Cape Cod Blog

Cape Cod Homes, Residential homes and condoes Order by Price, Location or Specification

  • CAPE COD: UPCOMING EVENTS IN BARNSTABLE VILLAGE AND HYANNIS

    Cape Cod is a great place for fall events, and the quaint Barnstable Village and Hyannis are no exception when it comes to exciting things to do. The Cape is really beautiful this time of year, and there are many upcoming events that feature that beauty as well as the many aspects of this season. There is something for the kids, the parents, the young, and the old.

    For something a little unusual, the Barnstable Village Haunted & History Tour may fit your bill. The tour consists of a walk on the historic Old King’s Highway. On this journey into the past you will visit ten different sites dating from the time of Reverend John Linthrop in 1645. The last stop is the Old Jail built in 1690, which is still thought to be haunted to this day. The tour runs almost every day from 9/15/2011 until 11/19/2011.

    Another excellent event in Barnstable is the Hyannis Seasonal Walk, which includes stops at the JFK Museum and Veterans Park, which overlooks Hyannis Harbor. This is not a guided tour, but comes with a walk box as a guide. This walk runs every day from 9/15/2011 until 11/19/2011, and is perfect for all ages as it is a very easy stroll.

    For the classical music lovers out there, and music lovers in general, the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra kicks off their 50th year on September 24th and 25th in Hyannis. This retrospect includes the Anniversary Overture by Arnold, and the Overture to Nabucco by Verdi. Also included is a guest performance by Jon Nakamatsu, a pianist who has won many distinguished awards.

    The Barnstable Village and Hyannis areas are homes to many different events for all walks of life; these historic and humble areas may not be exciting, but they are very historic, interesting, and entertaining. The natural beauty at this time of year makes every activity better. Enjoy your fall!

      Posted on September 19th, 2011
  • Cape Cod Fall Getaways

    Most people think of Cape Cod as a place to visit in the summer, and while the beaches are great, and the warm weather can really help reduce stress, fall is also a great time to visit this beautiful vacation spot. A much more relaxed atmosphere can help eliminate your worries just as much or more than a crowded summer vacation can.

    One of the great things about visiting Cape cod during the off-season is that there are no crowds. There are tons of people on the Cape during the summer months. Obviously, prices on lodging are much better, and most places stay open until at least late October, giving one plenty of time to plan a peaceful vacation.

    Dining is not a problem during the early fall months either. Most restaurants stay on schedule with the lodging establishments. This is often done because the foliage during the fall months is breathtaking; Cape Cod is one of the best places in the world to watch the leaves turn. One of the best ways to enjoy this aspect of the Cape is to take a leisurely drive along route 6A or beside the Cape Cod Canal.

    Most people love to take the ferries to Nantucket from Woods Hole, or to Martha’s Vineyard. These have regular schedules until early October, but still continue to run for the whole year. The only thing you need to do in the off-season is to make sure you schedule your trip ahead of time to make sure there are no issues.

    If you are into a more relaxed vacation than Cape Cod’s crowds offer in the summer, then a fall trip is right up your alley. The roads are less crowded, parking is simple, restaurants have no wait, and your stay will be much cheaper. Plus, the leaves are absolutely beautiful.

      Posted on September 15th, 2011
  • Organizing a Neighborhood Clean Up Day or Garage Sale

    As the weather changes, it is a perfect time to do a little reorganizing around the house. There is nothing better than having a place for everything and everything in its place. Sometimes the only way to achieve this is to sort through everything you own and start getting rid of the things that you don’t use.

    If you are really serious about putting your house in order, consider having a garage sale. You get rid of all your clutter and make a little money in the process. Why not get your friends involved and make it neighborhood event. By pooling your resources with your neighbors, you will attract many more people to your garage sale.

    The first step in organizing a neighborhood cleanup day or garage sale is getting your neighbors on board and setting a date and time. Get out your calendar and go door to door to find out which of your neighbors want to join in the fun. This is also the time to discuss splitting the cost of advertisement. Some of your neighbors might not want to participate because they feel they don’t have enough to sell. Offer to let them set up a table at your house. When it comes to neighborhood garage sales, the more people that are involved, the bigger your sales and attendance will be.

    Once you have set the date, make sure you are allowed to have a garage sale on that day. Some cities or neighborhood associations require a permit to host a garage sale.

    Start advertising your neighborhood garage sale the week before it is scheduled. Take out an ad in the paper. Post an ad on Craig’s List. Put up notices on community bulletin boards in grocery stores, libraries, and even churches. Make sure to stress that this is a multi-family garage sale. Buyers love to be able to shop five garage sales at one stop.

    The night before your sale, put up poster around the neighborhood. Make sure that you take them all down when the garage sale is over. Organizing a neighborhood cleanup day or garage sale is a fun way to bring people together, get rid of clutter, and make a little money.

     

      Posted on May 27th, 2011
  • What is Curb Appeal?

    If your house is for sale the chances are good that your realtor discussed curb appeal with you when placing the listing. This basically means how a person reacts to your property when they are driving by your home. The driver will assess the curb appeal your home offers. This includes all of the aesthetic qualities. The driver might like the landscaping, the painting scheme, and the structural integrity. The curb appeal might be so great it will cause the driver to make an appointment to see the inside of the home.

    If your lawn needs mowing or, if there are weeds spread throughout the lawn, growing wild in planters, along with bushes that have not been pruned for ages then these will all distract from the curb appeal. If the paint on your house is peeling in a number of places, if the screen  on your window is hanging half on-half off, or if there are electrical wires dangling from the roof to the ground then chances are the curb appeal of your home is greatly diminished. A homeowner must assess these distractions and realize how cheaply and quickly these problems can be remedied. Once remedied the curb appeal on your own will increase a great deal.

    The initial curb appeal starts the moment the buyer begins to look at your home. Usually the landscaping is the first thing to catch someones eye. This is why a regular mowing of the lawn should be done. The lawn should look green and healthy. Any bare spot or discolored area should be re-sodded. The edges should be trimmed. Weed control should be in place. If the homeowner is not interested in doing this work then s/he should hire a professional lawn care person to make certain the landscaping is always looking at its best.

    Also, try to make certain you maintain a symmetrical look. This means the door and windows appear balanced. Two identical light fixtures should frame the front door. Shutters around the windows should seem even and well-maintained. If you have decorative pieces they should be tasteful and selective. The curb appeal your home offers can possibly get an offer on your home.

     

      Posted on May 20th, 2011
  • Remodeling Ideas to Instantly Increase the Value of Your Home

    There are some home improvement projects you can do that will automatically increase the value of your home. If you are putting your home on the market within the immediate you will use a different strategy then if you plan to put it for sale in the future. For example, if you have a bedroom that is dull and showing wear and tare, you can inexpensively purchase some paint and change the color in a short period of time. The improvement will most likely impress any future buyer.

    You might reconsider completely remodeling your kitchen, if you plan for an immediate listing, as this can be a very expensive project. It might be a project that you will not get a return for your money immediately. However, if you plan to keep your home for several years then the remodel will increase the value of your home and pay you rewards in the future.

    One inexpensive way to improve the value of your home is by using wall paneling. You can panel most any room in your house. If you install quality, real wood paneling this will cause an immediate increased value of your home. Another home improvement is to add an indoor wall fountain. This adds to the rooms decor. The moment a future buyer walks into the room they will be impressed when their eyes focus on the fountain.

    If you have a screen door at your point of entry that is showing signs of wear replacing it can be a great investment while also adding value. Instead of a prospective buyer first being discouraged by an ugly screen door they will be impressed with a new door. You should also check your front yard. You might want to add rock, a tree, some shrubs, all inexpensively, that will add some great curb appeal to your home. You should also remove any plant that is near death. This detracts from the landscape. Add some flowers around the front yard. You can put some inexpensive pots, full of bright, colorful plants, on your front porch. You might also consider adding some hanging plants. First impressions are very important when you want to sale your home.

     

      Posted on May 13th, 2011
  • Tips for Building Green

    Many people are considering making their next home more environmentally friendly; building green is bigger than ever, with the positive impact on the environment as well as the tax breaks you can get when you make your home more energy efficient. It can be an expensive undertaking, but well worth it in the long run. Read on to learn more about the many ways you can reduce the costs related to building green.

    Prior to selecting a building site, be sure to consider the different aspects that you will need to use to make your building green; a site with good solar exposure will help you to harness the sun’s powers as a source of energy. Avoid any site that has large billboards obstructing the exposure. A site that has a steady wind can assist in such energy-saving options as passive heating or cooling through ventilation. It can also open up the possibility of building a wind turbine, which is also a power source. A site on a stream or a river can become a future micro-hydro power generator as well as a potential source for drinking water.

    Building green also means considering such things as the orientation of the building; you should be sure that the windows will face north or south. In southern climates, it’s important to put larger windows on the northern side, to maximize the cooler light, and minimize southern windows and also shade that window from direct sunlight. Residents of northern climates should maximize the windows on the southern side of the house to maximize the solar gain during the cold winter months.

    When the time comes to choose fixtures and appliances, be sure that you’ve chosen the fixtures that will help you conserve water. It doesn’t cost any more, and it’s a great way to save money as well as remain environmentally friendly. An open design to the layout cannot only reduce the costs of construction, but it can also increase the daylight and natural ventilation as well as minimize the use of materials. Green building can be expensive, but it is rewarding.

     

      Posted on May 6th, 2011
  • Weekly rentals in Cape Cod MA

    The Cape is an absolute destination for sport anglers from around the world starting during the chilly spring months until well into fall and attracts a variety of tourist during its ever growing season! It is a perfect summer getaway to enjoy the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean and to soak up the sun. You can enjoy the many outdoor activities on the 550+ miles of beach, both public and private, and easily accessible. The summer temperatures of Cape Cod, MA are perfect for any person with a range between an average low of 47oF and high of 80oF with a mild precipitation average.
    Of the quality lodges that are offered at Cape Cod, few are comparable to the pristine rental houses you can reserve through Coldwell Banker. Match any budget vacation from as low as $625 per week with cottages near Raycroft Beach or choose the elegant five bedroom and five bathroom house with a multi-level deck overlooking Long Pond! You can relax and take in the sunsets and watch the boats pass down Bass River in a windmill style home with its own dock one half mile from Ocean Beach! The strong team of real estate agents offered by Coldwell Banker is at your service and each one is knowledgeable about the Cape Cod area. They can provide a friendly experience and save you much time and frustration in helping to match you and your guests to your dream vacation getaway!
    As you begin to make plans for your summer vacation, be sure to visit our site at www.coldwellbankercapecod.com and browse through the excellent choices that are sure to grab your attention. The site can organize the houses available by price and location or you can do a customized search to match your particular needs. Contact Coldwell Banker Cape Cod at 1-508-362-1993 or email info@coldwellbankerjmw.com for more information and to get started on the vacation of a lifetime!

      Posted on April 29th, 2011
  • Cape Cod MA beaches

    Not only is Cape Cod known for its beautiful beaches and water related activities but offers many very interesting things to do and see. Along the shores of Cape Cod the surf is calmer than many other places. Nantucket area is known to be especially safe for toddlers and young children due to its gentle wave action. Some beach areas facing the ocean are much better suited to teens and adults due to more turbulent surf and undertow issues. Special parking stickers available from each town hall afford visitors weekly or monthly savings from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

    Among the many interesting things to do is to go whale watching. A boat trip to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary allows visitors the chance to see whales feeding on their favorite plankton fish, leaping and diving and spouting water through their blowholes. The tour may include the sighting of one of the 300 Right Whales known to exist.

    A visit to Cartland of Cape Cod can be an unforgettable experience such as driving around a go-cart track or water gun fights aboard bumper boats. Kiddie rides at this fun spot are still 25¢ each. No visit to this special place would be complete without a beach bucket sundae consisting of a cool treat served with a shovel in lieu of a spoon.

    Several educational opportunities are available for visitors such as a tour of the Ocean Spray Cranberry operation complete with samples and a variety of demonstrations. For history buffs, a visit to the JFK Memorial and Presidential Museum along with a tour passing the Kennedy compound are a must.

    Accommodations are available at Cape Cod beaches designed to meet every desire and budget. For families, kitchen suites are offered including complementary breakfasts. All accommodations have Wi-Fi and DVD capability

      Posted on April 22nd, 2011
  • Cape Cod MA Vacations

    Cape Cod is one of the most beautiful places to go on vacation. If you have a family, there is something on this Massachusetts peninsula for everyone. There are always deals on packages that can easily be found by doing a little bit of research. The hotels and motels in Cape Cod are quite nice, but it is the cottages that are really attractive, especially if you have a large family.

    The beaches on the Cape are outstanding. The coast guard Lighthouse Beach at the National Seashore in Eastham is routinely voted one of the ten best beaches in the world. The sand is beautiful, and very clean, and the water is pristine. The Cape also offers other diverse activities for the whole family, including: boating, fishing, golfing, seafood restaurants, surfing, flea markets, camping, and an incredible nightlife for the adults.

    Whale watching tours are very popular in Cape Cod, as are boat rentals. Renting a boat for the whole day out of Rock Harbor to just look around or fish all day is a very popular thing to do.

    One of the most popular things to do in the evening is to check out one of Cape Cod’s many famous seafood restaurants featuring fresh oysters, clams, lobster, and more. If your family still wants more there is miniature golf to enjoy, or if the weather is nice there is a drive-in movie theater to enjoy.

    Cape Cod is obviously a wonderful place to visit during the summer, but it is also quite beautiful in the fall, winter, and spring as well. The Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Ferries run all year, and are very worth the time. The off-season also has the benefit of having vastly reduced rates on the more expensive resorts and bed & breakfast establishments. Ready to search for your Cape Cod vacation rental? Contact us today.

      Posted on April 15th, 2011
  • Buying a second home in cape cod MA

    Cape Cod has been a location offering prime real estate for many years now, and for many good reasons. The natural beauty which this area has to offer is breathtaking to say the least, and it is the first thing you will notice when you get here. The way the houses just seem to blend in with the surrounding nature will make you feel right at home without ever leaving your car. So if it is a second home you are looking for, you won’t have to look very hard in Cape Cod as there are many to choose from that will make you feel as if you are getting away from it all.

    After you have taken in the sights and are ready to get down to business, you will notice from the prices that this is a buyer’s market. When you think Cape Cod you obviously think of high end real estate, but the prices for the homes here somewhat contradict that. To say that the average price for a home in Cape Cod is reasonable is an understatement, and this is the type of “sticker shock” that you will experience when first looking into the financials of buying a second home here in Cape Cod.

    There are many different styles and sizes of homes to choose from, so finding the one that will suit your needs and tastes will not be difficult at all. The experienced and friendly real estate agents here will be with you every step of the way to get you into your second home as quickly and seamlessly as possible. The agents here are knowledgeable in virtually every aspect of real estate, so you can rest assured that their professionalism will be leading the way.

    So if you are ready to start looking for that second home, we are here for you and we are ready help. Give us a call today and you will not be disappointed.

      Posted on April 8th, 2011