Your home is still listed for sale. You might be thinking it is best to take it off the market and re-list in the spring. However if you are serious about selling, rethink removing it from the market for the following 4 reasons.

1.  If you remove your home from the market, you will have less completion on the market place, which means buyers will have less to pick from. You actually might sell at a higher price in the winter than if you wait until spring when you'll have greater competition.

2.   The winter months are the best time for buyers to make a purchase. They normally have more time to look around before the spring, when life gets busy with kids getting out of school and summer vacations being planned.

3.  Buyers want to already be in their new home in winter so they can enjoy the start of the spring and summer season.

4.  Bad weather is no longer an issue for buyers like it used to be in the past, traveling to view different homes. Nine out of ten homebuyers search for their homes online at their workplaces, on their smart phones, and from the comfort of their homes after dark.

I have sold many of my listings during the winter. My sellers were glad they listened to my advice about keeping their homes on the market. Don’t let the winter season discourage you from trying to sell your home.  

Happy Winter Selling!

Colrain, Massachusetts is a beautiful town in northern Franklin County, just below the Vermont line. The town draws many artists who seek inspiration from its natural beauty. There are so many artists, in fact that each year they all come together to host Crafts of Colrain Open Studio Tour. Grab a map and a friend and take a tour around Colrain this Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10 from 10 am to 5 pm.

This year 19 artisans will open their doors to the public and show off their amazing hand-crafted items, ranging from furniture to jewelry to fiber art and more. At stop #1, check out Marilyn Beal’s one-of-a-kind silk scarves using carved stamps, hand-painting, Japanese shibori, and simple silk screening techniques. Also at Stop #1 is Al Ladd with custom hand-crafted jewelry boxes and other beautiful works of wood. Another wonderful participating artist is Lynn Fisher. Lynn has been working with fiber for over 30 years. Explore her variety of creations which she dyes, spins, knits, weaves, and felts.

To view the full list of artists, click here or go to craftsofcolrain.com for more information. 

For 25 years, CiderDays has been a Franklin County staple event of all things apple. Every first weekend in November, events pop up all over the area to appreciate and learn more about ciders, cidermaking, and orchards. There are cider tastings, workshops, and tours, hosted by various orchards, cideries, and other cider professionals. This year, CiderDays will be held November 1-3. Some of the events are free; others require tickets purchased in advance, such as the Cider Salon. 

The Cider Salons will once again be held in the large tent in Unity Park, Turners Falls. Sponsored by the United States Association of Cider Makers, the Salons will feature over 130 ciders from a range of producers around North America and Europe. Buy your tickets in advance for either Round 1 or Round 2 and enjoy the opportunity to sample ciders from near and far.

Some events will be happening throughout the weekend and you can drop in anytime to check them out. Check out an art exhibit at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, 25 Years of CiderDays, which will display historic cider presses and images honoring cider producers. While you’re in Turners Falls, you can also stop by the official Cider Days Bookstore at Two Birds on Avenue for books about orchards and cider and even some author signings. Several tasting rooms will have their doors open to the public throughout the weekend, including West County Cider in Shelburne, Bear Swamp Orchard and Cidery in Ashfield, Headwater Cider in Hawley, and more. 

See the full list of tastings and other events happening throughout the weekend here and find everything you need to know about CiderDays at CiderDays.org

Happy CiderDays! 

 

Sales of single family homes in Franklin County were down 12.7% and median price up 15% in September 2019 compared to September 2018. The sales were up 3.3% in Hampden County and 33% in Hampshire County. Median price was up in both Hampden and Hampshire Counties. 

The average days on market was down 15.6% from 65 average number of days in September 2018 compared to 55 days in September 2019. Listings that are pending (under agreement to sell) were up 38% from 432 listings pending in September 2018 to 596 listings pending sale in September 2019.

Celebrate a decade of fall fun at the Great Falls Festival aka PumpkinFest on Saturday, October 19. This fall-themed festival will be held on Avenue A in Turners Falls from 2-9 pm and is great for all ages. 

Bring your own carved pumpkin to display or decorate one there! Hang out at the beer garden and drink some local craft beers and pair it with food from various food vendors. You’ll also want to bring your dancing shoes because there will be musical bands and performances all event long. See the full lineup below:

It’s time for the wonderful annual Ashfield Fall Festival. This Saturday, October 12th and Sunday, October 13th, Ashfield’s Main Street will be filled with crafts, food, and music from 10 am to 5 pm on both days. 

Check out more than 50 local exhibitors including, Tom Kuklinski woodworking, Ed Branson hand-blown glass, and Walter Cudnohufsky watercolors. View the full list of arts and crafts vendors here. They will be stationed on the town common or the Upper Town Hall.

You’ll find lots of tasty autumn treats at the festival, such as home-made pumpkin donuts, apple pie, and applesauce sundae. Get your savory fix as well with warm chili, burgers, crawfish pasta, or vegetarian and kids options, too.

Bring the kids because there will be tons of entertainment and games, including the pumpkingames! Check out the full lineup of performances, as well, here. Don’t miss out on this amazing community event, with the backdrop of the beautiful fall foliage. 

For more information go to www.ashfieldfallfestival.org.

It’s apple picking season! Check out these local Franklin County orchards to find the best apples around:

Apex Orchards

Head down Peckville Road in Shelburne and you’ll find Apex Orchard’s farm store and orchard. If you have the time, you can pick your own apples in the orchard, which by the way has a beautiful tri-state view! The rows of apples are labeled by variety of apple and whether it is ready to pick. You can also check out their website for an updated list of what is ready now. If you don’t have the time to pick your own, head inside their store for fresh-picked apples, as well as a variety of local products such as ciders, jams, soaps, and more. They are open daily 9 am to 5 pm and offer wagon rides on the weekends from 10 am to 5 pm.

413-625-2744 | 225 Peckville Road, Shelburne | www.Apexorchards.com

Pine Hill Orchards

A family-owned orchard in Colrain, Pine Hill Orchards has a market and restaurant as well as a pick-your-own orchard. Stop by between 8 am and 5 pm before Columbus Day to pick your own delicious apples. Pick up a container from their store before you pick. Their prices are $7.50 for a half peck, $13.75 for a peck, or $22.00 for a bushel. They also offer wagon rides on the weekends 10 am to 5 pm. 

413-624-3325 | 248 Greenfield Road, Colrain | www.Pinehillorchards.com

Clarkdale Fruit Farm

Clarkdale is a fourth-generation family-owned fruit farm located in Deerfield, Mass. They still have heirloom varieties from some of the original trees planted in 1915. You can pick your own McIntosh, Gala, or Cortland apples daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Plus, you can find other varieties, as well as other farm products such as eggs and maple syrup, in their farm store open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. They also press their own cider from October to March.

413-772-6797 | 303 Upper Road, Deerfield | www.Clarkdalefruitfarms.com

Clark Brothers Orchards

Clark Brothers has 65 acres of orchards and grows 30 different varieties of apples. They have nearly 14 decades of experience and undergo Eco Apple Certification, to grow some of the finest apples in New England. You can purchase their apples from late September through December. Contact them to buy:

413-628-1515 | 580 Apple Valley Rd, Ashfield | www.Clarkbrothersorchards.com

 

Sales of single family homes in Franklin County were down 6.8% and median price up 3.3% in August 2019 compared to August 2018. The sales were down 2.3% in Hampden County and 3.7% in Hampshire County. Median price was up in Hampden County and down in Hampshire County. 

The average days on market was up 1.2% from 55 average number of days in August 2018 compared to 56 days in August 2019. Listings that are pending (under agreement to sell) were up 16.9% from 543 listings pending in August 2018 to 635 listings pending sale in August 2019.

Many expensive updates have been done to this solid built and attractive contemporary style cape. It is a great buy and ready for immediate occupancy. It comes with a new septic system, deck, roof, heating system, carpeting, lighting, bathrooms, kitchen and more!! It has a sunny and charming interior with exposed beams, lots of windows and hardwood floors. The fabulous new kitchen features granite countertop, center island, breakfast nook, radiant heat, tile floors and patio doors to a patio. In addition there is a dining area, living room with patio doors to a new large deck, first floor bedroom, half bath and laundry room. The second floor has two very large bedrooms with vaulted ceilings and one with skylights, full bath and a sitting area. It has an attached 1 car garage with storage, stone wall and walkway, and a picturesque yard. Easy stroll to the town center, library and recreation area, near the Conway swimming pond, not far from the Elementary School and 10 min. to I-91.

Listed by Wanda Mooney of Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont REALTORS

Contact Wanda today for more information and for a viewing - Wanda@WandaMooney.com or (413)768-9848.

View the full listing here.

This Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22, check out the Old Deerfield Fall Craft Fair. Held on the lush and beautiful grounds surrounding Memorial Hall Museum in Deerfield, MA, the Fall Craft Fair features 150 artisan craft booths from all over the area. You will find every kind of craft from fiber to pottery to jewelry and more! Plus, specialty food offerings, live music, and free craft activities for all ages, provided by Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. You can also stop by the Yankee Candle booth, one of the festival’s long-time sponsors, to find beeswax candles, enter to win a raffle prize, and get a $20 off coupon. 

The craft fair hours are Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $7 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Visit www.deerfield-craft.org for more information and to view the list of crafters.