Guide Me Home to Chatham, NJ

This year’s Harding Township Holiday House Tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 8, 2011.  The day kicks off with a breakfast at Spring Brook Country Club in Morristown, New Jersey from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by a tour of selected houses in the Harding area. The homes chosen have been decorated for the holidays with the help of local florists and home décor businesses.   Proceeds from this event benefit the Kemmerer Library.

If you are unable to join the tour, you can head directly to the Kemmerer Library’s lower floor for a Holiday Boutique opportunity. The following stores are participating:

• East End Foodies
• Jardiniere Fine Flowers
• Mia Dennis
• Pamela Cassidy Designs
• Patchpoint
• Seasons
• Seasons Gift and Home.com
• The Candy Store of Harding

So come out and enjoy some pre-holiday cheer--you might even cross some gifts off your list! Plus, you will be supporting a wonderful community service, our public library.

Posted by:  Lois Olmstead

Halloween is approaching fast! This year’s spectacular fall weather is perfect for a drive in the country to visit local farms to enjoy some apple picking and fresh cider, or visit a pumpkin patch to get the perfect jack-o’-lantern for Halloween.

Take a relaxing drive through this beautiful part of New Jersey to witness the lovely fall foliage. It’s all happening right now in Harding Township, New Jersey. For those of you in pursuit of these fall activities and in need of the perfect Halloween pumpkin, we have many choices in the area.

Below are some popular spots in or near New Vernon, New Jersey:

• Wightman’s Farm in Harding Township is always a good place start. They have apple orchards for picking, a pumpkin patch, country pies, cider and a corn maze for the children to roam.
• Hillview Farms is in nearby Gillette on Meyersville Road. They have wonderful tractor rides to the apple orchards and pumpkin patch. You can get cider there too!
• Melick’s Farm and Cider Mill in Oldwick is on King Street. They sell apples, pumpkins, and cider made on premises.

Posted by:  Lois Olmstead

Well, none of us will soon forget Irene! It’s doubtful anyone ‘weathered’ the storm without some kind of problem: be it water in basements, trees down, power out, contaminated water, no telephone service, roads closed….. did I forget any big things?

There are stories of near misses and real stress:

Here is one is about a friend whose house was severely damaged by a large tree. Imagine this: The tree fell right on the house leaving a gaping hole. It was a BIG surprise at 4 a.m. with glass flying, house debris, hurricane winds and rain showering in on them. Quite the alarm clock! They are lucky the tree stopped a few feet from them as they lay in bed. A guardian angel story, as no one was hurt! People are irreplaceable, but things and buildings are.

There are funny stories as well:

This is one I couldn’t resist mentioning!

A friend told me she is still out of power, but not a problem. They have a generator. I asked what was running on the generator, this was the response, “The refrigerator, the kitchen lights, the powder room, the well and an outlet for the hair dryer!” I never laughed so hard! She made sure there was a dedicated outlet in the bedroom for the hair dryer, not for the coffee maker, microwave, or toaster.

The funniest story:

This story was retold to me as follows: Friend #1who had no power, water or phone service calls friend #2. Friend #2 offers to have friend #1 stay with them but her washing machine does not work. Friend #1 one says, “Thank you, let me call you back. “ A few hours later Friend #1 does call back. This is what she says, “Thank you so much for your offer, but I won’t need your help. I decided to book a trip to Paris and bring my laundry along. I will ride it out in Paris and return in a few weeks!” Now that is a great solution to the problem!

Stay safe, until next time.

Posted by:  Lois Olmstead

Getting in the mood to sell your home? If the fall market is your target, get ready NOW!

We always suggest that clutter clearing is the number one priority…it still is.

Here are a few ways you can get started:

1. Work on one room at a time.

2. Take a photo of it before you begin.

3. Take a photo of it once you begin restoring it back to “model home” condition.

a. Taking photos will help you see your room from the buyers’ eyes.

If you get stuck, there are people who take care of this for you. Their prices don’t seem cheap, but once they do the job, you will think their fees are worth their weight in gold.
 

Check out Clutter Crashers and get a look at what they do. Take the quiz…you may be surprised!

Happy clearing!

Posted by:  Caroline Vanleer

Looking for delicious Jersey Fresh produce? Check out these great local farmers markets. You can enjoy Jersey fresh foods from Tuesday through Sunday in the following towns, or search the New Jersey Farmers Market Directory for a farm market near you.

Tuesdays:

Millburn/Short Hills Farmers Market

Runs: June 14 until October 25, 2011

Time: 8 a.m.to 2 p.m.

Place: Municipal Lot # 1 corner of Main and Essex Street.

Thursdays:

Madison Farmers Market

Runs: June 23 until October 29, 2011

Time: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Place: Waverly Place off Main Street

Saturdays:

Chatham Farmers Market

Runs: June 25 until November 19, 2011

Time: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Place: Railroad Plaza South off Fairmont Ave.

Sundays:

Summit Farmers Market

Runs: June 5 until November 20, 2011

Time: 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Place: Park and Shop Lot #2 Maple and Deforest Avenue.

Posted by:  Lois Olmstead

Septic Tanks: For those of you who live in the country, this topic is old news, commonplace, routine, no big deal. For everyone else it’s a mystery, an annoyance, a scary proposition.

As the spring market gears up there will be houses coming on the market that have septic systems. Often these houses are in the more rural settings. The fact that a house has a septic system should not dissuade a buyer from considering the house. In fact, in many of our more desirable areas such as Harding Township, Bernardsville, Peapack Gladstone, Bedminster, Bernards Township, Mendham and parts of Chatham, the chances are high that you will have a septic system. You can easily learn about how to live with a septic system.

A seller, when working with a Realtor, will be asked to fill out a disclosure form which asks what kind of sewage system the house is connected to, among other things. The process of checking the viability of a septic system is straightforward and simple. There are companies who inspect septic systems, repair systems and build new systems. I am not an expert in any of these areas, however, you can click here to access a website that provides a list by state for professional septic pumpers, installers, inspectors and tank manufacturers throughout the United States.

As a seller, it is important to maintain your septic system. This is done with regular pumping and inspection of the system. If during the course of a septic inspection the system fails, there are several, licensed and reputable companies who can help you.

Protection for the buyer is in the form of the right to inspect. The New Jersey Association of Realtors Standard Contract of Sale includes the right of the buyer to have a septic inspection. It is strongly recommended by Realtors and attorney’s to have a separate septic inspection by a licensed septic inspector. This is a clear-cut environmental and health issue that every buyer will want to address.

This handy guide, A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency is a helpful tool in understanding septic systems.

Posted by:  Lois Olmstead

Homeowners undertake home improvements to either improve their home’s resale value, or their own enjoyment of their house. The best home improvements are those that deliver on both objectives.

Americans will spend nearly $141 billion on remodeling in the first half of this year, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. If you are among the many homeowners opting to renovate, rather than move, you may be wondering what renovations are likely to give you the best balance of enhanced resale value (return on investment) and immediate enjoyment.

One of the most popular rooms to renovate is the kitchen, where most families spend the bulk of their time. According to Remodeling Magazine, a minor kitchen remodel costing approximately $21,000 will return about 78 percent of its value on resale. A larger kitchen renovation, costing approximately $58,000, will recoup about $41,200, or 72 percent, depending on your demographic. Consult a Realtor, or a local appraiser to analyze your specific home.

There are many different options (and price points) available today in terms of cabinets, counters, appliances, backsplashes, flooring, lighting, etc. – something to fit everyone’s budget! The kitchen is the heart of the home, and a major factor in determining the re-sale value of a home.

Posted by:  Cynthia Edgar