Sunday FUNday

Fun video - Be glad it not Carrie or I singing!

Have fun everyday!

We are working this weekend and always happy to help! 603-471-3799

Feature Listing Friday: 85 Allen Manchester

2-unit Multi-family

http://carrieandty.topproducerwebsite.com/85allencom.asp

Amazing opportunity to own well built 2 family home with possible single family conversion. In neighborhood with well kept and newer homes. Individual, off street parking per unit, 1 car garage, covered porch & LARGE side yards and back yard. Claw foot tubs, built in cabinets and beautiful hardwood floors add to the charm of this home.

Homeowner Tip Thursday

Easy Energy-Saving Ideas for Spring
Spring is finally upon us, which means things will be heating up in no time...including your electric bill.

In today's economy, it's important to reduce expenses wherever possible, especially those costs related to your home. We have seen how seemingly small steps in home maintenance can yield big results in terms of savings. Whenever working with clients, therefore, we make sure to point out the various ways they can save energy. Not only is it good for the environment, it's good for your household budget as well.

Here are some great energy-saving ideas to look at this spring:

Start at the top. Now is the perfect time to make sure your roof has adequate ventilation. As the weather gets increasingly warmer, heat builds up in your attic and good ventilation is critical to cutting cooling costs and protecting your shingles, as well.

Check your cooling system. An annual inspection is key to keeping your air conditioning system at peak performance. Early spring is the best time to call a local contractor to schedule a check-up. Make sure air conditioning units are free of obstructions inside and out. When embarking on spring clean up, be sure to trim bushes, and clear away leaves and other debris away from your outdoor condenser.

Consider a furnace replacement. You may be using your furnace less as the weather warms up, but if it's an older model, now may be the time to take advantage of end-of-season sales to replace it with one that's more energy efficient.

Landscaping plays a part. Plant trees on the south and west side of your house to provide cooling shade.

These are just some of the ways to help reduce energy costs and also protect one of your greatest investments...your home.

13 Lake Potanipo Brookline - Feature Listing Friday

185 feet lakefront and a whole lot more!
http://carrieandty.topproducerwebsite.com/13lakepotanipocom.asp

Quick & Cheap Room Makeovers - Home Owner Tip Thursday

Quick Room Makeovers on the Cheap

Julie Chrissis - home staging and interior design - www.chrissisandco.com

So you want a new look for a room in your home but you do not have a lot of money to spend. So what can you possibly purchase that will make a difference but not break the bank? Here are some of our favorite ideas at each price point.
IF YOU HAVE $0

Eliminate clutter. I am sure you are thinking that you have already done this. Here is a sure fire way to tell if you have. Take a picture of your room. Now look at the photo. What do you notice? Paperwork, magazines, plastic bins. Think about a model home or an elegant hotel. What might you see there? Go with the rule of three – three items per surface. PERIOD. We work with clients all the time that think they have eliminated all their clutter but have not even come close to scratching the surface. Clutter causes stress and takes away from your personal style.

IF YOU HAVE $30

Replace your hardware on a dresser or on your bathroom vanity. You can purchase packages of drawer pulls or knobs at your local hardware store. You would be amazed at the difference a simple change like this can make. A dresser or a chest can go from feeling out-dated and dull to fresh and modern just by trying new hardware.

IF YOU HAVE $60 



Paint. Without a doubt nothing changes the look and feel of a room faster than paint. For around $60 you can paint an average-sized room. Try taking your neutral beige a shade darker or paint an accent wall. If you are unsure of which direction to go, ask your local paint retailer what his or her best-selling colors are and take inspiration from them.

IF YOU HAVE $100

Pillows are the way to go. Purchasing new pillows for a sofa or bedroom can make a world of difference. Simply layering in brightly-colored solids or something with a fun texture can give new life to a space.

Click on the links below

Atkinson real estate market update and statistics (active/sold - detailed information & statistics)


Salem real estate market update and statistics (active/sold - detailed information & statistics)


We are working this weekend... let us know if you have any questions or need help! 603-471-3799



347 Lancaster Hill RD, Tilton $187,900

Beautifully and completely renovated 3 bedroom home. Enjoy large living/family room with cathedral ceilings, spacious eat in kitchen with beautiful maple cabinets. First floor study, bedroom, full bath and separate laundry room. Tile in entry, kitchen, baths and laundry. Great yard and walkout basement. Minutes from Lake Winnisqaum. This home will not last long, all you need to do in move in!!

Find out more...
http://www.carrieandtyhomes.com/listings.asp?listing_id=1123722517

Five Spring Fix-it Projects - Homeowner Tip Thursday

It's time to repair and refresh

By Eric Forbes

Forget May flowers, for most homeowners April showers bring rust, clogged rain gutters and all manner of sticky doors and windows. To help you solve these troubles, here are some sure-fire solutions to common spring problems. They're easy enough to tackle in a weekend so you can spend more time smelling those flowers.

Rain gutter repairs
Nobody likes to clean or repair gutters. However, there are a few ways to make the job easier. First, for clogged downspouts, try using barbecue tongs to reach in and pull the leaves out. This doesn't always work but considering the alternative -- using a hose to flush the clog out, getting wet and covered with gutter goop -- it's worth a try.

Second, to repair loose gutter nails try replacing them with extra-long lag screws. The lag screws tend to be stronger, hold better and can easily be installed with a cordless drill equipped with a nut driver bit.

Repairing cracks in concrete
Concrete always cracks, but that doesn't mean you have to live with it that way. For most cracks less than 1/4", applying concrete caulk is a good way to make repairs. Just clean the crack out with a high-pressure hose nozzle, let it dry and then apply the caulk into the crack.

For larger cracks, substitute concrete patch for caulk.

Large cracks or small, repair is necessary because water that finds its way into cracks will soften the ground underneath and cause more cracking. The situation worsens if the water freezes.

Sticky windows and doors
With all the wet weather that spring brings, wooden windows and doors can't help but swell and stick. To repair a sticky door or window, first mark where it is sticking. Next, remove the door or window by taking out its hinge pins, prop it up securely and with a hand plane, carefully remove any excess material. Power planes will work, too, but there is a tendency to remove too much. When the wood shrinks back during the drier, warmer days of summer, the gap will be too wide.

For sliding windows, often the trim around them is the culprit and must be removed and reinstalled to allow for more movement. To do this, carefully remove the trim with a flat bar and pull the nails out backwards that is, grasp the nail point with pliers and pull. If the trim was installed properly with finishing nails, you should be able to do this without damaging the wood. When reinstalling, keep the fit snug but not as tight as it was. If you reinstall the trim too loosely, the windows will rattle when the wood shrinks again.

To keep windows and doors from sticking in the first place, make sure that they are sealed with a good coat of paint, including the tops and bottoms. But dont paint the channels where windows need to slide. Instead, use a light coat of linseed oil as a sealer.

Painting over water damage
The problem with water stains is that painting over them will not make them go away unless you use a primer-sealer first. When looking for a sealer, follow these basic guidelines: First, oil-based sealers usually work better than water-based. Second, choose a sealer that has a high amount of solids. Solids consist of pigments and other elements that do the actual covering of the stain. Paint, hardware and home centers carry primer-sealers (sometimes called sealer-primers) such as Kilz and Zinsser.

One other tip when using an oil-based sealer, consider using disposable brushes and rollers. Cleaning up after using oil-based products can be messy and often requires that you spend more on paint thinner than your brushes and rollers are worth.

Painting and repairing rusty fixtures
It used to be that the only way to do a good paint job over rust was to get out the naval jelly or wire brush and remove the rust first. Thankfully, paint additives are now available to help paint stick to rust while also neutralizing the rust and stopping corrosion from continuing under the paint.

If left untreated, rust will eventually cause your fixtures to lock up. Prevent this by keeping fixtures well lubricated. One of the most common mistakes people make is trying to lubricate outdoor fixtures with light oil or silicon from spray cans. Because these oils are so light, they often evaporate and/or dilute existing lubrication thereby making the problem worse. For fixtures like gate hinges and latches, use heavy grease. It will not evaporate and its heavy viscosity is the best thing for heavy-duty parts. Most auto parts stores have heavy grease.

Feeding America: Help Tornado Victims - One of the many ways - Working Together Wednesday

Come from a place of contribution and love... focus on simplicity

Feeding America: Help Tornado Victims - One of the many ways!http://carrieandty.topproducerwebsite.com/feeding-america.asp

National market update and events/dates for this week

• National supply at the current sales rate fell to 7.3 months from 8.2 in FEB.
• The MAR index of pending home sales rose 5.1% to 94.1.
• Mortgage rates continue to hold steady and keep the affordability index low.
• See more of the market recap and important dates/events at: http://www.carrieandtyhomes.com/weekly-market-recap.asp

Sunday Funday

Amherst & Milford Market Update - Saturday Real Estate Market Update

Click on the links below

Amherst real estate market update and statistics (active/sold - detailed information & statistics)

Milford real estate market update and statistics (active/sold - detailed information & statistics)

We are working this weekend... let us know if you have any questions or need help! 603-471-3799

55 Lawrence Derry NH $250,000 - Friday Feature Listing

7 Tips for Decorating on a Budget - Homeowner Tip Thursday

7 Tips for Decorating on a Budget

In today's economy, homeowners are watching their money more closely and going out of their way to give their home a fresh look by working with what they already have.

We have access to many great home improvement resources. Home decorator Lee Evanwood offers the following advice for homeowners who are looking to decorate while staying in budget:

Rub down and stain or repaint old wooden furniture. Take advantage of that old furniture you have sitting in your basement. Simply add new drawer or door handles to achieve a new look.

Can't afford a new sofa? Have the old one recovered. With plenty of fabrics in a wide variety of colors and patterns to choose from, recovering an old sofa is an easy and inexpensive way to create a new look.

Choose rugs. If the floor is already in good shape, you can get it refinished or try area rugs instead of carpeting. Not only are they chic and stylish, but they cost less, too.

Paint with a plan in mind. Try a neutral color on three walls, with a splash of color on the fourth. That splash of color can give you a starting point for further decorating.

Go with soft goods. A few new pillows or cushions that pick up the color on your accent wall can transform the look of a room. Add some inexpensive curtains, draperies or valances to help tie it all together.

Add some accents. Give a room a homey look by using baskets, vases and other small accessories to hold books and magazines, fresh flowers or craft projects.

Finish with artwork or mirrors. A pretty, framed print or two can help finish a room. Keep in mind that a mirror of any size on one wall can add depth and make the room appear larger.

These are just some of the many ways you can transform your home while staying in budget. Feel free to contact us for more ideas and please forward this on to anyone who can use a few inexpensive ways to create a new look in their home.

Blood Drive this week - Work Together Wednesday

Folks, did you know NH hospitals rely totally on the American Red Cross for a safe and sufficient blood supply?

     Have you ever waited anxiously in the emergency room wondering if a loved one would survive?  Imagine the reason someone you love didn’t survive was due to a lack of available blood supply. 

     Honor your Mom this Mother’s Day and the memory of your loved ones, this Thursday, April 28, for your Annual Manchester/Nashua Board of Realtors Blood drive, held 11:00 am to 6:00pm, at the American Red Cross Donor Center, 425 Reservoir Ave. in Manchester. 

PLUS

     Register to win Red Sox/New Hampshire Fisher Cats Tickets, and receive coupons for free oil from M.L. Halle Oil.  We’ll be serving delicious Lasagna from Belmont Hall Restaurant, finger sandwiches and other goodies!

Your time is valuable to us-please call 625-1951 to make an appointment for your donation for quick in and out service! 

      Can’t make it on Thursday?  You can also donate for this drive any day this week Monday to Friday 11am to 6pm to Saturday from 7:30am to 12:30pm

Tuesday Town Snapshot

Derry $200,000 - $400,000: Actives, recently solds and town specific market statistics
http://www.carrieandtyhomes.com/derry-mkt-update.asp

You can sign-up for personal reports for all New Hampshire towns/price ranges (as many as you like)!

Monday Mortgage Market Update!

 April 25, 2011

Mortgage Market Recap

• RE/MAX reported that home sales increased by double-digits in March from February in all but one of the 54 U.S. metropolitan areas it covers. This represents a complete reversal from January, when none of the 54 cities saw even single-digit monthly sales increases.
• The National Association of Realtors corroborated Re/Max's bullish report with one of its own. The NAR's data show that March was a decent month for existing home sales, with sales up 3.7 percent to an annualized rate of 5.1 million units. Prices also firmed slightly, up 2.2 percent, to a median reading of $159,600. More homes were on the market, 3.55 million, but the solid rise in sales dropped the supply to 8.4 months.
• See more of the market recap and important dates/events at: http://www.carrieandtyhomes.com/weekly-market-recap.asp

This Newsletter is for informational purposes only. The information contained herein may not be applicable to every situation or jurisdiction and we urge you to consult your professional advisor prior to acting on information contained herein. The content, accuracy and opinions expressed herein are not verified or endorsed by the sponsor hereof.

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Sunday Funday!

Create An Outdoor Oasis for Less Than $1,000

A concrete patio is turned into a Mexican-themed outdoor room.

BeforeThis small patch of concrete is an eyesore that needs some design attention.

After
Vivid color and creative seating make this patio inviting, exciting and livable.

Plants and Pottery - $290

• A collection of terra-cotta pots hold various cacti. Sheinkopf enhances a pair of pots with an aged finish made of stain, varnish and paint thinner. Turpentine is splashed on over the finish to give it an aged look. (pots and plants: Mainly Seconds; pot: Crate & Barrel - 05155150875549; chimnea and outdoor Pots: Pottery Etc.)

Accessories - $261

• Create a shade awning out of a drop cloth. After cutting it in half  attach the ends to the house and lets one curtain fall down the side of the house to hide the meter. The other half is stretched out over the patio and secured via grommets to a pair of poles anchored in pots with concrete.

• A custom fountain becomes the focal point in the area. Make the piece out of lightweight fiberboard, which is painted with rubber paint and coverd with copper foil. Stack the pieces so that when the water cascades down the sides it will create a ripple effect. The base is lined with slate. After hooking up the irrigation system, spray an aging patina on the copper to tone down the shine.

• Use bamboo thatching on the wrought-iron fence to give the space more privacy. A pathway to the patio is defined with white landscaping rocks.

Furniture - $243

• The low concrete wall is made functional for seating and stepping with a two-level redwood bench.

• A new table and a pair of chairs provide a spot for dining. Pillows in striped outdoor fabric add comfort to the chairs and bench. (fabric used for cushions: Jo-Ann Fabrics - 6647416/Sage/Terracotta/Sand/Outdoor Fabric; outdoor table: Target - 009010904)Incidentals - $113

Paint and Supplies - $86

• The concrete is painted turquoise and the half-wall is painted a terra-cotta color. (paint: Behr - Greensleeves - 490D-7; Mojave Sunset - 220D-7)

Project Total - $993

Saturday Snapshot!

Today's Featured Town Is

Goffstown, NH 03045

To Check On Your Town

Visit

http://www.carrieandtyhomes.com/market-info--update.asp

Friday's Featured Listing

13 Lake Potanipo
Brookline, New Hampshire 

03033

$379,900



Brookline NH Real Estate: Fantastic lakefront/waterfront home on Lake Potanipo, 185ft frontage w/private beach & area for dock/slip. Enjoy waterviews from living room, 3-season porch and bedrooms. 2-car garage with large finished room above. Great kitchen with island. Wood stoves in living room & kitchen. Extra space for guests in 4-bed bunk house. Covered storage on left side of garage with shower. Fantastic large yard.

Features

Single Family Property Status: Active County: Hillsborough Year Built: 1970 2 total bedroom(s) 1 total bath(s) 6 total rooms Approximately 1162 sq. ft. Type: Modified, Ranch Style: Modified, Ranch Master bedroom is 9.5 x 15.5 2 car garage Attached parking

Parking features: 2 Parking Spaces, Auto Open, Direct Entry, Paved Driveway Heating features: Hot Water, Electric, Oil Fuel, Wood Fuel Interior features: Dishwasher, Range-Electric, Refrigerator, Finished Above Grade SQFT: 1162, Bedroom 2 is 9.5 x 12.0, Bedroom 4 is 20x9 3-seasonPch, Water Heater: Oil Exterior construction: Wood Frame, Clapboard, Concrete Foundation, Crawl Space Foundation Waterfront property Waterfront features: Lake Lot features: Landscaped, Level Approximately 0.5 acre(s) Lot size is between 1/2 and 1 acre Zoning: Residential Utilities present: Sewer: Private School District: Hollis-Brookline Cooperative