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School’s Back and Camp Real Estate is Over
Today is that bittersweet time of year when summer is winding down and the kids go back to school. In Westfield, MA today was the first day back to school and while I will miss having more time with the girls, I do like having a more determined work day schedule.
Being a single mom who is also a real estate agent, my schedule during the summertime can be a bit….interesting. The girls have a heavy dance schedule and balancing that alongside with trying to get some fun in with them can be a real challenge. Luckily, my schedule is mine to create, is flexible and the girls are now old enough to come along with me when they must. Thus was born: Camp Real Estate.
Camp Real Estate has several activities:
–Being quiet while mom is on the phone. The signal from me is two urgent finger snaps and a death stare. First one to get noisy loses, BIG TIME.
–Taking scenic rides around Western Massachusetts to exciting points of origin like showings, sign plantings and lockbox removals.
–Following along silently at showings and playing the don’t talk, don’t touch and barely breathe game. The prize of this game is getting a quiet ride home instead of the “lecture”.
–Visits to the office. Activities here include, but are not limited to: overuse of the water cooler, spinning in desk chairs, hide and seek and carrying file folders.
Even more fun (no really this time) are the other perks of Camp Real Estate:
–Impromptu stops after a house showing to swim in the Granville Gorge and then have Summer House ice cream for lunch.
–Swimming for hours while mom works remotely with her mobile office.
–Visiting houses with cool pets like chickens, goats, kittens and dogs.
–The occasional sushi lunch at K’s as a reward.
–Having a mom that can schedule her life to be there for you all the time (this one they may not get for a few years).
It is a delicate and sometimes stressful balancing act being a full time REALTOR in Western MA and raising two daughters, especially during vacation time, but I wouldn’t trade either for the world. My career allows me the flexibility and means to provide for my children and still be there for them and for that gift I am eminently grateful to Camp Real Estate!
Humbled, Honored and Honestly Excited! 25 Women to Watch in Western MA
Last night I attended a photo shoot for the honorees of the 2012 listing of the 25 Women to Watch in Western Massachusetts.
Even more exciting than going was being the recipient of their award for real estate agent in Western MA!
It was lovely to be surrounded by two dozen brilliant, beautiful and talented women from the best part of the world, Western MA!
We each had a complimentary head shot taken and then we were photographed as a group. I can’t wait to see the results of the lovely photos taken by Sleaque Images of East Longmeadow.
There is more fun to come as we will have a lovely event on October 11, 2012 to celebrate our honors. As a real estate professional in Western Ma for the past 24 years, I have been the lucky recipient of many honors, but this one is the most exciting by far. Anytime a pool of the best women is being put together and I get to be included, that is my version of rock star.
Thank you to whatever delightful friend nominated me and thank you to everyone who voted. I didn’t even know I was nominated and this award came as a total pleasant surprise.
I really appreciate Western Massachusetts Women Magazine for putting this together and for honoring the hard working and delightful women of the best location in the world.
To learn more about this event or to view the magazine online visit the link to Western Massachusetts Women Magazine.
Related articles
Real Estate is NOT a Tag Sale
Selling your Western MA home is not a tag sale, it is a major financial decision that has many aspects and pitfalls that most people never consider. You do not want to treat your real estate transaction as if it was a tag sale.
Here is a scenario:
Mrs. Seller wants to sell certain items to Mr. Buyer. She decides to either contact the buyer or the buyer agent directly and make a deal. They agree to a private arrangement and never involve their Western MA realtor or attorney. No big deal, right?
WRONG.
Fast forward to closing time. Mrs. Seller leaves the agreed upon items in the house at closing. Mr. Buyer fails to pay the seller and suddenly Mrs. Seller is calling her agent and lawyer to get them involved. There is nothing in writing, no representation involved in the negotiation and no witnesses to the deal…Mrs. Seller may never see her items or the money.
Another example:
Mr. Seller asks Miss Buyer if he can leave certain items for her including paint cans, lumber, a lawn mower and firewood. She says yes and they move onto closing. No biggie, right?
WRONG.
Moving on to the day of the closing and Miss Buyer does her walk through with her Western MA real estate agent and doesn’t want to close unless the items are removed. The closing moves forward, but the seller ends up paying several thousand dollars in concessions to the buyer for the items left behind.
These are just two examples of how private or side deals can blow up a transaction and potentially cost a lot of unexpected money from the proceeds of the sale.
These types of arrangements are best handled by your representation and placed in writing attached to the purchase contract to avoid issues at the closing.
If you have questions about this issue or any other Western MA real estate questions feel free to reach out!
Lesley Lambert- Park Square Realty
413-575-3611
Flipping Homes in Western Massachusetts
Are you considering buying a distressed property in Western MA to renovate and resell or “flip”?
There is a potential for making profits in flipping homes in Western Massachusetts, but the process can also be problematic if you don’t have good advice. I specialize in assisting investors with purchasing properties at wholesale or distressed prices and helping them to resell the home once it is renovated. It is important that you have an agent with experience in investment flipping to guide you, so that you don’t lose money when you should have profits.
A few major concerns: not overpaying for the property initially, not over improving the property, choosing the correct improvements and conserving money on less desirable improvements, proper pricing and marketing of the completed project to reduce carrying costs and aggressive negotiations and the management of the transaction to ensure a quick closing.
I have extensive experience with helping investors in Western Massachusetts purchase property to renovate and resell, or flip. If you are considering trying this process, it would be my pleasure to help you!
Lesley Lambert, Park Square Realty, REALTOR serving Western Massachusetts investors for 24 years.
413-575-3611
