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If you are going to be moving, here are a few simple tips to help the active adult plan a stress free move.

When the active adult or anyone else is planning a move there are many options available. You need to research and figure out which moving method is right for you.  The active adult needs to decide if they are going to do it themselves, pack their items and hire a moving company or simply hire a moving company to do it all.  Whatever method you choose it is important to hire a company that meets your needs. It is a good idea to develop or find a checklist online to keep you organized and on schedule.  When it comes time to pack, go through your attic, basement, closets and weed out the things that you no longer need. Have a tag sale or donate those items to a local charity. Before you start packing it is a good idea to have packing supplies on hand; such as boxes, tape, bubble paper and markers. Labeling boxes is essential when moving; knowing what is in the boxes and which ones are fragile is very helpful.  Pack the items that you are not going to be using ahead of time and leave the everyday items for last.  If you have pets make arrangements for them. Before turning the keys over do a final walk thru to make sure you don't leave anything behind. When moving there are other factors to take into consideration notifying utility companies, newspaper carriers, doctors, post office etc. The key components for a successful and stress free move is patience, planning and being organized. During the whole moving process keep in mind that once you’re in your new home you can start living the ideal lifestyle at RiverBend Estates.  RiverBend Estates is an active adult community located in Oxford, Connecticut and offers the active adult maintence free living.

For more information on planning a stress free move visit the following website: http://www.movingcompanies.us/choosing-moving-company

RiverBend Estates is located off of Route 34 in Oxford, Connecticut.  RiverBend is an active adult community that overlooks the scenic Housatonic River.  The Housatonic Rivers name comes from the word Mohican.  Mohican means beyond the Mountain Place.

The Housatonic River is a historical river that is approximately 139 miles long.  The river runs from Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts though Litchfield, New Haven and Fairfield County in Western Connecticut.  The river empties into the Long Island Sound between the towns of Stratford and Milford Connecticut.

The Housatonic River has two Covered Wooden Bridges that cross the River in Connecticut.  One is the Bulls Bridge in Kent; the other bridge is the West Cornwall Covered Bridge also known as the Hart Bridge located in Cornwall.  The two Bridges have been reinforced with present day materials and support one lane vehicle traffic.  Also along the river are 5 dams that produce hydroelectricity.  The Stevenson Dam is approximately I mile up the road from RiverBend Estates, another is the Shepaug Dam in Southbury, CT.  During the winter months Eagles and Hawks can be observed nesting and feeding at the dams.

The Housatonic River during the warmer months is used for recreational purposes.  The Yale crew team can be spotted daily practicing as well as rowers from the New Haven Rowing Club.  Boaters, jet skiers, and kayakers enjoy the river as well.  The Housatonic is also very popular for fly fishing and during the winter month’s people can be seen ice fish on the river.  Hikers also enjoy views of the Housatonic River when hiking the Appalachian Trails in Kent Connecticut.

Enjoy a Sunday drive along the scenic Housatonic River and wind your way to RiverBend Estates; an active adult community that offers the ideal lifestyle.   Tour our fully decorated Model Homes and then enjoy dinner at one of the quaint restaurants located along the river.  The Housatonic River provides picturesque views as well as recreational events for the active adult all year long.

When it comes to Real Estate today it appears that pricing and staging your home correctly are the key components that buyers are looking for, especially in this buyer’s market.
In today’s market prospective buyers have so many homes to choose from it is crucial that your homes shows well in order to be competitive. It is very important that sellers take the appropriate steps to make their home sparkle and stand out from the rest.

Clutter is a major turn off to open house visitors.  The key is to enhance the homes appearance without spending a fortune.  Below are a few easy and effective staging tips from the outside to the inside to get your home ready to sell in this buyers market.

First thing that is very important is you need to tackle what buyer’s see first, the exterior of your home.  The curb appeal is a buyer’s first impression of the home if they don’t like the outside you are never going to get them inside.  Make sure you pick up fallen limbs and branches.  Trim all trees and bushes around the home, generally trees by the home should not be more than 2 feet above the roof line.  Weed and mulch all flower beds and add some personal plantings for color.  Power wash the siding, bricks, doorways, gutters, deck and sidewalk.  You want the exterior of the home to pop and stand out from the others.

Buyers do not want to see clutter.  Tidy up the home put away  tools, dirty dishes, old magazines and any unsightly items.  When a home is neat and orderly the rooms appear spacious.  It is also a good idea to organize the cupboards, cabinets and closets.  Dust all the baseboards, lamps, furniture, blinds and shelves.  Clean all the mirrors, windows, bathrooms, kitchen, floors and stairs.  Pretend that you are getting your home ready for house-guests who will be staying with you for the weekend.

Fix any leaky faucets, broken drawers and light switches. Patch any holes and fix grout were needed. Realtors often suggest that you freshen up the rooms with a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color.  A well maintained home shows well and supports your asking price.

Furniture placement is important when selling your home; you want a room to feel open, spacious and comfortable.  Make your rooms feel inviting so a potential buyer can imagine living in your home.  Rearrange furniture, throw rugs, lamps and accessories to achieve this.  Mirrors are important in staging a room; add mirrors to a foyer, dining room and bedrooms because this creates the feeling that a room is large and spacious.   

Add some visual flare to your rooms.  Greenery is a nice accent.  Fresh cut flower arrangements on the dining room table are always warm and inviting.  Groups of small plants on a coffee table and scattered around add life to a room.  Open up the curtains and blinds to let in the natural light.  Windows and sunlight always make a room feel light and airy.

Lastly try to incorporate your senses, see, smell and sound.  Your senses can help create an atmosphere that allows a buyer to imagine themselves living there.  Sight is easy a potential buyer is looking at everything your home has to offer.  Play a radio, bake some cookies or a pie.

Staging must have accessories include mirrors, plants, silk flowers, lamps and throw rugs; they add character to a room.  In bathrooms, arrange towels in a basket, scented soaps and lotions are a nice touch.  The kitchen needs to standout. The kitchen is the most important room in a house; a Kitchen is what sells a home.  Fresh flowers, a basket with fresh fruit and cookbook are nice countertop accents.  Lastly put some planters and pots with flowers on your deck and patio, even set a picnic table with cups and plates. Staging your home to create a mood is what gets a buyer to buy your home

Oxford is regarded as a “Small Town Crown Jewel” of Connecticut.

Oxford is located in Southwestern Connecticut.   It was founded in 1741 and is the largest town in the Naugatuck Valley.  Oxford offers the old-fashion charm of rural New England along with its convenient central location and the resources of a thriving suburb.

The town of Oxford economic growth continues to grow even in today’s economy.   Oxford has one of the lowest mil rates in New Haven County and this is plus for both business owners and residents. The town has a new state of the art high school, a modern airport, major real estate and industrial developments, as well as numerous infrastructures. 
This quaint New England town has a lot to offer the active adult; there is the Oxford Greens public golf course, numerous parks, the Oxford Senior Center, fine dining and specialty shops.

RiverBend Estates is one of the premier Active Adult Communities in Oxford located off Route 34.  RiverBend offers the active adult a private New England setting with easy access to major highways.  We are minutes away from I-84, I-95, Route 8 and the Merritt Parkway.  Major health facilities, food stores, pharmacies, fitness centers, fine dining, entertainment and public transportation are within a 10 mile radius.  Our close proximity to the major highways makes it easy to get away for the day!  See a Broadway Show, enjoy the Rhode Island Beaches, catch a game at Fenway or try your luck at the casinos.
The town of Oxford is considered a place to live, a town to love!  Oxford is close to everything and this allows the active adult to live their unique lifestyle.

To learn more about the town of Oxford visit their website at www.oxford-ct.gov

RiverBend Estates is an Active Adult Community located in Oxford, CT and prides themselves on building energy efficient homes. Propane is one element used in their homes. It heats the home comfortably, affordably, and safely. Propane is approved as an alternative fuel by the Clean Air Act of 1990. It is abundant and produced in the United States with local qualified retailers. Propane is one of the cleanest burning fossil fuels. It is cleaner than electricity and oil. Propane is non-toxic, so it is not harmful to the soil or water.

Another advantage of propane it offers the active adult the option to use either gas or electric appliances. Propane appliances, water heaters and furnaces are generally more energy efficient and can help you lower your energy bills. Gas Fireplaces are cleaner and do not send harmful fumes or black smoke into the air. Propane is delivered to a home as a liquid and is pumped into an underground storage tank. The liquid changes to a gas vapor before it leaves the tank.

How to recognize the smell of propane. In its natural form, propane is colorless and odorless. Manufacturers add a chemical compound to give it a strong unpleasant smell. This alerts a homeowner of a propane leak. The odorized propane smells like rotten eggs or skunks spray.

Propane is just one of the energy efficient components that this 55+ community incorporates in their open floor plan designs. This feature maximizes the active adults comfort and minimizes their energy cost for today and tomorrow.

For more information about propane visit The Rural Gas website at www.ruralgas.com.

Go Green with Propane!

Every autumn, nature puts on a brilliant show of color in many parts of the United States including the Northeast corridor. From bright yellows to vibrant reds, the leaves transform, showing their rich and vibrant hues. From the Northeast to the Southwest and Midwest, the foliage season begins in early September in the northern regions and ends in the southern locations in the late October or early November. Every year people flock to these areas to take in the fall foliage, to catch a glimpse of nature’s splendors. RiverBend Estates is an Active Adult Community in Oxford, Connecticut that offers four seasons of nature on display. This quaint New England community is nestled on 30 acres, tucked away in the hills and surrounded by the vibrant autumn colors. The active adult does not have to travel far to see the beautiful fall foliage it is right in their back yard. You can sit on your deck or go for a walk on are flat level side and enjoy the breathtaking views of autumn. The weather is an important factor that affects the fall foliage each year. Ideal foliage is produced by a warm and wet spring, typical summer conditions, and mild, sunny autumn days with cool evenings. This year with all of the rain and warm temperatures we have been having the fall foliage has been delayed. Enjoy a scenic ride along the Housatonic River and wind your way to our active adult community. Visit the natural setting of our private enclave of only 25 exceptionally constructed homes in the peak of fall foliage.

RiverBend Estates is a growing active adult community located in Oxford, Connecticut.  One of our biggest obstacles in this downward market is that many prospective active adults who want to be at RiverBend or another active adult community is faced with the challenge of not being able to sell their home. We have listed some important factors to consider when selling your home.

1.  Pricing your home correctly is probably the most important factor-  If you have a home in your neighborhood priced less than yours in today’s market there is a good chance that house will sell before yours.  Many realtors feel that you should price according to the market and not your heart

2. Disassociate Yourself with Your Home- Make the mental decision to” let go” of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.  Think of your new life, a maintenance free lifestyle in an active adult community.

3. De-Personalize- Pack up your personal photographs and family heirlooms.  You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls.

4. De-Clutter- People collect an amazing amount of clutter.  Consider this: If you haven’t used it in over a year you probably don’t need it.

5. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets- Alphabetize spice jars.  Neatly stack dishes.   Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way. Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.  Line up shoes.

6. Rent a Storage Unit- Almost every home shows better with less furniture.  Remove pieces of furniture that block walkways.  Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger.  Leave just enough furniture in each room to show what the room is being used for.

7. Remove/Replace Favorite Items- If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now and replace with new ones.

8. Make Minor Repairs- Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.  Patch holes in walls.  Fix leaky faucets.  Fix doors that don’t close properly.  Consider painting your walls a neutral color.  Replace burned –out light bulbs.  If you’ve considered replacing a worn bedspread do so now.

9. Make the House Sparkle- Wash windows inside and out.   Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exteriors.  Clean out cobwebs.  Re-Caulk tubs, showers and sinks.  Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.  Clean out the refrigerator.  Vacuum daily. Wax Floors.  Dust Furniture, Ceiling Fan Blades and Light Fixtures.  Bleach grout.  Replace worn rugs.  Hang up fresh towels.  Clean and air out must smelling areas.

10. Scrutinize- Go outside and open your front door.  Stand there.  Do you want to go inside?  Does the house welcome you?  Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.  Make sure window coverings hang level. Tune into the room’s statement and its emotional pull.  Does it have impact and pizzazz?

11. Check Curb Appeal- If a buyer won’t get out of her agent’s car because she doesn’t like the exterior of your home, you will never get her inside.  Keep the sidewalks cleared.  Mow the lawn.  Paint faded window trim.  Plant yellow flowers (yellow evokes a buying motion).  Trim your bushes.  Make sure visitors can read your house numbers.

We hope that you find these tips helpful and find a buyer quickly so you can move into your dream home in an active adult community.

 

 

55 + Adult Communities are becoming more and more popular among baby boomers throughout the country.  These communities offer maintenance free living for the active adult.  What does maintenance free living mean? It means no more weeding, mowing the lawn, raking leaves and shoveling snow!  It means sturdy, reliable construction no more repairs!  It means having more time to do the things you love! It means spending more time with family and friends, golfing, playing tennis or traveling.

At RiverBend Estates we offer a maintenance free lifestyle for the active adult.  Our affordable monthly common fees include refuse pickup, lawn care, mulching of flower beds, snow removal of your driveway and walkway, roof, siding, winterizing and dewinterizing irrigation systems, power washing the exterior of your home and maintaining the septic systems.

So are you ready to leave your gardening gloves, lawnmower and snow shovel behind and start living the Good Life at RiverBend!