The venue for some of the finest Irish music anywhere

Greg and Terri Heppe proprietors of the Tuftonboro General Store and devoted to bringing traditional Irish musicians and music to the Old White Church across from their store have done it again!

On Sunday, April 1st at 4:30 two performers from Cherish the Ladies, Grainne Murphy and Kathleen Boyle bring their traditional Irish sound to Tuftonboro and into this beautiful circa 1839 church.

From Cherish the Ladies, Grainne Murphy plays tradional Irish fiddle. Click on and listen!

Ms. Murphy, a Boston native, plays fiddle with the flare and flash of the best of the traditional Irish fiddlers. Ms. Boyle hails from Glasgow and plays both piano and piano accordion with sensitivity and energy.

Kathleen Boyle plays beautiful traditional Irish music. Click here to listen.

They pair up to bring you music that will touch the soul, move the spirit and leave you feeling that all is well this day in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire. They will be playing music from their recent solo albums, and CD’s should be available to purchase.

Tickets are $18 and the doors open at 4:00. For more information contact Greg and Terri at 603.569.9859 or email hepx216@yahoo.com

You’ve finally found that special property after months of searching. Both you and the seller have agreed on a price with the help of your Realtor. Your lending institution has pre-approved loaning you the funds if the appraisal of the property comes in at or above the agreed upon selling price. You are psyched big time!

But wait! Is there anything more that you can do, should do, or must do to ensure that you’ve made a good investment? The answer is absolutely yes!

Having Professionals Inspect Your Furture Home Can Save You Money!

Having a certified building inspector and septic system professional come to the property within a couple of weeks of a signed contract by the buyer and the seller is the best investment in money and peace of mind that you will make prior to closing on a property.

What are the inspections that you should definitely have done? On the New Hampshire Association of Realtors Purchase and Sale Agreement Standard Form there are 8 suggested areas listed in which a buyer, at his or her expense, have the right to have performed within a reasonable amount of time. I will touch on the first 3 in this blog. They are;

1. General Building Inspection – depending upon the size of the building, garage and number of out buildings this can cost anywhere from $300 to upwards of $500. For most properties the cost is $350 and takes approximately 2 hours. The inspector checks absolutely everything in and around the outside of the house, looking for any signs of wood issues, appliance issues, electrical, plumbing, roof, foundation, and generally all possible safety issues.
2. Sewage Disposal – If you have a septic system on the property it is wise to have it checked by a professional. Typically the holding tank is pumped and then the inspector will inspect In this the baffles, run water from the house to see that everything is flowing smoothly. The cost can vary but typically it is $250 to pump the system, if it hasn’t been done recently, and another $100 – $125 for the written inspection.
3. Water Quality – It is always a good idea to have the water tested, especially if it is well water,  as there could be contaminants that are of health concerns. Some of the contaminates, such as bacteria, radon, iron, lead and arsenic occur naturally. Others such as pesticides, chemicals, road salt,  improper waste disposal and other contaminants can find their way into the soil and water supply due to improper handling. The State of New Hampshire has a list of certified labs, visit des.nh.gov. Also check out Water Quality Testing for Private Wells in New Hampshire. The standard cost for your water to be tested is $85-$130. To have the water tested for radon , the cost is $80. More on Radon Water Quality in the next blog. See this link for further information on the associated costs and what they test for at each level.

Knowledge is Power with a Home Inspection Prior to Buying

In the next blog on “What’s the Best Investment You’ll Make Prior to Closing a Home?” I’ll be continuing the inspection checklist on the New Hampshire Association of REALTORS Purchase and Sales Agreement form. This will include Radon Air Quality, Radon Water Quality, Lead Paint, Pests and Hazardous Waste.

Please contact us for more information on any of these topics. You can also click here for a list of certified building inspectors.

Having had the privilege to serve on the Great Waters Music Festival program committee, I can now say with great pride that this wonderful group of people have put together an exciting package of musical concerts coming to the Wolfeboro area starting on July 6th.

Back by popular demand is Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway on July 6th.

July 6th at Great Waters Music Festival 101 Years of Broadway with Neil Berg

If you saw Neil Berg during last season’s concert series you will know what I’m talking about. The biggest moments of 101 Years of Broadway will be brought to the New Kingwood Regional High School auditorium, and will feature shows like Fiddler on the Roof, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and so many more.

On July 13th, Great Waters Music Festival presents a free community concert, but you must get a ticket as there is limited seating, to the United States Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band. Once again Great Waters hosts one of our country’s finest armed forces ensembles in an evening of wonderful music.

The Great Waters Music Festival Chorus and Orchestra perform on August 4th. This concert will be directed by Christopher Shepard and will feature a professional orchestra supporting a chorus of exquisite voices. If you love choral music than you will not want to miss this musical event.

Andy Cooney comes to Great Waters Music Festival on August 10th.

August 10th features an evening with Andy Cooney, “Irish America’s Favorite Son”. With success throughout the country but more recently with a sold-out performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Andy Cooney will entertain and sing his way into your hearts whether you’re Irish or not.

The Masters of Motown bring their celebration of the Motor City to our town on August 17th. Both male and female groups backed by a live band will recreate the sounds of the groups we all remember fondly; The Supremes, Four Tops, Temptations and so many more. This is a show not to be missed.

Masters of Motown at Great Waters Music Festival on August 17th

Manhattan Transfer at Great Waters Music Festival on August 24th.

We end our concert season in the most exciting way with The Manhattan Transfer on August 24th. This Grammy Award winning group came to Wolfeboro and Great Waters six years ago and the concert was sold out. They will be backed by a fantastic band and will cover the musical genres of pop, jazz, Broadway and so much more.

Lastly it is such a treat to live in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, especially in the summer months, when dedicated individuals such as those of the Great Waters Music Festival work hard to bring quality music to share with those who love coming here and living here. If you would like more information on tickets, click HERE.

If you would like more information on the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, click HERE to contact Steve or Carol Bush at Maxfield Real Estate.