Connecticut Select Homes | Fairfield County CT Real Estate » Real Estate Blog | CT Select Homes | Higgins Group Realtors http://ctselecthomes.com Fairfield County CT Real Estate Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:48:24 +0000 en hourly 1 Weston Estate, an hour from NYC, Offered at $3,650,000 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1465 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1465#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:44:44 +0000 Danna Rogers http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1465 Surrounded by Weston estates, this custom designed retreat is a stand-out.

This home offers spacious and elegant living spaces and luxurious details. Each room has special features, from the formal living room with French doors opening to the patio, to the soaring ceilings in the family room and the octagonal study. The gourmet kitchen is a cooks dream, and the new custom Cherry-wood bar, with 2 flat screen TVs, in the lower level is the perfect spot to catch a game and relax. The Master suite offers a sitting room with a serving bar for morning coffee, balcony, fireplace, dressing room and bathroom fit for a queen. The 2.5 acres of manicured lawns are surround by mature trees for privacy, and the pool and spa are divine.

dining room entry kitchen living room master bath master bed pool

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1465/feed 0 Sunday Open House: 4 Ledgemoor Lane, Westport http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1446 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1446#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:16:36 +0000 Danna Rogers http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1446 Join me to see this stunning, newly completed home, Sunday, November 6th, 1-3PM 

Built by Andy Frank, everything is perfectly thought out— from the large sunny kitchen and family room, elegant living room and spacious dining room, to the first floor office and luxurious master. There are 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths, and a large walk-out finished basement with high ceilings and plenty of light. There is a pool site on the property and a roomy 3 car garage. This ideal location is close to town, beach  and trains.

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1446/feed 0 Vintage Charm, Updated for Today’s Living http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1358 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1358#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:33:05 +0000 Danna Rogers http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1358  

Built in 1806, this lovely farmhouse sits on over an acre of beautifully landscaped property with a fabulous renovated red barn with 3 car garage and in ground pool.

 The main house offers 4 bedrooms, 2 full and 1 half bath. All the charm has been retained with pine paneling, chestnut floors, and exposed beams. Thoughtfully updated, the house is a great entertaining home with a large living room, family room that walks-out to the stone patio and a “party-barn” with full bath and bedroom loft. As part of the Abbots Lane association, there is a great cul-de-sac as well . This ideal location is close to town, beach  and trains.   REDUCED:  $1,125,000

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1358/feed 0 $2,599,000/ or $4,299,000 with extra building lot- Longshore Golf Course Westport, CT http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1167 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1167#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:23:35 +0000 Elizabeth Steffen http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1167  
Do you dream of beautiful flat property? Golf course views? Walk to the beach?   Well then, here’s your opportunity!!!  Own this renovated colonial on one of Westport’s premier cul-de-sacs across from Longshore Golf Course. Open floor plan includes gourmet kitchen open to family room with dramatic cathedral ceiling, formal living room with fireplace, dining room, sun room with stone floor and small den. Hardwood floors throughout. This special home boasts six bedrooms, four and a half bath, one bedroom with full bath on first level for in-law or au pair. Over an acre of estate like property.                       
 
Add an additional building lot with tennis court for a total of 2.65 acres $4,299,000 for the package. 009 YH FOYER YH FAMILY ROOM YH FAMILY ROOM 3 YH FAM KIT YH KIT 2 YH KITCH YH LIVING YH LIVING 2 YH DINING YH MASTER YH MASTER BATH YH BRM 2 YH BRM 1 010 012 005 008 006

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1167/feed 0 RTM Overturns Controversial Amendment 621 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1164 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1164#comments Thu, 20 Jan 2011 03:36:34 +0000 Elizabeth Steffen http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1164 For the past month and a half Westporters have been debating the ramifications of a new amendment recently passed by the Planning and Zoning. As Valerie Jacobs, lead petitioner against P&Z’s Amendment 621 explained, “A few weeks ago, P&Z passed Amendment 621, which among other things: (i) imposes a brand new 15% “building” coverage test in AA and AAA zones, (ii) requires homeowners to include patios and terraces in the 25% “total” coverage test (which also includes driveways, etc.), (iii) changes the way that pools and tennis courts are measured (e.g., tennis courts now count at 100% instead of 50% and the coping on pools now counts); (iv) requires people with wetlands and steep slopes to deduct 80% of those areas area BEFORE they multiply the new 15% rule (which greatly reduces their property value and buildable area–even though they can’t build on those areas anyway).”

Last night after nearly five hours of testimony, the RTM voted 32-1 overturning the amendment which P&Z had hoped would regulate and limit big houses as well as mitigate runoff and protect fragile aquifers and waterways. Corwin, the chairman of P & Z felt the P & Z was “fulfilling a commitment to the town as a whole, to our children, our grandchildren.” He said the amendment was in accordance with the Town Plan of Conservation and Development because it addressed the issues of water quality and big houses.

Soon after P& Z passed the amendment on Dec 9th, a huge public outcry arose over the hardships that would ensue, arguing that the new regulations would decrease home values by decreasing house-lot coverage from 25 to 15 percent.

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1164/feed 0 Fireplace Safety Tips http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1137 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1137#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:05:38 +0000 Danna Rogers http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1137 With winter settling in, it’s time to get your fireplace ready for the cold months ahead.  Dave Leopold from Pillar to Post Home Inspections offers tips on how to stay safe and warm when using your fireplace.Annual Inspections – Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional to ensure that it’s obstruction free and clear of creosote – a black, oily accretion that builds up on the inside walls of the chimney. Because creosote is highly combustible, a thick accumulation creates a fire hazard.

Length of Use – Use the fireplace for short-duration fires, no longer than five hours.

Plan Ahead – Clear the area around the hearth of debris, decorations and flammable materials. Use a metal mesh screen with fireplaces. Leave glass doors open while a fire is burning.

When to Clean – During periods of heavy use, clean the wood-burning firebox regularly once the embers are cold. Leave about an inch of ash because it acts as insulation, allowing the coals to heat faster and retain more heat.

Upkeep – Check that vents are unobstructed and able to do their job. Clean the fan and all air circulation passages. In non-wood burning fireplaces, clean and adjust glowing embers and logs for best appearance.

Cap Your Chimney – Have a cap installed at the top of the chimney to deter animals from entering, help prevent water damage and keep debris from blocking the opening. A spark arrestor will prevent live embers from escaping the chimney.

Safety First – Always keep a fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergency. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors with charged batteries.

Use Common Sense – Never leave the fire unattended. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the house or going to bed. Keep children and pets away from the fireplace. Do not use a vacuum to clean up ashes, because embers can smolder long after the fire is out, creating a real fire hazard.

For more winter preparation tips, please contact your local Pillar To Post office,

Pillar to Post Professional Home Inspection
Dave Leopold
146 Coleman Road
Fairfield, CT 06825
203-374-5448
homeinspection@optonline.net
http://www.pillartopost.com/fairfield

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1137/feed 0 Halloween Events In Fairfield County http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1035 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1035#comments Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:30:57 +0000 Jen Schwartz http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1035 Halloween is a great time for spooky costumes, haunted houses, scary movies and, of course, trick-or-treating.  Residents and visitors to Fairfield County can also look forward to a variety of fun parades and unique activities.  The following are some family friendly Halloween events my children have enjoyed throughout the years:

PUMPKIN CARVING PARTY From Earthplace Website: www.earthplace.org

“Carving a jack-o’-lantern is really fun and very messy. Keep your kitchen from becoming a slippery, orange nightmare. Carve that pumpkin here at Earthplace. We have the smocks, tools, paint and decorations to help you make a really spectacular display for Halloween. Enjoy some cider and cookies to give you energy. Bring your own pumpkins and candles. We have the rest!”

Saturday October 23, 10:00 AM – Noon

$8 per member child, $10 per non-member child

YUCK DAY

“The ickiest, squishiest, yuckiest things will be found at our annual Yuck Day. Meet a 10 foot Burmese python, touch a wiggly earthworm, be tickled by a Madagascar hissing cockroach, go eyeball to eyeball with a corn snake, feel the “million” legs of a millipede on your arm. Create your own bat or footprint ghost. Dissect an owl pellet. Take a trail walk with an Earthplace naturalist to look for mushrooms, insects and other gross but great natural items. There will be plenty of Halloween cheer, so don’t miss the yuckiest family event in town!”

Saturday October 30, 11 AM – 4 PM

Admission is $7 per person

Westport Halloween Parade For Children: From Westport Town Hall Calendar of Events

Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 3 – 4pm

Where            YMCA

Main Street and Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880

“The Parks and Recreation Department, Downtown Merchants Association and Westport P.A.L. team up to offer a wonderful Halloween event for the children of Westport.

Children will meet in front of the YMCA and march up Main Street, trick or treating along the way, eventually making their way to Town Hall for more treats. Afterwards, a gathering on the Green will take place with fun-filled entertainment from DJ’s Sound Solutions and lots of cookies and juice. Snack and drinks from Parks and Recreation will be available. Don’t let the rain scare you….the parade might be canceled but the entertainment will move to the Town Hall Auditorium.”

Weston Annual Halloween Parade: From Weston Calendar of Events

Saturday October 30th

10:30 AM

Location: The Town Green, Weston

“Halloween is coming soon, but the fun starts before the light of the moon.  Grab those costumes, either sweet or scary, all the kids are welcome, every ghost, ghoul, or fairy!  Light breakfast treats, not tricks, following the parade.”

Enchanted Castle Fairfield, CT

From Enchanted Castle website: www.enchantedCastle.org

“A Fairfield Halloween Tradition. It is a non-threatening magical storybook experience where children and their parents tour six fantasy theme rooms where they interact with the storybook characters and receive a treat.”

Weekdays Oct 22nd – Oct 31st from  4-7 pm Sat 10am -5 pm Sun 12pm- 5pm, Admission $5.00 per person.  739 Old Post Road, Fairfield, 203-336-7364

Halloween Monster Mash, Stepping Stones Museum

Celebrate Halloween at our spooktacular party for families. Enjoy live animals, hands-on activities, tasty treats, games, a monster mash dance, storytelling and more. Register early! Friday, October 24th & Saturday, October 25, 2008 6 – 8 PM

Beardsley Zoomobile “Creepy Crawlies” & Pumpkin Carving at the Pequot Library

Saturday, October 25th, 2008 11 AM – Noon

Beardsley Zoo’s Zoomobile will visit the Library with its Halloween assortment of delightful creatures. Come learn about these lovely critters from the Zoo’s wildlife educators. Then carve your family pumpkins on our Great Lawn because WE CLEAN UP! Bring your own pumpkins and a sharp knife to cut the lids. We’ll provide the carving tools and stencils—plus snacks and “spooky” songs…. (Registration required for zoomobile—max. 30 children. The pumpkin carving portion of the event cancels in bad weather.) 30 kids max–Registration required–Kindergarten age and above. www.pequotlibrary.com

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1035/feed 0 Getting your house ready for the cold… http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1031 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1031#comments Sun, 17 Oct 2010 12:15:18 +0000 Danna Rogers http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1031 It’s hard to believe that summer is gone here in Fairfield County and Fall is upon us.  In between apple picking and cheering on local High School football games, Fall is also a great time for house maintenance. Since the weather is cooler, outdoor chores can be much more pleasant, and your home will be well prepared for Winter.

Here are some suggestions for new and veteran homeowners.

1)      Give your yard a quick makeover:  cool weather is perfect for planting bulbs for perennials such as tulips, and crocus which bring a little spring color to your yard. It’s also a good time to plant or transplant small trees and shrubs. 

2)      Clean up flower beds: take out any old annuals and cut back perennials that are no longer blooming.  When raking leaves, think about using the leaves to “mulch” flower beds to keep any weeds from growing before winter.

3)      Check your large trees for weak or over grown limbs.

4)      Exterior touch ups: take a walk around the house and check to see if the exterior needs any paint or small repairs. Take care of small repairs in roof tiles and shingles before the winter can make more severe damages.

5)      Clean gutters and down spouts.

6)      Check your systems. It’s a good idea to have a service plan with your HVAC provider. Having your heating system cleaned and serviced will help extend the life-span of your system.

7)      Have chimney’s cleaned, and order or chop your wood for the season.

8)      Check the seals and weather stripping around doors and windows. Give windows good cleaning too.

9)      Once the temperatures get closer to freezing at night make sure to empty outside faucets and hose lines.

10)   Get markers for your driveway to mark for the plows, once the ground is frozen they are much harder to put in.

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1031/feed 0 New Property Regulations- Are They Coming to Town? http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1024 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1024#comments Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:53:46 +0000 Elizabeth Steffen http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1024 Big houses are a fact of life in Fairfield County. We call them “McMansions,” but only when they belong to someone else.

Over the years there have been numerous debates on how to lessen the impact of “overbuilding” with these sometimes enormous houses, which many feel radically change the overall aesthetics of a town, while retaining a taxpayer’s rights to do what they want with their property. In an effort to regulate development in the town of Westport, the Westport Planning and Zoning Committee has engaged a consulting firm by the name of Planimetrics to assist in developing new coverage regulations for residential structures. According to Planimetrics, there remains great potential for additional coverage and building in Westport which, the committee concludes, will seriously impact the community in ways such as drainage. However, amending coverage regulations is neither an easy nor a popular topic. More regulation, is that always the best answer?

Thursday night, September 30th there will be a public hearing at Westport Town Hall where P & Z will take up the proposed Amendment #621 Residential Structures- Coverage Regulations. On the table will be a number of changes, such as a new 15% building coverage test in AA and AAA zones, changes to what constitutes building coverage, including changes to pools, tennis courts, patios and terraces. Also, there will be a newly defined “net lot area” taking into consideration slope, wetlands etc further reducing the “building envelope” of many properties and thus throwing them into a “non conforming” status. It should be quite an evening where the changes could affect every house in the town at some point in time!

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]]> http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1024/feed 0 Buying a Generator http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1005 http://ctselecthomes.com/blog/1005#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:01:40 +0000 Jen Schwartz http://ctselecthomes.com/?p=1005

An increase in storm activity throughout New England has put disaster preparedness on the minds of many Connecticut residents.   Hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes and the power outages they cause have accounted for significant property damage and put citizens at risk. While the Red Cross and other relief organizations recommend an emergency plan and a three-day supply of food and water, homeowners may also want to consider adding backup power to that list.

The following information on generators is offered by ConsumerReports.Org:

We tested 15 generators to help you prepare for blackouts. Many are better and safer than before, but refueling some generators could be a challenge during an outage.

Generators: better, beefier choices

Wheeled, portable generators are the biggest sellers. But you might need plenty of fuel on hand, since filling stations often shut down during blackouts and most home-sized models use 12 to 18 gallons of gasoline per day. You’ll also need to preserve that fuel with stabilizer and store it in a well-vented shed or other area, away from the house and any ignition source.

One portable, the Northstar 8000TFG, can use a liquid-propane tank with several days’ supply or a natural-gas line. But at $2,000, it’s pricey for its wattage.

Stationary, outside-mounted generators are a growing alternative, since they run on propane or natural gas and supply more power. Kohler’s $3,700 12RESL delivered more than 10,000 watts and costs less than many in its class.

Our wattage calculator, which provides an average wattage rating for most common electricity-using household appliances and devices, will help you tally your needs.

How to choose

Portable models we tested claimed between 2,800 and 6,600 watts—enough to power plug-in appliances and lights, but not nearly enough for heavy power drains like central air. Add up the watts for the items you need. Then check our videos with buying advice and safety instructions for generators. Figure on $500 to $1,000 for installing stationary generators and, for all types, at least $500 for a power-transfer switch to power hardwired circuits and avoid having to run extension cords.

Also remember that manufacturers often overstate run time for gasoline models by basing

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