Shannon Aldrich ~ NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast

There is "gutter talk" and then there is "gutter talk"! Let's talk about the gutters on your home - the how and whys of keeping them clean. After a heavy rainstorm or long winter some homeowners may discover that their gutters are not doing their job due to being filled to the brink with dead leaves, dead bugs and pine needles. Maybe you looked up to find they were barely attached to the house anymore or dangerous icicles were growing from the seams! Or in the worse cases you look up to find trees growing out of the gutters! You as the homeowner have to help your gutters do their job by keeping them clean out of debris.

Could be it is time to get up on the ladder to clean them out or maybe it is time to replace them all together. When looking for new gutters there is some science involved - the thinner the gutter material the more likely it is to bend or buckle under the weight of leaves and ice. The leaders that drain the water off the gutters doesn't need to be as thick because it isn't bearing the weight of the water just directing it. Make sure you are directing it away from the house not straight down into the basement!

Another consideration is seams or seamless gutters. In the old days you went to the hardware store and purchased all the materials, brought it home and put it together like a jig saw puzzle. Nowadays there is a seamless option. Seamless is preferable because there are no seams to leak. Leaking seams can lead to nasty icicles and sometimes even killer icicles. Seamless gutters are created on the job site by a professional using a machine that bends the aluminum into the desired length and shape.

What else should we look for in a gutter? Well how about open top gutters vs. gutters with any type of leaf guard system? Leaf guards give you free flowing gutters forever! There are several styles of gutter guards on the market. Too many to mention here. No more getting up so high on the ladder to clear them out. Or trying to angle some long tool attached to the garden hose to wash out the debris. Definitely a gutter bonus!

Why gutter at all? Well, to direct the water off the roof and away from the house, deck or stairs. Not only is there safety involved - reducing icy steps in the winter. There is also long term destruction of wood. - dripping roofs onto the deck eventually wears out the wood. Now we have to replace the deck and/or stairs. Basic rule of thumb is that wood and water do not go together. Think about what water can do to rock after years - just look at the Grand Canyon! And wood isn't as hard as rock!

When buying a home be sure to look up not only to check out the roof but also the gutters. Are there any gutters at all? Are they in good shape or barely attached? This is something you need to keep in mind when purchasing and budget for gutter installation or repair. My advice is to look at the whole house - inside and out. And when you are outside, please don't forget to look up!

(c) 2008 Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty

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No doubt about it - America's graying. By 2010, one in every five Americans will be over 65. A staggering thought and only a year away! How are we planning to care for them in the near future. Will you relocate your parents to be closer to you, mover back closer to them or try to provide for them long distance? Tough questions to think about.

More than half of homeowners age 65 and over have lived in their homes for 20 plus years. These seniors have deep roots in their respective communities and generally prefer to stay put. They have long friendships developed, known health care providers and entrenched connections to their communities. Uprooting seniors from a known, stabile environment to a new locale that is unfamiliear may not be the best route to take.

So what are you to do? Here are some suggestions to help guide you through the process.

1. Start with an open and honest discussion with your spouse and immediate family members. What are the ramifications of your parents moving with you? Would everyone get along? Is there enough space to ensure privacy for everyone? How will the household be effected? What will the impact be on the family budget? If the health of one of your parents' begins to fail - how will you handle it?

2. Move on to an open and honest discussion with your relatives and parents. Prepare by making a list of all the possible scenarios. Include downsizing the current home with support; staying in the same locale but moving into assisted living apartment or nursing home; moving to the new area and living with you; or moving with you but living somewhere close by. Explore the possibilities of your parents staying where they are. Do you have extended family and close friends who are willing and able to provide support? If not, are there support services in the community where they currently live? Contact local agencies and senior centers.

3. Can your parents afford to move? Explore both of your financial situations completely. If your company is moving you, talk with your relocation director. You might be eligible for elder care assistance.

4. Consider your parents' health. Would the new area be better or worse for them? What kind of medical resources are available?

5. Do your research on your new town. The aid of a local real estate agent is invaluable here. Use them as a resource. Request area maps, information on cultural and recreational resources for retirees. Ask about public transportation for seniors. Would there be shops, restaurants, churches, and social activities within walking distance?

You must keep in mind that if your parents do move with you and do not like the new area, it might be very difficult to move them back again. If possible visit the new location with your parents to see how they feel about the area before making a decision. A professional real estate agent could provide them with a sightseeing tour that will give them a better sense of what living in the new area might be like.

Moving can be a stressful time for everyone. You will want to discuss all these issues with sensitivity. Seek input from your parents and listen to their concerns. Encourage them to make the decision with you, not just go along with whatever you want. Create a win-win situation for everyone and everyone will win.

(c) 2008 Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty Portsmouth NH

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Here is a handy checklist to help you decide if a second/vacation home is right for you.

1. Number One - What's Your Motivation? Are you looking for a vacation home for just you and your family? Or as an investment property that you will rent out over the summer months weekly or just as a winter rental? Or is this where you see yourself retiring someday? Usually the answer is a mix of these but don't go any farther until you have sorted this one out.
2. How Far from Home Are You Willing to Travel? Fly or Drive? With the ever increasing energy costs this is more important than ever. But it has always been right up there in considerations for a second home. Too far away and you will rarely visit - too close to home doesn't work either. How close is it to friends and family? About 100-200 miles from home seems to be the best range. You get the vacation feel that you have gone away and have not broken the bank in fuel costs.
3. What Type of Property Do You Need? Single family home or a condo? You don't have to set it in stone. Both have benefits - single family homes often offer yard space and condos give you option of maybe being poolside with no lawn to mow. Think about how many bedrooms (take visitors into account) and bathrooms are you going to need? What about parking?
4. Where Do You Want to be Located? Start a list of potential target locations. Close to the beach, near a lake, small town, or a more urban downtown area? Consider your hobbies like golf, gardening or surfing. Do you want to be close to cultural activities or a serenely private oasis. If you are considering down the road to retirement - medical facilities, transportation and an active senior community would be important questions to ask yourself.
5. Do Your Homework on the Communtity. Go online to Chamber of Commerce sites, city/town websites and area real estate websites. See if you like any of the local restaurant menus, checkout local activities and look at state web sites for historic destination and parks nearby.
6. Go Visit! Visit your top locations - check them out. See if you like the shopping areas, eat in the restaurants, talk to the people. Can you see yourself hanging out here? How does it feel? Take a walk around to get a feel of the place. The local Chamber of Commerce's will have lots of hand outs on local businesses. Schedule into your travel plans.
7. Put Your Finances Together! Doing this in advance makes the process of buying a second/vacation home much more fun. Knowing what you can spend and the tax benefits of it gets rid of the largest obstacle to ownership. You don't want to fall in love with your dream house only to find out you can't have it! Getting pre-approved for the mortgage puts you in a stronger negotiating position.
8. Hire the right real estate agent! Use a professional who has experience in second/vacation home sales. The right agent can make your search more efficient and fun. This is a purchase in your leisure activities so you want it to be fun and easy from the start!

Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty Portsmouth NH

Licensed in Maine & New Hampshire

The Real Estate Seacoast Team

Whist!

Whist? What is Whist?

Whist is a card game. Every Wednesday night at 6:30pm at the Moose Hall in Portsmouth they have a Whist Card Party. It is set up in a round robin fashion. You buy into the game for a whopping $2. After every hand you move down one seat and play with new partners. After 10 hands everyone breaks for snacks. Some of the best brownies around, I am telling you! Everyone brings a small treat to share and coffee/water is provided. Then we play another ten hands. At the end of the night the winner is the one with the most tricks.

Tricks? Yup. Here is a basic overview of the game. Derived from a older game called Ruff and Honours it was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. Similar in play to bridge but it moves faster. The classic game is a plain trick game without bidding played with 4 people. The rules are very simple but the logic involved in what to play when is quite intriguing. So four players sit two across from each other and your partner is the person diagonally across from you. All the cards in a standard 52 deck are dealt amongst the 4. Then you arrange your cards according suit with ace being the highest. There is always a trump suit that will override all other suits. But you can only play it when you have none of the other suit in your hand.

Any card can be led and the others follow suit (or trump) with the highest card winning the trick. Whoever won the last trick starts the play. When all thirteen tricks have been played you get one point for every trick you and your partner have over 6. The best part about this group is you get credits for having the most zero trick hands as well. The tenth hand and last hand are played as no trump hands with double trick points.

The game is super easy to pick up and I have had a lot of fun playing since May. Great way to go out for an evening. Play is usually done by 9-9:30pm and the company is great. Everyone is welcome to come join in on any night. Try it - If you like cards, you will like whist.

Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty, Portsmouth NH

Everyone wants to get as much for their home as possible when putting it up for sale. Often I hear Sellers say they "Want To Try It Out At X Price" or "We Need Room to Negotiate". Both of these thoughts can cost a Seller thousands of dollars in wasted time and lost dollars in the final sale price. The temptation to test the market can be great, but over pricing, and even accepting a bid at an inflated price, has a definite downside.

Overpricing Leads to Diminished Interest - Two things bring this about. First all the Agents in the area recognize it as an over priced listing and are reluctant to bring their Buyers to the party. These agents are not going to risk their credibility with their Buyers by showing them properties not worth the price. And secondly, an over priced home becomes stale on the market. Sitting while the initial 3 weeks of interest fades and costing the owner in holding costs and delays in their move.

Overpricing Leads to Fewer Offers - Buyers told want to insult a Seller with a "low ball" offer. They feel very uncomfortable submitting a realistic bid when there is a large difference between asking price and market value.

Overpricing Leads to Financing Problems - If we can't get it to Appraise we can't sell it in today's tightened market. No underwriter is going to take the risk plus Appraisers are clamping down on their valuations to avoid getting caught in a declining market.

Overpricing Leads to the Wrong Buyers - Buyers will be comparing your home to all the other on the market in the same price range. Those that are properly priced at market value will make your house look like a dissapointment and waste of time. The other properly priced homes will have more amenities, better conditions or updates. The Buyers who are qualified for your home will never see it on the internet because it will be too far out of thier price range. And when you finally drop the price they may have already bought.

"Price it High To Start and Then Drop It" is a strategy full of risk. When you finally do drop the price the potential Buyers and Agents can smell desparation and need to sell. Or they will think something is wrong with the property. Eventually your property will sell but at how much of a loss when you take in to consideration carrying costs and time lost. Are you now carrying two mortgages, paying ongoing expenses like property taxes and slowly losing a potential profit.

How do you keep from overpricing a property - stick to the facts and dump your emotions out of it. Ask your professional real estate agent what has sold that is similar to your home as it is. That's what the Appraiser's are going to be looking at. Just the numbers and the facts are all that really matter. Work with your agent to develop a comprehensive marketing plan that will generate interest from the moment your home hits the market. Try to stay unbiased and realizes that selling a home is business not feelings. The first three weeks are crucial so don't let the temptation to overprice seduce you away from getting a high price, quickly.

Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty Portsmouth NH

www.RealEstateSeacoast.com

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