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The Marketing and Selling Process in Pound Ridge NY | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Comprehensive Market Analysis in Pricing Your Home

 Property Specific Marketing of Your Home
All the Benefits of Our Rock Solid Alliance with Prudential
Consumers do not look to a single source to purchase a home. They are researching and shopping on the internet, in local papers and the real estate sections of a vast array of publications. Prudential Holmes and Kennedy’s proprietary marketing model surrounds the consumer with our property listings from traditional print media, public relations and direct mail to superior internet exposure. Our ongoing commitment ensures your property will be previewed in a consumer’s initial search, leading to a personal showing where your Prudential Holmes & Kennedy REALTOR will bring all your property’s unique features to life.

The most important factor to consider when choosing a real estate firm to represent your home is to find a firm with significant experience in selling comparable property. Our marketing model directs the most potential buyers to personally preview your home. Any REALTOR can promise you an ad in the local paper, but our experience has shown that full exposure of your property in multiple mediums is the best way to reach the largest potential buyer pool.

Internet Marketing

Over 80% of homebuyers begin their search on the internet.

Prudential Tri-State Connection

No other brokerage in Northern Westchester can claim our unique affiliation with our Tri-State partners. Others may have offices throughout the county, but no one else has their own website, joint marketing, tri-state co-brokerage groups and networking events. Even our tri-state relocation directors meet quarterly.

PrudentialTristate.com is the gateway to over 100,000 current property listings within the 100-mile radius of Midtown Manhattan.  In 2004, the Prudential Tri-state group concluded 21 Billion Dollars in sales with 47,000 transactions.  As part of the Prudential Tri-state group, we are linked to:

Prudential Douglas-Elliman in New York City  
Prudential Douglas-Elliman in Long Island
Prudential Connecticut
Prudential New Jersey
Relocation Services

Prudential Relocation is a leading provider of global mobility, creating a constant flow of home buyer traffic in and out of our Westchester market.
 
Referral Services

Our affiliation has a membership of over 2000 offices and over 64,000 real estate professionals throughout the United States and Canada.  The Prudential referral program maximizes lead opportunities by supporting broker-to-broker activity.

Multiple Listing Services (MLS)

Founded in 1916, the Westchester County Board of REALTORS®, Inc. (WCBR Inc.) is a not-for-profit trade association representing more than 7,000 real estate professionals doing business in Westchester County and the surrounding region.  WCBR owns and operates the Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service, Inc. a corporation that manages a large database of available properties listed by REALTORS®.

The term REALTOR® is a registered mark. It refers only to those licensed real estate brokers and salespersons that hold membership in a REALTOR® organization such as ours, who agree to be held accountable to a strict Code of Ethics and who also agree to periodic ethics education and other professional instruction that is required by the Board.

 Direct Mail – Published by Prudential Holmes & Kennedy

The Holmes Report
Quarterly Reports
Residence Guide
Just Listed Cards

Brochures

A detailed, four-color brochure ensures that prospective buyers, open house visitors and cooperating agents will recall the critical features of your property long after they have viewed your home.  It is displayed in the home, in our office lobbies, used for special mailings and sent to out-of-town prospects.

Advertising

Our experts will developed a high impact print media advertising plan identifying selected media vehicles that present your home to target buyers.  Our affiliation with Prudential extends our advertising strength.  Its network members spend millions of dollars each year placing advertising in the most prestigious publications and on high profile television stations to promote brand awareness.

Yard Signs

A 24 hour marketing tool that attracts the attention of prospective buyers.

Broker and Public Open Houses

An invitation to the Broker and public communities to view your property without an appointment or obligation to buy.  Open houses are announced via print media and on various websites such as: MLS, Realtor.com, NYTimes.com and Pruholmes.com.

Additional Marketing Activities

Introduce the Property to Fellow Agents

Provide a Secure Lockbox for your Home
Follow-up with Buyers and Agents
Educate You to the Real Estate Market
Arrange Showings
Pre-screen potential buyers
Attend Inspections on your Behalf
 Provide Home Warranty Options
Present, Evaluate and Negotiate Offers
Prepare and Distribute Required Documentation
Resolve Seller/Buyer Conflicts
Coordinate Repairs
Facilitate Closing and Transfer of Property

Chappaqua Tree Lighting December 4th at Greely House | Chappaqua NY Real Estate

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 During the holidays, the inclination is often to
search out the biggest, the best, the most
spectacular places and events in order to make a
memory, whether it’s a tree lighting, a performance
of “The Nutcracker,” or a chance to learn more about
the meaning of Hanukkah .

And while you might think that creating holiday
traditions like these involves a trip out of town,
chances are you can find everything you’re looking
for right in your own backyard.

So this season, plan a trip to a local landmark
you’ve never visited, or book tickets to a holiday
show or concert in town.

We’ve rounded up lots of options that will let you
spend a happy holiday at home, starting with the
annual tree lighting at Chappaqua’s Horace Greeley
House, an occasion that includes a concert, and
then, a parade, of all things.

If you’re in the mood for some old-fashioned
Christmas cheer, don’t miss the annual holiday tree
lighting Dec. 4 at the Horace Greeley House in
Chappaqua.

There’s singing, crafts, period decorations — even a
parade of sorts.

The annual event draws a crowd, says Betsy Towl,
the executive director of the New Castle Historical
Society.

“This is such a long standing tradition in
Chappaqua; it really brings the community together.
We have children of all ages, who come for the open
house, but the tree lighting is the big event,” Towl
said.

The New Castle Historical Society, which uses the
house as its headquarters, has organized a full
afternoon of festivities, starting at 1 p.m. with an
Old-Fashioned Craft Workshop (for children) and
Open House.

 Docents will be on hand to lead tours of the fully
decorated historic house, which was Greeley’s
weekend and summer home from 1864 until his
death in 1872.

At 3:30 p.m., the Chappaqua Orchestra will host the
annual New Castle Community Sing, a combination
variety show-singalong, at the nearby Robert E. Bell
Middle School.

Then everyone walks over to the Greeley House for a
few more songs by the Madrigal Singers, a coed
choral group at Horace Greeley High School.

The switch to light the 35-foot-tall Colorado spruce
gets flipped at 4:30 p.m., followed by a visit from
Santa.

Then everyone heads across the street to the New
Castle Community Center for homemade cookies and
hot chocolate, courtesy of the New Castle Teen
Alliance.

And when you’re finished ogling the tree, head back
inside.

The Horace Greeley House has a charming little gift
shop with holiday gifts and ornaments.

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? And it’s all free and open
to the public.

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7 Ways to Save Closet Space in Chappaqua NY | Chappaqua NY Real Estate

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If you find that your home and bedroom are getting into an unruly mess then its time to take action. The remedy for the clutter that has accrued over many months or even years is a wood closet organizer. Closet organizers manage your clothes, shoes, hats, scarves – in fact just about anything can be organized. In fact you wont know how you lived without one.

The main purpose of a closet organizer is to store your belongings in a neat and tidy fashion on the shelving and various compartments that are contained within the organizer. There are both simple and complex systems and this generally dictate how they can be installed. A simple one can be installed by the homeowner with suitable DIY skills but a complex one should be really left to the professionals to install

  1. Use every inch of space. The coat closet is often the most under-utilized and overstuffed space in the house. “To make a typical coat closet more efficient you should remove the existing rod and shelf,” advises California Closets designer Lisa Lennard. This will make use of space that was dead before. “Then measure your longest coat and add two or three inches,” she instructs. “Reinstall the hanger rod at this lower height. In most cases, there will be room for two or three shelves above it where you can put baskets or boxes for small items.”

2. Double up. If your closet is wide enough, Lisa suggests installing a double closet rod. Hanging a second rod below the existing one will enable you to store another level of clothes, such as shorter jackets. Make sure to allow at least 36 inches between the top and bottom rod. An easy drill-free approach to achieving a double-hanging system is to use hanging rods that hook over existing rails. These nifty rods provide instant space for short-hanging clothes (Double hang closet rod, $10; The Container Store).

3. Make room for drawers. Remove the top shelf and raise the existing closet rod to uncover valuable vertical storage. In the space below the rod, install a chest of drawers for storing small items. Hang jackets or sweaters you’re using regularly on the rod above the chest. Longer coats, such as trench coats, can hang to the side of the small chest. Reserve the floor space below for weather boots.

No room for a chest of drawers? Buy a set of hanging canvas shelves. They are perfect for stowing everything from gloves and scarves in winter to sandals and caps in summer.

4. Purge. Determine clothing and accessories you wear and items that you need to give away. You can save more than a foot of space by donating three old winter coats. That’s enough space to install modular storage cubes, which can store gloves, scarves, and mittens.

5. Think outside the closet. Place a coat tree or a wall-mounted rack in your entryway for the outerwear you use every day. These organizers are great for grab-and-go items, such as jackets, scarves, umbrellas and hats.

6. Invest in space savers. Install an inexpensive over-the-door shoe organizer to store small winter necessities like gloves, earmuffs and knit caps. You can also keep keys, wallets, lint brushes and flashlights in this handy organizer.

7. Rotate seasonal clothes. In the spring, move winter coats to other storage places, such as less crowded closets, underbed storage units and unused suitcases. This will make way for lighter jackets, sweaters, warm-weather sports equipment and beach gear. The same goes for footwear: the boots of winter should give way to the sandals of summer. You can also try your local dry cleaner for more storage options. Many store out-of-season garments as a part of their service to customers.

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New Home Sales Down 80% From 2005 High | Bedford NY Homes

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Don’t look to the new home market for glad economic tidings: Home builders had another dismal sales month in October, falling to just one-fifth of the sales rate during the boom five years ago.

New home sales dropped to an annual pace of just 283,000, according to the Commerce Department. That was down 8.1% from a slow September and 28.5% from 12 months ago when the annualized sales rate was at 430,000.

“The new home market delivered another turkey of a performance last month,” said Mike Larson, a housing market analyst with Weiss Research. “Sales fell sharply across most of the country.”

Sales are off nearly 80% from the housing boom peak pace of 1.4 million, set in July 2005. Sales have remained near historic lows this year despite very attractive mortgage interest rates that slash the monthly costs of homeownership.

The Commerce Department also revised August sales figures downward to 275,000, which represents the record low point for new homes sales since it started tracking figures in 1963.

There’s a major factor depressing home sales of all kinds, according to David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders.

“We’re fallen significantly in the number of people forming their own households,” he said. “They’re worried about the economy and they’re worried about their jobs.”

Usually, household formation rises 1% a year or more as people get married, come to the states from overseas, and start careers.

But the poor economy has meant that many grads can’t find jobs, and so they move in with parents instead or double up with peers. Fewer immigrants arrive and couples delay marriage. All of those things diminish home sales.

When people do look for homes, they find a glut of existing homes competing with new homes for sale, according to Larson.

“So much bargain-priced, ‘used’ home inventory is available that the builders just can’t compete,” he said. “Over time, we’ll work through that mountain of existing home supply. But the key words are ‘over time.’ New home builders won’t have much to be thankful about any time soon.

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Pound Ridge NY Weekend Real Estate Update | Pound Ridge NY Real Estate

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83 homes for sale

Low price $380,000

High Price $10,000,000

Median price $999,000

Average size 4129 square feet

Average price $360/ foot

Average DOM 145 days

 

 

Call Robert Paul for your market update 914-325-5758.

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Bedford Hills NY Real Estate Market Report | November 2010 | RobReportBlog

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Bedford Hills NY Homes reports forty-one (41) homes are for sale in Bedford Hills NY. Prices range from a low of $375,000 to a high of $8,900,000. The Median Price of a Bedford Hills NY Home is $740,000. The average home is 3804 square feet, has been on the market 176 days and is asking $403 per foot.

Over the last three months five (5) Bedford Hills NY Homes have sold. The market is flat compared to 2009. The low price of a sold home is $392,000 and the high priced of a sold home is $3,325,000. The Median Price of a sold Bedford Hills NY Home is $510,000. The average sold home is 2576 square feet, takes 123 days to sell, sells for $335 per foot and 95.20% of asking.

In 2009 five (5) Bedford NY Homes sold over the same three month period. The low price was $205,000 and the high price $840,000. The Median Price of a sold 2009 Bedford Hills NY Home was $400,000. The average sold home in 2009 was 1919 square feet, sold in 105 days, sold at $227 per foot and 88.33% of asking price.

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Upcoming Events in Westchester | Westchester NY Real Estate

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Events in Westchester

A guide to cultural and recreational goings-on in and around the Hudson Valley. Items for the guide should be sent at least three weeks in advance to westweek@nytimes.com, or by mail to Westchester Calendar, Metropolitan, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018-1405.

Comedy

POUGHKEEPSIE Bananas Comedy Club Tina Giorgi. Friday and Dec. 4. $12 and $15. Billy Garan. Dec. 10 and 11. $12 and $15. Bananas Comedy Club, 2170 Route 9. (845) 462-3333; bananascomedyclub.com.

TARRYTOWN Tarrytown Music Hall “Kevin Meaney Christmas Show,” stand-up. Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. $29.50 to $43.50. Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street. (877) 840-0457; tarrytownmusichall.org.

Film

CROTON-ON-HUDSON Croton Free Library “Hot Water” and “Bumping Into Broadway,” starring Harold Lloyd. Live accompaniment by Jesse Beller. Friday at 7:30 p.m. Free. Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive. (914) 271-6612; crotonfreelibrary.org.

IRVINGTON Irvington Town Hall Theater Puccini’s “Tosca,” starring Daniela Dessì and Fabio Armiliato. Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. $22. “Who Is Harry Nilsson (and Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?” Directed by John Scheinfeld. Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. $8. Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street. irvingtontheater.com; (914) 591-6602.

PLEASANTVILLE Jacob Burns Film Center “Catching Up Film Series.” Friday through Dec. 22. $6 to $11. Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road. (914) 747-5555; burnsfilmcenter.org.

POUGHKEEPSIE Bardavon Opera House “A Christmas Story,” starring Peter Billingsley. Friday at 8 p.m. $5. Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street. bardavon.org; (845) 473-2072.

For Children

IRVINGTON Irvington Town Hall Theater “A Year With Frog and Toad,” musical by Willie Reale and Robert Reale. Presented by the Clocktower Players Kids Troupe. Ages 3 and up. Dec. 11 and 12 at 12:30 p.m. $10 and $15. Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street. (914) 591-6602; irvingtontheater.com.

KATONAH Muscoot Farm “Christmas on the Farm,” carols and a lantern tour. Dec. 11 and 12, 5 to 7 p.m. Donations accepted. Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100. (914) 864-7282; muscootfarm.org.

LARCHMONT The Voracious Reader “Hello Kitty Celebration,” games, crafts and readings. All ages. Dec. 4, 2 to 4 p.m. Free admission. The Voracious Reader, 1997 Palmer Avenue. (914) 630-4581; thevoraciousreader.com.

MAMARONECK Emelin Theater “Charlotte’s Web,” musical based on the story by E. B. White, presented by TheatreWorks U. S. A. Ages 3 and up. Thursday and Dec. 4. $13 to $18 Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. emelin.org; (914) 698-0098.

PEEKSKILL Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art “Family Art Weekend,” performances and activities, along with Eastern and Central European crafts. Dec. 5, 1 to 5 p.m. All ages. Free. Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main Street. hvcca.com; (914) 788-0100.

SCARSDALE Greenburgh Nature Center “Nature Bugs,” stories, crafts and games. Ages 3 and up. Monday at 1:30 p.m. $4 to $9. Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road. greenburghnaturecenter.org; (914) 723-3470.

SCARSDALE Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El Rick Recht, interactive rock concert in Hebrew and English. Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. $18; under 3, free. Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El, 2 Ogden Road. (914) 725-5175; sstte.org.

Museums and Galleries

BEACON Dia:Beacon “Franz Erhard Walther: Work as Action.” Through Feb. 13. $7 to $10; members and children under 12, free. Friday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dia:Beacon, 3 Beekman Street. diabeacon.org; (845) 440-0100.

BEACON Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery “One Block: A New Orleans Neighborhood Rebuilds,” photographs by Dave Anderson. Through Jan. 8. Fridays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m. Fovea Exhibitions Beacon Gallery, 143 Main Street. (845) 765-2199; foveaexhibitions.org.

CHAPPAQUA Horace Greeley House “Reader’s Digest: The Local Magazine That Conquered the World,photographs and artifacts. Through January. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m. or by appointment. Horace Greeley House, 100 King Street. newcastlehs.org; (914) 238-4666. 

COLD SPRING Putnam County Historical Society and Foundry School Museum “Making a Living: Businesses in Philipstown and Beyond, 1850-1970,” photographs, artifacts and memorabilia. Through Dec. 19. $2 to $5; members and children under 7, free. Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Putnam County Historical Society and Foundry School Museum, 63 Chestnut Street. (845) 265-4010; pchs-fsm.org.

CROSS RIVER Trailside Nature Museum “Affinities,” sculptures and paintings by David Safhay. Through Dec. 30. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trailside Nature Museum, Routes 35 and 121. (914) 864-7322; trailsidemuseum.org.

CROTON FALLS The Schoolhouse Theater Gallery “Whoopee We’re All Gonna Die,” works by Susan Zoon and Nicolas De Jesus. Through Dec. 12. Call for hours. The Schoolhouse Theater Gallery, 3 Owens Road. schoolhousetheater.org; (914) 277-3461.

CROTON-ON-HUDSON Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton and Ossining “Art and Craft Show,” jewelry, ceramics, paintings and housewares. Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. and Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton and Ossining, 2021 Albany Post Road. uucroton.org; (914) 488-5309.

DOBBS FERRY The Donald Gallery Paintings by Rene Nascimento. Through Dec. 12. Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Donald Gallery, 343 Broadway. (914) 693-0473; southpres.org/thedonaldgallery.shtml.

DOBBS FERRY Upstream Gallery Joan Gillman Smith, paintings and collages. Through Dec. 5. Thursdays through Sundays, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Upstream Gallery, 26B Main Street. upstreamgallery.com; (914) 674-8548.

EASTCHESTER Eastchester Public Library “Hudson River Potters Annual Show and Sale,” ceramics. Friday through Dec. 5. Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place. hudsonriverpotters.com; (914) 793-5055.

HARRISON Harrison Public Library “Favorite Things,” acrylic paintings by Robert Cotnoir. Dec. 5 through Jan. 7. Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Avenue. (914) 835-0324; harrisonpl.org.

HUDSON BCB Art “Thunder Bunny Buddha Shrine,” works by Musho Rodney Alan Greenblat. Through Dec. 19. Thursdays through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.; or by appointment. BCB Art, 116 Warren Street. (518) 828-4539; bcbart.com.

KATONAH Katonah Museum of Art “Mapping: Memory and Motion in Contemporary Art,” multimedia. “Uri Shulevitz: How I Learned Geography.” “Watercolor,” by Dan Osyczka. All three run through Jan. 9. “Wind Orchid,” by George Sherwood, sculpture. Through May 22. $3 to $5; members and children, free. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay Street. (914) 232-9555; katonahmuseum.org.

LARCHMONT Larchmont Public Library “Potpourri,” watercolors and mixed media by Mary Ann Maclellan and “Drawn by Nature,” works by Diane Elliott. Through Monday. Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Avenue. (914) 834-2281; larchmontlibrary.org.

LARCHMONT The Voracious Reader “The Many Gifts of Children’s Book Illustrators,” picture book art. Dec. 5 through Dec. 19. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 4 p.m. The Voracious Reader, 1997 Palmer Avenue. thevoraciousreader.com; (914) 630-4581.

MONTROSE Hendrick Hudson Free Library “Recent Watercolors” by Michele Izzo Croft. Through Monday. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. Hendrick Hudson Free Library, 185 Kings Ferry Road. (914) 739-5654; henhudfreelibrary.org.

OSSINING Ossining Public Library “A Second Look,” cut-paper collages by Susan MacMurdy. Through Tuesday. Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Avenue. (914) 941-2416; ossininglibrary.org.

PEEKSKILL Flat Iron Gallery “Gifts of Fire and Clay,” group show. Thursday through Dec. 31. Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; or by appointment. Flat Iron Gallery, 105 South Division Street. flatiron.qpg.com; (914) 734-1894.

PEEKSKILL Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art Artist-in-Residence, Leonardo Silaghi, paintings. Through Dec. 19. “After the Fall,” group show featuring contemporary art from Eastern and Central Europe. Through July 24. $2 to $5; members, free. Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; or by appointment. Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main Street. (914) 788-0100; hvcca.com.

PEEKSKILL Innovative Arts Gallery “That Which Roars: Beasts of the Imagination,” group show. Through Jan. 9. Fridays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.; or by appointment. Innovative Arts Gallery, 1 South Division Street, Studio 1. (914) 930-1474; innovative-arts.com.

PELHAM Pelham Art Center “Craft-Tastic” and “Gift It,” handmade goods. Friday through Jan. 15. “Diwali: Hindu Festival of Lights,” performances and activities. Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m. Free. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue. (914) 738-2525; pelhamartcenter.org.

PLEASANTVILLE Choate House Gallery “Toys Through the Ages.” Through Dec. 16. Mondays through Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.; Thursdays, noon to 6 p.m.; or by appointment. Choate House Gallery, 861 Bedford Road, Entrance 3. (914) 773-3473; pace.edu.

PORT CHESTER Clay Art Center “Arnie Zimmerman: New Lost City.” Through Dec. 18. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clay Art Center, 40 Beech Street. clayartcenter.org; (914) 937-2047.

POUGHKEEPSIE Locust Grove “Being in Code,” works by Douglas Navarra. Through Dec. 5. $5 and $9; children 18 and under, free. Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Locust Grove, 2683 South Road (Route 9). (845) 454-4500; lgny.org.

PURCHASE Berger Gallery “W. P. A. Posters From the Collection of Merrill C. Berman.” Through Dec. 17. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Berger Gallery, 2900 Purchase Street. (914) 323-5331; mville.edu.

PURCHASE Neuberger Museum of Art “Pat Steir: Drawing Out of Line” and “American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s.” Both through Dec. 19. $3 to $5. Tuesdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Neuberger Museum of Art, 735 Anderson Hill Road. (914) 251-6100; neuberger.org.

RHINEBECK Montgomery Row Second Level “Black-and-White Photos in Pairs and Series,” works by Phyllis Marsteller. Through Tuesday. Mondays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Montgomery Row, Second Level, 6422-3 Montgomery Street. montgomeryrow.com; (845) 876-6670.

RYE Rye Arts Center “Jazz: Iconic Portraits and Contemporary Images,” paintings and sculptures. Through Dec. 4. Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Road. (914) 967-0700; ryeartscenter.org.

WEST NYACK Rockland Center for the Arts “Kate Gilmore: Standing Here.” Through Dec. 5. “On Earth,” group show and “Lothar Osterburg: Piranesi.” Through Dec. 12. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rockland Center for the Arts, 27 South Greenbush Road. rocklandartcenter.org; (845) 358-0877.

WHITE PLAINS Arts Exchange “Latin American Paper Arts Exhibition.” Through Dec. 5. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Arts Exchange, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue. westarts.com; (914) 428-4220.

WOODSTOCK Galerie BMG “Florilegium,” works by Kim Kauffman. Through Monday. Alyson Belcher, photographs. Friday through Jan. 10. Fridays through Mondays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or by appointment. Galerie BMG, 12 Tannery Brook Road. galeriebmg.com; (845) 679-0027.

YONKERS Blue Door Gallery “Small Works for Holiday Giving,” group show. Through Dec. 30. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m.; Fridays, 2 to 7 p.m. Blue Door Gallery, 13 Riverdale Avenue. bluedoorgallery.org; (914) 375-5100.

YONKERS Hudson River Museum “Paintbox Leaves: Autumnal Inspiration From Cole to Wyeth,” group show. Through Jan. 16. $3 to $5; members, free. Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue. (914) 963-4550; hrm.org.

Music and Dance

BEDFORD Bedford Presbyterian Church “A Christmas Candlelight Concert,”presented by the Charis Chamber Voices. Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. $20 and $25. Bedford Presbyterian Church, Village Green. (914) 931-6575; charisvocals.com.

BRONXVILLE Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College “Composer Portrait: William Schuman at 100: A Sarah Lawrence Legend: 1935-1945,” concerts, lectures and films. Wednesday at 7 p.m. Free. Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College, 1 Mead Way. slc.edu/campuscalendar; (914) 395-2412.

CHAPPAQUA Chappaqua Library Akiko Kobayashi, violin and Claudia Kobayashi, piano. Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Chappaqua Library, 195 South Greeley Avenue. chappaqualibrary.org; (914) 238-4779.

DOBBS FERRY South Presbyterian Church “A Rose in Winter,” presented by the Angelica chamber singers. Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. $8 and $15. South Presbyterian Church, 343 Broadway. angelicavoices.org; (914) 478-3267.

IRVINGTON Irvington Town Hall Theater Judy Collins, folk. Friday at 8 p.m. $55 to $100. “Trumpet Masters: Music of Miles, Pops and Dizzy,” presented by the Westchester Jazz Orchestra. Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. $10 to $35. “The Broadway All-Star Holiday Concert,” featuring Neil Berg. Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. $40 and $45. “Bach Meets Bebop,” featuring Gary Smulyan and Henk van Twillert. Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. $28. The Subdudes, jazz. Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. $40. Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street. (914) 591-6602; irvingtontheater.com.

KINGSTON Ulster Performing Arts Center “A Christmas Carol,” presented by the Ulster Ballet Company. Friday through Dec. 5. $10 to $15. “The Nutcracker,” presented by the Catskill Ballet Theater. Dec. 10 through Dec. 12. $20 and $27. Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway. (845) 339-6088; upac.org.

LARCHMONT Watercolor Cafe Erin McKeown, pop. Wednesday at 8 p.m. $20. Karla Bonoff, pop. Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. $45. Marshall Crenshaw, folk and rock. Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. $35. Watercolor Cafe, 2094 Boston Post Road. (914) 834-2213; watercolorcafe.net.

MAMARONECK Emelin Theater Beatlemania Now, tribute to the Beatles. Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. $55. David Bromberg Quartet, folk. Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. $60. Gold Heart with Buddy Merriam and Backroads, bluegrass. Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. $32. Kelli O’Hara, cabaret. Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. $60. Sutton Foster, cabaret. Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. $35 to $50. Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane. emelin.org; (914) 698-0098.

MARLBORO The Falcon Marvin Bugalu Smith, jazz. Thursday at 7 p.m. Bruce Katz, blues. Friday at 7 p.m. Pilc, Frahm, Moutin and Hoenig, jazz. Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. Niels Lan Doky and Larry Grenadier, jazz. Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. Donations accepted. “The Ed Palermo Big Band Plays Zappa.” Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Lucky Peterson, blues. Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Donations accepted for each. The Falcon, 1348 Route 9W. (845) 236-7970; liveatthefalcon.com.

MONTROSE Hendrick Hudson Free Library E. Zoe Hassman, cello. Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. Free. Hendrick Hudson Free Library, 185 Kings Ferry Road. henhudfreelibrary.org; (914) 739-5654.

MOUNT KISCO Merestead “Heaven, Hell and Hollywood,” works by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Miklos Rozsa and others. Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. $10 to $25. Merestead, 455 Byram Lake Road. (914) 788-4659; coplandhouse.org.

NEW ROCHELLE Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium, Iona College The Westchester Chamber Symphony featuring Lawrence Dutton, violin. Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. $15 to $50. Christopher J. Murphy Auditorium, Iona College, 715 North Avenue. (914) 633-2628; www.iona.edu.

OSSINING Ossining High School Old Mill Singers Holiday Concert. Friday and Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. $5 to $15. Ossining High School, 29 South Highland Avenue. (914) 762-3765; oldmillsingers.org.

PEEKSKILL Paramount Center for the Arts Nanci Griffith, folk. Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. $30 to $40. “A Rockin Doo Wop Celebration.” Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. $39 to $59. Paramount Center for the Arts, 1008 Brown Street. (914) 739-2333; paramountcenter.org.

PEEKSKILL The New Yorker Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, Cajun. Dec. 4, 7 to 11:30 p.m. $20. The New Yorker, 824 Washington Street. somebodyscreamny.org; (914) 960-9057.

PELHAM Pelham Art Center “Korean Folk Art Day,” traditional music and dance. Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. Free. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue. pelhamartcenter.org; (914) 738-2525.

PIERMONT The Turning Point Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, blues. Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. $40. Jewmongous, alternative folk. Wednesday at 8 p.m. $20. Chris Smither, folk. Thursday at 8 p.m. $30. Shemekia Copeland, blues. Friday at 9 p.m. $40. Enter the Haggis, Celtic rock. Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. $20. Bucky Pizzarelli featuring Ed Laub, jazz. Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. $20. Elliott Murphy Band, rock. Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. $20. Alexis P. Suter Band, blues and soul. Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. $20. Chris Bergson Band, blues and soul. Dec. 11 at 9 p.m. $20. “Annual Winter Solstice Celebration,” featuring the Neil Alexander Group. Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. $15. The Swippers, folk and rock. Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. $10. The Turning Point, 468 Piermont Avenue. (845) 359-1089; turningpointcafe.com.

PLEASANTVILLE Richard G. Rosenthal Jewish Community Center “Chanukah Concert,” featuring Kol Rinah. Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. $17. Richard G. Rosenthal Jewish Community Center, 600 Bear Ridge Road. kolrinahchorus.org; (914) 243-9059.

POUGHKEEPSIE Bardavon Opera House Amos Lee, funk and soul. Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. $28 and $33. “The Nutcracker,” presented by the New Paltz Ballet Theater. Dec. 9 through Dec. 12. $6 to $12. Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street. (845) 473-2072; bardavon.org.

PURCHASE Performing Arts Center Orion String Quartet, classical. Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. $52.50. The Harlem Gospel Choir. Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. $20 to $50. Brandenburg All-Stars, classical. Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. $25 to $50. Performing Arts Center, 735 Anderson Hill Road. (914) 251-6200; artscenter.org.

RYE Rye Country Day School Attacca String Quartet, classical. Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m. $25 suggested donation. Rye Country Day School, 1 Cedar Street. (914) 424-9547; musicforparkinsonsresearch.org.

SAUGERTIES Saugerties Pro Musica, Saugerties United Methodist Church Wei Zhou, piano and David Nagy, bassoon. Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. $10 and $12; students, free. Saugerties Pro Musica, Saugerties United Methodist Church, Washington Avenue and Post Street. (845) 246-5021; saugertiespromusica.org.

TARRYTOWN Tarrytown Music Hall Dave Brubeck Quartet, jazz. Friday at 8 p.m. $45 to $85. Rickie Lee Jones, rock. Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. $45 to $75. Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main Street. tarrytownmusichall.org; (877) 840-0457.

VALHALLA Academic Arts Theater “Tomaseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas,” Irish music, dance and storytelling. Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. $18 and $20. Academic Arts Theater, 75 Grasslands Road. (914) 606-6262; sunywcc.edu.

WHITE PLAINS Arts Exchange “Byzantine Chant and Folk Music Festival,” day of workshops and performances. Dec. 4. $10 and $15. Workshops are free. Arts Exchange, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue. (914) 428-4220; westarts.com.

WHITE PLAINS Music Conservatory of Westchester “Holiday Jazz,” featuring Hiroshi Yamazaki, piano; Rale Micic, guitar; Nick Mangini, drums; and Steve LaSpina, bass. Friday at 7 p.m. $10 and $15. Music Conservatory of Westchester, 216 Central Avenue. musicconservatory.org; (914) 761-3900.

WOODSTOCK Bearsville Theater The Marc Black Band and the Amy Fradon Band, folk. Dec. 4 at 8:30 p.m. $20. Bearsville Theater, 291 Tinker Street. (845) 679-4406; bearsvilletheater.com.

YONKERS Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will Branch “Unforgettable … Bring Him Home,” musical presented by A Musical Affair. Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. Free. Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will Branch, 1500 Central Park Avenue. (914) 337-1500; ypl.org/grinton.

Outdoors

CROSS RIVER Trailside Nature Museum “Holiday Decorations From Nature,” craft activities. Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. $4 and $8. Trailside Nature Museum, Routes 35 and 121. (914) 864-7322; trailsidemuseum.org.

OSSINING Teatown Lake Reservation “Ready, Set, Sleep,” learn about how animals survive during the winter. Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. “Hike the Teatown-Kitchawan Trail,” walk along the reservoir and over Bald Mountain. Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both are $5; members, free. Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road. (914) 762-2912; teatown.org.

POCANTICO HILLS Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture “Winter on the Farm Weekend,” activities, crafts and holiday market. Dec. 11 and 12. Free admission. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, 630 Bedford Road. stonebarnscenter.org; (914) 366-6200.

POUGHKEEPSIE Downtown Poughkeepsie “Celebration of Lights Parade and Fireworks.” Friday at 6:30 p.m. Free. Downtown Poughkeepsie, Main and Market Streets. bardavon.org; (845) 473-5288.

RYE Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary “Winter Wildflower Arrangements,” create a bouquet using dried plants and natural objects. Bring your own vase. Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. Free. Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, Playland Parkway. (914) 967-8720; westchestergov.com/parks.

SCARSDALE Greenburgh Nature Center “Trim the Nature Tree,” decoration activities led by Dean Fausel. Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. $3 and $6. Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road. (914) 723-3470; greenburghnaturecenter.org.

Spoken Word

MOUNT VERNON St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site “A Clash of Cultures: The Battle of the Little Bighorn,” lecture and discussion. Monday at 1 p.m. Free. St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 South Columbus Avenue. (914) 667-4116; nps.gov/sapa.

NORTH SALEM Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” by Dylan Thomas, reading by Alan Sklar. Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. Free. Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, 28 Deveau Road. hammondmuseum.org; (914) 669-5033.

PEEKSKILL Antonia Arts and Studio Two “First Friday Open Mic,” poetry readings and music. Wine and cheese will be served. Friday at 8 p.m. $5. Antonia Arts and Studio Two, 814 South Street. (914) 930-7588; antoniaarts.com.

YONKERS Hudson River Museum “Science Sundays: The Scientist’s Eye, the Artist’s Touch,” discussion with Dorie Petrochko and Linda Thomas. Nov. 28 at 2:30 p.m. Free with museum admission. Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue. (914) 963-4550; hrm.org.

Theater

ARMONK Whippoorwill Hall “It Happened One Christmas Eve,” musical by Bob Fitzsimmons and Barbara Campbell. Friday through Dec. 12. $14 and $18. Whippoorwill Hall, 19 Whippoorwill Road East. armonkplayers.org; (914) 273-3887.

ELMSFORD Westchester Broadway Theater “A Sleepy Hollow Christmas Carol,” musical by Jean-Paul Richard, based on the stories by Charles Dickens and Washington Irving. Wednesday through Dec. 26. $52 to $75. Westchester Broadway Theater, 75 Clearbrook Road. (914) 592-2222; broadwaytheatre.com.

GARRISON Boscobel House and Gardens “Holiday Party With the Fezziwigs,” staged reading of excerpts from “A Christmas Carol” by the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and refreshments. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 11. $75. Boscobel House and Gardens, 1601 Route 9D. (845) 265-3638; boscobel.org.

PEEKSKILL BeanRunner Cafe “My Hand Your Hand,” one-woman show by Marcy B. Freedman. Dec. 11, noon to 6 p.m. Free. BeanRunner Cafe, 201 South Division Street. beanrunnercafe.com; (914) 737-1701.

PURCHASE Performing Arts Center, Purchase College “King John,” by Shakespeare. Friday through Dec. 11. $12.50 and $17.50. Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road. (914) 251-6200; artscenter.org.

SCARSDALE Edgemont High School Theater “And Then There Were None,” mystery by Agatha Christie, presented by the Greenville Community Theater. Wednesday through Dec. 4. $10 to $15. Edgemont High School Theater, 200 White Oak Lane. (914) 636-2863; gctstage.org.

VALHALLA Academic Arts Theater “Blood Type: Ragu,” one-man show by Frank Ingrasciotta. Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. $7 to $15. Academic Arts Theater, 75 Grasslands Road. (914) 606-6262; sunywcc.edu.

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS Yorktown Stage “Fiddler on the Roof,” musical by Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick and Joseph Stein. Through Nov. 28. $19 to $25. Yorktown Stage, 1974 Commerce Street. (914) 962-0606; yorktownstage.org.

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Organic Bedroom Style In North Salem NY | North Salem NY Real Estate

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Applying eco-friendly style to your bedroom isn’t a fad; it’s one of the healthiest things to do when decorating your home. Don’t let harmful chemicals and toxins take you lying down. Here’s how to put up a fight for green in your bedroom.

Breathe Easier
Air quality is important because you spend so much time in the bedroom at night, says green architect/designer Michelle Kaufmann, founder and chairwoman of Michelle Kaufmann Designs, www.michellekaufmann.com. She recommends operable windows for cross ventilation/natural ventilation and HEPA filters in vacuums.

Buy a stylish ceiling fan to circulate hot and cool air, and save money on energy bills.

Choose low/no-VOC paints and stains for walls, ceiling and furniture.

Wash your bedding each week to cut down on mold, mildew and dust mite accumulation.

If you’re prone to allergies, avoid down pillows and comforters. Instead, look for hypoallergenic and organic pillows filled with wool, cotton, millet hulls (99 percent dust free), buckwheat, kapok (a natural seed fiber) and shredded latex.

Choose a Green Mattress and Box Spring
Invest in the most important part of your bedroom: the mattress. “Everything you bring into your home has a potential to off-gas, so when you chose products to sleep on, you should look at what they’re made of,” says Greg Snowden, creator and founder of the Green Fusion Design Center.

Choose a mattress that’s toxin-free and doesn’t contain polyurethane foam and fire-retardants such as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers). Animals exposed to PDBEs showed learning deficiencies, and high levels of the chemical have been found in women’s breast milk according to PollutionInPeople.org. But you’ll have to get a mattress that passes the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tests for fire, so look to wool mattresses for natural fire-retardant qualities.

Green options include organic wool- and cotton-filled mattresses that are just as comfortable as a chemical-filled mattress. The greenest option is latex. Savvy Rest, a green mattress company (www.savvyrest.com), offers organic mattresses made from 95 percent latex (100 percent does not exist) that don’t suffer from lumps and gullies over time.

Eco-friendly mattresses are also available from Green Sleep, www.greensleep.ca. Zem Joaquin, green blogger at Ecofabulous.com, favors Green Sleep in her home. “The rubber is harvested in Malaysia,” she says. “They go and tap the trees like you would for maple syrup and bake it up into nice, fluffy cakes. The comfort is phenomenal.”

National Geographic’s The Green Guide suggests supplementing your mattress with a natural, untreated solid wood box spring made from FSC-certified wood.

Reuse Furniture and Fabric
Instead of buying a new bedroom set, take a look at what you have and refresh it. TV-dinner trays, a stack of old luggage and even a fallen tree trunk in your backyard can become a nightstand.

Save gas by shopping locally at thrift stores, antiques shops and architectural salvage stores. You can often find old headboards to upholster or paint, giving a singular look to the bed for less. An old door turned on its side and wall mounted is another eco-friendly, and rustic, solution.

For inexpensive DIY pillows or curtain panels, visit fabric shops and ask for their leftover material scraps. Or, repurpose old blankets and sheets for a comforter that’s completely your own.

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Lewisboro Winter Community Calender | Lewisboro NY Real Estate

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Community Events

Check the Weather Forecast

Tree

Parks Brochure

Community Events

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Facilities

Seniors

 

2010 WINTER COMMUNITY EVENTS

 

 
 

 

4th ANNUAL LEWISBORO WINTER CELEBRATION
Join the Parks & Recreation Department for a fun filled evening. There will be music, refreshments, lights and a special visit from Frosty & Friends. Dress warm & be ready to have fun & be amongst friends & neighbors. Please bring a canned or non-perishable food item which will be donated to the local community center to help our neighbors during the holiday season.
DATE:
Monday, December 6 , 2010
 
WHERE:
Town Park, Route 35, South Salem – Please park in the main lot. Festivities will be held in the lot between the pool and ballfield.
 
TIME:

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

 

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SANTA CLAUS LETTERS
(December 1st – 17th)
Youngsters, 8 and under, are
encouraged to write to Santa
Claus to express their holiday thoughts
and wishes. Santa’s special mailboxes
will be available at the Recreation
Office, Vista, Cross River and the South
Salem Post Office’s from December 1st
through December 17th. Santa and his
helpers put special care into answering
each letter. Please make sure that you put
your complete name (first and last) and
address on each letter.

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BREAKFAST WITH SANTA – COSPONSORED BY THE LEWISBORO LIONS CLUB
Youngsters 8 and under are invited to this very special event!Children will enjoy a light breakfast while watching a special show that has been planned. Santa will be there to greet each child and Mom and Dad will have plenty of opportunities to photograph Santa with their child.
DATE:
Saturday, December 11, 2010
 
WHERE:
John Jay High School Cafeteria
 
TIME:
9 – 11 a.m.
 
NOTE:

1. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

2. As admission to this event, each child is aske to bring an unwrapped gift not to exceed $7.00. These gifts will be distributed to a needy children’s organization.

3. Don’t forget your camera/camcorder!

4. All reservations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Registration is limited.

 

 

 

Heating With Gas Or Heating With Oil – The Great Energy Debate | Pound Ridge NY Real Estate

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How to Decide Between Oil and Natural Gas to Heat Your Home

Every year, thousands of homeowners make a decision about which fuel will be their primary heating source for the winter: use oil or natural gas?. The pressure of winter’s arrival often leads to a quick decision, but determining which fuel makes the most economic sense depends on a complex set of circumstances that most homeowners have difficulty sorting out . With this simple questionnaire, the gas boiler service dublin offers a guide to help determine the best way for you to keep warm this winter and reduce your heating bills.

By Roy Berendsohn

Having been a home improvement editor here for more than 20 years, I can make one prediction with uncanny accuracy: As cooler weather settles in, heating questions will arrive. It may seem obvious. Yet, there’s a specific skew for our readers in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. They ask us which heat source is less expensive over the long haul–oil or natural gas. Based on past experience, these are oil-heat customers, and in the heating battleground that encompasses this region, they’re bombarded with claims about the benefits of both fuels. This year, the cost of natural gas for residential users is low–about where it was three years ago. When you adjust for inflation, its price has actually dropped. So I’m predicting an upswing in interest in this topic (an increase that will likely subside when the price of gas begins to rise). As gas remains competitive, deciding whether to use it becomes more complex.

See the checklist below to sort your way through. The more answers you check as “Yes,” the more likely that the switch from oil to gas may make sense. If you check “Yes” on only on 1 to 3 questions, your current setup works fine. Check more than four, however, and it’s worth investigating your options. Seven or more means it may be time to switch to gas.

Notice that I say, “may.” I’m not advocating one fuel over the other. The fact is, either can be burned cleanly and efficiently. Both have advantages and disadvantages, which can vary–consult your local fuel-oil and gas providers and mechanical contractors (the businesses that install heating and cooling equipment).

Finally, there’s the propane option, and many customers in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic would do well to consider it. If you live in a competitive propane market, the more of the answers that you check as Yes, the more likely that propane could be a viable option as well.

As a side note, consider the Energy Information Administration’s unbiased comparison of heating-fuel costs. To get a sense of how this works in your market, plug local price figures into the cost calculator offered by Penn State’s engineering department.

Here’s the PM guide to heating-fuel options. Check all that apply.

1. Your oil-heat boiler or furnace is shot and needs to be replaced.

YesNo

2. Your chimney is old and needs to be rebuilt or relined. Note: New oil or gas boilers and furnaces can be vented directly through the side of the house, bypassing the chimney entirely.

YesNo

3. You have a natural gas line available and the utility company’s cost to run a lateral line from the street to your house is low.

YesNo

4. The company that will run the gas lateral to your house can place the gas meter conveniently–for example, so that the existing gas line inside the house can access the meter without significant mechanical disruption or remodeling. Note: You need a heating/cooling contractor’s input to answer this question.

YesNo

5. It appears that the gas lateral will create minimal disruption to your property and landscape.

YesNo

6. Over the past ten years, you’ve tried several fuel oil providers in your area, at several different price and service plans. You’re dissatisfied–either the quality of service has been poor from a mechanical standpoint, or the company just seems unfriendly.

YesNo

7. You want the fuel oil tank out of the basement. It’s either old, rusty and smelly, or you just want it out to free up space down there. Note: Getting an old fuel oil tank out of a basement, especially a crowded one, is a big job. Take some careful measurements of the tank and all stairs or exterior doors before proceeding. PM contributor Pat Porzio, a mechanical contractor, reminds us that some municipalities may require you to pull a special building permit just for the removal of the oil tank, regardless of whether it’s above or below ground, indoors or out.

YesNo

8. The fuel tank is free-standing and located outdoors. Although it’s mechanically sound, you find its appearance unattractive and would like to be rid of it Note: See above, regarding tank-removal permits.

YesNo

9. The oil-fired boiler or furnace is located in a utility closet somewhere in close proximity to the living space (not the basement or in a crawlspace) and it’s too loud. You’re hoping to reduce noise in the living space with gas-fired equipment. Note: 10. Oil-fired equipment tends to be noisier than gas-fired, though there are exceptions to this broad rule of thumb. If you’re replacing a furnace or boiler, speak to your oil-heat provider or mechanical contractor about noise reduction. If they know that this is an issue, they can better identify quieter equipment and noise-reduction measures (such as relocating equipment to a place where its sound will be less bothersome).

YesNo

10. You have an electric water heater that needs to be replaced along with the heating equipment. You’re hoping to switch to a gas-fired water heater for better hot-water performance. Note: You can also get an oil-fired water heater. Oil-fired water heaters are generally more expensive than comparable gas-fired models, and they need to be tuned yearly, like an oil-fired boiler or furnace. On the other hand, they’re extremely potent hot-water producers–residential versions of these appliances are nearly as powerful as their commercial counterparts. If plentiful hot water is an issue, they’re hard to beat. Also, an oil-fired boiler can be equipped to produce sufficient hot water, as can a gas boiler. Again, investigate your options by talking to both your oil supplier and a heating/cooling contractor in order to make an informed decision.

YesNo

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