Staging New Hampshire

It is yet another rainy day here on the Seacoast of New Hampshire.  If you are one of the lucky ones to have chosen this week for your vacation, you have my sympathy.  At this point, what can you do but make the best of it. 

With a prediction of more rain throughout the week, I thought you could use some suggestions on things to do in the area.

1. The Mall is the obvious choice, but keep in mind that others will have the same idea.  Malls and movie theaters will be crowded.  That said, there are three malls in the area, The Fox Run Mall, The Mall of NH, and The Maine Mall.

2.  Manchester  If you head to the Mall of NH in Manchester, you could also visit the Currier Museum of Art and  SEE   Science Center.

3.  Barrington  For less traditional (and less crowded) shopping, visit The Christmas Dove in Barrington.  A Christmas wonderland, it is one of the largest Christmas stores in the country.  Across the street is Calef's Country Store, famous for their cheese, maple sugar products, gift shop, and country deli.

4.  Dover  Shopping on the Seacoast would not be complete without a visit to Salmon Falls Stoneware and Red's Shoe Barn in Dover.  While there, you could also take the kids to The Childrens Museum of NH and The Woodman Institute.

Other historic and educational choices in the area include:

5.  Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in Concord

6.  Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point in Rye

7.  Albacore Submarine in Portsmouth

8.  Kittery, Maine.  In addition to all the outlet shopping, the granddaddy of  shopping experiences on the Seacoast is Kittery Trading Post with three levels of the most extensive selection of outdoor recreational equipment, clothing and footwear in New England.

9.  North Conway   There's tons of outlet shopping at Settlers Green Outlet Village and White Mountain Outlets.  One of my favorite stops, not to be missed, is Zeb's General Store. 

 North Conway is also home to New England's only indoor water park, Kahuna Laguna.

10.  Local beaches    You can still have fun at the beach when the weather isn't cooperating.  The children will enjoy hunting for shells and driftwood and the boardwalk at Hampton Beach offers great atmosphere and lots of arcade fun.

11.  Weirs Beach in Laconia   Home to Funspot, the largest arcade in the world.  They have over 500 games, indoor golf, bowling, bingo and even a tavern.

 12.  Day Spa

 If a day at the arcades with the kids isn't your idea of "vacation" then maybe some spa time would be appealing to you. 

Eight Winds Wellness Center & Spa in Hampton offers massage therapies and body treatments that will make you forget the rainy weather outside.

Don't let the weather ruin your vacation.  Get creative and do something you otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to do.  If you have children, the important thing to them is quality time with you...so make some memories!

I was at a yard sale this morning and I overheard the owner of the house telling one of the bargain hunters about a site she joined online to help her with her clutter.  She pays fifteen dollars a month for a membership fee and she said she loves it.  She appears to be one satisfied customer.  The other woman was very interested and even wrote down the name so she could look into it.

The program is The Clutter Diet

According to her, it has really made her accountable and her membership to this site is responsible for her accomplishing many tasks in her home, including organizing and preparing for her yard sale.

She also mentioned that you can pay $5 for a mini one month trial period.  Interesting...

I am wondering if any of you are familiar with this site.  Also, is it something you would pass on to your clients?

Selling a house is a stressful process.  Preparing a house for sale is a lot of work.  Living in a house for sale can be very inconvenient.  You may have to rearrange the furniture or even worse, move your favorite recliner to storage. 

If you are going to sell your house, here's the first question you need to answer:

What's more important to you -  that you be comfortable in your favorite chair or that you sell quickly without having to reduce the price?

I find it quite amusing when sellers take a firm stand, arms crossed, a look of defiance on their face, and refuse to remove the giant TV from the master bedroom  because they just can't give up watching  TV from their bed.  Or, they refuse to move the monster bag of dog food from the kitchen to the garage, because it would be too inconvenient to store it out there.

I actually had a seller look me in the eye and say it would be "disturbing to their routine" to have to remove their personal products from the shower on a daily basis.

If you believe that it's your right to live in your house comfortably and that buyers will just have to see past your stuff, and you have made up your mind that you will give this "staging thing" a try, but only for one month and then you are going back to living "normal" then this message is for you:

It doesn't matter to me how long your house sits on the market.  I'm not making the mortgage payment or paying the taxes.  I get paid for my consultation and get the same amount regardless if you sell tomorrow or a year from now. 

I am here for one reason only, to tell you how you can make your house more appealing to buyers, which will help you sell faster and increase your odds of making more money.  You can follow my advice or choose not to.

  We are on the same team.  We both want the same end result.

  I'm not the one who is going to lose or gain depending on the outcome, you are!

If you don't have that natual eye for trend setting and style that Steven has, and you need assistance in the preparation of your home for sale, consider hiring a professional home stager to give you the advice you need to make your home more emotionally appealing to buyers. 

 Having the right look to attract buyers is the key to a fast and profitable sale!

As many of you know, I'm expecting my first grandchild, Jack, due in two weeks.  Even though I've had three children of my own, it's been a long time since I've cared for a baby.  I'm hoping those motherly instincts haven't totally dried up and at least some of it will come back to me.

My parents were here visiting for Father's Day weekend.  My mother is very excited about becoming a Great Grandmother.  We went to some yard sales on Saturday and we had lots of fun finding things for our new grandbaby.  We got a great deal on two Baby Bjorn carriers.

The real fun came after we got home and had a "grandmother's in training" practice session using two baby dolls. 

The good news:  We now totally understand how to use these contraptions.  We are grandma, hear us roar!

The bad news:  Little Jack just might not be as cooperative as our test models were.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is more than a wonderful place to live, great place to shop, and fabulous place to dine...it's a seacoast city rich in culture and history...a great place to visit and vacation.

In 2008 Portsmouth was named by Prevention Magazine as one of the Top 100 Walking Cities.  That same year, Portsmouth was added to the list of  "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust For Historic Preservation who called it "one of the most culturally rich destinations in the country with a stimulating mix of historic buildings, sidewalk cafes, great restaurants, art galleries, jazz clubs and distinctive artisans' boutiques."

 For More Information: 

Beaches 

Wentworth Coolidge Mansion

Fort Stark

Fort Constitution

Albacore Museum

Portsmouth Harbor Light

Strawberry Banke Museum

The Music Hall

Portsmouth Harbor Cruises

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

My first born, Jaime, is expecting her first baby, and yesterday she found out that it is a boy.  He is due to arrive the end of October.  He will be our second grandbaby.  My son's baby boy, Jack, is due any time now. 

After having three of my own, it's wonderful to experience this amazing miracle from a different perspective. 

Seeing my daughter about to become a mother is a true blessing.  She has no idea just how much her life is about to change. 

I don't know how I did it, I was clueless when they sent me home with her.  I had no experience, no idea what to expect, and no idea that I could possibly love someone so much.

They placed her in my arms and sent me home - scared to death.

No manual, no directions...her precious life in my hands...somehow we both survived.

We survived pneumonia, sleepless nights, scrapes and falls, braces, the first day of school, endless school plays.  We survived attitude and emotion, the "terrible two's" and the "terrible teen" years. 

We celebrated holidays, birthdays, and felt pride at every accomplishment and milestone along the way.

Now it's Jaime's turn to be a mother to her son and experience first hand the love, pride, and fears that only a parent can feel.

I know she will be a wonderful Mom, and I will do my best to help her when she needs it. 

I hope it all comes back, like riding a bike...it's been a very long time.  I am a little rusty at taking care of babies!

As I pass the torch of motherhood down to my daughter and daughter-in-law, my mother is handing down the torch of grandmotherhood to me...and she says Jaime isn't the only one who has no idea how much her life is going to change! 

 I'm told, there is nothing like a grandchild to make your life complete.

If you are looking for a place to eat on the Seacoast, then Portsmouth is the place to go.  Fine dining or casual...gourmet, organic, or sweet treats...Portsmouth has it all.

For more information on the Portsmouth establishments featured in my video:

Brazo

Canine Cupboard

Ceres Street Bakery

Dolphin Striker

Dos Amigos Burritos

Fat Belly's

Lindt Chocolate

Moe's

Old Ferry Landing

Portsmouth Brewery

Portsmouth Gaslight Co.

The Common Man

The Rusty Hammer

The Meat House

So many things to be thankful for:  good health, parents, children, home, financial security.  When you really think about it, though, we wouldn't have any of it without life in the first place. 

Being here to enjoy all that life has to offer is the greatest gift.  

Whatever your situation, no matter how difficult or challenging..

There is always something to be grateful for. 

The more attention you give to the parts of your life that you are thankful for, the more blessings you will receive. 

For a richer, healthier and happier you, take some time to reflect on the good in your life and, each day as the sun sets. count those blessings!

One year ago, I wrote a post entitled, "Premature Listing Syndrome - NH Stager Cautions Home Sellers."  I feel a need to revisit this subject.  

I understand there are situations where a sale is "needed" in a timely manner.  I understand there is a "hot" selling season and a small window of opportunity to take advantage of it.  The need for speed - I get it. 

What I don't understand is what is to be gained with the decision to list before the house is ready?  It seems that getting it on the market is the driving force. 

Is bad exposure now, really better than good exposure in a couple of weeks?

So it's on the market sooner...

you don't get as many calls or serious buyers because the photos are not appealing. 

The showings you do get, only confirm that buyers want move-in ready. 

 All you seem to gain is days on market. 

If time is such an issue...shouldn't you be making the best of it? 

Exposing the house to buyers before it is ready is like showing up for a job interview in pajamas and slippers, brushing your teeth.  Why should you expect a positive reaction to the fact you are not prepared? 

So, which is it?  What's more important when selling your house,

 getting it on the market or getting it SOLD?