Great Bar-B-Que in Marlborough MA

My family is slowly rising out of the fog created by the loss of our dear Spike.  He is still in our hearts and minds, but the sorrow is slowly subsiding.  I guess that's part of the circle of life and each day it gets a little easier to laugh about a memory instead of cry.  We are laughing a lot so that is good....he was a happy guy and he I know he is loving seeing us be happy about our life with him.

We thought we needed a little break and we love to eat out where there is good food.  Last night we headed to a past favorite for total comfort ... barbeque.  Firefly's in Marlborough offers a consistently delicious fare.  We have been a few times in the past, sampled their catered menu at a few parties and have always come away smackin' our lips! (It's barbeque, OK?  It is one of the few venues that make lip smacking totally acceptable!). 

On Monday evenings, they offer a great promotion, especially if you have twin teenage sons ... all you can eat chicken and ribs.  In the past, the chicken has come home with us for a 2nd meal the following night and it is more than enough for a full meal since everyone gets 1/2 of an entire chicken!  This night was not the exception. 
The meals come with 2 sides, a bowl of vinegar dressed cucumber slices, and unlimited trips to the condiment bar, that inlcudes peppers, olives, bean salads, and much more.

 
If you are a barbeque aficionado, or are a casual eater, the array of sauces they offer on the condiment bar is amazing.  They have Memphis, North Carolina Kansas City and a few more that I don't even remember the names of.  Then there is an entire display case filled with bottles of barbeque/hot sauces from what seemed like every corner of the world!  It can be overwhelming, even for the afcionado.  That kind of "overwhelming" is what I can handle.  And, don't let that stop you from trying just one thing, even if it's the tried and true traditional sauce you enjoy.
The sides include red beans and rice, collard greens, sweet potatoes with pecans, really great fries (according to the teenagers!), great cornbread, and more!  Everything we had was amazing and we rolled out (even though the teenagers said they could have forced down a dessert, but didn't!) feeling like we had a nice treat out, and enjoying the company too! 

So if you like BBQ, Firefly's is a good place.  They have a few other locations you can check out.  Bon appetite!

Winter brings some not so apparent dangers

I receive a monthly newsletter from a home inspector I recommend quite a bit.  His name is Peter Ottowitz and Peter is a licensed home, mold and energy inspector. 
I enjoy reading his e-newsletter because there is always a tidbit of information I get from it which I was not previously aware.
This month, the featured article was on a silent killer we normally hear about in the winter months, and that is carbon monoxide.  You may remember there was a lot of press about it a few years ago.  The law was passed in MA, and made effective in March, 2006 that made it mandatory for all homes to have monoxide detectors installed.  The statistic quoted by the Home Safety Council that blew me away is that currently, only about 35% of homeowners have carbon detectors in their home.  

I thought I would share with you exactly how easy, and inexpensive it is to install a CO2 detector.  The law states that for existing homes, the detectors do not have to be hard wired.    So, first, go to your local hardware or home improvement store.  Ask for a plug in model of the detector.  
The cost runs between $30-50 for each detector (in some areas they may be more or less).  Some come with batteries.  I can tell you from experience, these batteries are not always functional.  Having a CO2 detector will do you no good if the batteries are not working.  To be on the safe side, just purchase some additional 9V batteries.  If the ones provided are working, you will have extra on hand when the annoying chirping sound starts indicating the batteries need to be replaced. 

The law calls for 1 detector for each level in your home.  Yes, that does include the basement, regardless of if it is finished or unfinished.  The law also states that one detector is needed to be within 10 feet of the bedrooms.   So, if you have a colonial or cape, for example, you would need  minimum of 3.....one for the basement, 1st floor and 2nd floor.  If the bedrooms in your home are spread apart, you may need 2 for the level the bedrooms are located.  
Remove the detectors from their packaging, and plug them into the wall.  If you hear an annoying chirping sound that does not stop, then you will be happy you purchased additional batteries as back up. 
And that's it. 

You are absolutely required to have CO2 detectors in place before selling your home.  I urge you to go to the store today to purchase these life saving devices, install them and protect you and your family from the silent killer known as carbon monoxide poisoning.

The heart of a home....a tribute

As I speak to buyers or sellers about features of a home, the kitchen is frequently the focus.  It is where family and friends tend to congregate, no matter how inviting the remainder of the home is.  Is it the cooking that brings everyone together, or is it the comfort of fond memories we have that begin there?  Whatever the reason, that's where we seem to gather.

My family and I went through an experience yesterday that has left us sad and empty and it got me to thinking about the heart of our home. 
We had to have our beloved yellow lab, Spike, put to sleep.  It was a truly heart wrenching for my husband, my teenage sons and me.  We were home together yesterday and needed to rely on one another because of the pain and emptiness we were experiencing.  We all agreed that it feels like the heart of our home has been yanked out.   Spike was so much part of the fabric of our family and as I'm looking out my office window, I am missing seeing him take his usual path through the woods.  Even the fresh snow has covered his tracks from the recent week. 
My sons are home from school today due to the weather.  Usually, they would come down stairs and go directly to Spike to give him a kiss and a hug.  Today is different and lonely.

Spike often made himself completely at home in our kitchen.  There are so many funny stories.....Like the time (many years ago when he still had the agility to carry this off) I had a stick of butter on the counter, walked into the family room, then back into the kitchen only to find the stick of butter missing, and Spike licking his lips and looking very guilty!
He was such a social animal and made himself at home wherever we were.  Since I enjoy cooking, that meant Spike had himself sprawled out in the middle of the floor to be near me.  I had to be very aware of where he was, because one quick step in the wrong direction could send me flying and it was up to me to step over him! 

For so many, our pets become family members.  They give us such unconditional love.  They help people heal from illnesses or disease; they are working wonders helping troubled teens get back on track. The immediate solace given by our pets is irreplaceable. 

So, my frame of reference about the heart of a home has changed.  I will never again have the conversation about the heart of a home being the kitchen without having my private chuckles and special thoughts about Spike along with it.

Farewell, my dear Spike.   You will be missed and never out of our hearts.

Does the buyer get a better deal by going to the listing agent directly?

In the waning days of 2007 and these first few weeks of 2008, there appears to be a growing number of buyers in today's market who seem to be making contact directly with listing agents of properties, and disclosing that they do not have buyer representation.  I have spoken to some of my colleagues and friends and am hearing the same thing from many of them. 
Interesting. 

Why is that? 

With all the information available today, why would a buyer knowingly not want someone to represent their best interests?  Perhaps, they are not making this decision "knowingly".  Are we as a real estate community not doing a good enough job of educating buyers to their rights?  I don't think that is the reason for this particular path buyers seem to be taking. 

Buyers are being inundated daily with many conflicting messages from the media. 
My theory is that the buyers are under the impression that they will get the best deal by dealing directly with the listing agent of the property.  After all, there is no lack of information for the buyer to come to their own conclusions about the price they should be paying.  And the attitude seems to be that if this one doesn't work out, they will go on to the next.  My own conversations with a few website visitors have said exactly that.  The information they are being bombarded with in the media creates this illusion.  

Buyers seem to believe that they have to make a choice between with getting the best price and being represented by a buyer's agent in the transaction. 

So, buyers ... In the purchase of your biggest investment, pre-planning and taking the time for this next step will produce a big pay off for you in the long run. 
Interviewing a few agents (2 or 3 is a good number) about their experience and expertise in the area you are looking, their buyer agency credentials, and what services they bring to the table for you is a good use of time in the long run.  The best way to come up with a list of buyer's agents to begin interviewing is ask your friends, co-workers and family members who they used, what their experience was and would they use that buyer's agent again.  "Why" or "why not" should be the next question to follow. 

Then, do some homework prior to your interviews so you will be prepared with a list of questions.  Ask the same questions of all the buyer's agents you interview. 
Ultimately, you will most likely have a "gut" reaction to someone who you feel strongly about, either positive or negative. 
After taking this step, if you still believe you have to make the choice between getting a good deal and being represented, (and just to re-iterate ... you don't!) ask some very specific questions of the listing agent.  What is their role?  What does it mean for you?  What can you expect?  What are your rights? 

You have to be even more informed and diligent if this is the route you believe you decide to take. 

Perfection......a fleeting state of being

Perfection. 

If this past Sunday taught us one thing, it is that perfection is a fleeting state of being.  One minor (or major) blip makes perfection a thing of the past.  While perfection lasts, it sets you up for a huge fall.  And the fall does eventually come.  Just ask Tom or Bill, or any member of the team.  It was a pretty sickening feeling for me as a fan/spectator.  I won't even try to fathom what is was like for the team, coach, or owners. 

Perfection does set a high standard in any other walk of life ... spouse, job, house.  The feeling of euphoria is short lived, and is over in a blink of an eye when it eventually becomes flawed.   

At least with a house, you can cosmetically enhance it so it becomes your idea of perfection.  Change the paint, carpet, move some walls, add new cabinets, etc.  The prices seen today are allowing more and more consumers to envision a feeling of perfection because they can use more of their hard-saved cash for improvements that previously would have had to be used for a down payment.  What a great feeling.

My lender friends are telling me that January saw a higher than usual request for pre-approval letters.  That indicates that more purchases will be made, and in a typical spring market that begins to happen after the Super Bowl.  And let's face it, New England fans are working hard to overcome the sense of loss we have all experienced and with no more football, house hunting will be filling in those Sunday afternoon gaps.

One question that continues to be asked is "When will it bottom out?"  The answer is only truly known once the upswing has begun.  Many end up loosing out on the "bottom" because they waited for the billboard to tell them "The bottom is here"!  It doesn't happen that way, so get pre-approved, begin seeing some houses and getting educated to market conditions, and you will feel more confident in the great deals that are out there and won't be scratchin your head when the upswing has begun.