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Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day has a really special meaning to me. When I was young, my siblings and I rarely bought Mother’s Day gifts, but rather tried to come up with creative and loving gifts for our mother and grandmother. We made our own cards, and made what I’m sure were fairly ugly pieces of sculpture. When I became a mother fairly young by today’s standards, it just felt right. I remember so vividly being on my bed with my first child, a daughter, in our Manhattan apartment...

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May: Outdoor Spaces

​After such a cold April and spring to date, the month of May holds special hope and dreams of warmth and...

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My Misshapen Ear and How it Relates to Real Estate

When I was born, one ear was slightly bent over and a little smaller than the other. I honestly never noticed it and it wasn't until a doctor asked me if I wanted to fix it that I understood it was different. I asked my mother about it, and in typical Mom fashion, she said it was probably due to the forceps delivery.  When my second daughter was born, she had my ear! So much for the forceps theory. More importantly, though, was my realization that...

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April: Earth Awareness

When my daughters went to summer camp, they were taken on short camping trips throughout New Hampshire and Maine. When they left each campsite, their counselors instructed the girls to leave each place "better than they had found it." And though I'm sure my girls grumbled (I can only imagine, based on their groans when I asked them to clean their rooms when they were younger) as they cleared other people's litter, I know they also learned an important lesson about taking care of the...

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Seeing Houses with a Buyer’s Agent vs. a Listing Agent

Seeing Houses with a Buyer’s Agent vs. a Listing Agent I’ve noticed a recent trend in which some buyers think that seeing a house and buying a house through the Listing Agent, rather than a Buyer’s Agent, is in their best interest. My post today will be all about why that’s not the case. Here are the many reasons why you should not follow this trend: A Buyer’s Agent’s sole job is to represent you (and not the seller too).A Buyer’s Agent will choose appropriate houses for you...

Is It Time To Downsize?

Is it time to downsize? Here is a checklist to help you decide if now is the right time.  I’ll start by saying that I dislike the word “downsize.” It makes me think of a corporate employee becoming obsolete. But in the real estate world, downsizing takes on a completely different meaning. Sometimes it boils down to saving versus spending, choosing a new path, or simply making a change.  Here are 10 clues that it might be time to start thinking about simplifying your life and about moving to a...

Consider it Done

I was speaking to an appraiser yesterday who used my three favorite words - "Consider it done." Now of course those words are only as good as the action behind them, but when someone says that, I like to take them at their word, and a sense of peace and accomplishment comes over me. We're all running in so many directions, and we consider the term 'multi-tasking' as some measure of success. But I ask - Is it? I love getting things done, and I love checking things off my...

Showing Your Home In The Late Winter

 We’ve had such wacky weather lately - 3 Nor’Easters in 10 days, and another one expected for next week. Say it ain’t so! But even with the snow, sleet, rain, wind and downed trees, I’ve noticed how quickly residents try to clean up, and how much pride people have in their properties. New Canaan and Darien, Connecticut are known for their beautiful exteriors, well-kept yards, manicured lawns and stone walls. One of the most romantic things one can see is the fresh white snow before anyone...

March is Women’s History Month!

“We see ourselves better when we see ourselves in someone else.” I can’t help but think about the women in my family during ​Women's History Month.​ I am in awe of ​my female ancestors before me and ​the many women whom I don’t know who are forcing change​, ​the perception of women​,​ and the ability for women to “speak out.” ​ I am in awe of both of my daughters who embody what it means to be a woman in today’s society. They are powerhouses -...

The Three Most Important Things To Know When Presenting A House For Sale

As a Realtor, I hate to admit that I can be swayed by the way a house is decorated or presented when valuing or viewing it, but like anyone else, I can be. Buyers are often swayed by things sellers have no control over, but there are some things that sellers can do to increase their buyer pool, and their bottom line, by presenting the house well. NUMBER ONE: Decorate it. A well dressed home is, dollar for dollar, a wise investment. When conducting a price...