Mary Beth's Blog

Tomorrow off to REALTOR DAY at the CAPITAL in Hartford!

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:36:17 -0500

We are going to learn about the Buyer 1% tax on purchases! Will fill you in as the day progresses.

Propsed Buyer Tax Bill in CT....YIKES! We were just getting used to the Stimulus!

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:16:50 -0500

Thanks President Obama for the $8000, I mean $7200 credit for first time buyers! Just how close is Massachusetts or New York or even New Jersey for that matter? Can I commute from there to work in Stamford?

CT has created Bill #6397 which is to tax buyers 1% and it is scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2009. Our sellers have a hard enough time understanding the conveyance tax...now a buyer purchase tax...for waterfront land, brownfields, and conservation? There are other restrictions but, the idea is clear...money needed and buyers are a nice target!

I just keep thinking of my credit perfect client that didn't have much of a down payment (they produced 5% and took out 2 mortgages as recently as 2/14/09) At least he had a little money after the closing to have the kitchen carpet (25 yrs old!) pulled up so he could lay square vinyl pieces. If a bill like this becomes law, it will be harder and harder for buyers like him to buy...stimulus money or not!

Please get in touch with your elected officials and let them know we need to educate buyers about the benefits of "home ownership" in CT especially!

Teaching about the Real Estate Market is easier than Selling Real Estate

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:20:15 -0500

Our businesses have changed so much in the last few years it is mind boggling sometimes. There are 5 very iimportant numbers we need to educate our clients about which will affect the successful sale of their home. The number of home sales recently; the sales prices; the inventory; mortgage rates and affordability. If we appeal to their sense of logic and intelligence in this market (wrap it up nicely in your presentation face) you will surely impress. The last nugget comes into play with Location, Location, Location! This is what they need you for. You are the neighborhood expert and trending specialist. Start with the five though and you will win them over. Our clients are looking for someone to make heads and tails of everything they hear elsewhere!

Why "A View" Matters

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:57:21 -0500

Today I had the priveledge of having a transaction go South. I usually am a glass half full kind of girl but today my glass seemed especially full.

I live in CT and drove up to Massachusetts to drive my mom to Dana Farber Cancer Institute for her monthly chemo treatment for ovarian cancer. This is because she fell and broker her hip 12 days ago and can't drive herself. As we entered the waiting area, she wanted me to look across the street at the new building that will house more space for DFCI (Dana Farber Cancer Institute) docs and patients. As I looked across (I am always interested in new construction...aren't all REALTORs?) the street I could see the huge steel beams that will eventually become the foundation, structure and integrity of that building of hope. On each beam...there are names of boys and girls that are undergoing treatment for childhood cancers. They are all in neon green, pink, yello and orange...the really bright colors. My mom told me the kids get to watch as a lift heads up to write the name...so they can see it while they are getting their treatment.

As we were driving home, our attorney called to tell me contracts weren't going to be coming back for one of the condos in a development I represent. The buyer is too nervous to be "first" and is "concerned about the builder in this market" etc. etc. etc. I thanked her and said, obviously it wasn't meant to be. I'll just have to go find another buyer! If I had received that call yesterday, my "view" might not have been as neon colored as it should be every single day! So make it great, make it yours and be accountable for every minute...whether it is with family, clients, colleagues or friends.

Does nice weather bring out buyers?

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:33:59 -0600

Today in beautiful 60 degree weather, I got to take out a lovely young couple. They are engaged to wed in August...so in love...so young and innocent. So excited that they were getting to view homes as he works traditional hours and she works every other weekend. So...after a buyer counseling session that ended with her asking me the question, Mary Beth, "friends of ours, like us, have told us that this experience, of buying a house...at the end of the day...you are just depressed. Are we going to be depressed?" I thought long and hard as they are in the lower end of the first time buyer market. The inventory has somewhat slim pickins. So, I sat for a minute and looked them both in the eyes and said, "it is not about the house. It is about the dream you both have of living together and creating a life for you and your family. This market isn't for wimps. It is going to be hard work. The first thing I need you to do is widen your filters regarding what you think you must have in a home. Have no expectations for any of the properties you might see today. I couldn't have planned what happened in the second home. There was a nice young couple, with their dad and their REALTOR...looking at the same house. I offered to wait outside and they insisted we come in while they were there. They were oozing remarks that would make any builder blush...high quality craftsmanship, beautiful tile choices and more. As we left, they said, "See you at the next house!" The excitement in the Spring market needs to be contagious! Go make it happen...these buyers want to buy.

Staging Sells Houses...decorated model sells & the buyer bought EVERYTHING including the furniture!

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:24:57 -0600

The decorated model 20 Grassy Plains at www.thereserveatpoplarplains.com(in case you want to see the pictures) sold at the asking price. The entire house of furniture, nick nacks, towels, starfish in the tub, kitchen aid on the counter etc. were all purchased out of contract. The buyer so fell in love with the house, and the furnishings, which were done by Lillian August furnishings designers, that he took the whole thing. What a great story for all builders and furniture companies. If you do a good enough job, people will emotionally fall in love with your product. Then they will buy it. Designers should be clamoring to decorate builder homes, even on consignment or staged. The buyers will find a way to buy the rooms just as they are! Obviously this buyer needed some of the furniture and he could afford it. My point is, we don't know exactly what they need but, if it is nicer than what they have, they'll find a way to keep the new...almost like a fresh start...a new beginning?

Jewelry Party A Great Success!

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:53:31 -0500

A few weeks ago we featured Nikki Bates, a local jewelry designer, at one our open houses. The jewelry party turned out to be a wonderful collaboration! Our guests were very impressed with the community here at The Reserve as well as the quality construction that ARS Partners delivers in each of their homes. Keep checking our website, www.TheReserveAtPoplarPlains.com, often for more events that will feature one-of-a-kind artisans from the area.

Customize Your New Home!

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:47:33 -0500

As the summer gets underway, we all have an opportunity to go swimsuit shopping. While shopping for a swimsuit you start to realize just how special the opportunity to customize something really is. If we could customize our swimsuits the way that buyers can customize a home at The Reserve, our shopping experience would be quite different!

We encourage you to come by and meet with the builders and discuss the many ways there are to customize the beautiful homes that we have available. You can select the number of bedrooms, the finishes, the type of lower level layout, the roofline and so much more, making sure that this home fits your families unique lifestyle. So keep in mind that while you may not be able to customize your swimsuit this summer, you can customize your new home at The Reserve.

Westport Fireworks

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:30:04 -0500

Each season the town of Westport has wonderful events that bring the community together. This Fourth of July the beautiful fireworks display can be viewed at Compo Beach on Thursday, July 3. For more information visit www.westportct.gov. If you're considering moving to Westport, or just visiting, make sure to take advantage of the many summer activities that are available. While you're here make sure to stop by The Reserve and enjoy the beauty of our nature trails, ponds and homes.

Nature At The Reserve

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:30:10 -0500

We recently spent time at the Fairfield Dogwood festival. It is a celebration of the beautiful blooming Dogwood trees that can be found all throughout Fairfield County and The Reserve too. The weather in New England is fickle at times and we have been waiting for the spring weather to come and to stay. After a few false starts we may be on to a warming trend. The result is that the plants, both landscaped and naturally occurring, all around The Reserve are in bloom. It is worth taking a ride to visit our ponds and to take a walk with your family on our nature trails. Enjoy New England this beautiful time of year and enjoy the beauty that The Reserve at Poplar Plains has to offer.

Now Is A Great Time To Buy At The Reserve

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:13:10 -0500

It has been a busy week with another Broker Open House. We have had quite a few brokers and agents from Westport, Weston, Wilton and Redding visit this week. The feedback continues to be positive and we are planning showings with several agents and their clients. Now is a great time to buy at The Reserve as there are still several homesites to choose from and construction can be complete in as little as 10 months time. In addition, buyers who choose the fully furnished option will be able to work directly with a design team from our designer of choice, Lillian August. This is a buyer benefit that is perfect for anyone with a busy schedule who needs some guidance to make the decorating of our spacious homes more manageable. Lillian August works quickly and can design the interior of your new home to be ready before you even move in. For more information, call us at 203-227-3303 and we will more than happy to discuss this option with you.

Pantone Chooses 2008 Color of the Year

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:04:24 -0500

Following up on the interest of color, it is interesting to note that Pantone (the people that provide standard palettes for a number of industries, mainly graphics, fashion and interior design) has declared that the color of the year for 2008 is Blue Iris. The reasoning behind the selection of this color is one that you may or may not agree with. (To read more about the color of the year go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/fashion/20COLOR.html)

But we think the most important point to come out of this story is that color is powerful. Color evokes emotion, brings us back to a comfortable place and makes us feel at home. We invite you to come and see the floor plans available at The Reserve at Poplar Plains and imagine yourself surrounded by not only luxury and the beauty of nature, but also by the colors that make your comfortable, relaxed and that make your house a home.

Model Home Decor At The Reserve

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:45:05 -0500

We have been getting a lot of questions about the decor in the model home. It is really quite beautiful and perhaps most notably it is comfortable. There is nothing stuffy about the decor and everyone who comes through the door remarks on the fact that they can move right in. That is what the builders had in mind when they partnered with Lillian August to create a home that captured the lifestyle of Westport.

In addition to the furnishings, there have been quite a few questions about the color palette seen throughout the house. All paint used in our model home is by Benjamin Moore and some rooms feature wallpaper of the highest quality including Ralph Lauren and Schumacker. Following are the colors that are seen throughout various rooms in the model:

Master: Palladian Blue
Family room: Jonesboro Cream
Second Bedroom: Linen White
Third Bedroom: Hampton Green
Fourth Bedroom: Delaware Putty

If you'd like to see for yourself how the colors of our model reflect the natural surroundings and create a sense of calm at The Reserve, please visit us during our sales office hours or call for a private showing.

Making The Reserve Your Dream Home

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:43:24 -0500

Perhaps one of the things that got the most attention at our Grand Opening was the 432-bottle wine cellar in the model home. People just loved being able to go to the finished basement and envision getting a great bottle of wine out of the cellar, taking it to the theater room and relaxing with a great old movie. What an escape!

And here are some great ideas for the elevator that we heard. Easy access to seasonal clothes stored in the basement. Easy access to seasonal sporting goods in the basement.

Simplify the moving day.

Make the cleaning crew happy - you won't have to worry about them damaging walls or carpet by brining cleaning supplies up and down the stairs.

Make it easier for an older beloved pet to be a part of the family on all living levels.

Makes it easier while pregnant for getting up and down the stairs.

You name it and people had great ideas - so come and see the model home for yourself and let us know what features you like the most and how you would make The Reserve your dream home. So join us this weekend and enjoy first hand the beauty that The Reserve at Poplar Plains has to offer.

Grand Opening Success

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:41:37 -0500

Success! At our grand opening we welcomed nearly 100 people through our fully furnished model home and the feedback was fantastic. Everyone responded to the warm gender-neutral paint colors and the cozy feel to every room.

Some of today's guests were prospective buyers who all appreciated the craftsmanship of the homes here at The Reserve. They talked a lot about the available floor plans working for them and their families very well. They also took note of the ideal location - close to the Merritt Parkway and yet feeling like it's miles from the stress of everyday life. We had photographer Margie Avellino on hand to chronicle the event, and pictures will be available highlighting the day.

Introducing The Reserve at Poplar Plains

Mary Beth Grasso (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:38:26 -0500

ARS Partners is pleased to announce their newest community in Fairfield County, The Reserve at Poplar Plains. This premier community features many picturesque homesites with the nicest feature of all being complete ease of maintenance. As a homeowner at The Reserve, you will enjoy all the amenities and privacy of a high-quality home without the hassle... a truly carefree lifestyle.

The Reserve at Poplar Plains will feature 13 luxurious homes with floorplan sizes ranging from 3700 to 4200 square feet. You can have the Aspen, Birch, or Cedar models with many outstanding features at no extra cost in every home at The Reserve. The distinct features have been chosen with an eye toward versatility, durability, tradition and comfort.

When completed, the stunning Cedar Colonial, The Reserve at Poplar Plains' professionally decorated model home, will display a myriad of luxurious features. The Cedar is designed with a front porch with columns reminiscent of a Nantucket shingle style home.

Check back here often for updates and news regarding Westport's newest luxury community!