Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Lexington Sellers; You May Not Want To Say This To Buyers

Lexington Sellers, We Have Seen and Heard About Real Estate Deals That Didn't Go Well Because Of Something The Homeowner Said. Don't Make These Mistakes...

1. We Spent Lots of Money On Updates ~ Do you really think a buyer will care what you spent to update your house? After all, they will offer you what may be the market value when they buy the house.

2. Our House Is Nicer Than Our Neighbors ~ A buyer is going to compare your house to similar homes in the area, and they don't want to hear your comments about other homes.

3. My House Is Going To Sell Immediately ~ And then what will you say when months go by and your house is still on the market?

4. You're Not Going To Find A House As Nice As Mine ~ How do you know this? Are you looking at the same homes the buyers are?

5. I'm Not Giving My House Away ~ Be realistic in pricing your home. The competition could be fierce and you don't want to turn buyers away for fear that you're not willing to negotiate.

6. You're Not Going To Find Anything Wrong With Our House ~ This could eventually be a costly mistake. A home inspector may finds things that a buyer may want repaired. Even brand new construction can have it's problems.

7. I Don't Want To Move, But I Don't Like The Neighbors ~ Do I have to explain this one? (Actually at a showing last week, we heard this one...)

8. We Don't Have Too Many Problems In The Neighborhood ~ This is one of the reasons we ask our sellers to leave while their house is being shown!

9. The House Is To Small For Us ~ Buyers may think it will be too small for them too, and may look at larger homes for a growing family.
        
10. Are You Making An Offer Now ~ Don't put a buyer on the spot. They will discuss your house with their Realtor, and if interested, their buyer agent will present an offer to your listing agent.

Lexington Seller, Don't Make These Mistakes.

When You're Ready To Sell Your Lexington Home;

Call Grant Cole REALTORS ®
52-B Waltham St • Lexington, MA 02421
Direct: 781-862-3636

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Earth Day 2016


Founded in 1970 in the U.S. as a day of education about environmental issues, Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday. 
Earth Day is this Tuesday, April 22. Although it's a great reminder to be environmentally conscious, there are plenty of simple ways you can celebrate the earth all year long. Here are just 10 ways you can be eco-friendly long after Earth Day is over:
1. Plant a tree: Trees produce oxygen and help reduce air pollution. A single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants a year, and produce nearly 260 pounds of oxygen, according to the nonprofit American Forests.
2. Recycle reusable materials: The average person generates more than four pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year, according to DoSomething.org.
3. Donate or recycle used electronics: Electronic waste includes computers, cell phones, televisions and other electronic devices in working or non-working condition that are no longer used. 
4. Cut back on driving: Use public transportation, organize a carpool, ride a bike or walk whenever possible. Leaving your car at home two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
5. Reduce your energy use: Unplug electronics when you’re not using them. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
6. Use reusable bags: Each year, Americans throw away about 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags and about 10 billion paper bags, according to Earth911.
7. Buy locally: The average meal in the U.S. travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
8. Clean up the earth: More than 51 billion pieces of litter land on U.S. roadways each year, and litter cleanup costs the nation almost $11.5 billion each year, according to the nonprofit Keep America Beautiful.
9. Explore the outdoors: Get to know your community better and explore the beauty of nature. Go for a walk, run or hike with friends and family, or a group.
10. Participate in eco-friendly activities: Earth Day is April 22, but many people extend the celebration to make it Earth Week.


Friday, April 15, 2016

Wilson Farm April Events


Children's Baking Class
April 20th
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Menu: Pizza and Pastry Decorating
$15 per child
Call our office at 781-862-3900 to RSVP

Children's Cooking Class
April 21th
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Menu: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Garlic Bread and Strawberry Shortcake
$20 per child (+$15 for a optional children's cookbook to take home)
Call our office at 781-862-3900 to RSVP

Cooking Class with Chef Raymond Ost
April 26th
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Appetizer: Celery remoulade salad with smoked, cured duck breast and warm roasted fingerling potatoes with parmesan crisps
Main Course:Surf and Turf wild mushroom risotto with fresh herbs, sautéed scallops, beurre blanc and braised rabbit legs with a Dijon mustard sauce and pink peppercorn.
Dessert: Fresh Berry Bavarois with Grand Marnier crème mousseline.

HerbFest
April 30th and May 1st

Come learn about the many health benefits and uses of herbs!

For more information: www.wilsonfarm.com

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Patriots Day Weekend

Patriots' Day Weekend Schedule of Events 


Saturday, April 16 - Monday, April 18, 2016
241st Anniversary of the Battle of Lexington
Schedule subject to change - please check back closer to Patriots' Day for the final schedule
Saturday, April 16
9 AM -4 PM  Battle Green Guided Tours - free
Official Lexington Battle Green Guides in Colonial clothing offer informal tours, history, visitor information and directions throughout the day. Stand where the local Militia faced the British Regulars at sunrise on April 19, 1775. View one of the oldest war memorials in the country where the remains of 7 of the 8 Militia who died on the Battle Green on April 19th are buried.
Lexington Tourism Committee

9 AM - 5 PM  Lexington Visitors’ Center - free
1875 Massachusetts Ave, across from the Battle Green
781-862-1450
Obtain tour brochures, maps and directions to historical sites and events.  View diorama of Battle of Lexington. Public restrooms
Visitors' Center

10:00 AM Parker’s Revenge - free 
Lexington Minutemen gather on the Lexington Battle Green to reenact the second call to arms from Captain Parker with additional dialogue from Reverend Jonas Clarke.
Following this event the Minutemen will march to Parker’s Revenge site on Route 2A near the Minuteman National Park Visitors Site for a wreath laying. 

9:30 AM - 4 PM Buckman Tavern Tours - $ 
1 Bedford St, across from the Battle Green
Self-paced audio tours available. Admission tickets available at the house.
Lexington Historical Society

10 AM-4 PM Hancock-Clarke House Tours - $
36 Hancock St
Guide-led tours available every half hour. Admission tickets available at the house.
Lexington Historical Society

12 PM -4 PM  Munroe Tavern Tours - $ 
1332 Massachusetts Ave
Self-guided or guided tours available. Admission tickets available at the house.
Lexington Historical Society

10 AM -4 PM Liberty Ride Tours - $
A unique 90 minute trolley tour of the historic Battle Road. Tickets required.
Board at the Lexington Visitors Center 1875 Massachusetts Ave, across from the Battle Green
Tours at 10:00, 11:30, 1:00 & 2:30
Lexington Tourism Committee

10 AM - 4 PM Lexington Alarm Letter on View - free
Couriers delivered the news of the conflict at Lexington throughout the colonies soon after the event. See one of the letters that helped spread the news, penned on April 20, 1775.
The Alarm Letter will be on view from Saturday, April 2 - Saturday, April 23. The Museum is open Wednesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, 33 Marrett Road       

1 PM Parker’s Revenge Memorial Ceremony - free
Parker’s Revenge site behind Minute Man National Park Visitor Center, Rt 2A, Lexington
National Park Service  

2:00 PM Parker’s Revenge Scenario - free
Battle Road Trail behind Minute Man Visitor Center, Rt. 2A, Lexington
National Park Service                                          

4:00 PM Tower Park Battle Reenactment - free
Massachusetts Ave opposite Pelham Rd.
Lexington Minute Men


Thursday, April 7, 2016

Don’t FSBO When Selling Your Lexington Home!

Sell your Lexington home with help from an agent!
If you want to sell your Lexington home this spring season, good news! It’s a great time to sell. Recent reports show that pending home sales have reached their highest level in seven months, and homes have reached peak value in many markets. That means that buyers are out, and sellers are selling for a price they can be satisfied with.

As a Lexington real estate agent, I want to also take this opportunity to share why you should use an agent to help you sell your Lexington home, rather than trying the for sale by owner (FSBO) approach. KCM Crew recently shared the top five reasons why you should not FSBO, and I’ve summarized these reasons for you here:

1.  Too many people to negotiate with – Unless you’re a professional at negotiations, you should leave it to a real estate professional to do the negotiating for you. Otherwise, you’ll have to negotiate with buyers who want the best deal, buyer’s agents who solely represent the best interests of the buyers, buyer’s attorneys, home inspection companies and appraisers.

2.  Exposure to prospective buyers – Studies have shown that 89 percent of buyers today search online for a home, but only 20 percent look at newspaper ads. As a Lexington real estate agent, I can ensure that your home listing shows up everywhere a potential buyer might look. Often, you can’t even get your listing posted to these places without an agent’s help.

3.  Results come from the internet – We know buyers search the internet, but where do they find the home they end up purchasing? Studies show that 44 percent find it on the internet, 33 percent from an agent, and then 9 percent from a yard sign and 1 percent from a newspaper. As you can see, it’s very important for your listing to be all over the internet, and to have an agent spreading the word!

4.  FSBO has become more difficult – Selling your own home today is even harder than it used to be. The paperwork involved has dramatically increased with mandatory industry disclosures and regulations. It’s a mighty headache if you don’t work in the real estate industry and know exactly what paperwork you need to fill out and when! This is a huge reason why FSBOs have dropped from 19 percent of sellers to 8 percent.

5.  You net more with an agent – Let’s talk about the most important reason to not FSBO. Many sellers think they will save money by selling without an agent, because they won’t have to pay commission. However, homeowners who sell with an agent typically sell for an average of almost $40,000 more than sellers who sell FSBO. Agents have negotiating power, more buyers will see your listing, and we have the experience to get the job done correctly!

If you’re ready to sell your Lexington home, contact me, your Lexington real estate agent! Let me help you! You won’t regret the decision to use an experienced professional when it comes to selling one of the biggest investments of your life.

Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

The Evolution of the American Home

How has the typical American home evolved over the last fifty years? Robert Dietz, the chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders recently spoke with Real Estate Today Radio about home design trends that have come and gone, and those that will be here to stay.
While buyers both then and now prefer single-family homes in the suburbs, buyers in 2016 expect new homes to be adaptable, open, and efficient.

When it comes to future design preferences, Dietz predicts that buyers will place a high-importance on choosing a new home that has efficient design and energy efficient features. "Energy efficiency is the key item with new construction over existing-homes is the home itself uses energy more efficiently, costs less to maintain and operate."

Dietz also believes that location will play a larger part in where buyers choose to build, and single-family home sales will soon take over multi-family. "We may see a rise in townhomes and locations near urban villages with walkability features, but overall the same preferences that have been in the market for generations will remain. Most people want to own their own home and want their own place out in the suburbs, and I think that will continue."

Let's take a look at the main design differences between homes then and now.

New-home design characteristics in 1966:
  • The average home size was much smaller than today.
  • The one-story homes were popular with builders and buyers.
  • The kitchen, dining room, and living rooms were all separate.
  • Laundry rooms were located in the basement.
  • The efficiency of home features was not a big consideration.

New-home design characteristics in 2016:
  • The average size of the home keeps growing, mainly because builders are catering to a higher-income, older demographic.
  • 60 percent of new homes have at least two stories. The need for multiple levels is due to millennials wanting more space for their growing families, and also because of the increase in multi-generational households.
  • Open-floor design is the new norm across all generations of buyers.
  • New home construction emphasizes energy efficiency and efficient design.
  • Laundry rooms are typically located on the home's main level.
Full article found in Realtor.com