The Parents...does it have to be the kiss of death?

I am in the process of helping a wonderful couple buy a historic home.  All things considered, the home is in amazing condition, and has numerous updates.  On top of that, it was very well priced, and there was a great deal of interest from a large pool of potential buyers.

These clients are grown adults, who have owned homes before, and own one now.  Clearly, not in need of "parental approval".  And yet, like so many of us do, as prospective homeowners, they included their parents in the inspection process for their purchase.

I don't think they will back out of the transaction.  They love the home. It's PERFECT for them.  It is the home that they have looked for, carefully, patiently, for close to 2 years.  However, if it were up to the parents, they wouldn't buy the home.  And the parents have been crystal clear about that.  To anyone who will listen, including the neighbors of the home their children are purchasing!

How do you deal with overbearing parents?  I am fotunate in that my clients are mature enough, and confident enough that while they consider their parents' feelings, they do not rely upon them for decisions.  This time.

I am thinking that "how involved will your parents be in the buying process" will now be one of my questions of prospective clients.

Open House philosophies - What's yours?

Raveis is having an "Open House" weekend, with the goal of getting as many agents out doing open houses today as possible.  Some agents are doing them back to back to fit in more than one!  It gets our signs out and hopefully, will motivate buyers to see lots of houses today.

April was Open House" month" for Century 21 it said in their advertising.  The company did tons of open houses over the course of the month.

I realize it's officially "the spring market" and I also know that there are lots and lots of sellers whose homes have not moved or had much traffic over the past few months.  Do you think that Open Houses are really valuable?  For whom?  The agent or the seller?  Do you think these blast strategies of tons and tons of Opens are bringing out more buyers, who wouldn't ordinarily come out?

My 2 cents?  I have sold homes from buyers who came to Open Houses...but not many.  It may very well be different in the market we're in now.

Car repair in West Hartford - I'm actually REALLY happy

I love writing about people who've provided me with great service.  It seems that there is, more than ever, a new line being drawn between the "big box" philosophy and the "local store-great service" philosophy. 

I had to have some body work done to my car (much to my dismay, it was my fault and mine alone!) and I asked my neighbor where they've taken their cars in the past.  She referred me to Steben's Auto on Park Road in West Hartford.

Steben's was fantastic.  They did the work they said they would do, in the time frame they said they would do it in.  They co-ordinated everything with my insurance, AND with the rental car office up the road.  On top of that, they were pleasant, professional and great to work with.

If that's not enough, I got back into my car to take it home, AND IT WAS SPOTLESS!  They had cleaned the inside, washed the windows with some magical cleaner that left no streaks of any kind and washed the outside, including the wheels.

I hope I never have to go back, but if I do, I know where I'll be going.

A well priced home will sell quickly in ANY market

I helped some clients write an offer an a house yesterday that they've fallen in love with.  The house has only been on the market about a week, and there will be competition from other offers.  This is a strange situation to be in after the draught in buyers that so many of properties have seen over the last 6-9 months.  It is a unique house, which is the primary reason it's got so much interest, but it's also VERY well priced.

In any market, buyers', sellers' other in between, a home that is priced 10% below market will ALWAYS attract buyers.  As a listing agent, I find that helping sellers to understand that it's rare to be able to ask for both a quick sale AND the last dollar of sale price.  The best you can offer is a perfect balance of the two. 

In this particular case, the seller wanted a quick sale, and she's going to get it!  Do you find that sellers, even those with a true sense of urgency, don't understand this concept?

It's not overly cautious buyers, its the chasm between buyers and sellers!

I submitted an offer yesterday on a gorgeous home.  It was originally priced at $969,000 and has been on and off the market for at least 9 months, closer to a year likely.  The home is now priced at $899,000 in an area where there is plenty of inventory in that price range.  My buyer really loves the home, but just isn't willing to pay the asking price.  He has logically figured out what he is willing to pay for the house based on statistics.

Here's the rub.  The sellers have turned down numerous low offers.  Is it that buyers and sellers are far apart?  Or is it that both sides lack urgency?

West Hartford Town Buildings Going Green?

A resolution was put forth at a recent Town Council meeting which would allow solar panels to be installed on some town buildings.  The installation of the panels could potentially be free as the investors could receive state or federal funds in the form of incentives or rebates.  Best of all, the town would be able to save in the neighborhood of 10% on it's electricity costs.

The Town Council voted unanimously to refer the resolution to a committee headed by Tim Brennan, one of the council members.  The town already has committed to a goal of having its municipal facilities buy 20 percent of its energy from clean energy sources by 2010, and is about halfway to that goal, according to Brennan.

Are buyers being overly cautious? Regionally markets are VERY different!

I am wondering if others are experiencing the same phenomenon, and I've seen numerous blog entries, but none around CT, or New England.  The city where I am is still doing quite well, homes are selling, at reasonable prices.  Perhaps down 5% or so, but given what you hear on the news, still quite a strong market. 

That having been said, I am working with a number of buyers who are "waiting to see what happens", or "I'll throw any lowball offer in, they might just take it!"  I am hearing people repeat things they've heard on CNN or a national news channel, which are just plain not the case in our market.

How do you explain to the eternal "bargain hunter" that they will lose a house that is perfect for them, and that the inventory will slowly decrease and their choices will once again be limited if they don't wake up?

The one caveat to this is for investors.  It seems to me that there are as many investment property buyers as there ever were.  Whether they are looking to flip, or to buy low, fix up and rent.  They understand that if they find the right distressed seller, they'll get a great deal if they make it happen.  Here's the rub...there aren't the same number of foreclosures here as in other regions, so there are a lot of buyers chasing not so many investment opportunities.

What are you seeing in your part of Connecticut?

West Hartford Art League Wins Grant

As part of a $1.1 million funding for the arts the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism awarded a $15,000 grant to the West Hartford Art League.  The grant is for the annual Art Walk which displays artwork of various mediums in store fronts and store windows in West Hartford's downtown area.

The Art League is one of 44 organizations statewide that were awarded grants this year, as announced this week by Governor Jodi Rell.

Last fall, sixty three merchants in West Hartford Center displayed artwork by more than 120 various Connecticut artists.  The Art League is using this year's grant to expand the walk, which will have it's five year anniversary in September.

As a resident living right outside of West Hartford Center, I know how wonderful it is to have constant new reasons to go shopping and walking downtown.  The Cow Parade, the ArtWalk and so many other events bring people from the neighborhood, but all over CT to the shops in West Hartford Center.  I know that when my family visits from out of state, they always comment on how great it is to live so close to a thriving "old fashioned" walkable "downtown".

Summer Camps in West Hartford - Fantastic!

The town of West Hartford's Leisure Services Department in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Department offer literally dozens of summer programs for kids from both inside of West Hartford and other towns.  There are 2 week sessions, that start the week after public school ends.  They run from 8:30 - 4:40 daily, with extended care available until 5:30 daily.  Best of all, you can register for these day camps as well as other individual classes as well in things like dance, sports, crafts for kids, magic ONLINE!  The link is below.

http://www.west-hartford.com/leisureservices/Summer%20Programs.htm

My son Ben is 8 1/2 and went to Fernridge Park's Funtastic program last year.  He had daily swimming lessons in the huge Park pool, along with daily free swim.  They played all kinds of sports, games, and even had competitive "field day" type events with the other park programs!  There was a talent show, and they typically take the kids bowling once per session.

What I loved the most was the quality of the counselors.  They were all kind, experienced, and interacted very well with my son.  Ben made new friends and came home exhausted every day.  Any of you with grammer school age boys know that is a feat in an of itself, to tire out an 8 year old!

I recommend the program highly, and Ben's going back this summer!

West Hartford Teacher Social Studies Teacher Wins Award

A Social Studies teacher from Hall High School has been named Teacher of the Year by the New England History Teachers Association.  Elizabeth Devine won the award, and has been a teacher at Hall for many years.  The award was given to Ms. Devine at the Northeast Regional Social Studies conference, held last week in New Haven, CT. 

The committee made specific mention of Devine's work with Advanced Placement US history students, and her Human Rights program at Hall.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Devine and Hall High School!