Archive for the 'Realtors' category

When trying to sell your home don't forget about how important even the smallest of details can be.  A great article from the New York Times discusses how Jamella Swift, an NYC broker, learns that ignoring details can really decrease the value of the home.

Clutter: Subtract 5-15%

Fresh towels and throw pillows: Add $25,000

Dirty rugs: Subtract $5,000

Regrouting tile: Add $100,000 (don't forget we're talking about a $3 million listing in NYC)

New Fixtures and appliances Add $250 in rent

New Lights: Add $32,500

Replacing cabinets: Add $107,000

An expensive shoe closet: Worth every penny!

Check out the full article here

Buying a home can be one of the biggest purchases you will make in your life. With that said, you want to make sure you're prepared, educated, and ready to make the commitment.  Here are some things to watch out for when starting the process.

1. Dealing with Lenders 

• When borrowing money you want to make sure you calculate your total monthly costs.  Before you house-hunt, find out the tax and insurance rates for homes in your price range. Don't forget about condo fees, loan, tax, and insurance payments.

• Another important factor is to shop around! You want to talk to at least two lenders to make sure you are getting a competitive loan.  Remember interest rates can vary not only daily, but sometimes a few times a day!  Make sure your lender is giving you the highest quality advice. 

2. Find the Right Lawyer

• Real estate law varies by state.  It also can get even more localized by the neighborhoods. You want to hire a real estate attorney in or near the town you want to buy in. 

3. Inspections

• The most important aspect of choosing your home inspector is to shop around and ask for referrals.  Home inspectors know a lot about houses, but they can't see inside the walls or dismantle the house. They can't even give you an estimate. (That's what contractors are there for) Both are very important to the purchase of your home, so you want to make sure you're getting the best for your money.

4. Our own Mistakes

• The biggest thing that you need to understand as a buyer, is how much time and how big of a commitment it is to buy a home.  A lot of work is put into making your final decision. Expect some stress, and remember to give yourself some slack! Finding the right agent to balance out your personalities is one of the best things you can do in successfully buying a home.

5. Location

• The location of your home is the one thing you cannot change.  You want to make sure you really love the location and want to live there. Don't just settle; you could be living there for a very long period of time.  Don't forget to consider different weather conditions.  Is that hill up the driveway going to be too much of a pain in the winter? Can you handle living with the sounds of the city nightlife? You decide. 

6. Price

• Make sure you do out all your calculations.  When dealing with such large numbers such as $500,000, another 2 or 3 thousand doesn't seem like much.  However, at 6.125% interest, its about $30/month, but becomes $10,800 over the term of the loan. It pays to do out all the calculations! 

Do you have any stories to share that would help our fellow buyers? What were your experiences?

Happy Hunting! Remember Tory Row Real Estate is always here to help in any way we can!

Want to put your home on the market? Are you hesitating because of the current housing market? Don't be afraid! We may be in a slump but, there is still hope! Here are a few tips on how to sell your home fast and efficiently!

Price

Setting a price is very important to the sale of your home.  Since we're in a down market, you need to be aware of the comparable houses on the market in your area.  It is a strategy that is tricky but easily attainable! You want to try and find that perfect balance between attracting solid offers and ultimately receiving top dollar. You should be flexible on price in our market and try not to get stuck on a certain number in your head.

If you can't compete with your competitors on price, especially the foreclosure properties, you can nail the curb appeal! Make your house look presentable and welcoming.  Putting the money, time, and effort into repainting, power washing, gardening, and if your driveway needs improvements, this is the time to fix them! The first step in getting a buyer interested is getting them through the front door!

Clear out all Clutter

When you’re selling a home you want the potential buyers to picture themselves living in the home, not living in your life!  Put away all the old magazines that have been piling up for ages, the loose papers on the kitchen table, and the million remote controls around the living room! You also want to make sure to take down all your personal photos of your family and replace them with nice pieces of art.  

Find the Right Real Estate Agent

There are many factors that go into finding the right agent. First you want to make sure the person has good values, education and a lot of experience! It is important to that you trust your agent and share the same values. You also want to make sure you get an agent that is familiar with your neighborhood. It's easy to look up comps, but the agent is the one who can tell you about the schools, demographics, and even crime rates! Once you have found the agent who understands your location and housing needs, you will feel a lot more comfortable with the search in general. Remember, agents are there to help you through the process and make sure things go as planned! 

What was your experience?? Do you have your own tips for things that can make a home sell faster?  What were some things you did when selling your house that made it more attractive to buyers?  Let us know about it in the comments!

When the time comes to find a new apartment, we all know it can be an exciting journey! We have to deal with important issues like location, move in date, rent, and most importantly, the internet, especially for long distance moves! Unfortunately, rental scams are on the rise and we want you to be aware of how to spot them-- even on our most trusted cites!

These scams come up in different ways. The most popular scam is when a when they hack into a real estate listing by changing the email address or contact information and post it on another site.  Another popular scam is making up a listing for places that don't even exist! They try to lure you in with low rent and the goal is to get the money before you find out.

You might not want to spend the extra time being savvy in your search, but there is a lot at stake, so it will be worth it! Here are some of the top signs you may see when dealing with a scam:

• They want you to wire money. This is the surest sign of a scam. There’s never a good reason to wire money to pay a security deposit, application fee, or first month’s rent. Wiring money is the same as sending cash — once you send it, you're not going to see it again!
• They want you to send a security deposit or first month's rent without meeting or seeing the unit. It's never a good idea to send money before you trust your broker, landlord or seller. If you find the same ad listed under a different name, there is a big red flag that it's a scam!
• They say they’re out of the country. But, of course, they have a plan to get you the keys. It might involve a lawyer or “agent” working for them. Some scammers even create fake keys!

For more helpful tips check out

rentalscams.org

Safe searching from all of us at Tory Row Real Estate!!

Greetings! I have something special in store for you! We are featuring a great listing in East Cambridge right near the Lechmere T stop! I know some of you may be thinking, who cares?! Well, it’s exciting for us because East Cambridge is a great neighborhood with a lot of potential… And we aren’t the only ones who think so! 

If you are native of Cambridge I am sure you will agree that living in the North Point area opposed to say, Harvard Square, is a lot more desirable.  I assure you, you will not get the hustle and bustle of tourists crowding your neighborhood 24/7! The authentic “mom and pop” shops are still going strong, the Landmark Kendall Square Theatre is just minutes away, and the accessibility to the Charles River is like no other!  A local favorite is The Courthouse Fish Market. People come from all over to visit this neighborhood gem!

Some of you may be thinking that there’s no “neighborhood feeling”,  well that is where the Lechmere Square working Group comes into play! Made up of members of the East Cambridge Planning Team, this hardworking group of people has dedicated a lot of time and effort to developing a plan to relocate the Lechmere Station.  They are proposing to develop a year-round public market, seasonal farmer’s market, and an open square in place of the current Lechmere T Station. Their website is great! Check it out to see all their plans. 

Here's a link to our Featured Property! --- Don't forget you can have it furnished or unfurnished!---  Now that you have an idea of what the community of East Cambridge is like, maybe it would be the right fit to join them!