If it feels like your home lacks ample storage, turn to your garage. The garage is a frequently underutilized space that can significantly increase your home's usable storage.
Our real estate agents recommend following these tips to help you maximize and showcase your garage's storage space.
Is trail mix the perfect food? Also known by the whimsical name of "gorp," trail mix is nutritious, portable, and easy to make yourself. Join our real estate agents in celebrating National Trail Mix Day on Wednesday, August 31 by whipping up a batch of one (or more!) of these great trail mix recipes.
You only get one chance to make a good first impression. The same holds true when it comes to selling your home.
Your front yard is at the center of your home's curb appeal, which is a term used to describe how your home appears from the street. If you think about it, your front yard is the first thing people see when pulling up to your home. It's clearly visible to visitors, anyone who drives by, Google Maps, and most importantly, potential buyers who are thinking about scheduling a tour of your listing.
As a result, our real estate agents always recommend giving your front yard a bit of extra love before listing your home on the market. Luckily, there are many easy and affordable ways to improve your yard this summer. If you want to make your yard stand out, we have a list of ideas for you:
If you're one of the millions of employees working from home, it's important to create a dedicated space for your work activities. A dedicated workspace helps you increase your productivity and creates a distinction between your home and work life. Our real estate agents suggest adding these features to make working from home even easier.
Need a home with more space for your remote work days? Contact us to start your search!
New Hampshire's mountains: they're not just for winter. When it comes to summer fun, our real estate agents head for the hills and all the entertaining activities found at these wonderful local mountain resorts.
Summer in Northern New England is always an enjoyable time. And an evening spent on the baseball diamond makes the summer season even more memorable.
Our real estate agents share what makes them so passionate about the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, our region's minor league team.
Team History and Highlights
It may be hard to believe now, but by the time the 2000s rolled around, professional baseball had yet to establish a presence in New Hampshire. A new era was born in 2003 when Drew Weber bought the New Haven (CT) Ravens and moved them to Manchester.
Management turned the naming situation into a public relations opportunity by conducting a "Name the Team" promotion. Fisher Cats, a nod to the furry forest-dwelling mammal, ultimately won out over Millers, Mountain Men, and Granite.
In July 2008, the Fisher Cats had the honor of hosting the Eastern League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. The Midsummer Classic returned to Manchester in 2011 and again in 2017, celebrating the million-dollar renovation of Northeast Delta Dental Stadium.
Since 2004, nearly 150 Fisher Cats have gone on to play in the major leagues. This illustrious group includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, and Bo Bichette, second-generation players who were the most highly anticipated rookies of recent years.
The Fisher Cats' significance to New Hampshire goes beyond sports and entertainment. In addition to maintaining partnerships with Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the Ted Williams Museum, the team has conducted numerous fundraising activities over the years, resulting in millions of dollars in charitable contributions.
Affiliations and Titles
The Fisher Cats are a Double-A team in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League. In their previous existence as the New Haven Ravens, the team went through affiliations with the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals, earning a single league championship in 2000.
Since moving to Manchester, the team has been affiliated with the American League's Toronto Blue Jays. The team has claimed three division titles, in 2003, 2004, and 2011, along with league championships in 2004, 2008, and 2011.
Northeast Delta Dental Stadium
During the inaugural season in 2004, they played their home games in Gill Stadium, one of the oldest concrete-and-steel ballparks in the country. But that was just a temporary home, as they moved to the newly constructed Fisher Cats Stadium the following year.
Known for a time as Merchantsauto.com Stadium, the venue gained its current name thanks to a partnership with Northwest Delta Dental, a major insurance company. The stadium features an open concourse design that lets fans keep an eye on the game wherever they are.
Here are some of the modern amenities that make Northeast Delta Dental Stadium such a popular destination:
Promotions and Giveaways
In minor league baseball, nearly every game is a special event, which is one of the reasons why it's such a family-friendly activity. Mark your calendar for these exciting upcoming promotions and giveaways:
Individual tickets range from $10-$16, with a $2 discount for advance purchase.
Ready to round the bases and head for your new Northern New England home? Contact us at The Masiello Group to get started.
Covered bridges represent a living history of life in New England, with ingenious, long-lasting designs that are as beautiful as they are functional. New Hampshire is home to dozens of covered bridges spanning local waterways, and our real estate agents have the history behind some of the state's most storied covered bridges.
If you have a friend or family member who has recently bought a home, giving them a gift is a lovely tradition that helps them celebrate their new residence.
Our real estate agents suggest choosing from the following housewarming gift ideas that are sure to please new homeowners:
If you're a home décor enthusiast, you may be wondering how to handle decorating your laundry room. How can you make such a functional space look its best without making it difficult to use?
Our real estate agents have seen some gorgeous laundry rooms over the years. In that time, they've observed several trends in how homeowners choose to dress up this space. Take inspiration from these 7 tips to transform your laundry room from basic to beautiful.
For many of us, owning lakefront property is a dream. Who wouldn't want to wake up to the sounds of loons on the water, watch the sunrise through a big bay window, and sip a cup of coffee on their own private dock?
Despite being thought of as a fantasy by many, lakefront living is a lot more accessible than you might think. Our real estate agents have helped countless families find their dream homes on the banks of New Hampshire's beautiful lakes, and we're here to share some tips on how to find your perfect lake house.
Waterfront properties are as varied as the bodies of water they overlook. You might prefer a cozy cabin, a spacious family home, or a modern condo. The first step to finding the right home for you is determining your needs.
New Hampshire is blessed with some of New England's most beautiful lakes. Some are wild and undeveloped, but most feature homes along at least part of their shorelines. These New Hampshire lakes include:
Contact us today to learn more about finding the perfect waterfront property in New Hampshire. Our real estate agents are here to help.
Spring is a perfect time to get some home maintenance done. As the weather warms up, the break in winter weather will give you a chance to inspect the outside of your home, repair any damage, and prep for spring rains, new growth, and the heat of the summer months. Here is a quick checklist of tasks our real estate agents recommend doing to maintain your home and yard this spring.
The man-made scenery in Northern New England is nearly as eye-catching as the natural landscape. Whether you're a history buff or just appreciative of beautiful designs, the area's range of architectural styles is endlessly fascinating. Our real estate agents take a look at some of the more popular home styles and what makes them so compelling.
With our identities and lifestyles closely tied to our hometowns, it creates one of our strongest relationships. If you're moving to a new city, will you be able to forge another bond that fits your wants and needs? Use these valuable tips from our real estate agents to determine if you and your new city are a match.
Did you know that America's first commercial railway opened in Massachusetts in 1826? Today, railroads take a back seat to airplanes, but their legacy lives on through rail routes that have been repurposed for hiking and biking. During the winter months, these trails make excellent places for snowshoeing and winter biking. Our real estate agents love the incredible perspective on Northern New England found in traveling these amazing rail trails throughout the region.
As the rise in entrepreneurship and freelancing has redefined the concept of work, many people are moving away from traditional offices. Working from home has been a popular choice, but the line between personal and professional often becomes blurred, leading to frustration and burnout.
Coworking spaces, where you share facilities on a neutral site with people from other companies, provide a cost-effective and flexible solution. Are coworking spaces the answer for you? Our real estate agents share seven things to consider when making your decision.
November 23rd is National Espresso Day. What better way to celebrate than with a delicious latte? There are plenty of coffee shops in the area, but if you've just moved to a new place, it might be nice to try out your new kitchen and make one yourself. Here are some tips for making the perfect latte.
If you're planning to buy or sell a home, then you should be prepared to receive loads of advice from family, friends, and neighbors. When it comes to real estate transactions, everyone has their own unique perspective. While advice can be helpful and well-intentioned, it's important to weigh the advice based on experience. The average person is involved in a real estate transaction once every 5 to 7 years while the average Masiello agent manages 11 transactions every year. These uneven experiences have given rise to numerous industry myths.
In our high-tech world, home security systems have become more sophisticated, affordable, and easier to use. And unlike the manual security gadgets of yesteryears, today's home security devices are discreet, packed with a variety of security features, and can be controlled using your phone or tablet. Smart home security tech can deter criminals and help in an emergency. From smart cameras to smart thermostats, our real estate agents explain the typical devices in a smart home security system to help take the first steps to a more convenient and secure lifestyle.
If you love to travel, you've probably vacationed in some spectacular places that hold special memories. Perhaps the ocean views, exotic cuisine, relaxing atmosphere, or abundance of nature make you want to return again and again to this special place.
Pets are a part of the family in many Northern New England homes!
And July 15th is National Pet Fire Safety Day, a great reminder to fine-tune your family's fire safety plan so that all your family members are protected.
Our real estate agents also recommend making a few changes around your home so that your furry family members don't inadvertently start a fire. Here are some valuable tips to help keep your pet safe in case of an emergency.
When you move, you're not just getting a new house. You're getting a new community. Your new neighbors can help you with everything from showing you where the best grocery store in the area is, to loaning you a leaf blower when it's time for yard work, to calling the authorities if they notice something wrong while you're not there. They can also turn into lifelong friends. First, however, you need to meet and get to know them. Here are a few ways to do that.
To build or to buy? It's one of the first and most important questions that you'll need to answer when considering your next home. The right answer for your family depends on a variety of factors, including your budget, where you would like to live, your preferences for the home, and your future plans. Our real estate agents are here to help you make an informed decision, with a closer look at whether building or buying a home might be the right choice for your family.
There are countless reasons to start upcycling furniture and no real downside. It saves you money, it keeps old furniture out of the landfill, and it also happens to be a lot of fun. That's what our real estate agents call a win-win.
Of course, it can also be hard to know where and how to get started when you're a newcomer to the whole idea of upcycling. How do you go about transforming old, worn-out furnishings into something new and exciting? For that matter, where does one even find this stuff?
For a lot of upcycle newbies, one of the biggest challenges is finding furniture and decor to start working on. Sure, you can always keep an eye out for thrown-out furniture on the curb, but that's not very consistent. And of course, if you have an attic or garage full of old decor, you don't have to look very far at all. For the rest of us, one of the best places to find furniture to upcycle is the internet. Platforms like Freecycle, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace offer endless opportunities to get your hands on free (or extremely cheap) goods that are ripe for revamping. Once you have an item you wish to upcycle, follow these steps.
Upcycling isn't just a good way to get new furniture, it's also a great way to get rid of your own unwanted furniture. If, for example, you're planning on moving in the near future, letting some of your old furniture go to others for upcycling is a great way to give it a second life while eliminating clutter in your home.
Contact us today to learn more about upcycling and how it's a great way to either pare down your belongings before selling a home or fill your living space with creativity when you've just bought a new home.
When people ask our real estate agents for home improvement tips, gardening and landscaping are usually at the top of their list.
Colorful flowers and lush greenery can always put a smile on your face. In addition to the visual delights, there are other great reasons to take up gardening.
The beginning, middle, and end of summer are marked by holidays that honor our country's greatest values and liberties. Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veteran's Day are steeped in traditions of honoring and remembering all those who served in the military. For many of us, it also means an extra day off to celebrate with family and friends.
With the promise of summer stretching out ahead, Memorial Day has a special significance. Our real estate agents share their favorite New England Memorial Day traditions.
In a seller's market, such as we have today, sellers might feel like they can skip some steps before listing their home. After all, sellers are getting their asking prices, aren't they? But is that the only thing to consider? Our real estate agents know staging your home is important in any real estate market. Here's why.
New England is justifiably proud of its spectacular Atlantic Ocean shoreline that makes the region a top tourist destination year after year. But residents know that the scenic lakes in New Hampshire and Maine offer an unbeatable sense of serenity as well.
Both states offer relaxing lake living activities such as boating, canoeing, swimming, fishing, etc. But when you look closer, you'll see what makes these areas truly one of a kind.
Our real estate agents share some of the things that make Maine and New Hampshire unique for lakeside living.
National parks are beautifully scenic spaces protected by the federal government. They offer multiple acres of natural beauty along with abundant recreational opportunities. It's no wonder people want to live near one!
New England is home to several of these protected areas.
History buffs, art lovers, and outdoors enthusiasts will all find something to enjoy at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, which is the one and only national park in New Hampshire. Previously the home to Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a renowned American sculptor, the park features his bronze creations throughout the grounds.
Further up north, you'll find Maine's stunning Acadia National Park, which is one of the top ten most visited national parks in the country. Or start your journey on the Appalachian Trail, a national scenic trail, at Maine's Mount Katahdin.
If you're lucky enough to live near one of these protected areas, you'll reap many benefits from being close by. Our real estate agents share some of the benefits of living near a national park.
Contact us to see homes for sale in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, including some near national parks and other beautiful scenery and recreational opportunities. The area's natural beauty provides numerous benefits to its residents and makes it a wonderful place to call home.
It's no surprise that many of us are watching more TV than normal. Whether it's your favorite cable sitcom or your favorite streaming service, many homeowners are thinking of ways to improve their watching experience at home.
A good home theater system is essential for creating the best possible viewing experience and maximizing comfort in your living room. Our real estate agents take a lot of pride in their home theater setups, and there couldn't be a better time to improve yours. Below are some tips to get the most out of your home theater setup:
A good way to create a focal point in your living room is to craft a gallery wall. One that is well done makes a home look inviting and helps tie the room together. This creative collage does require a bit of planning! The following guide will help you to create a stunning gallery wall you'll love to look at in your home.
If you plan to put your home on the market, it's better to start your preparations sooner rather than later. Our real estate agents find that homeowners who complete home repairs and maintenance tasks are more likely to produce spaces that appeal to potential buyers. Follow this checklist if you plan to list your home this spring.
Are you adding a new pet to your household? Pets have a special way of making any house feel homier! While adopting a new pet is fun and exciting, it can also be stressful while they adjust.
Each pet is an individual, so just be aware, what works for one may not work for another. Let's have a look at what's considered the mainstream wisdom for introducing a new dog or cat.
Before you leave to pick up your new pet, make sure you've prepared your home. For a cat, acquire a litter box and litter and put breakable things away. For a puppy, remove things you don't want chewed up.
Staying organized has never been easy. And after a year when many of us have spent more time living and working at home than ever before, it's understandable if home organization has gotten a little lax.
Our real estate agents understand the struggle. Luckily, we also have a few suggestions for getting your home organization back on track. We can't promise you won't have to do any actual cleaning, but we can say with confidence that these home organization apps will help!
Each year, changes are made to the existing legislature that provides additional advantages to many men and women. Prospective homeowners will be pleased to know that in 2020, Congress passed a new bill which changes the benefits that the men and women enlisted in our armed forces receive in 2021. It's known as the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D., Veterans Health Care, and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.
Many of us are still spending more time than usual at home, which may continue for a while. If you're finding you've got time for extra cleaning projects, try to make the most of it and let your home's natural sparkle come out. Our real estate agents can always recommend cleaning tasks that homeowners may overlook when preparing a home for the market.
Here are some tips for enhanced cleaning in your home.
Sometimes the smallest change can make all the difference in the world. And if you've spent as much time at home in the last year as we have, chances are you're ready for a change!
Our real estate agents are here to help. These interior design tricks can make a huge visual impact and seemingly transform your space. They're also simple, affordable, and require a minimal investment of time and effort. Happy decorating!
Smart home technology has been available to consumers for more than 20 years now. But it's really only in the last decade that the idea of a smart home has become mainstream.
If you're wondering how you can use technology to make your home better, smarter, more efficient, and more secure, then you're in luck. As we head into the new year, our real estate agents are excited to share these smart home technologies for 2021.
Whether you're looking to buy or sell a home or are simply ready to take your living space to the next level, smart home technology is an important consideration. Contact us today to learn more and talk to our team about ways to make your home smarter in 2021.
January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, so be sure to add energy efficiency to your New Year's resolutions. When it comes to cutting energy costs, a few small changes can really make a big difference. More importantly, making our homes eco-friendly can have a major impact on our community and Earth. Our real estate agents love discussing ways to improve your home's energy efficiency, and they have compiled this list of tips to help you reduce your utility bills in 2021:
Covid-19 has taught us a lot this year, including how well many of us are able to adapt to a remote working environment. While many companies and employees believed working from home would be a temporary arrangement early on in the pandemic, it's becoming more and more clear that the virus has simply accelerated the inevitable shift to remote work. You can argue that working from home has benefits and disadvantages; however, many people, including our real estate agents, believe it is here to stay. Below are several reasons why.