The Harriman Team

10 Positive Predictions for 2010 (Contest Entry)

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:43:50 -0600

10 Positve Predictions for 2010

OK, Sally Cheeseman has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged us here on AR to come up with 10 positive predicitions for 2010, so without further ado, let's get right into it, shall we?

Business:

Our local market will rebound to where it was in 2005-06
Our new business plan catches fire and sizzles!
Virtual RE offices will become commonplace
Social media will become second nature as a means of connecting with clients
Virtual Real Estate Bar Camps will be held more often and evolve into major events
HVCC will be repealed
Home Buyers Tax Credit will die on April 30th...and stay dead
Interest rates will remain at historic lows
Short sales/foreclosures will decline
Active Rain will surpass 200,000 users!

Ok, that wasn't so bad! Although, some of these predictions would be better categorized as "wishful thinking" or "delusional ramblings" than predictions! Anyway, there are our 10 positive predictions...but we're not done. Oh no. Forthwith, here are our 10 positive predictions for 2010 under the heading of...

Personal:

We will reach our weight loss goals while still eating the foods we love (in miniscule quantities).
We will do a better job of getting regular exercise to stay fit...16 ounce wrist curls do NOT count!
We will resolve to get 8 hours of sleep every night.
We will take time off from work to smell the flowers...or shovel snow, whichever comes first.
We will Skype our kids and grandkids more often...Tempus Fugit, ya know...
We will sell our house for a decent price and not lose any equity...or our sanity.
We will take a trip to Germany...eventually.
We will, reluctantly, return from said trip to Germany and not sulk for a week.
We will become more intimately acquainted with our hot tub. We know it's lonely...
We will be grateful for the things we have, and the love of family and friends.

Hey, we're getting good at this! Where the first 10 were our wishful thinking, these 10 were more or less our resolutions for the New Year. Good to get them out of the way early! So, we're through playin' now, right?

Wrong.

Last but not least, we'd like to enumerate our 10 positive predictions for 2010 in the category of...

Off The Wall Things That Have Zero Chance of Happening:

Congress will suddenly realize the error of their ways and undo all the crap they've done in the past year.
Osama Bin Laden will watch "The Wizard of Oz", be overcome with emotion to go home, click his heels together 3 times and end up in a maximum security prison.
Instead of broadcasting junk when it's a slow news day, TV newscasters will simply say, "There's no more news fit to tell you about, we're going home now."
Amy Winehouse and Lindsay Lohan will actually stay sober for an entire year.
In a drunken stupor, Al Gore will confess that he did NOT invent the Internet, but he did change a few tubes now and then.
Tv shows will expand to 75 minutes long, so you can actually see a hour's worth of the show instead of 45 minutes.
"Glengarry Glen Ross" will be remade to more accurately reflect the state of real estate today. It will win an Oscar for Best Picture and Best Special Effects. Realtors everywhere will change their name to Ricky Roma. Home sales skyrocket.
"Too big to fail" will become the US Government's new motto.
In an uncharacteristic display of altruism, AIG, Bank of America, Citigroup, GM and Chrysler announce they are distributing billions of dollars in profit to the American people, forgiving mortgage delinquencies and giving away cars to those in need. The President dispatches Hilary Clinton to go to Hell to see if it has, in fact, frozen over.
The Victoria's Secret models, Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and Chippendale dancers all run for Congress...and win. C-SPAN becomes most watched TV channel in history.

Alright, that's all we got. All we can do now is leave our creation in the capable hands of the lovely Sally Cheeseman and hope our creativity is up to snuff.

Here you go, Sally...have at it!

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:40:32 -0600

Giving Thanks in Thankless Times…

Thanksgiving usually brings people out of the woodwork posting lists of things they’re thankful for: family, friends, a roof over their heads, clothes on their back and food in their stomachs are all mainstays of these lists, and deservedly so. We’re thankful for all those things, too, and many more that could fill a book.

This year we thought we’d do something a little different. Many of us are always on the lookout for ways in which we can make a difference in the life of someone less fortunate than ourselves. Donating clothes to the Salvation Army, volunteering in a senior center or spending time as a mentor are all ways you can help. Donating time, money or goods are time-honored methods of giving back to those in need, whether they are in your community or halfway around the world. So, we’d like to present our list of favorite charities and causes that we’ve either personally donated to or highly recommend. Some will be familiar, some maybe not so much, but they’re all worth a look…

5 Familiar Causes…

Make-A-Wish Foundation: Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish^® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.
Habitat For Humanity: Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life, to develop communities with people in need by building and renovating houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God’s love and can live and grow into all that God intends.
American Red Cross: Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.
World Wildlife Fund: For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature.
National Council On Aging: The National Council on Aging is a non-profit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC.
- NCOA is a national voice for older adults – especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged -- and the community organizations that serve them.
- NCOA brings together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults.
- NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors live independently, find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities

…And 5 Not So Familiar

Email Our Military: eMail Our Military’s founder is a military wife, the daughter of a veteran and an avid troop supporter. We’re volunteers from all walks of life who understand that regardless of our political views, our military service members deserve our respect, support & encouragement.
Pillows For Soldiers: Our simple purpose: Send pillows to soldiers, vets and to families of fallen soldiers to say "Thank You For Your Service" and offer them a little comfort.
Skip1.org: Skip1.org taps into the world's wealth to bring food and water to children and families in need around the world. Skip1.org is a promotional division of Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) which was founded in 1992 and seeks to alleviate the suffering of needy children across America and around the world.
The Feed Foundation: The FEED Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds to ensure nutritious school meals for all children as a first step to improving the global food system. In partnership with FEED Projects, LLC, the FEED Foundation has provided over 50 million school meals to children in the developing world through the United Nations World Food Progam school feeding operations.
The Hole In The Wall Gang: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, in collaboration with its associated camps in the United States and abroad, provides children with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions a camping experience of the highest quality, while extending year-round support to their families and health care providers.

So, there’s our list of ways to show thanks this holiday season. This list is by no means an exhaustive one; there are scores of other, worthy causes that you can donate to, all as deserving as these. These just happen to be some of our favorites. If you have a cause that’s especially dear to you, we invite you to leave a comment to let us know what it is.

In closing, we would like to say that, in addition to all the traditional things we are thankful for, we’d like to add one more to the list: YOU, our readers, clients and friends. Without you, we would have no need for this blog. We thank you for taking time out of your busy days to stop by and see what’s going on. We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you may be.

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Connecticut Magazine Rates State Cities and Towns (Part 2)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:53:13 -0600

CT Magazine Rates State Cities and Towns

This is the second in a four part series highlighting the rating of Connecticut cities and towns by Connecticut Magazine. In our first post, we focused on the largest cities in our state, those with populations of 50,000 or more. To recap, the publication set the following criteria for the rankings: They first sorted the localities into four groups based on population:

10,000 – 15,000
15,000 – 25,000
25,000 – 50,000
50,000+ (Towns with populations below 10,000 will be featured in their own rankings in the March 2010 issue; see here for the 2007 rankings)

Then, information was collected in the quality-of-life criteria that are most important to residents:

Schools
Crime Rate
Cost of Living
Local Economy
Leisure/Cultural Outlets

Then the numbers were crunched and rankings were awarded based on how the towns scored in those criteria, with a “1” being the best score possible. In this second part of the series, we’ll be taking a look at the next population segment, between 25,000 and 50,000 residents, and specifically those in our market area:

25,000 - 50,000: Cheshire and Wallingford Represent!

Of the 24 towns in this population group, Cheshire and Wallingford both did very well, ranking 4th and 6th respectively. Cheshire’s strengths lie in its having the lowest crime rate in the category and a strong educational system; however, it’s high cost of living and lack of leisure activities kept it from ranking higher.

Wallingford really didn’t excel in any one area, but was solid in most categories except cost of living. It was buoyed by its low crime rate (#7) and leisure (#8), fueled by its having a newly-remodeled library, 2 golf courses, many good restaurants and also for being the home of Oakdale Theater.

Here’s the full set of rankings for this population segment:

Town	Education	Crime	Economy	Cost	Leisure	Total
Westport	1	4	1	24	1	31
Glastonbury	2	3	4	21	3	33
Newtown	4	2	2	23	12	43
Cheshire	3	1	7	19	14	44
New Milford	7	5	8	17	9	46
Branford	10	10	5	18	10	53
Groton	15	12	9	13	4	53
Wallingford	12	7	11	15	8	53
Trumbull	5	6	6	22	15	54
Wethersfield	6	15	12	12	16	61
Middletown	17	19	15	10	2	63
Shelton	11	11	3	20	18	63
Windsor	21	8	14	9	11	63
Southington	9	14	10	16	17	66
Norwich	13	22	21	4	7	67
Newington	8	18	13	11	19	69
Vernon	14	13	19	6	17	69
Stratford	18	21	16	14	5	74
Torrington	19	20	22	3	13	77
Enfield	16	16	18	5	23	78
New London	24	24	23	1	6	78
Naugatuck	22	9	20	7	24	82
E. Haven	20	17	17	8	21	83
E.Hartford	23	23	24	2	22	94

The most startling disparity revealed by the editor’s commentary was the fact that Westport, the #1 town in this population segment, has a median home price of $970,000, which is larger than that of Glastonbury, Cheshire and New Milford combined! Amazing!

Remember, these rankings are not to be considered the last word in what the quality of life is in a particular city/town; however, they are a starting point and can be used as a point of comparison when making a decision about where to live in the state. There are many reasons for liking –or not liking - a specific city or town that transcend any statistical ranking or report, and only you can decide if a place is right for you and your family.

In Part Three of this series, we’ll take a look at the next population size, cities between 15,000 and 25,000 residents. To see these results in their entirety, pick up a copy of Connecticut Magazine’s November issue, on sale now at your favorite store or newsstand.

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Connecticut Magazine Rates State Cities and Towns (Part 1)

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:27:07 -0600

CT Magazine Rates State Cities and Towns

In the November issue of Connecticut Magazine, the Trumbull-based publication has, for the first time since 2006, provided a look at how various cities and towns rank based on several criteria. They first sorted the localities into four groups based on population:

10,000 – 15,000
15,000 – 25,000
25,000 – 50,000
50,000+ (Towns with populations below 10,000 will be featured in their own rankings in the March 2010 issue; see here for the 2007 rankings)

Then, information was collected in the quality-of-life criteria that are most important to residents:

Schools
Crime Rate
Cost of Living
Local Economy
Leisure/Cultural Outlets

Then the numbers were crunched and rankings were awarded based on how the towns scored in those criteria, with a “1” being the best score possible.

In this four part series of posts, we’re going to highlight how some towns in our market area fared, as well as the rest of the rankings. So, without an further ado, here’s Part One:

50,000+ : Hamden Hangs In There, Meriden Trails

There were 17 cities on the list in this category, represented by Hamden and Meriden. Hamden did well, placing 7th on the list (but down from 5th in the last rankings) and scoring high in the Crime Rate behind only Fairfield and Greenwich. Hamden did poorest in the area of Leisure/Culture, scoring only 14th out of 17.

Meriden, surprisingly, tied for last place among these 17 cities, doing well in Cost of Living (5th), but finishing last in Leisure/Culture. It was in 12th place for each of the other 3 categories. It is interesting to note that, in the Cost of Living area, the top cities on the list had the highest cost of living, while they scored very well in the other areas. Here’s the chart of results:

Town Education Crime Economy Cost Leisure Total

Fairfield	1	2	2	15	4	24
Greenwich	2	1	1	17	5	26
W. Htfd	3	6	7	11	6	33
Stamford	7	7	3	16	3	36
Milford	4	5	4	12	12	37
Danbury	9	4	6	13	9	41
Hamden	8	3	8	10	14	43
Manchester	6	9	9	7	13	44
Norwalk	10	11	5	14	7	47
Bristol	5	8	10	9	16	48
New Haven	14	16	14	6	1	51
Waterbury	13	14	16	1	8	52
W.Haven	11	10	11	8	15	55
Hartford	17	17	17	3	2	56
New Britain	15	13	15	2	11	56
Bridgeport	16	15	13	4	10	58
Meriden	12	12	12	5	17	58

According to these rankings, it appears that the state’s big cities continue to struggle with low educational scores, elevated crime rates and unstable economies. Hartford finished dead last in all three of those categories, while New Haven, Bridgeport and Waterbury all showed poorly as well. However, these localities also provide some of the state’s best leisure and cultural amenities.

In Part Two of this series, we’ll take a look at the next population size, cities between 25,000 and 50,000 residents. To see these results in their entirety, pick up a copy of Connecticut Magazine’s November issue, on sale now at your favorite store or newsstand.

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Wallingford Sonic Drive-In Update!

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:58:11 -0600

Wallingford Sonic Drive-In Update

Back in July, we posted the news about a Sonic Drive-In restaurant possibly coming to Wallingford. That news took another step towards reality today with the report that Robert Mesite, owner of the Villa Capri and now-gone Yankee Silversmith restaurants has submitted a site plan for Connecticut's first Sonic Drive-In to be built on the vacant lot where his landmark Yankee Silversmith once stood.

The proposal is for a 1,700 square foot restaurant with no indoor seating (they roller skate the food to your car, remember?) that Mesite hopes will be completed by next spring. Mesite and his family are also reportedly in negotiations to bring franchises to several other locations in the state as well, so even though Wallingford is fairly centrally located in the state, there may be a time when a Sonic is only a few minutes drive away, no matter where you live.

This is great news for all the Sonic fans in the state that have been salivating over the possibility of Sonic coming here, now it seems their wait may be coming to an end. Better get on over to the Sonic web site now and sign up for that Sonic Cruisers membership, Spring is just around the corner, and your first Route 66 upgrade and Cherry Limeade is coming with it!

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Veteran's Day 2009

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:13:00 -0600

This Veteran's Day, The Harriman Team would like to take this opportunity to stop a minute and thank all the veterans, past and present, who have helped keep this great country free. As we have said in the past, we have a close connection to the military: I am a Viet Nam veteran, Pat was a military wife, and we have children who either are now or have been in the service. For all our veterans do for us, we owe it to them to take a few moments out of our busy schedules to thank them for what they do for us. The sacrifices they make, the hardships they endure, and the courage they display all entitle them to our respect, esteem and admiration.

Also, our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones in the recent shootings at Fort Hood, Texas. It's bad enough to lose someone close to you in military combat, but when unfortunate circumstances such as those at Fort Hood happen, they can only serve to draw us closer to the ones left behind, and focus our attention on the trials and tribulations they go through every day. May they take comfort from those whose love and support surrounds them, and may those who lost their lives rest in everlasting peace.

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Waterbury, CT: 60 Oakwood Avenue, 4BR Cape w/Heated Driveway

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:39:17 -0500

This home has space galore! The first floor has two bedrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen with stainless steel appliances and full bath. The second floor has a full in-law with two bedrooms, living room/dining room, kitchen and full bath. Basement has a partial kitchen, full bath and two rooms. Nice yard, heated driveway & 2 car detached garage.

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description

$199,900

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

4 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Interior: 1844 sqft
Lot: 0.22 acre(s)

Location

60 Oakwood Ave.
Waterbury, CT 06708

Pat & Wayne Harriman

William Raveis Real Estate
(203) 672-4499
wayne@theharrimanteam.com
http://www.theharrimanteam.com

Listed by: William Raveis Real Estate

Our recent listings

Awesome Wallingford Split Level
Middlefield Colonial on 5+ Acres
Amazing Haddam Colonial
24 Acres of Heaven
Spectacular Wallingford Condo

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Waterbury, CT real estate for sale

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

House Extends Tax Credit to Active Military for One More Year

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:15:31 -0500

Thanks to Nicole Lahti for bringing this to our attention. Since I'm a Viet Nam veteran and have 3 kids who are or have been in the military, I think this is great news, and couldn't happen to a more desserving group of men and women.

Via Nicole Lahti, Austin Texas Mortgage (Real Mortgage Partners):

Yesterday the House of Representatives unanimously voted to extend the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit to active military personnel, foreign service and intelligence officers. HR 3590 extends the existing tax credit to this group until November 30th, 2010. The bill now goes to the Senate, and is expected to pass with the same ease.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) because it was thought that military personel serving oversees this year did not have the same opportunity to take advantage of the tax credit. If the original qualifications are met, the extension applies to military personnel who spent at least 90 days of the current calendar year oversees. It also does not require borrowers to payback the tax credit if they are deployed after receiving it. The current tax credit requires borrowers payback the tax credit if they do not occupy the home within three years of receiving the tax credit.

No word yet on whether the $8,000 tax credit will be extended for all eligible borrowers.

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

William Raveis Wins Gold as Best Real Estate Company in Connecticut

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:20:45 -0500

Back in September, we posted here that William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage and Insurance had been nominated by The Commercial Record as the best real estate company in Connecticut. Today, Bill Raveis, President and CEO, proudly announces that the company has, indeed, won that distinction:

This follows closely the recent announcement that the company had also been named the best real estate company in Massachusetts for the second consecutive year. The full results will be published in the October 23rd edition of the Commercial Record.

Congratulations to our management, staff and fellow associates for this great team effort!

[Source: William Raveis Real Estate blog]

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Is Your Home Ready For Winter?

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:02:29 -0500

The Iceman Cometh…

Now that Autumn has graced us with her presence, you can be sure that the frost, ice, snow, and sub-zero temperatures can’t be far behind. Time to put away your shorts, flip-flops, halter tops, T-shirts and air conditioners, and drag out the thermal underwear, boots, parkas and ice scrapers and prepare ourselves to survive another Winter.

By the same token, your home needs some preparation to be ready for winter and provide you with a warm and comfortable retreat away from the harshness of the elements. Here’s a checklist of things you should do to get your home in shape to enjoy winter.

Inside…

The most important thing is to ensure that your heating system is in peak operating condition. You can test it yourself to make sure it puts out heat when the thermostat is turned up, but we recommend you have it checked by a qualified heating technician. Most utility companies have service plans you can sign up for that provide periodic checks of your furnace for a nominal fee.
Make sure all heating vents, baseboards and radiators are working properly and not blocked so that warm air can circulate freely.
If not already in place, it’s a good idea to install carbon monoxide (CO2) detectors in any areas where you might suspect the presence of this silent but deadly gas. Most home improvement stores sell these detectors, and you can even get them with smoke detectors combined into one unit.
Remove any window air conditioning units and check the closed windows for drafts; seal any leaks that you find. If the A/C unit can’t be removed, at least protect it with a good quality air conditioner cover.
If you have a fireplace, it’s a good idea to have it professionally serviced to ensure the chimney isn’t obstructed, that it’s clean and there are no creosote build-ups, and there are no cracks in the masonry that might cause a fire to spread into the walls behind the chimney.
Check any exposed water pipes in uninsulated areas like crawlspaces to ensure they are properly insulated. Cracked pipes in the winter are no fun!
Check the weather stripping on all doors and windows to make sure no drafts enter your home. Replace any that is cracked, brittle or missing.

…and Outside.

Make sure the roof is in good condition, and make any needed repairs to shingles or flashing.
Clean out all gutters and rain spouts. Clogged rain gutters can lead to ice damming, which in turn can cause leaks inside your home.
Turn off the water supply to exterior faucets and drain the water from them. Disconnect any garden hoses, drain the water and store them for the winter.
Either cover all patio furniture or store it in a shed, if available.
Whatever your method of snow removal, make sure it’s ready for winter: inspect shovels for cracked blades and handles, replace if necessary; have gas on hand for your snow blower and inspect it to ensure there are no blockages which could damage the machine or cause injury. Or, have your snow removal company’s phone number handy!

Another great idea is to have a Home Energy Audit performed on your home. We wrote a post about this last year, and it really is a valuable tool to help you prepare for the winter heating season.

These are just a few tips to help you get your home ready for cold weather. Taking action now could be the difference between a nice, comfy winter and a long, miserable one.

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

REDUCED! 329 Cherry Hill Rd., Middlefield CT

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:00:07 -0500

Middlefield Colonial on 5+ Acres

Overview
Maps
Photos
Description

$699,900

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
Interior: 3120 sqft
Lot: 5.06 acre(s)

Location

329 Cherry Hill Rd.
Middlefield, CT 06455

Pat & Wayne Harriman

William Raveis Real Estate
(203) 672-4499
wayne@theharrimanteam.com
http://www.theharrimanteam.com

Listed by: William Raveis Real Estate

Our recent listings

Awesome Wallingford Split Level
Middlefield Colonial on 5+ Acres
Updated Wallingford Cape
Amazing Haddam Colonial
24 Acres of Heaven

Subscribe to our listing feed

See more Middlefield, CT real estate for sale

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

Support the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:10:59 -0500

For the past few years, we have participated in our company’s annual drive to collect donations for the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund. We would again like to offer our friends and clients the opportunity to help this exceptionally worthy cause by investing in a chance to win some seriously great prizes in our annual raffle.

Tickets this year are only $5 each, and we have a virtually unlimited supply of them, so don't feel like to need to hold back! Simply leave a comment on this post to let us know how many tickets you would like, then MAIL a check to us at:

Pat & Wayne Harriman

William Raveis Real Estate

465 S. Main St.

Cheshire, CT 06410

(Please make checks payable to : William Raveis Charitable Fund, Inc.)

As soon as we receive your check, we’ll send your tickets to you, with our wishes for good luck….and our thanks for your help! Or if you’d rather pay by credit card, just call us at 203-605-3873 and we can do it all over the phone, or we can meet face to face if you're local!

Please scroll down for a copy of the ticket showing the prizes available, and some general background on the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund. Have a look, and I’m sure you’ll agree this is something you want to participate in too!

Won’t you please help out this year?

2009 marks the 5^th anniversary for the William Raveis Charitable Fund, Inc. and the William Raveis Breast Cancer Research Fund. We’ve Raised more than One Million Dollars over the course of these past five years in support of those diagnosed with breast cancer and in search of a cure. We could not have accomplished this without your raffle ticket purchases and generous donations. Thank you!

In January of this year, The William Raveis Charitable Fund, Inc. has pledged $750,000 to establish the William Raveis ACS Navigator Care Program at the University of Connecticut Heath Center, Farmington, CT and $165,000 to the Navigator Care Program at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. With the assistance of trained volunteers/survivors, this innovative program helps patients navigate through diagnosis and treatment. These programs are expanding to include patients with other types of cancer as well.

194,280 new cases and 40,610 deaths from breast cancer are expected to be reported this year. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 cancers diagnosed in US women. This year, approximately 1,910 cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among men, accounting for about 1% of all breast cancers.

Let’s give everyone a fighting chance. Thank you for your support!

You can find The Harriman Team in these fine locations:

9/11 Memorial Events Scheduled

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:29:21 -0500

Tomorrow, September 11th, 2009, marks the 8th anniversary of one of the grimmest chapters in American history, the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. The horror of that day, and the days that followed, are forever burned into our collective consciousness. While our nation as a whole has moved on from that day, the pain and anguish still linger and many localities hold memorial services and events commemorating the lives that were lost and irreparably changed on that day.

Several local towns are planning memorial events, so we have taken the liberty to list here the ones we know of (as reported by the Meriden Record-Journal and Jason Zandri in his blog):

Meriden: City of Meriden 9/11 Memorial Service, Friday, 7 p.m., New Life Church, 262 Bee St.
Wallingford: 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, 8:30 a.m., Parade Grounds, Town Hall, 45 S. Main St.
Southington: Third annual 9/11 Ceremony, Friday, 10:30 a.m., The Summit at Plantsville, 261 Summit St.
Cheshire: Eighth annual Mark Jardim Memorial Jog, Oct. 11, 1 p.m., Cheshire Park, off Highland Avenue.

Wallingford will be the only area town to hold an official ceremony, at 8:30 a.m. on the Parade Ground in front of Town Hall, 45 S. Main St. At 6:30 p.m. that evening, the town’s three volunteer fire departments— Yalesville, North Farms and East Wallingford — will have open houses, with each showing a video about Sept. 11.

The keynote speaker at the Meriden service will be Stanley Praimnath, who was working on the 81st floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower when the second plane hit. Praimnath was trapped under a wall of debris in a stairwell but was rescued by two other survivors, including Brian Clark, who served as the keynote speaker of last year’s event.

The Summit at Plantsville, a nursing and rehabilitation center on Summit Street in Southington, will host its third annual Sept. 11 memorial ceremony. The event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and will feature speeches by members of the Southington Police and Fire departments and local politicians.

In Cheshire, the eighth annual Mark Jardim Memorial Jog, a five-kilometer fundraiser in honor of the Cheshire High School graduate who was killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 11. The event, which has raised more than $40,000 for Jardim's scholarship foundation, Cheshire Special Olympics, the high school’s cross country team and other area charitable organizations, will take place at 1 p.m. along the trails of Cheshire Park.

Please join us in remembering the terrible events of that day: the fall of the twin towers; the attack on the Pentagon; and the crash of Flight 93 in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania. The courage and sacrifice of those that fell that day should never be forgotten.

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Realtor Safety Week Runs September 13 - 19, 2009

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:26:43 -0500

We have published a couple of posts about homeowners staying safe when showing their homes to strangers, here and here. The sentiment applies equally as much to Realtors and this coincides with Realtor Safety Week, which runs from September 13th to the 19th this year.

Safety An Afterthought?

When one thinks of dangerous occupations, the first thing that usually pops into their minds is "policeman", "fireman", "soldier", or "cab driver". (Actually, of these four jobs, only cab driver is on the list of 10 most dangerous jobs!) Being a Realtor wouldn't normally be associated with such high-risk occupations; however, a career in real estate is definitely not without its hazards, and it's probably a safe bet that most Realtors don't give job safety the consideration it deserves. The opportunities for misfortune to befall an agent are many: working in high crime neighborhoods; showing houses to strangers alone, after dark, or both; or at open houses when people can walk in off the street unannounced. The first example has happened more than once, here's just one video report:

Here's an article regarding an attack in a vacant house.

What You Can Do

There's are many things you can do to lessen the chance you will be a victim of violence while doing your job; here a just a few:

   1. Make sure your cell phone is always charged
   2. Carry a flashlight in your car, preferably a Maglite that can be used as a weapon.
   3. Try to bring someone with you when showing houses or holding open houses
   4. Consider carrying Mace or pepper spray
   5. Let someone know where you're going when showing houses
   6. Trust your instincts

There are many more tips available, and NAR has a good resource available on their web site:

Field Guide to Realtor Safety

There is also a nice safety brochure put together by Tim Ayres at VictoriaBCRealEstateBlog:

The Safe Side: Realtor Safety Issues

Take the time to read through these resources and put them into practice. Your safety should be foremost in your mind, not just during Realtor Safety week, but all the time. Stay safe!

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Is Wallingford Getting a Sonic Drive-In?

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:37:20 -0500

If what I heard is true, the Big Macs, Whoppers and Old Fashioned Hamburgers will soon be sharing the spotlight with a new neighbor. I just happened to check my Google Alerts and saw a Tweet by @sailormidori stating that Sonic Drive-In might be bringing their super-Sonic menu to the streets of Wallingford. Her proof? A job posting for a management position on Careerbuilder.com:

As you can see, this baby hasn’t even been advertised in the paper yet, being scheduled to appear in the Hartford Courant on 8/2/09. You can also see the full job posting here. Up to now, the closest incarnation of the Oklahoma City-based car-side food service provider was 70 miles to the Northwest, in Kingston, NY. Now, if this job posting bears fruit, we here in Wallyworld will finally be able to relate to those weird commercials that Sonic has plastered all over the local TV stations. You know, where the highly annoying Pete and TJ sit in the front of their minivan and discuss stupid stuff about the Sonic menu or some other thing, followed by the sound effect of someone getting smacked in the face (presumably either Pete or TJ).

Anyway, the commercials might be awful, but the thought of getting curb-side service with a smile from a friendly, roller-skate wearing, freckled Carhop in a mini-skirt is pretty cool. In anticipation of this glorious event, I have already secured a place among the Sonic elite, the group of fast food aficionados called Sonic Cruisers. I’ll now get a monthly newsletter, a surprise on my birthday and other cool stuff. If you’re down for that kind of thing, you can sign up here.

I have no clue where in Wallingford they’re going to put the new Sonic, but there are a few locations I can think of, the now-barren lot where the famous Yankee Silversmith Inn once stood for one (the Dining Car was trucked off yesterday), or maybe where the old Brooks Pharmacy was. They’ll need a good sized lot to accommodate all the gazillion cars that will be parked, waiting to be car-hopped, and it stands to reason somewhere on Route 5 will get the nod. Anyway, we’ll keep a ear out for more info and post it here when we get it.

Man, now if this doesn’t happen my stomach will never forgive me.

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HVCC Getting You Down? You're Not Alone!

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:43:24 -0500

The advent of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct has caused an outpouring of negative opinion from almost every group involved in the home buying process, and rightly so. There have been uncounted articles and blog posts written about the harm it has done and will continue to do to the real estate market if it is not repealed, as Representatives Childress (D-MS) and Miller (R-CA) propose in their joint bill, HR 3044. This measure has currently been referred to committee (you can track its progress here) and calls for an 18 month moratorium on HVCC.

The impact of HVCC so far has been widespread; among other things, consumers have been hit with higher than usual charges, appraisers have lost income and loan approval times have been delayed and loan fees raised. In addition, there has been no entity created to oversee violations of the act, making any kind of consumer recourse impossible. It is hoped that HR 3044 wil be enacted soon to prevent any further damage to real estate transactions, but we need to show our support in order to bring this about.

There is a petition online that you can sign that will add your voice to the thousands that have already spoken out against HVCC. If you feel strongly that HVCC is detrimental to our industry, click here to sign the petition.

Thanks to Nima Rezvan for posting the URL for the petition on Facebook. He also created a group on Facebook that you can join if you're a Facebook member, located here.

Thanks for your support, and hopefully HVCC will soon be a bad but distant memory!

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Wallingford, Meriden Schedule Fireworks

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:52:53 -0500

Despite the current financial crunch that threatened to eliminate fireworks shows in Wallingford and Meriden,

both have found a way to save their respective annual fireworks displays for 2009. This scenario is being played out in communities across the nation as neighborhoods struggle to find a place in the budget for the popular summertime event. Some, like Yonkers, N.Y. and Tuscon, AZ, have canceled their shows. Other places are also feeling the money crunch,  but manage to find the funds to allow the displays to go on as planned.

Meriden: Outsourcing the Big Bang

In Meriden, the City Council went ahead with plans to eliminate the $23,000 cost of their fireworks show when it became known that the Westfield Mall would go be staging their own display. Even if the mall had not planned to hold their own event, the council said they probably would have gone ahead with a scaled back version of the original, with the savings being realized either through shortening the duration of the program or asking their vendor to use less expensive materials.

Wallingford: The Town Taketh Away, Then Giveth Back

Wallingford had originally decided to eliminate their fireworks display due to difficulties with their town budget, but reversed that decision when it was realized that the shortfall could be made up in other areas of the budget. The $31,000 expense would be offset by a $30,000 savings on the cost of the town's property and casualty insurance. The decision was not unanimous, however. Some councilors supported holding the program because the cost is such a small part of the overall budget, making cancellation of the event symbolic at best.

Others were not so supportive of the idea, though. They reasoned that, because of the amount of layoffs happening in the town, any celebration that took place would be hard to explain to those who might be on the receiving end of a pink slip. In the end, tradition won out and the night of fun and excitement that so many have come to expect will still light up the night sky. Come out and celebrate the birth of our nation!

Where To Go:

In Meriden, the festivities will commence at 9:15PM Saturday, July 4th, on the top level of the Sears parking garage at the Westfield Shopping Mall, 470 Lewis Avenue.

Check out the location and get directions here.

In Wallingford, the annual event will kick off as usual on July 3rd at 9:15PM on the knoll at Moran Middle School, 141 Hope Hill Road. Music provided by the Wallingford Community "R Band" will begin at 8:15PM.

Check out the location and get directions here.

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Could You Pass the Sniff Test?

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:03:49 -0500

We've all seen the articles, blog posts and videos aimed at homeowners exhorting them to make sure they interview several agents prior to making a decision on who to sign on with. All of these sources usually include a list of questions to ask the agent that will help the homeowner to make an informed decision about who to list their home with. After all, it's no simple task to pull the trigger on selling their most valuable asset, and it behooves them to do their due diligence in finding an agent they're comfortable with who will work tirelessly on their behalf to get their home sold for the best possible price.

The list of questions can, depending on the source, range from 10 questions to two dozen or more and usually contain some of these:

How long have you been in the business?
How will you market our home?
How many homes have you sold in the past 12 months?
What makes you better than your competition?
What is your commission?
Do you have any references I can call?

and so on and so forth. All are valid questions and the agent should be able to answer them easily and confidently, and the one that does the best and gives the seller warm fuzzies will almost always get the job.

I said ALMOST.

Recently, I was browsing through the current issue of The Real Estate Professional. a bi-monthly magazine published by REBAC, the Real Estate Buyers Agent Council. I got as far as page 8, where the "60 Days" section is, and started scanning through the contents when a particular headline slapped me in the face:

"Millionaire Widow Allows Dog to Choose Agent"

Huh? Apparently, Candy Spelling, widow of TV producer Aaron Spelling, is putting her husband's L.A. mansion up for sale (for the bargain basement price of $150,000,000) and has elevated...or perhaps reduced...the task of choosing a listing agent to its most sublime level. The widow Spelling is the owner of a little furball called Madison, a Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier, that obviously has a very discerning nose. Whenever an agent was scheduled for an interview, Mrs. Spelling would have security bring Madison into the room and watch to see how she would react to the agent. If Madison didn't like them, the agent was crossed off the list. Amazing.

Now, one has to wonder if the agents were at all aware that their fate was not being decided by the seller, but by the family pet. I suppose if Madison just up and peed on the agent's Gucci loafers he might get the idea, but what if the Canine Inquisitor was not so forthcoming? How do you suppose the sequence of events would go?

Candy Spelling: Well Mr. Jones, I see you've sold 120 homes this year at an average of 99.5% of asking price, your marketing techniques are second to none in this area, and your references are impeccable.

Agent Jones: Thank you, Mrs. Spelling. We do our best to provide only the highest level of professionalism and...(Security brings Madison into the room)

CS: Oh, it's my little poopsie, Madison! How's mama's little baby, is you my baby? Yes you is! Here you go, get down and go say hello to the nice man...(Madison sniffs agent's pants leg, turns and waddles quickly from the room, security giving chase.)

AJ: She's sure a cutie, isn't...

CS: I'm sorry Mr. Jones, I don't think you're quite what I'm looking for. Security will see you out...

AJ: Er, I thought you said...

CS: Security!! Please see that Mr. Jones makes it to the front door in one piece, won't you?

Well...that went well, didn't it? I'm sure Mr. Jones, brushing off his Armani suit and his bruised ego, is baffled about why he got the bum rush. He probably thought the listing was in the bag. If only he knew that he was snubbed by an 4-legged Irish farm dog. I wonder if Mrs. Spelling realizes the huge mistake she's making. Trusting the sale of a multi-million dollar mansion to the resident car chaser isn't recommended business practice. Downright foolish, actually. That's not to be overly critical of the dog, of course. Soft-coated Wheaten Terriers are intelligent animals who are straight-forward and learn quickly. But they also smell each other's butts, too.

So, would you pass the sniff test?

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New Listing: 25R Cheyenne Trail, Durham CT

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:02:55 -0500

Stunning home in rural setting with 5+ acres. This home has many upgrades including granite counters, crown molding, vaulted ceilings, first floor MBR Suite, optional bonus room, walk-out basement, wired for indoor/outdoor surround sound. Still time to make your selections! Call Pat for more info at 203-672-4499, or call Wayne at 203-672-4498 to schedule a showing!

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New Listing: 25 Hickory Court, Wallingford, CT

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:07:17 -0500

Stand alone home in desirable Olde Oak Village. This home has 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, and over 1700 sf. Living room has a fireplace and hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen boasts Corian counters and tile floors. Family room in lower level with built-in bookcases. Deck offers seasonal views. Call Wayne at 203-672-4498 to schedule your showing today!

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New Listing: 639 Gracey Ave., Meriden CT

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:44:03 -0500

A home with a view! This 3-4 bedroom home has plenty of space for everyone. Beautiful updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, remodeled baths, family room in lower level. In-law possible. Walk across the street to Beaver Lake for fishing, a picnic or enjoy the playground! For more details call Pat at 203-605-3873!

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New Listing: 28 Duncan St., Wallingford, CT...SOLD!!

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:14:31 -0500

Home Sweet Home! You will be amazed from the moment you walk into this home with its wonderful features and updates, to include crown molding, wainscoting, hardwood floors, great room with fireplace and plasma TV, hot tub, gazebo, fish pond and more! A must see. Call Pat at 203-605-3873 for details!

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NEW LISTING: 19 Terrace Gardens, Wallingford CT

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:52:14 -0500

A pleasure to show! This townhouse has had many updates and is move-in ready. Hardwood floors on first and second floors, new carpet in remodeled lower level family room. Kitchen has lots of cabinets and center island. Spacious rooms throughout. Heat and hot water included in condo fees. Great for first time home buyers!

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Twitter Tech Support Torture

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:55:31 -0500

The picture above notwithstanding, I love Twitter. I do. I've been using it for over a year now, and 3700+ updates and 1300+ followers friends later I really enjoy the people and conversations I've encountered. I've seen breaking news posted there, Amber Alerts, weddings, funerals, illnesses and recoveries, conventions and Tweet-ups, and everything in between. It's been a great ride, and will continue to get better.

But...their customer service, at least in my own humble opinion, really stinks. Here's why:

Like a lot of people, I created a custom Twitter background for my profile. I painstakingly researched and created a rather simple but functional image with all our pertinent information and uploaded it to Twitter using their upload function. Piece of cake. Until I noticed the typo. Ugh. One teeny, tiny letter left out makes all the difference when someone is typing in your web site URL. I wanted things to be perfect, so I modified the background image until it was right, making some other cosmetic changes as well, and then attemted to upload the new image.

And that's when Twitter turned its back on me. It would NOT let me upload the new image! I tried everything I could think of, to no avail. the old, incorrect image remained firmly entrenched in Twitter's grasp, not to be dislodged. Frustrated, I turned to the last bastion of help in the Intertoobz, Technical Support. Now the problem goes from bad to worse. To make a long, arduous story short, here's a timeline of my own personal Fail Whale:

1/2/09 - 1/24/09: Went back and forth with Twitter Tech Support rep Caroline, who gave various reasons why the upload wouldn't work and various workarounds to the problem which also didn't work. Waited for a reply, but none came.

2/17/09: Twitter, with no warning, closed my bug report as being RESOLVED! Uh...no, it wasn't! So, I waited a couple days to let my anger subside, and then...

2/20/09: Submitted NEW bug report asking, in no uncertain terms, WHY they had closed my first report when no solution was found for the problem. No answer from Twitter.

3/2/09: Sent 1st follow-up to Twitter. No response. Status of issue was "waiting to be assigned an operator".

3/6/09: Sent 2nd, more tersely worded follow-up to Twitter. Silence was deafening. Status still the same.

3/21/09: Finally, today I got an automated email from Twitter saying they had a backlog and please check such and such a place because we may have already fixed the issue, blah blah blah...BUT, when I went online to check, my second bug report was ALSO closed as being resolved! HUH??? I haven't heard a peep from anyone at Twitter in over a month and they tell me the problem is fixed? I think not, because I tried to upload a new background just a little while ago and the same thing is happening. So, I reopened the bug report with a comment that would cause third degree burns on unprotected skin and sent it off. Let's see what happens now.

Ok, I know Twitter is free and the expectation of top notch customer service from a free service isn't really practical, but really! How about if they at least make a half-hearted attempt to LOOK at the problem to see if MAYBE they can FIX IT?!?! I'm not expecting phone call detailing everyting they're doing, but geez, an email now and then wouldn't hurt. At least tell me if you can't fix it (which I don't believe), at least I'll respect your honesty, but don't ignore me. I hate being ignored by CS people; it brings out the worst in me, kinda like Mr. Hyde or The Hulk. I was in customer service for a long time before real estate, and if anyone on my staff handled an issue like Twitter has handled this one, I'd be like Peter Finch in "Network": "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more!" And that's exactly the message I want Twitter to get; I'm really, really mad and I hope they take this opportunity to make amends and try to fix the problem. That's all I want, just to be able to change my background image to something other than their drab and lifeless default images. That's it.

Which brings me to the end of this little diatribe. And what better way to conclude than with the self same Peter Finch telling everyone to get up out of their chairs, go to the window, stick your head out and yell, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this any more!" His speech is as oh so pertinent to the state of the world today as it was 33 years ago, and it remains one of the most powerful monologues in modern cinema.

You go, Peter. At least you got some response.

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Price reduction on home in Lakeridge, Litchfield County CT

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:44:33 -0500

If any of my fellow Connecticut Realtors has someone looking for a nice condo in the Litchfield Hills, this is the one!

Via Beth Thoma Robinson - Hawaii Island Luxury Real Estate (Hawaii Palm Properties, Inc):

We've moved to Hawaii and must sell our beloved home in Litchfield County, CT--an easy two-hour drive from Manhattan to a little bit of country paradise.

Imagine a sun-filled treehouse nesctled into the woods. Four bedrooms, three full baths and a powder room. Sun pours through a skylight that illuminates three out of the four stories of this unique home. Architectural gem designed as a model home, but the architect broke the mold before building out the rest of this spectacular second-home community in Litchfield County. Most of the other residences at Lakeridge are townhomes, but this is a free-standing home.

Lakeridge amenities include indoor swimming pool, pond and gym at the West Lodge; outdoor pool and cafe on the edge of Burr Pond for summer fun; indoor and outdoor tennis courts; a real ski-lift for winter fun, and the Lakeridge Stables for lessons and trail rides (use their horses or board your own). Summer concerts, community gardens--it is like camp for grown ups and kids alike! Not to mention some of the best neighbors anyone could hope for, whether this is your primary residence, weekend retreat, or summer home.

Unlike most single family homes, this gated community offers complete maintenance, from snow shoveling in the winter, to upkeep of the exteriors in the summer.

This level of amenities is reflected in the maintenance fees...but not in the prices at Lakeridge. Now reduced to ONLY $145,900!!

The interior of this home was recently updated with fresh paint, carpet, kitchen countertop and bathroom flooring. Ready to move in!

For more info, see: Lakeridge Gem . Before you book that summer rental in the Hamptons, check out ownership at Lakeridge while it's a buyers market!

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