Keene, NH...New England At Its Best: August 2010

After reading a post by Lisa Hill, Does Your "Professional" Photo Look Like A Facebook Picture?  I really started thinking about it.

I see all manner of profile pictures in my social media travels...logos, avatars, casual shots, glamour shots...you name it...and as I read the post, I began to wonder whether or not my profile picture (which also happens to be my personal Facebook profile picture) might be considered unprofessional.

I have a business page on Facebook, complete with my "professional" head-shot.  The very same shot that I use on my business cards and on our business website.  And I hate it.  Oh, it's not necessarily a bad picture...actually, it's pretty good.  My age has apparently diminished, and the zit that had, predictably, chosen that morning to put in an undeniable appearance...HA!  What zit?

The photographer was skilled, and before my eyes rendered the digital images "print worthy".  Included in the mix were several poses, including what I refer to as my own personal glamour shot.  Love that picture..it's the image I wish I saw first thing in the morning (bet hubby wouldn't put up a fuss, either) but it's just that...an image...and one that I couldn't possibly replicate.  Honey, there ain't enough spackle in the world, and handing out filtered lenses to all and sundry hardly seems practical, you know?

When I first joined AR, I actually used my glam shot...why not? Nobody knew me, so what difference would it make, right?

Then I started to get to know people out there in the Rain...and they got to know me.  I began to feel as though the picture was a sham:

at worst, a misrepresentation; at best, a serving suggestion.

One afternoon a couple of years ago I decided I needed to find a more honest photo.  One that looked like me.  One that looked like I might look if I were actually in the same room listening to them...and since I tend toward snarkasm, a bit of skepticism wasn't completely out of line.  So, one day, whilst seated at my desk, I whipped out the ol' Motorola Flip-phone. 

I centered myself in the tiny fisheye mirror on the back and, with a digital <click>, the deed was done.

But now I'm thinking...should I be even more honest?  I'm professional, but I want to be real.  I'm a tad weary of hearing "gosh, you don't look like your picture".  Um, I thought it looked like me...but since everyone else sees me more than I do, I suppose I should take their opinion to heart.

There are some other pictures of me floating around...like the picture of me when my youngest graduated from high school...that looks like me, right?  

 But then again, this was taken of me that same night...and, sadly, it looks like me, too.

I can't be the only person in the entire social media realm "faced" with this quandary!

Perhaps I should just go with this caricature a friend did for me:

Would you buy or sell a home with this agent?

Life in Westmoreland, NH ...How a Clever Flatlander came to be living in the hills of Southwestern New Hampshire.

When my husband learned he was being transferred from Flatland Sudbury, MA to work in Charlestown, NH, we were thrilled!  We'd always hoped to escape suburbia in order to embrace a more rural lifestyle, and when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped at it.  After some preliminary research, we were pretty sure that we wanted to be near Keene, NH, although we preferred something just outside the city.

We decided to take the first available weekend to head north to check things out. Bear in mind that this was over a decade ago...long before GPS...so we decided to wing it and go wherever the roads led us.

Crazy as it sounds, we kept finding ourselves in this very small town outside of Keene, NH.  No matter where we began, the small farming community of Westmoreland was where we ended up.  It took us nearly two days to realize that the roads that lead into this country town are like spokes on a wheel, (albeit a bent wheel with wonky spokes) and, once we did, we acknowledged that Fate was likely tiring of repeatedly pointing us in the direction of our destiny.  So, we decided to stick around and explore this town of approximately 36 square miles...with no map and virtually non-existent cell service; nothing but a clueless curiosity sense of adventure and a sneaking suspicion that this just might be where we belonged.

Looking back eleven years later, I have to laugh at our initial trepidation as we traveled through hills and valleys, up dirt roads that seemed to have no end, and our fear that we'd end up, literally, in the middle of nowhere, hopelessly lost and never to be seen again.  Being Clever Flatlanders, we decided that the best way to determine whether we were still within the reach of civilization was to keep an eye on the power lines and poles.  As we bumped our way down rural stretches of unpaved road, we made sure that our "lifelines" were within view.  If we reached "the end of the line," we turned around and backtracked.  'Cuz that's what Clever Flatlanders do.

With the car windows wide open, we marvelled at the countryside.  One minute we'd be driving through a shady tunnel of gigantic maple trees, the next we'd be overlooking rolling fields and hills laid out before us.  Charming old farmhouses dotted the landscape, the only movement a gentle breeze flirting with the grasses and wildflowers and the lazy meanderings of cows and sheep as they grazed in the distance. 

Another unexpected turn graced us with a picture perfect view of the Connecticut River: a wide and sparkling ribbon marking the boundary between New Hampshire and Vermont.  Not only was it absolutely beautiful, it was reassuring, for Clever Flatlanders know that if you follow a river downstream, eventually it leads to the sea (or, in our case, the Atlantic,) and we knew how to get back to Flatland Sudbury from the coast.

Supposed geographic certainties aside, we were completely taken in by the scenery, and the incredible feeling of tranquility quelled any residual fears we had of being lost forever. In fact, it had just the opposite effect.  Without even uttering the words, we knew:  we were home.

Unbeknownst to me, this was only the beginning of The Flatlander Follies...

In my life BRE (before real estate!) my mother and I had an Interior Redesign/Staging business, and I know what a difference these simple, low-cost improvements can make in the appearance of a home.  In any market, it's important to put your best foot forward...in a challenging market, it's imperative!

Sharon Tara, a fabulous staging pro who works on the NH Seacoast, has compiled a list of critical steps sellers need to take to prepare their home for sale.  Her before and after photos tell the story!

Sellers, and soon-to-be-sellers, take note...

JULY 2010 MARKET REPORT FOR CHESHIRE COUNTY, NH

The July Real Estate Stats are in!

Below you will find Real Estate Market statistics for July 2010, for Cheshire County, NH, broken down into four categories:  Residential, Condo, Manufactured (mobile homes) and All Properties.

Sellers will be encouraged to see that the average days on market for Residential properties from January through July 2010 are reduced by 13 days compared to the same time period of 2009, and the average days on market for condominiums has dropped a whopping 57 days during the same time period.  That's a reduction of 9.03% and 22.8%, respectively. 

Although the median sales price for residential listings dipped by 3.85%, the median sales price for condominiums increased by 23.05%, Year-to-Date.

If you would like further clarification on any of these figures, please give me a call or shoot me an email.  I'd be happy to go over them, as they pertain to buying or selling your property in Cheshire County, NH.

Lakefront Cottage on Chipman Lake, Tinmouth, VT For Sale...memories of good times with family and friends. 

I'm a New Hampshire real estate agent.  Although I can actually see Vermont from my house in Westmoreland, NH, I'm not licensed in VT.  I do, however, have wonderful memories of family time spent at this summer cottage on Tinmouth Pond (aka Chipman Lake) in Tinmouth, VT, co-owned by my mother-in-law and her friend, and just a few miles outside of Rutland and about 90 minutes from Keene, NH.

So many improvements have been made to this fabulous getaway over the years that it's hard to remember how it looked when they first took possession of this lakefront vacation home.  The memories we made there, however, are never to be forgotten...

Swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, tubing, and cruising around the lake in a pedal-powered paddle boat (try saying that three times fast!) are some of our favorite activities. 

A cat-nap in the shady hammock always made my "to do" list.  And every 4th of July weekend we enjoyed fantastic fireworks over the water.

I'm convinced that watching the colors roll across the sky at sunset from the swing at water's edge has magical powers...stress just melts away as you gaze at the peaceful surroundings reflected in the water.

With plenty of grassy area there's plenty of room for a game of croquet or badminton.

And meals on the deck overlooking the water always seem to taste better than those prepared at home.

Our evenings were spent around the campfire, sharing tales of our day-to-day lives and poking fun at those we love the most (that's how we Browns roll ;) ).  The sound of our laughter would drift across the water and seemed to add to the sparkle of moon and stars overhead.

Of course, every now and then we'd head into Rutland to do some shopping. 

There's not much in the way of traffic, but getting there can be a moo-ving experience...

New memories are yet to be made by the next family lucky enough to take ownership of this wonderful Vermont lakefront property.

And,yes... I'm pretty sure the magical swing conveys.

***Asking JUST $210,000 and Listed by Denise Byers, ReMax Winning Advantage, Rutland, Vermont***

As a long-time hockeymom, I've seen countless ice arenas, and spent time and money in a lot of different New England towns.  For years our Keene NH area hockey players and figure skaters have longed for a beautiful, modern facility in which to skate.  Seems to me that Plymouth State University has accomplished what we have been dreaming of.

I believe with all my heart that a facility such as this one would be a huge benefit to our local economy.  How do I know?  Because for well over a decade, my husband and I spent most every weekend traveling with our sons to various hockey venues and spent lots and lots of money on hotels, shopping and dining while we were there.

With so few state-of-the-art facilities in our neck of the woods, an ice arena like Plymouth State's would be a tremendous attraction.  What do you say, City of Keene?  If you build it, they will come (and support our local economy in the process!) 

So, my Cheshire County Ice Fanatics...what do you think?  Isn't it a beauty?  Here's hoping we can see something similar in our neck of the woods sooner rather than later!

Luxury Country Home in the City of Keene, NH.

Don't try to dazzle me with lots of shiny trinkets and endless examples of conspicuous consumption. Seduce me with thoughtful design and approachable, comfortable elegance. Entice me with a lush and rolling countryside setting. I'm so smitten by our newest listing, I'm afraid my own house is going to start getting suspicious.

If you've been searching for a year-round NH getaway, look no further!  Overlooking the pastures that are home to Stonewall Farm's own dairy cows, and surrounded by the hills of the Monadnock Region of NH, this luxury property blends the classic good looks of times gone by with thoughtful updates that meet the needs of today's family.

Just minutes from Downtown Keene, shopping, schools and I-91, you can easily forget that you live in a city when your surroundings reflect such a peaceful, country idyll.

Featuring a beautifully updated kitchen, 6 fireplaces, and architectural details found only in the most discriminating homes, this exceptional property easily accommodates the family in style and comfort, while allowing you to embrace the lifestyle you've worked so hard to achieve.

A three-level barn and separate three-car garage provide shelter for horses and horsepower.  The beautiful in-ground pool and outdoor kitchen are the perfect backdrop for your warm weather entertaining.

Convenient to lakes, ski areas, and just a few hours from Boston, New York City, Hartford and Montreal, you will be perfectly placed to attend to business in person or telecommute from one of two beautifully appointed in-home offices.

Whether entertaining a crowd or enjoying some well-deserved downtime with your family, this gracious home and beautiful setting delivers the quality of life you seek.  It welcomes you...ever-so-softly, it's saying...You've arrived.

Visit www.KeeneCountryHome.com to view additional photos and links of interest.

VITAL STATISTICS:  15 Stearns Road, Keene, NH 03431

Price:  $775,000

4 Bedrooms, 7 Baths (including his & her 1/2 baths in pool house!)

Lot Size:  5 acres    Approx. Total Finished Living Area:  7494 sq. ft

Year Built:  1940

MLS #2835916

www.KeeneCountryHome.com