As we all know, the market, even in the Lake Sunapee/Kearsarge area of NH, has become a different ball game. There are fewer buyers and more homes to sell. To increase your chances of selling in a reasonable time period, here are a few good guidelines to follow:
- Price your home just under the competition. Be the best value out there for the money.
- Clean and de-clutter. One cannot over-emphasize the impact this will have on buyers.
- Consider offering a credit at closing if the kitchen and/or bathrooms need remodeling.
- Make your house appealing from the 1st day it goes on the market. With fewer buyers looking, your house needs to be in perfect showing condition when someone wants to look. Missed opportunities are hard to get back.
- Have a home inspection prior to putting the house on the market. Fix any issues that come up. This will help take away a buyer’s opportunity to say “no”.
If you’d like more ideas about how to give your house the best chance to sell, give me a call.
Donna Forest, ABR
What’s an “Ice House”? Quite literally, it’s the building where blocks of ice were stored, layered with sawdust, to be delivered to those people lucky enough to have an “icebox” to keep their food chilled. In this case, while there is an “Ice House” building, this small, hands-on, children-friendly museum offers much, much more than just the opportunity to see a lot of ice-cutting and handling tools.
The Ice House is a living, working legacy to the New London, NH, area from Bill Kidder, the man who created it and, who, until his death in 2005, spent many happy hours here polishing, tinkering, repairing, mowing, and showing interested folks around. He and his wife, Petie, collected a great variety of old and interesting stuff, including all kinds of tools and machinery (most of which still work), wonderful children’s riding toys, cars (preferably old Fords) and a wide variety of items of local interest including the Town’s original fire engine, a jail cell and first movie projector. He loved to show people around and share his infectious enthusiasm for “Yankee Ingenuity.” We hope you’ll visit and come again and again, as there’s no way to see it all the first time through. We’re open from mid-May to mid-October, Tuesdays and Thursday, 9-4, and Saturday 9-2. http://www.wfkicehouse.org
Some photos generously provided by John McMahon.
This inviting cottage is just about brand new inside and ready for summer fun on the water! Level yard and dock. See more photos and details at www.OtterPondCottage.com
Jane Snow, Listing Agent
The best of summer stock theater played out in a former 1820 barn, now a charming red building with a white front porch right on Main Street in New London! Their mission statement summarizes perfectly what “The Barn” is: “The New London Barn Playhouse produces vibrant theater created by emerging artists in collaboration with accomplished professionals within, and in order to preserve, one of the most cherished and historic summer stock theaters in the country.” The New London Barn Playhouse is the “oldest, continuously operating, summer stock theater in New Hampshire” and is listed in New Hampshire’s Register of Historic Places. But, even more than that, it is the intimate experience in this small theater which makes it so special. Summer in New London wouldn’t be the same without the Barnies walking down Main Street and the opportunity to see really good summer stock theater right in our own community! Visit their web site at: WELCOME - NEW LONDON BARN PLAYHOUSE
Charming antique farmhouse is situated on a beautiful 6.5 acre lot of mostly open fields. Large barn, many recent updates to the home. For more photos and details, visit www.744MainSt.com.
Sara Ellis, Listing Agent
The Town of Sunapee shares its name with Lake Sunapee and Mt. Sunapee. The name itself comes from the Algonquin Indian words “suna” (goose) and “apee” (lake) chosen because the lake was a favorite spot of wild geese. The town was incorporated in 1781.
Today, the Sunapee area
is a favorite of tourists and vacationers, but, historically, it was an industrial area. According to Wikipedia, one factory produced 110 clothespins a minute. Now the pristine lake, which was once surrounded by a number of grand hotels, is the main attraction. In the late 1800’s, when the summer grand hotels were still very active, there were a number of ferries on the lake, but these were mostly gone by 1915, replaced by the automobile.
The town has a total geographic area of approximately 25 square miles, with about 4 square miles of that being water. As of the 2000 censes, there were 3,055 people, 1,294 households, and 878 families residing in the town.
Sunapee Harbor bustles in the summertime with tour and dinner boats taking off on the lake, concerts in the bandstand, restaurants at water’s edge, and lots of pedestrian traffic in and out of the many shops and attractions. It’s a lively, fun place to be.
For more information about Sunapee, visit their web site at: Welcome to Sunapee, NH
It won’t be very long before our thoughts turn to summer and getting out on the lakes. The Mt. Sunapee State Park Beach (603-763-5561) with a 900’ sandy beach on 4,085 acre Lake Sunapee is actually located in Newbury off Route 103 and provides the ideal opportunity to hold family and group outings and enjoy fishing, boating, swimming and picnicking. There is also a campsite which is located about a mile from the Beach. The Beach offers a store, canoe and kayak rentals, a playground, and a new bathhouse. A boat launch is available with some restrictions. The Campground has five renovated lean-to sites offering camping in a natural setting. There are also pit toilets and water, and each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Check out their website for additional information, including hours of operation, fees, etc. Mt. Sunapee State Park Beach - Newbury, NH
A warm and welcoming classic New England Farmhouse in New London on 3.5 acres. Beautiful established gardens and large attached barn. For more details and photos, visit www.27ShakerSt.com.
A long, tree-lined drive introduces you to this impressive raised ranch with attached two bedroom apartment and detached barn, all on a private 4.64 acre lot. For more photos and details, visit www.564BradfordRd.com.
Jane Snow, Listing Agent
Picturesque New England farmhouse has been lovingly restored to its current splendor. Post and beam barn has been converted to a beautiful living space. For more photos and details, visit www.MurrayHillRd.com
Jane Snow, Listing Agent