By Monika McGillicuddy

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago as a  true humorous story  about a day in the life of a real estate agent...guess who the agent is? Me...thats right and my knee is still bruised and sore! Have a good chuckle...we all need a laugh now and then.

Some days you work nights....or better yet some days you just shouldn't work at all.
I've had a pretty interesting week...first there was my encounter with the lovely biker chick and then my encounter with Mr. closing dates aren't important.
I think I should have known enough to pack it in for the rest of the week.

Today we awoke to freezing rain...the dreaded black ice...there are few things in life I fear more than the dreaded black ice! Not a problem as I figured I'd just stay home and enjoy the big game ...which in my household is a big event.

Then...I got a call from a client wanting to take a look at a house I discussed with him yesterday...the house was empty and in need of total rehab. I knew that I could just go show and leave a voice message letting the listing agent know, as I had spoken with her yesterday.

I told my client that I don't do black ice...and if he really wanted to see it he'd have to come pick me up at my house and drive us.  He said okay and came and got me.
The roads were icy and he drove slow.

We arrived safely and walked about the outside very carefully due to the ice. This is a 200 year old home with 14 rooms and really should be torn down. Armed with flashlights we entered the home very carefully...there was no power, wood rot and un-level floors made for slow going. 

The first floor was pretty bad but when we found the formal stairway leading to the second floor it was a sight to behold. You could just imagine how it must have looked in its glory days...just awesome. The second floor was very intriguing...the workmanship and attention to detail just incredible but all in major disrepair...long neglected and looking for love!

After going through several rooms on the second floor we followed a long hallway with wood floors to the back end of house, stepped up 3 good sized steps and entered another level of the home...two rooms and attic access.  In the second room there was this funky round hole cut into the floor...right in the center of the room.
It was pretty dark up there...so I walked up to the hole and looked down and couldn't see anything at all. I said “I wonder what this hole is for?" at the same time my client walked up behind me and shinned his flashlight down the hole.

I'm embarrassed to tell you that when I saw what was looking up at me with it's eyes open...I freaked and let out a loud scream...my listing package flew out of my hands as I turned I pushed my client aside and ran hollering like a blubbering idiot out of the room...through the other room and you guessed it.....I forgot about the stairs so of course I fell down them whacked my head on the wall...still screaming now only harder as my body was as out of control as my mouth was!!!

 I landed on my knees...my body sliding down the hall way... I could hear my lock box ricocheting off the wall and my client yelling..."It's dead...it's dead...it's dead" ...I'm on all fours and could feel the warm blood pouring down my leg! I'm trying hard not to cry and praying that I didn't break my ankle again!

My client...he's freaking out trying to help me up...I'm okay but my leg is bleeding but he can't see that as I have on long pants...thank god.  Anyway I get up compose myself and tell him that I am breaking a cardinal rule in real estate but he would need to do the attic and the rest of the house without me as I’m done in the house and would wait for him outside...

The ride home was interesting and my client thank god he knows me well and likes me because I'm sure anyone else would have thought I was a nut case.  Did I tell you he was my ex brother in law...he tells everyone he kept me in the divorce because he likes me better than he does his brother!


Did I tell you what I fear more than black ice??  Mice...alive or dead it doesn't matter! 

I should have just stayed home today! 

My knee... it's okay it just looks like my thigh.

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH 

Hampstead New Hampshire is called a picture perfect community by many. It's location is what attracted us many years ago, close to Boston yet a million miles away in lifestyle.

I used to be an avid skier and living here made that so very possible...when my kids were younger I took them skiing often. In fact their photos are used in my post about skiing in New Hampshire called New Hampshire's White Powder . Jay and I are both ocean lovers and water babies so this is also an awesome location for those activities as well, my blog talks all about the fine lakes in Southern New Hampshire Living .  The best of the best is really what living here is all about...you can just about get to anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.

I have lived in Hampstead since 1972 and Jay since 1984 and we watched as the town has grown from a small village to a bustling little (by some standards) community. 

Not only a picture perfect community but a small town that is full of historical pride and is able to successfully balance all the charms of yesteryear while offering all the modern conveniences, of a much larger town…shopping, community activities, and town beach and recreation fields Hampstead still retains that small town feel.

A growing community for sure but one that can still be called a community rather than a town. That's what makes living here so special.

I have put together a little virtual tour with some photos we've taken while out and about...we hope we've been able to show you a little bit of what we "feel" about Hampstead New Hampshire.

Kingston New Hampshire

Kingston is a pretty little town with a rich history. Long famous for being the home town of Dr. Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Those of you that watch  The West Wing will recognize the name as the fictional U.S. president.

Driving through Kingston one finds many beautiful old homes dotting Main Street where the town Common is also located. Kingston is ideally located much like it's neighbor Hampstead it is within easy reach of Boston, The White Mountains of New Hampshire and the ocean beaches. Kingston also boasts a state park interested in learning more about Kingston read my blog A little bit about Kingston.  We've put together a little virtual tour about Kingston using some photos we took...we hope you enjoy it.

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH 

New Hampshire...Apple picking time!

By Monika McGillicuddy

New Hampshire...Apple picking...Home Picking time!

Waiting for a good deal to come along before you make a decision to buy a house? 

Good news is that your wait may finally be over. It seems unlikely that interest rates are going to go down in the near future in fact they may increase by spring. Housing economists are saying we've bottomed but the most importantly it looks like other buyers are starting the home search ...our Internet stats show an increase in buyers searching on our web site. 

Traditionally Spring is when the market comes alive...but to capture and take advantage of the lower prices maybe now is when you should start buzzing around.

Check out our web site for available homes by following this link and if you want to read a great article about home buying and why now might be your window of opportunity check out this article written by Blanche Evans of Realty times magazine . 

Jay wrote about Prudential Verani's Internet stats and comparison to last months stats on his blog called Our Company's Internet Advertising stats....some good food for thought
 
Remember....If you need the help of qualified buyers agents give us a call....we'd love the business! We offer a no obligation Buyer Counseling session...meet with us and let us show you how we may be able to help you save money and find the home of your dreams.  No obligation ...you don't like us ...no problem.
 

 Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH