New London’s town library has come a long way from its opening in 1897 and in 1900, when it was housed in a single room at the Grange Hall and was supported by a $100 grant from the State of New Hampshire. At that time, there were 312 library cards in use and a circulation of 2,677 volumes. It was in 1900, that local resident Mrs. James Tracy began her long interest in the library by donating subscriptions to a dozen of the leading American magazines.
Mrs. Tracy had earlier purchased the old Morgan Homestead at the corner of South Pleasant and Main Street. This building was used as the Hospital until 1923, when the Hospital moved to its new quarters. Mrs. Tracy then undertook extensive renovations to the old building and transformed it into one of the finest small-town libraries in the country. At the Town Meeting of 1926, the deed to the property passed to the Town, accompanied by a generous gift in trust of $125,000 for the maintenance of the building and library facilities. In its new beautifully renovated quarters and landscaped grounds, the Library became a community center for many kinds of activities.
Since then Tracy Memorial Library has undergone additional refurbishings and renovations, including the “new” Community Gardens at the rear of the building, meant to replicate many of the original gardens. Today, the Library contains 34,400 volumes, circulates 92,066 items per year, and serves a population of 4,438 residents. It is home to many enlightening and fun programs and events; offers a web catalogue; has a wonderful children’s area with special offerings for children of all ages; provides access to innumerable sources of information and continues as an essential part of the New London and area communities.
Visit their website at: Tracy Memorial Library
Have you had to move before your house has sold? Here are some tips if you are in this situation:
- Make sure the house is super clean after everything has been moved out. Dirt, smudges, dirty sinks, etc. really jump out in an empty house. If necessary, arrange for some touch-up painting.
- Leave a rug at the front door to minimize the tracking of dirt & water.
- Don’t leave empty boxes, bags of trash, and unwanted personal items. It gives a more “run-down” feeling to the property.
- Arrange to have the lawn mowed in summer or the driveway plowed and sidewalks shoveled in the winter. Overgrown lawns or sidewalks knee deep in snow are turn-offs for buyers.
- Check with your insurance company to make sure your empty house is covered. Some companies require a different (and unfortunately, more expensive) policy if the house is vacant for a long period of time.
If you are looking for an experienced agent to help sell your house, then give me a call! 603-526-4116
You’ve found the perfect home, but before you close, you will most likely want to have a home inspection. This should include consideration of the possibility of the presence of lead paint in the house. Lead is a highly toxic metal and is especially dangerous to children - their bodies absorb more of the metal. Even low levels of lead reduce IQ & attention span, cause learning disabilities and retard development. Lead poisoning is a major health problem in this country for children. It even impacts adults by increasing blood pressure and damaging the kidneys, nerves, and brain. Any amount of lead is bad. Why am I writing about it? Because about ¾ of the homes built prior to 1978 contain some lead paint. And there are plenty of older homes in this area. The most obvious source of contamination is peeling paint. However another primary source, and one not as noticeable, is contaminated dust created from the friction of opening and closing of windows, doors, scuffing of feet on stairs, renovations, etc. Even though most houses today are completely repainted inside and out, the danger of lead dust still exists. This dust clings to carpets, floors, furniture, and toys. Young children get it on their hands and then put their hands in their mouths. I’m sure I don’t have to delve into the problems with the dust created from renovations. You get the picture. Whether you’re selling or buying a pre-1978 house, you need to be aware of the requirements, disclosures and risk assessments available. Contact me for a free pamphlet “Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home.”
603-526-4116
The real estate market today seems to be a mixture of news. I checked our Multiple Listing Service for the number of houses sold from January to September 1st and compared them to last year in the 9 area towns. Sales have actually increased by 9% – 152 sold homes in 2010, 139 solds in 2009. The average days on market haven’t seen much change; it takes roughly about 5 months to sell a house (keep in mind that is an average – some take longer, some take less time). And so far, homes are selling for an average of 91% of their asking price – same as last year. If sales activity mimics ‘09, this year may end up ahead of 2009 as the last two quarters in 2009 had the highest number of sales. The tempering factor is that right now there are 484 houses on the market. Basically there is a 2 year supply of homes to sell. The good news? We‘re making slow but steady progress. Fortunately, with NH’s lower unemployment rate and more stable economy, our state is poised to take advantage of market increases when they happen. And for buyers, it’s still a great time to be buying with the wide range of choices and low interest rates. If you’d like to know how sales are doing in your specific town, feel free to contact me!
Donna Forest603-526-4116
RISMEDIA, in their real estate magazine, often offers great tips for both buyers and sellers. An article published in early spring summarized these timeless great suggestions for anyone trying to sell their home from Sandra Rinomato, host of HGTV’s popular “Property Virgins” show. Before staging, the first step is to, “Get it clean, clean, clean,” said Rinomato. “If your house isn’t clean, it instantly sends up negative thoughts that the home is not well maintained. If your house is spotless, you’re ahead of the game,” she said. Next, “stage” your house so “…potential buyers can superimpose themselves and their lifestyle on the house.” Here are her tips: 1. Visit model homes and check out magazines for inexpensive decorating ideas which will appeal to the general public. 2. Home improvement can be as simple as spiffing up the outside with a fresh coat of paint, new shiny hardware on the front door and plant some flowers. 3. Declutter everywhere. This will make rooms look larger, and don’t forget closets. 4. Replace light bulbs with energy-saving, but bright, bulbs. Open or remove curtains. “Light, bright rooms give the impression this is a happy place—and everyone wants to move into a happy place,” said Rinomato. 5. Feature only a few pieces of furniture with broad appeal. Pieces pulled away from walls will make rooms look bigger. 6. Make sure a room’s primary use is obvious. 7. Keep kitchen counters clear; the same for nightstands and bureaus. Clean under the sinks in the kitchen. 8. Minimize the presence of your pets. Deodorize thoroughly. 9. Organize storage spaces. It’s even worth renting a storage locker. 10. When you’re done, call in your friends and REALTOR to get an objective opinion. RISMEDIA, March 19, 2010—(MCT)—(c) 2010, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Bright and open home with Mt. Kearsarge views offering 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. Asking price just reduced from $239,900 to $230,000. Kitchen has excellent work & storage space and tile floor. Living room has access to a large deck for entertaining. Brand new Hearthstone Heritage Soapstone woodburning stove for cozy winter nights. Visit www.472KingHill.com for more photos and details.
While New Hampshire is great in any season, Fall foliage season is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular shows of the year. There are many ways to determine the progress of the foliage, what places are the best to hike or camp in and enjoy the views, where the best outdoor recreation opportunities are during this special time. For your convenience, we’ve listed below a number of websites which you will find most helpful if you are considering traveling to New Hampshire for this spectacular show of color. New Hampshire Fall Foliage GuideNH Fall Foliage ReportsFoliage-Visit New HampshireNH Tour GuideVisit NH We hope you’ll enjoy visiting our wonderful state during this time when it’s showing off its colors…and maybe you’ll decide you want to stay!
OK –so, of all the homes for sale, you’ve finally found the one you want to buy. How do you know what to offer? While it is a buyers’ market, you still need to be reasonable on where you start. Low-balling the sales price tends to negatively affect the negotiation process. Sellers generally will not even counter back; feeling that the buyers are not serious. To make an effective offer, you should work with your agent to get information on comparable houses sold within the past year and get the pricing of the competition. Chances are you have been out looking at the similar homes for sale so you will have a good feel as to how this property compares to the others for sale. Another factor to consider is how long it has been on the market. If the listing has been on for substantially longer than the average, you may be able to offer a much lower price. Find out the list to sell ratio for that town. In this area, the selling prices are running about 91% of asking. The key to making a successful offer is to have good information. Working closely with a knowledgeable agent will make this process easier, so give me a call if you want to work with an Accredited Buyer’s Representative! 603-526-4116
A charming cape and year-round cottage on a private, protected point of land on the shore of Little Lake Sunapee with 530 ft. of waterfront. Terrific sunny exposure and wonderful sunsets are yours to enjoy! Was $1,075,000; Now $995,000. For more details and photos, visit www.719LittleSunapeeRd.com.
Significant price reduction - from $359,000 to $329,000! A farmer's porch provides a welcoming entry as well as a great place to enjoy your morning coffee. Enjoy entertaining and barbeques on the back deck while listening to the babbling Winding Brook. 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, oak floor, granite countertops, attached 2 car garage with bonus room above. All on 4.4 private acres! Visit www.140WindingBrook.com for more details and photos.
