Clifton Park and Albany NY Homes for Sale: February 2010

Clifton Park NY - Business Review

Saratoga Sweets "Home of the Peppermint Pig" (TM)

Saratoga Sweets first opened for business in 1988 in historic Saratoga Springs, NY. Back then they produced a small variety of handmade chocolates, most made right in the window of their Caroline Street shop. It was during that first holiday season that they were approached by the local historical society regarding a “lost” holiday tradition called the Peppermint Pig™. Using borrowed candy molds and the original recipe, about 100 Peppermint Pigs™ were made just in time for sale Christmas Eve Day. They were greeted that snowy morning by a crowd of Saratogians of all ages gleefully waiting to get their first Peppermint Pig™ in over 50 years. While they didn’t have nearly enough pigs to go around, all were happy that the Peppermint Pigs™ had returned.

Since that first Christmas season, their production in both chocolates and Peppermint Pigs™ has grown tremendously. Saratoga Sweets proudly offers over 100 different types of chocolates, truffles and novelties and last holiday season over 130,000 Peppermint Pigs™ were made in our candy kitchen in Clifton Park, NY just south of Saratoga Springs.

Peppermint Pigs have been featured on the Food Network, the Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, CNN, CNBC, CBS New and countless magazines and newspapers across the country. It is their hope that a Peppermint Pig will be an Honored Guest at your next holiday gathering.

With a year ‘round crew of 10 candy makers (that grows to 30 for the holidays), everyone at Saratoga Sweets is committed to making your candy the freshest, tastiest and most traditional candy you’ve ever eaten.

If you’re in the area, especially around Christmas, stop by – they’d love to tell you all about the famous Peppermint Pigs™ and show you how they make 'em!!!

Saratoga Sweets "Home of the Peppermint Pig" (TM)

1618 Route 9, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Toll Free 1-800-827-9060

www.saratogasweets.com

Lewis Beynon, Prime Property Solutions, LLC

Serving Clifton Park and the entire Albany NY Capital Region

Phone 518-281-3951    Email: LewisB@nycap.rr.com

FREE Home Search at www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY - Business Review

TUXEGO OF CLIFTON PARK NY

Prom and wedding season is fast approaching, so if you are in need of crisp clean tuxedos, be sure to visit Tuxego of Clifton Park NY conveniently located on Route 9 just north of Grooms Rd.

At Tuxego of Clifton Park NY they want  all their  customers to be able to choose from the most updated, largest selection of tuxedos and accessories available anywhere.  They want to provide unmatched service.  Their friendly, knowledgeable, courteous staff is eager to assist with all your formal wear needs.

They offer superior convenience and accessibility and customers do not have to deal with the parking hassles, confusion, and distractions of a mega-mall.  Pull up front, park, and go on in!

Tuxego of Clifton Park NY provides wedding specials that will save a lot of money for everyone in your party. See their website for more details on current deals.

EXPERIENCE THE TUXEGO OF CLIFTON PARK DIFFERENCE!!!

Owner, Dawn Vavala, has owned and operated Tuxego of Clifton Park NY since 1991.  They are located at 1505 Route 9 in Clifton Park NY.  Please stop by to visit with them or go to their web site at www.UpstateTuxego.com.  Phone 518-383-7701

Lewis Beynon, Prime Property Solutions, LLC

Serving Clifton Park and the entire Albany NY Capital Region

Phone 518-281-3951    Email: LewisB@nycap.rr.com

FREE Home Search at: www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY - Greyhound Rescue of Clifton Park New York

Greyhound Rescue of Clifton Park New York is always looking for good foster homes within 25 miles of Clifton Park NY. Listed below are a few guidelines that should be considered before thinking about becoming a foster home to one of these great pets:

• A good foster home shouldn't have children under 5 years old.
• A good foster family should be able to attend all of the meet and greet events.
• A good foster family should have previous experience in working with greyhounds or plenty of experience working with canines.
• The greyhound will be coming to your home straight from the track.  As such, greyhounds have never lived outside the track environment and will need to learn basic skills that are taken for granted.  They will need to learn:

1. How to climb up and down stairs.
2. Windows are solid and they can't run through them.
3. Not to chase your other pets like a cat.
4. Mirrors are not another greyhound.

• Foster pets will need to be crated until they become comfortable with their new home.  This is preferred since they have spent most of their lives living in crates they actually seem to prefer this as it makes them feel secure in their new environment.
• Greyhounds are bred to run, so they must be in a fenced yard and ALWAYS on a leash when outside the fenced yard.

If you would like more information on becoming a foster family to a greyhound please visit Greyhound Rescue of Upstate New York at their Web site http://greyhoundrescueofny.com

Lewis Beynon, REALTOR, Prime Property Solutions, LLC

Serving Clifton Park and the entire Albany NY Capital Region

Phone: 518-281-3951  Email: LewisB@nycap.rr.com

FREE Home Search at: www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY Homes for Sale

Springtime is almost here so I thought it would be a good time to provide a "to-do" list to anyone thinking about putting their Clifton Park NY home on the market this spring.  It may look like a long list, but I have expressly created this list with the assumption that we are working with a minimal budget.  It would just be too easy for me to suggest that "everything" gets replaced.

The list begins outside the home because first impressions are EVERYTHING!!!  If a Clifton Park NY buyer isn't thrilled with what they see as soon as they pull up to the house, then they will have a real hard time warming up to anything that isn't perfect inside the home.

1) Make sure your mail box is freshly painted and that the post is clean and plum.

2) Make sure your front door is clean or freshly painted, the hardware is spotless, and any glass panels are free from paint over-runs or stickers.

3) Light fixtures on the porch need to be clean and updated.  The old oxidized polished "brass" fixtures gotta go!!!  If you have a lamp post in the the front yard, a fresh coat of paint will also make a big difference.

4) Trim those bushes WAY BACK and make sure you have fresh mulch put down.

5) The front porch should be free of decorations and personal belongings.

6) A freshly sealed driveway also makes a HUGE difference when potential buyers first pull up to a home.

As we move inside your home, the overriding theme should be "less is more".

Also, we want to let the light POUR into the home.  Even if you like to live in privacy or darkness, we have to let the light pour into the home when it is being shown because this provides a feeling of warmth and all that light will make your rooms feel larger.

7) Replace, wash, and/or spot treat all of your door mats.

8) Replace all your light bulbs with the maximum wattage bulbs permitted by the individual fixtures.  Please do not overload a fixture as this may create a fire hazard.  Wash all of the light fixture lenses, globes, or  diffusers.

9) Remove as much of your personal property as possible by cleaning out closets.  Pack anything that you haven't used in 3 months.  Think about it; I've got a linen closet full of towels and sheets and we only use towels from one shelf and I'm sure we still have crib sheets in there from when the kids were babies!!!

10) Remove all your knick nacks and as much artwork as possible.  Each wall only needs a picture or two.

11) Wash doors, windows, blinds, curtains, light fixtures, ceiling fans, baseboards, and trim.

12) Wash under your refrigerator and behind your stove.  Clean the insides of both thoroughly.

13) Remove as much of your decorative furniture as possible.  A guest bedroom should be simply furnished with a bed, 1 dresser, and 1 nightstand at most.  If your guest room has more furniture than this, move the extra pieces to the basement.

14) Does your teenager daughter have a hot-pink bedroom?  Does your teenage son have a dark brown or black room?  Sorry kids, these have to get painted a fresh neutral color!!!

I hope this list helps you maximize the sale price on your home and minimizes your days on market.

For a free no-obligation consultation and market analysis of your Clifton Park NY home, please call today 518-281-3951.

National Advertising, Local Solutions

Lewis Beynon, REALTOR, Prime Property Solutions, LLC

FREE Home Search at www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY - Cell Phones for Soldiers

Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expects to collect 50,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country.

The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.

“Americans will replace an estimated 130 million cell phones this year,” says Mike Newman, vice president of ReCellular, “with the majority of phones either discarded or stuffed in a drawer.  Most people don’t realize that the small sacrifice of donating their unwanted phones can have a tremendous benefit for a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $2 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.

“Cell Phones for Soldiers started as a small way to show our family’s appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed the day-to-day contact with their own families to serve in the U.S. armed forces,” says the teens’ father, Bob Bergquist. “Over the past few years, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue to grow as more troops are sent overseas for longer assignments.”

Through increased fund-raising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.

Please visit their web site HERE.

Lewis Beynon, REALTOR, Prime Property Solutions, LLC

Phone 518-281-3951

FREE Home Search at www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY Homes - The Green Grocer

The Green Grocer, located at 1505 Route 9, Clifton Park NY is the areas leading natural and organic food store.  After 15 years of service to the Clifton Park NY community, they are experts in their field.  If you want to Live, Learn.....be Healthy with the products you are purchasing, stop by and take advantage of all their experience and knowledge.  You just can't get this level of service in a big supermarket or box store.

They carry a full line of grocery, produce, dairy, frozen, bulk foods, HBC, and vitamins, minerals, and supplements.  Visit their Web Site at www.thegreengrocer.com or stop in today, you'll be glad you did.

Lewis Beynon, Prime Property Solution, LLC

Phone 518-281-3951

FREE Home Search on my Web Site: www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY Homes for Sale - The House of Kitchens

Are you thinking of remodeling your kitchen or are you building a new home?  Stop by The House of Kitchens located at 1613 Route 9 in Clifton Park NY and they will be able to satisfy all your design needs.  Their complete showroom has hundreds of samples that make the whole process simple and easy.

So, if your Clifton Park NY kitchen needs a makeover, stop by today and see how they can assist you.

Lewis Beynon, Prime Property Solutions, LLC.  Phone 518-281-3951

Clifton Park NY Homes for Sale

FREE home search on my Web site; www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY - Precision Mobile Audio

After working for more than 15 years in the car audio industry, Mike Michne has finally opened Precision Mobile Audio in Clifton Park NY! At long last there is a high-end car audio and mobile electronics installation shop in the Capital Region of New York. Whether you're looking for a bass-blasting stereo system, a performance marine audio set up, a complete vehicle security system, or the latest mobile video, they're the car electronics shop you've been looking for. Let their MECP certified installers help you get the absolute best out of your car, truck, or boat.

Precision carries top-notch name brands in car audio, mobile video, satellite radio, car alarm, and remote starters. Conveniently located on Route 9 in Clifton Park NY, they are just a short drive from Albany, and even closer to Saratoga Springs.  My wife says the car starter I bought her was the best present she ever got!!!

When it's time to bring out the best in your vehicle, they're ready to help. From car audio video systems to remote starters to marine electronics, Precision Mobile Audio combines superior customer service with expert installers and top-quality components to ensure customers get the mobile electronics experience they crave. Drop by the showroom or give them a call today (1-800-781-4096) to learn more about how they can help you enhance your vehicle with mobile electronics.

If you are looking for a shop that can handle everything from Lamborghinis and yachts to minivans and sedans, Precision Mobile Audio is the place for you. Ranked in the "Top 50 Retailers" by Mobile Electronics Magazine 06-07, we invite you to experience the Precision difference! www.precisionmobileaudio.com

Lewis Beynon, Licensed Real Estate Professional, Prime Property Solutions, LLC

FREE Home Search on my Web Site: www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY Homes - USA Flag History and Etiquette

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is an excellent source of information on the USA Flag History and Etiquette.  Their Web site provides a lot of information and can be found here.

In Clifton Park NY, VFW Post 1498 provides a drop off box for anyone who would like to properly dispose of a worn and tattered flag.  They are located at 1605A Route 9 in Clifton Park NY, across the street from The Grecian Garden Restaurant.

I had an old flag that had flown in front of my house for years.  Once it became  tattered I wasn't sure how to dispose of it.  Some people said to burn  it.  Not wanting anyone to misinterpret my actions, I kept it in my garage for about 7 years before I noticed the drop box on my way home from work one night.  So, if you know anyone looking to dispose of an old flag, be sure to tell them about this drop box.

Lewis Beynon, Prime Property Solutions, LLC, Phone 518-281-3951

FREE Home Search on my Web Site: www.LewisB.com

Clifton Park NY Homes - The Getaway Restaurant

Tom and Gail Alverson wanted to give students a fun place to hang out, watch sports, and go celebrate after games without being at a bar.  So, they opened The Getaway, located in Clifton Park NY.   The Getaway is a family restaurant with a sports theme. The difference is, all the jerseys and sports photos on the walls are from local youth teams.

Located at Clifton Park Center, the restaurant is inviting its customers to bring in trading card-style photos many youth sports leagues sell to their athletes. They trade them for a free drink and once they get enough of them, they're going to laminate them onto the tabletops so you might see your neighbors' kids. They want the kids to come in and see their stuff, not Eli Manning, Drew Brees, or Bret Favre. 

In most restaurants young people get antsy to go home the moment they are done eating.  Instead of being restless, ready to go home, they might drop some money in one of the video games. They love to sit at the bar and watch the game.  The "bar" sells sundaes not alcohol.  It is a long bench with a large screen TV overhead. The bar airs football games not available in most homes. The restaurant also boasts a jukebox, pinball machine (named The Getaway), and two video game machines equipped with Ms. Pac Man, Galaga and Frogger.

They sell burgers, chicken, hot dogs and other family friendly fare. Their unusual offerings include fried Oreo sundaes and fried pickles.

Stop in today and give them a try!!!

Lewis Beynon, Licensed Real Estate Agent, Prime Property Solutions, LLC.  FREE Home Search at: www.LewisB.com