So much happened in 2012 at Prudential Verani Realty that it would be impossible to summarize the plethora of stories in one blog post. This was a great year for the business, for it’s staff and agents, and for the communities in which Verani agents do business. At Verani it’s not just about selling houses. It’s about making sure New Hampshire and the surrounding area remains the best place to live in the country! Here are a few of the biggest stories to recap a very busy year at Verani:

1. The Norwood Group | Real Living Merges with Prudential Verani Realty

OCTOBER – In what was most likely the biggest business-side story for Verani in 2012, the residential services branch of The Norwood Group joined forces with the Verani family. After decades of competition in New Hampshire the two joined forces in light of a parent-company purchase. After Brookfield (who already owned Real Living) purchased Prudential Real Estate, the presidents of both companies agreed that a partnership was the most natural course of action. The original story can be found here.

2. Prudential Verani, Bedford Launches “12 Days of Giving” Campaign

DECEMBER – In an effort to raise the seasonal spirit, Regional Manager Ed Buczynski of Bedford organized a 12-day giving campaign with what he calls his “Pru Crew.” The Pru Crew (Bedford-based agents and Verani partners) went to various locations throughout the Bedford and Manchester area and randomly gave away gifts to unsuspecting people. For videos of all of the 12 days of giving, visit the Verani Youtube Channel.

3. Team Walther Ranks #118 in the U.S. for Closed Transactions

JULY – This summer one of the most successful real estate teams in the state was named #118 Continue reading “Happy New Year! A Very Verani 2012 in Review” »

Helping Hands Stitchers Donate 4 Years Running

The Helping Hands Stitchers of St. George Cathedral in Manchester recently made donations to those in need in our community for the 4th year since the group was formed. The small group works all year to make hats, scarves, and mittens to give those who have need of them during the cold New Hampshire winters.

This year items went to Liberty House which provides support to veterans and to Child and Family Services for homeless teens. A donation was also made to the Salvation Army for Children. If you have knowledge of other groups in the city or surrounding communities who might need the items we are producing, please let us know!

Helping Hands Stitchers provide their own materials and patterns, but we would gratefully accept any worsted or bulky weight yarn in quantities with enough yardage for our projects. You can just drop them off at the church office.

The group always welcomes new helpers to provide goods for distribution each year. If you can knit or crochet, we would love to have you. If you can sew, you could make fleece hats, mittens, and scarves. We meet the third Thursday of every month at 7 pm in the Annex of St. George Cathedral at 650 Hanover Street, in Manchester.

Athena Henchey is a licensed REALTOR® based in the Verani Realty,  Bedford Office. She covers the Auburn, Manchester, and Hooksett markets, and is a specialist in foreign language. For more information about Athena, to contact her, or view her listings, visit her agent page.

photo courtesy of stevendepolo

As part of the recent news announcing Prudential Verani Realty and Real Living | The Norwood Group merging their two residential companies, we are pleased to have Susanne Kimball from The Norwood Group join the Prudential Verani Team!

As a licensed NH Real Estate Agent since 2002, Susanne covers many Southern New Hampshire towns from Concord south, east to the Exeter area and west to Wilton. Her personal goal as a REALTOR® is to provide the best service she can. Susanne states, “It is so important to be able to trust and communicate effectively with your real estate agent. I make it my top priority to listen carefully to understand my clients’ real estate goals. I work with them to provide the most current data on market conditions so they can make the best choices along the way. Together, with enthusiasm and a positive attitude, we will get it done.”

Throughout the years, Susanne has built a loyal client base through hard work, honesty, commitment, and a strong focus on what matters most – her clients.

Susanne is certified for relocation services in Southern New Hampshire and is a member of the Greater Manchester Nashua Board of REALTORS®. She is married with two children and a cocker spaniel named Bear.

Susanne is based out of the Prudential Verani Bedford Office located at 165 South River Road in Bedford, NH. She can be reached at p: (603) 816-9933, m: (603) 533-4447 or by email at susanne.kimball@verani.com.

NECAP was administered in October in grades 3-8 and 11 in Mathematics and Reading. Writing was assessed in grades 5, 8, and 11 at the same time. The three week test window began on October 1. Science is administered in grades 4, 8, and 11 each year during the last three weeks of May.

The New Hampshire Department of Education, Rhode Island Department of Education, and Vermont Department of Education have developed a common set of Grade-Level Expectations, known as the New England Common Assessment Program Grade-Level Expectations (NECAP GLEs), and test specifications in Mathematics, Reading, and Writing. Building on the success of the NECAP collaboration in Mathematics, Reading, and Writing, the states have also developed common assessment targets and test specifications for Science. Grade-Span Expectations (GSEs) for high school students in Mathematics, Reading and Writing have been developed for grades 9-10 and 11-12. The GSEs include expectations that are assessed on the State assessment and others that will be a local curriculum and assessment option. All GLEs and GSEs are incorporated into the NH Curriculum/Frameworks documents approved by the State Board  in June 2006 (http://www.education.nh.gov/instruction/assessment/necap/index.htm).

What does this all mean? Continue reading “NE Common Assessment Program (NECAP) Comes to Manchester” »

Thursday, November 1^st marked the official start of one of the largest coat drives in the state of New Hampshire. For the 11^th year running, Prudential Verani Realty will be collecting coats from all over the state and distributing them to charities in need. In past years the drive has brought in 12,000+ coats, and the coat drive team at Verani Realty looks to make 2012 another banner year of bringing warmth to those who need it in New Hampshire.

The Verani Realty coat drive was established 11 years ago. Since the initial coat drive in 2001, the Prudential Verani Realty Coat Drive has been responsible for distributing coats to the shoulders of well over 50,000 of those who needed help staying warm.

In 2012 the committee is headed up by Val Lewis. Val is a Customer Account Manager in the Londonderry office and is handling the coordination of the company’s coat drive efforts for the first time. Val has worked with Verani Realty for 6 years, and has participated in the coat drive since she started in 2006. Val is coordinating the efforts of 7 team leaders, Steve White from Londonderry, Tanya Verfaillie from Nashua, Suzanne Butcofski from Portsmouth, Debbie Paone from Salem, and Patty Bixby, Genevieve Gheorghiu, and Athena Henchey from Bedford. The coat drive team consists of several current agents, administrators, and corporate team members who are committed to making 2012 another great year.

If you have coats that you would like to donate to this cause, there are 5 primary drop-off locations in our Verani Realty Office lobbies:

Bedford: 165 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110

Londonderry: One Verani Way, Londonderry, NH 03053

Nashua: 187 Main Dunstable, Nashua, NH 03060

Portsmouth: 111 Maplewood Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801

Salem: 236 North Broadway, Salem, NH 03079

If you are interested in helping contribute as a drop-off location, large donation contributor, sorting volunteer, or any other form of volunteer, visit coats.verani.com for more information. If you are a charity in need of coats in or around any of the above cities, the coat drive is open to requests at coats.verani.com/charities.

Susan turned her passion for house hunting into a profession. After successfully finding herself her dream home, she worked at GMAC Real Estate, The Masiello Group and Nancy Hubert Real Estate. She obtained her real estate license in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  She has lived in Southern New Hampshire for 25 years. Her personal knowledge of the area is an asset in helping clients buy and sell homes. She is excited to be a part of Verani Realty. She joined for the family atmosphere and to utilize the latest technology and market research.

Her diverse background in administration, marketing and sales, teaching and retail management, makes her uniquely qualified for her chosen profession. Clients enjoy working with her and appreciate the efficiencies her knowledge brings to their buying and /or selling experience. She is a member of the Northern New England Real Estate Network.

Susan is currently working with new construction and relocation, helping people move from all over the country. She works in the greater Nashua area including bordering towns such as Bedford, Londonderry, Milford, Amherst, Hollis, Brookline, Mont Vernon, and Hudson.

Susan is married to a New Hampshire entrepreneur, whose company is in Nashua.  She has 2 children; her son plays high school football as a senior at Souhegan, and her daughter is in college earning a teaching degree in Boston. In her free time, she loves to travel and ski.

Susan is based out of the Prudential Verani Nashua Office located at 187 Main Dunstable in Nashua, NH. She can be reached at p:(603) 888-4600, m: (603) 682-7573 or by email at susan.perkins@verani.com.

As part of the recent news announcing Prudential Verani Realty and Real Living | The Norwood Group merging their two residential companies, we are pleased to have Deb Hanson from The Norwood Group join the Prudential Verani Team!

Deb combines Real Estate expertise and her unique Interior Design background to create a winning experience for her clients.

Both buyers and sellers have the advantage of Deb’s expertise in maximizing their home’s value with critical advise, often by investing minimal expense = a maximum return in this ever changing market. Customers can rely on her knowledge in their home search as she has managed over 330 successful transactions from corporate relocation, first home buyers, builders, sellers, investors and those fun waterfront properties.

Deb knows the area! She has become one of New Hampshire’s top negotiating sales agents in a market that requires hard work, excellence and determination.

Deb started her career as an Interior Designer for Ethan Allen which lead to designing interiors for corporate businesses for 15 years. Real Estate was a natural transition with design build expertise and attention to detail while always focusing on people.

“One of the largest and most important purchases of your life should be enjoyable while making informed and wise decisions.” notes Deb.

Deb is a true New Englander, growing up on the coast in Hampton, NH. She attended UNH and Mount Ida College in MA and enjoys spending family time in Maine. She enjoys navigating the coast of Maine and creating art in her spare time.

Deb is based out of the Prudential Verani Bedford Office located at 165 South River Road in Bedford NH. She can be reached at p: (603) 494-4023or by email at deb.hanson@verani.com.

Veranians’ Trick Or Treat Times

• Amherst: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.
• Bedford: 10/31, 5-7 p.m.
• Concord: 10/31, 5-7:30 p.m.
• Hampton: 10/31, 5:30-8 p.m.
• Londonderry: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.
• Manchester: 10/31, 5-8 p.m.
• Nashua: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.
• Portsmouth: 10/30, 5:30-8 p.m.
• Salem: 10/31, 6-8 p.m.

Don’t live in one of these towns? You can check with a few places to find out what time Trick Or Treating will be in your town. First, check your local city website for information. If you can’t find it there, NH.com has a list of times available. Still can’t find it? If you can’t find the info online, call your local town or city hall for information. It is essential for the safety of everyone that Trick Or Treaters are out during the designated times. Safety on Halloween is a top priority!

Staying  Safe for Trick or Treating in 2012

I remember trick-or-treating held during the day time on a weekend day in the fall for my entire childhood.  In the last few years trick-or-treat in Manchester, has been held on Halloween evening. This has brought some mixed feelings about having trick-or treat at night, we “Manchesterites” are used to having trick-or-treat during daylight hours.  If we wanted to trick-or-treat in the evening we would have to visit the neighborhoods of the surrounding towns.  Whether there are trick-or-treaters lining your streets on a crisp fall day, or a spooky autumn evening, we still must keep safety our #1 mission during the trick-or-treat season.   Here are a few safety tips that never get old!

• Trick-or-treat with friends and family, not alone.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Check your candy before you eat it. Make sure there are no holes or openings.
• Trick-or-treat with flashlights so drivers and other trick-or-treaters can see you.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use crosswalks when you can.
• Use sidewalks! If there are none, do your best to stay off the actual road.
• Accept, but don’t eat home-made treats.
• Only go into homes (even the cool haunted ones) if you’re with an adult.
• Stay away from fire while you’re in costume, especially open candles.

Athena Henchey is a licensed REALTOR® based in the Verani Realty,  Bedford Office. She covers the Auburn, Manchester, and Hooksett markets, and is a specialist in foreign language. For more information about Athena, to contact her, or view her listings, visit her agent page.

safety tips courtesy of http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/ . Image courtesy of inspector_81

As part of the recent news announcing Prudential Verani Realty and Real Living | The Norwood Group merging their two residential companies, we are pleased to have Tim Leger from The Norwood Group join the Prudential Verani Team!

“Put the Expert to work for you!” is Tim’s motto for clients who want to experience the Tim Leger difference!

Tim brings over 14 years of buying and selling experience from both The Norwood Group and prior to that RE/MAX of Manchester, NH where he was a member of the 100% Club for six years. Serving the towns of Bedford, Manchester and Goffstown Tim’s focus is on helping people market their “hard to sell homes” by using his Certified Distressed Property designation and short sale experience, as well as helping people avoid foreclosure.

A true believer in giving back to the community, over the years Tim has generously donated much his time and energy to the Children’s Miracle Network Charity and the Local Chamber of Commerce.

Tim grew up in Western Massachusetts in the Springfield area and spent his college years in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His degree in broadcasting from Colorado College sent him into the world of radio broadcast journalism and videography before entering real estate. Tim’s two daughters, Samantha and Jessica, are what grounded him here in Southern New Hampshire where he currently resides. Tim can often be seen traveling everywhere with his two infamous Maltese/poodles, Lilly & Penny.

Tim is based out of the Prudential Verani Bedford Office located at 116 South River Road in Bedford, NH. He can be reached at p: (603) 816-9936, m: (603) 860-4474 or by email at tim.ledger@verani.com.

As part of the recent news announcing Prudential Verani Realty and Real Living | The Norwood Group merging their two residential companies, we are pleased to have Nancy Pomerleau from The Norwood Group join the Prudential Verani Team!

Nancy is recognized as one of New Hampshire’s finest real estate professionals. Committed to her profession, she has spent the past 43 years building a successful career based on hard work, experience, and dedication. Her focus and determination to raising the standards of the industry has earned Nancy the respect of her peers and the continued support of her clients and customers.

Beginning her career with The Norwood Group, Inc. back in 1970 as a sales associate, Nancy achieved the title of “Highest Volume Producing Sales Associate” in the history of the company! In 1980, she was appointed as the Amherst Branch Manager, a position in which she has served for over 13 years.

Throughout her career Nancy has taken an active role in a number of national, state, and local REALTOR® organizations. Presently, she is a Director for the Amherst Chamber of Commerce as well as its Chairman for the Educational Task Force. In 1994, she served as the New England Regional Vice President for the National Association of REALTORS® and as a member of its Executive Committee. She has been a member of the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire and National Association of REAL TORS® as well as the past president of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS®, Greater Nashua Board of REALTORS®, and in 1979 was the recipient of the prestigious “REALTOR® of the Year Award” for the state of NH.

Committed to continuing education within our ever-changing real estate industry, Nancy realizes that accurate, up-to-date information is invaluable. She holds the professional designations of CRB (Certified Real Estate Broker Manager), GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute), CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist), and CRS (Certified Residential Specialist.) Nancy has also been a member of the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS® National Honor Society since 1982.

Nancy is a lifelong Amherst resident serving the towns of Amherst, Bedford, and Merrimack. She and her husband Ron have two daughters and enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren. When not helping clients sell homes, she has a passion for overseas traveling, gourmet cooking, and devoting her time to serve on many civic organizations and committees, as well as instituting many effective fund raisers for local charities.

Nancy is based out of the Prudential Verani Amherst Office located at 46 NH Route 101A in Amherst, NH. She can be reached at p: (603) 721-0402, m: (603) 496-4517 or by email at nancy.pomerleau@verani.com.