Resources ... Let Us Know How Can Help

Buying

If you plan to purchase your first or tenth home, start here. Buying property in Massachusetts is not difficult, but it's helpful to understand and be aware of the local customs before you start your search. Our goal is to help guide you toward the best decision for your unique situation. To do this, we believe that a well-informed client will ultimately be the most satisfied, too. We look forward to discussing the current market conditions and trends with you - most important, we can't wait to help you discover your dream home!

Check out our on demand home buyer video seminar here! After registering, you'll have instant access to our on demand buyer consultation and we'll immediately mail (USPS) your home Massachusetts Home Buyer Booklet. It include everything you need to buy a home in Massachusetts - even sample forms. Click here to get access now!

Selling

Selling your home is a big decision. It's not just about moving, it's about identifying a proven seamless process that will help maximize the value of current property within a timeline that meets your specific needs.

There's no doubt that this can be a stressful process, but after successfully selling 100s of homes, we've identified the smoothest processes, most effective marketing strategies and negotiation techniques to ensure the highest sale price with the least amount of hassle. Contact us today for a no obligation consultation.

Senior Options

Connect with experts to discuss senior living options. Knowing where to begin is the hardest part, so we've included a few helpful resources below:

Mass-ALA Senior Living Options

Caring.com

SeniorHousingNet

Home Hazards

Asbestos - Asbestos.com provides a Guide to Asbestos in The Home ... it outlines common asbestos locations, related heath concerns and how to deal with asbestos when it's found. Tips on how to hire an asbestos remover can also be found at asbestos.com.

Lead Paint - Slowly phased out in the 1960s and 1970s, lead paint was ultimately outlawed in residential use in 1978. Consequently, all homes older than 1978 are suspect; however, there are many ways to mitigate lead paint and costs can vary. In recent years, the government has eased mitigation requirements to encourage lead compliance. The below sites provide additional information about lead paint safety ... you can even search property to see if it's been tested for lead paint.

Mass.gov - Search property testing history

Massachusetts Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program’s Lead Safe Homes 1.0 database

New England Lead Prevention - Information for home buyers, tenants, landlords, etc.

These Homeowner Missteps Could Cost You

These Homeowner Missteps Could Cost You

September 29, 20253 min read

As one of the most significant investments someone will ever make, a home doesn’t just provide a roof over your head, but a way to build long-term wealth. When it comes time to sell your home, however, a recent survey reveals that many people make costly mistakes. According to the results of a Zillow survey conducted by The Harris Poll, here are five things homeowners often get wrong when selling—along with a few things they do correctly.

  1. Investing in the wrong projects. While you certainly want to make investments in your home to help it sell for the best possible price, investing in the wrong projects can backfire and ultimately cost you money on the bottom line. For example, according to the survey results, 23% of homeowners believe that building an addition offers the best return on investment; however, in reality, simple, less costly updates like fresh paint and landscaping deliver a significantly better return on investment when it comes to resale. A clean, polished presentation can have a greater impact than the addition of an expensive room to the house.

  2. Ignoring screen appeal. When selling a home, you’ve likely heard about the importance of curb appeal—how your home looks from the street—but these days, how your home looks online can be even more important. In other words, screen appeal is often the new curb appeal.
    Zillow data indicates that investing in an immersive online media package can yield significant returns. Discuss with your real estate agent the possibility of a digital presentation that features larger, high-resolution photos, 3D home tours, and interactive floor plans, for example.

  3. Not thoroughly vetting potential agents. The importance of working with a professionally skilled real estate agent cannot be emphasized enough—especially in today’s rapidly changing market. While it’s essential to work with an agent who can help you properly price and market your home, according to the survey results, 25% of homeowners believe they can skip reading online reviews, researching sales history, and interviewing their top candidates when hiring a real estate agent. However, these steps are essential to finding the right agent and gaining a competitive edge.

  4. Highlighting the wrong features. Nearly half of homeowners (45%) think an open floor plan is the feature most likely to boost a home’s sale price if mentioned in a listing description. However, Zillow research shows that these homes actually sell for 0.2% less than the expected price. By contrast, homes featuring natural materials, such as white oak flooring, walnut cabinets, and soapstone countertops, can sell for as much as 3.5% more. Yet only 9% of homeowners recognize this advantage. Discuss with your real estate agent the features that are most likely to command a higher price in your market, and be sure to highlight those features in the listing.

  5. Not providing seller disclosures. More than half of homeowners (56%) believe sellers should conceal issues such as structural problems (19%), pest infestations (15%), water damage (15%), or asbestos (14%) to sell a home faster. Doing so, however, can put you at legal risk as sellers must disclose known issues to prospective buyers. Working with a trusted real estate agent can help ensure all legal requirements are met.

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Mike Hughes

Mike Hughes is a real estate broker with approximately 20 years in the residential business.

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Other Useful Tools

Financing ... everyone's budget and cash flow is different. Whether you you get paid on a salary, hourly, bonus or commission basis, understanding your monthly obligation is critical when buying a home.

Here is a link to a mortgage calculator to help you start your planning.

Explore A Career in Real Estate!

Real estate can be a very rewarding career ... each day we have the opportunity to meet and help new people! Being able to help someone start a new stage of life is an extremely gratifying experience.

It's relatively easy to get started, but knowing where and how to start is the biggest challenge. Unfortunately, the state licensing exam doesn't cover any marketing or business planning ... so new agents are often left to sink or swim! In 2023, the National Association of Realtors estimates 10,000 agents are being forced to leave the business each month!

After being in business for 20+ years, I've been able to help many buyers, sellers AND agents succeed. Getting started the right way with the right company can make or break an new agent. eXp Realty is now selling more homes than any other brokerage, so we have tools and training to help you succeed. Moreover, it would be my pleasure to introduce you to the company's tools, answer any questions that you have about the business and share my systems and training so that you are able to quickly launch your new business. Let's connect!