Tips for Holiday Decorating on a Budget

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation 
Call us at (781)-929-4994 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation

The holidays are approaching. Today, we thought we'd do something a little different and share this festive video on holiday decorating tips from HGTV. Designer Angelo Surmelis shares several great ideas to spread holiday cheer throughout the home. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Pay attention to the mantle. If you don't have some already, buy some kind of garland to drape over the mantle. Next, use leftover ornaments and candles to add light and texture. When choosing ornaments and candles, ensure they are in the same color-palette. This helps make your mantle a great focal point!
2. Use smaller Christmas trees. Every house has their main Christmas tree. In addition, you can also purchase smaller, inexpensive, eco-friendly trees to place throughout the home. Decorate these trees with strips of fabric from a T-shirt in holiday colors to save money for the main tree.
3. Use what you have. Be resourceful. Adding a plate charger and place mat to your everyday dining set adds some jazz to your table. Fresh-cut flowers and candles will help finish the look. You don't need grand, expensive candles -- a little candlelight goes a long way!

As you can see, it doesn't take much to make your home feel more festive. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

How to Upgrade Your Boston Home to Sell for Top Dollar

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation 
Call us at (781)-929-4994 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation

A lot of people think that if they put $20,000 into remodeling their kitchen, their home will instantly be worth an extra $30,000. Unfortunately, this isn't true, but kitchens are important when remodeling.

However, if you're repairing your home to add some extra value, you'll want to start in the front. A buyer makes a decision about a property in an average of seven seconds. Put out fresh mulch, plant seasonal plants and flowers, and even repaint your front door or purchase a new one. Buyers love seeing nice front doors. It's October, so pumpkins at the doorstep may entice some buyers.

Now let's focus on the entryway of your home, as it is where the buyers will be heading next. It's important to remember that you need to declutter your property at this point. Getting things off of your counters will make a big difference. Buyers like to see neat, clean, and organized homes. Remember to remove personal photos and thin out your bookshelves to showcase them. Don't forget to clear out your closet to show how large it is.

Another easy way to add value is to repaint your home. Painting always adds value, so go for a neutral earth tone. Not everyone likes a pink bedroom. When repainting in your home, strive for uniformity and consistency.

Cleaning your home is also a surefire way to add value to your home. I would suggest hiring a maid for a day and just relaxing. I cannot stress this enough. Clean, clean, clean! Clean homes always sell for more money.

Lighting is important too. When a buyer walks in your home they need to be able to see it. Turn on all your lights and open up all your windows. Nobody likes a dark home.

Staging is another crucial thing to do if you want to sell for a little extra money. We can actually come in and take a look at your home and suggest ways that you can make it more appealing to buyers. I even have some home staging companies that I can refer you to.

If you're looking to sell your home in Boston, please don't hesitate to contact me! I would love to help you out!

Our Top Questions for a Successful House Hunt

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation 
Call us at (781)-929-4994 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation

Today, I'll go over some key questions for our house hunters to ask in order to find the perfect house.

The first thing you should ask about is the neighborhood. If you really like a house, go for a walk in the neighborhood. You'll bump into other neighbors, and they will tell you all about the neighborhood. It's also a good idea to stop by the neighborhood at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to see the traffic pattern around the house you are interested in.

Ask about schools. There are several websites you can go to. I use GreatSchools.org, which tells you about school sizes, teacher to student ratios, and more. You can also go to the district in that town. They are always happy to answer questions.

Also, ask about utility bills. This is a fair question to ask, especially considering the last winter we had. It's good to know what utility bills are running at so you can prepare your budget.

Finally, ask about any big ticket items. You don't want any surprises when you buy a house. How old is the roof? A new roof can run $10,000 to $50,000 depending on the size of the house. Also, ask about the water heater and HVAC systems. Older outdoor AC units may need new compressors, which is a big cost. Your home inspector will be able to point out any issues with the house, but make sure you ask about these specific items.

If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. My team and I would be happy to help you!