Real Estate and *stuff *
A real person helping real people with real estate
You can scroll the shelf using ← and → keys
Changes In Zoning Have Made This Amazing Commercial Opportunity!
August 12, 2015
Recent changes in zoning has created this amazing commercial opportunity! Located just minutes from both 146 and 122 in downtown Millville on the Rhode Island border is 4 acres of commercially zoned land with frontage Bazley Street. Extensive preliminary work done for a 4 lot subdivision. Build houses? Build a company? The new commercial zoning status allows for so many possibilities. Extensive site work has been done and available for review. Main house is lead paint compliant with upgraded systems designed for expansion. 15 rooms, 4 full bathrooms and additional unfinished space available for renovation. Unique and unparalleled offering in the market in this area so call or email for additional information. Can be purchased with the house and additional 1.28 acres.
Call or e-mail for a showing
83 Central Street, Millville
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!
Open House – TODAY!
March 24, 2012
Please stop in this beautiful colonial in Northbridge today between 1pm and 4pm to enjoy a special open house event with our very own Pampered Chef Consultant!
Leslie will be showing us how to truly enjoy a kitchen with our families with some of their newest recipes and cookware. This house has a HUGE kitchen with a wet bar and slider doors to the back deck that over look a very pretty yard!
Priced well and ready to go this is a private sale – not a short sale – so no messy bank paperwork and a quick close!
179 Rocky Road
Northbridge MA
1pm to 4pm
Photos from the event
October 21, 2011
Here are some great photos from the “Come Share Your Spirit” open house – at the height of the evening there were almost 40 people visiting the house!
Here are some people learning how to research a home through street listings and existing documents of the Ware Historical Society.
Hearing about ‘yester years’ and ‘days gone by’
My favorite room in the house. The study has built-in bookshelves (and used to have many more according to our historian), a window seat, fireplace, pocket doors and is just so inviting! Imagine this on a snow night with a fire going and a good book!
All together it was a very successful open house and really helped to show this beautiful victorian still needs a new owner!
Costs of Adding a Fireplace
October 14, 2011
Everyone loves a fireplace…especially as we start the winter season here in New England but there is cost. Luckily there is still a tax credit too! Installing a wood-burning, gas-burning, gel-fuel, or electric fireplace to your house costs $400 to $10,000, depending on the type of fireplace you select.
If your budget is really tight, a free-standing gel-fuel or electric fireplace eliminates installation costs. But be aware that some bare-bones alternatives don’t completely succeed in mimicking a real wood fire.
Check local building codes for possible restrictions on the types of fireplaces that can be installed in your area.
Costs of a wood-burning fireplace
An open-hearth, wood-burning fireplace—like the ones you see in mountain resort hotels—requires the help of a skilled, professional mason and a budget approaching (and often exceeding) $10,000.
For an existing home, considerable renovation work is required, including a foundation to carry the weight of the firebox and chimney, and the cost of the chimney itself.
Expect to pay $7,000 to $10,000 or more.
- Cost saver tip: Go for a drywall surround and a simple, wall-mounted mantle.
Costs of a gas-burning fireplace
A fireplace unit that burns natural gas or propane runs about $2,000 for the basic materials package. Installation and finishing typically add $2,500.
- Cost saver tip: Switch to a simpler surround and mantle, and get a direct-vent fireplace so you don’t need a chimney. Or, opt for a vent-free gas fireplace for $400 or so. Hiring a professional to install a gas line or a connection to a propane tank adds about $1,000.
Your least-expensive option
A gel-fuel fireplace or an electric fireplace starts under $400. With a portable unit, that’s the total cost since the fireplace is ready to use once you remove the packaging.
Because there’s no flue or chimney, it’s easy to install TVs or other electronic gear directly above an electric fireplace. If you include a mantle package, expect to pay $800 to $1,600. One perk available: sound effects that mimic the crackle and pop of a real fire.
Ongoing costs
Estimate your energy costs by using a fuel cost comparison calculator. Gel fuel, not included in the calculator, costs $3 per 13-ounce can, enough for three hours.
For a wood-burning fireplace, figure on $100 to $200 a year for chimney cleaning. Gas fireplaces need an annual service check ($100 to $150) plus a chimney inspection. Gel-fuel and electric fireplaces don’t need regular maintenance.
Tax credits for fireplace inserts
Through Dec. 31, 2011, you may qualify for a federal tax credit for up to $300 in costs, if you install a biomass (wood- or pellet-burning) fireplace insert that’s at least 75% fuel-efficient.
Opens this week!
July 12, 2011
I am ON TOP of things this week and scheduling my opens!
SUNDAY 1pm to 2pm – 10 Dighton Street Worcester: WHOA WHAT A YARD!!! Imagine being in Worcester…you’re with me right?…at the end of a dead end street…still with me?…with almost a FULL ACRE OF LAND!!! YES! This very well kept house comes with a total of three lots that make up almost a full acre of land. The kids can ride their bikes, play baseball, volleyball or just run around! The house is MOVE-IN ready with 2 bedrooms and one bath. Another room on the first floor could be your third bedroom. Upstairs features a half bath ready to be hooked up and MORE SPACE! Full basement is DRY! GREAT PRICE at $140,000! SEE IT HERE
FRIDAY 4:30pm to 6pm – 1058 Park Street Palmer: Whoa! Where did this come from??? The Brimfield Flea Market is in town and if you are out shopping for antiques then stop in this antique home in Palmer on your way by. Commercial zoned with parking spaces – this could be your new home office. Or keep it as a single family! Rental income? Oh yes – it has an apartment upstairs. Location qualifies for USDA and rehab loans. Come see this beautiful antique home with it’s charm still in place – stain glass windows, wide hardwood stair case and elborate crown molding. SEE IT HERE
SUNDAY 12pm to 1pm – 98 Howe Street Marlborough: Adorable and affordable 2 bedroom cape near downtown Marlborough. Walking distance to main street and all the fine foods and shops. Minutes to 495 for the morning commute. Renovated kitchen, newer bath, new plumbing and new furnace. Hoping to get a puppy? This comes with a fenced-in yard and off street parking. Great house at a great price! SEE IT HERE
So…what’s your flavor? Not seeing one that is getting you excited to jump in the car and come to an open house? Tell me – we’ll find it! http://www.amymullenrealestate.com
Sneak Peak! Coming online Tuesday – 2 bed adorable cape in Marlborough
June 20, 2011
This 2 bed, 1 bath renovated cape in Marlborough is close to downtown with offstreet parking and a fenced in yard. Nice high ceilings, hardwood floors and so much charm! Short sale and coming on a GREAT PRICE!
June 17, 2011
July is coming…the sun is out and many of us are taking vacations. Make sure it’s a great one and that your house is secure! Conduct a do-it-yourself home security check by walking around your house to assess what needs to be done to reduce the risk of a break-in.
1. Keep your home well-maintained on the outside
Burglars want an easy target. Stand on the street outside your house and ask yourself: Does my property look neglected, hidden, or uninhabited? A front door or walkway that’s obscured by shrubbery offers crooks the perfect cover they need while they break a door or window. To improve security, trim shrubs away from windows and widen front walks.
2. Install motion detector lights
All sides of your house should be well-lit with motion-activated lighting, not just the front. Simple motion-activated floodlights cost less than $50 each, and installing them is an easy DIY job if the wiring is already in place.
3. Store your valuables
Thieves want easy-to-grab electronics, cash, jewelry, and other valuables, though some are not above running down the street with your flat-screen TV. Most make a beeline for the master bedroom, because that’s where you’re likely to hide spare cash, jewelry, even guns. Tour each room and ask yourself: is there anything here that I can move to a safe deposit box? Installing a home safe ($150 to $500) that’s bolted to your basement slab is a good repository for items you don’t use on a daily basis.
4. Secure your data
While you probably won’t be putting your home computer in a safe anytime soon, take steps to back up the personal information stored on it. Password protect your login screen, and always shut off your computer when not in use (you’ll save energy, too!) Don’t overlook irreplaceable items whose value may hard to quantify, like digital photos.
5. Prepare ahead of time in case the worst happens
- Take a photo or video inventory of items of value in your home, and store the file online or in your home safe.
- Check that you’re properly insured for theft. Note that high-ticket items in your home office, such as computers, professional camera equipment, or other business essentials, may require an additional rider or a separate policy.
National Open House Weekend – Schedule Change
May 31, 2011
Whoops! One went under contract today so slight change to the schedule for my listings in the National Open House Weekend. Not buying right now? Forward the link to someone who is!
Real Estate and *stuff * 
