Here’s What’s Happening in North Branch
ACTIVE: 5403 Nicholas Ct— 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, former model home. Listed at $519,000 for 51 days.
PENDING: 5473 Jillian Way— Fabulous Lot backing to protected space, lots of nice upgrades like inlaid carpet, custom woodworking, Sun Room addition, finished basement with full bath. Reduced to $465,000. On the market for 144 days.
5487 Jillian Way - 4 bdrms. 2 1/2 baths, hardwoods, master sitting room. Reduced several $460,000. On the market for 396 days.
SOLD: None.
Here’s What’s Happening in Durham Ridge
ACTIVE: None.
PENDING: None.
SOLD: 4529 Blue Ridge Dr— A Washington model, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 1 acre lot with paver patio, Master bedroom has 2 walk-in closets and sitting area. Reduced to $440,000. Sold for $415,000 in 122 days.
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I’m often asked why one house sells so high and a seemingly same house sells for less. The reasons are many. There’s the obvious difference: A perfect picture: Price, location, condition. But the not- so -obvious plays a huge role too. For example, we’ve had sellers who were buying up and got a fantastic deal on the other end and just didn’t care about the extra 10, 20 or $30,000.00. Then there’s the homeowner who has bought something else and now needs to get their house sold as carrying two homes is killing them—or the couple who’s living with their mother-in-law in Kansas, waiting for the house here to sell and they’re ready to shoot themselves. In some cases, those with great equity just decide that they want to be the next one sold . . . so they complete our to-do list and price it below the competition.
The problem in today’s Real Estate market is that those who can afford to shear off a couple of thousand for the sake of “getting it done now” become the new base-line for the next sale. Buyers can’t get into the last sales so they look strictly at square footage, rooms and finishes. The same for the appraiser who will tell the bank how much they should lend. The last price of a sold is the “new” price of a neighborhood. Foreclosures and short sales abound in every neighborhood of Buckingham and Plumstead. It’s a fantastic time to buy and it may be the best time for many years to come to sell. Keep paying off your home and increasing your equity and you’ll be in a better place when your time comes.
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10th Annual Keller Williams Food Drive
For the past 9 years Keller Williams Agents have been loading up the shelves at the New Britain Food Larder which serves more LOCAL people than you can imagine!
Date: Saturday, October 1st
Bring your donations to the
New Britain Food Larder
New Britain Food Larder
Located right on Route 202 in New Britain,
after the 7-11 at the next light
after the 7-11 at the next light
Anytime before 12:00 Noon
Come enjoy some delicious Chili as it is also our
Annual Chili contest (I won last year)!
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The scoop on light bulbs
By 2012 many types of incandescent bulbs will no longer be sold in the U.S. By 2014 all will be discontinued. Traditional 100 watt light bulbs are going to be phased out come this December 31. By Jan. 1, 2014 the only incandescents will be the three-way bulbs. BUT, don’t fret! LED bulbs are LONG LASTING and last up to 10 times as long as compact fluorescent and FAR longer than typical incandescent. They are more DURABLE because they don’t have a filament and can be jarred and bumped. They are COOL because they do not cause heat build-up, producing 3.4 btu’s/hour compared to 85 for the one’s we use now. Should cut down on air-conditioning! MORE EFFICIENT using only 2—10 watts of electricity (1/30th of incandescent). These bulbs last for years and save 80% in electricity! LED bulbs costs more but the longevity and cost savings of usage are fantastic! And the next time you see a really bright traffic light, you’ll know they’re using LED’s!
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What Projects are Worth It?
If you’re thinking of doing some improvements stick to the most used areas of your home and those that will pay you back when it’s time to sell.
According to Remodeling Magazine’s “Cost Versus Value Report” last year, the following projects give the highest paybacks upon sale nationwide:
*Adding an attic bedroom (which none of us can do because of our truss systems) 83.1%
*Adding a wooden deck, 80.6%
*Minor Kitchen remodel, 78.3%
*Basement remodel, 75.4%
*Major kitchen remodel, 72.1%
*Bathroom remodel, 71%
Some remodels, according to the Magazine, let you recoup the entire cost—and then some. Replacing your front door with a new steel unit is estimated to return 128%. Other replacement projects give great returns because they not only are re-9investments in the home, but provide great curb appeal as well. Buyers are enticed to view a home when greeted with bright new doors, clean easy-care replacement windows, smooth new driveways and no over-grown vegetation.
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Garbage Disposal Care and Maintenance:
So . . . Who knows the rules of taking care of your disposal? Here’s some help:
Put food in slowly. If you shove it in it can cause a clog an will shorten the life of your system.
Grind up those chicken bones and small fruit pits! They actually help clean the walls of the disposal.
Use only cold water and run if for 15 to 20 seconds. This solidifies the grease so it can get ground up.
Keep it smelling nice—grind citrus fruit peels or add a few drops of dish soap and let it run for a few minutes.
Sharpen the blades by filling it with ice cubes every month or so.
DON’T: Use hot water as it makes grease liquefy and clog the drain. DON’T grind celery stalks and onion skins as they will tangle up and clog it the same as pasta and rice which swells with water and clogs it up. DON’T turn off the motor too quickly. Make sure everything is ground up and then run the water for 15 seconds to flush it out. DON’T put your coffee grounds in because the disposal can handle it but your pipes will clog. And finally, DON’T forget to use it because it’ll get rusty and can lead to premature replacement.
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Kids Away At College?
Ask your insurance company for “casual driver” rates on your car insurance. AND, lots of policies only cover $500.00 (not even the cost of that new lap-top)! Estimate all your student has in their apartment or dorm room and be sure it’s covered. And did you know??? College kids are targeted for 35% of identity theft. They are very casual about giving out their social security numbers and personal info.
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Can’t say it enough!! Be sure you add the sump pump rider to your insurance policy. If they don’t have it . . . Change insurance companies!
