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Is it time to Buy a Home?
The Real Estate Market is better than you believe! In 2011, the buzz about the housing market was that it is extremely slow, sellers can’t sell, buyers won’t purchase, and banks won’t lend mortgage money. The reality is... sellers are selling, buyers are buying and banks are providing mortgages. With consumer price inflation rising, consumers are looking to lock-in steady payments by taking long-term fixed –rate mortgages, however obtaining a mortgage has gotten a bit more stringent. Some qualified buyers have been denied the opportunity to buy in today’s market due to the banks overly restrictive mortgage underwriting situation. Banks require excellent credit scores and a down payment toward the purchase price. So if you have what the banks require then go for it, as there is no better time to purchase a home with such historic low mortgage rates making your purchasing power even greater.
Why Does My White Bathroon Have Brown Drips on the Ceiling?
Why is my Paint Peeling?
Cleaning Spilled Paint
I began as a painter in San Francisco in the early 80’s. At that time I had the good fortune to work for a painting contractor who was the worst slob I had ever met. I called him “Top Off” because whenever he opened a can of paint it was as if he was running a blender with the top off. It got everywhere. I was fortunate to work for him though because I picked up a little trick for cleaning spilled paint; specifically latex paint spilled on a carpet. Here’s how it went.
Forget About It
I’m assuming we all had better things to do this summer than paint our houses. What with baseball and rock and roll you may have fruitfully procrastinated the summer away without dipping a brush. The good news is you are now off the hook. If you have exterior painting to do the best thing is to forget about it until spring. However, for the more determined among us there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to squeeze in a paint job.
Killing Mold Without Bleach
Last month I wrote about killing mold with a dilute solution of water and bleach. Two things have happened since then. First, I heard from some people that they loath the smell of beach or are even sickened by it. Second, NY got soaked to its bones again by another 40 feet of rain. I came home late one night and found a mushroom growing out of my rabbits litter box. You can’t make this up.
Some nature friendly New Years’ Resolutions:
I will not pick up and take home any baby birds, turtles, snakes, frogs, squirrels, rabbits, unless they are obviously injured and need to get to a rehabilitator.
If I pick up an animal that is injured, I will not try to take care of it myself. Instead I will get it to a licensed and trained wildlife rehabilitator.
Selling your home during the holidays
Winter is the dreariest season of all. The cold weather helps put a chill on real estate sales. It may not be the first choice of a season for selling your home but what if you have to sell your home? What if you have no choice but to put your house on the market?
PURRRR….
Happy holidays! I do hope that you all are enjoying this time of year. Hopes are high and sprits are merry! I just want to give everyone some food for thought!
When shopping for holiday gifts PLEASE do not do what millions of well-wishers do. Get a pet! I, myself am guilty of getting a Christmas kitten. Last year, I was in much need of love from a cat and I gave it considerable thought and preparation. I was missing cats that had passed and I had gotten a Christmas kitten from the local SPCA. I recommend a lot of research and thought along with preparing the entire house at great length before getting an animal. Today, Buckbeak aka “Christmas kitten” is a much loved and wanted one year old and we all could not be happier for his arrival. Again, he was well prepared for!
How important is your garage for the sale of your home?
Our company just listed and sold a home in Croton. One of the tips we gave to the owner was to stage their garage along with other staging recommendations. The new buyers loved the cleaned out uncluttered house and commented on the size and usefulness of the garage. This particular house was sold within 87 days.
Killing Mold
It has been a great summer; wall to wall little league baseball and great music at Senasqua on Friday nights. While our backs have been turned though moldy nature has made furry little attempts to reclaim our homes. You could think of mold as the first careful reconnaissance party that goes out to scout the enemy before an invasion. The enemy is your house. People want to build up to the sky. Nature and gravity want us all in the dirt. Mold spores get into everything but they get a great foothold in the heat and barbaric humidity of summer. A French friend of mine says that the only good mold is in a good Roquefort. Here’s what you do.
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Local Businesses
Local Weather
| Realtor |
| Donald M. Dwyer, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson. Office: 845-896-7042 Cell: 914-907-2738 Fax: 845-896-4586 ddwyer@weichert.com Weichert Realtors 973G Main Street, Fishkill, NY 12524 |
| Murals & Children's Art |
| Custom murals and wall art for nurseries, playrooms, daycares, bedrooms. Lauren Eberhart 201-280-6677 Croton-on-Hudson, NY. LaurenEberhardtDesigns@gmail.com www.laureneberhardtdesigns.com |
| Croton Country Gardens |
| Large Selection of Fraser Fir & Balsam Fir Trees. All sizes wreaths, garland, cemetery pieces. 1360 Albany Post Rd, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520. 914-271-5129. 7 Days a Week 8am-7pm |
| Prudential River Towns Real Estate |
| 133 Grand St, Croton-on-Hudson 914-271-3300 983 Main St., Peekskill 914-739-5300 www.RiverTownsRealty.com |
| Westchester Carpentry |
| HOME IMPROVEMENTS- Dirk Ferguson, Croton, NY Cell (914) 755-2659 (914) 827-9372 Email: Westcarpentry96@aol.com License# WC-11124-H00 Fully Insured. Est. 1996 |
| Riverside Painting, Inc. |
| Aluminum & Vinyl Siding - Power Washing or Painting / Decks- Power Washing & Staining Down Spouts & Gutters Cleaned / Sheet Rock Taping, Plaster Repair & Wallpaper Removal Licensed/Insured, LIC# WC-6643-H95 Bruce & Paula Peterson Jr., 2nd Generation Craftsman, Interior-Exterior 914-271-8597 Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 |
| Secure Self-Storage Systems, Inc. |
| Self Storage made easy. State of the art facility. Residential - Commercial. Self Storage | Archive Storage | Moving Supplies | Corrugated Boxes | Record Storage | PO Boxes | Barrel Shipping/Barriles De Envio | Overseas Shipping Services | Document Shredding 914-734-1901 1061 Main St, Peekskill www.ministorageandboxes.com |
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Tips
| Text– A-Tip |
| The Croton Police Dept. tip line is now going to cell phone. This means that tips may be texted to the number as well as verbally called in. The number is 271-0706. |
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Home Tips
| Insects in the Home |
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I have been married for 22 years and my husband still reacts to wasps in the house by trying to swat them. Just recently he nearly tore apart the bathroom trying to get one. Hearing the commotion I chased him, my husband, out and within a minute had captured and removed the wasp from my house - intact and alive. |
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| HOMEOWNER’S SPRING SAFETY TIPS |
| • Be sure to use extension cords marked for outdoor use when you are working outdoors. • Call a licensed professional if your home repairs require work near power lines • Look up, stay away, stay alive – even momentary contact with live electrical lines can injure or kill. • Be aware of power lines that run through tree limbs and branches. Climbing or trimming trees is dangerous; call a qualified contractor. • Call 1-800-962-7962 or 811 before you dig – when working underground, planting a tree, building a fence or laying a foundation – anywhere where there may be potential underground utilities. See www.dogsafelynewyork.com • Never use electrical tools, such as electrical hedge clippers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers in the rain or in wet areas. • Make sure all your outdoor electrical outlets are GFCI protected. |
| Home Safety |
| Sound the Alarm: Install smoke detectors on every floor of your home and carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas. If already installed, test them. Replace batteries every daylight savings time change.
Check for over-loaded extension cords.
If young children are in the home, bookshelves and other furniture should be secure with wall brackets to prevent tipping. |
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| Energy Saving Tips: |
1)Install programmable heating/cooling thermostats (You will save an average of 20% heating costs). 2)Replace regular incandescent bulbs with “energy star” compact fluorescent bulbs (Save up to 75% on your electricity usage). |
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| Home Safety Checklist: |
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