During the last 14 days 30 homes have come on the market in West Hartford and Bloomfield. West Hartford saw 25 new listings during this time and 8 of those are already under deposit. Bloomfield saw 5 new listings in the last two weeks and 1 of those is already under deposit. For West Hartford that means that 32% of homes listed in the last 2 weeks are under contract with buyers. In Bloomfield the percentage is 20%.

The spring market has started and homes in our area are selling. Last weekend one of my buyer clients was successful in a multiple offer situation on a West Hartford Home. Another home listed by our office received seven offers with a few days of becoming active on the market.

If you are a homeowner thinking of selling, this is a good time, but please get your home in the right condition to be shown. It must be cleared of clutter and an excess of personal items. If you are a buyer, remember that the real estate market is local and that in this area of Connecticut homes that are in good condition and are priced accurately are selling for good prices. Please don't think that because the national news is full of doom and gloom that you will be able to buy your home for less than market value.

Buyers are actively looking for homes and  newly listed West Hartford homes are selling quickly. Sellers need to consider the market when offering their homes for sale. A home that is neat, clean and clutter-free will attract the buyers. The homes that will sell quickly are those that are priced competitively. Despite the cold snowy weather that January has brought, several homes in West Hartford have sold within days of coming on the market.

These homes were priced where they should have been in today's market and were prepared for sale. If your home has been sittng on the market for a time, you should be talking to your Realtor about the things you can do to make your home more attractive to today's buyers. These items can range from cleaning out closets to painting to refinishing floors. Removing clutter is essential.

You must make your home available when buyers want to see it. Remember that when your home is for sale you may be inconvenienced by having to pack up some items and put other things away, but your goal should be to make your home appeal to the buyer by making it possible for them to see your house as their future home.

WEST HARTFORD HOMES ARE SELLING.

It is mid November and the holidays are almost upon us but West Hartford homes are selling. During the last few weeks we have seen several homes go under deposit after receiving multiple bids. Some of these homes were new to the market and priced competitively for the current market; others were homes that have been on the market for months and have attracted buyers after recent price adjustments.

There have been 24 West Hartford homes listed in the Multiple Listing Service during the last two weeks. During the same time 31 West Hartford homes were placed under deposit. Seventeen of these homes had been reduced from their original listing price.

Rates are low so it is a good time to be a buyer. First time home-buyers can take advantage of the federal tax credit being offered to new homeowners.

Sellers who have freshened up their homes and priced them competitively are seeing action and sales.

The West Hartford Real Estate Market is alive !!

Five Tips for a Green Home

Eco-friendly. Carbon footprint. Global warming. Energy-efficient. These catch phrases have become part of our lexicon as we've become more aware of our impact on the environment and our role in protecting it. As a homeowner, there are some simple, inexpensive steps you can take to make your home energy-efficient. Get started on the road to being "green" with these five tips.

Change Your Light Bulbs By replacing just five incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, you can save $100 per year on electric bills while using up to 75 percent less energy and removing greenhouse gases from the environment.

Buy ENERGY STAR® Appliances ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, such as refrigerators, washers and air conditioners, meet a higher level of energy efficiency set by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy than standard models. According to ENERGY STAR, if just one in 10 homes used ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances, the impact could be compared to planting 1.7 million new acres of trees. And, switching to these appliances is not only good for the environment, but easy on your pocketbook. Although these appliances may costs more, you can reduce your energy bill by $80 per year.

Seal Up Cracks and air leaks represent cash seeping from your doors and windows. Get rid of air leaks in doors, windows and other areas by caulking gaps and cracks. This will help decrease your heating and air conditioning bill. But make sure you use silicone sealants. Acrylic caulk tends to shrink, while silicone sealants are waterproof and won't shrink or crack, creating less waste.

Use Less Water Did you know that roughly 60 percent of a home's water consumption takes place in the bathroom, according to the California Urban Water Conservation Council? The largest culprit is the toilet, which accounts for 27 percent of your household supply every year. By installing low-flow toilets, showerheads and faucets, you can save thousands of gallons of water each year. In addition, replace leaky fixtures. That slow-dripping faucet can waste as much as 2,400 gallons of water per year.

Adjust the Thermostat When adjusting your home's thermostat, the rule of thumb should be: turn up the dial in the summer and down in the winter. Lowering the temperature by just one degree will reduce your electrical costs. And if you use a programmable thermostat, you can program your air-conditioning and heating systems to reduce output while no one is at home or at night while you sleep. Ceiling fans are also helpful in circulating the air to keep the room cool in the summer and warm in the winter.Going green doesn't have to be overwhelming or costly. By making just a few small changes within your home, you can help decrease energy consumption and help make the world a "greener" place.

 West Hartford January/February 2008 Market REport

2008  Average Sale Price: $321,635

Listings Taken: 188    Listings Sold: 66      Days on the Market: 54  List Price/Sale Price Ratio: 95.94%

2007  Average Sale Price: $313,144

Listings Taken: 224    Listings Sold: 117    Days on the Market: 56  List Price/Sale Price Ratio: 97.09%

 Bloomfield Market Report for January and February

2008   Average Sale Price: $257,797

Listings Taken: 99    Listings Sold: 17   Days on the Market: 49    List Price/Sale Price Ratio: 94.33%

2007   Average Sale Price   $219,158

Listings Taken:92     Listings Sold: 36   Days on the Market: 47    List Price/Sale Price Ratio: 97.79%