Central New York Real Estate Blog

Carpet Stains and Solutions

CNY Guest Blogger — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:32:53 +0000

Our guest blogger, Joe Merluzzi, is the owner of Northeast Carpet Cleaning. Joe has been the Miracle Worker on many Central New York carpets, furniture–and he cleans air ducts too! A family owned business, Northeast Carpet Cleaning is training the next generation of Merluzzis early to service your needs.

What if your favorite pet stains your carpet? Your dog pees and poops on your carpet. DISASTER. What can you do? Try a cleaning and stain removing solution.

Since there are many types of products available in the market that can and will remove stains, there are many choices. Some products are strong and harsh to carpet fabric, while some are not. Ideally a cleaning solution will minimize and remove stains by cleaning the spills and dirt as they crop up. Cleaning stains does not always require you to go out of your home and purchase expensive products.

There are lots of ways to clean pet stains on a carpet without even leaving your home. One way is by using everyday cleaning products. These can oftentimes clean stains as effectively and efficiently as expensive cleaning solutions. You should always use less first. Here are some easy options.

Option No. 1: The simplest way to get rid of stains is water. Apply water to the affected area of the carpet, then blot it with paper towels or a clean white towel. Be sure to let the carpet dry and never let its backing get wet when you pour water.

Option No. 2: Make a solution by mixing a tablespoon of detergent with one quart of water. Spray and blot the affected area and let it dry.

Option No. 3: Mix one teaspoon ammonia with half a cup of cold water. Spray the solution or apply it to the stain. Use a paper towel to blot the stain away. Be sure to let the affected area dry.

If you have a stubborn stain that you can’t remove yourself, you can call Joe Merluzzi at 315-480-7159. He has a complete line of stain removers that may just be the miracle cure you need!

Living in Radisson

Pei Lin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:23:39 +0000

On my flight home the other night from an out-of-town class, I sat next to Mark, who has lived in Radisson since 1985! Since we were just about to feature Radisson on our blog, I was particularly interested in getting his input on what it’s like to live in Radisson. A resident since 1985, he certainly is well-versed on the area.

Mark gave me some insights on a few of the community activities such as snowshoe-ing and cross-country skiing on the golf course, the annual Radisson-sponsored shopping trip to New York City in December (book early!), and the Founder’s Day weekend, where friends and neighbors get together to listen to music, enjoy the fireworks, and barbecue together (nearby Budweiser is one of the sponsors). Mark talked about fishing in the ponds, which are maintained by ESF (SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry).

Mark and his wife have raised three boys in their Radisson home–one is getting his medical degree at SUNY Upstate Medical University, the other is studying to be a pharmacist, and the third is just entering undergraduate studies at Cortland. He has been very pleased with the education his boys received in the Baldwinsville schools.

I asked how he felt about the rules and HOA and, without any hesitation, Mark told me it was a positive thing. Not only are there the conveniences–such as the leaves being picked up from the curb on a weekly basis during the Fall–but he felt that all the homes are kept in good condition and the rules help keep the values up as “no one’s house gets rundown.”

All the neighbors are kept informed via the weekly Radisson Reflections, a community newspaper run by the HOA.

Every Friday night is Teen Night at the Ice Skating Arena, and it’s very well attended! In good weather, there are multiple playgrounds around Radisson for outdoor play.

Every December during the holiday season there is a contest for holiday light decorations. Alas Mark was not able to tell me the prize, as he ruefully admitted he has never won.

A recent neighborhood accomplishment is the boat ramp. This is a convenient launch for boats, canoes, kayaks, and jet-skis to the Seneca River. There is plenty of parking for RVs so people can keep them off premises and not visually litter the property.

No matter what your interests are, the Radisson community in Baldwinsville has something you’ll love. This planned community adheres to aesthetic guidelines in order to keep up its pristine appearance. The result? Lovely neighborhoods with a tidy look! In addition to attractive living, Radisson has a large variety of recreation. The trails along the lakes and ponds are great for walking any time of year, or biking and skating in the summertime. Radisson Greens Golf Course is an 18-hole course located right within the community. For sports lovers, there are soccer and baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, and a public pool. Keep the kids busy on the playgrounds or in the kiddie pool (swimming lessons are offered). Radisson even has its own Nursery School. The community is conveniently located just a few miles from Great Northern Mall and several shopping centers (including Wegmans, Target, Home Depot, and more).

For 25 years, Mark has done the half hour commute to Nine Mile Point, a fairly easy ride from Radisson he says. Other nearby employers include Fitzpatrick Plants, Alcon, and of course Budweiser is just a stone’s throw away.

After hearing Mark’s personal perspective, I can see why so many of my clients concentrate their home search in Radisson!

If Radisson sounds like home to you, check out our listing at 8281 Luchsinger Lane! With 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 3 car garage, and a corner wooded lot, this house has plenty of space and privacy. You won’t believe how much the windows and skylights illuminate the home throughout – even on the gloomiest of winter days.

Thornden Park Chili Bowl Festival – February 18th

Sarah — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:42:03 +0000

In just a few weeks, The Thornden Park Association will be holding its annual Chili Bowl Festival, now in its 10th year! Mark your calendar for Saturday February 18th between 12-4. Four varieties of freshly made-from-scratch chili will be available to warm you up at the Thornden Park Field House. Chili is $3 by the bowl, or $6 for a sampler of all four. Corn bread and home brewed root beer will also be on the menu. The proceeds from this event will be used for improvements to the park and to support park activities. Come out and support this local University Area park while enjoying some tasty food!

Home Inspections Demystified

CNY Guest Blogger — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:53:53 +0000

If you’re wondering how serious your home inspection results are, our guest blogger, Tom Sherman of Absolute Home Inspections, demystifies some common terms for us here.

“Every house is different and every house is the same.”

I remember hearing this way back in the early days of my home inspection career. Surely, all houses will have certain similarities…each should have a climate control system such as a furnace or a boiler; each will have electrical and plumbing systems. And of course, each will have walls, ceilings, floors and a roof. So, one could surmise that every house is the same. That having been said, one house may have a stand-alone water heater while another may have a side-arm tank being heated by the boiler, or any number of other dissimilarities.

Our challenge as home inspectors is to look at each house as a blank canvas and create our opinion from square one. That means, in a matter of a few hours, being able to look at the literally thousands of pieces that make up a house and provide an honest, factual assessment, all the while trying not to break the Hummel collection that is resting precariously on the edge of the mantel.

Along the lines of similarities, there are certain things that seem to crop up quite regularly. Listed below, I will try to take the mystery out of a few of these oft-heard phrases.

Double Taps

DOUBLE TAPS- A double tap is nothing more than 2 electrical circuits that are connected to the same breaker. This type of connection, while commonly found, is not permitted. Usually, it is a simple fix, though if there are many in a panel box; it may require adding a sub panel.
IMPROPER CLEARANCE TO COMBUSTIBLES- When you hear this phrase, we are generally referring to the minimum clearance permitted between a heating vent pipe and any combustible material. With a single wall pipe on a gas system, the minimum clearance is 6 inches. With double walled “B-Vent” the clearance is reduced to 1 inch. Installing a heat shield between the pipe and combustible material allows you to cut those distances in half.
ORPHANED WATER HEATERS- This is a common situation where a chimney flue is used to vent both the heating system and the water heater. It becomes a problem when the furnace is replaced with a sidewall-vented high efficiency unit. This eliminates the additional heat that assisted in providing good “rise” of the flue gas (hot air rises, right?) So now we have this oversized flue with only the measly water heater vent entering it. The flue is now far too cold to allow a good draft. This often results in back drafting, where the nasty combustion gas is entering the building instead of exiting out the top of the chimney. The solution is to have the chimney “relined” with a smaller flexible vent pipe.
REVERSED POLARITY- This simply means that the receptacle was wired backwards. There are two sides of a standard electrical receptacle, one side having brass colored screws, the other silver. Each side has a specific wire that should be connected to it. If it is connected backwards, there will still be power, though it will be fed through in a reverse path, which can be dangerous. This is a very simple correction for an electrician.
IMPROPER GRADING- Grading, in regards to a building, has a very important role of directing water (be it rain or melting snow) away from the foundation. This concern is almost boiler plate on our inspections, as most every house we look at has some sort of grading issue. Poor grading leads to water in a basement, potential mold growth and a slew of other negatives. In a perfect world, the soil would be built up around the building and sloped away at a rate of 1 inch per foot drop, extending 10 feet from the house.

These are but a few of the issues that are brought up regularly during a home inspection. I hope this helps to clarify some of these terms. In the end, keeping in mind the overall health of the home is important, rather than concentrating on all the minutiae, to keep a good perspective.

Tom Sherman can often been found under a porch, or crawling through attic insulation. He can be reached at 315-673-1755 or Tom@AbsoluteHomeInspection.com.

Indoor Fun For Kids – At the Mall!

Sarah — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:20:53 +0000

I still consider myself a “rookie” mom, so I get pretty excited when I figure out something new. It’s particularly nice to discover things that entertain my almost-one-year-old at a cost I can afford (free-$1)! Since it’s gotten colder, finding activities has become a bit more challenging. About once a week, we go to the mall. There are lots of benefits to this outing: it’s indoors and warm, I get plenty of exercise, and the people and stores are stimulating. But better yet – the malls have inexpensive activities especially for kids!

Carousel Center, of course, has the carousel. I love seeing my son’s face light up when he catches sight of the adorned horses. For just $1, we can ride together. The other day I also found out that Pottery Barn Kidsat Carousel has a weekly story time for little ones on Tuesdays at 11:00. The story is followed by a craft, and it’s free. An added bonus – you get a card they will stamp every time you go. When you have 5 stamps, you get a $10 off coupon to the store! If you’re in need of some social interaction or exercise, try a Stroller Fit class. This group started by the YMCA meets on the 1st floor under the carousel Monday mornings at 9:15 (through April). For one hour, parents walk their kids in strollers briskly through the mall with two stops for strength training on arms, legs, abs, and more. This is not only a great way to meet other parents and kids, it’s also free!

Great Northern Mall is not as good for walking, but has a wonderful play area right in the middle of the food court. I was surprised to see how much my son enjoyed it even though he is younger than most of the other kids. There’s a giant tree right in the middle with tunnels and a slide built into it. Surrounding the tree are ladybugs, mushrooms, bears and other forest-themed things for kids to climb on, crawl under, and explore. The perimeter is lined with benches for parents to sit and watch as the kids play. You will be amazed at the fun the kids have here!

Do you know of any other malls in the area with great activities for kids? Please let us know!

The Big Chill – This Weekend!

Sarah — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:12:10 +0000

In Central New York, the middle of January seems like an unlikely time for a fun-filled weekend event. I was excited to hear that my own town, Baldwinsville, hosts an annual two day festival for charity – The Big Chill. This Friday, January 20th, the weekend commences with a wine, chocolate, and cheese tasting at the historic Red Mill Inn (7-11 PM). Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance. Call (315) 638-0550, or click here. Beginning at 11 AM on Saturday, January 21st, there will be free family activities at Mercer Parkamid heated tents. The fun includes a snowman-making contest, a cook-off, a bonfire, and a kids area. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

The most anticipated event of the day is the Polar Bear Plunge. From 12:00-4:00, courageous teams and individuals will jump into the icy cold Seneca River – all for charity! It’s not too late to sign up if you’re daring enough to brave the glacial waters – click here to get started. Each person must raise a minimum of $100. Don’t wait though – you must pre-register at the Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce by this Thursday, January 18th between 5-8 PM in order to participate.

The Big Chill is concluded with the Poker Bear Express, a poker run/pub crawl. All of the proceeds from this enjoyable weekend are divided between the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY, and the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce. I won’t miss it!

These pictures are from last year’s event. Did you attend? If so, send your photos to peilinteam@yourcnyhome.com. Chilliest looking photo wins a Friendly’s Ice Cream Gift Certificate for $10!

What to Look for When Reviewing or Purchasing Home Insurance

CNY Guest Blogger — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:57:01 +0000

Cindy Payne, our guest blogger, has been working with Liberty Mutual Insurance for over 20 years. She has been recognized for her excellence in the sales department in Liberty Leaders, Liberty Life Leaders, and Liberty Elite. When it comes to home insurance knowledge, Cindy is truly an expert! It’s a great idea to review your home insurance policy to be sure you have the coverage you need.

When is the last time you reviewed your home insurance policy? Usually your home is your biggest asset and most often, people are not sure if they are insuring it properly. Do you know your coverages? One of the most important things to have is replacement cost on your house and on your contents. This ensures that your home would be replaced if you were to have a total loss. Replacement cost is very different than market value. Have you done an analysis with your agent to make sure you are insuring your house correctly? Replacement cost on contents replaces your personal property if you have a claim instead of depreciating it. Do you have good liability protection in case you are sued personally? Liability is part of your home insurance and most people need a minimum of $500,000 today. If you have a lot of assets, you may need a million dollar umbrella for the extra protection. Do you need flood insurance, sump pump coverage, expanded jewelry coverage, identity theft coverage, or earthquake coverage? These are all extra riders that are normally not on a home policy and need to be added.

Are you getting all of your discounts? You may qualify for extra discounts if you have any of the following:

Extra discounts when you have multiple policies with the same company
Good or excellent credit discount
Non smoking discount
New home (built within the last 10 years)
Older home with upgraded roof, plumbing, heating or electric
New purchase discount
Claim free discount
Alarm credit

As an agent with Liberty Mutual for the past 21 years, please feel free to contact me with any questions or a no obligation review of your current insurance at cynthia.payne@libertymutual.com or on my cell at 315-412-3800.

Buying Organic at Wegmans

Sarah — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:16:26 +0000

About two years ago, someone explained to me the importance of eating organic foods as much as possible. Prior to that, I didn’t pay any attention to the “USDA Organic” label. I was far more concerned with getting a good price no matter what. I learned that organic produce is free of harmful pesticides. Organic meat and dairy products come from animals raised on organic farms. These animals are fed a 100% organic diet and never exposed to anitbiotics, hormones, or genetically modified foods. There are countless other reasons to buy and eat organic, and I decided to try and make the change.

As I was living in Atlanta, finding stores with a great selection of organic food was easy. There were Whole Foods stores scattered throughout the city. When I moved back to Syracuse last spring, one concern I had was finding the groceries I wanted in a convenient location. I worried that I would end up having to make an extra trip to a small specialty store. I was pleasantly surprised by the organic section at Wegmans! No matter where you live in the Syracuse area, there is likely to be a Wegmans close by. I can buy all of my regular groceries, then shop the organic aisles for items such as baby food, meat and dairy, and natural cosmetic items. Wegmans also offers organic produce (mixed into the produce section).

This month, all Wegmans stores are hosting a free “Everything Organic” event on Saturday 1/21 and Saturday 1/28 from 11:00-3:00. They will be giving out organic samples and recipes, and have kids’ activities too!

I have found organic sections at other stores as well, which is great to see. So far, I’ve found Wegmans to be superior in selection, price, and convenience. I am still on the lookout for other stores in the area. If you know of any, please let us know! I will be sure to check them out!

Local Organic Farms

Winter Wonders at Beaver Lake Nature Center

Sarah — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:57:20 +0000

Beaver Lake Nature Center, one of Baldwinsville’s hidden treasures, is only a 15 minute drive from Syracuse. I can remember visiting Beaver Lake several times as a child on school field trips and with family. It was always a thrill to explore the different trails through the woods and around the lake, and to discover the variety of plants and wildlife along the way.

Open daily and year-round, this peaceful conservatory has nine miles of trails. Whether you’re hiking, skiing, or partaking in one of the many nature programs offered, you can enjoy this retreat with family, friends, children, or solo!

Rather than staying indoors all winter, try admiring the beauty of the season by experiencing one of the winter programs. This weekend (1/6, 1/7, 1/8), ski or snowshoe along the moonlit trails with a friend until 9:00 PM, then cozy up and enjoy a hot beverage in the Visitor Center afterwards.

Throughout the months of January and February, take a guided wildlife snowshoe walk! The walks begin at 2:00 PM every Saturday and Sunday when snow conditions are favorable. Because space will be limited, call at 8:00 AM the day of the walk to register (315-638-2519).

Other upcoming events include the Mid-Winter Blues Run on February 5th, and the Eastern Mountain Sports & Beaver Lake Nature Center’s Snowshoe Race on February 12th. Visit the website to download the registration forms.

It’s always a good idea to call ahead, as certain events are weather permitting. If you’ve visited Beaver Lake, please let us know about your experience. Better yet, we’d love to see pictures!

Ice Skating in Clinton Square

Sarah — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:21:08 +0000

Winter can be such a drag. If you live in Syracuse, I’m sure you know that feeling. But I refuse to let the the winter weather get me down this year. Syracuse offers so many wonderful activities that celebrate the season (snow, or no snow)! The Clinton Square Ice Rink located in downtown Syracuse is the perfect example. Enjoy the delightful backdrop of historical downtown while coasting around the ice. Clinton Square is especially stunning at night with all of the city lights. Open from 11 AM to 8 PM every day, this winter pastime is fun for all ages. Bring your own skates, or rent them for just $3. Admission is only $3 for adults, and $1.50 for children under 12 and seniors. The skating season runs through early March, but be sure to check the website for closings due to weather (or call 315-423-0129).

Have you found a way to beat the winter blues? Please tell us about your favorite Syracuse wintertime activity!