Western Mass Homes Lesley Lambert

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Homeownership is Emotional : a REALTOR’s take on Miranda Lambert’s “The House that Built Me”

In reading a recent REALTOR Magazine I saw the interview with Tom Douglas who wrote the lyrics to Miranda Lambert’s hit “The House That Built Me”. I am not much of a country music fan, so this song had gone under my radar, but his answers in the interview intrigued me to go find the song and give it a listen.

You conceived of the song during the housing boom times, but it wasn’t released until 2010. Did the dramatic changes in the market affect the song’s meaning in any way?

Douglas: A house is not simply four walls or a financial investment. It becomes your heart. It’s still the dream for most people, regardless of whether the real estate industry is booming. Having our own home is what we aspire to, whether it’s a trailer or a mansion on a hill.

Home ownership is so emotional and Douglas gets it right when he points out that it isn’t four walls. We all bond with our homes for different reasons. People often choose a house because it “feels like home”. Over the course of my 23 years as a real estate professional in Western MA, I have seen this time and time again. For reasons unknown to me, one house speaks to the buyer and gives them that “warm and fuzzy” feeling that tells them they want this to be home.

I grew up in Southwick and Westfield, MA and still drive by my childhood homes to catch a glimpse of my youthful memories. It is amazing how imagining my homes at certain points in my life is evocative of so many emotions. When I drive by I see the lilacs that my grandfather planted and the pool I loved to swim in. I see the lawn I mowed each week as a teenager and the spot where I parked my car. I remember the family room that hosted so many slumber parties and my lavender bedroom with the most expensive carpeting in the house. Just thinking of these spaces brings back a rush of memories and my mind’s eye can see things the way they were.

As Miranda Lambert sings her song, I realize that we all share those attachments to our homes and I am humbled to be part of the process that puts people into their home.

Here is the video for Miranda Lambert’s “The House that Built Me”…enjoy!

Does Your Western MA REALTOR Do This? Online Open House

house for sale at 81 woodmont, westfield, maEveryone is busier than ever and many of us don’t have the free time to visit open houses, even if we do want to buy a home in Western Massachusetts.

Today was an especially cold day, the kind that no one leaves home unless they really need to. Park Square Realty had already scheduled an open house for my new listing at 81 Woodmont Street, Westfield, MA and decided that I would use the time at my property to try a new technique: Online Virtual Open House.

I used my iPhone to live stream from the property. The format shows the viewer a live video along with sound and a chat room so that viewers can type questions or converse with each other. While showing the property I offered to answer any questions the viewers may have about the house or real estate in Westfield, MA. As they typed their questions to me, I answered them out loud in real time.

I got wonderful feedback from the viewers that attended, in a poll of the the viewers 100% of them thought it was a good format and enjoyed being able to see a house this way.

If you want a Western MA real estate agent that is innovative, hard working and can provide proven results, call me, Lesley Lambert at Park Square Realty. I am working every day to provide new marketing services to augment my strong traditional marketing techniques. I would love the opportunity to meet with you personally and discuss all the tools I use to get my Western MA homes for sale SOLD.

Here is the video from the open house at 81 Woodmont Street, Westfield, MA:

What do you think? Do you like this added service? Would you like your REALTOR to offer services like this?

Make more money on your Western MA home sale!

Lesley Lambert sells homes for more moneyLesley Lambert of Park Square Realty in Westfield, MA will get you more money on your Western Massachusetts home sale!

Put my 23 years of experience helping people buy or sell homes in Western MA to work for you.

My homes for sale in Western MA sell for 4.78% more than the industry average in Western Massachusetts according to the REALTORS Association of Pioneer Valley.

Now more than ever, wouldn’t you like to keep more of your homes equity for yourself?  It pays to hire an experienced professional real estate agent who has proven results.

If you would like to discuss selling your home in Western Massachusetts, please get in touch with me: Lesley Lambert of Park Square Realty, Westfield, MA 01085 413-575-3611.

My Childhood Hometown: Southwick, MA

Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
Image via Wikipedia

Growing up in a small town is a funny thing.  It isn’t until you are much older, and maybe being a parent is part of it, that you realize why your parents chose to live in “podunk” and raise you in that little bit of nowhere you couldn’t wait to get out of.

I was born in Springfield, MA, but spent my childhood in Southwick, MA.  Known to some as “the jog” or “the notch”, much of the southern part of the town dips miles into Connecticut.  I grew up right on a street that was only a mile from the CT border.

As a REALTOR at Park Square Realty in the Greater Westfield area, I get to work in Southwick quite a bit, but I don’t always slow down to really notice the town.  Entering Southwick, MA

A buyer client of mine wanted to see several properties in Southwick last week and driving around town started to bring back memories of my youth in town.  Driving the side road that was a “short cut” to my street, I felt my instincts for where to hug the curves and  slow down kick back in automatically.  I passed the homes where my high school friends lived (and some of their parents still live) and loads of developments that were never there when I was young.

I showed a home for sale across from the Sofinowski Land Preserve, which is now protected land, but when I lived just down the road was still Mr. Sofinowski’s farm.  My sister and I used to love to ride our bikes down the hill near his farm and I always liked his sheep.

On this drive I could see the time stamp for when neighborhoods moved further out in to the southern “country” of town.   Peppered about the historic homes and farms, the multitude of raised ranch homes tell of the late 70’s and early 80’s.  The mini mansions came in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, many of them on what used to be tobacco fields.

Tobacco Barn in Southwick, MAThe tobacco farm where I worked (yes I picked tobacco) is still there, although others are gone and turned into neighborhoods.  The Summer House is still there and thriving, although it is now a year round restaurant.  The Moto-Cross still causes traffic when the BMX races come to town

I should have known that I couldn’t be in town without being recognized AND that only my maiden name would be used.  As my client and I arrived at our last property for sale, I  was greeted with “hey, you are Lesley WEBER!”.

southwick ma foliage
Southwick in the Fall

I live in Westfield now, but only a half mile from the Southwick line and I spend a lot of time with friends and my daughters enjoying my childhood town.  As a parent I now see what my parents were doing by raising a family in a small town like Southwick:  it is pretty, it is safe, it is quiet and it is still a community.

If you are looking to move to Southwick, MA I not only recommend it, but it would be my special pleasure to help you with your move.

southwick barn in winter
Southwick in the Winter

tobacco barn photo courtesy of hilltowngal

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Free Western MA Real Estate Market Reports

Wondering how home values in your Western Massachusetts town are holding up? Curious to see what your Western Massachusetts home might be worth in today’s market? Thinking of moving to a new town in Western Massachusetts and want to know what the real estate market looks like there?

I would be happy to provide you with a FREE Western MA Real Estate Market Report with no obligation. You can see a sample of the report I send. To receive your customized report please fill out the form below: