Archive for the 'Living in southern Vermont' Category

Harsch Associates Real Estate is pleased to announce the Spring 2012 recipients of the real estate firm’s Charitable Gifting Program.

Harsch Associates sets aside 1% of its gross pretax income from each sale and the buyer/seller chooses their favorite charity organizations to receive the money. Listing property or buying property through a Harsch Associates Real Estate Agent ensures your

favorite non-profit organization will receive direct support .

The spring 2012 recipients are:

Berkshire Family and Individual Resources,

Berlin Central School District,

Children of Fallen Soldiers,

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,

Ecu-Health Care,

Flying Cloud Institute,

Greylock ABC,

The Haiti Plunge,

Hancock Volunteer Fire Department,

HooRWA,

Humane Society,

Little Red School House,

Mount Greylock Soccer,

North Adams Ambulance,

Northern Berkshire Community Action,

Northern Berkshire Habitat for Humanity,

Northern Berkshire Santa Fund,

Williamstown Cal Ripken Little League,

Williamstown Village Ambulance,

Williamstown Community Chest,

Williamstown Elementary School,

Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation,

Williamstown Youth Center.

Everyone at Harsch Associates extends a sincere thank you to all of our clients.

Home Newsletter free at local businesses in Williamstown Harsch Associates Berkshire Real Estate is and has been your Source for Solutions, Service, and Stability in the Berkshires for 35 years.  Welcome Home to Harsch! Love personality quizzes???  You will absolutely adore the 10 House-onality Quizzes we gathered to help you find the perfect home.  Share our blog page with your friends and then laugh together as you share the results….  House-onality quizzes Spring is here!  March Madness is upon the Berkshires and here at Harsch Associates we are beginning a new feature- Video Blogs with Tips, Topics and Takes on Real Estate in the Berkshires.  Quick and to the point face to face info you can use today.  We call it “In A Real Estate Minute.” The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of FSBO (for sale by owner) .  Should you try it?  read more Want to watch the video blog instead of reading the story about For Sale By Owner, then watch more Did you know that there are actually FOUR different prices you can put on your home depending on what the appraiser says?  read more Want to watch the video blog instead of reading about the Four Different pricing strategies?  Then watch more Spring is the most active time for listing your property on the market.  We offer 7 fast tips on getting the attention of buyers NOW!  read more Want to watch the video that shares top tips from home appraisers on how to get the attention of buyers?  Then watch more Welcome to Spring and Mud Season in the Berkshires.  We are here to sell your Berkshire Home or represent you as a buyer when you purchase your Berkshire Home. Call us and let us share the unique features we can offer YOU.  413-458-5000     If you no longer wish to receive these messages, please click the appropriate link below: Unsubscribe me from this one Harsch Real Estate e-mail list. Unsubscribe me from ALL Harsch Real Estate e-mail lists.
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Anyone in Williamstown or Berkshire County who expects to collect a fee for selling real estate in Massachusetts MUST be Licensed in Massachusetts.  A large percentage of real estate licensees are members of the National Association of Realtors (registered trademark), the trade organization of the profession.  Only members of the National Association of Realtors and the state and local Boards may participate in Multiple Listing Service and the Information Data Exchange.

Licensees must assist the public in one of the following ways in Massachusetts: Buyer Agency, Seller Agency, or Facilitation.  It is very common for clients to sign a working agreement with a licensed real estate agent and under law, licensed real estate agents must provide a disclosure form to members of the public with whom then intend to work upon first meeting to discuss a property or upon first meeting to discuss creating a working relationship.

Agents or those real estate licensees procurred as Buyer’s agents or Seller’s Agents have a duty of ABSOLUTE faith to the lawful instructions of their Principals (similar to employer in some ways).  The licensee must follow strictly the  guidance of the client and advocate only for the client’s interests above and beyond all others.  Creating an agency relationship with a licensee also creates what is called vicarious liability for the principal (you the client).   You are responsible by virtue of creating an agency relationship for what your Real Estate Agent does on your behalf.  Should your agent inadvertently state a false fact or otherwise perform a misdeed in the transaction then you are responsible for the resulting liability.   You may also be responsible for other agents if your own agent assigns “showings” to another agent in the firm during the time you have agreed to agency representation.   You should read and understand fully any document your agent asks you to sign.  If you are unsure of the liability involved consult with your attorney before signing an agreement.

Facilitation brokerage does not create an “Agency” relationship and thus removes the risk of vicarious liability from the client.   In the facilitation brokerage agreement the Real Estate Agent has a duty to treat both parties (buyer and seller) fairly and equally providing complete disclosure to both parties involved in a real estate transaction.  The information provided to both  parties allows the clients to make decisions based on full and equal disclosure.  The real estate agent acting as a facilitator has the same  legal obligation to the client in regards to trustworthiness, accountability for all funds, and full disclosure of known facts as any other licensee in the State of Massachusetts.

The majority of buyers and sellers want competent assistance with what is a relatively complex transaction of considerable financial importance in their lives.   A seller wants to sell their property for the best price and a buyer wants to buy a property for the best price.   Both the buyer and seller are working toward the same goal.  A facilitation agreement allows full disclosure to both parties of the same information, requires that the facilitator be neutral in the transaction, and that every effort is made to bring all parties to the closing table in a mutually agreed upon and satisfying price for both seller and buyer.   No adversarial activity is required or encouraged in a facilitation transaction, in fact the goal of facilitation is  closing the deal with EVERYONE content that the best outcome has been achieved.

Berkshire Real Estate in the Springtime

Spring has officially sprung and mud season is upon the Berkshires.  Williamstown, Stockbridge, Lenox, Great Barrington,  and the Berkshires in general are thawing and the smell of fresh green is in the air.  Shopping for a new nest is what spring is all about.  Sunshine and warm weather causes buyers to feel that  same longing for a new start.  Traditionally spring has been the peak season for putting a home on the real estate market.  Why sell in the your Berkshires home in the springtime? 

We have seven good reasons why this is the season to sell your Berkshires real estate:

S=  Sprucing up the exterior and increasing curb value is much easier during the spring season when plants begin to sprout, snow has melted and the siding, porches and walkways of the home can be power washed and scrubbed.  Curb appeal is the number one hook to get buyers inside to look at your home.

P= Placing your real estate offering on the MLS and every site where properties are offered before the competition gets into the ballgame.  Get your offering out there early and of course Price based on a the market in your area-  get that comparative market analysis from your agent and hire that real estate appraiser to give you the write up professionally on the current market value of your home.

R= Ready, set, GO!  Spring is the perfect time to increase the square footage perception of your home without spending a dime on construction.  Clean out that garage, basement and attic to give your buyers the impression your home is much larger than it appears from the outside.  Spring cleaning, tag sales and donations to local charities all go together nicely when the weather warms up.

I= Improve your Instant Appeal!   A coat of neutral white paint will go a long way toward making your home appear fresh and inviting.  While you are at it consider replacing that old carpet with some basic neutral color and voila ! Instant appeal!

N= New Buyers.  Buyers have cabin fever from the long winter inside and are ready get out and about into the sunshine.  Make your home the sunniest view on your street by placing some spring time yello pansies or other yellow cool weather plants in hanging pots on the front porch.

G=Great Marketing will sell your home faster than a for sale by owner sign in the front yard.  Choose an agency with local and Internet presence.  When you interview your real estate agents ask about their website, how many hits do they get a week, how many of their buyers are from the surrounding area and how many come from outside of the area.   Ask the agent how they plan to make sure your home gets seen in the most places.  Ask them to take you on a tour of their website and share with your how many homes they have sold in the past two years.

These are just a few reason why spring is a great time to get Berkshire home on the market.  Here at Harsch Associates Berkshire Real Estate we strive to be the top Real Estate Website in Berkshire County.  We attract buyers from New York, and all through New England with some as far away as Los Angeles and Miami.  Harsch is your source for real estate solutions, service and stability in the Berkshires.

AARP Guide to Universal Design

Picture this:  you arrive home late from a long day at work, you have an armful of groceries along with the mail  and your trying to turn that door knob and get in without dropping everything.  Sounds pretty routine doesn’t it?     It would be much easier if the door had a lever style handle that you could just push down.  Also a wider doorway would add to your convenience.  These are prime examples of making a home more comfortable while allowing the inhabitants to live safely even as they get older.   

Before you stop reading because your age is just barely past 40, remember that many families deal with members who have disabilities that are compounded by a home design created without regard to the challenges of living disabled.   Younger buyers and families with young children are also attracted to homes that feature “Universal Design.” 

According to the American Association of Retired People, more than 90% of people over 50 do not want to move from their home when they retire.  It seems being retired does not necessarily mean moving out of your current home to move into a retirement community.  Fortunately there are many simple upgrades that will create a safer and more comfortable home for every age.    You need only shop the local hardware store for most of the items that will make your home universe more friendly. 

Here’s a list to get you started:

• Lighten and Brighten: use brighter bulbs in all settings- vision can dim if cataracts or other eye issues make navigating a home more hazardous
• Get a Handle on it: shop the “knobs and handles” section of the Home Depot or Lowe’s for easy to grab handles and put them on drawers and cabinets
• Raging Rugs: falls in and around the home would be greatly decreased with the simple use of double sided tape to hold rugs and carpets in place
• Bench Mark It: the front/back  entry- place a simple bench by the front entrance to place groceries and other items on while you unlock the front /back door
• Reflect on it-  non-slip, reflective tape on non-carpeted stairs will go a long way toward sure footing and preventing accidents
• You light up my night- by placing night lights along commonly used paths through the house, especially those to the bathrooms and kitchen
• Hand me that rail-  don’t just put railing on one side of the staircase- consider putting a rail on the other side also to make for more secure ascent and descent of staircases

For more ways to make your home a friendly Universe, google search “Universal Design and Safety.”  If you are considering buying or selling a home in the Berkshires or Williamson consider looking for or installing these simple fixes and then emphasize the Universal Design of your property.  Also consider purchasing the book Revitalizing Your Home by Mary Baker to find more useful tips.

Balancing Act in the Berkshires

Delicate Balance 

The Berkshires are a spectacular geographical location that blends culture, proximity to urban amenities yet sufficient distance from urban sprawl along with unmatched natural scenic splendor.  Apparently, the experts agree since the Berkshires are cited in National Geographic’s Traveler magazine as one of the top 10 places to visit in America.

 Berkshire property owners encourage  promoting the uniqueness of the Berkshires  to bring in new businesses.   However, we do so with more than a modicum of worry.   New business will bring with them employees who will buy and settle in the Berkshires.   The dilemma occurs when we compare the sedate atmosphere and quiet rural life style we treasure with that of a thriving  industrial community.

The Berkshire real estate market reflects this push pull dilemma of preserving the lifestyle we treasure while actively promoting and encouraging new businesses and entrepreneurs to settle in Berkshire County.   Loss of large industrial employers in the Berkshires has contributed to a lack of qualified buyers contributing  to the glut of real estate inventory.  We are experiencing a dilemma and a “Catch 22” in real estate .   In the Berkshire County Real Estate market sellers currently outnumber buyers four to one.   We are rich in homes for sale.  Buyers would increase if our business community began thriving again.  Attracting businesses will require political savvy, tax breaks and a compromise from both the business owners and the residential property owners.  Finding a middle ground in maintaining the value of living in the Berkshires with the value of having abundant employment is the goal.

Berkshire County MA is a buyer’s dream market; plenty of choices, increasingly eager and flexible sellers and great local lenders with terrific loan rates. Why aren’t  more buyers attracted to a home in the Berkshires?  The Berkshires are not widely known beyond the northeastern part of the United States even with the good press in travel magazines.    The reality is that most people need to sell their own home and have promise of employment before they can purchase another home.   

So that brings us back to the dilemma of  attracting new business to the Berkshires.  What kinds of impact would a large influx of new people have on the Berkshires? Many Berkshire small towns were all built in a much earlier era.  Accommodating larger numbers of people, cars and businesses would bring  parking lots, franchise stores and  increased traffic congestion on what are mostly two lane roads.

 Would these parking lots, franchises and crowded roads be inevitable?   To some extent, yes . The Berkshires will always attract new residents drawn to  the rural quality of life here while that quality remains rural.  Buyers today may be looking to live in the country but they are also wanting employment near to their home.  

Can the Berkshires balance the irresistible force of growth and maintain its’ unique charm?  What are your thoughts?  We would love to hear from you with comments about growing businesses in the Berkshires.

Heart and Home

As Valentines Day approaches we at Harsch Associates Berkshire Real Estate think of candy, roses, hearts, and the color red. February is the month we celebrate love and pay homage to Cupid.  It is also American Heart Health month. Most people are aware that heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, yet we still seem to believe that heart disease is something that happens to someone else.  Stress, environment and genetics all contribute to heart disease.    

This week we are sharing some tips and info about health, heart and home.   On the positive side, a happy home situation can contribute greatly to a healthy heart.   

Happiness at home translates to less stress which translates to a healthier heart.  On the negative side your home environment can cause disease.Your home environment, particularly indoors, is of considerable health interest because we spend so much of our lives in this setting. The home can be a place where the risk for children is greatly increased simply because children spend so much time at home. The most vulnerable groups of the population spend more of  time in the home environment. These groups include infants and children, the elderly, and those with disabilities and chronic illnesses such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).   COPD is a disease closely associated with heart health.   

Winters in New England are notoriously cold but also great for the winter sports activities that draw thousands to Berkshire County for vacations and often second homes.  However, cold damp housing can be  associated with poor health outcomes, and conversely, improving such conditions with home insulation results in significant health improvements.  Environments where mold and dust abound can contribute to increased incidences of asthma and can aggravate COPD. Getting your home checked for mold, mildew and other indoor air hazards can be the best investment you make in February for your heart and health.  Investing in a dehumdifier if your home is damp can relieve some symptoms.  On the other hand if your home is cold and dry that calls for a good humidifier to keep the air moist. 

Most people are unaware that stress can be a risk factor for heart disease but simple changes to lower the amount of stress in your life can make a difference. It is also important to think about how you can improve your diet and exercise routines at home to reduce your risk for heart disease.

Here are just a few things you can do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke…

1. Know the signs of a Heart Attack. Many people have the misconception that a heart attack comes on suddenly and intensely, but many come on gradually with mild pain or discomfort.

2. Learn CPR. In just a few short hours you can learn CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) – two skills that can help save the lives of victims of sudden cardiac arrest. Take action for the ones you love and find a CPR class in your area.

3. Take control of your Heart Health. Be sure to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Research and read about preventative steps that you can make to reduce your chances of heart disease. Use your local library or the internet to inform and teach yourself the facts.

4. Get Involved. Join in the fight against cardiovascular diseases and stroke! Visit the American Heart Associations website to review the events available, locally and nationally, to see how you can participate and help us achieve the mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

As we learn more about heart diseases, we also learn about the steps we can take to help keep our hearts healthy. We already know that the leading cause of heart disease is obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension), and that smokers double their risk. But are you doing anything to quit smoking or to lose the excess weight and be more active?

Home is where the heart is.

Many artists, writers, and performers use the theme of heart and home. Thousands of quotes and poems have been written with heart and home as the theme. The famous published artist Thomas Kinkade even named two of his paintings “Home is where the heart is”, the first being in 1992.

Home and Heart themes thread through music and  lyrics. There is the song “Nobody Home” by Heart, a hard rock group formed in 1963 that found success in the mid 1970’s. Several well known groups and singers have had chart toppers that incorporated heart and home into the lyrics of their music.  These include…

• Elvis Presley’s recording of “Home is where the heart is” in 1961 for the movie Kid Galahad.
• Boys II Men performed “Your home is in my heart” for the 1998 soundtrack of the movie Stella Got Her Groove Back.
• Watermark performed the song “My heart, your home” on their acoustic-based album All Things New in the year 2000.
• Lady Antebellum released a more recent well known hit titled “Home is where the heart is” in 2008. 

The theme of Heart and Home often guarantees success because it touches our soul and all we hold close to us. Countless novelists and poets have made an even bigger contribution to history with poems, stories, and quotes using this common theme. A few of my favorite’s quotes are…  

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
~Henry Van Dyke

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home.  ~Author Unknown

Where we love is home,
Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., Homesick in Heaven

A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others. ~Wizard of Oz (1939)

This Valentine’s day may your home and heart be blessed with happiness.  Keep in mind that living a balanced lifestyle, paired with adequate exercise and good nutritional choices are the best weapons you have to fight heart diseases. Challenge yourself to do the research and participate in one or more activity in your community with The American Heart Association or groups with a similar cause. On Valentine’s Day this year while you celebrate with your sweetheart or some of your close friends encourage them to do the same. It can be fun to educate yourself and others on the subject while also setting a great example in your community! Join in and participate by creating your own activity to benefit Heart Health Month and most importantly help spread awareness!

Happy Valentine’s Day from the team at Harsch Associates Berkshire Real Estate.

Relocating with your partner

Making the Move Positive!  Spouse/Partner career opportunity means moving home.

Moving home is complicated and emotionally exhausting in the best of situations.  The best of situations in these economic times can mean your spouse/partner has been offered a great job.  The Catch 22 is that you as the partner in this relationship will also be moving away from friends and family.   Another issue is that you do not have a job offer in the new location and will be unemployed, away from friends and family and possibly isolated socially for a few months.   What to do?

Even though you fully support your spouse/partner in career advancement, you may still harbor secret feeling of resentment because you are giving up your current community, home and job.  This can lead to strain in a good relationship and trauma is a borderline relationship.   All of this is normal and there are ways to make the transition more positive for both partners.

Be prepared for bouts of homesickness, loneliness and increased dependence on your partner who has accepted the new job.  Meeting new people, getting involved in a new community, obtaining a new position or starting a new and entirely different career take time and patience.  Social life may revolve around your partner until you have developed a web of friendships or obtain employment.

Selecting a new home is critical for you both.  Home shopping should begin the moment the career move is finalized.  The Internet provides the ability to search for homes, view virtual tours and talk via email with a real estate agent long before you actually plan a trip to the new town.  Harsch Associates Berkshire Real Estate’s website allows you to tour homes, save searches that match your needs and budgets.  Harsch will also send you updates when new properties come on the market in your price range.  When searching real estate sites on the Web look for those that allow you to save your search and those that will update you when a new property comes on the market.

While the partner with the new job will be spending long days on the job learning new responsibilities the trailing partner will be doing his/her best to build a place for themselves in the new community.  Discussing the issues that may arise before the move will go a long way toward assuring that your relationship survives and grows during this stressful period.  Discuss how you will handle:

• Periods of dissatisfaction and frustration for the trailing partner
• Feelings of resentment and homesickness for the trailing partner
• Keeping the lines of communication open during the next year as both of you adjust
• Helping the trailing partner find a new career or perhaps an entirely “New Niche”
• Adjusting to a single salary while the trailing partner seeks employment- do not force the trailing partner into the first available employment opportunity that arrives
• Staying connected with the friends and family “back home”

Help your trailing partner by being supportive after all they are giving up much to support you in your career move.   Participate actively in your trailing partner’s job search.  Offer to set up appointments with “headhunters”, career counseling services and professional employment agencies.  Go with your partner if that is possible.  Offer to pay for professional resume updating.  Find local agencies that will place your trailing partner’s resume online.

This may be the time for your trailing partner to look at educational opportunities in the new location.   If your partner has wanted a career change for some time, then help your partner find out what education is needed to make the leap and then find colleges or trade schools in the area that can provide the training or degree desired.    E-learning programs can provide degree opportunities in places where a college or trade school is not available.

Above all, remind your trailing partner often that “without your support” this career opportunity would not be successful.  These little things mean a lot in every relationship.    Reassure your partner that you understand the sacrifice and then follow through by sacrificing your time and your support while the partner works toward that new degree, new career, or “New Niche” in whatever direction.

You are both committed to your relationship and that commitment will be the foundation as you adjust to your new careers, new town and new friends while remaining firmly committed to friends and family back home.  It will be a juggling act, but for today’s couples juggling job, home, and family is nothing new.