Have a Safe and Fun-filled Halloween!

Antiquing in Maine~~Cabot Mill Sale

                                                  November 2nd and 3rd 2013~ Big Sale!
                                                                   http://www.cabotiques.com

101 Things I Love about Portland Maine

316. The Hurricane Restaurant in the Village of  Kennebunkport overlooks the river.  The food is delicious whether fresh seafood or a tasty satay.

                                                      http://www.hurricanerestaurant.com/

New Construction

A Helpful Punch List for New Home Buyers

Your newly constructed dream house is almost ready and it's time for the all-important walk-through with your builder. Do you know what you should be looking for?

Some problems may not be readily visible, even if you hire a professional inspector. Fortunately, most builders offer a warranty to cover problems in the workmanship of a home -- they do not, however, cover problems resulting from owner neglect or faulty maintenance. Still, knowing what to look for in your pre-settlement walk-through is a good way to catch potential problems. Here's a helpful "punch list" to use from the National Association of Homebuilders:

Outside

• Grading: Does the ground around the foundation slope away from the house? Make sure the water does not pond or pool in large puddles, especially near the foundation. To check, water the areas with a hose, if possible. Are there signs of erosion? Is the shrubbery placed at least 2-3 feet from the foundation
• Roof and Gutters: Are the shingles flat and tight? Is the flashing securely in place? Do the gutters, downspouts and splash blocks drain away from the house?
• Exterior Appearance: Are the windows and doors sealed and protected by weather stripping? Are the trim and fittings tight? Are there any cracks? Does the paint cover the surface and trim smoothly? Has landscaping been installed according to the terms of your contract?

Inside

• Doors and Windows: Are all doors and windows sealed? Do they open and close easily? Is the glass properly in place? Are any windows loose or cracked?
• Finishes: Is the painting satisfactory in all rooms, closets and stairways? Did the painters miss any spots? Are the trims and molding in place?
• Floors: Is the carpet tight? Do the seams match? Are there any ridges or seam gaps in vinyl tile or linoleum? Are wooden floors properly finished?
• Appliances, Fixtures, Surfaces, Etc.: Do all of the appliances operate properly? Are all of the appliances the model and color you ordered? Check all faucets and plumbing fixtures, including toilets and showers, to make sure they operate properly. Are there any nicks, scratches, cracks or burns on any surfaces, including cabinets and countertops? If you have tile counters or floors, was the tile and grout sealed by the builder or will you need to handle?
• Electrical, Heating and Air: Check all electrical fixtures and outlets. Bring a hair dryer to test the outlets. Do the heating, cooling and water-heating units operate properly? Test them to make sure. If the home has a fireplace, do the draft and damper work? Test the doorbell. Also test the intercom system, garage door opener and any other electrical items.
• Basement and Attic: Are there indications of dampness or leaks? Is there significant cracking in the floors or foundation walls? Are there any obvious defects in exposed components, such as floor joists, I-beams, support columns, insulation, heating ducts, plumbing, electrical, etc.?

Certificate of Occupancy: Has your local municipality signed off on your house?

As your real estate agent, I will be available to assist during all phases of your home purchase, including your walk-through. Please call me for more information on what you should look for and how I can help.

New or resale: hiring a professional inspector is a smart approach

Buying a home, whether a new or resale property, is one of the biggest investments you're likely to make. That's why hiring a professional inspector to check out your home's basic systems and structural integrity is so important. An inspector looks for and recommends changes that can make the difference in how much money you will spend for future repairs and maintenance. Even if you have a good eye for detail or are buying a brand new home, a thorough inspection by an experienced professional is a wise choice that can save you a lot of time, money and frustration in the future. Please call me for more information on how a professional inspector can make a difference in your home's purchase

Shopping for Best Fuel Prices

Check out this site when you are deciding on a fuel company for your new home: 
                                            http://www.maineoil.com/

Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!

101 Things I Love about Portland Maine

315. Looking for a relaxing spot to enjoy a pot of tea?  Head over to Dobra Tea in downtown Portland, plunk down in a comfy chair or sofa, ring a small bell for service, and add a goodie like a mini apple turnover or ginger cookie!  Saturday night there was a marvelous group playing Middle Eastern music, too.

http://www.dobrateame.com/

Buying Your First Home?

How to Buy Your First Home... the Easy Way!
Avoid the 10 Most Common, Painful, Frustrating Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make
Buying a residence can be a hair raising experience. You will experience a roller coaster of emotions while finding the right place, securing the loan and finally moving in. For most of us, the first time home purchase is the largest investment we’ve ever considered. The emotions of purchasing something so expensive and personal can often cloud our business judgment.

Most home purchasers do little or no research before they invest their nest egg. Doesn’t it make sense to become as completely informed as possible before you buy your first home? This special report is designed to help you avoid 10 common and crucial mistakes. The right real estate professional can help you make good sound business decisions based on your personal situation.

1. Inspect, Inspect and Inspect - Go over the inspection report with a fine tooth comb. Make sure the report was done by a professional organization. For condo purchases go over the CC&R’s, By-Laws, and Association Fees. Don’t take anything for granted... inspect everything!
   
2. Imagine the Property Vacant - Your furnishings and decorations will be the ones filling this new residence. Don’t be swayed by beautiful furniture; it leaves with the owner.
   
3. Income + Lifestyle = Mortgage Payment - Sit down with your professional real estate agent and honestly discuss your income level and living expenses. Take into account future considerations, children, add-ons, amenities, and fix-ups. Your dream home is certainly worth a sacrifice but don’t mortgage your entire future.
   
4. View Several Homes - See at least 7-10 properties. Don’t move too slow but don’t move on the first property you see. With your agent’s help you should be able to view enough properties to get a good overall perspective of the home market. When you find the right property all the leg work will be worth it.
   
5. Utilize Your Team - By aligning yourself with the right real estate professional you will have an entire team at your disposal. Utilize your lender, title rep and agent. Each of them should work hand in hand for your benefit. Explore all the options before you sign.
   
6. Be Columbo - Check out all costs and expenses before you sign. Utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance and home owner dues if applicable. Make sure all utilities (gas, electricity, and water) are on during tyour walk-throughso you can inspect everything in working order. Ask lots of questions and be very detail conscious.
   
7. Do a Final Walk-Through - Visit the property after all furnishings have been moved out to be sure there are no surprises. Be absolutely positive the property was left exactly as you had agreed upon in the contract. Things that could have been spotted in a final walk-through are often unintentionally overlooked.
   
8. Plan For Flexibility - Closing dates are not written in stone. Allow for contingencies and have a back-up plan. If you or the sellers need a little more time to conclude the final arrangements, don’t let these delays upset or frustrate you. These types of circumstances are not uncommon in a real estate transaction.
   
9. If It’s Not In Writing, It Doesn’t Exist - All promises and discussions should be in writing. Don’t make any assumptions or believe any assurances. Even the best intentions can be misinterpreted. Have your professional keep an ongoing log in writing of all discussions and get the seller’s written approval on all agreements.
   
10. Loyalty Breeds Loyalty - Be open, honest and up front with your team. Hard feelings and disloyalty will cause head aches, delays or may even keep you from getting into the home you worked so hard to locate. Take the time to select the right team in the beginning and your first home purchase will be a pleasing and memorable experience. 

Antiquing in Maine~Hawthorne's in Casco

                                    Several buildings full of odds and ends--antiques and crafts.

                           https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hawthornes-Attic/442058859148693
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Who knows what you might find..................

Energy Saving Projects

4 Fun and Useful Energy-Saving Projects

• Published: July 11, 2013
• By: Deirdre Sullivan

What do you do in your home to save energy? These bloggers had some unusual ideas. Images: Debbie at Me and My DIY, Tricia from the blog Making It Feel Like Home, Rebekah Greiman of Potholes and Pantyhose.com

Sure, sealing air leaks, adding insulation, and swapping out incandescent light bulbs with LEDs are all great ways to boost your home’s efficiency. But if you’ve been there, done that, check out these four easy-to-make blogger projects. Each has an energy savings benefit. And, unlike those drafty windows you fixed, these projects are fun to brag about.

Related: Energy Bills High? Here’s Why — And What to Do About It

DIY Laundry Drying Racks

Credit: Debbie at Me and My DIY
Here’s an interesting tidbit: Laundry dryers account for 6% of the electricity used in the U.S. each year, according to a group that studies dryer efficiencies. That’s roughly the same amount of electricity consumed annually by the state of Massachusetts. 

That’s why we like this flat and compact DIY drying system by Debbie, from Me and My DIY. Although she made the rack inside a built-in wall unit, you can customize the design for a cabinet or even a closet.

See how Debbie built this project using PVC piping and drawer slides here.

Tip: If you’re so inclined, you can calculate how much it costs to run your electric dryer annually.

• Look up your dryer’s heating element rating in the manual.

• Multiply the kilowatt rating by your hourly kilowatt cost.

• Your total is the price you pay per load, per hour. For example: (Dryer’s kw rating) x (price per kwh) = price per load, per hour

• Now multiple that amount by the number of loads you dry each month. If you pay 70 cents to dry a single load of laundry in one hour, and you dry 20 loads each month, that’s $168 per year, or (20 x .70) x 12 = 168.

DIY Frosted Windows

Credit: Tricia from the blog Making It Feel Like Home
Tricia, from the blog Making It Feel Like Home, used cool frosted contact paper on the small windows by her front door. Although the paper she selected adds privacy, you’ll score a two-fer by using insulating window film instead.

Tip: Some films reduce radiant heat transfer through glass by as much as 50%.

Depending upon the type of film you select and the amount of area covered, you can:

• Help keep a room cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

• Cut UV exposure, so furniture fabrics won’t fade.

• Strengthen windows for added security. 

Window film starts at around $1.50 per square foot.

See how Tricia created this project and where to download the stencil she used here.

DIY Rain Barrel

Credit: Rebekah Greiman of Potholes and Pantyhose.com
When Rebekah Greiman of Potholes and Pantyhose.com discovered that an inch of rainfall on a 1,000-sq.-ft. roof produces 600 gallons of water, she decided to make two rain barrels. Now she waters her yard and garden for free.

You can see how Rebekah transformed a recycled pepper barrel into her own private water reservoir here.

Tip: A rain barrel will help most homeowners save about 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Related: How NOT to Install a Rain Barrel

DIY Air Conditioner

If you love air conditioning but not scorching electric bills, a homemade air conditioner might be for you.

YouTube vlogger Desertsun02 gets his cool on with a DIY AC that only uses 54 watts of electricity. The system pumps ice water through copper tubing that’s wrapped around the face of fan. So instead of pushing around hot air, the fan generates a cool refreshing breeze.

If you already own a fan and a bucket, this project will cost about $30 and you can put the entire system together in a few hours. Watch how he did it:



Related: Ways to Cool Down This Summer Without Using Your AC

Have a fun and easy energy efficient project that you want to show off? Share it in the comments below.

Deirdre Sullivan is an NYC-based writer who’s obsessed with maximizing every inch of her urban dwelling. She’s a former fashionista who has worked for Lucky Magazine, InStyle, and ideeli.com. She recently traded her high heels and Fashion Week pass for a drill and bandsa

Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/saving-energy/4-fun-and-useful-energy-saving-projects/#ixzz2hA0ACBbS

Maine Theaters~Ogunquit Playhouse

                                              http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/2013season

Fryeburg Fair 2013

                                                        http://www.fryeburgfair.com/

101 Things I Love about Portland Maine

                   314. Boone's Restaurant on the wharf Portland:  Good food and pleasant surroundings!
                                          http://www.boonesfishhouse.com/