Real Estate Information Archive

Selling your home for top dollar is our mission here at Greater Boston Realty. We want to make sure that you get the selling price that you deserve for your Boston area home! One of the best ways to ensure that this happens (and that the sale also happens quickly) is to make a few upgrades to entice potential buyers.

Thankfully, the Boston real estate professionals at Greater Boston Realty can help advise you on what improvements should be made to your home prior to listing it in order to make it appeal to make it more ‘turnkey.’ Often, we recommend the following:

First and foremost, you should focus on fixing anything that has broken or worn down in your home. Fix any leaky faucets, replace worn cabinet hardware, etc.

Want a big bang for your buck? Look into a fresh coat of paint. Often, we recommend neutral colors since they have mass appeal to buyers. It’s also something that you can do as much of or as little of as you like – paint the whole house or just the one or two rooms that will make the most impact.

New buyers will do a double-take if they see that your home has new carpeting. Is there anything that a buyer likes more than a new fluffy carpet? Again, choose something neutral that will appeal to all buyers.

It’s important to remember, however, that every home is different. To find out what types of improvements we would recommend in order to help your home sell fast and for top dollar, call Greater Boston Realty today at 617-469-4040 and set up an appointment with one of our knowledgeable Realtors.

Before you start touring houses to find your perfect Boston area home, you need to know what you’re looking for. That’s why it’s important to gather anyone involved in the decision and determine the answers to these three questions. Once you have these basic guidelines in mind, it will be easier for your real estate agent to show you homes that suit your unique needs.

What type of home do you want? – Homes in the greater Boston area come in many styles, and your Realtor will need to know if you want a single-family home, townhouse, condo, etc.

What features are “must-have” in your home? – You probably have an idea of what you want but making a physical list can be a huge help for the home search process. Include the categories “must-have” “highly desirable” and “would like” as well as “cannot have.”

How much can you afford to spend? – You’ve likely been pre-approved for a mortgage, but the number that you’re willing to spend may be different. Consider how much you have for a down payment, what you want your monthly mortgage payment to be, as well as how much you will be paying for home insurance and home maintenance. Use these numbers to help determine your price range for your next home and let your real estate agent know your limits.

When you’re ready to talk to a Realtor about starting your home search, just call Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040. We can help you narrow your search and find the perfect Roslindale, West Roxbury, or Jamaica Plain home for you and your loved ones.

When you’re selling a Boston home, you know that there are a few tasks you should complete before your real estate agent brings in a potential buyer for a showing. You should always make sure that your home is tidy, that there is no trash visible, that evidence of pets are hidden, that the place smells nice, and you may choose to leave out water bottles or a small candy dish for your visitors.

The last thing you do before you head out the door should be to bring as much light into your home as possible. Turn on all the overhead lights and light fixtures, and open the curtains and blinds. This is done to increase the natural and artificial light and to make the house feel light and airy, as well as spacious.

If you turn on all the lights in your home (yes, end tables and floor lamps too!) and it still needs a little more light, consider increasing the wattage of a few of the bulbs in your fixtures. This will improve the lighting quality without the need to buy a new lamp. Another way to make a room feel brighter is to change the paint color. You don’t want walls to be stark white, but a light neutral color can make a room feel more open to a potential buyer.

For more tips on how to get your home ready for a showing, call Greater Boston Realty. One quick call to 617-347-5589 and we will schedule a consultation to show you how to get the highest price for your home.

If you’ve ever taken a look at the Greater Boston Realty website’s homepage, you may have noticed that we have the Walk Score listed for three of our most popular neighborhoods: Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and West Roxbury. These numbers may seem arbitrary at first, but learning how to use them can improve the quality of your Boston home search.

This Walk Score gives a numerical value to the walk ability of a neighborhood. When assigned a number on a scale of 0-100, you can easily see if you will need a car for all errands, or if you don’t need to rely on a car to accomplish your regular shopping trips. For example, Roslindale has a Walk Score of 88, meaning that it is “Very Walkable” and that most errands can be accomplished on foot.

In addition to giving a Walk Score, you can also see a Transit Score and a Bike Score. The Bike Score incorporates whether the area is flat or hilly, as well as the availability of bike lanes and trails. Jamaica Plain has a Bike Score of 91! Transit Scores evaluate public transit based on types of transit lines available, as well as their distance from the neighborhood or address in question.

To learn more about finding a home in a neighborhood that you can walk or bike, or that is close to public transit, just call the real estate experts at Greater Boston Realty – 617-469-4040. We can show you options that will suit your needs when it comes to Walk, Bike, and Transit Scores, and much more!

When you purchase a new home in Boston, you may get the urge to spruce it up and make it your own. If you’re looking for a few easy and inexpensive DIY renovation projects, here are some suggestions from the Massachusetts real estate experts here at Greater Boston Realty:

You can’t have a second chance at a first impression. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your front entryway is making the right statement. Spruce up the paint on your mailbox, add a plant or a wreath to your doorway, and make sure that your walkway is smooth and level.

Another simple DIY project is installing crown molding and baseboards in your home.  With relatively little effort, you can make a huge impact on your new home. While you’re at it, it only takes a screwdriver to install new kitchen and bath hardware – the hardest part of that project is picking out new knobs!

There is one thing that every homeowner wishes for: more storage. Take matters into your own hands by installing organizers in your kitchen, bathrooms, closets, garage, and more! A little bit of elbow grease can help you and your family stay organized for years to come!

If you are looking for a new home in the Boston area, contact Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040. We can help you find the home that fits your needs in West Roxbury, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, and beyond! And make sure to Like us on Facebook and share DIY projects that have added a little bit of pizzazz to your home.

When you’re selling your home, keeping it showing-ready can be a challenge. After all, it’s impossible to keep a home picked-up and neat looking 24/7 (especially if there are children in the house). If you get called for a last-minute showing, don’t turn it down just because your home is a little disheveled. In-stead, use the time that you have before the potential buyers show up to do some quick decluttering. Here are a few tips:
If your time is severely limited, start out wherever your efforts will make the most impact. That could be in the kitchen, or maybe in the living room or a child’s room. Wherever your place is, that’s where you should go first.
Have a little more time? Use the “Front Door Forward” method. Start with your entryway, and declutter clockwise around your home. This technique will make sure that you don’t waste any time running back and forth across your home while you get ready for a showing.
Also, before your potential buyers show up, remember that the smell of your home is very important. Not everyone has time to bake a fresh batch of cookies. Instead, take out the trash, hide any pet food or litter boxes, and spray a light and pleasant air freshener – these small steps can make a huge difference when you’re looking to make a good impression on guests.
For more tips on home selling from the Boston real estate experts, just call Greater Boston Realty at 617-347-5589.   We’ve sold homes all over the area, including Roslindale, West Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain, and we would love to help you find the right buyers for your property.