Selling Your Home

Apr 18 2012

Sell Your Western MA Home for MORE!

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.

Apr 10 2012

Preparing Your Home For Sale: Wallpaper and Paint

9 turns 10 soon & wants her own room. Wallpape... — 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.

Apr 10 2012

Preparing Your Home For Sale: Wallpaper and Paint

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.

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:

Apr 05 2012

Selling Your Home is Emotional – Tips For Working Through the Home Selling Process

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:

Mar 26 2012

Western Massachusetts Real Estate Economic Outlook Improved

Map showing the counties typically considered ... — 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