Medfield Area Real Estate with Ralph White

What to Ask Before You Add On

Ralph White — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:05:55 +0000

If you are thinking of adding an addition to your home there are some things you will wants to be aware of.

If you decide to add a new space, ask yourself the following questions:

* Can I finance the home improvement with my own cash or will I need a loan?

* How much equity is in the property? A fair amount will make it that much easier to get a loan for home improvements.

* Is it feasible to expand the current space for an addition?

* What is permissible under local zoning and building laws? Despite your deep yearning for a new sunroom or garage, you will need to know if your town or city will allow such improvements.

* Should I make the improvement myself or hire a contractor?

Many homeowners consider going to job alone to save money. Consider how much time you have, your level of expertise or willingness to handle the job, amount of help from friends or relatives, and how much you want, or need, to save by doing the job yourself. You could save up to 20 percent of the project cost through your own hard work.

Be aware, however, that you may need to call in the pros. Going it alone can sometimes lead to spending more time and money. if problems arise.

Most home improvement experts suggest that homeowners who do not have a lot of experience should stick to painting, minor landscaping, building interior shelving, and other minor improvements.

Norfolk, MA Open House Sunday May 20th

Ralph White — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:09:59 +0000

Does this describe the home you have been looking for? Offered by Prudential Page Realty at $529,900 this wonderful property located at 11 Castle Rd. in Norfolk, MA will be open on Sunday May 20 from 1-3:00pm. Don’t miss out!

$529,900 Norfolk MA

Beautiful, Hip-Roof Colonial in sought after walk-to-town neighborhood! Private, wooded and professionally landscaped acre plus lot with many beautiful plantings. Formal living room and dining rooms with hardwood floors, center island kitchen with new Cambria counters, birch cabinets, hardwood floors and new ss dishwasher and microwave opens to smashing, Four Season Sunroom and inviting fireplaced family room. Four generous bedrooms with California Closets and finished lower level Rec Room. More info

Open House

Date: 05/20/2012

1:00PM to 3:00PM

Is Your Kitchen Making You Fat?

Ralph White — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:07:59 +0000

If you have been packing on the pounds it may be your kitchen that is to blame. New research has shown that it could be your kitchen making you gain weight.

Here are some tips on how to keep your kitchen from contributing to a growing waistline.

No Media

The TV in the kitchen is now a media snack station. Parking yourself in front of the TV with food all around you makes snack time a lot easier. Computers in the kitchen can also lead to mindless munching and web surfing. It’s too easy to grab a bite when all the food is within arm’s reach.

Stand Up

Who doesn’t love an island prep station? But all the handy seating around the island is an invitation to linger over snacks. So lose all the stools to help resist temptation to gather in the kitchen.

Open Invitation

The so-called great room isn’t so great for your weight. Combination living/kitchen areas make your kitchen the focal point of the home. Add a few partition walls or screens to keep the fridge and cabinets out of sight when relaxing, and watching TV in the living room.

Skimp on Storage

Pantries, large cabinets are so appealing and offer a great place to stockpile food. They also offer lots of temptation. Too many trips to bargain bulk stores will have your storage full in no time and also create a mentality of surplus. More is always more especially when it comes to food.

A Great Lawn Is Easy Curb Appeal

Ralph White — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:50:32 +0000

When adding decorative plantings and mulch in your landscaping remember your lawn may need some nurturing as well. A lush green carpet of grass may be the very first thing buyers see when they arrive at your home. This is both inviting and motivating to a buyer.
Medfield Area Real Estate’s newsletter this month outlines some of the steps to a great lawn. Check out Lawn Care and prepare to make your home look great.

Homeownership Readiness Test

Ralph White — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:06:20 +0000

You may be considering buying a home but it is hard to know if you are ready to be a homeowner. It can be a big step. Buyers that educate themselves on the process and set realistic expectations have the best experiences.

To gauge whether or not you are ready to own your first home you should ask yourself some serious questions.

Are you in a lease or is your living situation easily changed?
Do you need to remain in your current community or would you be willing to move?
Do you have the time and resources necessary to make your first home purchase a success?

If you have answered these questions favorably you may well be on your way to homeownership.

The next step is to evaluate your financial situation. Here are some questions to check your financial readiness.

Do you have a steady source of income?
Do you know your credit history?
Do you have a down payment ?
Are you ready for the financial responsibilities that coincide with home ownership?

If your answers to these questions are positive then it is time to get the loan process started to see how much you can afford. A reputable lender will give you realistic expectations and many offer a free consultation for buyers seeking pre-approval.

Now it is time to start your search. Working with an agent that you trust and are comfortable with is very important. My skills include educating you about the buying process, negotiating, having your best interest in mind and helping you find a perfect first home while hopefully saving you time and money.

Spring Cleaning Tips

Ralph White — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 11:05:10 +0000

Spring is here and you know what that means…Spring Cleaning! That’s right it time to get down and dirty and get your home spic and span.

Here are some tips from guru Martha Stewart to get you started on your Spring Cleaning.

Clean Windows

Dirty panes are no problem when you use rubber-edged squeegees, which are quicker and more effective than cloth or newspaper. They come in a variety of sizes — and a screw-on extension will let you reach high spots.

To start, dip a sponge into a bucket of warm water and a few drops of mild dish soap. Wet window; rub dirt away. Dampen squeegee; starting at an upper corner, draw it down pane from top to bottom. Repeat, overlapping strokes and wiping rubber edge with sponge after each stroke. (For large windows, ”snake” squeegee back and forth; then touch up edges.) Dry windowsills with a cloth.

Dust Lightbulbs
Unscrew lightbulbs and polish the bulbs with a microfiber cloth dampened with water (avoid wetting the metal screw base). Clean the bulbs in recessed ceiling fixtures with a telescoping lamb’s wool duster.

Wash Your Blinds
Once or twice a year, wipe wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner on a nearly dry sponge. Aluminum blinds can be washed outdoors: Place them on an old sheet on a slanted surface, and scrub with water and a noncorrosive cleaner. Use a hose to rinse well, and then dry the blinds thoroughly with a towel to prevent rust.

Switch It Up
Change the direction of your ceiling fans. While the standard counterclockwise direction provides a pleasant breeze during warm months, you should run the fan clockwise in cold weather. This creates an upward draft, redistributing the warm air hovering near the ceiling throughout the room, thus heating your home more efficiently. Most fans have a switch on the base to adjust the rotation.

Clean Out the Refrigerator
This task is a daunting undertaking; make it more manageable by breaking it down. The first step is to wipe up spills immediately so surfaces won’t become stained. Make it a habit to throw out old food once a week.

Every few months, wash the interior with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda for every quart of warm water. Wash removable shelves and drawers in the solution (let glass shelves come to room temperature first so warm water won’t crack them). Loosen hardened spills on fixed parts by wetting the area with the solution, allowing the residue to soften.

Use a toothbrush to scrub crannies. Twice a year, vacuum or brush dust from the condenser coils to keep the system from overheating.

Deep-Clean Carpets and Rugs
For synthetic carpeting, rent or buy a shampooer/extractor — a machine that cleans the fibers and removes traces of soap using hot water. Open windows and let air flow to help carpets dry. If you have wool carpets or rugs, or any that are valuable or delicate, contact a professional for cleaning.

Clean Your Curtains
Vacuum and steam-clean curtains or have them dry-cleaned. If you’ll be replacing heavy curtains with lighter ones as the weather gets warmer, it is especially important to remove dust and dirt before putting the curtains away for storage.

Condo – Walpole, MA 02032 is now new to the market!

Ralph White — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:00:56 +0000

Originally the model home at Riverwalk Commons, an active adult community. This elegant home includes many luxury features such as sauna, designer kitchen with premium cabinets, granite and high-end stainless appliances. Sit on your deck beneath the awning overlooking the river for ultimate relaxation. Second floor guest suite includes large loft, bedroom and full bath. Finished basement boasts second gas fireplace in family room, full bath, sauna, walk out plus two additional bonus rooms.

This is a Detached style home and features 8 total rooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, 2 bedrooms, and is currently available for $629,000.

For complete details click here.

Unusual Cleaning Ideas

Ralph White — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:05:10 +0000

Did you know you can clean your house with things you already have in the cabinets? No need to buy expensive cleaning products. Save time, money and clean with less chemicals by using everyday products.

Here are some unusual ways to clean your home.

Use white bread to: Dust an oil painting. Gently dab a slice of white bread over the surface to pick up dirt and grime.

Use ketchup to: Remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware. Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. They should go back to their coppery color in minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel.

Use oatmeal to: Scrub very dirty hands. Make a thick paste of oatmeal and water; rinse well

Use rice to: Clean the inside of a vase or a thin-necked bottle. Fill three quarters of the vessel with warm water and add a tablespoon of uncooked rice. Cup your hand over the opening, shake vigor-ously, and rinse.

Use club soda to: Shine up a scuffed stainless-steel sink. Buff with a cloth dampened with club soda, then wipe dry with another clean cloth.

Use hydrogen peroxide to: Disinfect a keyboard. Dip a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide to get into those nooks and crannies.

Use cornstarch to: Clean grease spills on carpets. Pour cornstarch onto spots and let sit for 15 to 30 minutes before vacuuming.

Reasons Why You Should Own a Home

Ralph White — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:05:34 +0000

The past few years the news has been inundated with bad press about the housing market but the facts remain the same it is still better to own a home. In fact, there are more reasons than ever to buy a home. If you are on the fence about buying you will want to take note of some of the benefits of homeownership.

Pride of Ownership
It belongs to you! That’s right, renovate, update, paint, and decorate to your heart’s desire and you don’t need to ask permission or waste money improving something that you do not own. Your home is your own so plant trees, install a pool, put up a fence, expand the patio, redo the basement or do anything you want. Owning something feels good.

Equity
Homeownership is about building long-term wealth. It may seem that buying a home has a lot of upfront costs but historically homes appreciate by about 4 to 6 percent a year. When you purchase a home, you build equity with each payment. Equity is the difference between what the home is worth and what is owed. Equity can be used to build wealth, save for retirement and even to secure a loan. For example, an $800/month rent payment equals out to be $48,000 over five years with no financial gain to you.

Tax Benefits
Homeownership has huge tax benefits. In the early years of a loan, mortgage interest is the largest part of your mortgage payment. Mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. For example, a homeowner in a 28% federal tax bracket could lower their borrowing costs by almost a third.

Better Living
Studies have shown that owning a home can actually make you healthier, and is better for your family too. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report: says “Homeowners accumulate wealth as the investment in their homes grows, enjoy better living conditions, are often more involved in their communities, and have children who tend on average to do better in school and are less likely to become involved with crime. Communities benefit from real estate taxes homeowners pay, and from stable neighborhoods homeowners create”.

The National Association of Realtor’s Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing reports homeowners experience:

-Higher educational performance and better behavior of children
-Lower community crime rates
-Lessened welfare dependency among households
-More household participation in civic affairs
-Better household health

Bottom line, it’s a great time to buy! Interest rates are at historic lows; homes are more affordable so go ahead and invest in a safer, healthier, better future for you and your family today.

Celebrate Earth Day at Stony brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Ralph White — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:33:59 +0000

Medfield area real estate would like to remind everyone that Saturday April 14 is the Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk, MA.

This is a great opportunity to turn off the video games and introduce the natural wonders of our planet. Enjoy guided walks, gardening tips and games. The first 300 attendees receive a free tree seedling to nurture.

For additional information contact Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-528-3140 or click here for Stony Brook web site