The Daniel Lummus House circa 1730

Trying to get enough factual information to put together a one-page presentation sheet on this property before marketing it...

The National Register of First and Second Period Historic Ipswich Homes cites the Daniel Lummus House as: "2-story, end-gable house, wood frame with clapboards, central chimney. 5 bay symmetrical facade, parallel, gable-roffed facade on east. NR Pg. 57 & 80

In a time when our country was first establishing its independence, Danniel Lummus and his family came over from England on the "Hannah" in the early 1700's. The reference book Ipswich, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony is peppered with several entries regarding Mr. Lummus although nothing terribly relevant to my search. It appears he was a cabinet maker and as one of the first to colonize in Ipswich held his place of employment on High Street at the current location 39-41 High Street, which was then 41 High Street. There is no mention of a fire in these books which was a bit frustrating...I was hoping to get the skinny on why there is a first period wall on the second floor.

Still waiting to meet with the Historical Society to obtain additional information...

Meanwhile, I have strongly recommended to the owner to contract someone to haul out all the debris and remnants of the previous tenant in the 41 side of the residence...this person lived there for about 50 years...

alright...I just went onto salemdeeds.com and check this out:

A certain parcel of land with the Southeasterly part of a dwelling house thereon situate on the Northeasterly side of High Street in said Ipswich and bounded and described as follows, to wit:- Beginning at the Southerly corner thereof on said High Street by land now or formerly of Chester 3. Patch; thence running Northeasterly by said Patch land 144 feet more or less to a corner; thence running Southeasterly by said Patch land 43 feet more or less to a corner; thence running Northeasterly by said Patch land 57 feet to land now or formerly of the Inhabitants of Ipswich; thence running Northwesterly by said Inhabitants of Ipswich land 77 feet 3 inches more or less to a stone; thence running Southwesterly to the back part of said house and through said house, through the center of the chimney and in a straight line through the front hallway and front door to said High Street; and thence running Southeasterly by said High Street 39 feet 6 inches to said Patch land and the point of beginning.Together with the right to use in common with the owners of the Northwesterly part of said house, and their heirs and assigns, the chimney, the front hall and the cellar; also a right of way particularly defined and set forth in mortgage of Charles V. Hills et ux to Ipswich Cooperative Bank dated July 11, 1929, and recorded with Essex South District Registry of Deeds, Book 2813, Page 47.But this conveyance is made, however, subject to the right of the owners of theNorthwesterly half of said house, and their heirs and assigns, to use the rooms on theSoutheasterly side of the boundary line dividing said house as particularly defined and setforth in said mortgage.Subject to encumbrances of record.For my title, see deed from Margarette R. Hills, a/k/a Margaret R. Hills, to Henry F. Hills and Robert D. Hills, dated December 12, 1951, recorded in Essex South Registry of Deeds, Salem, at Book 3865, Page 498.

Okay...this means there was a family feud somewhere down the line and that there are essentially 2 single family homes in one dwelling. This potentially could be great news for developer/owner to convert back to a single family dwelling OR have an accessory apartment on the premises.

Next, need to research the Margaret Hills deed. More tomorrow...

First and Second Period Homes in Ipswich

I am excited about a new listing I picked up because it is one of the oldest homes in Ipswich. The Daniel Lummus House is on High Street and is situated on 2 lots with a single family and an outbuilding that may have been a barn at one time. I had a local architect who is a member of the historical society come to review some of the period details in the house, since some of the walls had been covered over time with plaster. We found some exciting details behind the plaster on the second floor. There appears to be not only 2nd period walls but 1st period walls as well. This meant more research. At the town library I went to the "Bible of First and Second Period Homes" The Massachusetts Bay Colony. I'm reviewing this information now and it potentially could lead me to another house down the street where parts of the John Lummus House (first period) may have been moved to the Daniel Lummus house. This seems to occur frequently on the High Street row due to many fires during that time. The place has been unkept and not cared for for many years...it will be someone special who loves to restore antiques that will take this beauty under their wing.

More later...

Lisa-Marie Cashman-LeGere, REALTOR
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Ipswich, Massachusetts

Does staging matter?

When working with sellers in the initial stages, I often inform them that the first impression when a buyer walks into their home is one of the most important telling features. If the property is unkept and lacking a certain flow where someone is able to envision themselves in the home or even the environment outside the home, then you may have lost a possible sale.

Things to remember when getting ready to put your house on the market:

1. Clean the house of clutter.
2. Take stock of your staging inventory. Note what furniture needs to be rearranged or moved in order to create a sense of flow and openess. If you don't have an eye for it, hire someone who does. The little bit you spend up-front will go a long way at the closing table. You'll get top dollar.
3. Take note of those little fix-it projects you've been meaning to do and get it done prior to going on market. When the home inspection time comes, you'll have less negotiating coming from the buyer which means more money in your pocket at the closing.

Ipswich Still Holds Intrigue

With all the current pundits fortelling the coming of the housing bubble, it is interesting to note that in Ipswich alone sales are holding strong. According to the recent statistics from the MLS "Total Sold Market Statistics" report (Multiple Listing Service), single family homes and condominiums combined in Ipswich are still fetching a 96 % average Sale Price: Listing Price Ratio. The lowest price is $225,000; highest price is $1.26 million; median price is $549,000; and the average price is $581,844. The total market volume from April-October 2005 is $38,401,750.