The Wallingford Public Library

As I continue to get the word out about wonderful libraries in the area, I wanted to share one of my family's favorites! The Wallingford Library has 67,000 square feet of space in its main location on North Main Street plus one of the best library websites I have ever seen. They also have a second, much smaller, location in Yalesville - at 400 Church Street - with limited hours.

In addition to a wonderful collection of books and reference materials, the Wallingford Library has a huge assortment of books on tape/CD, DVDs, and music CDs. They have a wonderful separate room for the Children's Library that is the dream of any youngster with a huge tree (great for Hobbits) and a train running right through it.

The staff is wonderfully helpful, and if you can't find what you are looking for within their walls, wander over to the reference desk and see if they can't get it for you from somewhere else! But once you have found what you are looking for, if you want to have some fun, use the self-service checkout (although it is really much more fun to check out the regular way and chat with the librarians)!

From the library's website, you can download audio books, and if you are an e-book reader, you can now borrow those as well! The e-books are compatible with the Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble Nook. You can also access your account online where you can request books (from many other libraries as well as the Wallingford Library), check on the due date of your borrowed materials, and renew items that are due before you will be done with them. The system also allows you to keep a record of the things you have checked out if you wish.

If Genealogy is your thing, the Wallingford Library has the Connecticut Collection which houses many books about Wallingford families as well as families throughout Connecticut. Information not located there? Use one of their many computers to access Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, or Biography & Genealogy Master Index.

Another innovative thing about the Wallingford Library is that they have their own used book store. "The Bookseller" is housed to the left of the back entrance to the library under the green awning and is staffed by volunteers. Regular hours are Monday, 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., Wednesday, 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., and Saturday, 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

Check out their amazing calendar of events from which you can sign up for an event, send yourself a reminder, or e-mail the event to a friend! With this being "Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read," you might want to stop in for "Literature for a Lifetime: Once Banned, Now Classic/Book Discussion" when The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain will be discussed.

This post has barely scratched the surface of what the Wallingford Library has to offer. It is truly a Great Public Library!

For links to your favorite Library check out my list: Libraries Throughout the State of Connecticut.

Where have All the Corn Mazes Gone?

My family's favorite Corn Maze wasn't grown this year! Every time I drove by the field, I wondered where we would go. Now the time comes, and I am finding it just as much of a dilema.

Photo Courtesy of Matt Foley

I was able to save the day (or season) by finding a maze in Middlefield at Lyman Orchards (where we pick our blueberries every July and August--oh yum!). If you haven't been, you are in for a treat. Be sure to get lost while getting there--it is the best way to experience the beautiful hillsides of orchards. Click here to find out more and to get your $1.00 off coupon! Tickets are $5 for children 4-12, and $9 for adults ages 13 and up. Ages 3 and under are free. See their website for hours of operation - and have a great time!! As an added incentive, $1 from every ticket sold goes to the American Cancer Society.

Homes I Love to Show - and Why

Ask my buyer clients - I love to tell them all about homes that they are viewing - from the old 60 amp electrical box that may still be in place to the interesting structural details and everything in between. This is especially true with first time homebuyers. They have lots of questions, and I love to try to answer them! Of course, the in depth evaluation occurs when the home inspector comes.

This weekend I showed two homes that had a gadget that I could not identify . . . until I really thought about it in the second house. These homes, it could be argued, were the early precursers to the smart homes of today. The gadget in question was a panel in the master bedroom that resembled a security system pad. In reality it was a series of 12 buttons from which you could operate lights all over the house. Maybe I have seen these before, but always assumed they were part of a security system and did not investigate further. Pretty cool nevertheless.

My own home was one of these "state of the art" homes built in the 50s and 60s--indirect lighting, coppertone 1961 intercom system complete with a plug-in for a "phono," and ultraviolet air filtration gadgets in the bathrooms just to name a few.

Sure, I love showing new home with all the green aspects, and that is what I will probably buy the next time around, but I still love to show the oldies but goodies!

Southington Household Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday September 18

Don't forget that this Saturday from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M. is the Household Hazardous Waste Collection at the Highway Garage on Mulberry Street --

If you don't know the way, Click here for area map

ITEMS ACCEPTED

Pesticides and poisons, herbicides and weedkiller, oil-based paint, paint thinners, varnish, rechargeable batteries, automotive batteries and lubricants, antifreeze, waste oil, gasoline, hobby and photographic chemicals, pool chemicals, household cleaners and disinfectants, fertilizers and mercury.

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED

Latex paint, medical waste, smoke detectors, tires, propane tanks, computers and electronic equipment, appliances, bulky waste, explosives, fire extinguishers, empty containers -- and waste from any businesses.

IF YOU HAVE computers and electronic equipment or appliances, The Computer Recycler (as I have mentioned in a few of my other blogs) is a free program where residents can drop off their electronics in Cromwell for recycling. You can live anywhere and use this service--it is open to all! Be aware that they have limited days for drop offs. Click here to download the complete list of items they take.

Drive Like Your Kids Live Here!

The sign below has started popping up all over the place, so I went to see how to get my own. The company that makes them is here in Connecticut in Wethersfield, so I imagine the word hasn't spread too far yet. I'm trying to change that!  Here is the website for all of you who feel the same as I do, no matter where you live!

Tips for Going Green in Wallingford

Some of my Wallingford clients asked me if I could find some good local tips for them when it comes to going green, so here you go folks!

Unbroken Compact Fluorescent Bulbs can be dropped off at the Home Depot, and then travel just a little further up North Colony to the Staples Plaza where you can recycle your ink cartridges (and get paid for doing so) at Staples and then drop off used household items at Goodwill.

Of course, the Wallingford Library is always happy to get your used books, audio books, and DVDs that are in good condition. Call ahead to be sure they are taking what you want to give them (203-265-6754), and be sure to stop by their used book store to restock your supply!!

Helping Hands Thrift Store at 22 North Turnpike will come to homes in Wallingford to make pickups of furniture and larger household goods. I have had them help empty out homes that I have sold where the sellers don't need the furniture anymore. They are very pleasant, and the donations help battered women make a new start. They will take appliances, but they cannot take mattresses due to state laws. They will also take smaller items as drop offs at their store at 22 North Turnpike Road in Wallingford. Their phone number is (203) 284-0300.

The Computer Recycler (as I have mentioned in a few of my other blogs) is a free program where residents can drop off their electronics in Cromwell for recycling. You can live anywhere and use this service--it is open to all! Be aware that they have limited days for drop offs. Click here to download the complete list of items they take.

Recycling information for Wallingford residents

Information on grass clippings (as fertilizer or as disposable compost)

Don't forget your reusable bags when you head to Stop and Shop for your groceries (and to earn points toward discounts on gas)!

More Ways to Save Green . . .

I thought you might enjoy some more ways to save money by going green:


15 Green Projects for Under $500 - I have already insullated my hot water pipes (years ago); now I had better run down and clean my refrigerator coils!

10 Ways to Shrink Your Energy Bills - Although I have done most of these items personally, I would have to say that #5 on this list was probably one of the biggest returns on the dollar - "make your attic more cush."  I simply purchased rolls of insullation at my "local home-improvement store," rolled them in the opposite direction of the existing insulation in the attic, and watched the savings mount up over the past nine years!  One way that you can tell who has really good insulation in their attic is to look at roofs after a snowstorm.  If the snow melts off quickly, it is because of heat loss. 

How Eight Homeowners Save Over $12,275 on Energy - The first story here is about homeowners who installed a pellet stove.  I did this about five years ago, so I can tell you first hand, Storing all those pellets someplace dry can be a challenge!  I have three cars parked in my two-car garage, plus currently four pallets of pellets.  When fuel was at its highest a few years ago, I actually had 13 pallets stored around the house (yes, I was able to keep them dry). 

Looking to Save a Little Green by Going "Green"?

Most of us are aware of the Federal tax credit that allows us to save 30% (up to $1,500) on eligible energy-saving improvements (more information available at irs.gov).  But were you aware that there are many more programs available at the state and local level?  To save you time and effort, I have gathered a few of them together along with links where you can find out much more:

Here is a link to the Consumer Incentives page on the Tax Incentives Assistance Project. Also of interest is the residential PDF flyer available on the website's home page.

This is a useful table from Energy Star detailing home improvement tax credits, their specifications, and other information.

This is a Solar Rebates program described by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. Use the menu at the left to see more information about the program.

The CT Solar Lease program is a program that makes solar energy available to moderate income homeowners in Connecticut.

This page from the Energy Star website gives suggestions for reducing high energy bills to save consumers money and use less energy without sacrificing comfort.

This page from the Connecticut Light & Power website gives an overview of and links for the different services or rebates that CL&P offers for making a house more energy efficient.

The United Illuminating Company gives information on many energy- and money-saving programs including UI Helps, an assistance program, an Energy Star incentives chart, a comprehensive service to help lower energy bills, and information on major appliances by Energy Star.

A Realtor's Journey into Preparing My Own Home for Sale

My Journey Begins . . .

With our children off at college, it is time to thing about downsizing.  Do we really need 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 2 family rooms, etc., in a great neighborhood with wonderful schools?  (Really can't shake the REALTOR® side here, can I?)

We purchased our 1961 home in 2002 and started remodeling immediately (oh, I remember the final walk-through like it was yesterday—“What was I thinking?  It may have been in wonderful shape and as clean as can be, but when the furniture was out, it just looked SOO dated!”).  Down came the 1976 foil wallpaper in all the hallways (the wallpaper person had signed the wall—thus we know the date) and up went the beige paint. Ripped out the gold rug that was everywhere in the house and exposed the hardwood flooring.  Tore down more wallpaper and painted with color (a new idea then—transferee beige was just ending its reign).  Remodeled the kitchen, installed central vacuum, put on a new roof, tore out some walls (non-load bearing, mind you), added more windows, added a deck, installed miles of crown molding, replaced all the hardware in the house, remodeled the bathrooms, restored exterior walkways, removed overgrown landscaping, removed many large trees that were too close to the house, etc., etc. Please bear in mind this was NOT a fixer-upper.

Two years later we had the exterior of the house painted; two years after that we realized our mistake and had the whole house vinyl sided.  We had all of the windows in the house replaced with Thermopane windows.  Okay, so now I am starting to sound like a seller with “all the things that I have done over the years.”

Now, the time comes to think about selling.  No wallpaper left in the house, so we are good to go, right!?

• Well, the color of the living room is no longer “in.”  Check that off the list!  It is now Restoration Hardware “Silver Sage.”

• The dining room color was never quite right—my wife regretted it from the day she did it.  It is now HGTV terra cotta (okay, she still doesn’t think it is quite right, but as Vern Yip says, “It is only a can of paint.  If you don’t like it, you can paint over it.” ).

• The Family Room is oh so bright and inviting (only word to describe it the day we closed in 2002 was “cave”), but the off white I insisted on in 2002 doesn’t set off the beautiful crown molding we added.  In comes the Restoration Hardware “Butter Cream.”  Refreshing.

What am I getting at? This is a LOT of work! I plan to keep picking away at the updating of 2002 into 2011 all winter long before we put the house on the market around March 1.  Our kids decluttered their rooms while they were home this summer.  Now I have to get a large storage unit at the local U-store.  It doesn’t matter if you have lived in a home for 30 years or 10—you collect LOTS of things, and we need to weed it out.  (Goodwill knows us on a first-name basis now.)  And then pack the rest up—might as well get some of the packing done ahead of time—and put it with our kids’ boxes at the U-store.

And so my journey to “staging” my house “for sale” begins.  So to all my sellers—I DO know your pain!!

Don't Miss This Year's Cheshire Fall Festival and Marketplace!

Saturday, September 11 from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Bartlem Park (Route 10 across from Cheshire High School)

Admission is FREE

Business Vendors, Craft Show, Food Court, Car Show, and FIREWORKS!

A Birds of Prey Exhibit sponsored by the Cheshire Land Trust will feature a hawk, falcon, owl and more.

Scooples will hold a "Tallest Cone Building Contest" at the Food Court. World Record is only 13 1/2 inches!

The Food Court will again have a sample of The Taste of Cheshire.

Two entertainment stages are lined up with great musical talent and demonstrations including Eight To The Bar from 5-7 P.M.

And of course, the all important FIREWORKS!

Sellers and Buyers Should Be Aware

One of the first things that I do after listing a property is to send links of the listing information to my sellers for them to look them over. I also send them links to their listing on Realtor.com, AnyHomes.com, their virtual tour, and the myriad of other websites where the listing shows up--I want them to see how others will see it. It would be a good practice for any Seller to look over their public listing for accuracy, but buyers should also be aware that mistakes are made in listings that are not caught (thus, the disclaimer "all information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed").

What frustrates me is when easily corrected errors turn up. Your listing should be as complete and accurate as possible. I often see properties listed with incorrect assessed values (and corresponding taxes), no room sizes, little or no information directing you to the property, in many cases no description, and worst of all--no photos. Sellers are the ones that pay for these mistakes.

If a buyer thinks that property taxes are $2,000 higher than they really are, they won’t even come to look. I am embarrassed to have to send out some of this incomplete / inaccurate listing information as it is information that buyers need in order to make informed decisions. However, if the listing is not my own, I can’t make changes to it.

There was a listing in Waterbury for one year that was undoubtedly supposed to be listed for $149,900 that was in the MLS for $1,499,000. No pictures, no description—and it was visible on Realtor.com!! It was never changed in that entire year.

Buying a Home? Don’t Buy Anything Else Until After Closing!

With many buyers being close to the maximum debt-to-income ratio with their financing, it has become critically important that once a buyer has begun the process of securing a mortgage they must exercise absolute restraint when it comes to making purchases of any kind outside the typical and essential living expenses.

Due to new regulations, lenders are now having to re-pull credit report information just prior to closing. Changes in your credit can result in a re-underwrite, the need for additional documentation, or suspension of loan closing.

This means no new cars, motorcycles, furniture, appliances, wedding rings, vacations, or anything else that could potentially edge the debt level to one that is unacceptable for the financial institution. Avoid the temptation to accept the "10% off your store purchase by applying for a store credit card today" sales pitch.

It may seem foolish, but this is happening often and it is delaying and ending real estate purchases. Realtors and mortgage representatives should advise buyers to wait. Once the property has closed, then they can go ahead and make that much-awaited purchase.

And above all else, this is no time to be changing jobs (30-day pay stub requirements are being enforced)!

Parents of Chapman Elementary Students - You may need to Reroute to Pick up the Kids!

Driving along Route 10 in Cheshire lately, you may have noticed that some signs have gone up that are covered in black plastic. Of course the curious have begun to tear off the plastic to see what is coming! Here is the lowdown:

Country Club Road Bridge will be closed for repair beginning on Tuesday, September 7, at 7:00 A.M. The bridge is located on Country Club Road, between Round Hill Road and Wolf Hill Road (you know, the bridge that has been just one lane for the past few months!). It will be closed to vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. The Town of Cheshire anticipates that the bridge will re-open by Friday, December 17.

Country Club Road from Wolf Hill Road will be restricted to homeowners residing on Country Club Road, and this portion of the road will not be open to through traffic. Northbound traffic on Country Club Road and southbound traffic on Wolf Hill Road will be prohibited from turning east onto Country Club Road at the Wolf Hill Road intersection.

To assist you in traveling around this bridge closure, it is advised that Creamery Road be utilized as the main route from Route 10 and alternatively, that Academy Road to Wiese Road be used as a method to reach the southern portions of Country Club Road.

Found a Great Realtor - Now Any Bank and Attorney will Do! Right?

Equally important as the Realtor you choose is your choice of mortgage person and attorney (in Connecticut most closings are done by attorneys). Some of the proven attributes you should be looking for are extensive and current knowledge of each professional's specific field, attention to detail, an emphasis on the importance of communication with all applicable parties, and a strong sense of urgency to staying on schedule. I think it helps if attorneys and mortgage lenders have good established working relationships as that can make the process more fluid. And this will take so much stress off the buyers and sellers!

Agents should have several good candidates from each field that they can recommend to their clients with complete confidence. Without the whole package, clients are exposed to many potential problems.

Do You Dare to Repair?

While looking for information about FHA education, I happened across mention of a "pamphlet" that they recommend - Dare to Repair by Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet.

Sounded interesting, so I went to Amazon.com to check it out. It is actually a paperback titled Dare to Repair: A Do-it-Herself Guide to Fixing (Almost) Anything in the Home. I think it could be useful to any first-time homeowner as there are always little items that come up needing attention.

Here is one Amazon.com Editorial Review:

"Whether you identify with riot grrrls or Rosie the Riveter, you'll love the tackle-it-yourself empowerment style of Dare to Repair. Covering simple tasks like unclogging bathroom sinks and switching directions on a ceiling fan along with more intimidating projects such as patching holes in drywall or creating a circuit map, this no-nonsense guide will walk you through those simple steps of maintaining, and perhaps even improving, your home. Forget about Martha and her hot-glue-gun projects--this is about drain snakes, electrical tape, and the kind of screwdrivers you can't order from a bartender.

"Authors Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet mix goofy "Your fridge is running? Better catch it!" jokes with a very matter-of-fact tone that assumes from the start you're woman enough for the job. Sections are arranged by general category (electricity, plumbing, etc.), and every entry is accompanied by clear illustrations of items and processes. For women who live alone or are starting up a business, this is a serious money-saving guide; for those of us with roommates, there's no quicker way to impress than to whip out your toolbox and get down to business. --Jill Lightner "

Dealing with Underground Critters

One of the things I enjoy greatly about living in Central Connecticut is the wildlife that you see at any time of day as you drive around town. In open fields along Route 10 one often spots groundhogs, black squirrels, and even an occassional pheasant! Always puts a smile on my face.

However, when groundhogs show up in my own yard, I can't say the smile lasts too long. I often hear people say that the humane ways of getting rid of them don't work well, but I seem to have had some success with fox urine hanging in my trees and shrubs in the back yard--I've noticed fewer squirrels in the back yard too--and I had a large population of those prior to trying this treatment.

Now I just wish the moles would take the fox threat seriously! The funny thing is that I do also have foxes living in our area, but the groundhogs don't seem to feel too threatened by them!

Why Should I Care if My Condominium Complex is Not FHA Approved?

With so many loans going FHA or CHFA, it is more important than ever to be sure your condominium complex has the necessary approval to facilitate this type of financing. Prior to January, 2010, if a condo complex was not on the approved list, a spot check could be performed; and as long as the basic criteria was met, the process for FHA financing could usually be completed. This, however, is no longer the case. If condo complexes are not approved, sales of units most likely will take dramatically longer. Rather than the need for just 3.5% down and closing costs for an FHA or CHFA loan, a buyer securing conventional financing would need to come up with 20% down as well as cover closing costs. This puts non FHA complexes out of the game for the most part. This also affects owners who wish to refinance using an FHA loan.

What can you do?

Get your condo association to begin the process of FHA approval. See the link below from hud.gov. It is important for associations and all of their participants to realize that sooner or later they will benefit handsomely from this process. Who knows if and/or when the market will swing back to a majority of conventional loans? Don't wait for this to happen.

HUD.gov Information on Condominium Approval

Unfortunately, even many Realtors are not aware of this change in the market. They do not realize that if you are an FHA or CHFA buyer, there may be condominium complexes that are basically off limits. One needs to check the FHA site to see which complexes qualify. Below is the link to find out whether or not your complex is on the approved list:

HUD.gov Approved Condominium Complex Lookup

Connecticut Buyers Be Aware!

Many first time home buyers in the state of Connecticut are using CHFA financing. Today I got a copy of a commitment letter on the CHFA loan on a two-family where I represent the seller. The buyer was to supply proof that he had attended the 3 hour landlord counseling. This was the first time the buyer or mortgage person had heard about this requirement-so closing will be delayed a week or so. Unfortunately, as I represent the seller, it was not my place to remind the buyer that this was a requirement of the loan; but you can be sure that in the future, I will be sure that all buyer agents will be reminded!!

So buyers, when you sit down with your mortgage broker, please be sure to ask about any require education that you must attend as a condition of your loan so you can get it done as early in the process as possible. Here is a quick summary of require education:

3 Hour - Homebuyer Education Class

CHFA's three-hour class provides an overview of the financial and practical steps involved in buying and maintaining a home for CHFA loan applicants under the Downpayment Assistance Program, the Homeownership Program and the Home of Your Own Loan Program. CHFA requires that applicants of the Downpayment Assistance, Home of Your Own Program, and Homeownership Loan Programs attend this class as part of their loan process.

8 Hour - Homebuyer Education Class

CHFA's eight-hour homebuyer class provides in-depth instruction on the steps towards homeownership to anyone interested in buying their first home. It is also mandatory for CHFA loan applicants under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program. Individual financial and credit counseling sessions are also available.

Landlord Education and Housing Counseling Services

CHFA's Landlord Education and Housing Counseling Services provides, free of charge, an overview on the range of financial and practical topics that a homebuyer should understand before completing the 2-4 family homeownership process. This class is required for those purchasing a 2-4 family home under the CHFA Homebuyer Mortgage Program.

For Full information on CHFA education requirements, here is a link to the education section of their website:

http://www.chfa.org/Homeownership/for%20Homebuyers/Homebuyer%20Education/default.aspx