About Florence County, SC

The National Bean Market Museum of SC located at 111 Henry St., Lake City, SC will be hosting a plethora of events the remainder of 2008. The schedule is as follows.

Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 8-4 2008

Fall Schedule of Events

Farmers Market every Saturday through October (9am – 1pm)

September 3rd – October 1st The SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum Traveling Exhibit: Write from the Front. This exhibit showcases SC Military who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia.

September 20th SC Tobacco Festival: Activities at the Bean Market: Attic Artifacts (a showcase of local’s citizen’s antiques and antiquities), Antique Auction, Exhibits, Expanded Farmers Market, and Entertainment.

October 24th – December 21st Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibit: Key Ingredients: American by Food

October 24th and 25th The SC Humanities Festival with guest speakers, tours and entertainment.

November 1st Registration Payment for European Trip: Germany and Switzerland (July 8th - July 21st) Dr. Joe Stukes Tour Leader and Sherri Moore/Briley Altman Tour Coordinators.

November 15th Junior Women’s Club Annual Oyster Roast

November 21st and 22nd Native American Days (schedule TBA)

November 29th Clemson-Carolina Tailgate and Game

December 5th – 7th SC Holiday Market (schedule TBA)

Currently, renovations and reconstruction of the Bean Market building are under way. However, intensive designs and redevelopment of the building to enhance the property as a community facility without diminishing the Bean Market feel will start after the first of the year. The National Bean Market Museum will close January – March 2009 due to these renovations; the office, however, remains open at an offsite location.

Scrantons's Schoolhouse Bar-B-Que offers some of the best food to be found. It is in Florence County in a historical setting. This popular restaurant opened in 1994 in Scranton, SC in a schoolhouse built in the 1930's during the Great Depression. Howell has added on several times due to his growing business and now has a seating capacity of 350. So if you want some good ole southern barbeque or fried chicken leave church a little early on Sunday because the crowd will be gathering for their Sunday dinner and the line is always back out the door.

The sign is a replica of the actual building which Howell has decorated with a lot tins to lend to the rustic atmosphere. So see what the buzz is all about in Scranton Thursday - Sunday at the Schoolhouse Bar-B-Que.

Mcleod Park offers over 50 acres of recreational fun in the heart of Florence on Santiago Drive. It has many of the common features you find in most parks - picnic areas, nature trails, tennis courts, volleyball court, baseball fields, basketball goals, horse shoes, concession stand and restrooms. But one unique feature that you don't find at other parks is a Skate Park Facility. Skate boarding is a passion of many especially the younger crowd and they now have a place to perfect their skills without using sidewalks and parking lots. So thumbs up Florence to offering this facility that is unique and needed.

Coward may be small but it is home of one of the best barbeque restaurants around. A little over a year now Fat Back's BB-Que has made its home in the little town of Coward. So when you are passing down Highway 52 from Florence to Lake City stop by and enjoy a good ole plate of southern barbeque in their rustic setting. The restaurant mimics an old tobacco barn.

OK, I know I'm going to get hammered just because of the title of this post. I know that there are many arguments why every Realtor should sell new construction and you're free to present that side. Just hear me out and then pound away!

First, many Realtors don't know anything about how to build a home. Though that's not necessary to sell one, it is important if you're going to provide professional help to a buyer -- before and after the sale. Any agent wanting to be a professional should become certified as a new home specialist (CNHS). It's not hard and isn't very expensive. My advice to new home buyers is that they don't use a Realtor who isn't certified.

Secondly, many Realtors don't seemingly know the difference between a spec home and a custom home when it comes to pricing. They believe that a builder should be held to the same standards for both (I'm not talking about structural issues but finish and cosmetic issues). Not knowing that there is anywhere from a $10 to $50 premium for custom homes creates impossible expectations in the minds of buyers.

Thirdly, most agents don't know the standards set by their state for residential builders. Most states have printed books that are free for the asking. Few agents have ever read one much less have a couple copies in their office.

Fourthly, associated with the 3rd point, most agents don't have a clue as to what a builder's responsibilities are after the sale of a home and, therefore, don't know how to help their clients when problems arise. For example, I had a client call me who bought a new home about 30 months ago. The AC didn't work. She wanted to know if the builder was in any way responsible for fixing the problem. Unfortunately, many agents wouldn't know or would just assume that there was little responsibility if any.

None of these are insurmountable problems to overcome. A little time and training is all it would take. So if you want to be a professional new home sales agent, take the time and get the training! And if you're a buyer considering purchasing a new construction, use a certified new home specialist (CNHS). I just happen to know a good one!