claudette millette: Sellers Think Their Homes Should be Selling for More Than Their Current Asking Price - Really? - 09/23/10 12:31 PM

The fact that their homes are languishing on the market for months apparently has done little to deter many sellers from taking an opposing stand on their home's listed price.  All evidence to the contrary, nearly 80 percent of homeowners who were recently surveyed insisted that their homes should be selling for a higher price than their Realtor® has recommended.  
More significantly, that figure is up from an already high 77 percent in the last quarter. 
These numbers are from a recent HomeGain survey of 2600 homeowners.   
In the same study, sixty-nine percent of agents and brokers reported that their buyer … (21 comments)

claudette millette: Ashland Day's 25th Anniversary - This Saturday - 09/23/10 06:41 AM
Ashland Day's 25th Anniversary - This Saturday  
Fireworks are making a return to Ashland Day this year.  The celebration is 25 years old this week and the festival willed be marked this year with rockets bursting in the air. 
Ashland Day takes place every year on the third Saturday of September in the center of town at Ashland Stone Park.  This year the date for the event is September 25, 2010. 
The festivities will start at 9:00 a.m. with the bike parade beginning at 9:30 a.m. The presentation of the Citizen of the Year and the Grand Marshal commences at 10:00 a.m. 
The … (3 comments)

claudette millette: My Favorite Places in the Town of Framingham - 09/22/10 03:37 PM
My Favorite Places in the Town of Framingham 
The Town of Framingham was first settled along a trail known as Old Connecticut Path.  Now, that is Route 126 which runs north to south from Ashland up through North Framingham and into Sudbury.  Framingham is rich in history and is also a place of commerce. Some of the best spots in town are: 
The Golden Triangle  
This area consists mainly of a three square miles on the westerly side of Framingham, bordered by Route 9 (Worcester Road), Route 30 (Cochituate Road) and Speen Street. Since 1993 this original are was expanded to include areas … (6 comments)

claudette millette: Favorite Movies that were Filmed in Massachusetts - 09/21/10 03:46 AM
Favorite Movies that were Filmed in Massachusetts 
It may be due to tax breaks that have been luring film directors to Massachusetts or perhaps it is just our charm.  But the Boston area's historic streets and harbors have become the setting for a number of distinctive products from Hollywood over the years.  
The newest addition is the film, The Town co-written and directed by our own Ben Affleck.  The story traces the exploits of four Irish bank robbers.  It actually takes place in Charlestown and examines the challenges of the working class in that area.  "The Town" also stars John Hamm (Mad … (22 comments)

claudette millette: Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010 - 09/20/10 01:31 AM

Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010
Before you buy a home in Holliston, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of September in Holliston, MA.


For the past month in Holliston, Massachusetts , 8 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 94%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Holliston, … (2 comments)

claudette millette: Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010 - 09/20/10 01:30 AM

Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010
Before you buy a home in Natick, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of September in Natick, MA.


For the past month in Natick, Massachusetts , 14 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 95%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Natick, … (1 comments)

claudette millette: Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010 - 09/20/10 01:29 AM

Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010
Before you buy a home in Southborough, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of September in Southborough, MA.


For the past month in Southborough, Massachusetts , 4 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 93%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Southborough, … (0 comments)

claudette millette: Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010 - 09/19/10 08:29 AM

Hopkinton Massaschusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010
Before you buy a home in Hopkinton, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of September in Hopkinton, MA.


For the past month in Hopkinton, Massachusetts , 17 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 94%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Hopkinton, Massachusetts … (0 comments)

claudette millette: Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - September 19, 2010 - 09/19/10 08:28 AM

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales  - September 19, 2010
Before you buy a home in Ashland, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 3rd week of September in Ashland, MA.


For the past month in Ashland, Massachusetts , 10 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 92%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Ashland, Massachusetts … (0 comments)

claudette millette: How Does Curb Appeal Affect a Home Sale? - 09/18/10 05:38 AM
How Does Curb Appeal Affect a Home Sale? 
I have been asked by a number of clients what the meaning of the phrase "not a drive-by" is on a listing sheet.  Explanation: The home does not look good from the street, or it has no curb appeal. 
What exactly is curb appeal? 
Curb appeal describes the actual attractiveness of the exterior of a home.  And, currently it is a science that is the subject of numerous television programs instructing homeowners on how to create and improve it. 
When a home has a well-landscaped yard with bushes, plants, trees and flowers it greatly enhances its curb appeal.  There … (16 comments)

claudette millette: People Still Insist on Calling it The Natick Mall - 09/17/10 06:08 AM
People Still Insist on Calling it The Natick Mall 
The Natick Mall has been around the entire time I have lived in the Metrowest Massachusetts area.  It has been an important staple of life and of shopping for many years. 
However, the Natick Mall is no longer really the Natick Mall.  With the huge renovation and expansion of it in 2006 it was renamed and is now called "Natick Collection." 
The Natick Mall was originally built in 1965 as two separate stand-alone stores.  The old Sears and Filene's were then separated by a parking lot.  As a one-story building, the mall … (11 comments)

claudette millette: A Silver Lining - Home Builders Improve on Their Quality - 09/16/10 08:34 AM
A Silver Lining - Home Builders Improve on Their Quality 
With the slump in new home sales, builders are using their extra time wisely by improving on their quality of construction. 
According to a recent report by J. D. Power and Associates building quality rose for a third consecutive year. Customer satisfaction was also higher. 
On a 1,000 point scale, new home quality averaged 844 which happens to be a record high.  This marks a dramatic change from the boom period when overworked builders seemed to be working at a frenzied pace that affected their caliber of work.  Numerous articles were being written during that time … (31 comments)

claudette millette: Are Photos Important in a Real Estate Listing? You Bet They Are! - 09/15/10 03:58 AM
Are Photos Important in a Real Estate Listing? You Bet They Are!
While on a home hunting trip this week with clients they mentioned to me that they were sure one of the houses was not worth looking at. The bathrooms were going to be extremely outdated. Why? There were no photos of them on-line. 
Our MLS allows ups to 30 photos to be placed into a listing.  Some agents take 10, 15, 30 or even as few as 2 or 3. Why is there such a disparity between property listing photos? Home buyers frequently ask this question.
When there are too few photos of a home, buyers … (17 comments)

claudette millette: Are You Sabotaging Your Home Search with Too Many Objections? - 09/14/10 03:16 AM

Are You Sabotaging Your Home Search with Too Many Objections?
Sometimes home buyers can set themselves up for a restricted experience when looking for a home. Having a large list of objections can act as a hindrance and could very well prevent you from keeping an open mind.
Some objections are completely valid while some are just plain limiting - they can include: 
Gas heat is dangerous. Oil heat smells. Electric heat is expensive. Corian counters crack. Marble counters can be fragile. Granite counters emit radon gas. Formica looks cheap. Cathedral ceilings are difficult to heat. Low ceilings are confining. Skylights can leak. Wood floors … (17 comments)

claudette millette: Holliston Massachusetts Home Sales - September 12, 2010 - 09/13/10 04:59 AM

Holliston Massachusetts Home Saless - February 21, 2010
Before you buy a home in Holliston, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of September in Holliston, MA.


For the past month in Holliston, Massachusetts , 9 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 94%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Holliston, Massachusetts … (0 comments)

claudette millette: Natick Massachusetts Home Sales - September 12, 2010 - 09/13/10 04:58 AM

Natick Massachusetts Home Saless - September 12, 2010
Before you buy a home in Natick, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of September in Natick, MA.


For the past month in Natick, Massachusetts , 19 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 94%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Natick, Massachusetts … (0 comments)

claudette millette: Southborough Massachusetts Home Sales - September 12, 2010 - 09/13/10 04:57 AM

Southborough Massachusetts  Home Sales - September 12, 2010
Before you buy a home in Southborough, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of September in Southborough, MA.


For the past month in Southborough, Massachusetts , 6 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 937%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Southborough, … (0 comments)

claudette millette: Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - September 12, 2010 - 09/12/10 12:34 PM

Hopkinton Massachusetts Home Sales - September 12, 2010
Before you buy a home in Hopkinton, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2ndd week of September in Hopkinton, MA.


For the past month in Hopkinton, Massachusetts , 14 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 96%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Hopkinton, … (0 comments)

claudette millette: Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - September 12, 2010 - 09/12/10 12:33 PM

Ashland Massachusetts Home Sales - September 12, 2010
Before you buy a home in Ashland, MA, it is important to know what other homes in the area are selling for. In order to give you a more accurate picture of the local real estate market, I have put together statistics from the last 7 days.
The following is a market recap for the 2nd week of September in Ashland, MA.


For the past month in Ashland, Massachusetts , 10 properties have sold. The sales price to list price has been 91%.
For a complete list of homes for sale in Ashland, … (0 comments)

claudette millette: September 11 - Remembering the Day - 09/11/10 12:11 AM
September 11 - Remembering the Day
The morning of September 11, 2001 was to be a typical day for me. The sun was shining as I was getting ready for an appointment.  As was my habit then, I turned on the television for the latest news. 
The first thing that got my attention was the sound of Dan Rather's voice.  I wondered what he was doing on cable news. It was a somber and tense voice and made me stop what I was doing to take a closer look. 
I watched in amazement and listened to the narration as footage of the smoldering tower that had recently been struck by an … (16 comments)