ICE STORM

Five days without power brings a new appreciation for the things we take for granted! I, like most of you, was woke in the middle of the night to breaking branches crashing down to the ground and on my house. I was in shock at the sight of my yard in the morning. Limbs the width of telephone poles were down. Broken wires everywhere.
The warmth slowly left our home and on went the jackets, slippers, hats, etc.... Temp in the house got down to 38. A power surge blew my furnace, 3 televisions and 2 dvd players! Once the power was restored I was still without heat. So now, tress are cleared, lights are on, we have hot water, furnace has been repaired (thanks to Wayne Arsenault! awesome), and we are warm! Need televisons and dvd players but that won't happen for a while. Isn't it strange that a crisis brings so much appreciation for the little things we take for granted! I think we need these things to happen to make us wake up and realize how fortunate we are. I am so thankful for the storm because it has made me thankful for what I have everyday. It will be a great Christmas for the Tolman family and I wish everyone the same.

Fall is busy!

Again, Fall has brought along with it the ringing of the telephones. It always happens this time of year. Believe me, I am in no way, shape or form, complaining!
My girls are back in school and it is nice. :o)
I have been showing alot of properties and when I am not doing that I am trying to work on my house. And, well, a new project also arose in my life and I find myself spending more time with that project instead of home interior projects. She is a 1953 Chevy that I fell in love with. I drive her everywhere. To showings, listing appointments, shopping, etc.... It needs alot of work and but someday I hope to have her in great condition (a few years and a few thousand dollars would help too!).
So for now I work on my house when I can, take care of my children, my Real Estate clients and now my car. My favorite, of course is my kids

A NEW SEASON TO GROW!

THIS MULTI FAMILY IS FOR SALE!

This 3 Family is centrally located in Gardner and has an updated 1st floor apartment. Vinyl siding, replacement windows, offstreet parking. There are 2/3/2 bedrooms. Laundry in the basement. New furnace! And more.... Call me to view this home!

$234,900

I don't know how your winter was, but mine was long and eventful! All the end results have been good though! Good things are worth waiting for. And recently the phone has started ringing due to the appearance of warm weather. I have been patiently waiting for this. Spring brings out buyers, so here is some information that you may find useless or helpful. Hopefully helpful. Home prices are not declining like everyone thought they would. Yes, they have dropped but the actual percentage they have changed is minimal. I have noticed that Multi-Family prices have dropped due to the financing requirements that exist for them now. The percentage required for a down payment for investment purposes, not owner occupied, is somewhat significant. Taking that into consideration I feel that may be why the reduction of prices on Multi's.


The interest rates are still low, but they change everyday, sometimes a few times during a one day period. Either way it is a great time to get a good deal.

BUYING A HOME FOR MYSELF

Now it is my turn to buy a home. And yes it is exciting and stressful. It is only heightened by the fact that the home I am buying needs some work....like a roof, furnace, updating galore. But it is a diamond in the rough. I can relate to all the emotions that my buyers have when you fall in love with a house and put in the offer and wait anxiously for the sellers reply! And when the seller counter offers with a higher amount than you want to pay.... ouch! But I countered with another offer and we met somewhere in the middle.

The seller of the home I am buying grew up in the home and it is an emotional attachment for him and the rest of his family. I told him I would take good care of the home and I will keep that promise.

Selling your family home is tough. I did it and it was hard to let go. All the memories of your childhood or raising your children are there. The good news is that you can take them with you.

I don't recommend going back into the family home after the new owners have remodeled. I say this only because I went into my family home 6 months after I sold it and the new owner had put ceramic tile all over my hardwood floors (that I had painstakingly refinished myself). I politely said how great it looks and then while driving away shed a few tears. It is no longer my home but the memories I will have forever. I hope the family of the home I am buying will appreciate the changes/updates that I make. And I promise to not cover any wood flooring with tile!