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New listing in Tantasqua School District!
June 13, 2012
Brand new listing in the Tantasqua School District! This is a custom newer colonial sitting on a private lot that is perfectly set up for entertaining and enjoying life at home! Just over the Sturbridge / Brookfield line it’s a great commuter location!
Custom cabinet packed kitchen with recessed and above/under cabinet lighting, center island and slider walk out to just one of the many outdoor entertaining areas! Granite, tile and eat-in area make it perfect to enjoy your friends and family! Design and installed by Naylor Kitchen and Bath with matching cabinets in the 3 full baths!
The great room is a stunning 26 x 26 with cathedral ceilings, french doors to the formal dining room and hardwood floors. The first floor also features a home office with cherry desk and bookcases that can be included in the sale.
Four bedrooms upstairs from the double story entrance foyer feature wall to wall carpeting and large closets. The master bedroom has his and her closets with a private full bath. Not a detail was missed with the matching custom cabinets, granite top and double sinks. A luxurious tub awaits!
The large private backyard is really where it’s at this summer! In-ground pool with entertaining area is surrounded by professional landscaping courtesy of Lamoureux Greenhouses and is exceptional! Two separate decks with sun cover allow for small conversations away from the splashing water.
Add in the hydro air heating system, central a/c, 2 car heated attached garage, full dry basement, 3.6 acres and this becomes a complete “WOW” house! Call or email today for a private showing! Get in now as it’s JUST LISTED TODAY!
181 Fiskdale Rd Brookfield MLS: 71396339
Patio Mister Systems to Fit Any Budget
June 6, 2012
Your outdoor entertainment area can become a horror show in summer. Heat, sun, bugs, and noisy/nosy neighbors can drive you inside when you should be watching fireflies from your patio or deck.
Take back the outside this summer!!
Flagstone patios trap summer sun, so suddenly you and a pepperoni pizza have something in common. Decks become sweatboxes in high humidity—good for losing weight, bad for sipping chilled wine.
Misters are the best way to drop the temperature and raise your comfort level. They spray a fine mist into the air, which evaporates and cools the surrounding air.
The less expensive misting kits ($60) operate on city water pressure, about 50 psi. The mist tends to fall from nozzles, sometimes wetting whatever’s underneath.
High-price misting kits ($1,200 to $3,200) use a pump to send water through nozzles at 1,000 psi, which creates a finer mist that evaporates faster.
“Low pressure misters cool by wetting people,” says Dave Paul, owner of Misting Pros in Sacramento, Calif., which sells higher-end misters. “We cool by evaporating water into the air.”
Hey, cool is cool. Here’s a look at misters for every budget.
- EZ Mister Patio Mister Kits: Kits contain from 10 to 16 brass and stainless steel nozzles that cover 20 to 32 linear feet. Tubing comes as a roll, not precut, so you can customize your misting system. Hang it from the roof or along the edge of awnings. It attaches to an outdoor spigot or indoor sink faucet. (Cost: $58 to $112).
- Portable Misting Tower (Sky Mall): This T-bar tower has a 360-degree adjustable misting bar that can handle 1,000 PSI (if you’ve got that much pressure coming through your hose, which you probably don’t). The portable unit can grow to 7 feet tall and has a shut-off valve, which reduces trips to the spigot. (Cost: $89.99)
- Poly Fan Misting Ring: An economical way to turn any fan into a misting fan. Attach the ring to fans 8 to 18 inches in diameter. (Cost: $9.99 for 1 nozzle; $19 for 2 nozzles; $39 for 3 nozzles).
- Fogco 50 Foot Professional Pulley Drive Misting System Kit: Top-of-the-line, spare-no-expense misting system that includes a pulley-operated pump, which promises to run cooler, quieter, and longer than most pumps. (Cost: $3,179
And for a no-purchase alternative that only costs pennies, you can hose down your patio or deck to cool things off.
New listing in Northborough! Open on Sunday
May 16, 2012
You can have it all for under $300k in Northborough! All the conveniences but a quiet private retreat set back from the road. Newly refinished hardwoods, single level living, 2 car garage, patio walk out from the finished basement to the in ground pool. NEW septic! NEW appliances! TWO fireplaces! NOT a short sale! Need an in-law set-up? This house is ready for it! Or keep it the same & enjoy the jacuzzi yourself! Very well maintained and ready for it’s next caring home owner. Is that you?
204 West Main Street, Northborough
Open 1 to 3pm
Sunday, May 20th
National Open House Weekend…here’s your free pass
April 24, 2012
Well…they are all free open houses but here is your way to go through the houses without being stalked by the listing agent. Print off this flyer and hand it to the agent as you sign in. Make sure you include your name as they do need to track who is in their client’s homes. You’ll be able to freely view the house at your own pace and enjoy your time!
If you have additional questions afterwards or would like a free list of the open houses in your target area – just let me know!
National Open House Weekend…it’s THIS weekend!
April 24, 2012
What is going on this weekend? NATIONAL OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND! The 2012 event will be bigger and better than ever, with hundreds of thousands of Open Houses across the nation and currently in 13 other countries… It’s gone global! RE/MAX Professional Associates is taking a huge part in this (inter)national weekend with many of our available listings. Please see below for a brief list but be sure to send me an email or give me a call to find out everything that is open in your area. I would be happy to provide you with a complete list of homes with times!
Saturday April 28th
77 Congress St, Fitchburg: 12pm – 2pm
Classic Victorian! Short sale opportunity with over 2700 sq feet!
39 Tannery Road, Sturbridge: 11 am – 1 pm
Beautiful newer colonial with all the extras – hardwoods, maple cabinets and granite!
240 Dudley-Southbridge Road, Dudley: 2pm – 3:30 pm
So many updates and so affordable! Title V in hand! NOT a short sale or bank owned so quick close!
5 Pleasant Street, Marlborough: 12pm – 2pm
Classic west side Victorian with double French doors to the sun porch and four bedrooms! Walk up attic – so much space and so well cared for!
24 Wales Street, Millbury: 12pm – 2pm
Easy to own and easy to update! Great price on this 3 bed/1.5 bath with 2 car heated garage that is in a great commuter location but with a private yard!
12 Cottage Street, Ware: 2pm – 4pm
HUGE updated Victorian in a great location off Church Street! 6 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and 4,400+ sq feet! 2 story barn and 2 car garage! NOT a short!
101 Temple Street, West Boylston: 11am – 1pm
Newer construction with full in-law and 2.9 acres right by the lake! Great commuter location and this house has all the extras – granite, hardwoods, solid cabinets, TWO master bedrooms with private baths!
6 Carol Lane, Blackstone: 11am – 12:30pm
Great price on this newer colonial on a quiet street! Updated kitchen with ceramic tile and granite – new roof, new siding, new deck, refinished hardwoods. 4 beds/2.5 baths/2 car garage
1565 Main Street, Holden: 1pm – 3pm
NEW construction with a flair! 4 beds/3baths and location location location! All the extras are here PLUS some you didn’t know you wanted!
374 Mashapaug Rd, Holland – 12pm – 2:30pm
Charming 2BR Ranch, fantastic lot, inground pool w/patio, rustic stone fireplace in walkout basement, cathedral ceilings in living room
7 Knollwood Rd, Brimfield – 2:30pm -4:30 pm
New construction w/hdwd flrs, ss appls, cntr islnd, 1car gar, opn flr pln, deck, near Lake Sherman.
Sunday April 29th
13 Leisure Drive, Holland: 12pm – 1:30 pm
WATERFRONT with 3 beds and 1.5 baths! Over 50 feet of frontage and triple sliders to enjoy it!
17 Forrest St, Brookfield: 12pm – 2pm
WOW! Cedar log home! Private lot with 3 bed/2 baths/2 car garage! Must see!
9 Ansonia, Worcester: 12pm – 2pm
3 bed/1.5 bath with a fireplace and near UMASS! Great price and great alternative to renting!
45 Channing St, Worcester: 12pm – 2pm
Charming turn of the century cape with 4 beds/2 baths and priced to make you move!
17 St. John St, North Brookfield: 12pm – 2pm
All the major updates are DONE in this colonial! Bonus is 500 gallons of FREE OIL! 5 bed/2.5 baths
57 Old Webster Rd, Oxford: 12pm – 1:30pm
Old meets new in this 4 bed/3 bath home that appears to be out of Old Sturbridge Village! Come see the distressed pine floors and claw foot tub!
33 Mendon, Worcester: 2:30pm – 4pm
Huge yard and easy in-town location! Perfect dollhouse and SO affordable!
6 Brown Street, North Brookfield: 2:30pm – 4pm
Retiring builder has offered up this unfinished new construction! Great price to get in and finish it off as YOU want!
39 Wilson St, Spencer: 2:30pm – 4pm
REAL country living with this home! NOT a short NOT bank owned NO septic issues! WOW!
82 Saundersdale, Charlton: 1pm – 3pm
Great location off of Dresser Hill with a full in-law! Land, 3 car garage and two living levels are highlights to this newer home. NOT a short sale!
67 Laurel Hill Lane, Holden: 12pm – 2pm
SO affordable with PRE-APPROVED short sale! Newer roof, newer windows, great yard and pool!
15 Canterbury Way, Marlborough: 1pm – 3pm
Beautiful end-unit in the 55+ community of Villages of Crane Meadow! One owner – all upgraded with fireplace!
275 Rumonoski Drive, Northbridge: 11am – 2:30pm
Great opportunity to own in a fantastic area! Comes with one year home warranty. Not a short sale or bank owned – just a solid house at a great price!
179 Rocky Road, Northbridge: 1pm – 2:30pm
Stunning colonial with massive family room on a beautiful tree-lined street. 15 mins to Worcester, 19 miles to Providence. Have it all for a great price on this 4 bed/2.5 bath/2 car colonial with custom build and first floor office.
39 July Road, Sudbury: 1pm – 3pm
So affordable for Sudbury and this charming updated home has a fantastic ½ acre wooded lot! Central a/c, updated kitchen, hardwoods, garage and finished area in basement. Own in Sudbury! Not a short!
10 Cranberry Meadow Shore Rd., Charlton: 12pm – 2pm
Brand new 2BR 2BA Ranch, open floor plan, granite counters, hardwoods all over, c-tile floors in kitchen & baths. 2 car attached garage.
1 Merrian St Auburn: 10:30am – 12pm
Reduced price on this charming cape on ¾ of an acre with a new Peerless Furnace! First floor laundry!
225 Highland Street, Holden: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Fireplace…french doors…open family room…private wooded lot! This cape has it all with a great Holden location!
18 Nancy Drive, Rutland: 2pm – 3:30pm
10 room, 6 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in the colonial WITH an in-law! New roof, new windows, new hot water tank. Come see!
15 Laurel Dr, Ware –11:30am -1pm
3BR Ranch, lrg fenced private back yard.
13 Stony Brook Drive, Sturbridge – 11am – 1pm
Charming 3+BR center hall Cape w/2car gar, flat lot, granite, hdwds, multi-tierd deck on cul de sac.
217 Greenwich Rd, Ware – 10am – 11:15am
Beautiful brand new 3BR 2.5BA Ranch. Open concept kit/LR/DR, hdwds, fireplace.
77 Providence St, Mendon – 12pm – 2pm
4BR 2BA Dutch Col log home w/farmer’s porch, 3 seas sunroom, wide hdwd floors 2car gar
119 Stafford Rd, Unit 60, Charlton – 2:30pm – 4pm
Bright, light filled 2nd floor 2BR condo w/appl, w/d hkup in unit. Commuter friendly location & small pets allowed
“There’s a reason owning a home is called the American Dream,” says NAR President Ron Phipps. “Home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation’s economy. We hope that everyone who aspires to become a home owner will come out this weekend, not only to learn about the homes for sale in their local market, but also to find out more about how current and future public policies may affect their ability to achieve and sustain home ownership, now and in the future.”
Come out this weekend – take a peak! Not sure where to start – let me know and I’ll get you going. amymullen@remax.net, 508-784-0504, http://www.amymullenrealestate.com
How to Test Your Garden Soil pH
April 23, 2012
If you want healthy, vigorous plants in your garden, you need to get on intimate terms with your garden soil pH.
- Effort: Low 2-3 hrs. (add soil amendments)
- Investment: Low $5-$10 (soil test)
Soil isn’t sexy; for some, it’s dull as dirt. But for a brilliant and bountiful garden, you’ll have to test your soil’s pH. Here’s how you can help your garden soil be the best it can be.
Good soil gives plants energy
Just like people must digest nutrients from food to grow, plants must absorb nutrients from soil to thrive. Soil pH and soil texture influence the types of nutrients that are available for plants to scarf up and use for energy.
What’s with pH?
Soil pH measures its degree of alkalinity or acidity on a scale from 0 to 14. Most vegetables grow best in soil with a neutral pH of 7, which is more of a goal than reality.
Different nutrients are available at different pH levels. Luckily, plants have evolved to thrive in all kinds of soils. So whatever your soil’s pH level, there are plenty of plants that would like to call it home. For instance:
- Azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries grow best in acidic soil.
- Hellebores and clematis perennials thrive in slightly alkaline soil.
When you plant a garden, you have two options: Pick plants that thrive in the soil you’ve got (the easy way), or amend your soil to change its pH (more work).
The importance of texture
Soil texture determines how your soil retains water and nutrients. If nutrients leach out of soil, they won’t be around to feed your plants.
Clay and soil rich with organic matter hold water and nutrients better than sandy soils, even though some plants, like cosmos and blanket flowers, prefer a sandy home.
The best soil is a happy combination of sand, clay, silt, and organic matter from leaves or compost. This combo provides plenty of nutrients and encourages healthy root growth.
How to test your garden soil
Garden centers and hardware stores sell DIY soil test kits for $5-$7, which will give you a rough idea of your soil’s pH and nutrient levels. But the most accurate way to test your soil is to send a handful to your county or state soil-testing laboratory, which you can locate through your local extension agent. The report, which typically costs $10, will reveal your soil’s:
- pH
- levels of vital nutrients
- percentage of organic matter
- recommendations for soil amendments
How to transform your soil
Adria Bordas, horticulture extension agent for Fairfax County, Va., says transforming soil is a “very slow process.” Figure a year to 18 months, she says. And the only way to know for sure that your soil has changed is to test it again.
- To make soil less acidic, spread pulverized limestone; or put your fireplace ashes to work and spread them throughout your garden.
- To make soil less alkaline, dig in aluminum sulfate and sulfur, which you can buy at garden centers.
- To make sandy soil less porous, add organic matter (compost, manure, old grass clippings) or humus from the garden center.
- To leaven heavy clay soil, add lots of compost (gotta start that compost pile). Never add a lot of sand, because clay+sand+water = concrete-like soil.
Now that the rain has finally come to us – let’s get planting!
Exclusive opportunity! Come visit this ISLAND in SHREWSBURY
April 20, 2012
Open on Thursday, April 26th at 11:30am to 1:30pm this unique and stunning property can be viewed! Come visit 1 Sargents’ Island in Shrewsbury! Did you know Shrewsbury had an island?
This 4.27 acre island in Flint Pond is accessed by a dedicated year-round causeway and features nearly 2000 feet of shoreline. Stunning lake views, wildlife, privacy and freedom! Currently zoned residential with a single family home in the center this property offers so many possibilities. Close to major commuting routes but yet seemingly far away from the busy day. Imagine ending your highway commute and minutes later grabbing your fishing pole and stepping on to your boat. It’s a vacation at the end of every weekday.
Stop in – tell your friends – think of the possibilities with this unique piece of property! How many islands are for sale in Shrewsbury? Just ONE!
MapQuest or navigator: Use “104 Creeper Hill Rd North Grafton”. Directly across the street will be the gated causeway entrance. Drive is 3/4 mile. Thursday, April 26th 11:30am to 1:30pm – lunch included 1 Sargents’ Island Shrewsbury, MA 01545 MLS: 71362794
5 Things You Forgot to Clean in Your Bathroom
April 6, 2012
Your bathroom, one of the rooms you clean most, hides areas that rarely see a scrub brush. It’s time to tackle these 5 nasty spots you probably forgot.
If you can’t remember the last time you cleaned your bathroom, we don’t want to know what’s living in your tub. Probably, a host of staphylococcus, the skin infection bacteria that, a recent study showed, more frequently grows in tubs than in garbage cans.
But we presume you or someone else regularly swishes out the toilets, wipes out the tubs and sinks, and mops your bathroom flooring.
But you may be missing some critical areas. With the help of Kristi Mailloux, president of Molly Maid, here is a compiled a list of 5 bathroom spots home owners often forget to clean:
1. Showerheads: A warm white vinegar bath will get rid of mineral deposits, making your low-flow shower head flow even lower. Let the showerhead soak for about 20 minutes, then poke a paperclip into shower head holes still clogged. Scrub with an old toothbrush, then rinse and repeat if necessary.
2. Toilet bases: Mildew can grow on the caulking around the base of your toilet. Spray with white vinegar or disinfecting household cleaner, then scrub with a hard-bristled brush. Dry thoroughly.
3. Shower curtains: Clean soap scum and mildew from plastic shower curtains by tossing them into your washer on the gentle and cold (never hot!) water cycle, with detergent and ½ cup vinegar. If mildew is present, add ½ cup of bleach instead of vinegar. Toss a couple of large towels into the machine to act as scrubbers. Hang curtains back on your shower curtain rod, spread them out, and let them drip-dry. If you turn on the bathroom fan, they’ll dry faster.
4. Drains: We don’t usually pay much attention to drains until they’re clogged. But all year your hair, toothpaste, shampoo, and conditioner are building up in sink and tub drains. Remove the stopper — unscrew the shower drain — and clear away obvious gunk, like hair and soap. Soak the drain in vinegar to clear away mineral deposits. Then, pour boiling water, or a mixture of ½ cup white vinegar and ½ cup baking soda, down the drain, which will bubble away crud sticking to pipes.
5. Medicine cabinet: Throw out prescription and over-the-counter drugs you no longer need or want. But don’t dump them down the drain, where they become part of the watershed, or into the trash, where anyone can fetch them out. Instead, take them to a local collection site, often at police or fire stations. Or check U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Initiative’s website for dates and sites for their next collection.
Bonus tip: Just for the fun of it, launder those powder room towels you won’t let anyone use. And be sure to clean out your dryer’s lint filter when you’re finished.
Attic Bedroom: Top Features
March 25, 2012
Attic bedrooms are very popular and I see them frequently. When a family grows or needs additional space, it’s an area they look to if the basement is already being used as a workshop or for storage. In terms of a remodeling project – this project has a high return on the investment:
- Effort: High 3-6 wks
- Investment: High $50,148 (nat’l avg)*
- Adds Value: High $36,346*
What I have seen that holds these spaces back from being attractive to the next buyer is if they were done correctly. When remodeling unused attic space into an attic bedroom, make sure your new retreat has adequate storage, sound insulation, and safety equipment.
Creating an attic bedroom from unclaimed space is an excellent way to add living area without adding onto your house. An attic bedroom also is a good investment. According to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, an attic bedroom returns more than 72% of the original cost. Here’s how to make sure your new attic bedroom is a pleasant, quiet retreat with adequate storage, sound insulation, and safety equipment.
Soundproofing your attic bedroom
Because attic bedrooms often are positioned above other bedrooms, you’ll need to “deaden” the sound between floors. Here are your options to quiet down a 15×15-foot attic bedroom floor:
- Install carpeting with a thick foam pad. Cost: $750 for midrange carpet, pad, installation.
- Add an extra layer of subfloor to the attic before the carpet is installed. A 5/8-inch plywood subfloor helps block sound and provides additional stiffness that prevents floor framing from squeaking. For maximum stiffness, ask your contractor to apply construction adhesive between the subfloor layers. Cost: $300
- Install sheets/rolls of noise-reducing cellulose, vinyl, or recycled rubber under your flooring. Cost: $1,100.
- Install unfaced fiberglass insulation between floor joists before the subfloor is installed. Bonus: The insulation thermally isolates your attic bedroom, preventing unwanted heat transfer. Cost: $100.
Attic ideas for creating storage
Sloped ceilings make creating storage in attic bedrooms more difficult than in other parts of the house. You can pick up some storage space by installing built-in cabinetry in knee walls and by building a flip-top window seat under a dormer window.
Be sure to insulate any cabinet walls or shelf backs that abut unfinished attic space.
Provide a safe way out
Residential codes require two ways out of any bedroom in case of an emergency. In a remodeled attic, you’ll need an escape ladder, which you can hide in a built-in window seat.
Ladders for a third-story window can cost $70 to $100; expect to pay $300 for ladders with their own cabinets. Be sure to tell guests where the ladder is hiding.
Have you put in an attic bedrooms? If so – share your pictures!
Warren Buffett Says Buy Homes Now!
February 28, 2012
Love these guys! Check out this video blog with “Think Big, Work Small” as they recap a recent interview with Warren Buffett. As one of most recognized (and successful) investors of all time, he is not shaken by the housing market – in fact – he thinks it’s the place to put HIS money!
Real Estate and *stuff * 