Westford? What to look for in a house? (Boston, Lowell: ski resort, real estate)

[wb9pru]

My wife got a nice raise and promotion, but we reluctantly have to leave our home of 25-years in California.

Some things that are going to be new to us...

Snow - It happens here about once every twenty years.
Flat terrain - We see mountains in most directions. The tallest peak in Massachusetts wouldn't even be a speed bump here.
Seasons - There are two in California: Hot and Wet.
Summer rain - From May to November it's bone dry. I won't miss the annual grass fire season.
You can tell when it's winter in California - it's raining.
Septic Tanks - Is that kind of like a pool? A hole in the ground into which you flush money?


But, I ramble....

I will be the mythical stay-at-home dad while my wife commutes to Bedford for her new position. (I am a videographer and work from home.) We have a teenage daughter in High School and she is not thrilled to be leaving her friends at her current school. Her passion is theater. I spent a week there last November to look at high schools (our logic was to pick a school then we'll look for a house) and I narrowed it down to Westford Academy and Franklin-Acton. My daughter and wife came toward the end of that week's visit and my daughter liked the people at Westford a lot. (She felt that the kids at Franklin were rude and cold).

So, there we have it... Westford is where we will likely live for the next few years.

[Do you have a question, you ask?]

Oh, the reason I am on this forum....

Have we made a wise decision or does anyone know something that we should know about Westford before buying a house?

Speaking of buying a house - thanks but we already have a realtor in Westford that we like.

I've noticed that the older homes have radiant heating and the newer homes (where "new" means built after the discovery of microwave ovens) tend to have "forced air". Which is better and why?

Leach fields - No, I told my daughter, you don't grow leeches in a leach field. What can I do over the leach field? Is it better for it to be in the front or rear of the house?

Screened porches - It looks like most homes have one. We have been told that "you will hate the bugs there". Usually from someone who never lived in New England. Just *what* bugs are we being warned of? I've lived in Texas where the mosquitos would pick you up and take you to their nest for feeding, and in California, the worst problem we have are those tiny "grease" ants that seem to be everywhere.

Speaking of bugs - What household pest is the one most likely to bug us? Here it's a contest between the ants and spiders. We get a rush of ants whenever it rains and another when it's hot and dry. Wait a minute, that's our two seasons - no wonder that we always have ants. Actually they are two different species. The winter ants are smaller and less aggressive than the summer ants. The summer ants are easier to find and discourage because when they trail, they form a 12-lane superhighway. (Anyone know where I can get some "ant chalk"? That stuff really works. Draw a line across their trail and in a few minutes you need the vacuum cleaner to pick up all the dead ants.)

Anyway, I would enjoy chatting with anyone online who lives in Westford.

Thanks

Steve in California
66-degrees and intermittent rain.....

[graymall]

Hi Steve from CA!

I enjoyed your post immensely and question if perhaps "writing" may be another "work from home" option for you!

I am no expert on houses, and although I live in MA, I am not real familiar with Westford, and can only comment on houses in my area!

My son who is going to school for HVAC is all for radiant heating, all though I haven't a clue why, I just hear him constantly say..."mom, you should really switch to radiant heating"...but my budget and I just ignore him, and throw more wood into the wood stove, while making certain my forced hot water furnace is turned way down low!

I love New England and although I complain about winter, I think I would miss it, because without winter, Spring would not seem so nice! And, I have never thought of this area as "Flat Terrain", but if you do, and you desire more mountainess terrain, Vermont and Up-state NY are not so far you couldn't drive there for the weekend! But, I assure you, it isn't flat terrain around here...NH, too!

I know from my property tax bill that square footage going up is a lot cheaper than spread out on one level, because they tax you based on what's actually sitting on the property...this, of course, I found out after building a 1-story ranch!

Leach fields are best kept down hill from your house...NOT at the same level, as is mine! <see ant problems from moist cellar> Just keep in mind, when you flush, and it stays at the same level...it WILL find somewhere to disperse...even if it has to come right back at 'cha!

Screened porches are nice, as long as you and your children "weren't brought up in a barn" and leave the door wide open, and the bug that I find most annoying is small enough to get through most screens! I am uncertain of its technical name, but I refer to them as no-see-'ems. Another pest is the carpenter ant, which are very abundant in moist areas, and can do a lot of damage to your home! Make sure you home to be is nice and dry. No moisture in the cellar! Mosquitos are bad, but depending on the weather, are a little more bearable. They don't like the heat of the day as much as the early a.m. and the evening. Wind cuts them down, and if it is a dry summer? They aren't nearly as bad then, either! Spiders are abundant in this area...but they tend to trap and kill other pests, so I don't mind keeping them around!

Well, I hope this will help...Good luck in your search!

Sandy

[smarty]

Flat terrain - We see mountains in most directions. The tallest peak in Massachusetts wouldn't even be a speed bump here.

Yes. It is flat until there is ICE. Then, you'll find out how much inconvenience small incline can cause.

Septic Tanks - Is that kind of like a pool? A hole in the ground into which you flush money?

Leach fields - No, I told my daughter, you don't grow leeches in a leach field. What can I do over the leach field? Is it better for it to be in the front or rear of the house?

Septic tank and Leach field is your waste treatment plant on your property. Septic tank holds your solid waste for a year or two. Then a pumper truck take them out. The leach field use rock/dirt to clean and move the dirty water back into the ground. Hence you want it to be away from your well, lake or underwater supply. It is there since the town do not offer sewer. However, It may still be cheaper than town sewer.

I've noticed that the older homes have radiant heating and the newer homes (where "new" means built after the discovery of microwave ovens) tend to have "forced air". Which is better and why?

Force hot air warms the house faster. However, it dries the air and has more dust flying around since you need to circulate air in the house to keep the house warm. Radiant heat warms the house longer since it heats the water. The water is then circulate to the radiator to warm the house.

Screened porches - It looks like most homes have one. We have been told that "you will hate the bugs there". Usually from someone who never lived in New England. Just *what* bugs are we being warned of? I've lived in Texas where the mosquitos would pick you up and take you to their nest for feeding, and in California, the worst problem we have are those tiny "grease" ants that seem to be everywhere.

There are enough mosquitoes to keep you inside. There are only 3 months of summer. This is one way to extend your summer day so you can feel the fresh warm air without being eaten alive.

[skytrekker]

Western Mass has more in the way of 'mountains' then the Boston area- nonetheless New England is not flat like Indiana and the Midwest- the country side is hilly and rolling, offering a very pleasant environment that is varied and charming to the eye in all seasons. Southern New England looks like England- but the relief is higher in elevation.

Mount Greylock in Western Mass, near North Adams is the highest peak in Mass at around 3400 feet or so- Vermont and New Hampshire have 'Mountains' as does Maine.

As for septic tanks - most towns of any size in greater Boston have public sewers- I would not worry too much about this unless you buy property in a remote rural area or tiny bedroom community without access to local sewer and water lines.

Bugs? Well they can be a nuisance- especially if the summer is wet. Mosquitoes are not only pests, but can carry disease- so its best to limit outdoor activity from Dusk to dawn, unless in a 'screened porch' or some other protective shelter.

Carpenter ants are another problem- they can be very destructive; make sure you have your house sprayed in the spring and autumn. Also beware of ticks in the woods or higher grasses(Lyme disease) Other denizen are Raccoons and especially skunks (they are spunky and smell! and profuse in population) An occasional moose may wonder down from northern New England sometimes- An encounter with your car can very horrible.Venomous snakes? In southern New England only; Eastern Timber rattlers and Copperheads- both not very common however. Foxes and bears are common in rural areas- but can be seen in suburban areas as well- and believe it or not Coyotes are very common and have been seen on Cape Cod! Wild Turkeys are profuse again in New England- and can stop traffic on suburban and country roads, being both amusing and a nuisance, with their awkward behavior and chirping.

No the weather is not California- and the current cold spell is becoming a bit long in tooth- at least we have had very little snow- under 4"; And spring is not far off. Summers can be very pleasant here- however there can be periods of unpleasant heat and humidity. It is advisable here now to have central air. Springs are wonderful, and the Autumns totally beautiful . Be prepared for 'unpleasant weather' possibilities here from about Mid December to mid to late March. Temps can remain in the mid to upper 60s into Mid November here- and remain in the upper 40s and 50s till Mid December. By late March the climbing sun begins to warm the air and soil- with temps in the low 50s on average.

This year we had no winter till almost late January- so I have no complaints- it was 71 degrees one day here last month.

[jay dee]

Hi, I enjoyed reading your post too, several correlations with our situation. My husband and I moved to the 'Metro-West' area of Boston (Marlborough) at the beginning of this yr from San Francisco Bay Area due to my promo and husbands subsequent transfer, but no kids yet :-) Smarty and others were kind enough to offer some advice (and antidotes) to me late last yr when I posted some questions in the Marlborough forum.

We've been told this is one of the mildest winters on record and I'm glad for it. My 'vintage' car doesn't heat up at all for the 15 min. drive into work from one end of town to the other but the roads are kept clear and sanded (not salt) so I haven't needed anything extreme like snow tires yet. But, I have quickly transformed from Ann Taylor attire into Crazy Cat Lady-with several layers of clothes, a fur hat (when it's a wind-chill kind of day), and big clumpy boots.

After 6 weeks of settling into our jobs and getting a firm grip on our ice scrapers, we're now looking for more permanent digs with great school potential around the 495 corridor. Since my husbands job is in Chelmsford and mine in Marlborough, we are currently looking at homes in the Westford area too.

Funny story about a great home in Westford we found a couple of weeks back(mid 350's to low 400's)-Beautiful on the inside, '4 season porch', etc. but when we stepped outside we discovered a shooting range was nearby. Imagine your own New England experience-opening a window could be your own personal reenactment of the Revolutionary War :-)

Coming from the CA market (where are you from if you don't mind me asking), you must be experiencing the reverse sticker-shock syndrome too. Locals here complain about the high prices of homes and we're trying not to jump for joy at the min. 1/3 acre lots that come with most houses. They are very receptive when I mention we're looking to buy a home here, so much for the New England cold shoulder I heard so much about-everyone's been very welcoming so far :-) (sarc.)

Other things to look out for in rural towns is garbage pick up. From what I've seen allot of small towns out here do not include garbage pick up and you need to hire a contractor or get a permit to go and dump it yourself. Septic tanks are common, I have been told they need to be dug up and replaced every 30 or so years, I've never heard of a leach field before. Is this the top soil/ground cover over the septic tank?

We also noticed the higher property tax in Westford compared to neighboring communities, we thought it had something to do with the Academy being supported by the property tax base, but noted on the 'house sitting on the actual property', which explains why the ranch style home isn't very popular here.

Our real estate agent mentioned forced air heating is much easier to update to central air if the houses you are looking at don't come with it. Something to do with the duct work already being in place. We’re definitely getting Central A/C, the humidity w/heat thing is really going to effect us I think this year.

Please keep in touch wb9pru would love to hear how my fellow Californian's are finding Westford!

[puffle]

My family and I are from California and lived in Lexington, Ma. a few years ago. We moved back to Ca. due to homesickness. What a mistake! Oddly enough, we were hoping to move back to Ma. and Westford was one of my top choices due to Westford Academy, being near water, a ski resort, good size homes on large lots and less snottiness than surrounding areas. Our other choice was Acton.
Beware of ticks in wooded areas which of course Westford is. Found one of these creatures buried in my sons back the first week in Ma. and rushed to emergency to dig it out! If you have dogs, remember to check them head to toe daily and you will need additional shots that you do not need here in Ca. as well as heartworm pills.
When we came back for a visit to Ca., people thought we had chicken pox because our legs had red bumps all over them. Nope, just mosquito bites. Invest in lots of repellant, all year long.
I believe you can catch a commuter train to Boston from Lowell instead of driving into town which is pretty close to Westford. Parking is wicked in Boston.
Other than the irritating little things, we loved living there and wish we could have made the move back this summer but our 13 year old turned into the devil as soon as we mentioned the move, so we decided to stay for our sanity and leave when he goes to college, hopefully. Good luck. Oh, there is a Westford forum on line you can look into for neighborhood questions.

[wb9pru]

Originally Posted by smarty

Yes. It is flat until there is ICE. Then, you'll find out how much inconvenience small incline can cause.

Whoah - one of the homes that we're looking at has a ten-foot rise at the end of the driveway - how do people handle that? Lots of salt in the morning?

[wb9pru]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Western Mass has more in the way of 'mountains' then the Boston area- nonetheless New England is not flat like Indiana and the Midwest- the country side is hilly and rolling, offering a very pleasant environment that is varied and charming to the eye in all seasons. Southern New England looks like England- but the relief is higher in elevation.

I remember driving through Indiana - You get up to speed, put the car in neutral then coast all the way across the state.

We are looking forward to the springtime and fall driving excursions all over the Northeast. We look at this move as an opportunity to see parts of the country that we may not otherwise have the chance to visit.

[wb9pru]

Originally Posted by jay dee

Funny story about a great home in Westford we found a couple of weeks back(mid 350's to low 400's)-Beautiful on the inside, '4 season porch', etc. but when we stepped outside we discovered a shooting range was nearby. Imagine your own New England experience-opening a window could be your own personal reenactment of the Revolutionary War :-)

Our real estate agent mentioned forced air heating is much easier to update to central air if the houses you are looking at don't come with it. Something to do with the duct work already being in place. We’re definitely getting Central A/C, the humidity w/heat thing is really going to effect us I think this year.

Please keep in touch wb9pru would love to hear how my fellow Californian's are finding Westford!

We may have seen that same home. Our dog is the world's biggest coward and would spend the rest of her life under the bed in a permanent panic attack if she were to hear gunfire all the time. When she sees me getting the air-nailer to put up some trim, she hides under the toilet. If she could open the lid she would hide inside the toilet.

I am familiar with most heating and cooling systems. We've always had forced air heat and central A/C. Yes, adding central A/C to an existing forced air furnace is in some ways easier than adding a window A/C. The advantage of radiant heat is that it works even when the power is out. The disadvantage is the radiators in every room - making it impossible to put furniture against the wall.

Anyway, I will try to stay in touch. My wife has to report to her new position in April, but I am staying here (San Jose) until my daughter finishes her sophomore year at school.

[wb9pru]

Originally Posted by puffle

When we came back for a visit to Ca., people thought we had chicken pox because our legs had red bumps all over them. Nope, just mosquito bites. Invest in lots of repellant, all year long.

I grew up in Texas (Houston) where the mosquitos would carry children and small pets back to their nest for snacks.

Personally, I seem to be naturally repulsive (to mosquitos, children and small pets), so the little critters are only a noisy pest. But, one of the advantages to being an old fart - I can't hear them any more.... My wife and daughter, however, missed out on that gene and they attract mosquitos like bees to a picnic.