Real Estate Information Archive

When looking to purchase a home, the first thing that a potential buyer will often see is the online photos. This means that it is crucial that these photos on your home’s listing are as compelling as they can be. Thankfully, the real estate professionals at Greater Boston Realty have you covered. We will take professional photos of your home that will have buyers hungry to come visit in person.

As you prepare to sell your home, you must practice looking at it with a buyer’s eyes. Be impartial and make realistic decisions about how you should improve your property so that it will be seen in the best possible light.

Often, the first photo on your listing will be the front of your home. These exterior photos will be the buyer’s first impression of your home, so make them count! This may mean power washing the driveway and sidewalk, or planting some seasonal flowers for an added touch of color.

For the photos taken inside your home, your potential buyers will need to be able to envision themselves living inside the home. For optimal appeal, you should hide any personal items, including family photos. The more your home looks like a model home, the better your reception will likely be.

Looking for a Boston Realtor to help you sell your home fast and for top dollar? Look no further than Greater Boston Realty. Our agents will optimize your home’s listing and can give you lots of tips for what you can do to make sure that your home is ready to sell. For more information, call our office at 617-469-4040.

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.

Moving can be a very stressful event when buying or selling a home. One of the first decisions you will have to make is whether you will spend the money to hire a professional moving service or rent a truck or van and take on the work yourself with a “DIY” move. Here are just a few of the points that you should consider for each:

Advantages to Moving Yourself:

The most advantageous part of executing a move yourself is the financial savings. Since you will be putting in the time to pack, load, transfer, unload, and unpack your belongings, you will save a lot of money by doing the work yourself. This is much more attainable for people with fewer belongings, lots of friends that are willing to help, and a short distance to move.

Advantages of Hiring Movers:

If you are willing to spend more and hire professional movers, you will gain the aid of experienced and insured movers that will take care of the manual labor involved in a move. In addition, if the movers pack your belongings, you will often be compensated for anything that is damaged during transport. Hiring movers is more expensive, but often significantly reduces the stress inherent in the moving process.

No matter which way you decide to get your belongings from Point A to Point B, you can rest assured that your home will be taken care of with the help of the real estate agents here at Greater Boston Realty. If you’re in the market for a premier real estate expert, call our office at 617-469-4040 now to schedule a free consultation.

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.

Spring has finally arrived here in Massachusetts, and that can only mean one thing: better weather is finally coming! As we prepare for it to be warmer and for the snow to melt, we also get ready for the real estate market to pick up. Many buyers have been putting off looking at homes during the winter, but they will soon begin to hunt for their dream home – could yours be ‘the one’ for them?

There are many reasons why Spring is the perfect time to have a home on the market. One is this: it is the time that most people start to look in order to purchase and be settled before fall – the start of a new school year. Families with children often want to move in the summer so that their kids’ school schedules aren’t disrupted like they would be in the middle of the year. This means that if you’re looking to sell a home with multiple bedrooms, you shouldn’t wait to list it!

Our experienced real estate professionals can help you with all of the preparations you will need to make in order to list your home as quickly as possible so that you can take advantage of the Spring selling season, like how to stage your home and what simple repairs you can make to ensure that your home is at its best.

If you want your home to be found by these springtime buyers that will soon begin to search for their new home, call Greater Boston Realty. We are a local Roslindale real estate agency, and we will help you list your home so that it’s seen by potential buyers. With this springtime lighting, it will be easy to make your home ‘pop’ in marketing photos! One quick call to 617-469-4040 is all it takes to start the process, so don’t delay.

Here at Greater Boston Realty, we give people advice on the best way to get their home ready to sell. We always recommend that a home look fresh and clean, and one of the best ways to make a good first impression on a potential buyer is with clean and stain-free carpets.

· Carpets should be vacuumed regularly to remove the everyday grit and grime that accumulates. To go above and beyond, use a carpet cleaning powder. These often help with set-in stains and eliminate odors.

· If something is spilled, take care to blot the stain to absorb the excess liquid. Don’t rub it in – this will only spread the problem and push it further into the carpet’s fibers. There are many household products that will help remove a stain if blotting alone doesn’t solve the problem. These include vinegar, club soda, and even shaving cream!

· Spot cleaning isn’t a long-term solution. Deep cleaning your carpets before you list your home on the market will ensure that it looks new when buyers come to tour. You have the option of purchasing your own carpet cleaner or hiring a local professional to do the job with their commercial grade equipment.

Want more advice on how to get your home ready for a showing? Read our blog post on being showing-ready and call our office at 617-469-4040 to learn more home staging tips. Our agents will help you sell your home for top dollar, so don’t hesitate – call Greater Boston Realty to tell us about your home!

As Bob Dylan would say, “The Times They Are a-Changing” With the emergence of technology, the way that we live has changed so much over the last several decades, and the same is true with the way that we sell houses.

If you’ve got a home for sale in Boston, make sure that you are appealing to the interest of buyers of all generations, including millennials (those aged anywhere from 18-35). There are several ways to be sure that your home attracts a younger crowd, including:

· An updated kitchen and bathroom

· An open floor plan

· A focus on walkability and transit options

· Flooring and countertops that are easy to maintain

· A home office or multifunctional space

· Outdoor patio or well-tended backyard, ready for a social gathering

· Access to amenities (like a gym and laundry facilities) whether in-home or nearby

· “Smart” things and other technology upgrades

· Energy efficient upgrades, with a solid home energy score

And while it doesn’t necessarily pertain to the house itself, another way to attract millennial buyers is to hire a real estate agent that can speak their language. Marketing materials for your home should include well-staged, high resolution pictures, as well as references to the items in the above list.

In addition, communication should be early and often for every buyer, especially those of younger generations who live life in the fast lane, and will often get frustrated if they feel ‘out of the loop.’ If you’re looking for a real estate agent with experience selling to buyers of all ages, call Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040.

Starting something new can be intimidating, and this goes double for buying your first home. Thankfully, houses are a great investment, and can provide a great foundation for a person or couple. If you’re thinking that it might be time to buy a home, here are the answer to frequently asked questions from first time home buyers:

Am I Ready for Home Ownership?

There isn’t one definitive signal that you’re ready, but if you’re in a place financially that you can handle a mortgage payment, and if the Greater Boston area is going to be your home for at least the near future, you should look into the benefits of owning your own place.

Why Should I Buy Instead of Renting?

The biggest reason that home ownership makes more sense than continuing to rent is that your monthly payments are put toward an investment. When you pay off your mortgage, you will own your home, instead of paying off a lease and having nothing to show for it.

Do I Need a Real Estate Agent?

Buying a home, especially your first home, is very hard to do on your own. As experienced real estate agents, the staff at Greater Boston Realty are trained to help you find the right home, and will also help you navigate the process of purchasing the home. We can introduce you to other Boston professionals, like lenders, appraisers, home insurance providers, and more.

Having a great real estate agent can take a lot of stress out of the first-time home buying process, so call Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040 today. We can help you hit the ground running in the search for your new home.

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First Time Home Buyers, Frequently Asked Questions, Home Buyer FAQ, Boston Real Estate Agent, Advice for Home Buyers, Roslindale homes for sale

Here at Greater Boston Realty, we work with a lot of first-time home buyers. If you’ve never purchased a home before, it’s an understandably scary process. After all, your home will likely be your biggest investment! Thankfully, many parts of the home-buying process that seem scary at first aren’t quite so bad. Here are a few of the biggest concerns that home buyers have, along with what you can do to lessen your fear:

Having a large mortgage payment: A mortgage payment may seem like a looming and ever-present obligation, but let’s face it – so is paying rent. The good news is that with a mortgage payment, you will eventually own your home and no longer owe!

Buying a home with structural issues: It’s nerve-wracking to think that you may buy something that’s less than perfect and not even know it. But that’s why you will hire a Massachusetts home inspection professional before you sign anything. A qualified inspector will alert you to any issues with the home so that you can make an informed decision.

Maintaining a home: When you rent, you can simply call someone if something breaks. When you own a home, repairs are up to you. This may seem like a big task at first, but often homeowners enjoy learning how to do simple DIY repairs. For bigger tasks, there are many reliable and knowledgeable handymen and tradesmen here in Boston that can help you.  Before you buy, make sure that you get a copy of any Homeowner’s Association requirements so that you can familiarize yourself with the upkeep required in your neighborhood, if applicable.

Still have concerns about whether now is the right time to buy a home in the Boston area?  Call 617-469-4040 to speak to a Greater Boston Realty professional. Our real estate agents can help you understand why owning a home may be the right path for you and your family.

Winter is a beautiful time of year here in the Boston area, but it can present some challenges, especially when you’re trying to sell a home. Thankfully, you’ve got Greater Boston Realty on your side! Here are just a few tips from our top-notch real estate agents about what you should do when you’re trying to sell your home in the winter season:

· Before potential buyers come for a showing, be sure that your driveway and sidewalks are free of snow and ice. After all, you don’t want someone’s first experience on your property being a slip and fall!

· Keep your entryway free of snowy or muddy tracks, and have a place for your guests to place their coats so that they are unencumbered as they tour your home.

· Your home should be a pleasant temperature – not too chilly, but also not too warm. Aim for an ambiance that’s just right. Add a touch of coziness to your home with a cozy throw in the living room, or a crackling fire if you have a fireplace.

· Embrace the holidays, but do so tastefully. Homes sell best when there’s not too many personal items, so keep holiday decorations tasteful and generic for the best effect. Also make sure not to overdo it – no one likes to walk through a cluttered home.

· It’s always nice to offer your visitors a refreshment. Consider going above and beyond with a seasonal snack or beverage, like apple cider or a plate of holiday cookies.

If you’re interested in selling your home, just call 617-469-4040. One of the friendly and knowledgeable Realtors here at Greater Boston Realty will be happy to meet with you, and give you tips on how to sell your home for top dollar!