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A Very ‘Giant’ Weekend Here in the Hudson Valley

1 Comment By Kerry Barger on February 3rd, 2012
Tags: , , , , , , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Events, Houlihan Lawrence News, Out and About, Putnam, Westchester

Residents across Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties (and all of New York and New Jersey, for that matter) have a lot to smile about this weekend, and it’s not just because of the mild temperatures and beautiful sunshine. Staten Island Chuck, our own version of Punxsutawney Phil, predicted an early spring—but do you know that he also foresaw a Giants’ Super Bowl win, too?

According to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chuck is right about 80 percent of the time. Sure it’s just a prediction, but you shouldn’t take an animal’s inner intuition for granted. Remember Paul the Octopus, who was 8-for-8 in predicting the 2010 World Cup’s final rounds, including the championship match? And don’t forget about Princess, the camel from Popcorn Park Zoo in New Jersey, who’s correctly predicted five of the last six Super Bowls (and has selected the Giants for a big championship win this weekend, too.)

Animal ESP aside, it’s been a painstaking two weeks for most of the Hudson Valley as media fanfare and talk of a 2008 Super Bowl replay have weighed heavily on the minds of Giants fans far and wide. Even some Jets fans have been forced to take sides when faced with the challenge of choosing between their stadium-sharing rivals or Tom Brady and his flowing locks of quarterback supremacy. In a LoHud story written by Richard Liebson, White Plains lawyer and loyal Jets fan Dave Mayeri says it’s an awful dilemma, but at the end of the day, decides he’s better off sticking with a fellow New York team.

While some Westchester residents are cringing at the thought of this year’s Super Bowl, others are ready to celebrate this Giant occasion. Yorktown Patch recently posted a story with the best spots and Super Bowl deals across Northern Westchester. What better way to wrap up the 2011—2012 NFL season with a $70 all-you-can-eat-and-drink at Brodie’s Pub in Mohegan Lake, or by dropping just 30 cents for boneless wings at South Side Grille in Yorktown. Be sure to read Liz Giegerich and Plamena Pesheva’s article to get the inside scoop.

And then there’s the power of a little friendly competition. The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that public officials across New York and Massachusetts have engaged in a football war, putting their respective states’ most famous goods on the line. According to Joseph Spector and the Journal Albany Bureau, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will send Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick 46 cases of the state’s Greek yogurt, 46 dozen bagels from Ess-a-Bagel in Manhattan, and 46 cheesecakes from Junior’s in Brooklyn if the Pats win. And if the Giants prevail, Patrick will send Cuomo 46 Centerville Pies from The Pie Ladies, Legal Sea Foods clam chowder, and six cases of Food Should Taste Good chips.

Whether you’re a diehard fan putting everything on the line this Sunday, a sidelined aficionado whose team just didn’t cut it this year or a fair-weather football-watcher, we’ve got just one question for you: Who do YOU think will reign supreme in Indy this Sunday?

After Irene

0 Comments By Bobbi Egan on September 6th, 2011
Tags: , , , , , , , ,      Categories: Events

Last week we were all wondering where we were during the earthquake. Now the question of the day is, how did you make out with “Irene?”

The wide spread storm system was pretty incredible and not something we experience very often, luckily. The major issues became downed trees and limbs, extensive flooding of basements and washed-out  roads. Residents throughout Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties experienced long and short-term interruptions in their electric service, with some storm-affected customers still without power since Sunday, August 28th.

The three utility companies that service our area, Con Edison, NYSEG and Central Hudson have been working around the clock to restore electrical power to their customers. As of 9/1, Con Edison has restored electricity to 97% percent of their customers. NYSEG has restored power to 88% of their customers and Central Hudson has restored power to 85% of their customers. Dry ice seems to be in short supply, however, so there may be a lot of spoiled food to deal with.

According to Con Edison’s morning update, communities in Westchester with the highest number of customers still without power due to the storm include North Castle, Cortlandt, Mount Pleasant and New Castle. Damage from Tropical Storm Irene set a new record with 187,000 customers losing power in Westchester and New York City.

Dutchess County has been declared a disaster area as a result of Hurricane Irene making the county eligible for Public Assistance-financial aid to local governments as well as Individual Assistance-financial aid for homeowners, renters and businesses. With the Individual Assistanceprogram, residents of Dutchess County can register for aid within FEMA’s eligibility guidelines. Included in the program are grants for repairs and for rent of alternative housing, low-interest disaster loans from the USBA and grants for other serious needs. Register online at
http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov

Some things to consider “After Irene”:

  • If you haven’t already done so, carefully look around the outside of your home to see if anything is broken or damaged from the storm.
  • Check your homeowners policy and speak with you agent if see if you have a covered loss.  Water in basements is generally only covered by a flood insurance policy so you need to check.
  • If you have incurred water damage, remove and dry everything as quickly as possible. Clean and mop up what you can if it’s safe to do so, and open doors and window to let fresh air in.  Dehumidify or run your air conditioner to get the moisture out of your home.
  • Take photos or video of your home and contents that were damaged by the storm. It important to itemize and document your losses.
  • Be aware of any storm-related assistance made available in your area by keeping in touch with media sources, internet, newspapers etc.
  • Try to be patient. No electricity and no generator can be very hard to deal with, especially for long periods.
  • There are still wires on the ground so please assume that all downed wires are alive with electricity.
  • Check refrigerated food for spoilage if the power has been off during the storm. Check your insurance policy to see if losses are covered with deductibles waived.

Hope you are one of the fortunate ones who survived Irene unscathed.  Not everyone was so lucky. It’s a great time to help your neighbors get through this or make a donation to one of the many charitable organizations that are providing food and shelter for those impacted by the storm.

As Labor Day weekend passed, the American Red Cross is still hard at work helping disaster-hit communities across our region. To make a donation, visit http://www.redcross.org

Quick Tips to Help Find the Right Real Estate Agent

0 Comments By Bobbi Egan on March 22nd, 2011
Tags: , , , , ,      Categories: Selling

The first day of spring was a washout in our area, but the beginning of the new season reminded me that many Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess County homeowners are getting ready to move and are preparing their home for a potential sale.

If you’re a homeowner who has decided that now is the time to list your house for sale, finding the right Realtor® is the most effective way to get the best price for your property in the shortest amount of time. Here is a quick list of tips to consider when choosing a real estate agent to sell your home:

  • Referrals – Speak with friends and neighbors who have sold a home similar to your own. Ask your friends and family if they’ve had a positive experience hiring their Realtor ®. Ask them what made that individual the right person to sell their home. Get references.
  • Online Resources – Utilize the Internet to your advantage by researching various Realtor® candidates on their website. Check out their homepage and social media sites, i.e., Facebook and Linkedin to get additional detail about their skill levels and interests.
  • Local Expertise – Ask prospective agents how well they know your neighborhood and the town that you live in. They should be familiar with the current real estate market in your neighborhood and recent comparable sales.
  • Narrow Your Choices – Once you have two or three names based on positive feedback and your own research, you will need to find a mutual time to interview each candidate and find the one Realtor® that is best suited to work with you to sell your home. Whether an agent is new or a seasoned professional, make sure you’re comfortable with them and are confident that they will deliver the results you need to sell your home.
  • Professional Designations – Did you ever wonder what all those acronyms meant after a real estate agents name? They indicate that a Realtor® has undergone additional training to increase their skills or expertise in a particular aspect of real estate. For information on many of these professional designations, go to The National Association of Realtors® website.
  • Agent Network – One factor to consider when listing your home with a Realtor® is the company they work for. A larger firm will have the advantage of a wide network of sales professionals in force to help sell your home.
  • Brokerage – Ask what tools and assistance the brokerage firm they work for provides them to keep pace with today’s real estate market. Is there ongoing education and training available? Where will they showcase your listing on the Internet? Do they offer professional photographers and video? What reports would be available to help sell your home?
  • Educate Yourself – There are many more tips and suggestions available on the Internet. You won’t regret the time spent researching what you need to be aware of before you hire a Realtor®.

12 Staging Tips to Help Sell Your Home

0 Comments By Bobbi Egan on January 5th, 2011
Tags: , , , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Market Area, Putnam, Selling, Westchester

open door1 12 Staging Tips to Help Sell Your Home

There are many factors to consider when marketing your home for sale whether in Westchester, Putnam or Dutchess County. One important thing to remember is that your home is now a product that you need to “sell” to another. Staging your home for sale brings out the best features of your home and gives you a competitive advantage. Staging can facilitate a quick sale and get the best possible price for your home in today’s challenging real estate market.

Your real estate agent can provide an honest appraisal of what you need to do to help sell your home or put you in contact with a professional stager, if desired. For additional reference, research “home staging” on the Internet.

If you don’t have access or the budget for professional home staging services, you can incorporate many techniques to help promote the sale of your home. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Maximize your interior space by placing excess/un-used furniture in
a storage unit to make rooms appear larger and showcase the room’s purpose.

2. De-personalize by packing up your personal photos and family heirlooms so potential buyers can imagine the home filled with their possessions and not be distracted by yours.

3. Remove excess clutter. Selling your home is the perfect time to get rid of anything you haven’t used in a long time and don’t plan to take with you when you move anyway. Remove refrigerator magnets, organize closet and cabinets, clear off countertops and dressers, file paperwork and pack up those knickknacks and books! Donate it, pack it up or throw it away.

4. Clean. Is your bathroom lived-in or a showcase? What would you want to see? Show you care and maintain all the areas of your home by using a critical eye to eliminate dust and cobwebs – make your house sparkle!

5. Brighten your interior space by washing the windows, opening all the shades, removing window screens and checking to be sure all the light bulbs are in working order using the highest wattage allowed.

6. Apply a coat of fresh paint to walls in a warm neutral color. Your home will be more appealing and will have one less thing for the new homeowner to do.

7. De-odorize your home by freshening the air and removing any traces of pet bedding or litter boxes, cigarette smoke and mildew. The number one homeselling issue is odors! Ask a friend or neighbor to walk through your house and let you know if they detect anything you may be unaware of.

8. Remove and replace favorite items such as heirloom light fixtures or fireplace screens that you want to take with you to your new home.  Pack up what you aren’t willing to leave behind before you begin showing your home to potential buyers.

9. Walk through your house with an objective eye. Pretend you have never seen the house before. Take note and fix any repairs that need to be made… especially the ones you’ve been putting off.

10. Take a hard look at your wallpaper. Is it out of date? Are you the only one who likes it? Consider removing the wallcovering if you’ve answered yes to these questions.

11. Create curb appeal. Just like a great exterior photo, the front entry of your home is your first and best chance for getting a potential homebuyer inside your door. Look around – is your yard inviting? Are toys and equipment put away? Are the shrubs trim and neat? Is your front doorway neat and clean? It’s a great time to clean your gutters. Make a great first impression by paying attention to the front of your home.

12. Disappear. Take your self, your family and your pets and don’t attend the showing. If you stick around, you’ll intimidate the potential homebuyers who really want to take a good look at your house.

Do you have any home staging experiences or tips you’d care to share with us? Please comment and let us know!

Join Us on Facebook

0 Comments By Frederick Romley on September 24th, 2010
Tags: , , , ,      Categories: Dutchess, Putnam, social media, Westchester

facebook icon 150x150 Join Us on FacebookTrying to follow the latest developments from Facebook and other social media tools like Twitter is a never ending quest. Our challenge at Houlihan Lawrence is how to use these tools to best communicate with you, our consumer. Today, I will look at how we use Facebook as a business tool.

 We use our Fan Page, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, to give you the information you need to keep tabs on the local and national real estate markets. Our recent posts have included August Market Reports for Westchester, NAR’s August Home Sales report, and a post on our involvement in Breast and Ovarian Cancer walks.

We also have community pages. We use these pages to talk about events in the communities we live in. We are very careful to not mix business on these pages. These pages are for you and the community. Our page for Westchester Life  recently posted articles on a new burger restaurant opening in White Plains, a Children’s event sponsored by the Junior League of Bronxville and Children’s Book Day at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside. We have a page devoted to all things Dutchess County that we call 365 Things to do in Dutchess County NY that has included posts on local fairs and events. For Putnam County we have a similar page called 365 Things to do in Putnam County NY.

Feel free to visit any of our community pages and share your knowledge of our local towns with us.

Realtor News from Washington DC

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on May 19th, 2010
Tags: , , , , , , , ,      Categories: Houlihan Lawrence News, Relocation

capital 150x150 Realtor News from Washington DCHaving just returned from attending the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Mid-Year meetings in Washington DC., I wanted to share some of the highlights of the meetings with you. There were over 8,000 Realtors® that descended upon our Nation’s Capital throughout the week.

I arrived Thursday morning and attended the Large Firm Directors meeting right after lunch. As an aside, did you know that if a waiter breaks an entire glass of water on you and covers you with shards of glass and water, you’ll likely get a free lunch? So yes, I made it to the meeting, albeit a little soggy. While the economic updates are always interesting, the presentation by Dale Ross on RPR (Realtors Property Resource) was pretty fascinating. RPR will serve as an online real estate archive that will provide Realtors® with data on every property and land parcel in the U.S. According to Ross, though RPR is currently being tested in about 12 markets around the Country, a full roll-out may take up to five years.

realtor u Realtor News from Washington DCSaturday morning I attended the NAR Board of Director’s meeting. The most interesting new initiative presented there was Realtor® University. It’s the association’s answer for raising the bar in our industry. If you are on Twitter, you know that there has been a lot of discussion on this topic in the last 6 months. Realtor® University will be a fully accredited institution that will grant degrees in our field, though accreditation may take 2-3 years. The curriculum will be online, and in addition to master’s degrees, Realtor University will eventually offer internship and job-placement programs. The premise all sounds great, so I guess we’ll see what NAR does with it. I just hope the classes will be more challenging than some of the online license renewal classes I’ve taken over the years. That will be the only way this will truly raise the bar in our profession.

All in all it was a great couple of days – packed with informative meetings and networking with great people. Now I’m looking forward to implementing new ideas in the Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess real estate marketplace.

Houlihan Lawrence Open House Event

0 Comments By Gay Prizio on May 14th, 2010
Tags: , , ,      Categories: Houlihan Lawrence News

Mark your calendars. This Sunday, May 16th is the Houlihan Lawrence Spring Open House Event in New York’s Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.

Over 470 homes for sale in Westchester, Dutchess and Putnam counties will open their doors to buyers. With this many Open Houses, you’ll need to plan ahead, so here is the full list of all of Houlihan Lawrence’s Open Houses in our Spring Open House Event.

Houlihan Lawrence Gets Social

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on March 25th, 2010
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Houlihan Lawrence News, Putnam, Relocation, Selling, Westchester

Everywhere you go these days, you hear about Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and all sorts of other social media. Of the many social networking websites, these seem to be the most popular, at least for now. They have become important business tools for real estate firms and professionals and Houlihan Lawrence was an early adopter.

Houlihan Lawrence started using social media in early 2009. We created a company blog, a Facebook Fan Page, a Twitter account and an agent blog site . Additionally, our home tours are on YouTube. It seems like every day we’re finding ways to use social media as well as new places to post real estate news and real estate market statistics.

Real estate has always been a relationship business and social networking is a perfect way to extend and enhance those relationships. Social networking is now a part of our comprehensive marketing strategy, “Reaching every buyer, everywhere”.

One could almost get entirely lost in the social media bubble but let’s not forget the most important part of social media – being social. It’s great to make connections online, but it’s even better to meet someone IRL – In Real Life.

Until we meet, feel free to follow us on twitter and friend us on facebook. You’ll get up to date market statistics, great area information and tips about buying and selling your home. If there is specific information we can help you with just send us a tweet or pose a question on our facebook page.

For Those About to Rock We Salute You!

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on January 22nd, 2010
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,      Categories: Houlihan Lawrence News, Market Area, Putnam, Westchester

Ok, so you thought this would be about AC/DC. Sorry, it’s not. It is however about a group of Houlihan Lawrence sales associates who rock what they do, each and every day.

The Westchester Putnam Association of Realtors, Inc. (WPAR) along with the Westchester Putnam Multiple Listing Service (WPMLS) recently held their 2010 Installation and New Years party. Proudly, several Houlihan Lawrence sales associates were installed in their new 2010 positions:

Nancy Kennedy …Vice President, Westchester
Eileen Barrett …Vice President, Putnam
Harding Mason …Immediate Past President
Pat Held …Area Director
Matthew Bevilaqua …Area Director
Toni Chrystal …President, Women’s Council of Realtors, Empire Chapter

This group stands out not only because of their dedication to their profession and our local Board but also because they are all tops at what they do. This is a group of movers and shakers in the Westchester/Putnam real estate market.

We salute this group because we know they’re going to ROCK in their new Board positions! Congratulations to all!

If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands!

0 Comments By Elizabeth Nunan on December 22nd, 2009
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,      Categories: Buying, Dutchess, Market Area, Putnam, Relocation, Westchester

New research by the UK’s University of Warwick and Hamilton College in the US has used the happiness levels of a million individual US citizens to discover which are the best and worst states in which to live. New York came in dead last and I demand a recount!

Surely, they didn’t interview anyone who resides in Westchester, Putnam or Dutchess counties of New York? What do we have to be unhappy about? OK – so our property taxes are a bit high in some areas, but look at everything we’ve got:

  • Close proximity to NYC – you can jump on a train and be at a Broadway show in 30 minutes to an hour, depending where you live.
  • Activities galore: golfing, biking, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, skiing, horseback riding – are you getting the point?
  • Shopping – we have some of the greatest shopping in our area – no need to go to the city to shop!
  • Beautiful landscape – we are surrounded by beauty from Long Island Sound to the majestic Hudson river to the mountains up North and all the lakes and reservoirs in between. We have 4 beautiful seasons each year.
  • Restaurants – any type of cuisine you could possibly crave is right here – again, no need to go to the city!
  • Public Schools that have made the Top 100 list of America’s Best High Schools.
  • The New York Yankees – OK – so you either love them or you hate them but since they’re champs this year, what’s not to love?

So, let me hear some hand clapping because clearly there are a lot of reasons to be happy about where we live. What do you love most about where you live?

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