Real Estate Information Archive

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.

When you’re buying a home, there is one question that you will probably ask quite a few times: “Is that included?” Seeing a home that is well furnished is always a treat, but it is important that you know exactly what is included with the sale. Your real estate agent will often know the answer, but it’s always worth asking, especially on certain items, like these:

Appliances: The refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher may be included in the sale, or they may be taken by the homeowner upon sale of the property.

Window Treatments: Sometimes owners will want to keep custom drapes and shutters, other times they will be a part of the sale. Make sure that you know one way or the other so that you can plan your décor budget accordingly.

Light Fixtures: Often these are considered a part of the home and are included with the sale, but your real estate agent will tell you if the homeowners insist on keeping any of the light fixtures. This most often occurs with chandeliers.

Mounted Televisions: Although they are attached to the wall, it is often up in the air whether mounted televisions are considered a fixture. Ask your Realtor whether the homeowner will be leaving the television, leaving just the mounting hardware, or neither.

Each home will be different when it comes to what’s included with the sale. That’s why it’s so important to get a top-notch real estate agent. If you would like to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable Realtors here at Greater Boston Realty, just call 617-469-4040.

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.

People looking to sell their homes often ask what small changes they can make to increase their property value. There are many ways to do so, including old standards like adding a fresh coat of paint and improving the front-facing landscaping. Another great way to increase your home’s value may surprise you – add some elements of home automation.
It seems that everything is getting “smarter” these days, and homes are no exception. Everything has wi-fi, including thermostats, light bulbs, garage doors - even refrigerators! Nowadays, home buyers are more tech-savvy, and they’re looking for homes that are connected to the Internet of Things. If you’re looking to make some upgrades to your home prior to listing it, consider adding a smart thermostat, a wi-fi or Bluetooth door lock, or controllable window shades.
When potential buyers see these technological upgrades, it will differentiate your property from your competition and may even help to sell your home faster. As shown by an article at curbed.com, more than eighty percent of millennials are willing to pay more for a home that has these advanced tech features, and having them pre-installed is always an added bonus in a buyer’s eyes. Your real estate agent will know how to best show off these home automation features’ added benefits, including convenience, safety, energy efficiency, and more.
For additional tips and tricks on how to increase the value of a home in Boston, call Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040. We can help find the right buyer for your property, and ensure that your home sells for top dollar.
~~The Benefits of Home Automation
People looking to sell their homes often ask what small changes they can make to increase their property value. There are many ways to do so, including old standards like adding a fresh coat of paint and improving the front-facing landscaping. Another great way to increase your home’s value may surprise you – add some elements of home automation.
It seems that everything is getting “smarter” these days, and homes are no exception. Everything has wi-fi, including thermostats, light bulbs, garage doors - even refrigerators! Nowadays, home buyers are more tech-savvy, and they’re looking for homes that are connected to the Internet of Things. If you’re looking to make some upgrades to your home prior to listing it, consider adding a smart thermostat, a wi-fi or Bluetooth door lock, or controllable window shades.
When potential buyers see these technological upgrades, it will differentiate your property from your competition and may even help to sell your home faster. As shown by an article at curbed.com, more than eighty percent of millennials are willing to pay more for a home that has these advanced tech features, and having them pre-installed is always an added bonus in a buyer’s eyes. Your real estate agent will know how to best show off these home automation features’ added benefits, including convenience, safety, energy efficiency, and more.
For additional tips and tricks on how to increase the value of a home in Boston, call Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040. We can help find the right buyer for your property, and ensure that your home sells for top dollar.
 

The Greater Boston area is a wonderful place to live, so it comes as no surprise that the area is experiencing population growth year after year. Current residents are sticking around, and new Boston residents need places to live, so it’s logical that this increase in demand for homes is causing real estate prices to rise.

In fact, house prices in Greater Boston have been rising steadily over the last five years, with prices currently over 10% higher than they were at this point in 2016. And the trend is predicted to continue into 2018 – prices are still trending upward, with an expected climb of an additional 4-6% in the upcoming year. With listing prices currently high and getting higher in the Boston area, now is the perfect time to talk to a real estate professional about buying or selling a home. Here in West Roxbury, home prices are averaging right around $550k, and is expected to rise at a similar pace to the rest of the Boston Metro area.

And if you’re looking to buy or sell a home in the Boston area, make sure that you contact Greater Boston Realty at 617-469-4040. If you’re buying, one of our experienced real estate agents will listen to your needs and can show you homes in the area that will be perfect for your lifestyle. For sellers, we will put our marketing skills to work making sure to get top dollar for your home in this seller’s market. Don’t wait any longer to take advantage of the rising home prices – contact us today to schedule an appointment.