Relocating in CT? How to Determine the Best Resale Value Town vs. Town

If a job transfer, promotion, or a new job has you relocating within Connecticut to a part of the state that you are not so familiar with, the relocation can be just as overwhelming or daunting as moving into an entirely different part of the country. Even though your move is inside Connecticut, it's still  in unfamiliar territory and having  someone look out for your best interests of the utmost importance.

That's where your choice of a Realtor is crucial. You will need to rely on an agent's expertise to guide you in the best direction for anticipated resale value of homes that are within your budget in the general area that you choose to live in.

Most often, your choice of towns may be predicated on being within a certain radius of your job, and that is appropriate. Your realtor can help you with various choices that fit your needs. We all know the towns that have better resale values than others.

You may want to also consider what is important to you and what you like most about the community that you live in now, and try to mirror that ambience in your new location, if at all possible. Conversely, you may also want to consider what you do not like about your community, and try and stay away from that  environment in your new hometown.

Whatever it is that you know that want, or you don't want, it's important to communicate with your Realtor (in other words, me) the  most important things that you are looking for in your next community, and what you would like to try and avoid if at all possible.

Count on your real estate agent to provide you with statistics , facts , figures and resale values that are true and accurate so that you can make the best decisions. To get a quick overview of town statistics an demographic profiles for Southwestern Connecticut and Fairfield County, check out our Market Reports and Quarterly Statistics. Our town pages have a  short bio, mini-history and additional demographics as well. All of these pages can be found on the left hand side bar of our website.

When you employ Judy as your Realtor, you will get  a highly experienced agent who can give you the  proper interpretation of the market so you can make the best decisions.  Contact Judy whenever you're ready.

 And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling a home in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

There is Still Time to Winterize Your Connecticut Home

The National Weather Service says low snowfall this year is unusual, but not unheard of. One thing is for sure, winter’s delay in much of the U.S. has given homeowners an extension when it comes to winterizing.
Take advantage of the warmer days to ensure your home is prepared when the cold weather does strike our area. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Protect Your Pipes:
Pipes located in attics, crawl spaces, basements and near outer walls can be susceptible to freezing in extreme temperatures. When the forecast calls for unusually cold temperatures, let water drip from hot and cold faucets overnight. Also, try keeping cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate in places like below sinks. If you open the cabinet doors, be sure to remove anything inside the cabinets that may pose a safety hazard to children, such as household cleaners. For exposed pipes in your attic, basement or crawl spaces, add extra insulation around them.

Be Ready For an Emergency:
Blackouts and snow-ins can occur during winter months, so take a moment to prepare yourself and your family for such emergencies. Having the following items ready will help you make it through safely.

    Flashlights
    Bottled Water
    Nonperishable food items
    Blankets
    Phone numbers for your utility companies
    Battery backup to protect your computer and other important electronic equipment
    First-aid kit
    If you have an emergency generator, make sure you have gasoline available to fuel it.

Winter Yard Care:
Even with the cold weather conditions, your yard still needs to be maintained. Make sure tree and shrub branches are well away from the house and windows. Icy conditions can cause branches to break and damage your home. Walk around your home and survey the roof to see if any ice dams have formed; call a contractor if you suspect this is the case. Check your foundation for small cracks or openings where mice or other pests can tunnel in. Winter is when they seek the warmth of your house, so seal up any possible entrances. While you’re outside, clear snow off gas meters and away from basement windows and your dryer exhaust vent.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

What Recourse Does a Tenant Have with a Bad Landlord?

Tenants have rights, too! You've all heard stories  in the news about Landlords who have neglected  their occupied rental property, and the tenant suffers greatly. It's not only in the very big cities. It happens in our  area of Connecticut, too.

Things like a heating system in disrepair, broken stove, falling down sheetrock,  and leaky pipes that prevent a tenant from using the property as intended are absolutely shameful on the part of the Landlord- should not be tolerated,  and depending upon the specific wording in your lease,  you- as an aggrieved tenant, may have some recourse

First things first. When you initially look at the property, check for signs of maintenance neglect. That may very well be a good indication as to how things might go if you have a problem if you decide to lease the property.   One small item that needs repair should not present itself as a red flag, but uncovering  a few issues upon your  initial inspection should signal to you that you may encounter a problem should you decide to enter into an agreement with this particular Landlord.

If you see a property that you would like to rent and  it needs repair, and the landlord says he/she will fix the item(s), MAKE SURE IT IS IN WRITING WITHIN THE LEASE, AND HAS A DATE THAT THE REPAIR MUST BE COMPLETED BY.

If there are other tenants at the property, ask them how the Landlord has reacted when repairs needed to be done. They will give you an honest assessment.  Their answer does not affect them personally.

The Lease. Read that lease thoroughly and entirely. If you are not clear on any part of it, contact an attorney to review it for you. It is a legal contract. Look specifically for the repair clause, and what specific remedies are in place, if any. There may even be a deductible on repairs that you will have to pay,  even if the issue has nothing to do with your misuse or neglect.

There should also  be a section in the lease  that refers to quiet enjoyment, and functionality of the apartment or dwelling,  and if not rectified within a reasonable amount of time, that the lease can be canceled without penalty.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Issues involving safety should be reported to the local health department.

Remember , this is a legally binding agreement, and that goes for both parties. The law tends to favor tenants over Landlords in these kinds of matters.

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about renting a home or apartment  in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Monthly Sales Reports with Property Details Now Available Through theCTrealtyBlog!

We are pleased to provide an additional real estate reporting service to  our readers, and  we are proud to now present to you a monthly sales report for single family homes,  which will be featured every month in our respective town blogs.  The reports include addresses, List Prices, Sales prices, Style of Home, Total Rooms, Bedrooms, Full baths and half baths.

Every week in our local town blogs,  we report on new listing activity, deposits, pendings and sales, and these can be found in our Town Blog section on the top Menu Bar for each of the five main towns that we service:

Easton -    January 2012 Easton CT Home Sales Report

Fairfield    January 2012 Fairfield CT Home Sales Report

Norwalk    January 2012 Norwalk CT Home Sales Report

Trumbull   January 2012 Trumbull CT Home Sales Report

Westport  January 2012 Westport CT Home Sales Report

In addition to our weekly market reports, our month end recap includes every sale as reported to our Multiple Listing Service.

The month end report shows also shows average Home Sales Prices for the month, Average Market Time for the Sold Properties, and Total Volume in Sales.

We strive to be the best information source for anything real estate in Fairfield County, and would love to be your realtor when the time is right for you. Contact us anytime. We'd love to hear from you!

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Help for Struggling Connecticut Homeowners

Struggling with your mortgage payments and want to avoid foreclosure?

You can benefit by the information found at the Housing and Urban Development website (HUD) — www.HUD.gov.

The site contains useful information covering a variety of topics, including:

1. Information on the home buying process
click here to view

2. Information on Rental Assistance
click here to view

3. Information on Avoiding Foreclosure
click here to view

4. Information on contacting a Foreclosure
Housing Counselor
click here to view

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  To learn more about Only Closings and how they can help you quickly close a property transaction, call them at 203-563-9677 or visit them online at www.OnlyClosings.com

*The content within the "Tip-of-the-Week" is strictly for informational purposes and not intended to be interpreted and/or used as legal advice. Only Closings and OnlyClosings.com is a service provided by Tamara L. Peterson Attorney at Law LLC.

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.