Thursday, November 6, 2008

New Mendham Township Listing

We are happy to tell you about a new listing in a great neighborhood on the East side of town! The rooms are spacious and for the most part have hardwood floors.
It is available to show you at any time.
As you can see from the pictures there are three fireplaces located in the livingroom,family room and library. The septic system was just installed so that is no problem for the inspections. They even had the basement waterproofed and painted so that is available for further development for office or playroom.
Give us a call so that we can show it to you!















MLS#: 2598167 CO: Morris* TOWN: Mendham Twp.* (2320)
AD: 3 YARDLEY RD* ZIP: 07945* LP: $869,000


SE: CLR: white
ZN: residential GRS: Brookside
MSJR: Brookside HS: W.M.Mendham RCOMZIP: 07945
BLDG#: UNIT#: FLR#: BLK:144* LOT:11*
CL: No SDA:Yes GSMLS.COM: Yes #1M: 10 FHA 55+: No
PSUBTYPE: Single Family
STYLE: Colonial
YB / DESC / REN: 1962 / /
RMS: 9 BDRM: 4 FB: 2 HB: 1 TBTH: 2.1 SQFT:



GARAGE: 2 / Attached Garage, Garage Door Opener LTSZ: 3.0 AC*
DRIVE: / 1 Car Width, Blacktop ACRES: 3*
P-USE: OTP: Fee Simple BSMT: Yes / Full, Unfinished

LTDES: Level Lot, Open Lot
ROOF: Asphalt Shingle POOL: Yes / In-Ground Pool, Outdoor Pool

EXTER: Aluminum Siding FP: 3 / Family Room, Library, Living Room

EXTFT: Deck, Wood Fence, Open Porch(es), Outbuilding(s), Sidewalk, Thermal Windows/Doors
DIR: Rte. 24 to Yardley Road to #3 on right
REM: A shimmer of luxury in the LR & DR. A blend of casual comfort in the FR and library/ den. Large bedrooms. Just installed new septic. Sunny solarium ready for light loving plants.


LIV: 30x15 / First DIN: 17x14 / First KIT: 21x11 / First FAM: 19x15 / First DEN: 10x9 / First
1BD: 18x17 / Second 2BD: 19x15 / Second 3BD: 16x13 / Second 4BD: 14x11 / Second
OTH 1: / / OTH 2: / / OTH 3: / / OTH 4: / /
KITCH: Eat-In Kitchen PETS: Yes
DINE: Formal Dining Room IN-LAW SUITE: No / MODIFIED HANDICAP: No

MSTBR: Full Bath, Walk-In Closet MSTBH: Jacuzzi-Type, Stall Shower
FLOOR: Carpeting, Ceramic Tile, Wood
INTER: Carbon Monoxide Detector, Fire Extinguisher, Skylight, Smoke Detector, Whirlpool, Walk-In Closet
APPL: Carbon Monoxide Detector, Dishwasher, Dryer, Microwave Oven, Self Cleaning Oven, Refrigerator, Range/Oven-Electric, Sump Pump, Washer
AMNT:
EXCLU:
LEVLB: Storage Room, Utility Room
LEVLG:
LEVL1: Den, Dining Room, Family Room, Florida/3Season, Foyer, Kitchen, Laundry Room, Powder Room
LEVL2: 4 Or More Bedrooms, Bath Main, Bath(s) Other
LEVL3: OTHLEV:

HEAT: 2 Units, Auxiliary Electric Heat, Baseboard - Hotwater WATER: Public Water
COOL: 2 Units, Ceiling Fan, Central Air, House Exhaust Fan WTRHT: Gas
SEWER: Septic 4 Bedroom Town Verified FUEL: Gas-Natural
SERVC: Cable TV, Garbage Extra Charge UTIL: Electric, Gas-Natural

FEE: $ / TAXES: $14,120 TRTYR: 2008 LNDASMT: $500,000
APPLF: $ EASEMNT: Unknown / TXRATE: 1.53 TAXYR: 2008 BLDASMT: $422,900
OTHER: $ / HMWRNTY: FARMASM: No TOTASMT: $922,900
FEINC: POSSES: immediatley

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Far Hills Hunt Races


This Saturady, October 18th is the annual Far Hills Hunt Races. Set in the Somerset hills with the gorgeous colors of Fall as the backdrop. If you've been before, you know how spectacular this event is! Tickets are $50.00 if you buy them in advance and $100.00 at the gate the day of the event. Click here for the official website with ticket locations and more information or click here to read an article about this great fundraiser for the Somerset Hills Medical Center.

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Apple Picking Time


This past weekend we were blessed to have amazing 75 degree weather and the beautiful colors of Fall at the same time! My mother, who used to be my real estate partner at Coldwell Banker Mendham, was up for a visit from her home in Willmington, North Carolina and my youngest son Casey was home for a visit from Stonehill college so we decided this would be the perfect time for apple picking. Based on the amount of traffic on Route 24 and Route 206, a huge number of people also had the same idea! Our first stop was the Hacklebarney Cider Mill where we watched them press the cider. We didn't wait in the long line for donuts (an annual tradition for many we spoke to) but did purchase some delicious apple cider to take with us. You can't pick your own apples there, so we headed over to Stonyhill Gardens. (We often go to Alstede Farm - Kurt Alstede was kind enough to take in a noisy rooster we once owned - but the line was extra long this weekend due to pumpkin picking and hayrides.) Stonyhill had so many varieties of apples to choose from that we ended up with 2 huge baskets! We were happy to find they also had lots of fresh vegetables ready for picking including broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes. That night we made a delicious apple crumb pie with the empire apples.
Here is a list of nearby farms to visit at the most beautiful time of year:


Alstede Farms
84 Route 513 S. (Old Route 24W), Chester
908/879-7189; alstedefarms.com

Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill
104 State Park Rd., Chester
908/879-6593; njcidermill.com

Hillview Farms
223 Meyersville Rd., Gillette
908/647-0957; hillviewfarmsnj.com

Riamede Farm
122 Oakdale Rd., Chester; 908/879-5353

Stony Hill Gardens
8 Route 24, Chester
908/879-2696; stonyhillgardens.com

Sun High Orchards
19 Canfield Ave., Randolph
973/584-4734; sunhigh.com

Wightman’s Farms
Route 202, Morristown
973/425-9819; wightmansfarms.com

~Diane Tolley

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Moving

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
Mov´ing
a. 1. Changing place or posture; causing motion or action; as, a moving car, or power.
2. Exciting movement of the mind or feelings; adapted to move the sympathies, passions, or affections; touching; pathetic; as, a moving appeal.
I sang an old moving story.
- Coleridge.
Moving force
(Mech.) a force that accelerates, retards, or deflects the motion of a body.
Moving plant
(Bot.) a leguminous plant (Desmodium gyrans); - so called because its leaflets have a distinct automatic motion.

n. 1. The act of changing place or posture; esp., the act of changing one's dwelling place or place of business.
Moving day - a day when one moves; esp., a day when a large number of tenants change their dwelling place

In actuallity, moving means months of hard work and an a huge range of emotions, expecially when it involves children. Below are some articles that may make your next move easier.


Moving With Children - Some Great Tips
Author: Jim Baker


Informing Kids

When moving with children, tell older ones once the plans are definite.
Kids need time get through things and adjust:

Do not rush their goodbyes to any friends
Do not keep the move as a surprise, leaving it to the last minute
Tell younger ones when the move is happening and involve them as needed as this will make them less frightened and nervous

Attitude and Moving with Kids

Adult moods should be focused and show a sense of adventure to the kids
Avoid depressed, worried or stressed attitudes as these produce negative responses from kids
Avoid kids fearing the unknown by providing all details necessary with an excited and upbeat approach, including what will happen on the moving day
Discuss the move, the community and new home
Encourage questions and the expression of feelings
Address all of the kids' concerns meaningfully, attentively and lovingly
With younger children, focus on the present on the day of the move:
Encourage looking out for the movers arrival
Discourage frustration through play and fantasy
Encourage assistance by getting them to load wagons with light boxes to be moved to other rooms
Discuss feelings about moving through books about other kids moving
Be aware and prepared for unsettled reactions such as boredom and disinterest, helping them to deal with this through the discussion of honest emotions/feelings and assure them that disagreeing with you is acceptable
Deal with each kid's level of emotions one at a time, whether it is sadness, nervousness, anger or frustration
Be prepared to deal with these emotions for some time after the move until the kids have settled in
Avoid generalizations with teens regarding their concerns and feelings by being respective, honest, open, able to resolve their issues and making no promises that cannot be kept
With teens, involve them in the move to avoid negative reactions, including responsibilities, decision-making and advice giving
Always make teens aware that their feedback is important

The New Home/Community Prior to the Move

Visit the new home/community with kids to ease their transition and see their rooms and neighbourhood
Visit local shops, playgrounds, parks, sporting facilities, movie cinemas, restaurants and other locations with kids in the new neighbourhood
Get kids signed up for activities through community facilities and meet the people they will be involved with
Take the kids for tours of their new schools
Introduce the kids to their new teachers
If the move is a great distance away then show the kids photos or videos of the new home and neighbourhood, including local kids, playgrounds, sports facilities, shops, schools, parks, restaurants, etc.
Encourage kids to discuss the photos and videos to learn what other kids wear, if they appear friendly, where they hang out and create a map to help them when they arrive
Create packs with coupons or certificates for each child for varied restaurants and attractions in the new neighbourhood, including a gift from a local shop
Discuss local music and television stations
Build their excitement and enthusiasm
Get the kids involved through specified moving day jobs
Get primary age kids to create list to tick off any jobs assigned to them
Get teenagers to create lists for their jobs to be ticked off on the day of the move
Constantly show appreciation for their assistance in the move
Encourage kids to voice their opinions regarding moving aspects
Create diagrams of kids' rooms with photos of furniture and toys made to scale so they can arrange their things prior to the move
Involve kids in decoration plans such as bedspreads, wallpaper and paint
Get younger kids to help pack their things - toys, etc. - personalizing their box (s) with drawings and labels
Get teenagers to pack all their things
Arrange with the movers to pack the kids' personal boxes last and then remove them first

Avoiding Changes to Kids' Daily Routines

Maintain normal nap, bed, meal and play times
Avoid potty training for three weeks after moving in
Honour all current family routines - pizza nights, etc.
Do not add other routines until three weeks after moving in
Maintain stable habits to avoid stress
Do not discard kids old and unneeded things or clothes until three weeks after moving in
Respect kids' private things and space
Transport kids' favourite packed things privately
Pack rooms for smallest kids when they are at a neighbour's or at daycare

Leaving their Old Home

Memories are important to kids as well as adults so photographing the process prior to dismantling and packing will help them say goodbye to their old home.

Get kids to create their own book of memories, including pictures/photos of their treasured memories of their neighbourhood's places and people.
Let the kids host a party for their friends and give out pre-stamped postcards containing the address of their new home, as well as recording their friends' contact information. They could also take photos or video recordings of the event, allowing them to view their memories of the final days and maintain contact with their friends. Giving them a long distance calling allowance for the phone is also a good idea. Schedule return visits for them to the old neighbourhood and/or let old friends come to visit.

The Day of the Move

Have small kids and babies stay with friends, uncles, aunts or grandparents to avoid them getting confused by the reduced attention, feeling under foot and to avoid accidents. Alternatively, keep them in playpens with their treasured toys and commandeer a neighbour to watch play with and watch them.

Avoid packing kids' favourite books/toys/games into moving boxes, keeping them out to avoid boredom and allow easy access upon arrival.
Arrive before the movers to let the kids explore each room before the boxes arrive.

Ensure the kids are occupied when the movers arrive and as the contents and furniture is being offloaded as things will seem rather strange at first for them, so helping them to focus on a specific thing will prevent their minds from wandering. Most importantly keep the process as calm and positive as possible, including smiles and hugs.

Time to Settle In

Deal with the kids' rooms first. This provides a base and feelings of security. Get all their furniture set up and let them unpack their own boxes, allowing them to arrange their things in ways that please them.
Check the new home for potential spots for accidents - uncovered swimming pools, gates that are not locked, loosened window screens, wobbly steps/rails, etc. - and establish clear boundaries for the kids by letting them know where they can and cannot explore.

Unpack things that are essential first and take breaks to explore the new neighbourhood with walks, drives around the neighbourhood and trips to the park or nearest restaurant. Find activities that are available at the local zoo, museum or library, or go for a bike ride. Help the kids and yourself to take time to absorb and enjoy the new home and neighbourhood.

Unpack other things gradually, getting the kids into swimming, sports, drama and other activities that they participated in, in their old neighbourhood. This helps maintain continuity, as well as allowing them to meet new kids with like-minded interests.

Let the kids invite their new friends for a barbecue or pizza.

Expectations of Adjustments to Changes

Once everyone has settled in, reality will click in with the kids. Anger and frustration may arise more easily as they make comparisons regarding homes, jobs, schools and friends. Each kid adjusts differently, either fitting in immediately or feeling that the new neighbourhood compares adequately to their old neighbourhood. This process takes about three plus weeks, or even over a year or more.

Signals that the Adjustment is Not Going Smoothly

Moving reactions are normal, but there are warning signs that show your kid(s) may be having extra difficulties in adjusting to their newer environment. These include:

Becoming noticeably withdrawn
Sleeping problems
Nightmares
Increased crying
Increased angry outbursts
Refusing to mix with other kids
Desiring more alone time
Headaches
Bed wetting
Stomach aches
Thumb sucking
Reduced school grades
Deceased appetite
Should these persist longer than normal or increase then get advice from the kids' paediatrician or family doctor.

Overall be positive, and let the kids see this as a whole new adventure, with lots to look forward too.


Moving Tips from www.Moving.com
Handle With Special Care

Moving to a new home can be stressful for everyone, but especially for children. Younger kids often become confused when their daily routine is disrupted, while adolescents fear the loss of old friends and dread the prospect of having to make new ones in a strange school or neighborhood. But there are steps you can take to help alleviate their fears and get them involved in the move.
Communicate

First, it's important for parents to demystify the moving process by providing children with as much information as possible and allowing them to participate in decision-making discussions. This will give children a sense of control and help relieve anxiety.

Talk about the positive aspects of their new home, school and neighborhood. Try to communicate the idea that the new home, if given a fair chance, can be even better than the old one. Encourage questions and invite children to talk about their worries.

Rehearse

For younger children, the move should be made into an exciting adventure. Encourage your child to pack his or her own things, but be sure to leave favorite toys out until the very end. Act out moving day well ahead of time. A conversation could go something like this: "On Friday when you wake up, there will be a big truck in the driveway. We will have breakfast, then go into your room and show the movers which things to put on the truck. Then, after the truck is filled we will get in our car and go to our new home. Then we will tell the movers exactly where to put your things in your new room...."

Because we all fear the unknown, if possible, take children with you to look at potential neighborhoods, homes/apartments, and schools. It may be more expensive and require extra effort, but it will ease the transition and help children begin to make the adjustment. If this is not possible, take a camera or video recorder with you when you go. Your children will appreciate the photos and/or video that you bring back, and it will help them begin the transition. You can also use a map to help them understand the new area and the route you will take to get there.



If your children are really young, consider hiring a baby-sitter while you pack and on moving day. Otherwise, resist the temptation to send children away during the move. Participating will help them understand what's happening and adjust more easily to their new surroundings. Even so, don't be dismayed if your child exhibits regressive behavior such as bed-wetting or thumb sucking. It's quite normal.

Make it fun

For older children, a move that involves leaving friends, sports teams and favorite hangouts behind can be extremely difficult. Help them say good-bye to friends by hosting a good-bye party. Emphasize how easy it is to keep in touch through e-mail and the telephone; you could even give each of your children his or her own address book and make the party an opportunity for friends to write in their personal contact information.

Give older children a disposable camera and ask them to photograph your move. Once you arrive and are settled in, make time together to create the "moving" chapter of your family photo album.

Have your kids draw a picture of how they will arrange their new room.

Get back to status quo

When you are settled in your new home, resume familiar routines as soon as possible. If it is a tradition in your family to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings, for example, you should continue the practice as soon as possible in your new home.

It's O.K. to cry

Finally, don't take it personally if your children blame you for the difficulty of a move. No matter how well you've prepared them, expect them to be a little upset and allow them some time to grieve. They will almost certainly grow to love their new home just as much as the old one.

Need help planning your next move? Give us a call!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Mendham Borough Labor Day Parade

It hard to believe if you read the papers, but we have been so busy since Labor Day that we have been having a hard time finding a free moment to blog!
Let me start by saying what a success the Labor Day festivities were this year. On our two trips to the carnival, we saw lots of folks we knew and everyone seemed to be having a great time. A special thanks to the Pastime Club volunteers for all their hard work again this year.
On the day of the parade we welcomed many of our Coldwell Banker customers to join us at the office for coffee and bagels to watch the festivities. I was happy to see some old friends and meet some new ones!



Friday, August 29, 2008

The Shop on Blog Street

Somehow Realtors become the clearing house for anyone who needs to sell or give away
possessions which they no longer need or for which they no longer have room.Do we know of anyone who can use one of their treasures.

Recently one of the realtors in our office had been asked if they knew
of anyone who would like a vintage player piano.Evidentally beautiful
workmanship.
Someone else wants to buy an armoire.Do you have an extra one of those?


If you would like to enter your selling/giving articles to our Shop on Blog Street go to mendhamhomes@gmail.com and we will publish your offering.

We have had inquiry from one of our readers asking for help in finding an LEGO table.
Do you have one you would like to pass on? E-Mail us and we will give you the contact information.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Mendham Labor Day Carnival




If you're a kid in Mendham, the highlight of your summer is the Pastime Club's Labor Day Carnival. The carnival runs Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Mendham Borough Park. Today is the last day to buy tickets at the pre sale price of $10.00 a sheet, which is 33% discount. Carnival ride tickets are at Village Video, Mendham Camera, Blue Ridge Pools & Spa, Pastime Lanes and Mendham Books. The proceeds of the carnival support to local youth sports programs throughout the area. The Pastime Club has been sponsoring the carnival for over 60 years.



Don't forget to give us a call if you'd like to join us for bagels, juice and coffee at Coldwell Banker and have a great place to watch the parade go by! Call Diane, Betty or Joe at 973-543-2552.