Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Should You Sell Your Lexington Home As Is Or Renovate?


When you decide to sell a Lexington house that desperately needs updating, you basically have two choices: Sell it as is—in its current condition without improvements—or make upgrades in the hope of reaping bigger bucks down the line.
While renovating your property will inevitably sell your home faster and for more money, listing your property as is has its perks, too—including not having to fork over lots of cash for major improvements you won't get to enjoy, and not dealing with the headaches of those improvements.
Deciding what to do can be overwhelming, but we're here to break it down for you. If want to unload your property pronto and for maximum cash, here are some things to keep in mind.
Out of house often means out of mind
If you've already purchased another home and have one foot dangling out the door, things can get challenging. Between work and family obligations—plus dreaming about decorating your soon-to-be new home—chances are you won’t have the time or energy to reimagine your old one.
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Unless you find a real estate agent whose experience you can trust, someone who has a very good track record preparing homes and understands how to do the work, you’re often better off to sell the property as is, so that you don't get involved in chasing the market.

Assess the potential workload, time, and money it'll take to upgrade

Get an expert opinion—or better yet, several opinions—regarding how much updating and repair work would be required to boost the home’s bottom line: Does the place just need a good scrub, or an entirely new kitchen and three new bathrooms? And more importantly, do you have the cash, the time, and the patience to see the project through?
“It’s all about whether people want to deal with renovations or not,” says Paul Morse, a licensed contractor and owner of Paul’s Carpentry Workshop in Stoneham, MA.
Morse, who's worked for several clients who wanted to spruce up a neglected home prior to listing it, suggests that sellers should identify three projects that need doing, and then consult their agent to crunch the numbers.
“Sellers should ask what their return would be if they fixed the bathroom and kitchen, for example, versus what the investment would be," he says. "Then, get three prices from three qualified local contractors.”
And don't forget to factor in the cost of owning the home during major renovations. Depending on how extensive your revamp is, you might need to find temporary housing while your property is being gutted, so add that fee to your bottom line.

Take your location—and the market—into account

If your home sits on a great lot in a sought-after location, buyers—especially investors—might line up in droves. When the land is more valuable than the structure sitting on it, you might be better off selling the property as is-there’s little point revamping a house that will probably be torn down as soon as the ink on the purchase agreement is dry.

 ‘As is’ doesn’t mean ‘falling down’

Of course, doing some inexpensive repairs often helps sell your home faster, notes Lynn Pineda, a Realtor with eXp Realty in Southeast Florida.
“Even when buyers say, ‘I'm going to sell my home as is,’ that doesn't mean you have to present your home in shoddy light to a buyer; you still need to prepare it and make it look good,” she says. “Otherwise, you will sell for less money, or the house will sit on the market and you’ll lose money in the long run.”
If you just want to do the bare minimum and are willing to shell out a few thousand dollars, Morse suggests painting the entire home and resanding hardwood floors, if there are any. These upgrades would take about a month to do, but will make a huge difference in listing photos.

Selling your home as is won’t stop buyers from trying to negotiate

A house that hasn't been updated in years—or even decades—often attracts builders or investors looking to gut or tear everything down and construct a new home. These "fix and flip" buyers always want to maximize their profit, Stewart says, and might try to haggle down the purchase price.
Find a real estate professional who can help you maximize your profits; look for one who's had considerable success selling homes like yours, in your specific area of town. Some good questions to ask include how long comparable properties have stayed on the market before selling, what kinds of houses are selling fast and what condition they’re in, and which neighborhoods are most desirable.
Together, you can weigh what your Lexington’s home's worth—and negotiate a better bottom line.


Wednesday, July 17, 2019

5 Tips for Creating an Amazing Outdoor Space


1. Mix and Match for Size
Some of your events might be intimate, while others might include the whole neighborhood. The key is to take both into account. Start by making a family room area, where people can sit around, and talk. That will provide a focus for the backyard and accommodate a larger party too. Anchor the space with a sectional, or a sofa and chairs, set around a coffee table or fire pit.

Add other areas for flexible use. Settle a cafe table and chairs under trees, line chaises by the pool or tuck a bench next to a rose arbor. These intimate groupings add appeal for parties of all sizes. You want places where even at big parties, people can have private conversations or sit by themselves.

2. Fine-Tune Food and Refreshments

Parties need food, whether it’s finger food, a full-on barbecue or a fancy buffet. Start with a grill, and then install a mini fridge to keep ingredients cool. Since drinks are also essential at any gathering, especially in summer, try adding a 
bar cart. They’re wonderful to wheel around and put anywhere.

Decide where to put the delicious dishes you plan to serve. Large tables are great for setting up food, while bar tables work well for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. An outdoor dining set is great for dinner parties, while side tables next to sofas and chairs work well for more casual or sprawling events. Storage containers can do double duty as tables if their tops are flat.

3. Cue the Entertainment

If possible, add a TV.  Projection screens can be viewed from the lawn or the pool, and they make a fun feature for birthdays if you play a family slideshow. Hide built-in speakers in plantings or rock walls to play music or sounds of nature.

Another options is to mount a swing to a tree or put a 
hammock in its own little area for guests who want to unplug and relax.

4. Take the Weather Into Account


Prepare for summer showers by placing waterproof umbrellas over a few chairs or a small dining set. A larger table can be set in a gazebo so you can entertain outside even when clouds gather. These coverings also work well as shade structures to help prevent glare and sunburn. 

Include a 
fire table or fire pit to warm things up when evenings get chilly. They also create ambiance and you can use them to make s’mores. Since fire pits come in different heights, shapes and materials, it’s easy to find one that works well with any arrangement.

5. Perk Up the Space With Decor

Once you set the stage with furniture, splash in some vibrant accents. Colors can really help bring the whole look together. Add pillows, an all-weather rug, blankets and towels. Include strings of LED lights, both to accentuate spaces and to create a romantic effect. Try changing accents based on the theme of the party, choosing the palette based on a sports team, holiday or college. 

Remember that everything can be moved around and changed. If you have the right base pieces, you create an amazing and functional outdoor space.



Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Time to Upsize or Downsize your Lexington MA Home?

As your Lexington MA real estate agent, I’d love to help you upsize or downsize when ready! Check out all of the listings available in the Lexington MA real estate market this summer and see if there is a home that better suits your current and future needs.

If you’re not sure if it’s the right time to swap living spaces, here are some questions to ask yourself:

1.  Are you outgrowing your home? When you run out of bedrooms for your growing family, or the kitchen feels crammed at dinnertime, it may be time to move up to a bigger, more kid-friendly home!
2.  Do you have a hard time keeping up with the home? If you feel like you’re cleaning more than living, or you have a hard time walking up and down stairs all the time, it might be time to downsize.
3.  Is there too much or not enough lawn? If you don’t have enough space for family barbecues and fire pits, time to upsize! If you can’t keep up with the lawn mowing and gardening, time to downsize.

These are the types of questions to ask yourself this summer season. If ready to browse the Lexington real estate market for a home that better suits your needs, contact me, your Lexington MA real estate agent!

Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Lex Community Farm Summer Programs




| SUMMER PROGRAMS |
Full offering of Summer Program Signups coming soon! Stay tuned for programs like our Evening Organic Gardening Series for Adults, Programs for Families, and Teen Summer Program.

FARM EXPLORERS AGES 3.5YRS-5YRS DROP OFF PROGRAM
Mondays: July 8 through July 29 – 9:00am – 12:00pm
During this hands-on program, Explorers will help plant, water, weed, and work in the Learning Garden. Explorers will watch demonstrations and try out different farming techniques while working alongside Learning Garden staff. They will also learn about the the farm and environment around us. Each Monday we will learn about one of the following subjects.
Animal Life
Flower/Bees
Plant Life
Worm Composting/Insects
Birds
Farm Gear to pack in backpack.
Hat
Sunscreen
Please pack a NUT FREE lunch and water bottle.
Waiver will need to be signed before start of program.
$30 member or $35 non-member/child per class

FARM SCOUTS  AGES 5.5YRS-7YRS DROP OFF PROGRAM
Wednesdays: July 10 through July 31 – 9:00am – 12:00pm
During this hands-on program, Scouts will help plant, water, weed, and work in the Learning Garden. Scouts will watch demonstrations and try out different farming techniques while working alongside Learning Garden staff.
Farm Gear to pack in backpack.
Hat
Sunscreen
Please pack a NUT FREE lunch and water bottle.
They will also learn about the farm and environment around us. Each Wednesday we will learn about one of the following subjects:
Animal Life
Flower/Bees
Plant Life
Worm Composting/Insects
Birds
Waiver will need to be signed before start of program.
$30 member or $35 non-member/child per class

LEXFARM AFTERSCHOOL DAYS AGES (9-11) YRS
Mondays:  May 6 through June 10  ( 3:30pm – 5:30pm)
This program is for elementary-school kids.  The program meets weekly on Mondays afterschool. Kids will start seedlings for planting at the farm and at home, care for animals and help prepare the learning garden for the growing season. Rain or shine we’ll spend most of the afternoon outdoors learning about the farm, working in the Learning Garden, playing games and doing projects. Please dress for the weather in layers.
Please pack a nut free snack and water bottle. A waiver will be needed to be filled before first class.
$20 member or $25 non-member/child per class

LEXFARM EARLY RELEASE DAYS – LEXINGTON  AGES (6-8)YRS 
Thursdays:  May 9 through June 13  ( 1:30pm – 3:30pm)
This program is for elementary-school kids. The program meets on early-release Thursday afternoons. Kids will start seedlings for planting at the farm and at home, care for animals and help prepare the learning garden for the growing season. Rain or shine we’ll spend most of the afternoon outdoors learning about the farm, working in the Learning Garden, playing games and doing projects. Please dress for the weather in layers.
Please pack a nut free snack and water bottle. A waiver will be needed to be filled before first class.
$20 member or $25 non-member/child per class

TEEN FARMING SUMMER PROGRAM PRESENTED BY LEXFARM AND WRIGHT LOCKE FARM AGES 14-17
July 15-19 OR July 22-26
Designed for teenagers with an interest in sustainability, environmental science, horticulture, or agriculture, this exciting week-long program offers students a hands-on introduction to the basic principles of organic farming. Utilizing both farm locations and their unique resources, participants will learn, through a combination of activities and guided discussions: a basic understanding of farm work, hand tools, and land stewardship; a wide range of skills and physical work required to produce food; the basic principles of organic farming and the differences between sustainable agriculture and our dominant food system.

| ADULT PROGRAMS |


EVENING ORGANIC GARDENING SERIES FOR ADULTS AGES 14+

Thursday June 27, 2019 6:00pm- 7:00pm
Basic Plantcare: Selecting crops, Fertilizer, and Watering
Thursday July 11, 2019 6:00pm- 7:00pm
Troubleshooting the midseason garden: pests, weeds, and other problem areas–Q&A encouraged
Thursday August 8, 2019 6:00pm- 7:00pm
Growing for a Fall Harvest: Cold-tolerant crops, plant dates, and season extension techniques
$15 member or $20 non-member per class- discounts for the full series

SIGN UP HERE


LEXFARM COMPOSTING 101/VERMICOMPOSTING 101 AGES 12+

Saturday July 13, 2019 1:00pm- 2:30pm
Left on its own, all organic matter will eventually break down through the action of hungry bacteria and fungi as well as larger creatures such as worms, sow bugs, and centipedes. These decomposers consume decaying plant material and convert it into humus.
Composting speeds up this natural process. In just a few months, you can potentially create a topsoil-like amendment that would have taken decades to form naturally. It can then be added to your soil to improve its structure—allowing air and water to enter easily and be retained.
You will learn how to start a small worm bin or trash can composting bin for your home.
FREE Workshop donations are appreciated. RSVP Online.

RSVP HERE


SUMMER FORAGING FARM WALK AGES 13+ 

Saturday, August 3rd 10:00am – 11:00am)
Are you interested in what more you can eat off the land? Spend the morning taking a refreshing walk around the farm and learning about the bounty that nature has surrounding the farm and possibly in your own backyard.
Along the walk we will learn and collect edibles to taste at the end, in our own foraging farm salad!

$20 member or $25 non-member

SIGN UP HERE


FLOWER CROWN WORKSHOP WITH MOMOKO AGES 13+ 

Sunday, August 18th 11:00am – 12:00pm)
Sunday, September 8th 11:00am – 12:00pm)
Have lots of flowers from your garden or not sure what to do with all those flowers from your LexFarm Flower CSA? This is a hands on class where you will learn the art of making truly beautiful flower crowns. Flower crowns are a great meditative hobby. They also can be used for any outdoor party from baby showers, birthdays to weddings. Sign up early, space is limited so you can get the best hands on instruction. Each participant will go home with their own handmade flower crown. Price includes class and supplies.

$25 member or $30 non-member

SIGN UP HERE