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.

Update Your Home With This Year's Top Paint Projects

Update Your Home With This Year's Top Paint Projects

February 17, 20253 min read

One of the easiest ways to update the look of any room is with the creative use of paint. For the cost of a can of paint, a new roller and brush, and some painter’s tape, you can affordably and quickly add a stylish new look to your home.

According to research from painter’s tape brand, FrogTape, the following projects are at the top of the trend list for DIYers this year.

Furniture Refresh. Nearly 80% of DIYers say they’re considering refreshing an old piece of furniture in their home with a little paint. This trend involves cleaning, sanding and then painting or staining a piece of furniture, and then adding a decorative accent or chic hardware, such as new knobs and handles, to give it a fresh look. Also known as upcycling, this trend breathes new life into the unique character of vintage décor while giving the furniture a personalized feel. Most respondents feel motivated to do a DIY paint project like this because it saves them money (56%), it allows them to make their space unique (46%) and it’s more sustainable than buying new (30%). When it comes to picking out a piece of furniture to upcycle, a dresser, coffee table or bookshelf are among the top choices.

Creative Cabinets. While painting cabinets can sometimes feel daunting, almost 70% of DIYers say they would take on updating kitchen or bathroom cabinets if they had an easy how-to guide to follow. The experts at FrogTape recommend using a low-adhesion tape that won’t damage newly painted surfaces. If you’re a newbie DIYer, start by painting your cabinets all one color; if you have more experience, feel free to experiment by adding vibrant pops of colors to accent cabinets. If you’re stuck on which tone to paint the cabinets, research shows a wood stain or neutral color, such as a soft white or earthy beige, are always popular. Other great cabinet updates include adding open shelving or replacing hardware for a fresh, modern look.

Color Drenching. Creating a canopy of one rich, deep hue across an entire room is among the year’s most sought-after painting projects. This trend can be done by choosing one color or several shades of the same color, selecting a space and then covering the walls, trim and even the ceiling in that one cohesive hue. According to FrogTape’s research, DIYers say the bedroom is the first room in their home they would want to saturate with color.

Adding Texture. More homeowners are making their spaces feel warm and welcoming by adding depth and dimension to a wall, piece of accent furniture or fireplace. One of the most popular painting projects that DIYers are interested in is painting the fireplace to add a bold pop of color on the textured surface. Another emerging technique is applying limewash paint, a mixture of crushed limestone and natural pigments, to a wall for a texturized and moody finish.

Nature-Inspired Murals & Faux Wallpaper. Whether it’s hand-drawn organic shapes or botanical brushstrokes, DIYers are favoring nature-inspired elements to make their walls pop with personality, using stencils to create a faux wallpaper look or murals to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. An easy way to start is by using a simple floral or leaf pattern, using painter’s tape or stencils as a guide to outline the design on a clean, dry surface, before beginning to apply paint.

home paint colorstrending home improvementspaint colorstrending paint colors
blog author image

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!