Karen Rice | Lake Wallenpaupack | Pike & Wayne County, Northeast PA Homes

(originally published by Karen Rice on PikeWaynePABlog.com)

What is Freecycle™?

Freecycle™, in its own words, is "a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free."

Powered by locally moderated Yahoo!® Groups, Freecycle™ groups around the nation are helping people reduce, reuse, and recycle things no longer needed - without adding to landfills. It's the GREEN thing to do!

Do you need something? Post a request for it on Freecycle™. Have something to give away? Freecycle™ it!

This is a great way for home sellers to get rid of some things they don't want to take with them when they move...agents can help their sellers and buyers get rid of unwanted stuff easily with Freecycle™.

I had several rolls of used carpet stacked up behind my sofa for months. Eventually, my husband and I decided we were going to go with hardwood instead of carpet. We tried selling it at a yard sale but were only able to sell one roll.

I was sure SOMEONE could use it. Hubby didn't believe me when I said I would get rid of it (I'm a weakling and he was envisioning me putting it in the van myself and hauling it off ...somewhere.) In hindsight, I should have made a bet with him.

Within minutes of posting it on my local Freecycle™ group, I had over a dozen responses. Within three hours, the carpet was GONE. Two women came in a station wagon, and the three of us loaded the rolls in her car - in the rain, no less!

There are only a few rules for Freecyclers: no selling, no bartering/trading, no advertising your business, and no firearms or other controlled/illegal substances. Everything must be FREE with no strings attached.

Common courtesy requires that you only offer something that is useful, not something that really DOES belong in a dump.

Three Freecycle™ groups exist in our general area: one around Honesdale, one in "The Poconos" which is more toward Stroudsburg/Marshalls Creek/Blakeslee area, and one in Scranton. Here are their websites.

HonesdalePAFreecycle

PoconoFreecycle

ScrantonPAFreecycle

Freecycle™ groups exist all across the nation - visit their main website to find one near you.

Freecycle in Northeast PA: Going Green Is Easier Than You Think © 2008 by Karen E. Rice. All rights reserved.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Last night we had the fantastic pleasure of visiting some friends while they were staying at their cabin in Promised Land.

The night was chilly for August so we had a roaring fire going. My husband brought his guitar, and our hosts added their guitar and banjo to the mix and we had ourselves a fantastic Pocono Mountain Hoe-Down!

While the kids were running around like lightning bugs, and the katydids provided background vocals, those of us sitting around the fire were treated to a VERY eclectic mix of some great music - including Desperado, I'll Fly Away, Amazing Grace, Foggy Morning Breakdown, Rocky Top, Fried Ham, and my favorite, Mountain Dew.

This is what summer in the Poconos is all about for me - we had so much fun, telling stories, roasing marshmallows, singing, (or attempting) - it was so hard to have the night end.

It was too dark to shoot a real video of some of our shenanigans last night but I thought I'd include this YouTube clip of Mountain Dew. Unfortunately, Grandpa Jones' version is not available but this one is good.

A lot of people make fun of country and bluegrass music - but I tell you what - it takes some serious talent and skill to play stuff like this.

Be a Tigger - take two minutes and tap your toes and get a smile on; here's a great way to get over the hump on this Wild Card Wednesday.

When you put your home on the market, one of the first things you must do is de-clutter. But you already know that.

The question is what do you do with your stuff?

If you're like most people, you may stick it in the best hiding place available: your closet(s). HOWEVER, closets are among the most important things to buyers who are looking for new digs. They want to have room for all of their stuff.

If the closet if stuffed to the gills, the message the buyer gets is "This home does not have enough storage."

(This Tuesday Tip is a day late - my apologies. Tuesday was a busy day for this real estate agent!)

Here are some tips for eliminating the scare factor in your closets when your home is for sale:

• Empty your closet and thoroughly clean it - no cob webs or dust bunnies allowed!
• Pack away or donate seasonal and rarely worn items, especially bulky coats and sweaters.
• Too many shoes makes the space seem smaller. Pack shoes you rarely wear.
• Sort clothes by type: sleeveless together, short sleeve together, long sleeve together, etc. There should have enough space for hangers to glide somewhat freely across the rod.
• Use matching hangers for a uniform look. Eliminate unused hangers.
• Put a basket of scented soaps on the shelf to make it smell nice. A stale smelling closet is a turn off.

What to do with those shoes and items that take up too much space, but you can't pack them away yet? Get plastic sweater boxes with lids, and slide them under your bed...out of sight.

Need more inspiration? Get some closet clutter busting tips here. Here is a Myth vs. Fact article on de-cluttering on HowStuffWorks.com.

Putting your home on the market can be really intimidating - there is often much to do to prepare your home for sale and make it appealing to buyers. De-cluttering is the cheapest and often the most effective step to take! Read more of my Tuesday Tips for Real Estate here.

©2008 by Karen E. Rice Scary Closets? Tuesday Real Estate Tip, originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com. All rights reserved.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.

Here's another Karen's Friday Five line up - this time we're focusing on things for families to do within 20 minutes or less of Lake Wallenpaupack.

1. Claws-n-Paws Wild Animal Park. This "Zoo in the Woods" has a petting zoo plus all sorts of animals to look at. Tigers, panthers, parrots, oh my! Not far from Lake Wallenpaupack, just off Ledgedale Road. I remember the kids and I were totally amazed at how LOUD the lion roars!

2. Costa's Family Fun Park. This place has everything from batting cages to water slides to go-karts. Even ice cream and snacks! Located on Route 6 - just before Lake Wallenpaupack office.

3. Triple W Horseback Riding - for the equestrians visiting the area, Triple W has pony rides for young children and various levels of trails for riders with varying levels of horseback riding experience. They even have some camping trips, cowboys for hire, and more! Only a few minutes from Hawley and Lake Wallenpaupack.

4. Stourbridge Lion Rail Excursions/ Train Rides - young and old alike love trains. Honesdale in Wayne County is the "Birthplace of the American Railroad" and here's your chance to "hop aboard" and ride the rails! Click here for schedules, fees, and special excursions.

5. Fun-n-Games Family Fun Center. Sometimes, you've had enough of the great outdoors and need someplace cool to hang and just chill for a while. Fun-n-Games has provided an indoor fun place here in Wayne County for many years. Web City is a humongous indoor playground. In addition to Web City, there are: miniature golf, bumper cars, simulated rock climbing, and all sorts of arcade games (many of which dispense tickets that can be exchanged for prizes). Plus, there is complimentary coffee for the parents! Located near Honesdale's Cinema 6 and across the hall from Pizza Hut, it makes for a perfect "rainy day" activity - or any day activity! Great place for birthday parties, too!
No website, but here's their phone number. (800) 253-9111

Lake Wallenpaupack is a great place to bring the whole family; there is so much to do in Northeast PA - not just in Pike and Wayne County, but in the entire Poconos region.

©2008 by real estate agent Karen E. Rice. 5 Fun Things for Kids at Wallenpaupack. All rights reserved. This article was originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com.

One of our family's favorite things to do is pack up and hit the beach at Promised Land State Park. The kids really get a kick out of the ducks that hang out around the beach area.

I took this picture during one of our recent excursions; unfortunately the perfect circle was broken by one duck who decided to look for a fish!

Real estate in the Promised Land area is often affordable and is certainly desirable to those who wish to be near the state game lands or the park. Some Promised Land properties for sale are PA state cabins on leased state land and are only available to PA residents with cash; no mortgages allowed.

Leased land properties (state cabins) often have outhouses or composting toilets rather than traditional septic systems, though some have running water and all the creature comforts modern folk desire.

There are other homes for sale in the area that are suitable for year round use and are available to anyone - these are on privately owned / deeded land.

Interested in the Promised Land area? Here are some listings to get you started.

AWESOME HUNTING CABIN - On 1/3 Acre, Adjoins PA Game Land, near Promised Land!!!!

This is great for hunters who are looking for a little spot to crash after a long day chasing the big bucks in the woods - this proptery has thousands of acres of game land for the back yard.

The seller is willing to contribute toward the cost for putting in a well, too! So you won't have to rough it TOO much!

More Promised Land Real Estate For Sale:

---------------------------------------

Promised Land Area - all homes, some are state cabins, many are year round homes.

PA State Cabins - mostly all state cabins. There may be one or two in here that are like state cabins, but are actually on privately owned land. Not all are near Promised Land; some are in the Pecks Pond or Dingmans Ferry / Bushkill area.

WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Paupack Group Independently Owned and Operated

Promised Land Lucky Ducks - Copyright 2008 by Karen E. Rice. Originally published by the author on PikeWaynePABlog.com

Karen E. Rice is a real estate agent working in Pike & Wayne County of Northeastern PA in the Pocono Mountains. Lake Wallenpaupack is one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations for vacations, retirement, and purchasing a home.