Thursday, January 24, 2013

4 Simple Tips to Help Sell Your Lexington Home!


A few weeks ago, I gave tips on preparing to buy a home in Lexington.  This charming and historic community appeals to many who are searching for a beautiful home and lifestyle.  But, what if you need to sell your home in 2013?

As a Lexington Real Estate agent, I understand that thinking about selling your home can be overwhelming.  There are so many details to take care of with getting your home ready, preparing to move and searching for a new home all at the same time.  But, selling your home can be an exciting time as well as you think of upgrading to a new home in Lexington or embracing a life change that can lead you in a new direction!

I’ve worked with sellers for a number of years in the Lexington Real Estate market and have helped sellers find great success with the sale of their home.  If you’re considering selling your home this spring, here are a few simple tips that will help your home stand out from others on the Lexington Real Estate market.

1. Update listing photos- If you had your home on the market last year, you’ll want to update your listing photos!  Your Lexington Real Estate agent can take care of getting photos of your home that reflect any updates you’ve made or to simply allow your home to appear fresh on the market.  Any buyer who has seen your home online in the past may not realize you had taken your home off the market and it will seem stale.

2. Create a Sensory Experience- Whether you light candles or have freshly baked cookies on the counter, appealing to the senses of taste and smell can immediately make buyers relax and feel comfortable in your home.

3. Highlight Your Outdoor Space- This is an added bonus for anyone moving to Lexington MA. Buyers want to know they can enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of their own home, so creating a welcoming environment on your patio, deck or yard will allow buyers to envision themselves in the space.

4. Set the Table- Staging your dining room with beautiful place settings can help buyers envision hosting friends and family for dinners in your home.  Chances are buyers will have friends and family visiting for vacations, so it will give them that feeling of gathering with loved ones in the home.

While these tips may seem simple, they can make a big difference in how buyers view your home!  I would also love the opportunity to talk with you about what it takes to get your Lexington home sold and how I can help you achieve your real estate goals.

Please contact me anytime to get started!  I look forward to helping you sell your home in Lexington!


Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The 2013 Lexington Summer Camp & Activities Fair


On Saturday, January 26th from 11:30am - 2:00pm, the 7th annual Lexington Summer Camp & Activities Fair will be held in The Lexington High School cafeteria at 251 Waltham Street.  The fair features a diverse group of summer camp and recreational resources for kids and teens aged 3-17 that serve Lexington residents.

The presenting programs have been selected via criteria such as reputation, available resources, location, cost and that they have all been a resource for Lexington children for a number of years.  Specialties include general recreation, computer/technology, art, general sports, sports-specific (soccer, golf, adventure, etc.), community service, premium day camp, etc.  Academic components will also be available that cover math, sciences and language.  Parents will not feel lost in a “sea” of competing programs wondering which camps are reputable and offer the most services for their children at this event.

The fair is free to the public and snacks/drinks are included.  For further information, Contact: Leslie Morgan at 978-501-6021 or email fair@communityrecreation.org


Monday, January 14, 2013

The Lexington Pops Chorus Special Performance



As the Town of Lexington celebrates its 300th Anniversary and the Lexington Pops Chorus looks back over 30 years of presenting musical programs in Lexington, the two will be linked in a very special way through history and music at its Annual Winter Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, January 18 and 19 at Hancock Church located at 1912 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington Center.  The "special way" will be the premier performance of a composition commissioned by the Pops Chorus entitled The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.  The composition, inspired by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, was created by the talented and prolific New England composer, Gwyneth Walker, who happens to be a direct descendent of Paul Revere.  The Friday concert will be followed by a reception for the audience with Gwyneth Walker and Chorus members in the Church dining room.

Tickets: Adults $12 in advance, $15 at door; Children under 13, $5. To purchase please go to http://www.lexingtonpopschorus.org/events.html

The Lexington Pops Chorus, an adult nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the performance of varied, mixed-voice music for the benefit, education and enjoyment of its members and the surrounding communities.

The Lexington Pops Chorus gratefully acknowledges partial support in the form of grants from the Lexington Council for the Arts, a local agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.





Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Getting Fit in Lexington

So it's 2013 and we all made that New Year Resolution to get in better shape. Here are a few tips from WEBMD to help the process and keep that resolutions!

You've decided it's time to start exercising. Congratulations! You've taken the first step on your way to a new and improved body and mind

"Exercise is the magic pill," says Michael R. Bracko, EdD, FACSM, chairman of the American College of Sports Medicine's Consumer Information Committee. "Exercise can literally cure diseases like some forms of heart disease. Exercise has been implicated in helping people prevent or recover from some forms of cancer. Exercise helps people with arthritis. Exercise helps people prevent and reverse depression."
And there's no arguing that exercise can help most people lose weight, as well as look more toned and trim.
Of course, there's a catch. You need to get -- and keep -- moving if you want to cash in on the benefits. This doesn't necessarily mean following a strict, time-consuming regimen at the gym -- although that can certainly reap benefits. The truth is you can get rewards from many different types and levels of exercise.
"Any little increment of physical activity is going to be a great boost to weight loss and feeling better," says Rita Redberg, MSc, chairwoman of the American Heart Association's Scientific Advisory Board for the Choose to Move program.
Your exercise options are numerous, including walking, dancing, gardening, biking -- even doing household chores, says Redberg. The important thing is to choose activities you enjoy, she says. That will increase your chances of making it a habit.
And how much exercise should you do? For heart health, the AHA recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking, on most days of the week.
Yet "if you're getting less than that, you're still going to see benefits," says Redberg. "It's not like if you can't do 30 minutes, you shouldn't do anything, because you're definitely going to see benefits even at 5 or 10 minutes of moving around."
Ready to get started? Health and fitness experts helped WebMD compile this beginner's guide to exercise, including definitions of some common exercise terms, sample workouts, and recommendations on home exercise equipment.
A way to measure the intensity of your exercise is to check your heart rate or pulse during physical activity. These should be within a target range during different levels of intensity.
For example, according to the CDC, for moderate-intensity physical activity, a person's target heart rate should be 50% to 70% of his or her maximum heart rate.
Get ReadyThe first step to any workout routine is to evaluate how fit you are for your chosen physical activity. Whenever you begin an exercise program, it's wise to consult a doctor. Anyone with major health risks, males aged 45 and older, and women aged 55 and older should get medical clearance, says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise.
But no matter what your medical condition, you can usually work out in some way.
"I can't think of any medical issue that would get worse from the right kind of exercise," says Stephanie Siegrist, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Rochester, N.Y.
After assessing your fitness, it helps to set workout goals. For example, do you want to prepare to run a 5K? Hit the gym five times a week? Or just walk around the block without getting winded?
"Make sure the goals are clear, realistic, and concise," says Sal Fichera, an exercise physiologist and owner of New York-based Forza Fitness.
Whatever your goals and medical condition, approach any new exercise regimen with caution.
"Start low and go slow," advises Bryant. Many beginners make the mistake of starting out too aggressively, only to give up when they end up tired, sore, or injured, he says. Some get discouraged because they think an aggressive workout will produce instant results.
"Generally speaking, when people go about it too aggressively early in the program, they tend not to stick with it over the long haul," says Bryant. "What you really want to do is to develop some new habits that you can stick with for a lifetime." To read the entire article please click here.



Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Tips to Prepare for Buying a Lexington Home in 2013!


We’ve entered into the new year and I hope yours is off to a great start!  As a Lexington Real Estate agent, my goal is to help guide you through the home buying or selling process and to ensure you’ve got all the up to the minute market information you need!

Recently, MoneyCNN reported on the S&P/Chase-Shiller index noting that home prices posted the largest percentage gain in more than two years, with prices up 4.3% in October compared to last year.  These trends are expected to continue with other factors playing into the housing market boost.  Things such as a five year low in foreclosures, lower unemployment and the still low mortgage rates will result in more active buyers.  This, in turn, will drive up home prices.

Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors chief economist commented on the recovering market for 2013 by adding that "sellers will smile more, and buyers will need a more concentrated focus.”  Buyers will find greater competition and will need to act quickly when they find a home they like.  

If you’re considering buying a home in Lexington in 2013, beginning your search early on in the year will help ensure you’re cashing in on the still low home prices.  You’ll also be jumping ahead of the busier spring market and competing buyers.  Here are just a few things you’ll want to do to prepare for buying a home in the new year.

1. Get Your Financials in Order- You don’t want to wait until you find your dream home in Lexington MA to start getting your financials together.  Meet now with your lender, know your credit score and determine your home buying budget and down payment.

2.  Begin Your Search Online- If you’re new to the area or are relocating to Lexington,  starting your Lexington home search online can help give you an idea of the types of homes available in Lexington

3.  Find an Experienced Lexington Real Estate Agent- Having an experienced Lexington Real Estate agent by your side will ensure you receive the best service possible.  You want someone who knows the ins and outs of the market and can guide you with the advice needed for navigating through the home buying process.

Of course, if you have questions about buying a Lexington home or would like to know more about the current Lexington Real Estate market; please feel free to contact me!  I would be happy to answer your questions and help guide you in your real estate goals!

I look forward to working with you this year!



Theresa D'Antuono