2011 Holiday Open House at Birch Mountain Pottery - 11/29/11 01:15 PM
2011 Holiday Open House at Birch Mountain Pottery!
 
This Saturday, December 3, 2011, is the annual Holiday Open House at Birch Mountain Pottery in Tolland CT!  The festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. and go until 4:00 p.m.  Susan Gerr, owner of Birch Mountain Pottery, has been busy creating one-of-a-kind gifts that will be perfect for anyone on your list. You will find beautiful mugs, serving dishes, bowls, vases, sushi sets, and other gifts that you won't find anywhere else.  If you want a sneak peak at her beautiful work, you can see the gallery.
 
In addition to her beautiful … (2 comments)

Should I Put My House on the Market During the Holidays? - 11/29/11 07:51 AM
Should I Put My House on the Market During the Holidays?

 
Every year, right around Thanksgiving, I am asked the same question:  Should I put my house on the market during the holidays?  Actually, people usually say something more like:  Now isn't the best time to put my house on the market, is it?
 
Of course, sellers have already assumed that the holiday season is NOT a good time to try to sell their homes, and they are looking for agreement from me.  I don't agree with them, and here is why:
 
Less Competition Many people don't want … (10 comments)

Ice Skating at Bushnell Park - 11/28/11 06:55 PM
Ice Skating at Bushnell Park

 
Back by popular demand is the FREE ice-skating at Bushnell Park in Hartford CT.  The opening ceremony was held on Friday, November 25 and officially began the season of ice-skating at Bushnell Park.  The 80 by 90 foot skating rink will be open everyday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. until February 20, 2012.
If you don't have your own skates, there are also FREE ice skate rentals.  The ice skating is part of Winterfest which includes many other holiday events.  The lighting ceremony has already taken place, but there are plenty of other activities … (4 comments)

Thoughts on Small Business Saturday - 11/26/11 09:16 PM
Thoughts on Small Business Saturday

 
I am not a shopper, and I am even less of a shopper on crazy hyped-up shopping days.  You will never find me in a store the day after Thanksgiving or the day after Christmas.  I will certainly never line up at midnight on a perfectly leisurely holiday to buy more junk that I don't need.
 
I am really tired of one-day sales that occur every single Tuesday and Wednesday of the week.  I am even more tired of "lowest price of the season" come-on sales that use the scarcity principle of marketing.
… (13 comments)

Stop and Shop Food for Friends Program - 11/17/11 10:36 AM
Stop and Shop Food for Friends Program

 
With every holiday season, there is a push for more donations to stock up local food pantries and services providing holiday meals to families who need them.  This year, with two major storms within a short period of time, the supply has significantly been depleted and the need is greater this year.
 
Local Stop and Shop stores will be collecting food and money to help stock food pantries and make donations to those who need help during the upcoming holiday season.   They do this every year, but it is important to contribute this … (4 comments)

Hey Baby Boomers! Have You Had Enough Yet? - 11/17/11 10:13 AM
Hey Baby Boomers! Have You Had Enough Yet?

 
First, let me say that I am a bona fide Baby Boomer so I can relate.  Second, let me say that I spent the entire weeked raking up leaves from my yard and debris from my garden.  Third, let me say that all this yard work is getting really old.
 
I, for one, have had enough!  I am ready to let someone else do it all.  My house has become too much of a burden, and my prized garden that I spent a lifetime creating is ridiculously labor-intensive.  I don't … (62 comments)

A Good Neighbor Indeed! - 11/15/11 12:37 PM
A Good Neighbor Indeed!

 
During the week of the freak October snowstorm and massive power outages in CT, many people were scrambling to find hotel rooms, myself included.  I tried calling the Hampton Inn and Suites in Manchester CT which was less than a half mile from my house, but phone service all over the area was sketchy.
 
On the second day after the power went out, I walked to the Hampton Inn and Suites in Manchester CT to see if there would possibly be a room.  I learned that their phone service was out, but they did have … (4 comments)

Vernon CT Market Report for October 2011 - 11/13/11 06:48 PM
Vernon CT Market Report for October 2011

 
October 2011 was a great month for Vernon CT real estate.  There were 16 closed sales with a median price of $171,750, compared with 12 closed sales with a median price of $155,000 in October 2010.  Both number of sales and median price increased this October over last.
 
In addition, days on market (DOM) decreased this October over last October (64 vs. 83) and list price to sale price ratio was virtually unchanged (97.05 in October 2011 vs. 97.15 in October 2010).
 
Here is the breakdown by price range:

 
… (3 comments)

East Hartford CT Market Report for October 2011 - 11/12/11 07:05 PM
East Hartford CT Market Report for October 2011

 
In comparing October 2011 with October 2010, East Hartford real estate sales and median price were down this year over last.  In October 2011, there were 23 closed sales with a median price of $134,900 compared with 26 closed sales and a median price of $144,750 in October 2010.
 
In addition, days on market (DOM) were up this year (77 in 2011 and 45 in 2010), but sale price to list price ratio is virtually unchanged (96.7 in 2011 vs. 96.9 in 2010).
 
Here is the breakdown by price … (4 comments)

South Windsor Market Report for October 2011 - 11/12/11 07:36 AM
South Windsor Market Report for October 2011

 
During October 2011, there were 14 closed sales in South Windsor CT with a median price of $275,000. There were 14 closed sales in October 2010, but the median price was $259,900.  So year over year comparison for October shows that sales were the same, but the median price rose.
 
Another interesting statistic is that while days on market (DOM) increased in October 2011 compared to October 2010 (64 vs. 33 in 2010), the sale price to list price ratio increased (97.4% iin October 2011 vs. 95.25% in October 2010).
 
Here … (0 comments)

Wine Tasting at Adams Mill Restaurant on November 14, 2011 - 11/10/11 06:12 PM
Wine Tasting at Adams Mill Restaurant on November 14, 2011

 
My favorite wine shop, Manchester Wine and Liquors, is hosting its monthly wine-tasting at Adams Mill Restaurant, on Adams Street in Manchester CT on Monday, November 14, 2011 at 6:30.
 
Members of the wine club can sign up and bring one guest, but anyone can be a wine club member and receive notices of wine events, monthly specials, and news.  Membership is FREE so call Manchester Wine and Liquors at 860-649-4750 to sign up now and get their newsletters. 
 
Registration is required, and only people in their … (6 comments)

Trade In Your Holiday Lights for LEDs at Home Depot - 11/10/11 11:05 AM
Trade In Your Holiday Lights for LEDs at Home Depot

 
I am not one to be thinking about Christmas this early, but I saw an ad this morning in the Home Depot flyer.  Until November 13, 2011, you can trade in your old holiday lights for new LED lights to receive from $3 to $5 off a new set (up to five strings per customer).
 
 
Why trade in your old lights for new LED lights?
They use less energy than old incandescent lights. They last longer - up to 20,000 hours! They are cool to the touch … (6 comments)

Manchester CT Market Report for October 2011 - 11/09/11 07:02 PM
Manchester CT Market Report for October 2011

 
October was an interesting month in Manchester CT real estate sales.  While the number of closed sales held steady over the prior few months, the median price dropped significantly.  The same was true when comparing last October with this October.  During October 2011, there were 26 closed sales with a median price of $147,750, while during October 2010, there were 20 closed sales with a median price of $179,900.
 
 
Here is the breakdown by price range:
 
 
With 35 homes under deposit and 22 under contract,  we will have … (2 comments)

What I Would Do with Three Extra Hours a Week! - 11/08/11 11:01 AM
What I Would Do with Three Extra Hours a Week!
 
This was a no-brainer for me!  I would babysit for my beautiful granddaughter, Sophia!  I already watch her several times a week so my daughter can go to work, but I would gladly offer more.  I never thought I would enjoy being a grandmother as much as I do.  I think there is a timelessness about it, where you can observe them but then relive all the moments you had with your own children, with a different perspective.   It's mesmerizing. 
  
I was fortunate enough to have my mother-in-law watch my children … (11 comments)

Our Homelessness Was Only Temporary - 11/08/11 08:19 AM

 
Ah, the creature comforts!  Getting out of a warm bed, making coffee in the morning, reading the newspaper, checking up on emails.  Things we usually take for granted.
 
After eight days without power, I became painfully aware of how driven I am by routines (although I wouldn't even recognize them as routines) and how grouchy I became when I didn't have them.
 
It's not the same to have to get dressed in the freezing cold, trudge out to the nearest coffee shop, and sit among throngs of people in the same boat as me--without power, without warmth, … (19 comments)

Selling Your Home in the Winter ~ Play Up These Features - 11/07/11 07:44 AM
Selling Your Home in the Winter?  Play Up These Features

Have you been thinking about putting your home on the market this winter?  Maybe you have to sell now; maybe you want to beat the spring rush.  If you live in the colder climates, you know that winter is a challenging time to sell a house.  And if you have experienced our recent freak October snowstorm that brought thousands of homeowners to their knees with massive power outages, you are painfully aware that it won't be easy to make someone fall in love with your house in the winter.
 
… (6 comments)

Update to Tree and Brush Removal in Manchester CT - 11/05/11 06:03 PM
Update to Tree and Brush Removal in Manchester CT
The other day I wrote a post about what to do with all the branches and twigs from our freak October snow storm.   Today I was out cleaning up the yard when a town truck came by to check on our street (which is still without power) and to let people know that it would be really helpful if the branches were piled up with the cut side to the street.  This way, the work crews can grab hold of the branches and throw them in the truck more easily.  Anything that … (6 comments)

Rescheduled ~ Antiques Appraisal Night! - 11/04/11 09:16 PM
Rescheduled ~ Antiques Appraisal Night

 
The freak October storm wreaked havoc on everyday life, but it also forced the rescheduling of our fundraiser for The Sunshine Kids, Antiques Appraisal Night.
 
Originally scheduled for November 3, 2011, it has been rescheduled for November 17, 2011, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  The event will be held at Prudential Connecticut Realty's Vernon office at 435 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT (in the Rein's Deli plaza).
 
Scott Liscomb of A Family Heirloom will be on hand to assess all your treasures.  Bring in old coins, art, gold, silver, jewelry, military items, baseball … (0 comments)

What To Do with Trees and Branches from the October Storm in Manchester CT - 11/03/11 02:51 PM
What To Do with Trees and Branches from the October Storm in Manchester CT
 

If you live in Manchester CT, there are three things you can do with the trees and branches that resulted from the freak storm on October 29, 2011. 
Bundle tree branches and brush in no more than 4-foot lengths, less than 3 inches in diameter, and weighing no more than 40 pounds each for collection with your regularly scheduled garbage pickup. Bring trees, branches, and brush to the town landfill in your own truck.  The town of Manchester CT is waiving the fee for dumping for … (9 comments)

Save Yourself NOW for the Next Power Outage! - 11/02/11 02:31 PM
Save Yourself NOW for the Next Power Outage
 
My sister, whose husband is an electrician, has been inundated with emergency phone calls from people who are without electricity, as is most of the state.  Her general politeness has given way to anger because the calls are coming from people who bought generators after the debacle of Hurricane Irene, but didn’t get them connected because it was too expensive at the time (this is after calling her husband over to give them estimates for the work).  Now they are in the same predicament, willing to pay anything, but money can’t buy time … (7 comments)

The Clean-Up Begins - 11/02/11 01:46 PM
The Clean-Up Begins

 
 
After last weekend’s snowstorm, we have quite a bit of clean-up to do.  So I started calling around to tree removal contractors to see if I could get on their list. 
 
 
I knew they would be busy, so I was a little surprised to find that the first tree removal contractor I could reach offered to give me three estimates over the phone. 
 
 
OK, I thought, my mood brightening considerably.  All I had to do was tell him how many trees had come down and he would provide the instant quotes.  When … (3 comments)