Rhinebeck, NY

Is Your Rhinebeck, NY Home for Sale? Don't Forget to do your Fall Clean Up!



Fall in the Hudson Valley is a beautiful time of year but for home sellers it brings curb appeal issues that must be addressed in today's highly competitive market. I suggest you take a look at your lawn, flower beds and potted plants and be sure they are looking their best. Here are some suggestions that will go a long way to enhancing your homes curb appeal to potential buyers:

• The flowers that bloomed so beautifully all summer may now be brown and scraggly. Be sure to trim back perennials and remove all dead annuals
• Now that the flowers are not filling the beds as much add mulch where necessary to give the beds a fresh, well cared for appearance
• If you have large areas with no color plant some seasonal mums. In our area you should easily have color until Thanksgiving
• Be sure you keep the lawn free of leaves and don't stop mowing! As long as the grass is growing you should be mowing on a regular basis
• Now is a good time to access the condition of your lawn and do any necessary applications for fertilizing, pest control and weed control that will give your lawn a great jump start in the spring
• Trim back any shrubs that have lost their shape to show you care about your landscaping all year long
• If you have patio pots on your deck or patios put some fall mums in those also to add a touch of color. If you still have your patio furniture outside don't neglect it, keep it clean
• In our area, the deer population can ravage our shrubs. Deer netting can protect your shrubs through the winter. The netting is very fine and can be purchased in black or clear. Your wrapped shrubs will not appear unattractive from the road and when buyers get close they will be happy to know that you are protecting what may be their future investment!

Yes, we are all looking forward to a break in our yard work but if your Rhinebeck home is for sale it will be well worth your while to continue to care for you property as buyers compare your homes curb appeal to the many other homes they are visiting.

If you need to buy or sell a home in the Rhinebeck area of the Mid Hudson Valley, give me a call. or text me at 845-224-5238 I would be happy to help!

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is supplied by Diana Corcoran and is subject to change without notice. The "Rhinebeck/Red Hook Real Estate Blog by Diana" does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Entries on this blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author.

I am in a state of denial; I just don't want to admit to myself that the summer is winding down and the cold weather is just around the corner.  I suppose like many consumers in the area the cost of heating oil is never too far away from my thoughts. Yes, we are hoping for a really, really mild winter but being realistic I know it probably won't be the case.  

Recently, I read a post by my friend Monika McGillcuddy about fall in New Hampshire and I was forced once again to face the fact that the fall is upon us.  The truth is, I really love the fall, all those vibrant colors really get my attention.  When I was growing up on a Caribbean island I never saw such dramatic changes in the colors of the leaves. So, when as a child I saw the fall colors in a book I thought the photo was doctored up.  So, I can't tell you how thrilled I was the first time I experienced a fall in the Northeast and I have never lost that thrill.

The Hudson Valley with it's vast variety of trees does put on a spectaular show of colors and as Monika pointed out this year was rather wet so we are likely to have a great year.  The I Love New York Site does provide great information on the various leaves and you can call to get updates on the various stages of the coloring. For those who might still not be too clear as to why the leaves change colors here is a simple scientific explanation.

People enjoy the fall foliage in various ways.

• By Air
• Rail
• Driving
• Hiking
• Cruise
• Climbing
• Bus and luxury SUV
• Bicycle

It is best to make a weekend of it and also tour some of the many wonderful historic sites around.  Since many do enjoy this activity it is also important to book a hotel room or B&B early or you might find yourself without a room.

After putting this together I just can't wait to get my camera out. I am hoping I can take a cruise on the Hudson River. That should be awesome.

By Jennifer Fivelsdal

To find a home in the Mid hudson or to find out what your home is worth click a buttons below.

                   

 

 

Because this is truly a buyers market, to achieve a competitive edge a property must be priced right. Gone are the days when a homeowner ignored the advice of the agent regarding list price. There is almost no second chance; it has to be priced right from the start.

So, how can you price it right the first time?

Here are some factors to consider:

• Consult a real estate agent who will have access to current market data. The agent will provide information on properties comparable to yours.
• The market is changing quickly so if you had a market analysis done earlier in the year you need to have a new one done. Besides resales, the market is affected by short sales and foreclosures which are contributing to a drop in value.
• The report the agent will generate for you is called a comparative market analysis or CMA

To arrive at a fair valuation here are some of the items the agents will analyze:

1. Active Listings - Properties that have not yet sold and will be your competition.
2. Pending Sales - Properties in-contract. These give a good indication of what is selling.
3. Sold - This is key, as it shows what the consumer will pay for a house similar to yours.
4. Expired - This is also a category that should be examined. This shows properties that the consumer may consider overpriced and will not buy.

There are all types of properties on the market at a given time. The agent will look for properties that most closely match your property. Here are some of the elements that are considered:

• Location - The agent will try to find comparatives closest to your property.
• Style, # of bedrooms, # of bathrooms, year built, basement, sq. ft, acreage, type of heating, AC, etc.
• Quality

So if you are serious about selling here are some points to keep in mind:

• Price it right and it will sell faster. Remember the property attracts the most attention the first week it is on the market.
• The longer it is on the market, the less showings it will get and it will sell for less.
• What you think you need to get does not matter - the market determines the price, not you.
• Don't fall into the over-improvement trap. Your agent can give you general advice as to what improvements truly add value. Many improvements done by home owners cannot be factored into the price.

So, if you are thinking of selling, I would be delighted to help you find out the current value of your home.

To find a home in Dutchess County or to find out what your Dutchess County home is worth click one of the buttons below.

SENIOR EXPO 2008

The senior Committees of the Towns of Red Hook and Rhinebeck usually have separate expos but this year they have joined together to host the 2008 Senior EXPO at the well known Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck.

Date: Wednesday, September 24^th

Time: 9:30AM - 2PM

Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds **Use Mulberry Street Entrance

So what is on the agenda?

•· Throughout the day Northern Dutchess Hospital will conduct free health screenings.

•· 9:30 AM The Town Supervisors of Both Red Hook and Rhinebeck will welcome attendees.

•· 10 AM Panel discussion on home care options.

•· 10 AM Reverse Mortgages

•· 11 AM Senior Banking

•· 11 AM Dutchess County Office of the Aging: Public hearing

•· 12 PM Lunch

•· 1 PM Alzheimer's Association

•· 1 PM Arbor Ridge at Brookmeade

There will also be 27 vendors on site.

The sponsors for this event are:

Arbor Ridge at Brookmeade & Ulster Savings Bank

Other Supporters:

Red Hook Chamber of Commerce, Red Hook Rotary, Rhinebeck AARP, American Legion Lodge 492, Hannaford Supermarket, Stop and Shop, J. B. Peel and Daytop.

This is a great opportunity to meet other seniors in the area. It is also a chance to meet staff members from the Dutchess County Office of the Aging. Are you, for instance, concerned about how you will pay for heating this winter? Well, this is the office that could show you how to get help.

So mark your calendar, and I will see you all on the 24^th.

Jennifer Fivelsdal- Associate Broker - SRES - Keller William Realty Team - 845-758-6842

If you are seeing Hot Rods all over the Hudson Valley this is no surprise.These cars are heading to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck to the 17th Good Guys East Coast Nationals Hot Rod & Custom Car Show .

This is an activity that the whole family can enjoy. It is always great fun to see how creative people can be in restoring and customizing these beauties. For some of us it may even bring us back to the days of our youth. So if classic cars are your thing, head over to the Fairground this weekend.

Entrance fee $17.00 and children 7-12 $6.00

Date September 12-14

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