Renovation Nation Coming To Easthampton MA

Discovery Channel's Renovation Nation Television Show Comes To Easthampton, MA. On June 4th @6 PM, The Discovery Network will launch their new channel "Planet Green", devoted exclusively to earth friendly products, practices, places and people. On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, Steve Thomas from "This Old House", (one of my all time favorite shows) will be in town to interview Green Builder, Sean Jeffords, owner of Sean's Custom and his "Green Team" for an upcoming episode of "Renovation Nation".

Sean and his team are currently in the process of a green renovation in Easthampton called "Off Grid Condos". We'll be sharing more information about this project in future blogs and in our Buyer's Guide To 4 Sale By Owner & Builder so stay tuned.

Oh, The Things Real Estate Agents Say

One of our sellers got a call from an agent telling her that she had buyers who were very interested in her home. The agent showed up at her open house the next weekend (without buyers) and began to implement "FSBO Prospecting 101". In the old days, agents would be quick to tell FSBO sellers that they were down right stupid to think they could sell their home without the agent's knowledge, assistance and the coveted MLS. The new strategy is to become a partner, an ally of sorts. Provide free information and encouragement to "unrepresented sellers" (the new term for FSBOs), send them periodic gentle reminders and sympathetic phone calls to see how things are going. If you play your cards right, you may land a listing within 30- 60 days. Here's how it went with our seller:

Step 1: Be A Resource - The agent handed the seller a stack of agency information, while complimenting the owner on what a beautiful home she had. She was surprised that she wasn't already under contract, in fact. (worry nugget #1)

Step 2: Promote Feeling of Inadequacy - The agent then asked her, "Why haven't you attached the Massachusetts Lead Paint forms to your flyer?" This was designed to rattle the seller by making her feel that she was doing something illegal, I suppose. In reality, the lead paint forms are supplied to the buyer as part of the Purchase and Sale agreement, not handed out at open houses!!!

Step 3: Grab The Listing - HOLD ON! Fortunately, our seller saw through this little charade and informed the agent that she had the marketing end under control with our help and had retained a very competent real estate attorney to represent her legal interests. The visit was cut short as the ruffled agent gathered her materials and left.

What is the best way to sell confidently "by owner"? Contact your regional for sale by owner company early. Prepare your home carefully, get it appraised by a professional appraiser and set your price according the the market conditions, and expose it to a wide buyer pool.

Women Build 2008- Breaking new ground

While rain fell, spirits soared during a groundbreaking ceremony held Friday, May 9 in honor of Women Build 2008.

More than 100 people braved the wet weather to show their support of this important project. Women Build, as a national campaign for Habitat for Humanity International, is one of many projects across the nation bringing women together to build a home in partnership with a family in need.

Funding from partners throughout the community, including Hasbro, Hampden Bank and Lowe’s, provide the necessary financial support to give women the opportunity to put their hands into action for their community.

Speakers at the groundbreaking included Carol Leary, president of Bay Path College and honorary chair of Women Build 2008; Mike Niziolek, vice president of human resources at Hasbro; Glenn Welch, executive vice president, Hampden Bank; Patty Murphy, superintendent of the Hampden County Women’s Correctional Facility; Linda Adams, member of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors and Women Build Steering Committee; and Habitat homeowner Catherine Campbell.

The celebration continued on Saturday, May 10 when five of Habitat’s active work sites in the Greater Springfield area featured crews of women participating in all facets of construction. This work day was scheduled both in honor of Greater Springfield’s Women Build project, and in recognition of National Women Build Week. The May 10 women-led worksites were located at 4 Palmer Road, Monson; 6 Chester St., Springfield, 12 Chester St., Springfield; 75 Pomona St., Springfield, and 171 Cabot St., Holyoke.

The Women Build home on White Street, Springfield, is being constructed for Campbell, a single mother of five who works at Baystate Health. For more information on Women Build 2008, or other Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity projects, contact Sarah Tsitso, director of resource development and communications, (413) 739-5503 or tsitso@habitatspringfield.org.

Amherst, MA Home For Sale - Near UMass

SOLD
H128489 - Colonial in Orchard Valley, South Amherst

• 3 bedrooms
• 1.5 baths
• Hardwood floors
• Grape arbors, blueberry bushes
• Walk to Hampshire College

.... visit our website for more listings!

Living Green In Western Mass

GREEN, the name implies more than just a color in Crayola's big box of crayons. Green is now the catch word of 2008 and is BIG business. Just add the word green to any reference of home building, remodeling, saving energy and . . . .WOW, your product will be at the top of search engines. GREEN isn't really new, as I tried to explain to my two teenagers. I began thinking of growing up in the enlightened generation (well, we thought of it as such) and who introduced me to GREEN.

My Mom was the original GREEN poster woman. My Mom was the Supervisor of Nursing in a small community hospital in Vermont. She subscribed to an organic gardening magazine, composted everything, grew all our own vegetables and a lot of our fruit, and had two freezers and a cold pantry full of our produce at any given time. She baked bread (oatmeal was my favorite), homemade cookies (date-filled, oatmeal raisin, etc.) and her strawberry shortcake was to die for!

I lost my Mom years ago, but have tried to live life somewhat in her footsteps. After years of trying to turn my Easthampton, Mass backyard into the garden of my childhood, I gave up and am now a proud shareholder at Mountainview Farms. I still compost, but it's just to add to my neglected lawn which has never had a chemical additive since the day we moved in. I love going to the local farmer's market which sets up every Tuesday in Easthampton. Intervale Farm in Westhampton always has great herbs and conversation is lively.

GREEN is not new. Remember "Keep America Beautiful", teaching us not to litter and keep our "greenscape" green? How about "Recycle America", when we all learned not to fill up our landfills. Saving energy is not new to my family either. As the inventor of the Eclipse Windmill, Rev. Leonard Wheeler, my relative, helped farmers across the country learn to harness wind power cost effectively. Today, Massachusetts is struggling with legislation that controls the introduction of wind turbines off Cape Cod.

Last week was Mother's Day and I asked to have my old bike tuned up so that I could ride it down the Manhan Rail Trail to work every day. I'm enjoying it already. Yesterday, our new lawnmower arrived - a Neuton. This battery operated lawnmower does everything but fold laundry. It's quite a step up from our rotary push mower that we've had for twenty years. Oh well, I'm excited about our new technology.

Hatfield, MA Home For Sale

H128487 - Renovated New England Farmhouse

• 3 bedrooms
• 2 baths
• Hardwood floors
• Additional out building
• Historic farming community

.... visit our website and call the owner direct to request a private showing today!

View Now!

Southampton, MA Real Estate Auction

H128484 - Southampton, MA

Auction date: Saturday, May 31st, 2008 - 10:00 AM
Open House: Sat. May 17th, 10:00 - 12:00.
Preview: Friday, May 30th, 2:00 - 7:00

This is not a foreclosure auction. House, barn and contents to be sold.

For more information, please link here

Hatfield MA Home For Sale

H128482 - Cape on 4.5 Acres

• 3 bedrooms
• 2.5 baths
• In-law, studio apt.
• Historic farming community

.... visit our website and call the owner direct to request a private showing today!

View Now!

Hampden East Condo For Sale, Springfield, MA

H128478 - Newly updated - top to bottom!

• 2 bedrooms
• 1 baths
• Pool, Tennis Courts, Club House
• Vacation at home this year

.... visit our website and call the owner direct to request a private showing today!

View Now!