Stratham, NH

When it comes to agricultural fairs, the community of Stratham, New Hampshire, takes theirs very seriously.

This year July 24 - 27 at Stratham Hill Park the 41st annual Stratham Fair will be held and attendance is expected to be over 25,000 people.

The fair started out as a small lobster bake to thank the volunteer fire department and has become a huge charity event that benefits many local organizations.

Entertainment, in addition to the usual games and rides of the midway, include performances on two stages, baking competition, pie eating contest, Miss Stratham Fair pagent, a Fine Arts and Crafts exhibit, a road race, and a Fireworks display on Sunday night as a finale to the fair.

In traditional fashion, you will find 4H Shows and agricultural exhibits.

In addition to the food delights of the Midway and the traditional lobster bake, a barbeque and a lasagna supper are also scheduled.

The very reasonable price of admission is $7 daily. Children 6-12 and Seniors 65+ are just $4 daily.

Children under 6 are Free.

Grandparents get in Free on Thursdays.

Military personnel and dependents get in free on Fridays. Group rates and discounted tickets for Stratham residents are available.

Parking is Free.

For info including Event Schedule, Admission Specials, directions and more visit the Stratham Fair website.

There is a, not so well hidden, gem located adjacent to the SPCA property at 100 Portsmouth Ave. in Stratham, NH. It is called Sweet Dreams Bakery and was established in 1988.

The building may appear small from a street view but once you enter this establishment your senses are instantly awakened by the smell of fresh baked goods & coffee brewing and the sight of cookies, cakes, pastries and the like lining the display cases, a subtle reminder of days gone by when a local bakery was present in nearly every neighborhood.

There are fresh breads of all varieties and textures, cookies sure to please children of any age, pastries filled with ingredients from pudding to fruit concoctions, and the grandest cakes frosted with anything from cream cheese coated with nuts on the carrot cake to whipped cream on the yellow cake with strawberries (delicious).

This is only the beginning of this gastronomically delightful place. They offer fresh brewed coffee in many varieties, locally bottled sodas as a reminder of yesteryear along with fresh baked quiches, sandwiches on their wonderful bread and other light fare for the "to go" lunch crowd.

Now that you are primed for tasting; hop in your car and drive over to "Sweet Dreams" Bakery in Stratham and try out one or more of their treats. You'll find yourself returning to this treasured place for many occasions.

Be sure to tell them I sent you. Have a great day. Bon Appetite.

Judy Tuscano, REALTOR

Your NH Real Estate Professional

Prudential Verani Realty

603-498-2263 cell phone

jude1220@yahoo.com

If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell real estate here in New Hampshire, please contact me for help.

Stratham NH is home to the Annual Stratham Fair put on annually by the Volunteer Fire Department. It is an event not to be missed at the end of July. 4H exhibits, Horse Pulls, Miss Stratham Fair, great sandwiches from the volunteers and carnival rides. What more could you want for a summer evening.

There are currently 88 homes for salein Stratham ranging in asking price from $79,900 to $849,000. In the beginning of this year 17 homes were sold. This is down from 2007 when 24 homes sold but we also are seeing another 17 homes currently under contract.

The average days on market in Stratham have dropped dramatically during the first quarter. In 2007 it took an average of 209 days to sell a house and now that number has decreased to 140 days. That's an improvement of 2 month and 1 week! The current average sale price in 2008 was $326,205and in 2007 that number was $377,205. That shows the market being more reasonable and that homes that are priced well are still selling.

Stratham is home to 7,170 residents and is comprised of 2,774 homes according to the 2006 Census. Other highlights include fresh produce at Barker's Farm and education at The NH Technical College.

Interested in living in Stratham NH? Search MLS

Visit The Seacoast Sold Report to see what is happening in Stratham NH and surrounding towns.

Before anyone sees the inside of your home thay already have formed an impression based on the outside. "Curb Appeal" is what the potential Buyer sees your home as they pull up in the car. Simple things are where you start - put away the trash cans; get rid of cars in the driveway (especially if they are not registered to drive anymore); trim the bushes and trees aways from walkways and windows; and finally put away the plastic children's toys. Don't let your agent take a picture of your home with cars in the driveway and trash cans on the street. That is the major picture that everyone on the internet will be seeing. You only get one chance with impressions from the curb whether it be in the car or on the computer. Many agents send their Buyers out to do drive-bys. This is when they decide if they even want to go in the house.

Let's take a walk around the outside

The Driveway

• Is it clear and unclutter? Can you pull two cars in easily.
• Do you need to remove snow?
• Cut back any trees and bushes from the walkway.
• Should you have it re-sealed or replaced?
• Add a new mailbox

The Front Door

• A fresh coat of paint or stain goes a long way
• Polish the handles
• Clean the windows
• Look around your head for cobwebs
• Make sure it is easy to see the house numbers from the street.
• Put down a new doormat
• Remove a cutesy signs with your family name on it. Let them want to put your name on the house not feel like they are invading your castle.
• Do the locks work easily? Does the door open and shut easily? This is a crucial factor. When there is trouble opening the door everyone starts to get stressed before reaching the inside. Such a negative first impression and so easy to avoid.
• Remove sickly plants.

The Exterior of Your Home

• To paint or not to paint? That is an important question. Go across the street and look at your home. Is it tired and faded? A paint job could be a very good investment. Pick a pleasing color but not an unusual color. And please pick a color that matches the roof. A purple house with a green roof is not going to interest most Buyers.
• Check and clean all the gutters
• Have the chimeny cleaned
• Inspect and pump your septic system. Mark the location of the tank and leach field.
• Have the well tested for water quality and quantity include arsenic, lead, MTBE and e coli bacteria.
• Do you need to power wash the garage door?
• Remove the "Beware of Dog" Sign - remove the dog during all showings.

The Roof

• If you know you have an old leaky roof - simple answer - replace it. If you don't replace it you must disclose the age and condition of the roof.
• Repair or replace any missing shingles
• If your roof isn't leaking - wait for the home inspector and see what they say. No need to spend big money unless you have to.

The Windows

• Fix all broken windows and window screens
• Clean the windows inside and out

The Lawn

• Mow it. And keep it mowed.
• Trim the edges
• Rake up any grass cuttings or leaves
• Seed it
• Fertilize it
• Water it
• Do you have brown spots?

The Front Yard

• How is your landscaping? Are you the best on the block, average or need improvement?
• Add a splash of color with flowers. Use mature annuals as it will take too long for bulbs to come up and seeds to bloom.
• Add fresh mulch to the flower beds and around shrubs & trees.
• Cut back bushes that block windows and driveways.
• Sweep the walkways
• Put away all tools and gardening equipment.

The Deck

• Add potted plants or haning plants for color
• Set the table for a picnic
• Borrow lawn furniture if you have to. Or clean the lawn furniture you have.
• Clean the grill
• Power wash the deck
• Do you need to re-stain or re-paint?
• Check all the railings and steps. Do they need to be tightened?
• Do you need to replace any decking boards?
• Keep the firewood neatly stacked.

The Back Yard

• This needs to be a tidy area - reduce clutter
• If you have a pool or spa - keep them clean and well maintained.
• Pick up all the dog poop and keep it picked up. There is nothing worse than having to tell a Buyer to watch out for the dog bombs. Now the Buyers will want to get out fast.
• Remove large play structures in advance so that your yard looks bigger.
• Inspect the fence. Repair, paint, replace are the questions you should ask yourself.
• Fix sagging or squeaking gates, rusty latches and old paint.

Other upgrades

• Motion sensitive lights
• Lawn sprinkler system with timer

Try to look at your home as if you were the Buyer. Would you want to spend the money you are asking for? Would you think it was worth it based on the competition? The condition of your home is one of the things you actually have control over.

Is your fuel GREEN...asks Simply Green the local company in Stratham, NH that is selling B5, a blend of 5%biofuel and 95% standard No. 2 heating oil. Regular No. 2 heating oil mostly comes from the Middle East but Simply Green incorporates soy oil grown right here in the United States. Other biofuels are being tested that include flaxseed, corn, cow manure and turkey waste. Industry studies show that biofuel burns cleaner than No. 2 alone, adds life to a heating system and reduces service calls.

Best news is you can use it in your existing home heating system without making any alterations. Biofuel studies have been conducted by the Brookhaven National Laboratory and the US Department of Energy demonstrating the B5 biofuel functions satisfactoriy in home and commercial heating systems "with no adverse operational characteristics". Reducing our reliance on a non-renewable resource (oil) only makes the future a more stable place to live. Using B5 is a small step in helping our planet but it is one that is now available to us.

The US Department of Energy's goal is that by 2030 we be using 30% biofuels in our homes and cars. What a difference we can make for ourselves and future generations by improving what we are dumping into our atmosphere. Of course the best way to reduce these emissions is to simply burn less fuel. Hard to make that case when it is zero outside but adding an extra sweater or blanket never hurts. Not to mention the benefits of wearing slippers to keep your feet toasty. Do you really need to keep the thermostat at 80 degrees? I keep my thermostat at home between 60 and 64 degrees even in the dead of winter.

A renewable fuel, biofuel reduces harmful emissions like carbon. With everyone concerned about the environment and global warming, biofuels is a way to reduce the carbon your home heating system is churning out. The average New Hampshire household burns 1,000 gallons of heating oil every winter, using B5 reduces the CO2 emissions by 3,200 pounds!

Biofuel blends can cost a little bit more than traditional home heating oil but I have a coupon for you! It entitles you to 5 cent a gallon discount when used to fill a minimum of 150 gallons and activates your automatic delivery service. Only valid for this year's (2008) heating season. I will happily pop one into the mail for your use or you can pick it up here at our Keller Williams Coastal Realty offices at 501 Islington Street in Portsmouth - just email me the request at saldrich@kw.com Current pricing for B5 was $3.12 a gallon today (1/30/08) at Simply Green.