Local community and real estate information for Cheshire CT by your Cheshire Real Estate Experts, Sally Bowman Real Estate

The official start of summer isn’t until June 20, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start preparing. From sprucing up your garden to interior cooling techniques, there are plenty of ways to “summerize” your Cheshire home. 

Windows: Windows are a key player in keeping your home cool on those hot summer days. When the weather is moderate with minimal humidity, this is the time to turn the air conditioner off and let the open windows do the cooling. This will save you money on energy costs and keep your home full of natural, fresh air. Before the heat hits, it’s a good idea to make sure all of your screens are intact, and replace any that are ripped or torn. This ensures that the air that is entering your home is clean and gives you the chance to enjoy the breezes all summer long. 

Clean out the Fridge: Summer is the time of year when you will definitely want cold drinks on hand. That is why now is the perfect time to make sure your fridge is working properly. For starters, clean out the entire thing. Not only will this give you a chance to get rid of expired or forgotten items, but your fridge will run better when it is not jam packed full.   

Organize Your Garage: Have you ever planned for a day at the beach and then realized you had no idea where any of your beach materials were? This is where having a clean and organized garage will come in handy. When you’re getting ready for a day at the beach or a long bike ride, you will know exactly where everything is, making more time for fun and less time stressing over buried items. If you’re looking at your garage and you just see stuff on top of stuff on top of stuff, consider looking into various storage options. Shelving and storage containers can do wonders! 

Host a Garage Sale: Who doesn’t love a garage sale? This is a great way to prepare your Cheshire home for summer. Not only does it give you the chance to de-clutter your home, but you can also make a buck or two to boot! Think about it: Right now the weather is still cool, so sitting outside for a garage sale might actually be enjoyable. In a month or two when the sun gets hotter, both preparing for and hosting a garage sale will be more stressful. 

Helpful Tips: 

1. Install ceiling fans wherever possible. This is another way to save money on energy. 

2. If you have a pool, stock up on filters and chlorine so you can enjoy it all summer long.

3. Make sure you have all of your grilling essentials on hand. There’s nothing like a good summer cookout. 

If you’re still looking for summer home tips, feel free to contact me. While real estate is my forte I love to help my clients better their homes and I am always up for a DIY project. Also, if you’re having a garage sale make sure to put up a lot of signs – I just might stop by! 

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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June 2012 Market Watch for Cheshire CT

Cheshire Active Listings: There are a total of 143 properties actively on the market with an average list price of $482,231.

For single family Cheshire properties there was a total of 184 homes listed as of May 25th and 13 of the 184 Cheshire homes was actually newly listed in the past week. With an average of 2,474 square feet and 4 bedrooms, the average list price comes out to $449,798. Finally, these homes have an average of 148 days on the market.

The numbers for Cheshire condos are promising. The average list price is at $219,450 with a total inventory of 60. The average Cheshire condo size is currently sitting at 1,541 square feet, along with an average of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 129 days on the market.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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After an awesome Memorial Day weekend in Cheshire, CT, summer weather is definitely on the brain! That means it is a great time to search for your next Cheshire home, and there are plenty of homes available in Cheshire. But when it comes to home buying, there are many factors you need to consider not only about the house, but about the entire process as a whole. As your Cheshire real estate agent, I have some tips on how to ensure a smooth transaction. From new homes to resale homes and negotiating, I’ve got you covered. 

Negotiate: When you hear the term “negotiate” in real estate you’re probably thinking prices. But you can actually negotiate more than just the price, but also aspects of the home’s interior. If you love the house but hate the floral wallpaper that is dispersed throughout the home, you might be able to persuade the seller to change a few things before you move in. While this might be a hard thing to ask, there is nothing to lose. If the answer is no, then you decide if you want to take on the extra expense of changing it. Your Cheshire real estate agent can help you determine the right way to deliver your request to the seller. 

Financing Options: It’s always a good idea to get pre-qualified with the lender of your choosing before making an offer on a home. But if you’re looking into buying a newly built home, chances are the builder will also be working with a lender of their own. This means you have more financing options than what your lender has to offer. Keep in mind that you’re not required to use the builder’s bank, and even if you do it doesn’t always mean better financing. Explore your options with your Cheshire real estate agent to find out what’s best for you. 

The Price is Right: Many home buyers believe you can only get a great deal if you are buying a resale home. This is not the case. You can negotiate a great price with new construction homes, as well. Whether you’re purchasing a resale home or a brand new home, we are still living in a buyer’s market and a builder is under just as much pressure to give you a fair price as a home seller. Home builders know that in this market, you can get a resale home with the same square footage and number of bedrooms and bathrooms for a much lower price, which gives you a better chance of negotiating a price you’re both content with. Meet with your Cheshire real estate agent to help you decide if negotiating a lower price is the best idea, or if you should continue your search in a different price range. 

There are plenty of great homes for sale in and around Cheshire, and now is a great time to buy. If you are looking to buy your next home, or sell your current home, I would love to be your trusted Cheshire real estate agent. Feel free to contact me when the time is right to start a laid-back real estate transaction. 

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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For single family Cheshire properties there was a total of 175 homes listed as of May 18th and 7 of the 175 Cheshire homes was actually newly listed in the past week. With an average of 2,482 square feet and 4 bedrooms, the average list price comes out to $452,100. Finally, these homes have an average of 145 days on the market.

The numbers for Cheshire condos are promising. The average list price is at $255,569 with a total inventory of 59. The average Cheshire condo size is currently sitting at 1,502 square feet, along with an average of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 140 days on the market.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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The spring and summer months bring a number of events to place on our calendars. As we near the end of May (can you believe it?) and transition into June, there is plenty to do in and around Cheshire. As your Cheshire Real Estate Agent and community resource, I wanted to remind you of a few events taking place in the coming weeks. I think you’ll find something worth checking out. 

Memorial Day Parade: Hooray for a 3-day weekend! The Memorial Day Parade is coming up this Sunday! Make sure to bring your dog(s) in support of the Cheshire Dog Park, as parade marchers will be marching with Paws Pet Resort. The parade is free to all guests and will take place at Highland Elementary School. The fun starts at 1:30pm so get there early and save a good spot! 

Strawberry Festival: Get ready to celebrate the 75^th year of the Cheshire Strawberry Festival. Taking place in the center of Cheshire at the First Congregational Church, the event will include rides, hot dogs, hamburgers, crafts and of course, plenty of strawberries! All this and more is happening Saturday, June 9 from 11am-4pm. That’s only five hours to get your strawberry fix so I suggest making your way over first thing. 

Herb Fest Country Fair: Take a lesson in health and wellness by visiting the Herb Fest Country Fair in West Granby. Open to the public for just a small fee of $5 will be workshops, demonstrations, bake sales, an information table, family activities and so much more. This is a great opportunity to experience local food and herbs, and also truly a great way to spend time with the whole family. This is going down June 2, rain or shine so I hope to see you there! 

Connecticut Irish Festival: This event comes along with another big celebration. Celebrate 50 years at the Connecticut Irish Festival at the North Haven Fairgrounds in North Haven. This is the longest running Irish festival in New England and even the whole United States. Join visitors from both near and far to enjoy Irish music, dancing, sport and fare. I plan to see you there on Saturday, June 23 and Sunday June 24. Also - I heard they are looking for volunteers. 

So there you have it. I hope this list has given you some ideas for future family outings. While I love providing community news, I have a hankering for real estate. If you are ready to embark on your next Cheshire real estate endeavor, feel free to contact me anytime. I look forward to being your go-to guide for all things Cheshire! 

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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For single family Cheshire properties there was a total of 173 homes listed as of May 11th and 16 of the 173 Cheshire homes was actually newly listed in the past week. With an average of 2,501 square feet and 4 bedrooms, the average list price comes out to $456,778. Finally, these homes have an average of 159 days on the market.

The numbers for Cheshire condos are promising. The average list price is at $252,943 with a total inventory of 58. The average Cheshire condo size is currently sitting at 1,493 square feet, along with an average of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 136 days on the market.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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If you’re buying a home or have bought a home in the past, you know that there may be times when you feel in the dark about what’s going on with your transaction. In the world of real estate, we Cheshire real estate agents throw around a lot of jargon that might have the average home buyer asking “what did they just say?” Don’t worry. Your Cheshire real estate agent is here to fill you in on the meaning of some important words in any real estate transaction. 

Earnest Money: This is one of the most questioned real estate terms to date. When you are preparing an offer, you are asked to write an earnest money check. This lump of money is held onto and put into escrow once the offer has been approved by all parties. If the transaction goes through, the earnest money deposit will go towards a portion of the down payment at closing. 

Disclosure: When it comes to disclosures, the rules behind them vary from state to state. Disclosures are the things that the current homeowner or seller is required to disclose to a potential homebuyer. Most states, however, require that the seller fills out a form with everything they know about the home. When you’re buying your Cheshire home, don’t assume that you’re being informed of everything. If you have specific questions about the home’s safety, condition, or whatever it may be, ask the seller or discuss with your agent how you can get the answers you need. 

Escrow: Escrow works equally for both the buyer and the seller. When you are in the escrow part of your transaction, it means you have made your down payment and it is being held by a third party. Escrow is either handled by a title company, an attorney, escrow company or real estate broker. 

Contingency: Often times buyers see this term on a real estate listing and assume it’s game over. But that isn’t the case. When a home status says “contingency” or “contingent” this means there is an offer on the property but the offer requires that the buyer (or seller) fulfills another obligation before the transaction can close. For example, perhaps the contingency is that the buyer sells their current home. Other contingencies include obtaining financing or performing a home inspection. Be sure to discuss any contingencies with your agent, as they can be negotiable. If you feel you need more time to schedule a home inspection or locking in financing, it’s possible that it can be worked into your offer. 

When it comes to your real estate transaction, never hesitate to stop and ask questions. While your Cheshire real estate agent will do their best to keep you in the loop, we know things might not always be crystal clear on your end.  If you ever have any questions on how the buying process works, feel free to contact me anytime and I’ll give you the full rundown. 

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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For single family Cheshire properties there was a total of 166 homes listed as of May 4th and 15 of the 166 Cheshire homes was actually newly listed in the past week. With an average of 2,475 square feet and 4 bedrooms, the average list price comes out to $453,426. Finally, these homes have an average of 166 days on the market.

The numbers for Cheshire condos are promising. The average list price is at $256,780 with a total inventory of 61. The average Cheshire condo size is currently sitting at 1,505 square feet, along with an average of 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 125 days on the market.

Sally Bowman
Sally Bowman Real Estate
Your Cheshire Real Estate Expert
Cheshire Homes

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When the weather is warm we tend to spend more time working on household projects both in and outdoors. With that in mind, spring and summer are the perfect times to make those quick upgrades around your Cheshire home. If you don’t have the wallet to support some fixer-uppers, there are plenty of little things you can do around the house on a strict budget. 

Shop at the Dollar Store: Some people look down upon dollar stores, thinking “you can’t get anything good” there. Well, when it comes to Do It Yourself home projects, the dollar store might be the perfect place to get any straggling items. For small tools like wrenches, pliers or screwdrivers, head to the dollar store for the ultimate deal. For those of you who frequent the dollar store, you know what I mean. Let’s persuade the non-believers! Here are some more benefits: 

-If something you bought at the dollar store breaks, not the end of the world – it was a dollar. 

-If you need a tool for a one-time upgrade, why spend more than you have to?

-If you ever need multiple of something, buying items that cost only a dollar is the way to go! 

Free Smoke Alarm: Sometimes a smoke alarm can be free. Check with your local fire department. As these devices are considered life-saving, you definitely need them installed in your home (you might be able to get the installation for free, too!)

You Don’t Need a Leaf Blower: You don’t need an expensive leaf blower to get rid of the remnants from fall. All you need is your very own lawnmower. All you need to do is raise your lawnmower deck to its highest level and get going! If you do happen to have a leaf blower, be generous. Lend it to your neighbors and friends so they can save a couple bucks. 

Get a Shower Timer: Save money on your water bill and help save the planet all at the same time! While an automatic timer can cost over $100, it will slash a good chunk of money each year from your water-heating bill. We all cherish our hot showers, but there comes a time when it can be excessive. Instead of you normal 20-minute shower, use the timer to cut it down to 10. 

Ventilate Your Roof: This is a double whammy. Ventilating your roof will help cool your home in the summer and also prevent ice dams in the winter. You can achieve these results by installing intake vents and a solar-powered fan that draw out warm air. 

These are just a few ways to make simple upgrades to your Cheshire home. For more ideas, check out www.ThisOldHouse.com or ask your Cheshire real estate agent. Another great thing about summer is that it’s an awesome time to buy Cheshire real estate. If you’re looking for your next home in Cheshire, feel free to contact me anytime! My team of seasoned agents and I will guide you through the entire process.