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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!