April 2010 Newsletter Here’s What’s Happening in Hearthstone

All of these are 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath unless stated otherwise
ACTIVE: 4870 Green Heather Ct. - an Aquetong , great back yard, mature trees, partially fin.bsmt. $432,500 for 24 days.
3853 W. Brandon Way - a Creamery, fireplace, finished basement, a SHORT SALE. Listed at $429,900 for 79 days.
3967 Liz Circle - extra 1/2 bath in full finished basement, granite, wet bar. Listed for $459,000. Reduced to $449,000 for 87 days.
4976 Melissa Ct - a Creamery, new water heater, fireplace, unfinished basement. Listed at $485,000 for 87 days.
3696 W Brandon Way - .83 Acres, finished basement, fireplace, deck, backs to woods. Listed at $549,900 for 94 days.
PENDING: 3683 Seneca Ct. - a completely re-done Creamery. New high-end kitchen, full stone front, granite, stainless, finished basement w/powder room and great bar, expensive deck and fabulous lot! Was asking $569,000—under agreement in 9 days.
SOLD: 5040 Jennifer - hardwoods, in-ground pool. Was Asking $499,900. Reduced to $484,900 and sold for in 130 days.
3955 Liz Circle - fireplace, granite, tile floor, hardwoods, new carpets, fin. bsmt, EP Henry patio. Pending at $474,500 for 19 days.

In Cold Spring Hunt:
ACTIVE: 4965 Grundy Way - a Glenfield, 4 bdrms, 2 1/2 baths. A Gutner Team Listing. Hardwoods, granite, back staircase, fireplace, screened sun room, in-ground pool asking $582,500.


5020 Mead Dr. - an Eaton in perfect condition! 2full, 2 half Baths, finished basement, granite, greenhouse. A Gutner Team Listing $519,900.


4814 Mead Dr. - a Belmont with finished walk-out basement and large, flat yard with lots of privacy, stainless kitchen, corian, shadow box moldings. A Gutner Team Listing. $534,900.



4010 Hunt Dr. - a Columbia w/upgraded culinary kitchen, hardwoods through first and second floor, 2 story family room and Jack-n-Jill bath. Asking $579,900.
PENDING: 4953 Mead Dr. - 4 bdrms, 3 1/2 baths, white cabinets, granite, fireplace, media room, finished basement asking $575,000. Rreduced to $524,900 for 81Days.


Once again, I am receiving letters at home from attorneys who would like to help me lower the assessment on my house, thus lowering our taxes. And they charge 50% of what they save you!!! As you know, we helped 288 people last year lower their assessments FOR FREE! WE will be helping people again this year and ask only that you send us AN EMAIL to jeri@gutner.com with your name, address, model and improvements. We will begin the process and get back to you with what you have to do. Many of your neighbors saved several thousand dollars so don’t hesitate to act!

Roof Repairs:
Take a good look around the ceilings of your second floors. Your homes are at an age when the neoprene collar around the vent stacks starts to go. It’s really only a little rubber O ring, but with the sun it cracks and breaks. Not a bad idea to have a roofer take a look at it if your house is 10+ years old. Call me if you need help!


BUILDER Magazine’s Top 10 Elements of Style for 2010
Let’s not call them “trends” because trends come and go. Builders try to design homes that will last for generations. Builders are paying attention to Consumers who now desire less maintenance and more free time. Here’s the top ten design areas that builders agree on this year.

1. Standard height of 9 feet on first floor and a shift away from the two story great room to more effective use of second-floor space.
2. Low-maintenance/no-maintenance materials, especially on exteriors. Ceramic tile and stone floors, brick exteriors, and metal trim instead of wood on the outside are just a few examples.
3. Larger laundry rooms and mud rooms.
4. Natural materials are important on the interior—hardwoods, granite. Classic is here to stay.
5. “Me” spaces. Quiet corners and cubby holes to escape everyone, a computer niche, a junk room, a chair with a bookshelf.
6. Decline of the living room and increase in “special” rooms, such as home offices and media rooms. As houses get smaller there just isn’t room for a place you only visit to dust. It will still exist in many builders homes but it will not be a “formal” room.
7. Technology advances. Builders agree that they need to offer pre-wiring for an abundance of amenities, like Ethernet, surround sound, stereo equipment. Keyless entries, computerized security systems, advanced lighting controls, etc.
8. Outdoors for entertaining. Builders are paying attention to the back yards. Covered areas with full kitchens, home theaters, sleeping porches and dining rooms are popular. Decks and patios are still strong, but a screened porch is more popular.
9. Mixed products on the same street. Smart-growth initiatives are promoting design plans for master neighborhoods that mix singles, townhouses and condo’s.
10. Rear-loaded homes. As lots get smaller, garages are going out back or across an alley, saving the front of the home for porches. Remember your parents home, drive up the driveway and the garage is hidden back there. It’s back!



Need Help With “Stuff” around the House?
People I can’t live without:
My Painter, HVAC guy,
My Second Husband (our handyman)
My Decorator
My Tree Guy
My Plumber and My Roofer
Need a referral? Call Us!
If you are planning to put your home on the market in the next 6 to 8 months,
it’s not too early to start talking to us!


Attic Ventilation

Attic areas can hold substantial amounts of moist air. In the summer it is very hot and humid in the attic, however, in the winter it can be more humid causing a fair amount of problems.
1. The roof is roughly 1/2” away from blistering shingles.
2. As heat in the house rises, it gets trapped in the attic acting as a hat for the entire home.
By having good ventilation the hot air would be removed drawing in relatively cooler air. Insufficient air movement in the attic doesn’t allow the heat from the second floor to go anywhere. Hi temps and humidity will delaminate the roof sheathing, excessively dry out the roof framing and cause an earlier need to replace.

There are many ways to vent an attic; fans, ridge vents, gable end vents. The important thing is that it IS ventilated which will save you repairs and heating/cooling bills.

How to Save on Homeowners Insurance

1. Don’t shop on the internet. It is impossible to compare apples to apples.
2. Raise your deductible. A $1,000 deductible can save you as much as 25%.
3. Ask whomever is quoting how they figure the cost of the land into house coverage. Land doesn’t burn or blow away.
4. Buy your home and auto policies from the same company.
5. Ask what you can do to lower your costs by reducing risk.
6. Improve your home security w/alarms w/monitoring station.
7. If you’re at least 55 years old and retired or work from home, insurance companies love homebodies. They maintain their homes and are quick to spot problems.
8. Maintain good credit. It’s the first thing they look at.
9. Stay with the same insurer and if you ASK your loyalty will be rewarded with a discount.
10. Review your coverage and policy and coverage every year.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY -
BE SURE YOU HAVE SUMP PUMP COVERAGE!!!
Remember!!! We work with ALL national Relocation Companies and while they may tell you that you have to work with their selections, that is NOT the case!