It is crucial that you find a REALTOR that is ready to help you resolve your distressed sale situation in Western Massachusetts.  I have had several years of experience in successfully closing short sales in Westfield, West Springfield, Chicopee, Springfield, Southwick, Agawam and the Pioneer Valley.

#1- Hire a REALTOR who is experienced in successful short sale closings.

#2- Make sure that you provide a COMPLETE package to the lender.

#3- List at a price that is competitive, but not too low. 

#4- Hire an attorney who has a team that will work to negotiate for you.

#5- Explore tax ramifications

#6- Make price adjustments on the schedule recommended by your Western MA REALTOR.

#7- Allow showings at all times.

#8- Stay in contact with the lender.  Answer phone calls, return documents as needed.

#9- Negotiate with all offers.

#10- Have buyers do inspections prior to purchase and sale agreements.

I have lived through this experience in my own life…I am empathetic and ready to help anyone in Western Massachusetts who wants a short sale specialist with heart and professionalism.  I work with a team that includes a well respected attorney who specializes in short sales and an accountant.  We will be hosting a FREE, no obligation, educational short sale seminar very soon.  Be sure to reserve your space and we will notify you as soon as we schedule the date.

I have been long overdue for a trip to donate to the Salvation Army, so when I heard about today’s collection, I went home and stuffed my little Subaru chuck full with clothes, books, toys and household items. 

When I got there I was greeted by Gail LaGasse, the head of the Salvation Army office on Arnold Street in Westfield along with several cheerful volunteers.  They told me the very large truck that they were filling was empty not long before my arrival.  They plan to stay at the Big Y on East Main Street, Westfield Shops, Westfield until that truck is completely full.

During my stop there, cars were pulling up at a regular pace and were donating a variety of items.  Jessica Sibilia pulled up as I was leaving and told me that she had been planning to have a tag sale, but when she heard about the drop off today, she decided to donate the items instead. 

One of the volunteers, Mary, told me that she had come this morning to make a donation after clearing out her basement and decided to stay to help load the trucks.  She helped me carry my multiple bags to the truck.

While the tornado and the aftermath is a horrible thing, it is wondrous to see the ways, both large and small, that our community bands together to help one another out. 

You can help, too!  Watch this video to learn more about how you can donate goods, services, assist with housing and more.  Remember: Your Neighbors Need You!

Hearing from past clients and customers who share their experience of working with an agent can help you to decide.

Here is what my repeat client, Loree Cloud of Westfield, MA has to say:

Such is the case with Tom and Kelly Galanis of Westfield, MA.

I met Tom and Kelly for the first time at PodCamp Western MA in 2009. We connected over Westfield State College which is their employer and my alma mater. After knowing each other for a little bit, they asked me to meet them over coffee at which time they told me that they would like to hire me as their real estate agent to sell their home.

We were successful and this is what Kelly wrote about our transaction:

“In this extremely difficult economy, the thought of selling a home is daunting for many. My husband and I entrusted the help of Lesley Lambert with the sale of our home, and she made the experience simply amazing! Lesley is a seasoned professional in the real estate industry with over 20 years of experience and it shows. She took the time with our family to educate us on the current trends in the market and offered helpful suggestions on maximizing the visibility of our home. What sets Lesley over the top is her unique and innovative use of Social Media in the real estate market. She uses tools such as Twitter and her popular blog to get the word out about new listings. She also does routine blogs featuring tips and tools for buyers and sellers to improve their home sale experience. Her knack for technology is an exceptional added value to sellers and is something you won’t find in most other Realtors in the area! Lesley not only brings these great qualities to the table as a Realtor, but she also brings RESULTS. We accepted a reasonable offer on our home within 30 days of listing with Lesley, and our property closed within six weeks of accepting that offer. Lesley has excellent ambition, dedication and is motivated to get properties SOLD! She also has excellent knowledge when working with buyers, particularly first-time home buyers. My husband and I highly recommend Lesley for all your real-estate needs – you won’t be disappointed!” December 4, 2009

Tom and Kelly and I remain close friends, which is really a treasure, and are working together in the Western MA social media community and at what is now Westfield University on their alumni relations. I am blessed to have such amazing clients and friends!

I happen to know first hand that a full time real estate agent works a lot more hours than most people realize. In addition to going on showing and listing appointments we have a lot of running around, phone calls and computer time that can absorb a day. I thought I might use my day today as an example of what a full time, hard-working real estate agent goes through.

8:30 am – coffee while reading emails and real estate news
9:00 am – gather up my kids (it is school vacation) and head to the office. Thankful that Park Square Realty in Westfield is family friendly!
11 am – drop kids at play date and head out to deliver purchase and sale agreements to listing in Chicopee for signature
1 pm – present marketing and pricing plan to potential listing client in Westfield, MA
3 pm – back to Park Square Realty’s office to check messages, emails and prepare for evening showings
4 pm – pick up my kids and work from home for an hour. Work on website marketing for listings and start editing video for a virtual tour.
5:30 pm – head back to Chicopee to show three properties to some first time home buyers
8 pm – home to research recent comparable sales because buyer is considering making an offer, write this blog post, write a blog post for my column at Masslive and another for Agent Genius Magazine.
10:30 pm – finish emails and blog posts – ran out of steam and will have to finish that virtual tour tomorrow.

During the course of the day I am answering calls and emails on the go…thank goodness for smart phones!

All of this costs my household something though, and I know other agents pay the same toll….

The laundry is piled up, the dishes need doing, dinner is late and sometimes not so healthy and don’t even get me started on the garden!

Ah well, it is all worth it when a buyer signs for a house that they love and a family selling their home is able to make their next move!

photo courtesy of Robbert van der Steeg on flickr