MONTHLY BOTTLE DRIVE APRIL 2RD, 2011 Yes, it has been some time since I've mentioned this bottle drive. It seems that the word has not gotten out there yet for this event, and the Boys Scouts can use your help with the donation of every recyclable cans and bottles you have.    Saturday, April 2nd, is the next bottle drive, 9-11:30 at Stop and Shop parking lot in Cromwell CT.  Please bring your redeemable bottles and cans. Spread the word to your family and neighbors to stop by and bring their bottles. The monthly bottle drive for the Boy Scouts of Cromwell CT goes to a good cause.  I'm sure you have many soda, beer bottles, etc., that need to be recycled. I know you don't want to hold onto them, and would like to make room.  This is your opportunity to dispose of them, and make a diffe... 03/31/2011

No, you do not need to adjust your monitors.  Those white spots are not dust.. YES... it snowed again.  Can you believe this?   FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT    Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.   For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO   If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take... 03/24/2011

Update on buying verses renting in today's market for consumers  I've been asked this question over th last few months by many potential buyers.  Should I continue to rent, or should I buy in this market?  I came across this information and it was backup by Barbara Dennison (also a member of ActiveRain) and a senior loan officer for Mortgage Access Corp. Did you know that Deutsche Bank released a study showing that renting a home costs US households more than paying a mortgage for the first time in the last two decades?  DO YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY.. CONTINUE READING. The rent-buy ratio, or rent as a percentage of after-tax mortgage payments is based on figures that Deutsche Bank complied from NAR and the REIS information services.  Rent amounted to 100.2% of home loan costs in the last y... 03/21/2011

WE love to send out to our agents the Monday Morning Message...One special area is the encouragement corner...feel free to add, modify, and share....the more we share the more we care; the more we care the more we share... Make 2011 your best year in Real Estate.... ENCOURAGEMENT CORNER...   7 Inspiring Success Lessons:   1. Work You can listen to and read all of the self-development in the world, but if you don't put what you're learning into action, things won't change.  There's a Swedish proverb that goes, "God gives every bird a worm, but he does not throw it into the nest."  You have the potential to succeed, but you're going to have to work the principles that you know.   2. Change In order for your life to change, you must change.  To the degree that you change your thoughts, wi... 03/21/2011

I was on a walk today, and came across these Spring flowers trying to bloom... yet winter is still showing it's presents.  I guess you can call this "Overlapping seasons".   FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT    Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.   For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO   If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's mar... 03/19/2011

Yes, you heard this right.  A stuffed bear at an open house I had this past weekend brought me in an offer.  We all have opinions on open houses as to whether we (as Realtors) should still have them or not.  There have been numerous blogs here on ActiveRain discussing this very issue.  For the most part we all feel that we hold these open houses primarily for the seller, for this is what they feel remember as being part of the process in selling a home.  With the technology we have today buyers can see homes online faster than we can initiate an open house, so is it worth our time? I am was part of this belief too, that open houses weren't productive, until this past weekend.  I went into it thinking that for the most part, nosy neighbors would be coming by, along with potential buyers ... 03/16/2011

Cromwell CT Market Report for February 2011   My market report gives you the real estate activity for the town of Cromwell CT for the month of February.  I love living in Cromwell, CT and have lived here for many years.  If you are a seller and are strongly thinking of putting your home on the market, I would encourage you to see what your property is worth.   If you are looking to purchase a home, now is an excellent time to do so.  Real estate in Middlesex County  is an excellent investment, prices or at their best, the selection is great, and the rates are still low.     Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, whether you are a seller, or purchasing a home.  860.883.8889 The following MLS information is for the month of February 2011.   Valerie Osterhoudt  give... 03/13/2011

Yes, it is that time of year again... SPRING.  OK, I might be off by a week or so, but this weekend is the start of that direction.  I'm sure there have been reminders to turn your clocks ahead tonight by an hour... and to go along with this, reminders to change the batteries too.  But have you been reminded to clean out your dryer vents?    With warm weather, it makes it easier, and you should do this at least once a year.  For either cleaning out the vent, or getting a new vent entirely.  You don't want it to look like this..... Photo courtesy of Kenneth Cole So, don't forget, tonight, March 12th, 2011 move your clocks forward by an hour before going to bed.  Replace batteries in smoke detectors, and lastly... don't forget to clean your dryer vents.     FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REA... 03/12/2011

Extra! Extra! Extra, Read All About It! As real estate agents, we all must juggle our time to properly manage our business, and try to steal as little time as possible from our personal lives. When times are tight and the need to go the extra is necessary, we try harder. In Cromwell CT, nobody works harder at this than Valerie Osterhoudt. Valerie Osterhoudt is a Realtor like so many of us. She is also a single mother of two teenage boys, and lately she has been the poster child for working with a disability as she recovers from Hip and knee replacement surgery. Valerie is my subject of the press release challenge that ends Sunday night. Without a challenge she deserves it. Many, here on ActiveRain know her for her Tuesday Trivia posts, that stump so many. She does an active business in ... 03/11/2011

This is a close up view of the MOUND of snow (still) outside my back door.  You can see where it has started to melt.  I'm just wondering does this mean Spring is around the corner????? Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.   For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO   If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of... 03/10/2011

As most of us do, we are always reading or catching up on one thing or another.  I thought I would pass this quote along that I read today.  It seems it hits home and at the same time it is inspirating to me... hope it is for you too.    We are drowning in information and starved for knowledge. Author:  Unknown   FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT    Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.   For real estate.. a... 02/21/2011

HELPING OUT PAST CLIENTS WHO ARE DISPLACED DUE TO ROOF FRACTURES CAUSED BY SNOW.  We've all been watching the news the last few weeks and have seen how many roofs have collapsed in Connecticut.  There doesn't seem to be a day that goes by where the media isn't reporting about one. This morning I woke up to the news that two apartment/condo buildings in a complex here in Cromwell, CT were evacuated in the early morning hours today (4:30/5:00 am) due to structural fractures in the main support beams.  On the third floor people were woken up by a loud bang.  They called 911 and soon after the fire department arrived they we all told they had to leave.  I'm not sure how many people were involved, but this affects 144 condo units.  These people are now at the gym at the town hall, or at near... 02/04/2011

This was just too funny to pass up yesterday when I was out.  I think it speaks volumes.   FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT    Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.   For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO   If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while inter... 01/29/2011

You are a Realtor who has a cell phone, but won't give out your number to another Realtor?   How do you stay in business?I'm presently working with a client who is transferring from Minnesota to Connecticut for business.  She has a home in St. Paul, and is looking for a rental while she sells her house out there.  She flew in yesterday, and only has today and tomorrow to find something. I had a few rentals to show her today, but non of them worked out.  There were too small, or had major issues (which will be addressed in my next blog) that the landlord did not know about.  Some were just too far out for her to travel to work.  So back to the grind stone.  It is hard to find a rental especially when you have a pet (dog) that is a member of the family and will be coming with you.  With h... 01/28/2011

One mistake after another.. will it ever end?  We are supposed to be there for our clients and to make sure deals work.  Do we need to be there and do the work of the other agent as well? I received a call to set up a showing for a rental property of mine.  Sounds good doesn't it?  Not if the caller is working with another agency.  I couldn't believe they were trying to set up their own appointment.  Nicely, I informed them that since they have a realtor, I need to work through them.  I'm be more than happy to set it up, once I hear from them.   The next day, I receive a call and set up the appointment for this person.  Everything settled, right?  NOT.  The other agency is now telling me that their client has to use *their* rental application, not ours.  lol.  The other agent was prompt... 01/25/2011

  FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT    Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.   For real estate.. all you need to know, is VALERIEO   If you're thinking about buying a home in Cromwell CT area, there are plenty of great buys in today's market.  There is no better time than now to take advantage of these homes while interest rates remain at an all time low.  For more information on Cromwell CT real estate's h... 01/22/2011

Hello, my name is Valerie Osterhoudt of Johnson Real Estate, Inc., in Cromwell, CT.  My market report gives you the real estate activity for the town of Cromwell CT for the last 30 days.  I love living in Cromwell, CT and have lived here for many years.  If you are a seller and are strongly thinking of putting your home on the market, I would encourage you to see what your property is worth.   If you are looking to purchase a home, now is an excellent time to do so.  Real estate in Middlesex County  is an excellent investment, prices or at their best, the selection is great, and the rates are still low.   Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, whether you are a seller, or purchasing a home.  860.883.8889 The following MLS information is for the last 30 days from ... 01/21/2011

My question is when do you release a buyer from a buyer agency agreement... or do you?  We've all at one point or another declined a listing due to one reason or another.  How about declining or releasing a buyer? I love working with first time home buyers, and have focused my energy in this direction... to even include getting my designation of ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative).  These buyers are like children at Christmas, eyes all a glow and for me it is like looking at homes in a new light.  They look for your knowledge and I work with what they are looking for. Recently I acquired a couple that are first time home buyers, and I was very excited to work with them.They seemed to have a sense of the towns they are interested in, what they are looking for and have been pre-quali... 01/14/2011

  This shot was taken on Saturday             This shot was taken this morning. We have gotten over 2 feet of snow since last night.  What is my thought on this?  LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE SNOW!!   May this snowfall stall, and we get at LEAST another foot.  We have a lot to make up for. May the snow keep coming and coming.    FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON REAL ESTATE... CONTACT YOUR LOCAL AGENT    Info about the author: Valerie Osterhoudt is a Cromwell Connecticut Residential Realtor who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in the Middlesex County of CT, which includes Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Berlin, Middletown, Wethersfield, Newington, as well as all other surrounding areas.  Please visit me at www.CTrealtorMLS.com for all your relocation and/or local needs.   For real e... 01/12/2011

WEEKLY TUESDAY TRIVIA QUESTION I can not believe that it has been close to a month since I posted a trivia question.  Amazing how time flys when rehabbing a knee.  I've received some emails inquiring when I will post another question.  I think the time is NOW.  What do you think?   This week I'm going to start off with a question about the Oscars... after all they are right around the corner.   What actress scored a record 12 Oscar nominations, winning first for the year 1933 and last for 1981?   I hope you have fun with this trivia question.  This blog is here to relieve stress and make your day a little brighter.  Enjoy.    ***As always, please try to answer(s) this question without using the Internet.  If you should, don't ruin the fun for others.   Just take a guess, and I will foll... 01/11/2011