United States

Mar 26 2014

Still Working on Your 2013 Tax Returns? Here Are Some Last Minute Real Estate Tax Tips

Tax time is a chore for everyone and if you are like me, sometimes you wait until the end of the time period to get those tax returns filed.

Owning a home in Western MA can really change how you file and what deductions you can take on your taxes.

The following articles will offer you some good advice on getting your PMI deduction, avoiding mistakes that homeowners make and much more.

What You Should Know About Your Home and Your 2013 Taxes

It’s the last year for three sweet home tax benefits, but the first for a way simpler home office deduction. Read
How to Get Your PMI Deduction

Deducting PMI premiums can save you hundreds of dollars. Here’s what you need to know to get the deduction. Read
9 Easy Mistakes Homeowners Make on Their Taxes

Don’t rouse the IRS or pay more taxes than necessary — know the score on each home tax deduction and credit. Read
6 Home Deduction Traps and How to Avoid Them

Get an “A” on your Schedule A form: Dodge these tax deduction pitfalls to save time, money, and an IRS investigation. Read
How to Claim Your Energy Tax Credits

Energy tax credits on select improvements available through the end of tax year 2013. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Mar 25 2014

Checklist Guide to Prepare Your Western MA Home for Sale

Whether the weather is cooperating or not, Spring is here and with that season of renewal comes thoughts of making a move in Western MA or beyond.

It can take several weeks or more to prep your Western MA home for sale, so you need to get a jump on the checklist if you are going to be ready to hit the market this Spring.

We are actually experiencing a shortage of homes for sale in Western MA so if you are considering making a move, you should get in touch with me right away to get the ball rolling! Getting on the market ahead of the crowd means less competition for you!

According to Laura Gaskill on Houzz your order of operations is this:

First steps:

Interview and choose a real estate agent.
Assess your property — not just the value but also what could be done to the interior or exterior to appeal to more buyers.
Decide what work you are going to do yourself and what you would like a pro to do.
Hire a home stager. Your stager will have important input on what repairs and changes will be most worth your time and money, and which ones to skip.
Hire additional pros as needed, starting with a landscaper. Remember, the landscape needs time to fill in.

Your first step in getting your Western MA home ready to sell should be to get in touch with me. I will make a no obligation visit to your home to discuss what changes and improvements can be made to get the most out of your sale. Often these are simple and not very expensive improvements, but they can take some time, so we should meet before you think you are going to go on the market.

To get started on selling your Western MA home, get in touch with me:

Lesley Lambert, Western MA REALTOR with Park Square Realty 413-575-3611

For more tips from the Houzz article, see below.

Help for Selling Your Home Faster — and Maybe for More

Kitchen ideas, bathroom ideas, and more ∨Before starting a bathroom remodel, search for bathroom ideas and interesting products, including a one-of-a-kind bath, vanity and bath sink.
As you get ready to host an event, be sure you have enough dining benches and dishes for dinner guests, as well as enough bakeware and kitchen knives sets for food preparation.

Mar 13 2014

Lesley Was Phenomenal! Buyer testimonial on buying their Western MA home with Lesley Lambert, Park Square Realty

I love getting feedback and testimonials from my clients. It means a lot to me that they take the time to write down their thoughts on working with me to buy or sell their home in Western Massachusetts.

Recently I had the great pleasure of working with Betty and Larry. They currently live in Oak Park, Illinois, but Betty wanted to return to Western Massachusetts. She and Larry had been looking for Victorian homes for sale in other parts of Western MA when they found the internet marketing for a Victorian home in Westfield, MA that I was representing.

While in town visiting family, Betty called me up and asked to see the house. She fell in love with it and made an offer that day. Fast forward a couple of months and Betty and Larry are now the proud owners of that home.

They were lovely to deal with and it was a joy because all the parties involved were getting just what they wanted from this transaction.

This week I received a written note to my office telling Park Square Realty that Larry and Betty thought:

“Lesley was phenomenal! I wish our Oak Park REALTOR could be half as good.”

Betty stopped into my office the other day and was kind enough to repeat those words in person to the owner of Park Square Realty, as well.

I am thrilled that my passion for internet based marketing brought Betty and Larry into my life and got them the house of their dreams. I am excited that they will be relocating to Western MA because I want to spend more time with them!

If you have a house to sell in Western MA and you want to make sure your listing gets the best exposure possible, please give me a call. I would love to sit down with you and explain my online marketing plan and show you personally how I found buyers in Illinois for my Westfield, MA home for sale.

If you are looking to buy a home in Western MA, I would love to assist you with that, too!

Lesley Lambert, Western MA REALTOR with Park Square Realty 413-575-3611

Mar 10 2014

Update Decor with Black and White

Maybe one of your 2014 resolutions was to update the decor of your home?

If you are looking for something dramatic, then black and white paint and furnishings might be the look you want!

This room is kept bright and crisp with lots of white details and a light colored area rug. This is a modern, yet tailored look that can instantly update your home and make it feel super stylish.

If you are looking to buy a home in Western Massachusetts,I would love to help you in your Western MA home search! You can reach me anytime: Lesley Lambert, Western MA REALTOR with Park Square Realty 413-575-3611.

Like to look over these beautiful home pictures?

CLICK here to be put on a list that will notify you when new photos are added.

Mar 07 2014

Find Out What a Home Improvement Project Will Mean to Your Western MA Home’s Value

If you are considering making a home improvement to your Western MA home, you may wonder what that improvement will do to the bottom line of your home’s value.

Some renovations make a bigger impact than others and it is smart to know an estimate of the value before making the investment. Even if you aren’t thinking of selling your Western MA home now, it makes sense to keep up to date on market values.

I have access to a tool that can calculate a reliable figure for most common home improvements.

“Hanley Wood, a provider of housing development market data, is the source of the home improvement data that supports (the) “Refine Value Based on Home Improvement”. Hanley Wood is known for collecting and aggregating residential and commercial construction data, and for publishing magazines such as Remodeling.

The home improvement data are produced at a regional level, and refactored at the ZIP code level for the most accurate results. The data are updated annually.”

The tool supports improvements from window replacements, decks, kitchen renovations and even additions.

If you are considering a home improvement on your Western MA home in the near future, let me work up a report for you!