Peggy Chirico ~ Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate Blog

In the Baby Boomer Series, I am going to address topics that pertain to people of my generation--baby boomers who are planning for the next steps in their lives.

Baby Boomer Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic

Contrary to conventional wisdom, at least in my opinion, the most important step is not deciding where or how one wants to spend his or her retirement years; the most important step is CLEANING OUT THE ATTIC!

Regardless of whether you plan to stay in your home, move across town, or relocate to the sunny south, you must clean out the attic. If you are like me, you have lived a considerable number of years in the same house and have amassed a lot of crap memories in the attic.

Why do I think cleaning out the attic is the most important step? Because it will allow you make a quicker decision if you have to. If you clean out the attic now, well in advance of any decisions you need to make, you will be able act upon your decision quicker. And if you choose to spend your retirement years in the same house, you won't be leaving the dreaded task of cleaning out your attic to your family.

This post was prompted by two events:

• The first was a showing I recently had where the buyers wanted to close in six weeks. The seller, however, had so much stuff everywhere (and the attic was jam-packed) that it would have taken her a month of Sundays to clear it all out. Her stuff included tons of memorabilia, restaurant menus, knickknacks, books, clothes, and some stunning antiques and artwork. There was a lot that would simply have to be thrown out, and some of it shouldn't be thrown out. But in the heat of the moment, when someone is under pressure to clear out the house, mistakes will be made. Valuable things may be thrown out and worthless things will remain.
• The second event was my own trip into my attic. I call my attic Limbo because that's where I throw everything that I don't know what to do with. It's also a one-way street. It goes up, but it never comes down. So after 35 years of living in the same house, I know there is a vast amount of crap memories up there.

Cleaning the attic is an onerous chore; no one really wants to get caught in the trip down memory lane that will take years to complete. Trust me, I know. I had boxes of cards, gifts, memorabilia, and stuffed animals for each of my children. It took me an entire afternoon because, of course, I had to read every card! And that was just one box.

So here are some of the suggestions that worked for me; maybe they will work for you.

• Get some help. Enlist the aid of your children, spouse, or a professional service. They will keep you on track.
• Tackle it one box at a time. Bring the box down from the attic and decide on the contents' final destination: garbage, recycling, donating, giving to a family member, selling it, or having it appraised.
• Set up a minimum goal of how many boxes you will deal with each week and hold yourself to it.

Toss It

I am all for recycling and reusing wherever possible, but there is probably a good amount of junk that simply must be tossed, such as old Halloween costumes, decomposing papers sprinkled with glitter, melted plastic items, etc.

Give It Back

If you have been saving someone else's memories, put the stuff in a pile and give it to the person. Chances are they will have a much easier time of throwing it out than you would. When I presented each of my children with boxes of their kindergarten homework, they thought I was nuts. They looked through it for old time's sake and just as quickly tossed it.

Give It Away

You may have useful items in the attic that someone else would love to have. I had 16 place settings of Christmas dishes that I hadn't used in twenty years and knew I would never use them again, so I gave eight place settings to each of my daughters. My son decided he would rather have an old turntable that was up there.  If there are things that your family or friends can use, offer it to them. Wouldn't you rather see them enjoy it than have it rot in the attic? There are also plenty of charitable organizations that would be glad to accept donations. A rule of thumb: If you haven't seen it, used it, or thought about it in five years, you probably don't need it now.

Appraise It

For the valuable things in your attic, like silver candlesticks, old collectibles, or antiques, consider having them appraised to see if they really are worth anything. You may just have cash in the attic that will help pay for your next vacation!

Sell It

If you have valuable items that you want to sell, consider selling it to an appraiser, on eBay or Craigslist, or at a tag sale.  If you have things that are not really valuable but that someone might want to buy anyway, a tag sale may be the quickest way to get rid of a lot of stuff.

Save It

You don't have to get rid of everything! There may be some items that you want to hang on to, and that's fine.  Just make sure to keep them in the open so you can truly enjoy them and not just have them collecting dust in a storage area.

Cleaning out the attic will be the hardest task, but it is the most important task.  By paring down your stuff, separating trash from treasure, and keeping only what is essential, you will be ready when you want to make a decision about where and how you want to spend your retirement years.

Baby Boomer Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic

East Hartford CT Market Report for December 2011

East Hartford CT finished out the year strong, with 26 closed sales and a median price of $143,500. Many people mistakenly think that real estate comes to a halt in December because of the holidays, but that was not the case in East Hartford.

Compared with December 2010, this December had a higher number of closed sales (26 this December vs. 22 last December), but the median price was down ($143,500 this December vs. $150,000 last December).

Here is the breakdown by price range:

The median price was up and down throughout the year, but December's median price came very close to the median price for the entire year, which was $144,000.  

Here is a recap by month for 2011:

There are also 20 homes under contract and 37 under deposit. Given that there are 205 active listings in East Hartford, CT, the absorption rate is currently 10 months, which is lower than it has been in recent months.

If you are looking for a home in East Hartford, there is plenty to choose from.  From a low of $9999 for a two-bedroom, one-bath, 719 sq. ft. mobile home to a high of $299,900 for a new construction colonial with three bedrooms, 2.1 baths and 1800 sq. ft., the median price is $149,900. There are many fine neighborhoods in East Hartford, with plenty of opportunities to find a great home at a great price.

To see all the homes for sale in your price range, contact me and I will be glad to help you find your next home. 

The Home Show Is This Weekend at the XL Center, Hartford CT ~ FREE Admission

This weekend, January 13, 14, and 15, is the Home Show at the XL Center, One Civic Center Plaza, Hartford CT.

What a perfect weekend to break up the dreariness of winter and start planning some great home improvement projects for the spring!  Admission is FREE!

The Home Show has exhibitors in every home improvement category including:

• Doors and Windows
• Kitchens and Baths
• Lighting
• Gardens and Landscaping
• Roofing and Siding
• Flooring
• Hot Tubs and Pools
• Decks and Fences
• Sunrooms
• And much more!

Here is a chance to see demonstrations, ask questions about your home improvement projects, and collect the information for making decisions about your projects.  There are also food and drink vendors so you can stay all day if you want to.

The hours of the Home Show are:

• Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Manchester CT Market Report for December 2011

During December 2011, there were 22 closed sales with a median price of $155,450 in Manchester CT. Although the median price was up somewhat from the previous two months ($152,500 in November and $147,750 in October), the number of closed sales was the lowest since February 2011.

In comparing the numbers with last December, we can see that the number of closed sales was down (29 last December), but the median price was virtually unchanged ($155,450 in December 2011 vs. $156,000 in December 2010).

Here is the breakdown by price range:

In looking at the recap of the year, there were a total of 320 closed sales and a median price of $169,500.  Here are the numbers by month:

As of today, there are also 19 homes under contract and 30 homes under deposit, so January should show fairly good numbers as we gear up for the spring season.

If you are looking for a home in Manchester CT, there are 214 properties on the market with a median price of $179,900.  Active listings range from a 3-bedroom/1-bath ranch with 1135 sq. ft. for $75,000 to a new construction contemporary home with 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, and 4000 sq. ft. for $759,000.  Manchester Ct has many great neighborhoods and there are some beautiful homes on the market right now.  With an absorption rate of almost 12 months, buyers will have plenty of opportunity to find a great home at a great price.  If you would like information about schools, neighborhoods, amenities, or homes on the market, just give me a call. I would be glad to help you get the information. 

Wine Tasting at Adams Mill Restaurant, Manchester CT

Manchester Wine and Liquors' January wine tasting will be held on Monday, January 23, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at Adams Mill Restaurant in Manchester CT. 

Each month, a wine region is showcased and this month's wine region is Spain.  The wine tasting includes a presentation about the region, the wines, and the winemakers.

The wines to be tasted are:

Gran Gesta Brut Reserva  ........................................... $11.99

Legado Munoz Tempranillo ..........................................$10.99

Vina Alarba Old Vine Grenache   .................................. $ 9.99

Cueto Seleccion   ........................................................$16.99

Orballo Albarino   ....................................................... $17.99

Merum Monastrell   .................................................... $ 9.99

Lealtanza Dominio de Heredia  ................................... $11.99

Felix Callejo Cuatro Meses  ........................................ $19.99

Finca Munoz Old Vines Tempranillo ..............................$34.99

The wine tastings are fun, informative, and open to anyone in the Wine Club.  If you are not a member, you can become a member by calling Manchester Wine and Liquors at 860-649-4750.  Each member can bring one guest.

Seating is limited, so you must register by phone (860-649-4750) or by email at mwl@snet.net.  Only those registered will be allowed in.  The wine tasting costs $6 per person, but if you buy at least six bottles from the tasting, you will be refunded the $6.  In addition, the wines are usually discounted by the case (and you can mix cases).  Information will be on the tasting sheets.

In addition, Manchester Wine and Liquors has a raffle at the end of the wine tasting which adds to the fun. So if you are looking to learn about new wines, try a few (along with some cheese and bread), and spice up the wintry month of January, call to register.

All profits of the evening are donated to a charity and this month's charity is Bandit's Place Animal Shelter of New Hartford CT (501c-3).  A fun evening, a good cause--what more could you want?

January Is National Radon Action Month!

The EPA has designated January as National Radon Action Month in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of radon.  According to the EPA, radon is the leading cause of lung-cancer deaths among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung-cancer deaths among smokers.  Lung cancer from radon is a preventable condition, and if radon levels are high, the gases can be mitigated.

Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and invisible gas that can cause lung cancer, and the EPA urges that  homes, schools, and other buildings be tested for the gas.  The test is a simple, inexpensive procedure, but many people are not aware of the necessity of testing for radon.

During January, the EPA is urging everyone to do four things:

• Test for radon
• Attend an educational program if possible
• Spread the word
• Check into radon-resistent construction if you are thinking about buying a new home

Happy New Year 2012!

Before I begin my quiet New Year's Eve celebration, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.

New Year's Eve has never been a fascination for me; I prefer to spend it quietly in anticipation of the next day.  But to those who are celebrating, I hope you have a wonderful and safe evening.  Whether you are celebrating the end of a great or not so great year, I hope that you can look forward to a better, vibrant, and successful 2012.  

There is an optimism to every new year.  We feel as though we can wipe the slate clean, start over, and hope for a better year.  We will all make resolutions and try to keep them; most of us will fall short of our own expectations for ourselves.  But that is further down the road.  For now, let's just bask in the optimism and hope of a better life for all, doing what we can do to make that happen. 

Don't linger over what went right or what went wrong last year; take what lessons were gained and move on.  We can't change the past; we can only learn from it.  It's the relationships we have that are important; nothing else matters.  Resolve to make each day count.  Period.  

Happy New Year!

A Few Days Left for Charitable Contributions

I was cleaning out my mail drawer in an effort to get a jump on my new year's resolutions and came across a few mailings from my favorite charitable organizations.  In the hurry of the holiday season, I threw them in the drawer with all good intentions of sending in my donations.  Good thing I decided to clean out the drawer.

Several of them had matching donations.  In other words, the organization will double the size of your donation if a contribution is made by the deadline, which in these instances was 12/31/11.  That's hard to ignore!

There is always time to donate to a worthy cause, but if you get it in before 12/31/11, you can take it as a tax deduction.  And if the organization is offering a matching donation, your favorite charity will get twice the amount you contribute.  Very good reasons for cleaning out your mail drawer and writing a few checks now!

No matter what holiday you celebrate, I hope that your holiday season is a peaceful and happy one for you and your families. The years go by too fast for us not to take time to reflect on what is really important in life, and the holidays are the perfect time to take stock.  We spend most of the year hurrying from one task to the next, but the holidays are the best time to sit back, listen to some music, sip a little wine, and enjoy the moment with family and friends.  Happy holidays! I hope all your wishes come true.

December's Season of Celebrations and Sharing ~ Christmas Dinner at the Manchester Country Club

Once again, there will be a Christmas dinner at the Manchester Country Club for those in area shelters, thanks to Make A Christmas, a non-profit organization that seeks to help those in need during the holidays and throughout the year.

The project was started in 2001 by RJ Gomes, who was then a student at Manchester High School.  As part of a community project, he organized a Christmas dinner for those less fortunate, and he has been doing it ever since.

This year, dinner will be prepared by chef Jeff Thompson of October Kitchen at the Manchester Country Club.  Toys and gifts will also be distributed.

Make A Christmas relies on volunteers and contributions; if you have time and/or money, donations are greatly appreciated.  This year, donating is easy.  You can donate through Paypal on Make A Christmas' website; if you prefer to donate time of something else, you can contact RJ Gomes:

Make A Difference
93 Sycamore Lane, Apt B
Manchester,  CT 06040
(860) 805-7747
MakeAChristmas01@gmail.com