Tips for a Problem-Free Closing on your Boston Home

You've found the Boston Home of your dreams. The contract is signed, the mortgage is approved. The next important step: the closing! Here are some tips for ensuring your closing goes smoothly.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

A week before closing make sure to talk to the people representing you. Make sure that they have all the info that they need from you. Don't worry about bothering your loan officer or Boston real estate agent to ensure everyone is on the same page. Ask whether you will need a certified check, personal check, or if they need it wired. Depending on the amount of your down-payment either of these options are preferred.

Review the documents in advance.

Another great way to be prepared for your Boston Home closing is to review the documents in advance. You can ask the lender to provide them to you, many will do so automatically. By taking a look at the documents, you’ll be prepared with any questions you need to ask, prior to closing. Don't assume that all of the information is correct either. Anticipate human error and double check everything.

Take the day off.

A smooth closing may take less than 30 minutes, but, you won't know for sure until it's done. There may be delays, especially if it is the end of the month. Don't plan on doing the closing during your lunch break. Take the day off to ensure you have plenty of time and are not in a rush to get back to work.

If you are still searching for that perfect Boston Home, let a local expert help you out. Buying a home is an exciting and complex adventure. It can also be a very time-consuming and costly one if you're not familiar with all aspects of the process. So taking the time to learn about the process and your options is critical to making the best informed choices in order to achieve your own particular goals.

My specialty is working closing with my clients as a consultant (not just an “agent”) to provide the information and education critical to make those informed choices—at every step throughout the process. My comprehensive, high-quality services can save you time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful. Please feel free to contact me, I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garafalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Thanksgiving Activities in and around Boston, MA

Looking for things to do during Thanksgiving week in Boston, MA? Not only can you spend the most American of holidays where it all began, you can also get a sneak peak at the upcoming Christmas season. Below you will find events happening over the Thanksgiving holiday from the weekend before to the weekend following Thanksgiving, in and around Boston, MA. 

Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation. November 28
 – Celebrate the quintessential Thanksgiving experience at Plimoth Plantation. Explore the Plantation’s multiple sites, which include the Wampanoag Homesite, the 1627 English Village, the Crafts Center and Mayflower II. 

Zoolights. November 23-December 31 
5:00-9:00pm
 - A beloved holiday family tradition returns to Stone Zoo when ZooLights opens on Thanksgiving. Strolling along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights, guests can visit Yukon Creek, which not only features dazzling holiday lights but is also home to bald eagles, porcupine, lynx, a gray fox and a pair of reindeer. Make sure to stop by Santa too! 

10th Annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run. November 28
 - Work up your appetite on Thanksgiving morning at the largest road race on the North Shore! All proceeds go to Boys & Girls Club and Salem Park & Recreation Youth programs. 

17th Annual Vineyard Artisans Festival. November 29-30 - The largest Holiday Art Show on the Vineyard with over 85 Island Artisans. Balsam wreaths and ceramic ornaments to start off the holiday season and gifts galore from the Islands finest artists and craftsmen. Fine jewelry, glass, ceramics, fine art, clothing, book arts and much more. Agricultural Hall, West Tisbury. 

I hope you enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday season with your friends and family. Please know I am only a click a way if you have any Boston, MA real estate needs. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lucas Garafalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Tips for Picking a Boston Real Estate Agent

If you are selling your Boston home, a good Boston real estate agent will help you set the right price, market the home professionally, qualify the buyers, and expertly negotiate and finalize the deal.

A great agent has experience with recent sales and can walk a tightrope, balancing optimism with realism and diplomacy with brutal honesty. You'll paying for an agent's service, via commission, so you owe it to yourself to find the right one.

Round up good prospects. To identify prospective agents, you can ask for referrals from neighbors or friends or use the search tools on the internet. You want someone who is on their game, someone who will work assertively on your behalf but won't come on too aggressively, like a used-car salesman. That will turn off the buyers' agents, too.

Ask tough questions. You want an agent who is "intimately and passionately" familiar with your neighborhood. Each agent you interview should offer a comparative market analysis (a comparison of recent and pending sales of homes similar to yours) and know enough about the neighborhood and recent sales to explain why you should list your home for more or less than the neighbor down the street who sold last season. 
 
Ask your agent where they live. An agent that lives and works locally will have their finger on the pulse of the market and be able to answer important questions about the community. They should at a minimum know the schools where they work. This is especially important in large cities, like Boston. 
 
Talk with recent clients. Ask agents to provide a list of what they've listed and sold in the last year, with contact information. Past happy clients tends to make for future happy clients.


As an experienced professional who has helped many Boston residents sell their homes, I know how to handle every aspect of the sales process - from recommending improvements and fix-its that can shorten sales time and increase sales price - to strategically marketing and showcasing your home - to making sure everything's signed, sealed and delivered by the closing date.

As a premier Boston real estate agent, my specialty is working closely with my clients as a consultant (not just an “agent”) to provide the information and education critical to make informed choices—at every step throughout the process. Attaining your goals by providing you with comprehensive, high-quality service throughout the entire transaction is my top priority.

Bottom line, your satisfaction is the key to my success. Over 90% of my business comes from past clients, their friends, family and colleagues. Don’t sell your home without an experienced professional in your corner.

So whenever you’re ready to sell your home, please contact me and let's get started!

Lucas Garafalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Moving with Kids into your Boston Home

Moving into your new Boston Home can be exciting or stressful, or both. If you are moving with children, you’ll need to consider their feelings during this process too. Depending on their age, the move may be exciting or scary. Here are a few tips to help smooth their transition to your new home.

Communication is key! Keep your child informed of the different steps to moving starting with packing, to moving, and then unpacking. This way, they’ll be prepared for what comes next and it should help ease their fears. If you are selling your current home be sure to explain how that process works so the jumble of house showings doesn't confuse them. If they are particularly young it helps to explain how you will leave your current home and others will be moving in. Keep it positive to ensure that they are not anxious about this change.

Once it is move in day show them around your new Boston home. You can turn this into a fun activity by asking where they’d like to put their belongings and furniture in their new room. You can also involve your child in the move by letting them pack a few boxes of their own with special items and toys that will travel with you so they can get involved and unpack those at the new home. It will also allow them to keep track of their most special belongings.

Keeping up with a normal routine is also essential when helping kids transition to a new Boston home. Keep up your routines as much as possible during the course of the move – it will give your child something familiar to count on. Also, make sure to continue to give your children some alone time every day with you without the jumble of packing or unpacking. It's easy to get lost in the tasks at hand and breeze through your day. This time, more than ever, they need you to be there for them so don't forget that precious family time.

Not only will these tips help your child feel more comfortable, it will let him or her know that you’ve considered their feelings during the move. Moving will likely be stressful no matter what, but taking the time to prepare your child can certainly alleviate much of that stress.

If you’re planning to buy a home in Boston, I’d be happy to help! Please contact me to find out how to start the buying process. I look forward to hearing from you!

Lucas Garofalo

Keller Williams Realty

(617) 861-3631

Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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