Inside Press

By Vicki de Vries

What are the best ways to come out on top when making that all-important decision to buy or sell a house? We asked several top producers at William Raveis in Chappaqua–Sena Baron, Bonnie Golub, and Ellen Grollman–to share their “top ten tips.”

10. Be a “smart” seller or buyer by finding a reliable, seasoned real-estate agent with a proven track record of integrity and successful sales.
Sellers first need to decide whether to sell on their own or secure the services of a real-estate agent. The advantage of working with seasoned, licensed professionals includes their knowledge of the local housing market and the community at large, as well as the ability to negotiate a real-estate deal.

Working with a licensed professional also helps to ensure accurate list pricing, which is the “key to success.” An honest agent will give you a price estimate he or she can justify, rather than appealing to your vanity. An “inflated” list price might be so unrealistic that your house will stay on the market for more months than it should have. As part of their servicing, real-estate agents do property comparisons to further ensure accurate pricing. So, unless you have beaucoup time to do market research, you simply cannot beat the services of a rock-solid real-estate agent. Be a smart seller.

Likewise, whether you’re a first-time buyer or seasoned buyer, be a smart buyer. As with sellers, finding a licensed professional agent with extensive market knowledge and integrity is paramount. Buyers should ask for references at the start of the relationship, along with information about the agent’s sales history and track record. Essentially, “if you don’t trust your agent, you are working with the wrong one.”

9. Buyers and sellers need
patience with the process.
Don’t expect every step to be smooth sailing, but trust your instincts, as well as your agent, who is there to guide you. Ask questions along the way, and remember that good decisions take time and effort. So, take a deep breath and be patient–the universe is not rushing you, even if people are.

8. Sellers need to be realistic about their selling price.
If you start to question a real-estate agent’s pricing, get a second, even third, opinion and compare them. This effort will help settle your mind and either give you confidence in your agent or impel you to find another one. Keep in mind your agent has to answer to the client/seller–you. Sometimes, sellers become enamored with a certain selling price. To avoid that, ask yourself, “How did I really arrive at this price?” If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll likely admit you’ve been thinking about the original house price and/or have been mulling over what housing values were before the economic tsunami hit the nation. Keep in mind the price you want for your home may have absolutely nothing to do with what a buyer will actually pay–
sobering indeed.

7. Sellers need to prepare a list of needed improvements to make before putting a house on the market.
Sellers have a natural tendency to overlook flaws in the house they have called “home” for X number of years. So, if you perceive your home as a great ship of state that needs no improvement, think again. Buyers will see defects your eyes have ignored. If you fail to consider how critical and cautious buyers are, you run the risk of having your house “sell your competition”–a prospect to avoid!

As with life, first impressions count. You have only one chance to make an impression; so, make sure it’s a good one. Make a list of what needs to be done before putting your house on the market.

6. Sellers need to make improvements buyers will expect and appreciate, starting with de-cluttering.
Imagine yourself as a buyer walking into your home. What do you see? A pile of boots, gloves, and coats scattered about? Piles of newspapers, magazines or books thrown on the coffee table in search of a shelf or circular file? Organize what you have, and store or give away what does not contribute to a crisp, clean look.

Plan your sprucing steps carefully. Do the oak floors need refinishing? Are the windows dusty? When was the last time you had the carpets cleaned or the cabinets inside and out? Make necessary repairs such as fixing torn screens or tightening those ceramic knobs on your kitchen cabinets. Of course, if serious repairs need to be made, fix them or obtain estimates from reliable vendors. Do you have a possible inspection issue? If so, get a pre-marketing inspection done. Perhaps it’s time to paint inside and/or out. Make it easier for a buyer to imagine living in your home by painting over bright primary colors and opting for more neutral shades.

While these kinds of improvements to your home will not guarantee a sale, buyers, especially first-time buyers, will gain a certain level of comfort since you have made some basic improvements they won’t have to make.

5. Sellers should plan on leaving the premises before an agent and a buyer visit the house. Before showing your home to a buyer, the agent should let you know. Rather than staying in your house when they walk in the front door, leave the house ahead of time. Balking? Buyers tend to feel inhibited around sellers. It stands to reason. If you feel you must meet and greet the buyers because no one else can sell your home as well as you can since you know it “inside and out,” reconsider. The best thing you can do is allow the buyer to dream and imagine the home as his/her own. And that will happen only if you’re physically out of the picture when they arrive.

4. Buyers need to get their price range for buying a house qualified by their real-estate agent.
Your agent should “qualify your price range,” which simply means matching the level of your financial ability with houses that you can reasonably afford. Early on, buyers also should consult with a mortgage broker and secure a “pre-approval letter,” which can be presented to the sellers when you are ready to make an offer.

3. Buyers need to make a list of the 10 most important features they must have in a new home.
Caveat emptor: the buyer beware. In this case, beware of your own priorities, regardless of the price range of houses for which you financially qualify. There are “tradeoffs and compromises” you might have to make in the process of buying a house. Perhaps you’ve always lusted after that Tudor-style home, but it’s out of your price range. Happily, perhaps that more reasonably priced Dutch colonial is too irresistible to turn down.

Keep your head from swimming in the wrong backyard by writing down the ten most important features your new home must have, “in descending order.” Once you (and your partner, if you have one,) have each made your own list and compared them, create a “master list” to guide your search for that perfect castle. If a house fails to meet the top five features on your master list, why waste your time? If you can compromise on the bottom two or three features, you might have a deal in the making. A key insight: “Sometimes it takes many visits to many properties to understand what compromises you can accept.”

2. Buyers should keep mum about their search.
This sounds silly. Why the secrecy? Simply because your best friends might be in the buying mood too. If they learn from you that it’s on the market, they might want to look at it and bid on it. In that case, you could stand to lose both the house and your friends. Then again, you would know who your real friends are.

1. Buyers would be wise to get a flavor of the local scene before making an offer on a house. After often much trial-and-error, buyers eventually will find one or more houses “of serious interest.” If new to an area, feeling unsure about the new community is normal. The antidote is spending time in the environs. Get a map, drive around the local roads, and visit the local sites. Check out a few restaurants and observe the clientele. Is the local supermarket one you would feel comfortable shopping at?

If you have children, stop by a park or a playground. Visit the school your child would attend. Observe the traffic pattern near the house at various times of the day. In short, do you like what you see? Can you imagine your family fitting in to this setting? If you sense some uneasiness, settle it or find another house and/or another community.

Will following these top tips for buying and selling a home automatically guarantee a smooth experience? No, but they certainly will help to put buyers and sellers in a better position for achieving that goal.

Vicki de Vries is a writer/editor and educator who enjoyed working as a realtor in the Midwest for a magical ten months before moving to
Westchester.

By Françoise Jarry

10. Plan ahead and save the date.

9. Discuss your expectations in terms of set up, menu, staff and rentals.

8. Keep in mind that a seamless organization is critical to the success of your event.

7. Remember that delicious food is always a sure win.

6. Trust the professionals: impeccable service is almost as important as food in the eyes of your guests.

5. Don’t pretend cost does not matter: it always does!

4. Select your menu within your budget comfort zone: if you choose the right caterer, you can put together a beautiful menu without breaking the bank.

3. Be aware that passed hors d’ oeuvre tend to be very labor intensive and therefore expensive. Sometimes, stationary platters can offer a cost effective alternative.

2. Take your caterer’s advice as to the number of servers needed. A proper server/guest ratio will ensure that your event runs smoothly.

1. Offer feedback. If you were pleased with your caterer’s services, let him know. If not, let him know why. Good communication is always the best recipe for a successful party.

Francoise Jarry and Leslie Williams are business partners at The Perennial Chef, a full service caterer in Bedford Hills and Ridgefield, Connecticut. Leslie’s brother, Chef Michael Williams, a graduate of Kenyon College and the French Culinary Institute in New York, specializes in a light and refreshing style of cuisine best described as French Californian. For more information, visit www.theperennialchef.com.

By Jo Rosenfeld

10. Everything is New Under the Sun. Block whispers of those who claim to have been there and done that. From twists on themes to presentations of food it’s all how creative you can be on serving it to your guests!

9. Size Matters. Determine your personal party limits. Intimate to expansive, the “wow” factor comes when you are able to spend a few moments with each one of your guests.

8. Know No Boundaries. Lose leg irons which hold you back from redefining inside and outside spaces. A life event can serve cocktails indoors , allowing the reception to flow onto the grounds. BBQ “beyond ” in house for a white hot night!

7. Weather or Not, Here it Comes. Look on the bright side because when it comes to events, it’s all ” good luck.” Rain on a wedding day. A snowy Sweet 16. Your valet will warm the car and clear the windshield!

6. Create an Aura. Be mindful of the mood you set as a host. There exists a spectrum of vibes you can share from the time the invitation is sent until the last guest leaves. The
” happy bubble effect ” lingers on !

5. Destination Celebration. Put your finger down on the map and make it your reality. Birth order doesn’t have to determine where you celebrate. One always remembers a “first” when it comes to family life events. The sky’s the limit!

4. Video Chat. Consider how technology really can blend into an event.
Close up interviews give way to subtle segments of film which never speak from a still. The perfect gift for important others. A legacy for your kids!

3. Chemistry 101. Mix up couples on your guest list with creative seating charts. It’s often hard to hear anyone over the music, aside from the one next to you.

2. Add an Element of Surprise. Pull off the ultimate unknown with dress code and more.
Invite your guests to dress in head to toe black while the celebrity of the event pops in a single color. Even the camera will smile!

1. Be a Guest at your Own Party. Avoid the urge to be “point person” and be the person they point at. Leave planning and execution to experts. Sleep out the night before and be the first to arrive on our red carpet!

Jo Rosenfeld, proprietor of Jo Rosenfeld Occasions, is an Event Services Brokers. Her years of experience in the party industry has opened doors to vendors for both private and public celebrations. Visit her site, www.jorosenfeld.com.

By Donna Abemayor, LCSW

“Let’s play.” It’s such a simple phrase between children, but in today’s world, the meaning of play has changed significantly from what we remember from our childhoods. Accordingly to Dorothy Singer, Ph.D., a child psychologist at Yale University, play is engaging in an activity for the fun of doing it–but it is more than that…

Play has the ability to teach children decision-making, risk-taking, problem-solving and creativity. Children can learn the values of honesty and fairness through play and can try out and rehearse many different behaviors.

My earliest memories of play are of a childhood spent happily in suburban Rockland County. Activities such as spud, wiffleball, tag and tea parties filled my days. At the custom-made roller-rink in my parent’s garage, our cassettes of Donny Osmond and The Jackson 5 always made my sneaker-based roller skates move faster. I will never forget the many forts and Barbie Dream Houses we made out of cardboard boxes. All the children in the neighborhood would gather together regardless of age. There was no need for parents to schedule play dates. It was a time when the neighborhood was our friend. When we spoke about “we,” it referred to our family, school and community, not a video game console. There was no texting or video chatting, just conversation. Quite simply, it was fun.

The Problems
with Over Scheduling
Although some of this free-wheeling socialization exists today, much of children’s play has taken the form of scheduled activities. The name of that nostalgic childhood game, “Red Light, Green Light, 1, 2, 3,” seems to take on new meaning as parents drive to various after-school activities. As we negotiate the twists and turns of Routes 120, 133, 117 or 100, we desperately hope that the light around the next bend is green.

According to recent research by Kenneth Ginsburg, M.D., a pediatrician affiliated with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, many children today are being raised in an increasingly hurried and pressured style which limits the positive benefits they might gain from free child-driven play.

Ginsburg and Rhonda Clements, Ed.D., a professor of education at Manhattanville College, both cite the growing emphasis on achievement at an ever-earlier age as the driving force of choosing scheduled activities. The same researchers also report that a balance between scheduled activities and free-play is necessary for children to function optimally. Scheduled activities such as sports or theater can have positive aspects in the development of a child’s interests, but the research suggests these plusses do not replace the cognitive, physical, social and emotional gains of free child-centered play.

Many parents fear that if they don’t keep up the pace of scheduled involvement, their children will fall behind. This inevitably leads to over-scheduling. The research also shows that with higher crime rates, many parents are concerned about letting their kids play freely outside. The boom in technology, including computers, television, and electronic games, has also been a factor in diminished free play among children.

Everything seems to be conspiring to rob today’s children of the concept of “just plain fun.”

PTA’s “Conversations
that Count”
Now for the good news: The R21K committee was formed in the Spring of 2007 by the Chappaqua PTA. The R21K committee works with the schools, administration and staff, as well as other community institutions, to provide programming and parent education geared toward the issues and challenges facing parents in an increasingly complex world. According to Victoria Goodman and Lea Barth, co-chairs of R21K, the committee hosts “conversations that count” workshops where parents are given different scenarios which they and their children may face, given their child’s unique developmental stage. The program has created an opportunity to consider stress factors that face our children and to brainstorm about possible strategies to help our kids navigate them.

“Race to Nowhere”
Film Builds Awareness
In addition, R21K screened the documentary “Race to Nowhere” for the Chappaqua community. It is a compelling look at the stressors on today’s children, given academic pressure and extra-curricular involvement. R21K is also hosting a book discussion of Michael Thompson’s “The Pressured Child” as a way to continue the conversation about some themes which emerged from the documentary. R21K continues to compile feedback and information gathered from reaction to the film’s screenings and will report back to the community later this academic year.
Elizabeth O’Toole, RN, and school nurse at Westorchard feels that children experience some level of stress and fatigue from participating in an overwhelming amount of structured activities. “Often,” says Mrs. O’Toole, “these activities are no longer considered fun by the children.” She adds that free-play opportunities often foster “teachable moments.” Dr. Kathy Hirsch, a clinical psychologist in Chappaqua, reports that the whole family may suffer from overscheduling. A child with growing homework demands and many scheduled activities has little or no time to have “downtime,” free-play and family time. Both Hirsch and O’ Toole report that the screening of “Race to Nowhere” has raised awareness about the pressure we apply on children. They agree that the film has generated a lot of dialogue among educators and parents.

As the mother of a 3rd grader and a high school freshman, I admit that I am often challenged to find a proper balance between scheduled activities, homework, and free-play. My hope is that I can meet that challenge while allowing my children to have fun, grow and develop into the people they want to be.

Donna Abemayor is a licensed clinical social worker who resides in Chappaqua with her husband, Eli and two children Amelia and Sammy. She remains enthusiastic about nostalgic games like spud, roller skating, and listening to her cassettes from the seventies and eighties.

By Jean Sheff

Everyone is talking the “green” talk, but how many people are actually changing their habits and living greener? Read through this list of simple, yet effective ways, you and your family can help make the world a bit greener and see how many of them you have adopted on regular basis. Then, select at least two more, and as they say–just
do it.

10. Eat Smart. You and your family eat every day, generally several times a day, so making green choices with regards to your food intake can really add up. The first big step is to reduce your use of packaged goods and increase your use of locally grown foods. One of the best ways you can do this is to frequent The Chappaqua Farmers’ Market. This grass roots community effort, led by Nancy Orem Lyman, Priscilla Sorensen and Will Wedge, helps reduce our carbon footprint by drastically reducing shipping, pesticides and helps support local farming and agriculture in our area. “We have between 19-24 vendors,” says Orem Lyman. You’ll find fresh vegetables, fruit, milk, eggs, meats, fish, artisanal cheeses, breads, baked goods, wine and nuts. “Our goal is to offer the community a wide variety of products at a good price point,” says Lyman. Other community events like the recent book swap are to be added. The Market is open year-round. Through April, find it at St. Mary’s Church next to Bell Middle School on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In May, the Market moves to the Chappaqua Train Station.

9. Drink Smart. It’s wonderful that so many more people are drinking water instead of soda, but now it’s time to ditch those disposable, plastic water bottles. Many of these plastic bottles can be recycled, but generally, they wind up in the trash and in our landfills. Go greener by investing in reusable stainless steel bottles. You can find them in low-key solid colors or with fun designs right here in town. A quick informal survey at the time of this writing found them at Auntie Penny, Squires and EZ Sports.

8. Shop Local. Talking about our town, do you realize that shopping local is a great way to go green? Basically, less driving = less pollution. Reducing fuel consumption is a very positive way to help the environment. Some people live close enough to walk, which is even better.

7. Unplug. Yes, we are a plugged in society so unplugging may take some practice. Simply put, unplug anything you are not using. Two items that people usually forget to shut down or unplug are computers and chargers. So turn off the computers, printers and unplug the chargers from the wall. Right this minute there could be a computer and cell phone, iPod and camera charger eating up energy just waiting to be used. Don’t be lazy. It’s a habit that you can easily change.
6. Swap Light Bulbs. This one is easy. All you have to do is select compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of standard incandescent bulbs. Look for higher lumens for brighter light. Purchase some now. As your standard bulbs run out you will be prepared with your new greener choice.

5. Green Supplies
for Home and Office.Computers have gone a long way to help us save paper, but it’s not a perfect science. We still need paper, so do what you can by using recycled printing paper, recycled paper towels and recycled toilet tissue regularly. Have boxes for recycled paper in plain view in the home and office–right next to the printer or photocopier are good locations. And recycle empty ink jet cartridges as well.

4. Save Water. You’ve probably heard the “rule of three,” a person can live three weeks without food but only three days without water. The actual validity is somewhat debatable and trying this old saw is not recommended. The point is as human beings we need water, so we should be doing all we can to use it wisely. So fix leaky faucets, take shorter showers, install a faucet aerator in all faucets and buy drought tolerant plantings. Get the entire family involved. Teach your children not to let the faucet run while brushing their teeth.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
You’ve heard this all before, right? Following any of the points above will qualify your participation in the “reduce” category.

Meet the “reuse” strategy by finding new uses for items. An old shirt can be used for pajamas or a fancy jam jar can morph into a perfectly nice pencil holder. You can also make use of the town’s Recycling Center located at 210 Hunts Lane (past World Cup Nursery and Gymnastics School), which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Here you can drop off items at the “Take it or Leave it Shed,” open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon in the spring, summer and fall. You can also participate in Recycle-A-Bicycle program. For questions contact the Center at 238-8091.

And do remember that we have three consignments/used items shops right here in town. You can help the environment by purchasing, consigning or donating items to the Opportunity Shop, Elegance II and the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop. Recycling is easier than ever with our town’s curbside pick-up.

Set up a recycling procedure with designated bins to make carrying through with the plan easier. For details see the DPW tab or the video explaining the new town recycle/garbage program at
www.mynewcastle.org. The plan goes into effect April 4, 2011.

2. Green Your House. Sylvain Cote, owner of Absolute Remodeling, specializes in building or renovating existing structures into energy efficient, environmentally responsible homes. As a National Association of Home Builders Certified Green Professional, he knows plenty of ways to make your living space greener.

For starters, he says one of the most important things you can do is properly insulate your home. “The best insulation to use is Spray Foam; it will make your home incredibly comfortable,” says Cote. But that’s not all. Cote has several Chappaqua customers who have updated their home with Spray Foam insulation and they report they are saving thousands of dollars a year. Cote, who practices what he preaches, lives in a green home he built from top to bottom. His latest green tip is to grill your meat in your fireplace the old-fashioned way. He places his outdoor grill grate on top of his fireplace grill to warm in the flames and begins cooking the meat once the fire is down to the embers. “Just make sure the meat is very lean,” says Cote. “The taste is phenomenal.” It’s one way to warm your home and stomach at the same time.

1. Green Your Lawn. Living outside the city means living with nature and perhaps a green lawn. You don’t have to forgo your lovely landscaping, but you can make selecting and caring for your landscape greener. Plant shade trees to cool your home; use organic fertilizers and make sure the equipment you or your lawn service uses are low-emission. Many local companies including John Jay Landscape Development and SavATree are able and willing to provide green lawn care. Just ask.

Jean Sheff, a Chappaqua-based writer and editor excuses her absolute love of paper products (newspapers, books and magazines) by at least recycling them.