Western Mass Homes Lesley Lambert

Selling Your Home

Home Ownership Truly Matters. Beyond Western Massachusetts: The National Association of REALTORS

home ownership matters in western maHome ownership is clearly something I feel passionately about. Not everyone has to own a home and not everyone SHOULD, but for those that are working toward the American Dream of Home Ownership…it matters.

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.

Should You Sell Your Western MA Home With A Short Sale?

You are in a bad spot. You owe more for your Western MA home than it is worth and you need to sell. You are being relocated, or getting divorced or have lost your job or maybe you just need to reduce your monthly overhead. No matter what the reason, you need to move, but your home is now worth less than the mortgage that you owe your lender.

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.

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.

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.

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Preparing Your Home For Sale: Wallpaper and Paint

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 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: