This week is the mid-year panels for the National Association of REALTORS and there are a lot discussions happening. The week isn’t JUST about discussions, however, it is about action and pro-action, too. Tomorrow, May 17, 2012 is the REALTOR rallyl in Washington DC.

I can’t be in DC, but there is a virtual rally, too and I am a firm believer in the value of home ownership for more reasons than the fact I am a REALTOR.

My parents brought me up in a small town in Western MA, Southwick Massachusetts. They chose Southwick, MA for the proximity to Springfield, MA and Hartford, MA which resolved both familial and work obligations. Their first home was purchased when I was about a year old for $16,000. We lived there, on Sefton Drive in Southwick, until about 1979 when my parents built a new home. We move “all the way across town” to Mort Vining Road, Southwick, MA. What a change! We went from a neighborhood (even though a very suburban one) to the true country. Barely paved road; cows; sheep and horses along the road and no cable tv.

As my parents grew, so did their real estate portfolio. They bought investments to keep (like the house my mom still lives in) and others to flip. I learned about flipping properties about two decades before it became popular. I was a kid, a teenager, but I painted, weeded, carried, sanded and did whatever labor needed to be done to help our family with our American Dream. I worked alongside my mom as an assistant folding newsletters and licking (yeah we had to lick em) stamps from 1982-1988. In 1988 I took the real estate license course and became a REALTOR, myself.

After college I wanted to move out. My mom offered me discounted rent in her multi-family in exchange for management duties. I took over the building operations from soup to nuts and I can tell you that I went nuts in that soup, but I learned lessons that no college degree can teach. I always knew the value of a dollar and the feel of a hard day’s work (one of my first jobs was tobacco in Southwick) but this was different. This was an adult responsibility.

Post graduation in 1992, there were no jobs in my degree (English PR and Communications) and I went to work once again for my mom at her real estate office in Westfield, MA.

Next up was my own home ownership. I have since owned several properties, both personal and investment and I credit my parents for the wonderful education….it has paid dividends that my college education (while amazing) never could.

Why do I share this?

Because…I believe. I believe in home ownership. I believe in Western Massachusetts. I believe that you do, too.

The following video is a national interview of the National Association of REALTOR’S financial guru, Lawrence Yun. He echoes thoughts that I have daily:

Paraphrasing NAR :

Home buyers need to stay within their means when purchasing a home. YES

The lenders are overreacting to the point where even a well qualified buyer can’t get a mortgage. YES

The pendulum has swung to overly stringent requirements in lending. YES

Cash buyers are helping to move the economy, but are preventing 1st time buyers needing a mortgage from getting the affordable homes. YES

This is a bi-partisan AMERICAN issue. YES

Home ownership truly matters. YES

Watch the video to see and hear what Lawrence Yun has to say. Comment below to let me know what YOU have to say…you already know what I have to say.

What do you do?

If you own a home in Westfield, Agawam, Southwick, West Springfield, Chicopee or other parts of Western Massachusetts and you need help deciding if a short sale is the right solution for you, then you should watch this:

When considering what is the right answer for your Western MA real estate and trying to decide if a short sale in Western MA is the best route, please know that there is help. Visit WWW.SHORTSALEMYHO.ME and I will be in touch for a FREE, no obligation short sale consultation.

Park Square Realty’s showings and pending sales are up about 200% over last year. Additionally homes are selling for about 5-7% under the asking price when Western MA homes are priced within fair market range.

I am the #1 Agent for listings sold at Park Square Realty and my percentages for percentage under asking price are often much better than the local industry averages.

If you are considering selling your Western MA home, I hope you will allow me the privilege of presenting my marketing plan and “auditioning” for the job.

9 turns 10 soon & wants her own room. Wallpaper has got to go! (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

This is the time of year that people in Western Massachusetts start thinking about putting their home on the real estate market. When they do, the smart ones invite their trusted REALTOR in to give advice on staging prior to listing the home.

I have been on many of these types of appointments in Western MA over the past couple of months and inevitably there is one main thing that needs to be addressed: paint.

Such a simple thing, paint, but not easy. It is messy and time consuming and hiring professionals can get pricey, but let me tell you something…you need to do it!

Even a home that is already fairly neutral will benefit from a fresh coat of paint, but most homes haven’t been painted in years or are decorated with colors that might turn off potential buyers.

Now, if you have wallpaper on the walls we have a whole other issue. Buyers HATE wallpaper. Yes, that expensive paper that you have loved is a deterrent to the sale of your home. No, the buyer can’t “just deal with it”. The buyer will buy a house without wallpaper and with a fresh coat of paint! The wallpaper needs to come down, the walls need a coat of neutral (but not cold) paint.

The last issue I encounter often is the paneled basement rec room. Most paneling is dark and while you might feel that lends to the coziness of the room, most people think it looks dated and cave-like. Removing the paneling is expensive, but this can get a coat of paint, too! Prep the paneling with a primer like Kilz and then paint with regular paint over that.

The next question is what color to paint. Here is some advice from an article on AOL Real Estate:

Repainting the Kitchen

In the kitchen it’s good to stay in the orange, red and yellow colors. It is said that they work because they’re food related, but remember to keep them soft and neutral.

Repainting the Bathroom

Paint should be light in these smaller spaces with pops of color brought in with accessories.  Creamy tans and warm beige tones work best.

Repainting the Bedroom

No bright colors here as this is the quiet sanctuary.  If a bath is attached, keep the colors in the same palette.

In general:

Remember that white is too stark and is a turn off to buyers.  Think warm and comforting while still being neutral.

If you are in Western Massachusetts and are wondering what you should do to get your home ready to sell, I am happy to help.  I offer staging and preparation tips at no obligation … just call me:  Lesley Lambert, Park Square Realty, 413-575-3611.

I have been on many of these types of appointments over the past couple of months and inevitably there is one main thing that needs to be addressed: paint.

Such a simple thing, paint, but not easy. It is messy and time consuming and hiring professionals can get pricey, but let me tell you something…you need to do it!

Even a home that is already fairly neutral will benefit from a fresh coat of paint, but most homes haven’t been painted in years or are decorated with colors that might turn off potential buyers.

Now, if you have wallpaper on the walls we have a whole other issue. Buyers HATE wallpaper. Yes, that expensive paper that you have loved is a deterrent to the sale of your home. No, the buyer can’t “just deal with it”. The buyer will buy a house without wallpaper and with a fresh coat of paint! The wallpaper needs to come down, the walls need a coat of neutral (but not cold) paint.

The last issue I encounter often is the panelled basement rec room. Most panelling is dark and while you might feel that lends to the coziness of the room, most people think it looks dated and cave-like. Removing the panelling is expensive, but this can get a coat of paint, too! Prep the paneling with a primer like Kilz and then paint with regular paint over that.

The t question is what color to paint. Here is a great resource that can help you decide:

Emotion (Photo credit: rexquisite)

Buying or selling real estate is an emotional business no matter what, but when you are selling a home that you wish you could keep it is much more emotionally taxing.

I have worked with many clients who are selling their beloved home for a number of reasons: job relocation, need to downsize, moving to a retirement community or divorce. Even when they are excited about the next phase in their life, it can be so difficult to let go of the home that they have loved so much.

I can empathize and understand this intimately as I had to sell my home five years ago. I thought I would live there until I grew old. I had built the home with my own hands and every part of the home was there because I chose it. It was so difficult to walk away from that home, but I did discover some tips and tricks that worked for me and have worked for other clients experiencing an emotionally difficult move.

#1- Redecorate and stage the home specifically for sale. You usually need to do this anyway, but in my case I made this process the opportunity to begin detaching emotionally. As I removed personal items and took down decorations I began moving both physically and emotionally. I painted the interior and moved furniture around. With my items gone, a different color wall and the furniture in a new arrangement it didn’t feel like my home anymore. Now it was a house for sale, a commodity…not a home. It was time to find that new home.

#2- I said goodbye. This may sound goofy because clearly a house can’t hear and doesn’t care who lives within it, but I thanked my house and wished it well with it’s new owners. I said goodbye over and over again.

#3- Small steps. Once the decision has been made to make the move you need to take one thing at a time so that you won’t get overwhelmed. Putting too much on your plate or thinking too far out in the process will cause you anxiety and emotional strain. You do, of course, need to plan and have a strategy in place, but you don’t need to extrapolate on a daily basis.

I met with two clients this week that were experiencing this and after leaving one of them I recorded the following:

Map showing the counties typically considered to make up Western Massachusetts (dark green). Worcester County is considered to be either western or central Massachusetts (light green). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the past few weeks the economic outlook for real estate has improved in Western Massachusetts. As a real estate agent in Western Massachusetts for the past 23 years, I have seen a lot of change in the local real estate market. Park Square Realty has noticed a few key elements that will impact the real estate market in Western MA this Spring.

Mortgage rates have been at a lifetime low, but they won’t last forever. Over the past week the rates have been creeping up and it is probably time to ask your lender about a “rate lock” and start seriously hunting for your new home.

Rising interest rates could spur more activity in home sales in Western Massachusetts. As a home buyer this means you want to get out there quickly and get your dream home before the competition grows. If you are a home seller in Western MA then you want to get your house on the market now to try to be there when the buyers show up.

This January and February have been the best two months in winter home sales in the past five years.

Let’s hope these economic indicators are a sign of improvement in Western Massachusetts real estate!

If you are looking to buy a home in Western MA or sell your Western MA home, I will help you make it happen!

Find out How Much Your Home is Worth…Click Here!

Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

Find your Dream home!

Search All Homes For Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

Related articles

• Real Estate in Western MA is up by almost 200% according to Park Square Realty (westernmahomes.net)
• Park Square Realty Showing Large Growth in Real Estate Activity in Western MA (westernmahomes.net)
• Why You Should Hire Lesley Lambert, REALTOR in Western MA (westernmahomes.net)
• Why It Matters if Your Western MA Real Estate Agent is Tech Savvy (westernmahomes.net)

Showings on Park Square Listings and Pending Sales of Park Square Listings.

First 80 days of 2011 compared to the First 80 days of 2012..

January 2011 to March 20th 2011: 264 Showings 31 Pendings (PKSQ Listings)

January 2012 to March 20th 2012: 540 Showings 58 Pendings (PKSQ Listings)
These are amazing statistics….

Showings on our listings have more than doubled from last year = (204.5%)

Pending sales of our listings have almost doubled from last year = (187.1%)

Activity at Park Square has basically doubled during the first 80 days of 2012..

When you look at year to date showings right now versus the same period last year, our showings are up 114% over last year. Our year to date pending/sales of our listings are up 90% over last year.

Here are the actual numbers:

1/1/11-3/12/11 1/1/12-3/12/12
Showings 217 464

Pendings/sales of Park Square Realty listings 28 53

If you are considering putting your house in Western Massachusetts on the market to sell, now is a great time to get some activity and offers!

Just a reminder: I am the TOP AGENT FOR LISTINGS SOLD at Park Square Realty.

I have proven results over two decades in real estate.  I don’t take listings, I sell homes!

Find out How Much Your Home is Worth…Click Here!

Westfield, MA Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Agawam, MA Homes for Sale West Springfield, MA Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com

As a home seller in Western MA you may wonder why this matters to YOU…well, it is huge and here is why:

77.4% of North America and 28.7% of the World are using the internet and this is where your buyers are.

Over the past decade North America has seen a 146.3% increase in internet
users and we have seen an increase of 444.8% in internet users across the
globe.

This puts almost 2 Billion people on the internet today and this number is larger every day.

As for real estate a National Association of Realtors study in 2008 showed that 87% of all buyers used the internet to search for homes.

87%! You want those buyers to be able to easily find your home for sale in Western MA, don’t you?

Well, that is not always the easiest task, and like most technical things it requires someone with professional experience and expertise…someone like, well…ME!

I am skilled at internet marketing and online lead generation for your home for sale in Western Massachusetts. I have learned the tools necessary to have your listing to be featured on Google, realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia and other major search portals. More importantly, I have created systems that get the buyers to reach out to me to find out more information on your property. It is common knowledge that:

More inquiries=more showings=faster sale for higher price.

To ask me specifics about my unique internet marketing plans for home sellers in Western MA click below!

Click here to learn more about my marketing plan!

Westfield, MA Homes for Sale Search All Homes For Sale Agawam, MA Homes for Sale West Springfield, MA Homes for Sale Free List of Foreclosed Homes For Sale What is your home worth? Homes Close to Where You Work Lesley Lambert Park Square Realty 4135753611 realestate.lesleylambert@gmail.com