Snowboarding in my Front Yard - Well, it might not be the kind of snowboarding that makes national sports headlines, but while raking my roof yesterday, I had to find a way to stay on top of the three feet of snow that is still on the ground.  Finally grabbed a 2 x 6 and used it to redistribute the weight so I didn't just sink down into the ice covered snow.  Sure hope there is no more snow for a while (like a year). 02/06/2011

Roof Rakes Can be Found in Cheshire, Connecticut A friend on mine, an attorney here in Cheshire, gave a shout-out to our local hardware store on Facebook this morning:  "Thank you to Pat and Terry and everyone at R.W. Hine Hardware for stepping up and meeting the needs of your customers.  I am the last guy who ever wanted to buy a roof rake, but at 7:05 this morning Hine had them.  I and the other twenty people there were grateful.  100 years of Customer Loyalty does not happen by accident.  Great Job!" R.W. Hine actually got a shipment of 1,000 roof rakes yesterday to help their customers get all the snow off their roofs!  In the past ten years they have not sold more than fifty roof rakes, but in the last couple of weeks they have sold thousands!  Here is the story from the Record-Jou... 02/01/2011

Where Can I Give Blood During this Urgent Need for Blood Donations near Cheshire CT? With all the wild weather the country has been experiencing,especially in the Northeast, the Red Cross has announced that it has an urgent need for blood donations.  But where can you give blood?  In the Cheshire CT area there are the following opportunities coming up: February 3 from 8:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.Cheshire Academy – 10 Main Street – Cheshire, ConnecticutFebruary 3 from 1:00 – 6:00 P.M.Villa Capris Restaurant – 906 North Colony Road – Wallingford, ConnecticutFebruary 4 from 7:45 A.M. – 12:45 P.M.Vinal Regional Technical School – 60 Daniels Street – Middletown, ConnecticutFebruary 8 from 1:30 – 6:30 P.M.VFW Post #10732 – 152 Massirio Drive – Berlin, ConnecticutFebruary 9 from 7:30 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.... 01/29/2011

Realtor.com Has Changed its Look Again! I went in this evening to lower the price on one of my listings (not the one pictured below), and put in a few updated photos.  I checked to see how it would look on the first page (where it shows the four photos with "See All 25 Photos" in the center).  Looked good.  Then I went to do some other things, and when I checked on how my listings all looked again, I was quite surprised to see a new look!   Now I have to decide if the order in which I have put my 25 pictures is the best order.  I used to take four samples from around the house to show up in the collage, but now the collage is gone.  I like change, but constant?! 01/27/2011

Green Light Driving School is Moving to its New Location within Cheshire CT For many years Green Light Driving School has been The Place for teens to get their driving lessons in Cheshire CT.  Drop off and pick up has been a bit tricky in the past (especially with this winter's drifts of snow) as classes were given in a home on a residential street.  Hopefully beginning with their classes on February 1, 2011, the Green Light Driving School will be at its new location at 1059 South Main Street (between Everybody's Plaza and The Cheshire Herald on Route 10).  Congratulations to Heather Carrano as the new owner of Green Light Driving School! If you are looking for a great place to learn to drive in the Cheshire CT area (Meriden, Wallingford, Hamden, Prospect, Bethany, Southington, and Wate... 01/26/2011

Pay it Forward . . . I Closed a Transaction, now I Make my Donations Closed, 53 Old Fairwood Road, Bethany, CT  Throughout my RE/MAX career, I have always been a Miracle Agent. That doesn't mean that it was a miracle if I sold a home. Being a Miracle Agent in the RE/MAX System, means that I choose to make a donation to the Miracle Home System from the proceeds of my commission. These donations are used to fund special programs at the nearest Children's hospital, which in this case is the Children's wing at Hartford Hospital. All donations are used locally, and are used wisely. All donations above $25. will have a card sent out to the person we designate. I take an equal amount and donate to the Susan G Komen Foundation. This is to fund a cure for breast cancer, which hits very close to ... 01/19/2011

How to Rake a Roof and Why This winter has been very tough on Connecticut!  We have already far surpassed the normal amount of snow that we receive in any given season, and it is only the middle of January.  Last week I wrote a post titled Where is the Snow that Should Be on that Roof?, and felt quite proud of the fact that my roof was still covered in snow. Today's forecast was for more snow and ice.  Not what I wanted to hear, because my roof is so well insulated and the temperatures have been so low, I still had all that snow on my roof.  Think of putting another three inches of snow on that plus a half inch of ice!  Time to borrow my neighbor's Roof Rake! While it was impossible for me to reach all the areas of my roof, I was able to get quite a bit cleared so I should not have trou... 01/18/2011

Cheshire CT Snowstorm Made it to CNN . . . You never know what you will find on YouTube!  This morning my Google Alerts let me know that the following video was available for Cheshire CT.  I imagine the rest of the country is either thinking "Glad I'm not there" or "Get Over it Already--30 inches is nothing!" I like the one guy who comments "Just jump in anytime you want!" as he shovels for the camera!   01/17/2011

Connecticut's Storms of the Century The New Haven Register was mentioned on the Weather Channel this morning!  As the Weather Channel reported, this morning's New Haven Register's headline read:  "Storm of the Century:  Which was the Nastiest Snowstorm:  1888, 1978, or 2011?" I have no memory of the storm of 1888 (no matter how old my kids think I am), and in 1978 I was away at college.  I will have memories for a long time of the storm of 2011, even though my wife reports that "There may have been more snow in this one, but it was not nearly as bad as 1978 (when the state was basically shut down for days)!" In 1978 she lived in Hamden on Mix Avenue in the apartments behind the Hamden Mart.  When work closed early and she headed for home, she could not get her Volkswagon Bug up Skiff St... 01/16/2011

Do You Want to Get Your Mail Today? I talked to my mailman yesterday as I was shoveling the end of my driveway after the plow went by.  He was stopping at every mailbox that he could see, getting out of his truck, and climbing to the mailbox.  Today I noticed a difference--I guess yesterday's delivery took too long.  The mailman was only stopping at mailboxes that he could reach from his truck.  Fortunately I had done a little extra digging, but others on my street had not . . . Here are some examples of the challenges awaiting the mailman today. 01/13/2011

This Snow is For the Birds - Please Feed Them! Here we go again--yet another winter storm plowing through Connecticut! Schools are already being called off (for more on this, check my recent post Is it Yet Another Snow Holiday?)   All of this snow and wind is making it difficult for birds to get their food and for the humans who feed them to refill the feeders.  So if you are able to get out your door, please try to remember that our backyard beauties need some energy right about now.  My five feeders are being emptied almost as fast as I fill them!     Updated photo from 11 A.M. . . .   01/11/2011

December 2010 Real Estate Sales Report for Cheshire CT Currently in Cheshire CT there are 143 active residential listings for sale. They range from a 1,752 square ft, 3 bedroom ranch, listed at $174,900 to a 5600 square ft, 4 bedroom colonial estate listed at $1,990,000 The average list price of the homes currently available for sale in Cheshire CT is $447,446. The average days on market for these homes is 149 days.  In addition, there are currently 14 homes under contract in Cheshire CT , with none having gone under contract in the month of December. The average list price for the homes under contract is $579,557 with an average days on market of 108 days.  For the month of December, there were 13 new homes listed for sale in Cheshire CT.  The average list price of the new listings ava... 01/11/2011

Is it Yet Another Snow Holiday?  With another snowstorm looming, I know that many children are anxiously awaiting the "no school" call.  I think even the teens who sleep until the last possible second on a normal school day wake up early to check for cancellations!  After all, school has been back in session for almost a whole week after the holidays, so isn't it time for a break? My kids always rejoiced when they received the gift of a snow day, even when they knew they would have to make it up at the end of the year.  Their favorite way to check for school delays or cancellations was Connecticut Weather Inc. because they could refresh the page and watch the list grow until Cheshire High School finally showed up on the list.  Then they could go back to sleep.  Other places to check for... 01/06/2011

This Winter has been Murder on Real Estate Signs! Don't you just hate it when you are driving down the street and see a real estate sign that is hanging on by just one hook?  Well, maybe it doesn't affect everyone that way, but it certainly gets on my nerves--especially when they are my signs!  This winter, with all the snow and wind, has done a number on my signs! Yesterday I went to check one of my listings only to find that the post was there, but no signs at all (they are all set up like the one to the right).  I dug in the snow and found all the signs with the hooks pulled out of their "S" shape (do you know how hard that is?!).  Hopefully all my signs are back in shape and ready for the next storm that is threatening to hit tomorrow.  Can you do me a favor, though?  If you see a C... 01/06/2011

I am often asked about the classes that are required when one of my clients is using CHFA (Connecticut Housing Finance Authority) financing.  It is important that you get these classes done as soon as possible during the mortgage commitment period as they are a condition of your being able to qualify for the loan.  Here is a quick summary of the require education, depending on the loan type for which you are applying: 3 Hour - Homebuyer Education Class CHFA's three-hour class provides an overview of the financial and practical steps involved in buying and maintaining a home for CHFA loan applicants under the Downpayment Assistance Program, the Homeownership Program and the Home of Your Own Loan Program.  CHFA requires that applicants of the Downpayment Assistance, Home of Your Own Progr... 01/01/2011

Blizzard of 2010 - When You Get Back on the Road, Try to be Patient The arrival of the Blizzard of 2010 the day after Christmas has caused a unique situation that needs to be considered.  Many folks who traveled to the Northeast for the holidays now find themselves needing to get about in snow which they may not have encountered for many years.  Those of us who are used to the white stuff must bear this in mind when we hit the roads and highways over the next few days.  Remember that folks driving that car with "Enterprise" on the bumper may not know that it takes extra space to slow down in these conditions and that slamming on the brakes could send them into a tail spin. The roads near the airports (like Bradley International) will present even more of a challenge as many people get f... 12/27/2010

Do You know If Your Condominium Complex is FHA Approved? With so much financing being done today with FHA or CHFA (in Connecticut), it is imperative than your condominium complex has the necessary approvals to allow for this type of financing.  Once upon a time (prior to January, 2010), if a condo complex was not on the approved list, a spot check could be done; and as long as certain criteria was met, FHA financing could usually be completed.  However, this is no longer the case.  If condo complexes are not approved, sales of units can take a dramatically longer time.  Rather than the need for just 3.5% down and the closing costs for an FHA or CHFA loan, a buyer securing conventional financing would need to come up with 20% down plus closing costs.  This puts non FHA complexes out of t... 12/17/2010

Time to Trim the Trees with Care!! Okay, not the Christmas Tree (see below for more on that)--but just when you thought that it was safe to drive down the streets and not be delayed by construction, along come the Tree Trimming Crews in Cheshire to clear branches from around the power lines (don't they usually do this during the summer--maybe too much road construction this year). This morning while having breakfast, I heard large trucks pulling up in front of my house.  Of course it wasn't a total surprise as this year (for the first time) Cheshire residents had to sign a permission slip for them to be allowed to trim trees in front of our homes.  I went out to have a chat with the tree trimmers on this cold icy morning (I was glad I wasn't the one working out there) to let them know t... 12/14/2010

Santa Claus is Coming This Weekend to a Train Station Near You! Want to do something a little different this holiday season?  Take a ride on the Santa Express!  This weekend (December 18 and 19) is your final chance to join the fun from the Thomaston Train Station.  The train departs at 2 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday and runs along the Naugatuck River for one hour 20 minutes while your group visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their trusty elves!  The warm and comfortable coaches in which you will travel are part of a 1920s vintage train.  Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit each child. Tickets are free for age 2 and under (but the child must be seated on an adult lap).  Children 3-12 are $12; Adults are $14, and Seniors are $12.  You can purchase tickets online or at the Thomaston Station on... 12/13/2010

Time is Running out to Donate to Toys for Tots! We all get caught up in the holiday season, and sometimes the best of plans fall by the wayside.  Don't let that be the case with your Toys for Tots donation! Some of the locations I reported on in my last Toys for Tots post have already stopped accepting toys, but below is the information on businesses that are reported as still accepting as of today.  You can drop off any new unwrapped toy during business hours. CPM Insurance Service - 90 Hinman Street, Cheshire - Drop Dates November 1 - December 15, 2010. In Touch Massage & Spa - 350 South Main Street, Cheshire - Drop Dates November 1 - December 19, 2010. ACS - A XEROX Company - 7 McKee Place, Cheshire - Drop Dates November 15 - December 13, 2010. Central Connecticut Chiropractic - 391 ... 12/10/2010