Go Tri Magazine May 2019

TIMES NEWS • JOHNSON CITY PRESS

GOTri

MAY 2019

Automotive AND Real Estate

TIMES NEWS • JOHNSON CITY PRESS

GOTri

Automotive AND Real Estate

Publisher Rick Thomason rthomason@timesnews.net

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MARCH 2019

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TIPS FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES

REAL ESTATE APPS

TAKING THE PLUNGE

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HOME GADGETS

INVESTING IN PROPERTY

DRIVER DISTRACTIONS

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“LOVE ROCKS” IN GATE CITY

NEW VEHICLE FEATURES

MOTORCYCLE SAFETY

Visit www.gotricities.com to catch Tri-Cities events, music and more.

Advertising Billy Kirk - bkirk@timesnews.net

Editor Matthew Lane – mlane@timesnews.net

Graphic Design Cesar Santiago – csantiago@timesnews.net

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Why Choose AAA?

By Rick Wagner

When it comes to being a AAA member, roadside assistance is the top reason for joining and the benefit of savings programs are the top reason for staying. That’s according to surveys of club members, explained Knoxville-based AAA Auto Club Group Director of Public Affairs Stephanie Milani.

For more than 117 years, AAA has existed to help the motoring public, along with being a full-service travel agency and resource, offering discount programs good at more than 250,000 locations nationwide. The company serves more than 50 million Americans with annual memberships.

WHY JOIN? Aside from roadside assistance, well suited for young professionals, college students, traveling retirees and others, Milani said discounts on food, travel and merchandise are AAA perks everyone can use.

ing or free drinks or excursions on cruises.

a technician will come out and check everything.

For driving trips, members can get free Trip Tik and Tour Guide maps. It also offers two sets of free passport photos a year in the Classic and Plus levels and unlimited passport photo sets at the Premiere level.

In addition, AAA offers a locksmith service for folks who get locked out of their vehicle, up to a value of $50 for the Classic members, $100 for Plus and $150 for Premiere. And for those with recreational vehicles or RVs, the RV coverage can be added to the Plus and Premiere packages based on the size of the RV, and those with motorcycles can add their motorcycles to any of the three levels for $35 a year.

WHAT ARE THE ROADSIDE OFFERINGS AND COSTS? AAA offers three main levels of membership: — Classic: Provides up to four tows a year of up to five miles each. Additional distances are billed per mile. The cost is $67 annually for one person, and a family member may be added at no charge for the first year.

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— Plus: Provides up to four tows a year up to 100 miles each. Additional distances are billed per mile. The cost is $103 annually for one person.

However, one of the more popular benefits non-members may not know about is that AAA members can enroll at no extra charge in the ProtectMyID program, an annual value of $49.

— Premiere: Provides one two up to 200 miles and three additional tows up to 100 miles. Additional distances are billed per mile. The cost is $130 for one person.

“You need to do that. I’m enrolled,” Milani said, noting that the program will send those enrolled a monthly email update to let them know about any recent activities involving their credit, loan applications, and more.

AAA also offers battery service, where a technician will come out to check a vehicle’s battery and charging system. A battery truck can come out for installation of a new battery, which must be purchased, and a jump start is offered, too.

AAA also offers a full-service travel agency out of its Northeast Tennessee headquarters in Johnson City and that cruises and trips arranged through AAA can have perks such as early board-

HOW DOES COVERAGE WORK? All three levels will follow the covered person, meaning that if you are covered by AAA and in a vehicle with someone else and it breaks down, even if that vehicle is not yours, it will cover that vehicle, too. Other than tows, the service will provide fuel to get to a gas station, with the Classic level charging for the fuel but the Plus and Premiere providing the fuel at no extra charge.

“That is one service I use with my membership,” Milani said. She said even if the vehicle starter seems to turn slower than it should at home or on the road,

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MAY 2019 | GOTRI MAGAZINE 3

Tips for Renting Properties

By Matthew Lane

Rental properties can be an incredibly fruitful investment. Buying a used house or apartment building at the right time, making sound improvements, and then managing the property wisely, could yield a nice supplemental income to you and your family for many years to come.

MAINTAINING YOUR PROPERTIES If you’re just getting into the rental property business, chances are you probably don’t have a lot of extra cash lying around for repairs and upgrades. Which means you’re going to be doing most of the work if something breaks or is damaged.

While there’s no denying rental properties can yield a healthy return on your initial investment, there’s more to it than simply buying a property and waiting for the money to come rolling in.

Being able to do repairs by yourself is not a must-have for rental property owners, but it’s very helpful, Phillips said.

Kingsport native and local developer James Phillips has been in the property rental business since 2007, learning the ropes from his father, by trial and error and through experience over the years. Phillips and his wife manage 96 units in Kingsport and Church Hill. Five houses and the rest being apartments and duplexes.

In case you’re interested in getting into the rental property business, Phillips offers the following advice.

HOW TO GET STARTED Many landlords start with one house or an apartment they inherit from a parent or other relative. If all goes well with this initial rental, Phillips said they then buy another house to add to their portfolio, then another, and so on and so forth.

“I do everything,” Phillips said.

“The only thing I can’t 100 percent fix is a heat pump. But once the (apartment) is built, if anything needs to be fixed, I do it all. That helps because if you have two or three homes, you don’t use a plumber very much, so when you call a plumber it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg.”

USE SOCIAL MEDIA According to Statista.com, there’s going to be roughly 2.77 billion people using social media platform in 2019, with the greatest numbers using Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Folks use social media for everything these days, from connecting with friends and family, to sharing thoughts on restaurants and businesses, to buying and selling just about everything, from cars, to clothes to collectibles.

“I have a lot of friends who have a few rental properties and friends who flipped a house and decided to rent it instead of selling it. It’s a good side income,” Phillips said.

“Most people, including myself, will get started buying something used. I think it’s very rare someone’s first building is a brand new one they built.

“You have to start with something used and learn the ropes.”

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Which means, social media can help you promote your rental properties and get you in touch with some of the best renters in town.

Phillips believes social media has helped his business over the years.

“It’s changed the way you advertise rentals. When Dad was doing it 20 years ago, you had to have the fancy ad in (the newspaper).

You couldn’t do it without it,” Phillips said. “Now, it’s changed to where you have to have a website, you’ve got to be on Facebook and have your rental on Zumper.com.

Young people rent that way.”

HARDEST PART OF JOB “When you have as many units as we have, you’re expected to be open 365 day a year, 24 hours a day,” Phillips said. “I get calls from people on Christmas Day who are locked out. When you have a rent sign in the yard people think it’s okay to call at 11:30 at night and ask what the rent on the apartment is. I’ve had people call at 1 a.m. sometimes. The phone never stops ringing and I have to answer every call.”

FINAL THOUGHTS Phillips said if you’re thinking about getting in the rental property business, be prepared to be flexible, because anything that can go wrong, will likely go wrong.

“You have to roll with it. It’s their home but you own it. I just try to imagine every apartment I have, as going into their home to fix something,” Phillips said. “And make a budget. You’ve got to determine how much the return is worth to you. If you get this house, fix it up and rent it and after paying taxes and insurance, getting a five percent return on house. Is that worth it to you?”

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Home Gadgets

By Robert Houk

Gadgets. Americans can’t seem to get enough of them.

They are now a familiar part of many homes in this country. Everything from robotic room vacuum cleaners to doorbell security cameras, gadgets have become essential to many households.

Kelly Wolfe, owner of Wolfe Development in Jonesborough, said must higher priced homes being built today include digital amenities aimed at homeowners who want both convenience and functionality. Even more medium priced homes carry a fair share of gadgets — both modern and traditional.

The Lazy Susans, the home entertainment cabinets and hide-away ironing boards have been repurposed for 21st century homes.

Wolfe said new technology in home gadgetry is showing up in LED lighting choices. Today’s specialized lighting is more energy efficient and versatile than older technology. Even the staid bathroom mirror has undergone a transformation with LED backlighting.

He said the reason these gadgets are showing up in homes both new and old are simple — the popularity of home improvement and “house flipping” shows on cable television.

“We have become a home improvement driven marketplace,” Wolfe said. “All the trends, styles and things that are hot have come from these TV shows.”

That includes new wall accents and flooring that combine the best of the traditional craftsman with modern technology.

“People are now installing electrical outlets that include USB ports in their kitchens and home offices,” Wolfe said. “With providers like BrightRidge offering highspeed internet and broadband, homeowners need that Wi-Fi for their wireless gadgets.”

The cost of these gadgets have also become more affordable and readily available. Most national retail and home improvement stores now carry devices to

control the temperature, security and entertainment offerings in your home. Wolfe said many of these devices cater to the user’s preferences and loyalty to certain brands and systems. That means various functions of your house may be controlled by Amazon’s “Alexia” or Google’s “Home.”

“A smart thermostat is almost an afterthought in many homes today,” he said. “Today’s gadgets are tailored to the systems you already have in place. You might want an Apple device or an Amazon control.”

Most of the home gadgets, like so much of the technology of today, is controlled by a smartphone app.

That’s particularly true of home security systems. Mark Beck of Watchdog Surveillance and Spy Gear said his Johnson City store sells a professional surveillance system that homeowners can monitor by their smartphones.

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“The system uses standard highdefinition cameras for residential, commercial and industrial purposes,” Beck said. “It uses up to 32 cameras and records 24/7 for a period of 30 days.”

The system has motion detection and provides an alert to homeowners on a phone app that includes a live view from the cameras.

Beck said his company also provides other in-home surveillance cameras such as “nanny cams,” which can monitor babysitters and home health care providers.

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MAY 2019 | GOTRI MAGAZINE 5

“Love Rocks” brings Woodstock to Gate City

By Holly Viers

Those who can’t go to the real Woodstock this year can enjoy a similar experience in downtown Gate City.

On July 27, Gate City will hold Love Rocks, a concert and car show celebrating the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. The event will be held as part of Scott County’s “50 Years of Love” celebration, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the commonwealth’s “Virginia is for Lovers” tourism slogan.

About Woodstock As described by History.com, the Woodstock Music Festival began on August 15, 1969, on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York, with a half a million people in the crowd.

The three-day event would later become known simply as Wood-

stock and synonymous with the counterculture movement of the 1960s.

Thirty-two musicians performed during the festival, including Santana, Janis Joplin, Arlo Guthrie and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Interestingly, several well-known musicians declined to perform at the event, including Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.

Gate City’s take Gate City’s Love Rocks concert will feature live performances from Retroville, a Kingsport-based cover band, and Southern Accents, a Tom Petty tribute band.

Other offerings will include a cruise-in classic car show, free “Share the Love” memorabilia

and a $500 prize for the person with the best hippie costume.

Gate City Theatre will close out the event with a presentation of “Love Story” after 9 p.m.

Other ways to celebrate “50 Years of Love” Though Love Rocks is considered the signature event of the “50 Years of Love” campaign, Scott County Tourism Director Pam Cox said there will be plenty of other opportunities to celebrate.

Events that will incorporate the “50 Years of Love” theme include Nickelsville Days on Memorial Day weekend, the Appalachian Harvest Festival on June 1, Appalachian Rising on June 2 at the Carter Fold, the Dungannon Fourth of July celebration, the

Janette Carter Annual Festival on Aug. 2-4 at the Carter Fold, the 38th annual Duffield Daze on Aug. 30 and the 17th annual Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival at Natural Tunnel State Park.

In addition to the events, a “Share the Love” mural will be painted in downtown Gate City, with another in the works for Dungannon.

Trackable geocaches are also being made with the “50 Years of Love” theme.

“All of this is to bring people into the county,” Cox previously told the Times News. “We want them to come and experience Scott County and see that we have great things to offer.”

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Experience Makes the

Difference

• In 2018 Johnson City ranked among Top • In 2018 Johnson City ranked among thethe Top 100100 Best Places to live on Livability.com Best Places to live on Livability.com • 2018 Johnson City was listed • 2018 Johnson City was listed as as oneone of of thethe top places to retire by Kiplinger’s Magazine top places to retire by Kiplinger’s Magazine

The Best Place to Call Home

Our area has won so many accolades it is hard to keep up. If you already live here, you already know how great it is, but did you know:

• The Tri-Cities were ranked Best Places • The Tri-Cities were ranked as as oneone of of thethe Best Places to to live for golfers by Golf Digest Magazine live for golfers by Golf Digest Magazine • Some schools area ranked among • Some schools in in thethe area areare ranked among thethe toptop 20 High Schools in the state according to 20 High Schools in the state according to U.S. News World Report.

U.S. News andand World Report.

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• Maximizing our internet capabilities • Print advertising in all area publications • Utilizing our local MLS system • Offering property staging professionals • Utilizing social media • Working expeditiously to sell your property in the shortes time possible.

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FAX: 423.282-3439 MAY 2019 | GOTRI MAGAZINE 9

Real Estate Apps

By Zach Vance

Real estate apps and websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and HomeSnap undoubtedly make the home-buying process more convenient for both shoppers and sellers, alike. For shoppers, having a real-estate database in the palm of your hand allows you to stay on top of what homes enter or leave a particular market.

Karen Randolph, president of the Northeast Tennessee Realtors Association, said real estate apps are especially valuable for shoppers in an inventory-depleted market, like the Tri-Cities, where demand supersedes the number of available properties on the market.

“These apps are helping consumers make a faster decision to move forward with a purchase,” Randolph said. “If you have to wait until you can drive by a home, and you can’t drive by a home until Thursday and today’s Monday, there’s a chance the house could 10

be gone in a fast-moving market.

And we have that right now.”

As for sellers, these applications make it easier to market homes to a larger audience of prospective buyers with photos and videos.

“When I first started, a realtor open-house was one of the ways that we got the home exposed to the public. Well, today with all the photos and all the apps we’ve got out there, we can upload up to 72 photos on some of these apps. It just makes it easier,” Randolph said. “What we hear more times than not (from buyers) is, ‘If this home looks like the photos online, we’re making an offer today.’

So it’s like getting a second showing.”

Here are some of Randolph’s suggestions to follow when deciding which real estate app to use: ZILLOW Launched in 2006, Zillow boasts

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a “living database” of more than 110 million U.S. homes, including those listed for-sale and for-rent.

When it comes to user-friendliness, Randolph said Zillow ranks near the top of real estate applications, but it also comes with some shortfalls.

Randolph said her biggest complaint for Zillow is its “Zestimate” home valuation feature. While Zillow clarifies that its “Zestimate” is not an official appraisal, it does define it as “a starting point in determining a home’s value.”

“You get a lot of consumers be like, ‘Well, the Zestimate for my home says its $375,000 when it might be $325,000.’ Or you get a buyer in the car, and they’re like, ‘Well, the Zestimate is $230,000 when it’s really worth $270,000,’” Randolph said.

“That’s the only qualm I have with some of these apps. And it’s not just Zillow that does it, but Zillow

seems to be the lead runner when people say the ‘Zestimate.’”

Randolph said Zillow calculates its “Zestimate” using data from property records, but it usually doesn’t account for recent renovations.

REALTOR.COM Randolph said Realtor.com is her top recommendation for consumers to use because it provides the most up-to-date information.

“It’s not just because I’m a realtor, but I do have a bit of favoritism towards it. It is the only website linked to all the local (Multiple Listing Services) across the nation,” she said.

If the price of a home or piece of property is changed, Randolph said once that information is entered into a realtors’ Multiple Listing Service, Realtor.com will begin syncing that information within 15 to 30 minutes and show the updated price.

Real estate apps and websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and HomeSnap undoubtedly make the home-buying process more convenient for both shoppers and sellers, alike. “(Realtor.com) has the most accurate information. So when a property closes out, if it’s not on Realtor.com but it’s still on Zillow, more than likely, that property is no longer available because it’s no longer on Realtor.com,” Randolph said.

Although, it is important to note that the continual refresh feature on Realtor.com only applies to realtor-listed properties.

“It does not apply to (homes) for sale by owners. Zillow caters to for-sale by owners. So we don’t have any way of knowing if that information is accurate or not on Zillow until we call to see if we can show the property.”

HOMESNAP HomeSnap is another one of Randolph’s recommendations, specifically because of its panoramic view feature.

“What we used to suggest to everyone is ‘Why don’t you do a drive-by? See if you like the neighborhood.’ Because a lot of times, (a shopper) will turn on the street and decide they don’t like the road, or the neighborhood or the house next to it,” Randolph said.

With HomeSnap, Randolph said she will send her clients a list of homes that fit their search criteria, and instead of waiting for the client to drive to each home, they can pull them up on HomeSnap to view the surroundings of each home.

“What these apps are doing for the consumer is they are facilitating the process. And they are alleviating some of the travel and some of the time that it would take that consumer to make a decision to purchase,” Randolph said.

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Investing in property

By Hank Hayes

Should you buy land as an investment?

If so, what should you know beforehand and how long should you wait for a return on the investment?

Should you buy inside or outside the city?

Even among the real estate experts, the answer to those questions varies.

Land speculation is a high-risk venture and commands high returns, according to TCI Group CEO and Principal Broker Jerry Petzoldt.

“It requires an investor to purchase land at a deep discounted price and is usually a financially distressed property,” Petzoldt observed. “Bank foreclosure, court ordered and absolute auctions are some examples of distressed land sales. The land speculator should be knowledgeable of the potential demand for resale.

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Location always ranks high, but market conditions, public utilities and physical land features are also key factors when considering purchasing land, Petzoldt said.

Additional cost over time will add up - real estate taxes, interest and broker commissions all increase the speculation price paid for the land, which in return squeezes the profit margins at resale.

Petzoldt also noted land transactions are typically riskier than improved properties as they require more cash equity to purchase and financing options are very limited.

“Land with existing buildings are much easier to rent than just land alone if the investor finds out it is taking a lot longer to resale than anticipated,” Petzoldt pointed out.

“Demand for land is dependent on the local economy. Population growth creates demand for new businesses and services to be built on land. Population growth also creates demand for new housing to be built on land. In the end, without demand, don’t speculate on land.”

GOTRI MAGAZINE | GOTRICITIES.COM

Michael Green, an agent and broker at Green Commercial Realty, does not recommend land as an investment to any commercial real estate investor who isn’t experienced with both commercial real estate and land in particular.

“There are several reasons for this, but in our area in particular, we have some potentially costly subterranean complications like rock strata and sink holes that can really destroy what appears from the surface to be an economically feasible site,” Green said. “From a broader perspective, most real estate investments offer an annual return (rent) plus appreciation.”

In the case of vacant land, all return must be generated by appreciation, Green said, which means after factoring in carrying costs (taxes, liability insurance, and maintenance), the ap-

preciation has to be significant to even reach a positive return.

“With typical annual appreciation rates in the 1 to 2 percent range (depending on location), it just doesn’t make financial sense, especially when you factor in the risk,” Green said. “What’s more, improved property offers tax benefits from depreciation whereas vacant land has no depreciable components.”

Green has worked with very few successful land speculators, but they seem to follow a pretty strict regimen – they make their return

by buying the site below market value, they buy in locations that are just outside the established ‘growth’ area, they often have inside information about a new road or project headed to that vicinity, and most importantly, they really do their homework about the site.

This includes learning about zoning, utilities availability, subterranean conditions, land use restrictions, and other attributes.

“Many times they have ulterior motives such as adjacent ownership, some affinity for the site or its unique attributes, or some other personal or business agenda,” Green said. “In closing, commercial real estate investment isn’t for the faint of heart or a shortterm hold. It’s liquid, complicated, and has a fairly high investment threshold.”

On the other hand, Blountville Auctioneer Ron Ramsey recommends investing in land.

“There was a time where we thought we couldn’t make a mistake in real estate, but that came

crashing down in 2008,” Ramsey, a former Tennessee lieutenant governor, said. “We’re back to where we were at and I don’t see that slowing down any time soon in the Tri-Cities. There’s an old saying that ‘you make money when you buy something, not when you sell something.’ Make sure you know the value of the property going in and you may turn it over in two weeks and make money at the right price. (But) you may have to wait several years to get a return.”

Eric Kistner, managing broker at Bridge Pointe Real Estate and Auction, agreed now is a good time to buy land.

“It’s a limited asset,” Kistner, former president of the Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors, said. “The great thing about speculating in land is you don’t have to do anything with it. You don’t have to pay an electric bill or a water bill … and often I find good deals when you speculate in land because of it being a handsoff investment. The caution is it can be a long-term investment.”

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13 MAY 2019 | GOTRI MAGAZINE

Safety and Entertainment Today’s vehicles offer a variety of new features

By Holly Viers As new technology makes its way into the automotive industry, vehicles are becoming more than just modes of transportation.

With gadgets like exterior cameras, WiFi connectivity and high-tech entertainment systems, today’s vehicles come with a number of bells and whistles that consumers are snapping up.

Below is a breakdown of some of the most popular safety and entertainment offerings.

SAFETY Consumer Reports recently published a summary of some of the most beneficial and convenient safety features seen in vehicles today. These include: • 360-degree cameras: These cameras are located around the 14

car, often in the grille and below the side mirrors. Through an interior screen, drivers are given a bird’s eye view of the vehicle to ensure no objects are nearby and to make parking easier.

vehicle is in the way and applies the brakes on its own to either stop a collision from occurring or lessen the impact. Some of these systems even come with pedestrian or cyclist detection.

• Automatic emergency braking: This system can sense when another

• Blind spot warning: This gives drivers either a visual or audible

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warning that another vehicle has been detected in a blind spot.

• Forward collision warning: This system uses an audible or visual alert when a collision could be coming, giving drivers time to prevent it.

• Automatic high beams: This feature automatically turns on the high beams when there are no vehicles ahead or no oncoming traffic. It then switches back to low beams when traffic appears to avoid blinding other drivers.

• Rear cross traffic warning: This system uses sensors that activate when the vehicle is moving in reverse. It alerts drivers when a vehicle or other object could be moving into the vehicle’s path.

We look forward to seeing you. es. These two systems allow drivers to access some of the apps from their mobile devices through a built-in screen in their vehicles.

As a result, drivers can do things like make hands-free calls and dictate messages, all while staying focused on the road.

• Auto-dimming mirrors: Particularly useful when a following vehicle has its high beams on, these mirrors sense light and automatically darken to prevent glare from bothering the driver.

ENTERTAINMENT Resources like Business Insider and Consumer Reports have provided guides for consumers on the latest entertainment features.

These are some of the most popular:

• Faster charging for devices: Today’s vehicles often include USB ports with higher amperage, meaning mobile devices can be charged faster. Some automakers are also introducing wireless charging capabilities into their vehicles.

• WiFi connectivity: This feature essentially turns the vehicle into a hotspot, allowing multiple devices to connect to the network.

Through that system, passengers can do things like stream music and surf the web without using their cellular data plans.

• Bluetooth connectivity: Vehicles have been compatible with Bluetooth for years, but the connectivity options are becoming more and more advanced. According to Bluetooth.com, drivers can now use Bluetooth to lock and unlock vehicles from their mobile devices and diagnose maintenance issues.

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: This offering has become a staple for those who are always connected to their Apple or Android devic-

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Volunteer Collision, LLC is now Certified by American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and Acura.

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Rainbow Motors is conveniently located at 937 E. Stone Dr., Kingsport, TN, in the heart of the Kingsport motor mile. A family owned business, since 1994, currently owned and operated by local native, Randall Gibson. Randall has over 40 years of experience in the used car industry. His experienced sales team of Gary Whittington, Charlie Faxon and Gary Moore will work with you at finding your vehicle purchase. Rainbow Motors, Inc. offers a wide variety of quality cars, trucks, SUVs and travel trailers. Rainbow Motors, Inc. has a reputation for being fair and honest. Our goal is to keep you as a customer for many years. We provide our customers with a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere during your purchase. Community involvement is important to Rainbow Motors, Inc. We receive numerous awards for community projects and are honored to have a business in Kingsport, TN. of coffee coffee with with us, us, and and talk with Stop in, drink a cup cut of Charlie Faxon, Randall Gibson, Garry Whittington, Gary Moore or Gaye Gibson. Some of our inventory can be viewed online at www.rainbowmotorsinc.com or we can be reached at 423-288-5827.

We look forward to seeing you.

MAY 2019 | GOTRI MAGAZINE 15

Taking the plunge What to know before buying a pool

By Brandon Paykamian

When installing a new pool, there’s plenty of things to consider.

For one, it’s an expensive investment, and it’s a bigger financial decision than you might initially assume. Before you get started, you will need to consider the initial costs for installation, as well as future costs for upkeep and potential repairs.

Once you have factored in your

budget, you will want to decide on an above-ground pool or an inground pool. While an in-ground pool will generally be far more expensive than an above-ground pool, it will allow for more depth.

It’ll also be much more aesthetically pleasing in your backyard.

According to statistics from Fixr. com, the average cost of a 19foot diameter above-ground pool is $6,243, while an in-ground 32

by 16 foot pool can run about $22,000.

For an in-ground pool, in particular, getting the right contractor to assess the logistics of construction is a must.

Deciding which type of pool you’ll want and how much you are willing to spend before doing some research into price comparisons between different companies will probably be the biggest step in

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GOTRI MAGAZINE | GOTRICITIES.COM

After checking with zoning regulations in your municipality, the costs of installing the pool and finding the right contractor to do the job could vary wildly, but in general, a contractor that is reliable and accredited by the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals is recommended.

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You will also need to expect a significant spike in your energy and power costs, depending on the size of your new pool. A pool can use tens of thousands of gallons of water, all of which will need to be filtered periodically. A typical pump could add a few hundred dollars annually to your utility bill.

Aside from utility costs, you will also need to consider maintenance and materials needed for upkeep, which can often cost an extra few hundred dollars monthly when factoring in chemicals needed to keep the pool clean and periodic repairs and refinishing. Chlorine, pH testing strips and other materials needed to keep your pool optimally clean can run close to $100 or more every month.

Next, consider investing in a cover for your pool to retain pool temperatures, keep leaves out and prevent evaporation during the

summer. If you have children, a child-safety cover is also a good option. Make sure to choose one that will keep winter weather at bay during the months that the pool isn’t being used.

There are hazards that come with having a pool, which could also mean more home insurance costs. It is generally recommended that homeowners bump up their home insurance policy when getting a pool to be prepared for water damage, personal injuries, and other issues.

While prices may vary based on who you purchase the pool from or hire for contracting, you can expect any type of pool to be an investment of tens of thousands of dollars, with all of these expenses considered.

So choose wisely, and be a smart “pool” consumer.

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2003 2003GMC GMC SIERRA K2500 K2500HD HD #074633 #074633- -Automatic, Automatic,sunroof, sunroof, all allpower. power.

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HDHDMotors Motors is located is located at 3237 at 3237 EastEast StoneStone Drive Drive in in Kingsport Kingsport andand hashas recently recently celebrated celebrated eighteight yearsyears in in business. business.

TheThe locally locally owned owned dealer dealer has has a dedicated a dedicated staff staffwith with more more thanthan 90 90 yearsyears of experience of experience in thein the business. business.

Manager Manager Wayne Wayne Kestner Kestner andand the sales the sales staff staff of Jimmy of Jimmy Moore, Moore, Oscar Oscar Illescas Illescas andand Gordon Gordon Holmes Holmes – will– be will be able able to to findfind youyou thatthat perfect perfect pre-owned pre-owned vehicle vehicle you’reyou’re looking lookingfor,for, offering offering cashcash specials specials everyevery day of daytheof the week. week.

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That’s That’s how how HDHD Motors Motors of Kingsport of Kingsport doesdoes business business and and apparently apparently it’s it’s paying paying off for off the for the eight-year eight-year old dealold dealership. ership.

ButButthethe company’s company’s main main focus focus is onis vehicles on vehicles worthworth $10,000 $10,000 andand down down andand it’s ait’sfocus a focus that that seems seems to beto be paying paying offoff for for HDHD Motors.

Motors.

“We’ve “We’ve gotgot prices prices on on the the windows, windows, a CarFax a CarFax on the on the dash dash andand a bigger a bigger selection selection thanthan just just aboutabout anyone anyone else elsein inthethe Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities, including including the the largerlarger dealers. dealers.

We’ve We’ve pretty pretty much much got got the the biggest biggest usedused car inventocar inventory ry in in town, town, ” a”company a company spokesman spokesman said.said.

“That’s “That’s what what people people areare looking looking for for these these daysdays – the– CarFax the CarFax – and– and we’re we’re a CarFax a CarFax Advantage Advantage dealer. dealer.

We actually We actually put them put them in inthethe window window so so people people can can looklook at them. at them.

No other No other dealer dealer in the in the areaarea doesdoes that.that. ” ”

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GOTRI MAGAZINE | GOTRICITIES.COM

what what HDHD Motors Motors specializes specializes in. Atin.times, At times, the dealerthe dealership shiphashas nearly nearly 300300 cars,cars, trucks, trucks, vansvans and SUVs and SUVs in in stock, stock, along along withwith a few a few classics classics and and hot rods. hot rods.

$8,999 $8,999

*Tax, *Tax,tag tag && title not not included. included.Subject Subjecttotoprior priorsale. sale.

HDHDMotors Motors does does thatthat because because it’s ait’sfull-disclosure a full-disclosure dealership. dealership.

They They want want to tell to tell you you everything everything they know they know about about thethe car.car.

Nothing Nothing hidden hidden at all. at all.

HDHD Motors Motors is Better is Better Business Business Bureau Bureau accredited accredited with with anan A+A+ rating rating andand is aismember a member of the of Kingsport the Kingsport Cham-Chamberberof ofCommerce.

Commerce.

It’s It’s openopen fromfrom 9 a.m.

9 a.m. to 6 to p.m.

6 p.m.

Monday Monday through through Saturday Saturday andand can can be reached be reached at 423at 423288-0298 288-0298 or on or on thethe webweb at www.hdmotorstn.com. at www.hdmotorstn.com.

Put your phone down!

Reduce distractions behind the wheel

By Metro Creative Connection

Despite the fact that automobiles are now designed with more safety features than ever before, the rate of traffic accidents and fatalities continue to rise. The National Safety Council says safety improvement like crash-avoidance technology hasn’t reduced accidents, and driver error is still to blame for many crashes - with distractions behind the wheel and impaired driving leading the way.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says distracted driving claimed 3,450 lives in 2016 alone. Distracted driving is defined as any activity that diverts drivers’ attention from the road.

This can include everything from talking to passengers to eating to fiddling with the car radio.

However, distractions from technology have become especially alarming, particularly texting or reading phones while driving. During daylight hours, approximately 481,000 drivers typically use cell phones while driving. The NHTSA says that removing one’s eyes from the road for a mere 5 seconds when traveling at 55 miles per hour is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

Reducing distractions should be a priority for all drivers. Here are some suggestions, courtesy of Geico insurance and AAA Exchange. · Store loose gear and other items that can roll around away from the driver’s seat so you are not tempt-

ed to reach for them. · Adjust mirrors, GPS maps, climate controls, music, and more before you put the car in drive. · Use a mobile phone only for emergency purposes and only after pulling over to the side of the road. Avoid social conversations on the phone while driving. · Limit the number of passengers you allow inside your car. The more passengers, the more distractions. This is especially true for young drivers. · Eat food before getting in the car. Snacking while driving makes you less attentive to the road around you. · Secure children and pets accordingly. Both should wear harnesses and not be given free reign to roam around the car. · Try to focus only on driving while in the car. Leave the multitasking to when you’re not behind the wheel.

Geico indicates that studies have shown people are limited in the amount of information they can process at any one time. Driving requires focus and an ability to react to a host of potential circumstances. Distractions compromise drivers’ ability to focus.

Reducing distractions can considerably cut down on the number of motor vehicle accidents each year.

LINDA L. ROBINSON

A new hhe can change evvything!

Call me today, and lets find yyr happy place!

TN/VA Agent - Affiliate Broker 321 Broad Street Kingsport, TN 37660 Cell: (423) 817-2004 Office: (423)-247-4181 Fax: (423)-247-8684 lindalourobinson@gmail.com www.brphomes. com

CELL: 276-494-9544 OFFICE: 423-491-8335 110 KLM DRIVE, SUITE 1, JOHNSON CITY, TN COMEHOMEWITHCHRIS@GMAIL.COM APRIL MAY 2019 2018 | GOTRI 19 MAGAZINE 19

Motorcycle Safety

By Kenne Medley

Before you throw a leg over the

“The rule of thumb is, if you have

Carolina border featuring 318

are tired of hearing about the

saddle of a steel and plastic pony

skin that you want to keep...cover

curves. A portion of businesses

death of riders and seeing white

to ride off into the sunset, safety

it,” said Jim Cook, Appalachian

and residents along this road

crosses along the road that re-

must be ever present. Motorcy-

Rider Education Program owner

pander to motorcyclists and invite

mind them of the dangers associ-

cling is a fun and great way to

and instructor. “You need a good

them to their community. Others

ated with two-wheeled machines.

experience the “freedom of the

DOT (Department of Transporta-

road,” but you can also suffer se-

tion) approved helmet. That is

rious injury or worse without using

number one. You also need a

the proper safety equipment.

long-sleeve shirt or jacket, gloves to protect the hands, shoes or

Riding a motorcycle is a hobby

boots that cover the ankles. By

that many enjoy. It helps that the

wearing the proper protective gear

Tri-Cities region is abundant with

you are less likely to get hurt in

scenic roadways and within an

a fall.”

hours drive of internationally acclaimed rides like the Blue Ridge

The Tail of The Dragon is an 11-

Parkway and the Tail of the Drag-

mile stretch of U.S. 129 that

on.

crosses

20

the

GOTRI MAGAZINE | GOTRICITIES.COM

Tennessee/North

The classes taught at AREP are the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses that start with a beginner course and graduates up from there. There is a “Basic Riders Course Handbook” available on their website for any one looking to buy a motorcycle. “(People) do not need to have any experience at all to take the basic course,” Cook said. “The basic course starts out very basic and we teach them where the controls are, how to use them, how to ride in a straight line, how to stop, and how to turn. Then we get into a little bit more advanced as to higher speed stopping, stopping quickly in a curve, how to swerve to avoid

dents carry over to when they are

obstacles, higher speed turns, and

driving a car as well.

how to negotiate those.”

The biggest dangers to motorcyCook went on to say that the Sun-

cles are distracted drivers. Part of

day activities of the course are

what riders learn is how to make

mostly accident avoidance. The

oneself more visible to other driv-

course helps people become bet-

ers and staying out of blind spots.

ter drivers, and that the tips and

This can and has saved lives in the

techniques that the course tries

past.

to ingrain in the minds of the stu-

Other Motorcycling Tips: • The first thing you need to do is register for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation riders course appropriate for your skill level.

• Always ride with the motorcycle’s headlight on.

• Memorize the control layout before starting the motorcycle for the first time.

• Consider wearing leather riding jackets, which are thicker than nylon and polyester combinations.

CAROLYN TICHENOR

Affiliate Broker Property Manager

• Always wear a DOT approved helmet.

4610 Fort Henry Drive Kingsport, TN 37663

• Always respect the machine you’re riding.

Mobile: (423) 914-0377 Office: (423) 239-0100 Fax: (423) 239-4573

• Wear protective equipment that fits properly.

Email: bunnytich@yahoo.com Website: wwwbrphomes.com MAY 2019 | GOTRI MAGAZINE 21

Routine vehicle maintenance Stay on the road and save money in the long run

By Jeff Bobo

You’re ahead of the game if your used car made it through the winter without a breakdown.

mileage on them to go back and forth to the moon, and then drive around the world five times.

But, with the long hot summer approaching, now is the time to take advantage of pleasant spring weather to check under the hood, kick the tires, and take whatever steps necessary ensure that your old car will keep you on the road another year.

My father was a mechanic and I was raised to keep old cars on the road.

If you buy new cars, then the warranty takes care of the annual inspections and routine maintenance. Not all of us can buy a new car though.

I’m less than a month from my 50th birthday and I can honestly say I’ve never bought a car new enough to have a warranty.

In fact, the three vehicles I currently own have enough combined 22

You can make a good used car last a long time if you don’t abuse it, keep the oil changed on time, and maintain a simple routine maintenance checklist.

Some people think they can’t learn auto maintenance, but it’s not true. Most of the routine stuff is fairly simple, and if you don’t now how to do something, I can almost guarantee that someone has posted an instructional video about it on YouTube.

Here is the routine maintenance list handed down by my dad, which has save me untold thou-

GOTRI MAGAZINE | GOTRICITIES.COM

sands of dollars over my lifetime on purchasing new cars.

Inspect Fluids Regularly Heat is the number one enemy of any vehicle. Not only do you need to check the level of antifreeze/ coolant, you need to check the quality of the antifreeze/coolant.

You can get a tester for less than $5 that looks kind of like a turkey baster and will let you know if your antifreeze needs to be replaced.

You also need to check your oil regularly. Old cars use oil. I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve had over the years who were too lazy to check their oil, let it run dry, and ruin a motor. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your transmission fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. If you take your car to have the oil changed, ask the attendant to check all those fluids, as well as the grease fittings under the car.

Make Sure The Cooling System Works When you buy a used car it’s a good idea to flush the cooling system right away. You don’t know if the previous owner has used stop leak that is now clogging your cooling system. I always like to start driving a new used car with new clean oil and clean antifreeze. And don’t be afraid to change radiator hoses while your flushing the system. It’s a fairly inexpensive procedure that could save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

Keep An Eye On Your Air Filter It’s a good idea to change your air filter annually, or about every 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you let dirt and air get into your engine it’s going to create “gunk” which clogs fuel systems and reduces mileage, damages your spark plugs and ultimately

will make it harder to get your car started.

Inspect/Replace Belts Take it from someone who has put off his timing belt replacement too long and paid the price. When it breaks, the motor is usually ruined. Some vehicles have one belt running everything, and some vehicles have multiple belts for the alternator, water pump, power steering, and timing.

Whatever the case, you need to inspect them, and if you see chips and wear on them, don’t hesitate to get them replaced.

Your vehicle owner’s manual will tell you how often they need to be replaced, but it’s usually 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

Clean Your Battery Connections That white powdery buildup on your battery connections will eventually put you on the side of the road if you let it go too long. When you see that on your battery, clean it immediately. The easiest way is to disconnect the battery cables and clean them with a wire brush.

Tires A good friend of mine recently had a flat tire, and she had no spare, no jack, and no lug nut wrench.

Hello!!! I wouldn’t drive to the end of the block without the ability to change a flat. Lesson learned.

Another valuable lesson I’ve learned over the years is to keep a close eye on my tire pressure.

Keep a good gauge in your car, and every time you fill up your gas tank, check the pressure. I like to keep all four of my tires at 32 psi, but you should follow your vehicle owners manual when setting yours.

Low tire pressure adds wear and tear on tires, reduces gas mileage, and will cause the vehicle to handle poorly. You also want to get them rotated and balanced regularly to add to their life expectancy and give you the best value for your buck. If you bought them new, most tire stores like Walmart will do that for free.

Change Your Spark Plugs Another thing I do when I buy a new used car is change the spark

plugs. It’s just one less thing to worry about. Either way you generally need to replace spark plugs every 30,000 miles or so, although you should follow the instructions of your vehicle owners manual.

Changing spark plugs is one of those chores that you can learn on YouTube if you don’t know how to do it. The only tip I’ll give to beginners is to change them one at a time so that you don’t get your battery cables mixed up.

Check Your Brakes Most brakes have a built in warning system that lets out a screech when its time to get your pads changed. If you ignore that screech too long, the next sound you’ll hear is grinding. That’s your brake rotors being ruined and the cost of the your brake replacement quadrupeling.

Living in a mountainous region as we do, you don’t want to ignore your brakes. Some brake replacements are easy, some are complicated. Watch the YouTube video for replacing brakes on your car, and if you think it’s over your head, you have my permission to take them to the shop. It’s better to spend a few extra bucks and get it done right.

Wipers And Headlights It’s important to be able to see where you’re going. You know when your windshield wipers aren’t working right because you can’t see when it rains. Any novice can stop at a local automotive parts store and take advantage of free wiper installation. Don’t buy the high dollar wipers. Their gonna go bad in a year anyways.

Generic wipers get the job done just as good.

That same automotive parts store sells a headlight cleaning kit. Over time the buildup on your headlights decreases your visibility at night. If you follow the instructions on that headlight cleaning kit you can remove most of that buildup. You’ll be surprised what a difference it makes.

Don’t Ignore A Check Engine Light I can guarantee with 100 percent certainty that any mechanical problem your car experiences won’t fix itself. If your check engine light comes on, take it immediately to one of the local automotive parts chains that offers free diagnostic computer checks.

A lot of times its something like an O2 sensor on your exhaust system, which won’t put you on the side of the road, but it will keep your engine light on forever.

That means when something really bad happens you won’t know it because the engine light is already on. My advice is to always fix whatever is causing your check engine light to come on, even if it’s not terminal.

Becky Glover Affiliate Broker

As a Realtor® with Signature Properties I pledge to donate a portion of every commission earned to a charity of my client’s choice.

115 West New Street • Kingsport O: 423.343.7777 C: 423.276.2634 gloverbecky3@gmail.com www.facebook.com/public/Becky-Glover www.sigprops.com MAY 2019 | GOTRI MAGAZINE 23