My Mom Wants A New Home Does Yours?

My Mom  Wants A New Home, Does Yours?

I am having a nice visit with Mom yesterday and she drops the bomb.   " I want to look at some homes", she says.   

Now you have to know that we have gone down this road before.   She falls in love.  Dad doesn't want to move.   


So sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of tea... I say, "Mom, I love you, but I am not going to show you houses unless Dad is on board!"    "Oh, he will be", she says. 
 Hmmmm, I have been here before too.


But is this time different?  They own a 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with a nice lot in a very nice neighborhood.  They are paying a ton of taxes and have more house then they need.    

Why shouldn't they buy a new "Active Adult lifestyle" home? 
 
You know what?   They should.   And, I should be the advocate for them doing so!    So, tomorrow, we will  start looking at these homes.   Mom will fall in love and Dad.   Well, Dad loves Mom.... so we will be putting their home on the market...  I think.

And so should many others.

Many of my friends folks are living in large single family homes.    Many by themselves.     Many worry about the yard or the roof or shoveling snow or raking leaves and don't have anyone to do it for them.  

Why do they stay in these homes?   Maybe the task of moving is to much to think about or they don't know the value of their home in today's market or what is available to them should they choose to make the move to a maintenance free lifestyle.  Maybe they just don't know where to start!    After all it's been years and things have changed drastically even in the last 6 months for crying out loud!

Possibly they are concerned about condo fees in a new home.    They might not want to leave their memories behind.     But more than that, it might just be the task of packing up and cleaning out.    After all most have accumulated years of stuff.    Hey in my parents case, they are storing their kids things.   Isn't that silly! 

All of these folks should be out enjoying themselves and not a slave by their homes and the up keep.    

 If your parents have too much home, talk to them about making a trade in lifestyle.  

They deserve it!

  

Carol-Ann Palmieri

Al and Cal Realty Group

www.FranklinMAAreaHomes.com

Cal@AlandCal.com

508-494-9061

3 Geneseo Circle Milford MA Home for Sale!

3 Geneseo Circle Milford MA Home for Sale!

Offered at $349,900


Set well off the road, with an unbeatable cul de sac location and neighborhood setting in North Milford, this beautiful home is located on over an acre lot close to the Hopkinton line and major roads and shopping, yet it feels as if you are nestled in the woods of scenic New Hampshire!  


"Pottery Barn" perfect, you will find this 2600 s.f.,  4 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial with farmers porch spacious and well appointed with custom granite counter tops in the kitchen and baths!    Spacious foyer will lead you to the entertainment size kitchen, formal dining and open concept great room/living room.   The home is equipped with two wood stoves, on one the first floor and another in the finished family room space located in the basement.    Full windows and slider to back yard make this a favorite for the current owners!   



You will find cathedral ceilings with skylights in the living room and also in the master bath.  

There is a 2 car attached garage with openers as well as a storage shed.   



The yard has plenty of space to throw a ball around and even has horseshoe pits!    It is surrounded by beautiful woodlands and while sitting on the deck you can hear a babbling brook in the distance.  

This home is a delight and one to be sure to put on your must see list.   

For more info or photos scan this qr code or visit  http://3geneseocircle.propertyflyer.com/




If you would like to see this home, please give me a call or send me an email.

Carol-Ann Palmieri

Al and Cal Realty Group

www.FranklinMAAreaHomes.com

Cal@AlandCal.com

508-494-9061

Cool Kids in a Hot Air Balloon! Annie Sullivan Middle School Franklin MA

It happened yesterday morning around 8 am.  

After much anticipation and a few delays due to weather, the 7 th grade classes of the Annie Sullivan Middle School Franklin MA were about to watch what they had been studying this year come to life right there in their school yard!

All part of the "Challenge the Wind" program here for the 7th graders.  The curriculum couples studying physics with hot air ballooning and what better way to learn science in real time than to have "Big Max" right there in the school yard!   

Students wrote essays in the hopes of earning the opportunity to ride in the hot air balloon or help balloon pilot Chris Mooney set it up.    I'm sure it was a very difficult task as all the essays were excellent, but
16 of the students had their essays chosen by the pilot and took a teathered ride into the beautiful morning sky in Franklin MA.

The entire 7 grade filed out to watch.   Outside, they came equipped with thermometers, tape measures, notebooks, pens and a lot of energy and enthusiasm!

The test balloon went up to check the wind direction and the real time lesson began.   Watching a hot air balloon being set up is something to see and the Cool Kids of the 7th grade of the Annie Sullivan Middle School in Franklin MA had their eyes full. 

 "Big Max" was taken out of his tiny bag and stretched out on the field.   Kids and parents were helping by moving the ropes and getting them in the correct position and attaching the basket to the balloon.     A fascinating site made even more so by the size of the balloon when you are up close and personal.

The balloon is inflated with a fan.    As it filled the pilot began heating the air until it rose majestically and cast a shadow over us all!

The cheers came up from the kids and then the fun began.     One by one they got into the basket and pilot Chris Mooney took it up!   What a sight!


          Pilot Chris Mooney was excellent giving all a job including "Daisy chaining" the ropes to pack it away!    We all learned something new and had fun while doing it!   What's better than that?
Just a couple of excerpts from the winning essays:

"Even if I don't get to fly in it, I would enjoy seeing the burners going, and observe how the balloon itself changes when the burners are off or on.   I like seeing how parts work together, and that is one reason I would be thrilled to ride in the balloon."   EM

 "One reason is because it would be a very cool experience.   I have never been in a plane so it would be my first time high in the air!"  SG

" I have always dreamed about drifting along the clouds under a huge balloon.  I think they're beautiful and I hear that it's like flying.    Additionally I'm good at taking directions.   I promise I will do whatever you tell me to."  CL

"I only know a couple things about hot air balloons. I know that the parachute valve controls which altitude you are at the given moment and that the burners mix propane gas with air to create flame to propel the hot air balloon."  GC

Wow!   So you can see these kids of the Annie Sullivan Middle School in Franklin MA are really Cool!

Many thanks to balloon pilot Chris Mooney for bringing this adventure to the Franklin MA schools, and  to all of us  who were there to watch and learn!

Carol-Ann Palmieri

Al and Cal Realty Group

www.FranklinMAAreaHomes.com

Cal@AlandCal.com

508-494-9061

Walpole MA Real Estate Market Report for September 2011

This report contains information on the September 2011 real estate market in Walpole MA (source MLSPIN) and how it relates to the September 2010 market.    Home and condo sales are up.  The average sales prices are not.   

Today however presents the "perfect storm" for folks looking to get into home ownership for the first time, looking to trade up or down. 

We have been selling and marketing homes in the local area for the past 24 years.   If you have any questions or need assistance, please give us a call.     508-494-9061   or email   Cal@AlandCal.com 

Medfield MA Real Estate Market Report for September 2011

Real Estate Market Report for September 2011.     If you have any Real Estate questions or are looking to Buy or Sell a home, please give me a call.    508-494-9061 or email  cal@alandcal.com

The Charles Cafe Millis MA Just Opened Their Bar!

For years, "The Charles"  located on the banks of the Charles River on route 109 exactly on the Medfield/Millis line was a favorite spot to head down to for dinner and or drinks. 

The food was good, exotic it was not, and the bar was one where you might find a group of guys sitting around playing cards or just the kind of place you could drop into after work and see your friends for a quick one before heading home.    One thing for sure, it was a friendly place where everyone knew your name  or if they didn't they quickly would.  A comfortable kind of place!

The very long time owner and legend, a former Marine, affectionately known as "Buckshot", moved on and passed the restaurant bar on too.     It closed for a long time leaving the locals with a void in their dining and social routines.

Nicely remodeled, it reopened a while back for breakfast and lunch.   The food was good and the service with a smile....but still it lacked the old "bar" side that we all loved.  
             
Guess what?    They brought it back!    The bar is back at the Charles Cafe!  

And looking fabulous too I might say!    I stopped in there last night to check it out.  The new owners have done a wonderful job.     Soon, folks were were coming in that had used to stop by the old Charles!

It's an intimate place with a granite topped bar, comfortable stools and two big screen T.V.'s.   Music was playing, there are tables for dining or for a group gathering.   There is a fireplace which will be amazing on a cold snowy night, and tonight, Saturday, they have a piano bar!   
The service is still fine and with a smile.  The menu looked good.  I didn't have time this trip to grab a bite.

So now we have it all!   

The gathering spot on the Medfield/Millis line is back but better.   Food is good, drinks are flowing, and they also have an outdoor seating area!  
Want to get some exercise in before that dinner.    Rent a kayak right there take a two hour paddle on my favorite river and then come back and wind down!   

So if you are looking for a friendly (and now trendy) place to go that everyone will know your name, this is the spot.  

Good food, drinks, music and a little friendly conversation!    

What's better than that?

The Charles Cafe
35 Main St. (Route 109),
Millis MA 02054

Carol-Ann Palmieri

Al and Cal Realty Group

www.FranklinMAAreaHomes.com

Cal@AlandCal.com

508-494-9061

Have Pets? The Barking Dog and the Home for Sale

I need to preface this post by saying that I LOVE dogs.   All kinds, shapes and sizes....  here is my story.

A warm Sunday afternoon and we get the call.    "I need to sell my Bellingham MA home!"     Over we go with market analysis and marketing plan in hand.

The home is lovely.    A young multi bath colonial.   A classic home for the area.  Well maintained.  I know immediately we are going to get a lot of showings.   It should sell quickly.    We do our thing, establish a price.   I get out the camera and take some great photos of the home and get the marketing started.

On line it goes, into MLS and the showings begin!  That's when it starts! 

The neighbor's dog is a barker.   Now these homeowners did not know that as they were out working all day.    Their very next door neighbor tied the dog up on the deck and bark it did.    Incessantly for hours on end out there on that deck.    Well... I am not quite sure about that, but the feedback I got from every showing had to do with how obnoxious the barking was.

We are never going to sell this home with Fido over there barking to beat the band!!!

   
We informed the Seller of the situation and asked them to speak to their neighbor.    They did.
The barking continued, and continued.   I went over to meet some buyers and heard it for myself.  

Oh!  This will never work.    I walked next door to talk to the homeowner.    "Please", I say, "is there anyway we can bring the dog inside when you see a showing happening next door?"   I went on to explain to her that this could ultimately effect her property value if my listing ends up staying on the market longer than it should.  

The homeowner didn't realize that the poor pooch on the porch was barking all day, having a negative impact on our showings!

She promised to bring Fido in when the home was being shown.    In fact, she wasn't going to leave him out there all day anymore!

With Fido happily inside, the offer came in.

Here are My Pet Tips for Selling your Home.

• If you have pets, establish a showing plan that includes them.
• When at all possible remove pets from home for showings.
• Asking an Agent to keep Houdini the Cat in, can detract and distract from the showing, find a way to corral him.
• Make sure the showing agent knows there are pets in the home and what to expect.
• If possible, crate your pet to keep him safe.   A "friendly" pet might not remain friendly when there are strangers in their home and you aren't!  Buyers young children are either looking to pet your "baby" or they are petrified.   Either one is not good for a showing.
• Keep litterboxes clean and odor free.
• Make sure the back yard free of debris, if you know what I mean!
• Let your neighbor's know that you are selling.   

Selling you home is stressful for everyone in your household.   That includes your Pets too.   You know what is going on, but they don't!    Make it easier for them and you will have a higher degree of success in getting your home sold quickly!      

Looking to Buy or Sell at Home?    I have 24 years of experience helping folks with their Real Estate matters!  

Carol-Ann Palmieri

Al and Cal Realty Group

www.FranklinMAAreaHomes.com

Cal@AlandCal.com

508-494-9061