Peggy Chirico ~ Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate Blog: Connecticut: Bolton

Bolton CT Market Report for September 2011

What's going on in Bolton CT? Bolton is a small town with rural character; as a small town, there is usually not much activity in real estate sales in Bolton.  It's not uncommon to see two or three closed sales in a month.  But in September 2011, there were 9 closed sales, with a median price of $265,000; in September 2010, there were just 2 closed sales, with a median price of $216,750.

So what's is going on in Bolton?  Is word getting out that it's a great place to live? Bolton has easy access to Hartford, the University of Connecticut, and Eastern Connecticut State University; it is also close to all the shopping conveniences of Manchester and South Windsor.  Yet people who live in Bolton enjoy the peace and quiet of rural living.  It's the best of both worlds.

Is it because people are hearing about the school system in Bolton, which is known for quality education, small student population,  and the close-knit relationships?  Bolton recently completed an addition to the high school which vastly improved space and facilities--further evidence of Bolton's commitment to education.

Whatever the cause, nine closings in one month in Bolton is remarkable.  What else is remarkable is that there are only 28 homes on the market with a median price of $276,900.  There are also two houses under contract and six houses under deposit, which means that there is just four months of inventory in Bolton.  This is very good news for sellers.

As a recap, here is the activity by month for the year so far:

If you are interested in seeing what is on the market in Bolton, you can enter your criteria when you search for homes in Bolton CT.  Please give me a call if you would like help with your search.

Back to School News: Bolton High School Start Delayed

While many of the area schools are already in session, the town of Bolton was scheduled to start school on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.  Bolton Center School will begin as planned on Tuesday, but Bolton High School will be delayed until Wednesday, September 7, 2011.

The opening of school was delayed because a certificate of occupancy was not received for renovations done over the summer on the older part of the building, but it is expected on Tuesday.  A new wing was completed last year, providing space and amenities that the Town of Bolton felt would be necessary to help it achieve its 2020 Vision. 

One of the reasons that people want to live in Bolton is because of the public schools.  Bolton Center School includes grades Pre-K through 8, and Bolton High School includes grades 9 through 12.  Each school has a low student to teacher ratio, which provides a sense of familiarity and belonging.  Bolton High School has about 300 students,  including about 20% from the town of Columbia which does not have its own high school, so it's easy to get to know other students, teachers, and administrators.  For more information, check out Bolton Public Schools.

Bolton is a beautiful small town with proximity to Hartford and UConn.  Residents enjoy the peace and quiet of rural living, yet have all the conveniences nearby.  From rural areas to new developments to lakefront homes, Bolton offers a variety of real estate opportunities.  If you are interested in seeing what Bolton has to offer, please give me a call. I would be glad to help you with your search. 

Fish Family Farm Day in Bolton CT

On Saturday, September 3, 2011, there will be plenty of fun at Fish Family Farm Day in Bolton CT.  From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., families can enjoy homemade ice cream sundaes made fresh at the farm from the Fish Family Farm Jersey cows that reside on over 200 acres.

In addition to the ice cream sundaes, there will be plenty of activities, including live music, hayrides, barn tours, animals, face painting, games, and a farmers' market.  There will also be over 50 booths selling crafts and other food items.

All proceeds will benefit The Lutz Children's Museum programs in Manchester CT.  The Lutz Children's Museum will be selling tickets for the event online and at the event.  Visit Lutz Children's Museum for information and for ordering tickets.

Saturday should be a wonderful day for the event, but in case of rain, the event will be moved to September 10, 2011. 

If you love ice cream or are looking for a great event to share with kids or just want to support the wonderful programming at The Lutz Children's Museum, plan on attending Fish Family Farm Day in Bolton CT on Saturday, September 3, 2011!  You will have a fantastic time.

For more information, call 860-643-0940 or visit Lutz Children's Museum.

I had a great open house today at 136 Hebron Road, Bolton, CT.   I haven't done an open house in a while because I, like many people, did not feel that they really worked.

But this is a house that people really needed to get into so they could experience the charm and see the fabulous backyard and outbuildings.  So, I felt that this particular house required an open house, and I was determined to make it great one.

Coincidentally, I was sent an article from NewsGeni.us entitled "Open Houses That Work."  Because having a successful open house was on my radar screen, I clicked to read the article.  It was a meaty article with plenty of suggestions, many of which I had decided that I needed to try.  But the interesting thing was that the article quoted several Active Rain members, whose names I recognized:  Wendy Cutrufelli, Rita Burke, and Margaret Rome.

Before I read the article, I had posted the open house on the internet in as many sites as I could, including the MLS, Craigslist, Prudential CT Realty, etc.  I also placed an ad in our local newspapers.  Today was a huge open house day (last one before the 4/30/10 deadline for the tax credit) so I wanted to be sure to cover all the bases.

I also took to heart the suggestions of the article. I put up a lot of signs, had tons of information, and even thought of a give-away as proposed in the article.  My office had just gotten copies of This Old House Presents Your New Home which had suggestions for curb appeal and makeover ideas, and I thought that this would be a perfect give-away.  And it was on target considering that my open house was at a house built in 1724 (this was an old house)!

The turnout was great! Of the twelve groups of people, I had two very serious groups and two serious groups.  The others were all impressed with the property, and two of them took extra flyers to pass on to people they knew.  One of the open house guests was an elderly woman who had visited the house and just wanted to see it for the memories.  We chatted about the house she remembered, and I told her I had done the same thing at a house my father had built. I was happy she came, and you just never know who might hear her story.

I also asked my open house guests how they had heard about it, and the results were very evenly split: 1/3 from a newspaper ad, 1/3 from online sites, and 1/3 from the sign.  So on that topic, the suggestions in the article were on the mark.

I plan to follow up as they suggested. I will write, email, or call each person to thank them for coming and answer any questions they had.  I don't know if I will sell this property from the open house, but the owners were pleased and I was encouraged.  I will keep you posted.

I didn't have time to implement all the suggestions in the article, but I will make an effort to do so for my next one, which I am sure will be even a bigger success.

So a big thank-you to the author and contributors of the article for helping to make my open house a success.

HORSE PROPERTY FOR SALE IN BOLTON, CT:  136 HEBRON ROAD!

Charming saltbox colonial built in 1724 and extensively remodeled and upgraded on 6.5 scenic acres.  If you have been searching for that perfect property with beautiful gardens, stone walls, views, and space for a horse or two, now is your chance to own your dream home.

This home has been meticulously maintained with many period details and a fully remodeled and expanded kitchen with sliders to a large EON deck overlooking beautiful views--perfect for entertaining or just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

Inside, there is plenty of room for everyone:

• Four bedrooms
• Two full baths
• Formal dining room
• Fireplaced living room
• First-floor family room

In addition, there are many features outside as well:

• Horse barn with one to two stalls, walk-up hay loft, and tack room
• Workshop/garage with electricity, cable, and a one-car garage (in addition to a two-car garage next to the house)
• Small shed for gardening tools
• Fenced in area
• Invisible fencing

If you would like more information about this property at 136 Hebron Road in Bolton, CT please check out the full listing or contact me.