Monday, June 24, 2013

LEXINGTON BICENTENNIAL BAND SUMMER CONCERT SERIES


The Lexington Bicentennial Band, under the direction of Jeffrey P. Leonard and Alfred W. Dentino, will begin its summer outdoor concert series on Tuesday June 25, 2013 at 7:15 PM. Concerts continue every Tuesday evening throughout the summer at Hastings Park, with the final concert on Tuesday August 20, 2013. Concerts are held at the Levi Burnell Bandstand in Hastings Park, at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Worthen Road.

Concerts are free and open to the public, and the bandstand park area is handicapped accessible. Programs include marches, show tunes, Dixieland, and classical arrangements for band. Bring a blanket or chair, and bug spray. Many people also bring picnic dinners. For more information, visit our web site at www.lexbicband.org or call 781-862-0500 ext. 707, after 5 p.m. on the day of the concert for cancellation information. http://www.lexbicband.org


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

First-Time Homebuyers Care More About Work, Not Neighborhood


NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- What do people really want in buying a home? First-time buyers differ from "average" home buyers in establishing those priorities, according to a survey from the Bank of Montreal -- and it underlines to what extent first-timers care about work over home life.
According to the bank, 34% of first-time buyers value a short commute to work, compared with 28% of other homebuyers, while 28% of first-time buyers want to live near public transit, compared with 19% of other so-called average buyers. 

But first-time buyers aren't as adamant about living in a quiet neighborhood -- only 30% say that's a big priority, compared with 43% of other homebuyers. Nor are they really interested in having "good neighbors" -- only 21% of first-time buyers say that's a big deal, compared with 30% of other homeowners.
In general Canadians want location, the survey says. But they also want:
·       A safe neighborhood -- 63%
·        Living on a quiet street -- 43%
·        Having "good neighbors" -- 30%
·        A short commute to work -- 28%
·        Being near family and friends -- 25%


"Everyone has a unique set of personal and financial priorities, so it's important that those particular needs are considered when deciding on the right location to purchase a home," explains Laura Parsons, a mortgage expert at BMO Bank of Montreal. "Taking a practical approach to home buying is the key to preventing yourself from getting 'swept away' by the bells and whistles of a house."

Do you agree with the above statistics? Is this what you are looking for in your first Lexington home?



Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Construction on Bedford Street


Lexington’s Engineering Division began a construction project on Bedford Street near Worthen Road on Monday, June 10. Detours will be in effect but the road is not expected to be fully closed at any time.
The unlined water main on Bedford Street from Worthen Road to the Minuteman Bikeway must be replaced to assure water quality and to assure the availability of water volume and pressure to fight fires.

The road will be open to local traffic but will be narrowed to one lane with alternating traffic. Every effort will be make to detour through traffic to other streets to relieve congestion. Eastbound traffic and buses will be detoured beginning at Hill Street. Westbound traffic will stay on Bedord Street as normal.


The work area will move from Worthen Road toward the bikeway. Work hours will be from 7:30am to 4:00pm and is expected to take about three months to complete.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Help Sell Your Lexington Home with These Top Projects!


Selling your Lexington home can, at first glance, seem like an overwhelming process.  You want to make sure to get the most return on your investment, but if you’ve been out of the Lexington Real Estate market for some time, it can be hard to know what to expect.  Not only are you thinking through the financial side of things, but you’re also probably beginning to search for a new home in Lexington and thinking through how long the entire home selling process might take.  Needless to say, there are a lot of things running through your mind!

Having an experienced Lexington Real Estate agent by your side from the start can be key in ensuring you are successfully able to navigate selling your Lexington home.  In my years of service as a real estate agent in Lexington, I enjoy providing my clients with a personalized approach to selling their home, and creating a plan that’s specific to their needs.

If you’re looking for ways that you can help your home sell, I’ve listed some of the top projects that can help bring the biggest return.  You’ll not only be creating a move in ready home for the buyers, but will be adding value as well!

Top Energy Efficient Project: Add Insulation
- Adding proper insulation will not only add value to your home, but will save you money. This energy efficient project will reduce up to 30% of heating and cooling costs. Those looking to buy a home in Lexington will be searching for homes that are more eco-friendly and adding insulation or even replacing old windows with new energy efficient ones will appeal to buyers.

Top Budget Friendly Project: Clean and Conquer Clutter
- The best way to update your home is to remove any excess furniture or knickknacks that don’t serve a purpose. Not only will this make your Lexington home appear larger, but it will give your home a more updated feel. If you’re planning on selling your home, buyers will appreciate this clean and updated look as they’ll be able to better envision their belonging in your home.

Top Kitchen Project: Upgrade Appliances
- Kitchen’s are one of the top places that people will want to see upgrades and where you will get the most return on investment. The top kitchen project is to upgrade your appliances. Of course stainless steel appliances are today’s standard, so if you haven’t upgraded yet, now would be a great time to do so. Another upgrade that’s possible for those who already have stainless steel appliances are energy efficient options. Switching to these “green” appliances will cut down on your energy bill and will be better for the environment as well.

Top Bathroom Project: Refresh Fixtures
- Bathrooms are another space where many will want to see upgrades. An easy way to refresh bathrooms is to change out the fixtures. From lighting to the vanity or even just the cabinetry hardware; there are many cost effective updates that can be made in a bathroom.

The Top Storage and Organization Project: Maximize Storage Space
- Give yourself more space instantly by organizing your closets and cabinets. Clean out things you no longer use and consider investing in a closet or pantry organizer. This will immediately give the appearance of extra room as well as being easier to maintain.

Top Landscaping Project: Tidy Your Lawn
- Curb appeal speaks volumes for how you care for your Lexington home overall. A lawn that is well manicured and aesthetically pleasing will appeal to most no matter what the size. Buyers will want to know they can simply maintain the lawn you’ve cared for rather than having to put in a lot of time and money for updates.

Top Outdoor Living Project: Add Outdoor Living
- Adding outdoor living space is like adding square footage onto your home. Imagine lounging in a new outdoor living space and hosting outdoor dinner parties this summer. This update will add value and character to your home!

Top Big Ticket Project: Finish the Basement
- Finishing your basement, while a seemingly large project, is much less expensive that adding an additional room onto your home. You’ll want to be sure to have a professional inspect your basement for its moisture level before you begin. Adding carpeting or a fresh coat of paint may be all your basement needs to gain a finished appearance. This additional living space may be just the thing for which buyers are searching.

I hope these top projects inspire you to look objectively at your Lexington home and take on a few to improve the selling value of your home!

If you have further questions about getting your Lexington home sold, or would like to learn more about my personalized home selling plan; please feel free to contact me today!

Theresa D'Antuono
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