Archive for the 'Miscellaneous Musings' Category

A recent article in the NY Times about winter on the Cape, brought me back to when we first moved here 12 years ago.  To this day, the word I use to describe my experience about winter on Cape Cod is SERENITY.  Coming from Los Angeles as we were, it was remarkable to me that there existed a place so lovely where you could be alone if you chose, be SILENT if you chose and take an early morning walk on the beach and not encounter a single soul.  Absolute Nirvana for someone coming from the jam-packed cacophony of Los Angeles!

As Spring approaches, there is a bit (and ONLY a bit!) of wistfulness about the waning winter.  There is something magical about this little part of the world at this time of year, a stark beauty to the grayness of the landscape, the red-tailed hawk soaring low over my snow-covered lawn, bracing against the frigid wind on an early morning beach run. 

On the other hand (and there is ALWAYS another hand) it makes Summer on the Cape all the more spectacular!  Winter makes non-Cape Codders think ahead to SUMMER!  Rentals for the Summer 2009 season have been booking up for months.  Summer IS coming……eventually.  But there is sure to be a bit more of winter to ENJOY!

Elaine

Anticipation is building for this year’s Dennis Village Christmas Stroll!  Called “VISIONS 2008″, the Stroll begins at 12 Noon on Sunday, December 14th when the Village will be the scene for this annual event that attracts hundreds of revelers in the Christmas spirit.  Aside from the tree lighting (Rockefeller Center has nothing on us!) and of course, a visit with Santa AND Mrs. Claus, one of the highlights every year is the craft fair at the Dennis Memorial Library – well priced, quality items of all kinds by local artists. (One of my all time favorites are the small, seashell-decorated plexiglass picture frames that are the perfect size for a child’s school picture  – I still use them for our  children who are teenagers now!)  Shops and businesses are open all day offering all sorts of wonderful treats, from chili, clam chowder and hot dogs in the food tent on the Village Green to free ornaments and (OUR PERSONAL FAVORITE, since WE give it out!) fresh mistletoe!!  This year a new addition to the Village is the grand opening of Borsari Gallery (formerly The Grose Gallery).  Bob and Kathy Borsari have done a fantastic job renovating the property, the center piece of which is the barn which houses the gallery. It is well worth attending this year’s Stroll just to visit this new and fabulous addition to our Village life.  Happy Holidays!

Elaine

Real Estate once upon a time was unregulated and a pretty casual business.  Hand shakes and meaning well greased the wheels and properties changed hands with little regard for accurate documentation.  Like everything else all that has changed and we professional Realtors have a CODE OF ETHICS that was first published in 1913. 

 Here is an excerpt from the Preamble to the Code of Ethics:

“UNDER ALL IS THE LAND.  Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of free institutions and of our civilization.  Realtors should recognize that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land and the widest distribution of land ownership.  They require the creation of adequate housing, the building of functioning cities, the development of productive industries and farms, and the preservation of a beautiful environment.”

 It makes us proud to be Realtors®

The National Code of Ethics for Realtors provides many great benefits.  Mainly it encourages full disclosure from the Realtor of any and all important information including defects of the property that are known.  This helps everyone feel comfortable that the person selling the property is telling the person buying the property everything they know.  The Code of Ethics also helps define the roles of real estate agents.  In the first place, the selling agent represents the property owner and has a permanent responsibility to keep confidential information confidential even after the sale of the property.  Likewise, the buyers’ agent is responsible for the confidentiality of what is shared by their clients, too.  So, it is a good idea to tell us everything you can that will help us help you!

 Confidentiality is just one of the important aspects of the Code of Ethics.  Other areas include the obligation of Realtors to present a true picture in representations of any property and accuracy and integrity in all communication with our clients and fellow real estate agents.

 We at Lomenzo Properties are dedicated to the principles of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice established by the National Association of Realtors and to the clients and profession of real estate that it helps protect.

Peter

Good local news arrived this morning in the form of an article in the Cape Cod Times pertaining to the  lowly scallop.  Yes, that’s right.  In a time of dire economic news, we were pleased to hear that a recent survey has found a high number of seed scallops off our coastal waters, which bodes well for better harvests in the years to come.  (Not very newsworthy you may say?  We will take our good news where we can get it!)

And who knew that small-seed scallops are actually known as “recruits”?!  And their younger versions, as “pre-recruits”!  The number of scallop recruits, says the article, is up for the first time in about ten years and is the highest it’s been since 2000.  The reason is being attributed to environmental  factors (what, no global warming??) and is also a cyclical phenomenon.  It is predicted that it will take 3-5 years for the young scallops to grown to harvesting size.  So 2011- 2015 look to be boon years for scallop lovers!

While we are on the topic, do you pronounce it “Scallop” as in “gallop” or “Scallop” as in “trollop”?  Weigh in on that subject, please!

Elaine

It literally seems like last week that I posted our Memorial Day blog – it was, in fact, over three months ago! Living and working in a resort community offers a bit of a twist on the age old question – where did the time go?  While visitors are cavorting on our exqusite beaches, we continue living our “work-a-day” lives, oblivious some days to the passing of summer.  And before we know it, here we are – Labor Day 2008!

The cool air comes in almost overnight, the beaches are all but deserted (as are the restaurants!) and we can once again get out of our Route 6A parking lot without the endless stream of cars.  By the way, we would gladly give  it all up for just one more sunny, warm weekend at Corporation Beach!

Did I mention how exquisite FALL is on Cape Cod??  Stay tuned……..

At 4:30 a.m. this morning, I was awakened by the birds ……again.  The VERY LOUD twitter of birds outside our bedroom windows.  In my annoyance, I was reminded of the fact that Cape Cod in general (and my backyard in particular!) are veritable bird sanctuaries!  (As is the case with one of the lovely properties we represent,  the backyard of which is a bird paradise.  In fact, so much so that just this afternoon, we had a prospective buyer who said the bird noise drove her crazy! The husband loved it, however.  They are, as I write this, sitting in the driveway, windows rolled down, listening to the bird noise and trying to decide if it’s a “deal killer”.)

Although I cannot say that I am exactly a “birder”, I do appreciate their presence and beauty.  I have often told myself that I would become more educated on our native birds, but so far have just been a curious bystander in their daily antics in my yard.  On the flip side, all is not rosy with our feathered firends The danger they can pose was the subject of a recent Cape Cod Times article  which dealt with the problem of attacking hawks!

The Cape is home to over 300 species of birds and “birding” has become a very popular pastime in this area.  There is a store in Orleans, The Birdwatcher’s General Store, dedicated to this pursuit.  Also, in Brewster The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History has a wonderful display of native birds and is well worth the trip to see the museum’s marsh view room which gives you an up close look at the life of an osprey family.

I’m thinking that when I do get to know my native birds a little better, I may ask them if they could sleep in a little later…… say until 7-ish?

Elaine

Hello!  Let me introduce us. We are Peter and Elaine Lomenzo, owners of Lomenzo Properties, a boutique real estate firm located in Dennis, MA on Cape Cod. 

For years now, we have good-naturedly endured the constant mispronunciation of our surname.  The time has come to set the record straight!  (Notice I judiciously did not say “for once and for all” as I am quite sure this will not be the last time and certainly have no hopes of it being for ALL!) The name is Lomenzo with an “M”, not Lorenzo.  OK.  Done. Thank you.

It may seem like a petty thing to want one’s name pronounced correctly, but apparently it is such a societal problem that Carnegie Melon University has a dedicated webpage to it.  Check it out!

So now  that’s off our chests….just one more thing.  My name?  It’s Elaine, not LORRAINE!  OK. Done. Thank you.

 Elaine