What Is Your House Worth? Depends On Who You Ask... - 08/31/10 10:00 AM
What is your house worth?  Well, that depends on who you ask...
Not everyone looks at your house and sees what you see.  The thing about "worth" is that the answer will be different depending on who you ask...
For example:
How YOU see your house:

How your LENDER sees your house:

How your APPRAISER sees your house:

How the PROPERTY TAX APPRAISER sees your house:

 How do potential BUYERS see your house?
POTENTIAL BUYERS see what you show them, and 90% of them are incapable of imagining your house any other way.  It's up to you what buyers … (28 comments)

Photos of Benson's Wild Animal Farm - Then and Now - 08/30/10 01:59 PM
Benson's Wild Animal Farm -  Then and Now
I recently revisited a childhood haunt in Hudson, New Hampshire, that is currently being restored back to life.  I had no idea how emotional it would be revisiting Benson's Wild Animal Farm,... but I'm really happy I did.
In yesterday's post about Benson's I promised some photos.  So, as promised:
BENSON'S  1960's

 
 BENSON'S 1982       The next generation - Visiting with my daughter

Benson Park 2010
 
BENSON'S WILD ANIMAL FARM 
  THEN                                         and                                    NOW

 


There is still a lot of work to do clearing and restoring, but volunteers are determined to … (16 comments)

Benson's Wild Animal Farm - The Memory Lives On - 08/29/10 11:47 AM
There is such an emotional attachment to places we cherish as children.  For many Massachusetts and New Hampshire families Benson's Wild Animal Farm was more than cotton candy, amusement rides, and Colossus the gorilla.  Benson's was a childhood treasure...documented in our old photographs and home movies.

 
If you were lucky enough to visit Benson's as a child, you most likely have a special place in your heart where you keep those memories. 
Benson's was for many years, and for many people, the destination for  family fun.
Benson's Wild Animal Farm was closed in November, 1987
 after 60 years of making Hudson, New Hampshire, a regional tourist attraction. 
 
 
 
Now, 23 years after closing … (13 comments)

It's Time To Bake Homemade Blueberry Muffins - 08/28/10 07:20 AM
It's prime blueberry picking season on the New Hampshire Seacoast and that means it's time to bake some homemade blueberry muffins!
I was given this recipe from a friend over 20 years ago and I've yet to find one I like better.  I prefer to use fresh, local berries...but frozen work just fine too.
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

 
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk 
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup blueberries
 
Preheat oven to 350˚
Mix dry ingredients.  Add eggs, milk, and butter and mix with hand mixer.   Fold in blueberries.
… (29 comments)

Professional Home Stagers Provide, Prepare, and Present - 08/27/10 09:08 AM
Professional Home Stagers Provide, Prepare, and Present
Home staging is becoming more main stream here in New Hampshire thanks to media attention and real estate programs on television.  There are still many sellers, however, who are not sure exactly what home staging involves.  What does a professional home stager do? 
Here's my simple explanation:
 
1.  PROVIDES THE PLAN
A professional home stager provides you with a plan.   A professional staging consult will leave you with a complete list of suggested improvements that will increase your chances of selling sooner. 
2.  PREPARES THE PROPERTY
A professional home stager prepares your property.   Your house must be dressed to … (25 comments)

US Navy Blue Angels - Portsmouth International Airport at Pease - Aug. 28 & 29 - 08/25/10 07:34 PM
US Navy Blue Angels - Portsmouth International Airport at Pease - August 28 & 29
The United States Navy Blue Angels are coming to Portsmouth, New Hampshire this weekend, August 28 and 29.  The Blue Angelslast appeared at Pease in 1989.  They will be headlining the first Pease air show in over twenty years. 
Motorists can expect extremely heavy traffic on both the Spaulding Turnpike and Interstate 95 when upward of 70,000 individuals converge on Pease for this highly anticipated Boston-Portsmouth Air Show.
  "We are delighted to be able to bring the world's most popular air show demonstration team to the people of … (12 comments)

Wordless Wednesday... Why? Because It Is There - 08/25/10 11:51 AM


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Guy Fieri Brings DINERS, DRIVE-INS & DIVES To Bob's Clam Hut in Maine - 08/24/10 09:37 AM
Guy Fieri Brings DINERS, DRIVE-INS & DIVES to Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, Maine!


 
Local fans of chef Guy Fieri and the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives are in for a real treat!
In June Guy brought his popular Food Network television show to Kittery, Maine, to highlight one of my favorite places, Bob's Clam Hut. 
You can watch the show
 on the Food Network
  Monday, September 6
10:00pm
 
 








Bob's Clam Hut has been a favorite of seafood lovers since 1956.  Bob's is located on Route 1 in Kittery, Maine and is open … (11 comments)

Are You Walking The Dog or Simply Holding The Leash? - 08/23/10 09:26 AM
Are you walking the dog or simply holding the leash?
 

 
My daughter, Jaime, recently took this picture of Zack, and it got me thinking...
 
Zack may believe he is walking the dog, but
the person really responsible for the walk is the one pushing the stroller. 

Whether it's selling your house,
raising your kids,
or running a successful business...
simply believing you are running the show is not enough. 
  
 


If you aren't the one pushing the stroller...you aren't the one deciding where you are going!
… (22 comments)

Facebook Adds "Places" Feature - You May Want To Disable It - 08/20/10 12:40 PM
Facebook has added a new feature called "Facebook Places" and you may want to disable it.
Let me first say, I am not pretending to fully understand this new feature, Facebook Places.  I just heard about it today, checked around online, and made the decision to disable the feature on my Facebook page.
I am passing the information on so that you can make the decision for yourself whether this feature is something you want to use or disable.
My understanding is that Facebook Places is currently only available on an updated iPhone app and through the touch.facebook.com mobile site, if your browser supports geo-location and … (25 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Ghost Riders - 08/18/10 03:27 PM

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Seven Home Staging Steps That Will Sell Your New Hampshire Home - 08/13/10 04:02 PM
Seven Home Staging Steps That Will Sell Your New Hampshire Home
 
Home staging is preparing a house for sale.  It is not decorating, it is marketing...strategic marketing.   If you want to sell your New Hampshire home in the shortest time possible, a home staging consult, prior to listing, will give you all the information you need to guarantee that your product is ready for market.
Here are seven home staging steps that could mean the difference between SOLD and EXPIRED:
1.  Update Light Fixtures  
This is an area where a little money spent can make a huge difference and add tremendous perceived value to your house.  You can add thousands of dollars of value by only … (26 comments)

New Hampshire Home Stager Earns RESA-PRO™ Designation - 08/13/10 02:37 PM
New Hampshire Home Stager, Sharon Tara, earns Prestigious RESA-PROTM Designation
Portsmouth, NH  August 13, 2010  Sharon Tara, of Sharon Tara Transformations, has become the first home stager in New Hampshire to earn the RESA-PROTM designation from the Real Estate Staging Association.
As a RESA-PROTM stager, Sharon is held to the highest standards of business, ethics, and integrity.  Designees must meet strict legal and ethical guidelines that include but are not limited to:      
Must pass the RESA® Ethics Exam Must agree to follow the  RESA® Code of Ethics Must have business license and business insurance   No lawsuits pending against business … (16 comments)

Carolyn Capalbo Is A REALTOR In Northern Virginia That Needs Your Help - 08/04/10 02:03 PM
Carolyn Capalbo is a realtor in Northern Virginia that needs your help.  Lisa Udy, a fellow Rain member is actively trying to help her. 

Via Lisa Udy Realtor Utah Real Estate Specialist (Logan Utah Real Estate The Platinum Real Estate Group):
Carolyn Capalbo Is A REALTOR In Northern Virginia That Needs Your Help
 
Carolyn Capalbo is a real estate agent in Northern Virgina that is being punished for having the wrong name. In 2008 a women with the same name as Carolyn Capalbo broke into the news, and it wasn't pretty. The "other" Carolyn had a daughter that was involved … (9 comments)

Wordless Wednesday - Considering His Options - 08/04/10 09:37 AM

… (23 comments)

 
Profile Rainmaker_large

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager

Portsmouth, NH

More about me…

Sharon Tara Transformations

Address: 23 Alice Lane, Rochester, NH, 03867

Office Phone: (603) 661-8524

Cell Phone: (603) 661-8524

Email Me

Author Bio: Sharon Tara is a professional Home Stager serving the greater Seacoast New Hampshire area. Sharon specializes in owner-occupied home staging consults to help sellers prepare and present their home for sale.



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