CT, home, home maintenance, real estate, Stamford, Stamford CT real estate, Uncategorized, winterizing your home

It’s All About The Journey … Cold Weather Maintenance

Tips to Maintain Your Home During the Cooler Months

Preventing Costly Repairs and Maintaining a Healthy Home When It’s Cold Outside

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

Now that the weather has turned to “winter” and regardless of your neighborhood, home size or style, maintaining your home is one of the most important things you can do. While the space that you live in reflects your lifestyle and/or personality, it is important to keep your home in good condition.

Factoring in home repairs and maintenance that will save you time and money will go a long way as the weather gets colder. While conditions may not be frightful just yet, keeping these useful tips in mind will put you and your wallet at ease.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

Leaky pipes can become problematic over time and lead to flooding, mold issues, foundation trouble, and diminished water quality. Frozen pipes can lead to leaks, and even more costly problems because when water freezes within the pipe, the expanding ice can cause pressure which leads to bursting and additional costly issues.

To ensure that your pipes remain intact, it is helpful to address all areas that need fixing and winterize your outside water sources. You can call a plumber, or attempt winterizing your outside pipes by doing the following – shut off the main water valve and pump, as well as the water heater to start, this way you can drain all of the outside valves and taps which should remain open throughout the winter. You may also blow excess water out of the pipes and discharge water out of the drain taps. As an extra precaution you can add antifreeze. Don’t forget to turn the water main & hot water heater back on so the rest of your house can function.

One last thing … foam rubber-pipe insulation can be wrapped around pipes to protect them against cold weather conditions.

Replace Air Filters

There are various key benefits to regularly replacing your air filters if you have a hot air furnace. Your HVAC system will run more efficiently, air filter replacement will reduce allergy symptoms, and you will save money by properly maintaining the filters and keeping vents clean.

Changing your air filters every 1-3 months can greatly effect the quality of your home’s air. Make sure that the MERV rating of your purchased filter also correctly coincides with your home’s needs.

Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can save your life when properly placed and it is CT State law that you have smoke & CO detectors in the home.

These alarms beep loudly to ensure that you can hear them and get to safety quickly if there is a fire, gas, fumes or other sources of heat around. Usually inexpensive and easy to install, smoke alarms can last up to 10 years.

CO detectors, on the other hand, have the potential of detecting carbon monoxide, a gas also known as, “the silent killer” due to it’s colorless, odorless quality, which can emit fumes that can cause illness or death. Carbon monoxide detectors are triggered when the gas is found within the environment and sound an alarm to alert people of danger. Unlike smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors typically last 5-7 years.

As we enter into cooler weather, make sure your home is prepared. Keep these sound tips in mind and you’ll be on your way to a healthier, happier home.

Post Courtesy of Paul@DadKnows DIY

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build a home, CT, customize your home, home, lots for sale, new construction, real estate, smart home, Stamford, Uncategorized, Westover

It’s All About The Journey … Should You Build Your New Home?

Have you been looking for a new home and are tired of estimating the cost of renovations or reworking a floorplan to suit your lifestyle? Maybe it’s time to entertain the idea of bulding the home of your dreams!

Since a home is usually your largest investment and you can spend lots of time and energy searching for or designing “the perfect home”, building may be an option you should consider, especially if you have a wish list that includes specific needs (the things that you absolutely must have-like a 5 car garage or a gourmet kitchen) and wants (the features that you would like in your new home, but could do without if necessary) building may become an exciting option. While the home buying process involves a number of important choices, one of the very first decisions buyers need to make is whether to shop for an existing home or build a new one.

Building a Home

The big advantage of new construction is that you are more likely to get exactly what you want. For many, this factor alone is enough to choose building over buying, but there are other advantages too. A new home is more efficient, especially with the new energy codes which are both better for the environment and can save you money on your utility bills.

Another perk? A new house may literally be better for you. A new home is less likely to have the health concerns or toxic materials such as asbestos and lead paint. You can build with environmentally friendly materials, green Energy Star rated appliances, plus you have the option to outfit your home with future technology in mind such as home automation and solar.

Even though the upfront costs of building can be higher, it may be easier to recoup your investment. A newer home is typically more appealing than an older home to most people and a new home will require fewer repairs and less maintenance, which can save both money and time.

Money and features aside, building a house can lead to a level of satisfaction that you can’t achieve through buying an existing home. There is a definite feeling of an emotional connection to living in a new home that you have created.

If this option sounds enticing, check out these wonderful, level lots located in the prime Westover neighborhood. Located on a convenient cul-de-sac, the hook-ups for City Water, City Sewer, electric & cable are already there! With 3 lots still available, this could be the perfect fit for you!

Contact me for more information.

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CT, Education, real estate, Schools, Stamford, Uncategorized

It’s All About The Journey … Your Neighborhood School Profile: Rippowam Middle School

The school derived its name from the Native American tribe that inhabited Stamford and the surrounding area before European settlement.

Located on High Ridge Rd, at the center of the City of Stamford, Rippowam Middle School has an interesting history. The school opened in the fall of 1961 as the second high school in the city.-Go Warriors!, (Baseball star Bobby Valentine was a standout football & baseball athlete and I went there too!). The high school remained open until 1983.

It’s building has served different educational age groups over the years. The building has been used for adult education, and was the home for the Magnet Middle School before the school moved to Scofieldtown Rd and was a temporary location for the Hart Elementary School.

The campus became the site of Rippowam Middle School in 2001.
The Academy of Information Technology and Engineering (AITE), a regional magnet high school shared the building with Rippowam Middle School until August 2007, when it moved to its own building behind Rippowam.

Rippowam is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) school. IB program is founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1968, the IB offers high quality programs of international education to a worldwide community of schools. There are three key concepts of the IB program used to plan the curriculum:

Holistic Learning: Teachers work together to design interdisciplinary unit planning, leading students to see learning as interrelated.
Intercultural: Students learn about their own culture and society as they learn about others.
Community: Rules and Regulations for students are shared with parents and the community. Rippowam supports inquiry, reflection and expression in multiple forms, and promotes community and global awareness.

The Connecticut State Department of Education recently awarded the prestigious 21st Century Community Learning grant s to the Rippowam Middle School. The grant is intended to help students through the use of science-based practices and extended learning time. Rippowam is to receive $807,500 over the next five years, the money is intended to serve 110 students per year.

Rippowam has a large, well-equipped auditorium and is home to its own drama group. High School Musical 2 is announced as their 2017 production. Rippowam also hosted for All School Musical several years, presenting the young talents from every school in the city.

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real estate, Stamford

It’s All About the Journey … Finishing off – In the Basement!

Finishing a basement can bring you a double bonus. It provides additional living space for a fraction of the cost of an addition to the house – the walls are already there, electrical and plumbing lines are easily accessible, and no additional foundation supports are necessary to start construction. Also, a well-finished basement can add value to your house when you go to sell it – just don’t expect to get back all the money that went into it.

The average basement remodel recoups about 69% of the original cost, according to the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of Realtors. As with most remodeling projects, rarely does anyone get a 100% return on their investment. Improvements should be done to both enhance your lifestyle and to increase your homes’ selling potential.

Finished basements are particularly conducive for use as media rooms, music rooms, a home office or a recreation room. In all of these spaces, separation from the main living areas can be a plus!

Before you get started on your renovation, here are several things you need to know:

Know the Code

It would be great to convert unused space to additional living space, but does your basement meet the building code requirements for livable space? You must be in compliance with codes for ceiling height, and egress windows and/or doors. It’s also time to check with your local municipality to see if you’ll be required to get any permits. This is particularly important if you’re planning plumbing, heating and electrical work, which most likely will need to be inspected.

Keep It Dry

Check for any water issues in your basement before beginning the planning process. Obvious signs are pools of water or drips coming through the below-grade walls or around windows and the bilco door. Check outside to make sure the ground is graded away from your foundation. Also look for cracks in your foundation walls and repair that damage if necessary. If there is a continuing water issue, there are a number of remedies available – from sump pumps to perimeter French drainage systems.

Ceiling Heights/Options

As mentioned above, ALWAYS get necessary permits and know the building codes before you start a basement renovation (even if your contractor says it might not be necessary – it will become necessary when it’s time to sell). If you have concerns about ceiling height, consider installing a drywall ceiling rather than a drop ceiling. Drywall ceilings will give you a few more inches of headroom. Costs are comparable. Inserting plastic access panels into a drywall ceiling will provide easier access to valves in the pipes above.

A drop or suspended ceiling offers a way to both conceal and provide access to electrical and plumbing lines via the removable tiles. These ceilings will reduce the amount of overhead space available, so keep that in mind when planning.

Egress Windows and Doors

Basement living space requires emergency escape and rescue openings. Whether it is an egress window or an egress door, it has to open to the outside and open easily without the use of keys or tools. It must also follow code requirements for the height and width of basement egress windows.

Keep Out the Cold

Even after taking care of any moisture issues, your basement can become a damp place. Check with your contractor to see if you’ll need to add a vapor barrier to the walls and/or floors prior to framing and finishing off these surfaces. You may also choose an insulation that includes a vapor barrier on both sides. Adding insulation will not only help control the temperature inside your basement, it may also add another layer of moisture control. Other options include a spray foam insulation. Be sure to check code requirements for this type.

Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting in a basement is a good option because it doesn’t take up valuable overhead space that a light fixture would. It’s also easy to install if you decide to opt for a drop ceiling.

The Utility Room is Not for Finishing

Any space housing an HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) unit or units and water heaters need to remain clear, open, unfinished and ventilated. These spaces have specific code requirements for spacing and framing, plus you’ll need access for inspection and/or repairs.

A finished basement can be terrific “found space” but before you start daydreaming about all its’ potential, make sure your basement is a good candidate for renovation – if not, there’s nothing wrong with extra storage!

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CT, real estate, Stamford

It’s All About The Journey … Welcome To Newfield!

If you ask any resident of Newfield what they like most about their neighborhood, most will comment on the winning combination of living in peaceful surroundings and having quick and easy access to schools, recreation, shopping, downtown and commuting. Apparently, they are not alone in that sentiment. According to “Areavibes.com” an internet website that tracks the livability of neighborhoods, Newfield was ranked #1 in Stamford.

Today Newfield is comprised primarily of medium to large single family homes on ½ acre to 1 acre lots, but the original history of the area has deep roots in farming. Newfield was home to Puritan Poultry Farms, Mortimer Hess Farm, and most notably, Woodacre Farms, a 144 acre dairy farm which operated in the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Atherton Holder, the owner of Woodacre Farms was well known for raising prize winning dairy cows that grazed on the verdant pastures. The farm was sold in 1942 but continued operating as a dairy farm under the new name – Sterling Farms. In 1965 the officers of Hubbard Heights Golf Club dedicated their efforts to the eventual realization of another municipal golf course for the City of Stamford. Their determination led to the purchase of the property through the “Open Lands” program and Sterling Farms Golf Course opened in May of 1972 and often referred to as the “Public Country Club”.

Sterling Farms is a recreational gem featuring a beautiful 18 hole golf course that has been ranked the #1 public course in Fairfield County, year after year. A driving range, putting green and 6 outdoor tennis courts complete the facilities with golf and tennis lessons available throughout the Summer.

If you thought Sterling Farms was only for the sporting enthusiast, think again, because theatre lovers have a home there as well. The Sterling Barn Theatre (now Kweskin Theatre) opened on July 14, 1972. Originally operated by Stamford Parks and Recreation, the theatre has been managed since 1992 by Curtain Call, Inc. a nonprofit arts organization. Year-round productions and workshops are presented by and for area residents in the Kweskin and Dressing Room Theatres. The Kweskin Theatre offers a more traditional experience while the Dressing Room Theatre is more caberet-style, with table seating and the ability to enjoy a “picnic” meal and a bottle of wine while watching the show. In 2012, Curtain Call started “Shakespeare in the Park”, an outdoor theatre experience where the audience can bring picnic baskets and lawn chairs to the “great lawn” and enjoy an evening under the stars with a production of one of Shakespeare’s classics.

Whether finishing up a round of golf, tennis match or leaving a show, you can grab a bite to eat at the restaurant on the complex featuring a lower level geared for golfers to pull up their carts during play and traditional dining upstairs. A large outdoor deck provides beautiful views of the course and glimpses of Long Island Sound. They also have live music on weekends. In addition, The Clubhouse at Sterling – a Banquet Hall, can be rented out for private parties or meetings and features a large Dining Room, Bar Area and Enclosed Porch.

If you enjoy living in peaceful surroundings but want to be close to conveniences and recreational pursuits, come take a look at the neighborhood of Newfield. It just may be the right fit for you!

Check out my recent sold listing at 48 Edward Place in the Newfield neighborhood

List Price: $559,000, Sales Price: $566,000