that's the case here.

She said that – most of the time, eventually – the associations she manages receive some of the monthly fees from lenders after they take possession.

While the previous owner's back fees and any fines are eliminated, the lender is, indeed, liable for fees after it takes ownership and records the deed.

A lender might not record the deed right away after foreclosing on a house, she said, which delays collections. But the meter starts running when the papers are filed.

And if the lender doesn't pay the fees, the association can attach a lien to the property, just as if the house were owned by an individual. The lender can't sell the property until the debt is settled and the lien is removed.

“We've slapped liens on HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) and on banks,” Pizetoski said. “We usually get paid.”

Last day for showhouse tour

Today is the last official day you can tour the showhouse hosted by the Interior Design Society at The Trust condos in uptown Charlotte. You'll find more information in today's Home Calendar.

But …

Participating designers will sell furnishings and accessories Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., according to Toni Sawhney, vice president of IDS and a showhouse organizer.

And, in June, the designers plan to spin their magic in a second condo in the former Home Federal Savings and Loan building.

Details to come, so stay tuned.

Wheeler helped out those in need

This isn't Home related, but I'd like to say goodbye to Humpy Wheeler, who this week announced his retirement from Lowe's Motor Speedway.

You might know him as a guiding force behind today's popularity of NASCAR, or as the impresario behind wacky race track stunts. I'd like to tell you about Humpy the waiter.

Two decades ago, Wheeler and I were among volunteers who waited tables at benefit lunches to raise money for Programs for Accessible Living, now Disability Rights & Resources.

(The first year we served fancy plates. The second year, we handed out paper buckets of chicken. Yes, the plates were breakable.)

Anyway, I discovered two things:

If Humpy Wheeler and Larry Sprinkle are working the room, everybody else is pretty much just scenery.

And Mr. Wheeler touched and improved the lives of folks who never saw a race. The whole community will miss him.

Basement photos came from Roby

Photos of a remodeled basement we ran last week came from Andrew Roby General Contractor. Roby's Trent Haston said credit should go to photographer John Drawbaugh.

Empty frame touts Myers Park project

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:54 EDT

OK, here's the scoop on that giant gold picture frame on Selwyn Avenue in Myers Park:

The ornate 16-by-20- foot frame weighs 400 pounds. It was lifted into place by crane on May 9. It's supported by pipes sunk into concrete.

If you've seen it, you know that it “frames” the façade of a model home in a new community, Stephens Square, by Simonini Builders. When completed, the development will consist of 10 homes at Selwyn and Queens Road West.

Scott Teel, Simonini marketing director, said the giant frame was the brainchild of the creative folks at LKM, a Charlotte marketing company. “They decided on an ‘artwork' approach … and then came up with the frame idea,” he said.

The frame was built by Jeff Hamrick – who, it turns out, has experience with giant frames. Also, with giant electronic gizmos and human ears. He builds television sets and props. You can see more of his work at www.theinteriorartisan.com.

Hamrick spent five days building the giant frame that's on Selwyn.

Teel said Simonini (www.simonini.com) plans to leave the frame in place at least for three or four weeks, through grand opening events.

A furniture line of his own

Charlotte interior designer Will Smith, a top contestant last year on HGTV's “Design Star,” has teamed with Tharold Huffman of Briadon Designs to offer a new collection of contemporary, eco-friendly furniture.

They unveiled a small group of wood furniture this week, and Smith says they plan more. “We're talking about upholstery with a ‘green' company,” he said.

Should be a good match. To see what I mean, visit Smith's Web site at www.interiormotives.ws and click on “Custom furniture.” Check out the diamond table, mod wine rack and other items.

Mecklenburg sales down, but not equally

Fri, 02 May 2008 21:06 EDT

Real estate folks like to point out that an average is just that, an average. When average sales are down, that doesn't mean sales are down by the same amount in every neighborhood. In fact, sales could be up in some areas, including yours.

Elementary-school math says that's true, and there's plenty of other evidence. Average home prices are down across the country, according to the respected Case-Shiller report – but up slightly in Charlotte.

I wondered whether local sales could be up in one of the nine multiple listing areas in Mecklenburg County, so I compared sales figures for March with the same month last year. The quick answer is no.

As you might imagine, though, Mecklenburg sales aren't down equally.

Sales dipped the least – 19 percent – in Area 8, northwest of uptown. They fell the most in southwest Mecklenburg's Area 6, where they dropped 38 percent. The average for the nine listing areas was 26 percent.

Sales were down at Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, in listing areas that include slivers of Mecklenburg and other counties.

But I did find sales actually up in one lake listing area. March sales of homes, condos and townhouses through Carolina Multiple Listing Services rose 19 percent at Mountain Island Lake.

The statistics are available online if you'd like to explore them. Visit www.carolinahome.com.

Use ‘neck' test for ceiling fans

Reader Rebecca Bamford wondered whether ceiling fans should be rotating clockwise in the summer and counter-clockwise in the winter. She'd seen conflicting advice, and thought some of the instructions weren't entirely clear.

How's this?

Use the “back of your neck” test. In the summer, you should feel the cooling breeze from the fan on the back of your neck. In other words, the fan should blow down in the summer.

In the winter, the fan should blow up, so it pushes warm air across the ceiling and down the walls – and so you don't feel a chill on the back of your neck.

‘Tour' homes for sale

Builders and Realtors are collaborating to create themed “home tours” to market houses for sale in this tough market.

In Cornelius today, agents from several firms will host what they're calling a “Multi-Million Dollar Spring Tour of Homes,” featuring more than a dozen houses. The event is noon-4 p.m. Information: www.businesstodaync.com.

Last month, organizers opened homes in Charlotte's Sherwood Forest neighborhood and in Providence Downs South in Union County. Coming later in May: A tour of contemporary homes in Cotswold, Eastover and Myers Park.

If you're an agent who's working with those from other firms to plan a larger-than-usual collaborative open house, send details to me at the e-mail address below.

Introducing our own remodeling project

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:06 EDT

Welcome to the new Home & Garden section.

We've combined the New Home and Your Home & Garden sections into a single Saturday package. We've saved your favorite features and, as I said last week, plan new ones.

You'll also notice a new look. Some of the new design elements in this section reflect changes that will appear throughout the rest of the paper in the coming weeks. The extra white space in the outside margins of today's section will disappear by the middle of June as the entire Observer is printed in a narrower width.

Today, look for a new feature called “Before and After” – and prepare to be inspired by Cindy and Edward Kosek's handiwork.

Before, the powder room in their home featured dated pink fixtures, a stark white vanity and gold striped wallpaper.

You know the look. You might even live with it at your house.

After, a sleek glass-bowl sink rests on a vanity of dark wood, the walls are warm spice brown, and elegant paneled wainscoting rises shoulder-high. And the cost wasn't overwhelming, because Edward did much of the work – in fact, he crafted the wainscoting.

The Koseks, who live near the Arboretum in southeast Charlotte, were among readers who accepted last week's invitation to send in before-and-after photos of remodeling projects. Check out their transformation. And if you'd like to share photos of a project at your house – indoors or out – you can find out how inside today's section.

We plan more new features, too. Look for a Q&A column about condo, townhouse and neighborhood associations in the weeks ahead. If you have a question about your association, send it to home@charlotteobserver.com .

Tomorrow, look for the new Real Estate Today section from the Observer's advertising department. The Sunday section will offer more buying and selling tips, trend stories and industry news.

Designer condos

Members of the Interior Design Society on Friday will open the doors to their spring showhouse. It's not exactly “a” house, though. The designers will spin their magic in two condos at The Trust in uptown Charlotte.

The Trust is the former Home Federal Savings and Loan building at 139 S. Tryon St., at the corner of Tryon and Fourth streets.

Some details are still not settled. Showhouse chairperson Toni Sawhney said one unit won't be ready Friday, but will open shortly. The closing date is going to be extended past the May 24 closing announced earlier.

Here's your chance to see how a former bank building becomes elegant condos, and to help a worthy cause. Proceeds benefit the Dove House Children's Advocacy Center.

After the showhouse opens, hours will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays, noon-6 p.m. Saturdays, and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $12 in advance at any Emerson Joseph location or BlackLion in Cornelius. They're $15 at the door. www.idscharlotte.com or thetrustcharlotte.com .