Now that the weather is improving in the Boston area, it’s the perfect time to make improvements to your home as well. Just before the summer season hits, think about updating your outdoor and indoor spaces to feel more inviting and offer fresh, new places to spend your time. So whether you have a large budget to manage complete room overhauls or simple tweaks to just two areas, check out the following tips to transform your Boston home into a beautiful haven this summer. 

1. Outdoor Entertaining
There’s no better improvement this season than creating an outdoor entertaining space to spend your time with the great Massachusetts weather. Incorporate a comfortable seating area with lounge furniture, an outdoor rug, and a calming element like a water fountain are the best ways to tie the space together. Also be sure to use weather-resistant materials in your outdoor fabrics to keep them over time.

2. Light It Up
Bring as much light into the interior of your Boston home as you can to really give the space a summer feel. You can do so by adding a skylight to your bedroom or bathroom, for instance— a skylight is just one way to bring natural light into the space and instantly boost your mood. To make the best use of your indoor spaces, move all furniture away from windows and use fabrics that will allow for the natural light to come through.

3. Curb Appeal
Most homebuyers in the local real estate market will tell you that curb appeal plays a major part in their decisions to purchase a property. Because of this, you’ll want to make the most of what your home’s exterior says about the inside. Try a new color on your shutters or front door and plant new, colorful flowers outside or along walkways to invite buyers and give them a welcoming feel.

4. Through the Door
If it’s in your budget to renovate your interior spaces, consider replacing those standard screen doors with French doors. You can keep the windows bare during the summer months to let in the most light and provide a peek into an outdoor garden and when the colder months roll around, add drapes to warm them up.

The aforementioned improvements are perfect to try in your Boston home as we move into the summer months and offer you a fresh look at the spaces that may have become drab during the cold season. With a bit of attention and some easy, inexpensive updates, your property will become the highlight of the neighborhood and prep itself for a quick sell with RE/MAX Prestige should you decide to make a move in the future.

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There’s so much more to selling your home besides staging and listing at a reasonable price for your market. If you’re new to the Boston real estate scene, there might be terms you are unfamiliar with when listing your home for sale or even purchasing one. You may have heard the term escrow at some point in your home search, maybe you’re wondering exactly what earnest money means or perhaps you’ve been attempting to decipher acronyms like MLS or TOM. Keep yourself in the know when selling your Boston home or purchasing a new property in the Massachusetts area— this glossary of real estate terms will give you a head start.

Appraisal: The estimated current market value of a property, as determined by a professional appraiser — usually by comparing the property to recent sales of similar ones.

Back on market (BOM): When a Boston property or listing is placed back on the market after being temporarily removed.

Back-up offer: When an offer is accepted contingent on the fall-through or voiding of an accepted first offer on a property.

Bidding war: When two or more buyers compete for a property by submitting higher offers than the first.

Closing costs: Expenses above and beyond the purchase price of a house and land (such as agent fees, taxes, etc.) that is paid by the buyer or seller at the completion of the sale.

Competitive Market Analysis (CMA): A comparison of the prices of recently sold or listed homes that are similar to a seller’s property in terms of location, style and amenities. This is usually prepared by a listing agent for the property’s seller.

Disclosures: Federal, state, county and local requirements of disclosure that the seller provides and the buyer acknowledges.

Earnest money: The money given as a good faith deposit to the seller at the time the offer is made. Once accepted by the seller, it is held in a trust account until closing.

Escrow account: The trust account established by a broker for the purpose of holding funds, such as the earnest money, on behalf of the seller or some other person until the closing.

Multiple-listing service (MLS): A group of member brokers who agree to share their listing information with one another in the hopes of procuring buyers for their properties more quickly than they could on their own.

Pending: The status of real estate under an accepted contract that has not yet closed its transaction.

Temporarily off market (TOM): A listed property that is taken off the market for a short time.

Walk-through: A showing of your Boston property before closing that permits the buyers one final tour of the property that they are purchasing, typically so that they can check for any changes or defects.

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According to the National Association of Realtors, a certain demographic made up a quarter of all U.S. real estate purchases last year. Can you guess who it might have been? You got it, single homebuyers. If you’re single and thinking of purchasing a home in the Boston area this year, you’re in great company. More so if you’re a woman, the NAR also reported single women purchased twice as many homes as single men. 

Buying a home as a single person has all the advantages of buying with a partner— you search for the perfect property, select the home, go through all of the financing options, and grab the keys. However, when you’re alone in the deal, all of the burdens (like the bills and maintenance) of purchasing a home fall on you as well.

The biggest hurdle for single Boston homebuyers is securing a mortgage. ”In most cases that I see, it is more difficult for a single buyer to purchase than a two-person household,” Craig Tashjian, vice president at Fairway Independent Mortgage in Needham, Mass told MSN Real Estate. On the contrary, single homebuyers have the benefit of not being bogged down by a partner’s credit score as one might be if the other has a particularly low score.

So what’s the biggest advantage for purchasing your home solo? The answer might seem obvious, but when you’re making the real estate leap alone, you get to make the decisions in terms of home features, aesthetic, and the like. You don’t have to worry about pleasing another person’s tastes or interests. And for homebuyer as a means of self-expression, it means your home gets to reflect you and only you. It’s a way to express your lifestyle and values.

With more single homebuyers diving into the Massachusetts real estate market, you can be assured it’s a great time to make that dream property a reality— even if you are flying alone. Consider your options before you make the move to allow the smoothest possible transition into your Boston home:

1. Sort out your finances
2. Purchase a home below what you can afford
3. Find an agent you can trust— Remax Prestige can help!
4.  Grab a friend or family member for a second opinion

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With mortgage rates at all-time lows, potential homebuyers leaping off the sidelines, and inventory being snagged left and right, all signs show it’s a great time to sell your Boston home. Realtor Magazine reports more loan applications have been filed recently than in the past year and buyers are ready to pounce on that great deal in Massachusetts real estate. So, if you’ve been thinking about selling your home in the Boston area, the following signs should give you even more reason to list today. 

Seller Confidence is Surging
According to a new survey of nearly 2,000 homeowners from real estate brokerage Redfin, the number of home sellers who say now is a good time to sell doubled in the second quarter— a percentage now at 45%. In the first quarter of 2013, only 22% of home sellers surveyed agreed it was a good time to sell. ”When sellers see their neighbors’ homes selling quickly and for prices they never would have imagined a couple of years ago, they can’t help but be optimistic about the market,” said a Redfin representative.

Buyer Confidence is High
More and more buyers believe now is a great time to grab a great deal in the real estate market. Mortgage rates are low, home prices are in favorable areas, and loan applications are being applied for at increasing rates. These signs point to a housing recovery well under way and a great time to both buy and sell in Boston. According to Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications for home purchases rose to 0.3 percent last week, reaching the highest level since May 2010. The MBA also reported that the average 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.65 percent for the week, a two percentage point drop over the past week. And when rates are low and confidence is high, it can only mean great news for the real estate market.

The housing market is showing signs of recovery, especially given the signs listed above, but the one issue? Low inventory. With great deals being acted upon, more and more homes are being sold and less are available to choose from. The number of homes for sale is limited, 17 percent below last year’s levels according to the National Association of Realtors data.

Boston’s real estate market needs you! If you’ve been hesitant to sell, you can be assured now is the time to place your home for sale. More homebuyers are looking for their dream home in the Massachusetts area and by listing yours, you could both be on to the next best nest. Ready to sell? Let Remax Prestige help you!

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Beige doesn’t need to be bland. Update your Boston home this spring with neutral colors that are anything but boring. Whether they be paint colors or furnishings, neutral colors can accent the beauty of your interior spaces. It is a great time to renovate and many homeowners are looking for the proper updates to incorporate into their spaces, including paint, hardware, and color schemes to please all potential future buyers. According to designers, neutral colors are calming, subtle and sophisticated— making them the perfect choice for your home in the Boston area.

Going Gray
For many interior designers, gray is a go-to neutral. Gray is a great color that works well with any color contrasted against it. You can warm it up or cool it down with accent decor and furniture.

Adding Texture to the Space
Every room needs something shiny to make it stand out. A calming paint tone can be played up in your Boston home with a mixture of textures and metallic finishes. Using both texture and metals in the space can add a touch of excitement— especially with gold leaf, copper, and gold. Think incorporating dark wood, metallic hardware on doorknobs, metallic finishes on furniture legs, and textured light fixtures or window coverings. Unique finishes like metallic tiles can also be used or wallpaper with textured beading to add a touch of glamour.

Make Neutrals Pop
If you’re choosing a neutral color scheme, you’ll want to avoid it looking too monochromatic. To do this, try bumping the color up one shade or down on the color wheel for a 3-D effect. You can use a lighter color on top and a darker color on bottom on your walls to achieve contrast while still maintaining that neutral color palette.

Using Naturals
Natural elements like reclaimed wood can really inspire rooms with a sophisticated feel. Subtle shades or cream or brown will play up the nature in elements like wooden tables, earthy decor, and house plants. Whether it be an art collection or pieces collected over time, neutrals can provide a great backdrop for you to showcase them in your Boston home.

Making the right updates now to your home can pay off in the future when it comes time to place them for sale on the Boston real estate market. Incorporating neutrals into your spaces is just one of the many touches you can add that will certainly prove appealing to a wide variety of home buyers. Neutral colors provide a classic backdrop to allow your furniture and later, the staging of your home, to shine.

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A new trend to watch on the Boston real estate market is the demand of ranch style homes. More and more buyers are beginning to crave the luxury of one-story living, mainly for the fact that families prefer to leave stairs out of the mix. More ranch homes are being built as new two-story homes often have the master bedroom on the first floor and the rest on the second— something families are just not looking for in their Boston homes. As a result, even older ranch homes are getting a second look regardless that their popularity peaked in the 1950s and 60s.

Only recently have homebuyers desired to live all on one floor. According to MSN Real Estate, one-story homes made up 67% of new-home construction in 1973. That dropped to 43% in 2006, before reversing course and rising to 46% in 2011, said Stephen Melman, director of economic services for the National Association of Home Builders, citing Census Bureau information.

And it’s easy to come up with an explanation for why baby boomers and many others would spark an increased demand in one-story homes on the real estate market. According to a study by the 50+ Housing Council of the NAHB and the MetLife Mature Market Institute, about 90% of homeowners 45 and older say they want to age in their existing home. And by 2020, nearly 45% of households will include someone 55 or older. When you think about this group who wants to age in their current homes, their biggest obstacle is getting up the stairs. The solution? Ranch homes.

The ranch homes being built today are not like the popular one-story properties of the 50s and 60s. Modern ranch homes are open, bright and airy— often not even advertised as ranch homes but instead highlight the amenities the home has to offer. Ranches tend to be more affordable and fit the bill for the many buyers who are only looking to buy as much home as they currently need. Yet, older ranch homes are being considered just as much as with a few renovations, Massachusetts homebuyers can envision themselves living in the space for extended periods.

If you’re still not convinced, one more appeal for purchasing a ranch home is that mortgage rates are low, with no real tell-tale sign of how long they will stay low. Buyers have begun to search for their forever homes— a home that will suit them both now and in the future as they age— and can now purchase one at a great rate. There may be no need to move up with your Boston property, but rather purchase the home that’s right for one’s family and one that can adapt to their style over time.

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Home prices may have lowered in your neighborhood, but you can choose to invest in your Boston home in smart ways to help hold its value. You don’t have to compete with the value of other homes in your area if you know how to make your home stand out among the others. So whether you plan to sell now or in the future, these home improvement projects will pay off and attract the interest of buyers on the Boston real estate market.

Create Space
Remove that extra large kitchen island or knock out a non-structural wall to open up or merge two rooms. Anything that enhances the flow of a space will get a response from buyers who can afford to be choosy in their real estate picks. For the price of just a few hundred dollars, you can improve the whole feel and look of the house. Buyers are into big spaces and tend to like the living room right off the kitchen. If that’s not happening in your home, think about removing the wall between them.

Cut, Trim, Landscape
Tangled trees and unruly bushes can block views and really bring down the look of your home.  Landscaping is one of the top investments that bring big returns, so assess your outdoor situation and whether your trees look clean, your lawn manicured, and your flowers maintained or if the exterior suggests you’ve let them go. For around $400 or $500, you can often yield a return of four times that when it comes time to sell.

Let the Light Shine
In a 2007 HomeGain survey, lighting was voted the number one item that enhances a home’s appeal. Everything from sun tubes to dimmer switches can create a mood that intrigues buyers. Sun tubes are an excellent addition and are less expensive than installing a sky light. They funnel light from a globe-capped hole cut in the rooftop down through a ceiling fixture and into a room.

Go Green
If your home is due for maintenance or repairs, put your money toward turning your home into an energy-efficient one. For example, if your heating or air conditioning system is old, replace them with new and you can often save 30 to 40%. By installing green appliances, you can also take advantage of energy-efficient tax credits when they are offered.

Front Door First
Don’t underestimate the power of a front door. Buyers are said to make up their minds in the first seven seconds of entering a home. Updates to install at the front of your home include an awning or overhang to provide shelter from the rain and replacing old or broken doorbells. Around the back of your home, a deck is also a worthwhile addition as homeowners tend to get back every dollar spent on installing a deck.

Bath Upgrades
Updating your kitchen or bathroom are sure ways to add value to your Boston home. While these updates can tend to be expensive, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to offer buyers the look their going for in their new homes. Replace frosted glass with clear glass, remove rust stains, add fresh grout and caulk, update doorknobs and cabinet pulls, and even just replacing the toilet seat can make a difference. With just $500, you can totally transform your bathroom.

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When it’s a buyer’s market, it means it’s time the seller becomes flexible with the sale terms— purchase price, closing and move-in dates, fees, and inclusions like appliances and even window treatments. Don’t let your personal feelings get in the way of a great deal on your Boston home, rather let your home standout among the rest when the ball is in the buyer’s court.

Step one in the basics of allowing your home to stand out is to ensure the exterior of your home has excellent curb appeal with cleanliness and necessary updates like the fixing of chipped paint, outdated light fixtures, and repairing faulty windows or shutters. Reseed your lawn or set down sod or turf on any dry or unruly grass patches. Any flaw that you may be aware of should be tended to before the buyer even drives toward your home. To get a better  idea of what a “sell-ready” home looks like, attend open houses in your neighborhood.

On the interior, clean beyond your normal standards. Even if you feel the spaces are impeccable, rent an industrial carpet cleaner or hire a professional cleaning service to take over. You can give the interior spaces new life by updating light fixtures, replacing them with brighter pieces, and giving old walls an extra coat of paint— however, keep the paint neutral to lend appeal to different styles and tastes. Make sure your water pressure in both the kitchens and bathrooms is strong enough as buyer’s will likely test these when they visit the property. Fix leaky faucets and toilets to enhance your chances of keeping the buyer’s interests.

The last step in drawing eyes and attention to your home on the Boston real estate market is to keep an open mind— don’t reject low offers but instead be prepared to negotiate. To offset the low offers, you can offer to pay the buyer’s closing costs, moving costs, or loan origination fee. Consider these incentives to buyer’s to help raise their offers to meet your asking price; they will help the buyer cover the upfront costs of purchasing the home. Be wary of offers contingent upon the sale of the buyer’s own home as their home may be listed in a softer market than yours and be on the market for a longer period of time. Instead, consider a contingency-release clause that will release you from the agreement if another (and potentially better) buyer comes along.

Remember the purchase price is just one part of the deal. There are other important factors that allow your Boston home to stand out in a buyer’s market. Have questions? We’re here for you!

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Boston is always buzzing with events and this weekend is no exception. With Easter on the way, there are spring-inspired activities, egg hunts, tours, and more to allow you to get out and explore everything Boston has to offer this time of year. At Re/Max, we love our city and we know you will too by enjoying these weekend events in the area. If you don’t already, here are a few more reasons to make a move and purchase your Boston home today. 

Boston Ballet Presents “The Sleeping Beauty”
Friday, March 22 through Saturday, March 30
Boston Opera House
Boston, MA 

Marius Petipa’s “The Sleeping Beauty” has become one of Boston Ballet’s most beloved works. This breathtakingly beautiful classical ballet is presented with ornate original sets and costumes by David Walker from the Royal Ballet. Tickets from $29.

March Madness Californian Wine Tour
Saturday, March 23, 3 PM to 5 PM
BRIX Wine Shop
Boston, MA

To celebrate the hype around college basketball, this month you can enjoy an All-American tour tasting reds and whites from California.

Beacon Hill and Back Bay Food Tour
Saturday, March 23, 1:15 PM to 6:15 PM
The Liberty Hotel
Boston, MA

Boston Foodie Tours conducts “award-winning best eats” food tours, including James Beard Award winners, celebrity chefs, “Best of Boston” winners, farmers’ markets, and food trucks and carts that have been featured on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel.

“Premium” Beacon Hill & Back Bay Food Tour  includes a dessert stop at 4-star/5-diamond restaurant or a 5-star hotel. Prices start at $82.

21st Annual Spring Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 23, 11 AM
DCR Pope John Paul II Park
763 Gallivan Blvd, Dorchester

‘Tis the season when plastic eggs filled with toys grow in green fields. Come find some at this FREE annual event sponsored by the DCR and Phillips Candy House. A wonderful spring tradition, children of all ages can join in the hunt for toy filled plastic eggs scattered across the fields at DCR Pope John Paul II Park.

3rd Annual Victorian Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 23, 1 PM
Forbes House Museum
Milton, MA

Starting at 1 PM, children ages 3 to 8 are welcome to the 3rd Annual Victorian Egg Hunt where hundreds of eggs will be hidden on the lawn of the Museum. Each child will receive a handle basket to gather eggs containing a toy surprise. We will conclude with a story hour courtesy of the Lower Mills Public Library and snacks. Admission is $6 per child, 2 for $10. This event is FREE for members of the Friends of the Forbes House Museum. Rain date will be March 24 from 1-3 pm.

Winslow Farm Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 23, 12 PM TO 3 PM
Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary
Norton, MA

It’s time for Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Children can walk through the beautiful Winslow Nature Trail to find colorful eggs at their own pace, then bring the eggs to our volunteers for a candy surprise. Whenever you please, before or after the hunt, you can tour the entire sanctuary and meet all of our wonderful animals, play on the playground, or simply sit by the fire, chat, and enjoy the day.

Easter Egg Cookie Decorating Party
Saturday, March 23, 9 AM to 12 PM
Panera Bread
Watertown, MA

For all children and those young at heart, you’re invited to an Easter Egg Cookie Decorating Party at Panera Bread. Decorate an Easter egg cookie for yourself or a loved one. Just purchase a Panera short bread cookie to join in the fun.

If you love Boston, you’re bound to love these events happening in the area this weekend. Be sure to chat back with us and let us know if you visited and which you loved most.

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Purchasing the home of your dreams in the Boston Metro area doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With these tips and tricks to winning the bidding war, you won’t need to walk away disappointed. 

Offer the Highest Price Possible
According to Realtor.com, you should get pre approved, not just pre qualified, for your mortgage and attach a copy of the letter to your offer. Show all of the necessary documentation with your down payment and try to make it as large as you can. Stay away from unnecessary contingencies— but if your downpayment is coming from the equity in your current home, make the offer contingent on financing and not the sale. Believe it or not, even a letter detailing why you want to purchase the Boston home could be helpful.

Resist Knocking on the Door
By all means, if you meet the seller during a showing, you can tell them what you love about the home. But don’t visit them on a separate occasion as the seller’s may view this as an invasion of privacy.

Wait It Out
You do not need to wait in the car while the offer is being presented just so you can respond shortly after. It’s not a race. In most counteroffer forms now, no offer is in effect until it is signed by the buyer and accepted by the seller. This way, sellers can review all counteroffers as they come in before making a decision.

Don’t Jump to Conclusions
It’s not always the agent’s fault— but first examine why your offers weren’t accepted. If your offers are realistic and your agent knows how to operate within the Boston real estate market, you’re on the right track. If you’re told to come in with your best offer and fail to do so, the seller may accept another offer. In this situation when it’s too late, that is the agent’s fault.

Be Wary of Homes in Escrow
While you can bid on a home in escrow, agents advise you would be wise to move on to others. Your offer may top the one accepted, but it’s very difficult for the seller to cancel the escrow.

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This week, RE/MAX Prestige agents visited The Robert Frost School in Lawrence as part of our Community Outreach Initiative.  On March 13th our agents provided lunch for the 160 teachers and staff members at the school to say THANK YOU for serving our community.  The event was a huge success.  The teachers appreciated being recognized and our agents appreciated the opportunity to give back.

The goal of the RE/MAX Prestige Community Outreach Initiative is to visit schools, fire departments, police stations, and other community organizations every month to offer thanks with a luncheon for the people of our community who serve.

We are eternally grateful that we are blessed with the opportunity to sell homes throughout New England.  Our communities are not just special because of the houses we sell, they are also special because of the amazing individuals who dedicate their lives to teaching our children and protecting our towns.

WESTFORD, MA, Andrew Armata, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Prestige in Westford, is pleased to announce that Mike Celi has joined the real estate office as a sales associate.

With 19 years of real estate experience, Celi provides real estate services to much of Middlesex County specializing in all aspects of the field. Mike’s customers appreciate his unfailing dedication to service.  He is a top-producing sales professional with demonstrated leadership in both the real estate and construction industries. The personal attention he provides his clients is known throughout the industry.  His clients are his top priority.

Mike was recognized in 1994 as DeWolfe New England’s “Rookie of the Year”, an award based on customer satisfaction and number of closed transactions over 60 offices.  He was also a member of their Quality Circle Committee.  He later received the Greater Lowell Board of REALTORS® Achievement Award for the “Most Listings”.  At Senkler and Associates he was the appointed Director of Senkler America for the Westford Region.

“RE/MAX represents the top of our profession and it provides excellent services to agents and clients,” Celi said. “I am thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful organization.”

RE/MAX Prestige, 234 Littleton Road, Westford, MA 01886, 978-692-9292

RE/MAX Prestige is affiliated with RE/MAX of New England and RE/MAX International. Since its inception in 1985, RE/MAX of New England has grown to over 350 offices with 4,000 sales associates throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, providing residential and commercial real estate, as well as relocation and referral services. RE/MAX of New England’s Internet Web address is www.remax-newengland.com.

With all the snow we’ve gotten today, it certainly doesn’t feel like spring is on its way to Boston, MA! Still, Daylights Savings Time is this weekend (don’t forget to change your clocks!) and warmer weather is just around the corner.

With warm weather comes the spring Boston real estate market! Inventory will hopefully rise as more home sellers list their homes, and homebuyers will be in search of their dream home in Boston. Are you ready to buy or sell a Boston home? Contact us, your Boston real estate agents, whenever you’re ready!

In the meantime, how about you spend the weekend making your home look a little more like spring? It’ll make your home happier and more cheerful, and for future home sellers, it’ll also prepare your home for showings and open houses come spring!

Huffington Post recently shared some great tips on making your home look more like spring. Here are the ones we wanted to share with you most:

1. Get rid of clutter and spring clean. This is a given and should happen every year around this time anyway. But if you’re gearing up to sell your Boston home, this is even more important! Store away winter clothes that you won’t wear again to make room for spring apparel. Scrub floors of winter grime. Empty kitchen countertops and desks of old papers. Dust and vacuum.
2. Add fresh flowers to your home’s décor. Nothing says spring quite like fresh flowers, and in spring, everything comes back to life! Fill a colorful vase and create a centerpiece on your kitchen table, or fill multiple vases and add to a fireplace mantel, end tables or bathroom vanities.
3. Give your walls or furniture a new coat of paint. Even if you keep the colors neutral, which is ideal when selling your home, a fresh coat can brighten the walls and hide stains or marks. With your furniture, you can get more creative. Spray cans come in all sorts of great accessorizing colors!
4. Change your bed sheets. Swap out your thick, dark flannel sheets for some bright, cheerful spring sheets. This significantly brightens up a bedroom , which is great when you wake up in the morning and when you’re staging your home to sell! Potential homebuyers will appreciate this small recognition of spring and warmer weather to come.
5. Move things around. Sometimes, that’s all it takes give your rooms a fresh look! Move furniture around to create a new layout, switch decorative pieces in one room with pieces in another room, update photos in wall frames, move a pillow from a couch to a chair, move a vase from one table to another. Everything will be given a fresh perspective!

Hopefully these tips gave you some inspiration to switch your Boston area home from a winter home to a spring home, even if the weather isn’t quite there yet.

As always, if you have any questions or would like assistance buying or selling a Boston area home, contact us, your Boston area real estate agents! We’re always here for you.

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So you’ve taken the plunge and decided to sell your home in the Boston area real estate market. That’s a commendable choice, but then the tricky part begins. You have to make buyers fall in love with your property. You want people to be chomping at the bit to make an offer. That means that you have to put your Boston home’s best foot forward. Show your property looking its best.

Sometimes, there are construction elements or blemishes in your home that can hinder a buyer’s opinion of it. This is unfortunate, but sometimes these are things that aren’t fixable in the time frame that you have to sell your home. Not to worry! There are quite a few ways you can conceal or present certain minor issues in your home. Here are a few:

Construct a TV hideaway. As much as we all love a big-screen, sometimes it can be distracting to have a television be the focal point of a room. Creating a built-in cabinet or entertainment center can help keep your TV from stealing the buyer’s attention. This is something to consider as an investment for your next home, if needed, as this sort of setup is gaining in popularity.

Too much clutter? Get creative with storage. A large part of preparing your Boston home for sale is de-cluttering your home, but the question remains: where should you keep it. Buyers want to look in closets and drawers as they explore your home, so it’s not a good ideal to just throw everything in there. Instead, try using furniture that also functions as a storage piece. Whether it’s a bench that also offers storage or a chair that has a small area in the seat for placing items, this is a creative way to hide the abundance of clutter throughout your home and present a clean, neutral-looking environment to a buyer.

Dress up a small space with careful staging. If you have a room that is smaller, there are ways you can make it look better. Rearrange furniture to give the illusion of more space and functionality. Sometimes, you have to think outside of the box when it comes to dealing with obvious shortcomings in a home. You can give an illusion of more space. You just have to know how to present that particular room to a buyer.

These are just a few of many ways that you can successfully hide the blemishes in your Boston area home! As always, if you have any questions about what you need to do to prepare your home for showings, don’t hesitate to contact us! The agents at RE/MAX Prestige would be glad to help. We hope to hear from you soon.