Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Boston, MA – Tips for Moving

moving boxes
Congratulations, you are moving into your new Boston, MA home soon! Whether you just sold your Boston, MA home or you are a first time homebuyer, now is the time to get busy and get your life packed up and ready to go. Many experts recommend de-cluttering your home before packing and that certainly is sound advice. But, as far as the specifics of moving, have you wondered how the moving experts handle it? Here are some do’s and don’ts shared by a moving expert on realtor.com.

DO plan as far in advance as you can. Generally a month ahead should give you plenty of time.

Unless you have a very large home and no friends/family to help DON’T hire professional movers. Of course, if you do not want to do the manual labor, professional movers are a great advantage and there is no shortage of reputable moving companies in Boston, MA.

DO leave boxes open for as long as possible. This makes for easier grouping of alike items and saves you from extra boxes in the future for remaining items.

DO use paper towels for padding around plates and other fragile items instead of newspaper. They are inexpensive, clean, and you can re-use them for cleaning your new Boston, MA home.

DON’T pack exclusively in boxes. Soft items like blankets, pillows, and clothes can be put in garbage bags. They are easy to carry and may help serve as padding between delicate items in the truck.

If you are still trying to find the perfect Boston, MA home this fall, please be sure to contact a Boston, MA real estate agent. I am happy to help you find the perfect home for you!

Lucas Garofalo
Keller Williams Realty
(617) 861-3631
Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Boston, MA – Should You Buy in Fall?

house and paperwork
The real estate market comes and goes with the seasons and each season has it’s benefits for buying or selling real estate in Boston, MA. If you are in the market for buying a home in Boston, MA, fall can be a great time to buy. Here are some reasons why fall may be your best bet for finding your dream home at the best price.

Motivated Sellers. Many home-sellers would like to sell before the end of the year for tax purposes. Buyers may find homeowners looking to make a deal so that they can close by December 31st.

The Holidays. The holidays are approaching and the last thing a homeowners wants is to deal with a home sale during the holidays. If a home has not sold by Thanksgiving, there is a good chance they may be motivated to be done and could cut you a deal.

Leftover Inventory. When home sellers first list their house, they may price it too high to start, hoping to make more money off their home. As the home sits and more price reductions ensue, you may come across desperate sellers who may have their home now priced below market. A good Boston, MA real estate agent can help you spot these deals.


Less Competition. Families that wanted to be in a new home by the beginning of school are no longer shopping at this point. The lessened competition means more opportunities for Boston, MA homebuyers.

If you are still trying to find the perfect Boston, MA home this fall, please be sure to contact a Boston, MA real estate agent. I am happy to help you find the perfect home for you!

Lucas Garofalo
Keller Williams Realty
(617) 861-3631
Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Boston, MA – Halloween Fun

jack-o-lantern
One the best times of year for a kid (of any age!) is coming up soon – Halloween! Kids enjoy dressing up as their favorite princesses, super heros, monsters, and more and of course - collecting all of the candy! Halloween doesn't have to be all about trick-or-treating though, there are several fun Halloween-themed events in Boston, MA and the surrounding area. Here are a few of the highlights for this year.

Pumpkin Patches. Kids of all ages will love going to the farm to pick out a pumpkin and enjoy some fall fun. The Boston, MA area has several farms with all sorts of activities from rides, farm animals, pick your own, and hay rides. Turn your pumpkin hunt into a full day pumpkin patch trip around Boston, MA.

Boo at the Zoo. Stone Zoo invites families for a weekend of Halloween-themed activities including crafts, scavenger hunts, mazes, and costume contests. October 17-18th, Stone Zoo, Stoneham, MA.

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. At the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, visitors experience the glow of thousands of pumpkins and feast their eyes on hundreds of artfully carved jack-o-lanterns. It's like strolling through an outdoor art gallery, with pumpkins as the medium. Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence RI, now - November 1, 2015

If you're visiting us in hopes of buying a home in Boston, MA, please contact a Boston, MA real estate agent between your Halloween fun. Without the guidance of a local expert, it can be tricky to cover all of the city's vibrant neighborhoods! My services extend beyond helping buyers and sellers through their transactions. I thoroughly enjoy getting prospective residents familiar with their surroundings and exposing them to the best of everything Boston, MA has to offer. I hope to speak with you soon!


Lucas Garofalo
Keller Williams Realty
(617) 861-3631
Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Boston, MA – Questions for Homebuyers

for sale sign
As I discussed last month, fall is a fantastic time to buy a home in Boston, MA! With home sellers feeling less of a crunch with the start of school behind them you have plenty of time to find the perfect Boston, MA home for you. There is more to just finding the house that has the right number of rooms and a style that you like. You need to make sure the home fits in with your lifestyle needs, it’s in your price range, and that down the road it will resell for a good amount.
Here are five questions that Realtor Magazine recommends every buyer consider, which I fully agree with:
  1. How’s the noise? The home might look great, but is it on a flight path? Near tracks or a busy road? By a hospital with ambulances or fire trucks roaring by? Loud neighbors? You might want to visit the neighborhood at different times of the day and see what the surrounding environment is like.
  2. Are there easements or encroachments on the property? An easement would allow others to use a portion of your property for a specific purpose, so as the homeowner of that property, you’d definitely want to know that before buying!
  3. Is the house up to code? If the current home sellers did some major renovation projects on the house before listing, and didn’t get a permit first, there might be fines that you’ll then be responsible for.
  4. What are the districts? If you have kids, you’ll definitely want to check the school ratings, but even if you don’t have kids, the school system could affect the value of your home.
  5. What are the local rules? Homeowner association and co-op rules vary, so you’ll want to find out what those are before moving in. Also, if you are relocating to the Boston, MA area, check the city and county rules, to see what you’re allowed and not allowed to do as homeowner.
Please contact a Boston, MA real estate agent before you start shopping for your perfect Boston, MA home. I can help you find answers and save you time. Just don’t go rushing into a closing without really knowing what you’re getting yourself into. You’ll be happy you took the time to find these answers in the long run!

Lucas Garofalo
Keller Williams Realty
(617) 861-3631
Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com

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