Buying a Home on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Ask About Winter First

Buying a home on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a dream for a lot of people. The views from the Parkway in Carroll County, around Fancy Gap, look out over the Piedmont toward North Carolina, and in October the drive alone is worth the trip.

I once met a woman who had bought a house on the Parkway with her husband. They used another agent. Nobody told them the Parkway closes in the winter. When it shut down, they couldn't find a way to get to town. They had to figure out on their own that you have to use the state roads and an alternate route.

I told her what I would have done as her agent. I would have made sure she knew the Parkway closes during the winter months, and I would have shown her the other way to town. Then I gave her my business card.

Sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway can close in winter weather, and the Parkway isn't plowed like a state road. If your home's main way to town is the Parkway, a closure can turn a ten-minute drive into a long detour, or leave you hunting for a road you've never driven.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy on the Parkway. It means you should know your winter route before you sign, the same way you'd want to know about the roof or the well.

• How do I get to town, work and the doctor if the Parkway is closed?
• Which state roads serve this property, and how are they kept up in snow?
• How steep is the driveway, and who clears it?
• How far is the nearest grocery store, hospital and school?
• Is the home on a well and septic, and when were they last checked?

A good agent should answer those before you fall in love with the view. Knowing the area matters as much as knowing the house.

If you're looking at homes around Fancy Gap or anywhere along the Parkway in Carroll County, call me at (276) 733-8880. We'll look at the view, and we'll look at the road in February too. You can read more on buying a home in Fancy Gap and how buying works.