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Chappaqua NY Realtor

How Much Does it Cost to Install a Roof? | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Roofs perform such an essential function that “keeping a roof over your head” is synonymous with the very concept of shelter. Roofs not only keep the rain off your head, they also keep moisture from destroying your home. So when it comes to maintaining your investment, the smartest money you spend could be on a new roof. Visit to https://roofers-manchester.com/ where you will be have cost effective and quality roofing service. How much you’ll spend will vary, depending on several factors.
Size of Your house

The single largest factor in the cost of your roof is, not surprisingly, the size of your home. The bigger the house, the bigger the roof, the larger the cost of both materials and labor. Most roofers charge by the square foot, with a number that encompasses both materials and labor. Your roofing contractor can give you a ballpark estimate of the project cost based on your home’s square footage. That makes comparison shopping for roofers fairly easy.  Continue Reading

Height and Pitch of Your Roof

According to roofing contractors the higher your roof and the steeper the pitch, the more expensive your roof installation will be. With a steeper and taller roof, the installation is both more difficult and more dangerous, and it may take longer and cost more, check out the best roofing contractor red deer – Good Roofers. Some roofers will quote you a general price based on the size of your home but will not guarantee that price until they see the height and pitch of your roof and whether you have any hard-to-reach spots. If you are in need of a roofing company Middletown NJ Roofing Contractors would definitely be the perfect choice for you. The roof of your home is one of its most important components. Your roof protects the inside or your home from rain, snow, wind, ice, hail, and other types of weather. This means that your roof is exposed to all of these elements and can receive weather damage. To keep your home in good condition your roof will need to be repaired or replaced occasionally. This article will talk about weather damage and roof replacement. Click here to learn more about #1 rated roofing contractors Indianapolis roof replacement services. You’ve decided you need a new roof. Several contractors have given you estimates. How do you know which is right for you? It is important to understand exactly what the contractor is proposing when making a decision on your roof replacement. There are usually several products/services included on most re-roofing quotes.

SHINGLES

The primary item on a roof replacement estimate is the actual roofing material. The estimate will list the manufacturer and type of shingles the contractor intends to use. It will also show the style of shingle. Architectural or dimensional shingles are the most popular. They create more interest and often mimic the look of other roofing materials such as slate or tile. It may include color choice or options if design was part of the initial discussion. The estimate will also indicate the length of the manufacturer’s warranty for that type.

FLASHING

If your roof has chimneys, dormers, and walls, then you will see flashing on your estimate. Flashing prevents water from seeping behind and under shingles, causing water damage to the structure.

Flashing is usually thin sheets of aluminum or galvanized steel. Many professional roofers will fashion their own from sheet metal. Flashing is installed over joints in the roof & wall construction. Possible areas are valleys, chimneys, dormers, windows, pipes, skylights, porches, decks and edges.

New flashing is often installed with a new roof. If flashing deteriorates or comes loose it can cause severe damage to your home. It is important to make sure it is installed properly to avoid unnecessary damage.

UNDERLAYMENT

One item that should be included on every roof replacement estimate is underlayment. Underlayment is a layer of protective material between the roof deck or plywood and the shingles. Often called felt paper, it is the first layer of waterproofing for your roof.

Removal of Old Shingles

If you’re replacing the roof on your home with a new roof, your estimate might need to factor in the price of removing your old shingles. In some cases, you can save money by installing the new shingle over the old ones without removing them, but that’s not always an option. A new roof installed over the old one can become too heavy for the structure of the house and is not always a good idea for every home. And if there are already multiple layers of shingles on the roof, not only is it a bad idea to install more shingles on top, but you may pay double the standard cost of removal. Looking to get your old roof removed? Roof restoration Canberra can do the job for you.

Type and Quality of the shingles

Asphalt and composite shingles are some of the most affordable, easy-to-install, durable and long-lasting roofing materials you can use. Clay tiles, which create an Italian or Spanish style, are more expensive, but they look great and provide effective protection against fire and insects.

They can be made with organic or fiberglass materials. Fiberglass shingles tend to provide better fire protection, but both types can be waterproofed and should effectively protect against mold and mildew. Wood Shake create an attractive look, but they can present a fire hazard. Cement or concrete roofing can create the look of wood or ceramic tile without most of the drawbacks. And metal roofs, though more expensive than most other options, provide unparalleled strength and durability.
Within each of these types, you’ll find different levels of quality and corresponding prices. It will almost always pay in the long run to splurge on the highest quality you can. It will last longer, protect your house better, and you might actually lower your insurance premiums. (Ask your roofers Manchester for a recommendation..)
Gutter and flashing replacement

It may be a financially smart decision to pay extra for having your gutters and flashing installed or replaced along with your new roof. If your roofer is already doing the labor for the roof installation, the cost for gutter and flashing installation would be less than if you had them done at a later date all by themselves. So although your total costs will be higher, you will save money over doing the two jobs separately.

read more..

http://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/roofing/install-a-roof/?m=homesense&entry_point_id=26786318

Latest News from Teatown | Chappaqua Real Estate

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August 15, 2013
Click here for more of Teatown’s upcoming programs
All programs require pre-registration. To register, call 914-762-2912 x110.
A Night in the Woods
Join in the celebration
on
  September 22, 2013
Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Cocktails 5:00pm
Dinner 6:30pm
For more information and ticket purchases click here
Visit Teatown

1600 Spring Valley Road
Ossining, NY 10562
914-762-2912
Nature Center hours:
9:00am-5:00pm everyday
Trails are open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.
  Teatown Lake Reservation’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations.
Rabbit Abandoned at Teatown
On August 1, an adorable black and white rabbit was left abandoned in a cage by the basement door of Teatown. Sadly, after examination, it was determined that the bunny suffered a traumatic leg break sometime in the past that did not receive any care and healed improperly. This sobering case reminds all of us to think carefully about the responsibility of caring for a pet.

Read the full story.

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Scavenger Hunt! 

Saturday, August 17, 11:00am-12:00pm

ScavBlack vultureengers are an important part of nature’s clean-up crew. Come meet a couple of Teatown’s animal scavengers.
Free for members; $5pp for nonmembers.
Wildflower Island Tours
Saturday, August 17, 11:00am &1:00pm
Sunday, August 18, 1:00pm
Enjoy a guided tour of Wildflower Island, Teatown’s unique two-acre sanctuary that is home to over 230 species of wildflowers and shrubs native to our area.
View the current bloom list.
Please note that access to the Island is by guided tour only. Tours are intended for guests ages 12 and over.

TOUR TIMES:

Saturday, August 17: 11:00am & 1:00pm Sunday, August 18: 1:00pm

$4pp for members; $6pp for nonmembers.
Children’s Discovery Series
Weekly Classes begin September 10th

Little Tree Huggers 2-3 year olds with caregiver

Tuesdays: 10:00am-11:15am

or Wednesdays: 1:00pm-2:15pm

Sow the seeds of nature knowledge with your child. Children and parents are encouraged to use all of their senses to explore autumn.

Knee Hi Nature, 4 Year olds

Tuesdays: 1:00pm-2:30pm

or Wednesdays: 10:00am-11:30am

Boundaries disappear as children explore the natural world of bugs, rocks, habitats and more. Each session features a short hike, story or craft and visits with animals.

Classes begin September 10th and run for 8 weeks.

Class fee: Members $150; Nonmembers: $175

Teatown Camp Wraps Up

Another year of Teatown camp has drawn to a close. It’s been a wonderful summer and our campers learned a great deal about the world around them. From setting camera traps to making art from weeds and thorns to exploring new trails and getting an up-close view at native animals, it’s been an adventure and discovery-filled summer.

  Summer Camp 2014 registration will begin in January 2014. We look forward to another great year!

 

Nature Center Gallery
Oil paintings by Robin Arzt
On exhibit June 2-August 24
“Lemon Tree”

“My pieces range in style from representational to abstract, all inspired by nature. I find that common plants and familiar flowers are intriguing, especially when considered at close range. These paintings reflect my interest in the dynamic natural world.”

To see more of Robin’s work, visit www.RobinArzt.com
On Time and Place: Celebrating Scenic Hudson’s 50 Years
On exhibit in the Nature Center Gallery
September 4-30, 2013

Since 1963, Scenic Hudson has worked to preserve the Hudson Valley’s beauty. To help celebrate its 50th anniversary year in 2013, Scenic Hudson will present a curated exhibition of photographs that pay tribute to the organization’s inspiring story and the Hudson Valley’s people and communities. The diverse group of artwork includes traditional landscapes but also views of waterfronts in transformation and places bearing scars of pollution and other challenges to be addressed.
Learn more about this amazing exhibit.

Gallery hours: Daily, 9:00am-5:00pm

 

17 Pinterest Metrics Every Brand Should Track | Chappaqua Realtor

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Are you measuring your Pinterest marketing initiatives?

pinterest metrics every brand should track 17 Pinterest Metrics Every Brand Should TrackPinterest has established itself as the dominant  online source of visual inspiration. The social bookmarking site enables users  collect and share photos of their favorite events, interests, and hobbies. Pinterest  users spend more money, shop more frequently, and purchase items more often and  in larger quantities than users on any other social network. It has become a  huge traffic referral for businesses, but marketers often struggle with  Pinterest content strategies. Enter Pinterest metrics.

 

Why use Pinterest analytics?

It’s crucial for brands to understand whether their time spent on any social  network is generating results. The number of followers you have is important,  but it shouldn’t be the final arbiter of your Pinterest content strategy.  Consistently measuring your activity on the platform will help you identify the  types of content that resonate the most with your target audience. It will also  help you increase visits to your website, and generate leads and sales.

How to gain access to your Pinterest account’s analytics

Complete instructions — including a video walk-through — for setting up  Pinterest for Business and tapping your analytics can be found in my post, Use  Pinterest Web Analytics to Jumpstart Your Social Media Marketing.

Pinterest metrics that brand marketers should monitor

You need to determine which of the Pinterest metrics below are most important  to you given your marketing objectives. There are many tools available that  enable you to track some or all of these metrics, including Google Analytics, Pinalytics, Cyfe, ShareRoot, Curalate, PinReach, and WordPress app WP Pinner. Keep the infographic  below on hand to help you get going.

Read more: http://www.pamorama.net/2013/08/10/17-pinterest-metrics-every-brand-should-track-infographic/#ixzz2brBHaj94

Bernanke Says Premature Tightening Would Endanger Recover | Chappaqua NY Homes

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said raising interest rates or reducing asset purchases too soon would endanger the recovery as the economy remains hampered by high unemployment and government spending cuts.

“A premature tightening of monetary policy could lead interest rates to rise temporarily but would also carry a substantial risk of slowing or ending the economic recovery and causing inflation to fall further,” Bernanke said today in testimony to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress in Washington.

Bernanke lamented the human and economic costs of anunemployment rate at 7.5 percent nearly four years into the recovery from the deepest recession since the Great Depression, and he said the Fed’s record easing is providing “significant benefits.” His comments echoed remarks by William C. Dudley, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, who said in an interview that it would take three to four months before policy makers will know whether a sustainable recovery is in place.

Fed officials “need to see inflation expectations remain in a desired range, they need to see that the peak home-buying season goes as well as it can, and they need to see that we have absorbed the bulk of the huge fiscal consolidation” before they reduce the pace of purchases from $85 billion a month, said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP LLC inJersey City, New Jersey.

Stocks erased an early rally and Treasuries fell after Bernanke said the Fed could “take a step down in our pace of purchases” in the “next few meetings.”

Brady Question

“We’re trying to make an assessment of whether or not we have seen real and sustainable progress in the labor market outlook,” Bernanke said in response to a question from Representative Kevin Brady, the Texas Republican who chairs the committee. “If we see continued improvement and we have confidence that that is going to be sustained, then we could in — in the next few meetings, we could take a step down in our pace of purchases.”

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.6 percent to 1,659.54 at 2:54 p.m. in New York. Yields on the U.S. 10-year note rose above 2 percent for the first time since March.

“The market reacts pretty wildly to any hint of exit,” said Michael Hanson, senior economist at Bank of America Corp. in New York. “It’s a small exit and a lot of people are trying to get out of it — like a rock concert.”

“The Fed is not looking to very quickly get out of this,” said Hanson, a former Fed economist. “There’s obviously a few members who want to wrap this up sooner than later, but Bernanke doesn’t seem eager to pull back on QE very soon. He wants to see more evidence that the economy really is moving on a forward path.”

More Progress

Many Fed officials said more progress in the labor market is needed before deciding to slow the pace of asset purchases, according to minutes of their last meeting released after Bernanke’s testimony.

“Most observed that the outlook for the labor market had shown progress” since the bond-buying program began in September, according to the record of the April 30-May 1 gathering released today in Washington. “But many of these participants indicated that continued progress, more confidence in the outlook, or diminished downside risks would be required before slowing the pace of purchases would become appropriate.”

 

Bernanke Says Premature Tightening Would Endanger Recover – Bloomberg.

Astorino: Update On Affordable Housing In Westchester | Chappaqua Real Estate

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In 2009, my predecessor, Andrew Spano and the Board of Legislators signed a legal settlement obligating the county to spend $51.6 million to develop 750 units of fair and affordable housing in 31 so-called eligible or mostly white communities by the end of 2016.

Here’s an update on the status.  Let’s start with the bad news.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is trying to use the settlement to dismantle local zoning laws.  HUD has the misguided view that zoning and discrimination is the same thing.

It is not. Zoning restricts how land is used, not who lives there. The impediment to where people live in Westchester is money, not race or ethnicity.

Washington bureaucrats, who you will never see or meet, want the power to determine who will live where and how each neighborhood will look.  What’s at stake is the fundamental right of our cities, towns, and villages to plan and zone for themselves.  This home rule is guaranteed by the New York State Constitution.

HUD wants no restrictions – in any neighborhood – on height, size, acreage, density, or number of bedrooms. HUD even sees sewers as a problem, which is critically significant since Westchester zoning protects the drinking water of 8 million New Yorkers.

If there are no restrictions for HUD, there will be no restrictions for any developer. A high rise can be built on any street, even right next door to you. And if HUD can trample on zoning here, it can do it anywhere.

I urge you to read the HUD letters for yourself and see how the federal government is trying to abolish even basic zoning protections.

Now here’s the good news.

The county is ahead of schedule in fulfilling its obligation in the settlement. Our current benchmark is to have 300 units with financing in place by the end of 2013. The county exceeded the mark in December and currently has 309 units in place with financing, of which 117 are already occupied. Over 91 percent of the required 750 units are already in the pipeline.

Ask yourself this: If the county is ahead of schedule in building affordable housing in these communities, how can their zoning be exclusionary?

One of Westchester’s greatest strengths is its diversity. It is the fourth most-diverse county in the state — tied with Manhattan — in terms of African-Americans and Hispanics.

I pledge to defend with every tool at my disposal the right of people to live anywhere in Westchester in any home they can afford.  There is absolutely no place for discrimination in our county. But we won’t be bullied or threatened by HUD to do things that are not in the settlement.

 

Astorino: Update On Affordable Housing In Westchester | The Bedford Daily Voice.

Polo-Playing Prince Harry Takes Greenwich By Storm | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Prince Harry and his teammates hold up the trophy after winning the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup at the Greenwich Polo Club. Photo Credit: Synergy

GREENWICH, Conn. — Prince Harry saved the best for last by scoring the winning goal Wednesday in his charity polo match in Greenwich and celebrating a successful whirlwind weeklong visit to the United States.

Harry played on the winning side of the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup at the Greenwich Polo Club and raised more than $1 million for his charity, Sentebale.

“It is wonderful to be here at Greenwich Polo Club in Connecticut for the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup 2013,” Prince Harry said. “The success of our three previous polo events has helped Sentebale make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children in Lesotho, the Mountain Kingdom of southern Africa.”

He founded the charity with Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal family in response to the plight of the neediest and most vulnerable of Lesotho’s people, many of whom are victims of extreme poverty and Lesotho’s HIV/AIDs epidemic. Sentebale — which means “forget me not” in the African language of Sesotho — was started in 2006 in memory of the two men’s mothers.

 

 

Polo-Playing Prince Harry Takes Greenwich By Storm | The Bedford Daily Voice.

If You Won’t Offer Gen Y Prospects What They Want They Will Go Away | Chappaqua Real Estate

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gen Y remodeling prospects Generation Y is getting older, they’re buying homes and they are now starting to improve and remodel the homes they own.  As more and more of them grow older the number of Gen Y homeowners will quickly grow. Therefore, they will quickly become a major share of the potential prospects for remodelers and other contractors.  In an earlier blog about prequalifying and selling to Generation Y, I discussed the fact that members of Gen Y are used to getting information instantly and for free using key word Google searches to find internet content.   Technology and the internet have definitely defined how Generation Y does all their research and makes their remodeling or home improvement buying decisions. Having a contractor web site and what is put on it for information will make or break whether Gen Y prospects will be doing business with a remodeling contractor or not.

There are two ways to think about the title of this blog

First, if you don’t have a web site, or if your site doesn’t offer the information Gen Y is looking for, they won’t bother with your business if another remodeler’s business does.  Second, if your web site doesn’t explain how you do business as well as the kind of projects your willing to do, internet savvy gen Y remodeling prospects will move on. Remember, they’re probably not going to call you to find these things out. They’ll just go back to the Google search page and find another contractor’s site that does. So, if you want them to attract them and you want to motivate them to do business with your remodeling company you better make sure they find what they are looking for when they find your contractor web site.

selling to Generation Y

“Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is not using it in a fruit salad.”

 

What if you want them to go away?

Yes, you read that right. Not all Gen Y prospects will be right for a remodeler’s business. Their motivations to buy and what will be important to them may not be a match with what you offer, who you have on staff or how you do business. Working with the wrong customers can also compromise profits and might not be very satisfying for the business owner or employees. If you want to maintain a defined business process, and remain in control as you do business and produce your projects, you need to avoid working with customers who would probably be better off working with some other remodeling contractor.

To help Gen Y prospects prequalify themselves before they contact you (or for that matter prospects from any generation) make sure the content you put on your site has been strategically decided and written to serve this purpose. For example, if you charge for design services make that clear on your site. Or, if you won’t allow customers to provide any of their own materials make sure you discuss this fact on your web site. Conversely, to attract the right prospects, explain why you charge for design or won’t allow them to provide the materials.  Blogging is a great way to accomplish these goals.  Who knows, your logic might just discourage some prospects from wanting to provide their own materials or go with a contractor who offers free design!

via shawnmccadden.com

Wall Street bonus woes slam NY housing market | Chappaqua Real Estate

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Wall Street’s bonus blues are holding back Big Apple home prices.

While the housing market is on the mend and every other major metro area is on the upswing, New York stands out as the sole city to see an annual price decline, according to Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller index released yesterday.

Home prices in the New York area were down 1.2 percent in November compared to a year ago — the only decline out of the 20 metro areas tracked by the closely watched index.

By comparison, home prices on average were up 5.1 percent from a year ago nationwide.

David Blitzer, chairman of S&P’s Index Committee, singled out the city’s shrinking financial sector as one reason it is lagging the rest of the country.

“Financial services is not in the best shape, and that has put a damper on the home prices and how people view job growth,” said Blitzer.

In fact, Wall Street bonuses have been shrinking ever since the financial meltdown.

Bonuses paid out this year are expected to decline, after falling 13.5 percent last year for work done in 2011.

“If it’s a good year for bonuses, it’s a good year for people selling real estate,” Blitzer said.

And for at least some of the well-heeled Gucci loafer set, who typically drive real-estate values in the city, bonuses could be off as much as 35 percent, according to Wall Street recruiters.

The office of New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’ estimates that the Street’s base salaries fell 9.5 percent to $362,000 last year, from $400,000.

Job growth in the Big Apple also has been relatively flat, with just about 500 jobs added in the securities sector over the past year, according to the Independent Budget Office.

That follows several rounds of deep cuts across the securities industry since the financial meltdown.

During the height of the crisis, some 140,000 jobs were lost, IBO data shows.

New York home prices held up far better than those in other major metro areas during the crisis, and the city wasn’t nearly as hard-hit as financially overheated areas like Phoenix and Atlanta, a spokeswoman with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office noted.

The index does not factor in co-ops and condos and covers territory including Long Island, Westchester and Northern New Jersey.

Median home prices within the city’s five boroughs stand at $445,000 and $380,000 in the broader New York metro area, while national median is closer to $175,000, according to Moody’s Analytics data.

Pay within the five boroughs on average is $61,0000 and $68,000 in the broader New York area, while the national average is $53,000. according to Moody’s.

New York’s housing market is very sensitive to the metro economy, said Michael Zoller, an economist at Moody’s Analytics.

“If the metro economy isn’t producing high-paying jobs, nobody’s going to be able to pay high real-estate prices,” Zoller aid.

via nypost.com