Posts from April 17th, 2020

Realtors discuss impact of COVID-19 pandemic

The Cabinet Press – April 17, 2020

As stay-at-home orders remain in effect, the question for real estate brokers is will people stay in their homes or sell while there are few offerings on the market?

Marc Drapeau, president of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors moderated a panel discussion and press conference recently with several members of the New Hampshire realty community to discuss trends amid the pandemic.

Chris Masiello, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and the Masiello Group, with 34 offices in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, said in general, people are

optimistic.

"There are people who are for sure waiting, putting their decisions off," he said. "There certainly is a sense of wanting to get back to whatever normal looks like at the other end of this. We're just very focused on helping our agents and our customers work their way th...

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Badger Realty's Leavitt urges businesses to keep their lights on to raise spirits

NH Business Review Staff - March 25, 2020 

As businesses throughout New England struggle to find ways to cope and help others as the economic issues created by the coronavirus pandemic continue to move up the curve, Brenda Leavitt of Badger Realty in North Conway had a simple idea that's catching on in other communities.

"Let there be light to offer hope," she suggested to the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.

From that suggestion, a movement is now underway for Mt. Washington Valley businesses to join other communities in encouraging businesses to leave their lights on at night to continuing offering hope to all.
Leavitt explained her revelation through a story about the late Dick Badger, owner and founder of Badger Realty.

"Our former leader, Dick Badger, deserves the credit for this idea. When we opened Badger Realty in Jackson many years ago, Dick would stop in after the office was closed and turn the lights on in the lobby. He always said, "We will leave the lights on for you!," she said. "There is nothing more concerning to me than darkness. Since our office is closed to the public traffic at present, I did not want the office to be dark. This is our way of lighting the way to hope."

As a result, wrote Janice Crawford, executive director of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce, in a letter to members, "We are suggesting that you keep your front door light and/or storefront lights on throughout the night to offer optimism and raise spirits.

In addition, she suggested "changing your light bulb to green is one more additional step you could make to add to the feeling. Green is the color of hope. If you still have your Christmas lights in your windows, consider changing the bulb to green and keeping them on."

Twinkling white lights in trees and hedges or around roof lines have also been encouraged to stay on or added – a phenomenon that's happening in communities around the country.

Already in North Conway Village, Badger Realty, Toy Chest, Spruce Hurricane and a growing number of additional businesses are leaving outside lights on all night to send a message of optimism to residents of Mt. Washington Valley and visitors.

Photo Credit Aerial  - Dan Houde

Photo Credit Storefronts - Debbie Anderson