Beware of Squatters - Safety at Vacant Houses - 02/23/09 01:10 PM
In the past year, there have been a number of stories about real estate agents being attacked during showings.  Unfortunately, some of these have resulted in fatalities, and safety during showings has become a prominent topic.  Most of the articles I have read have warned against having your first meeting with a new customer at a vacant property, and recommended taking a buddy with you if you absolutely can not schedule a meeting in a public setting.
Last week, however, I had a conversation with another agent about a safety topic that I had not yet heard addressed:  squatters in vacant … (5 comments)

Favorite Regional Sandwiches - 02/17/09 09:37 AM
Recently I was talking with a fella who told me that when he travels, he researches and then samples the sandwich that is most local to the area he is visiting.  For example, in Philadelphia he would of course enjoy the Philly Cheese Steak. In Buffalo, it would be Beef on Weck.  In New Orleans, it would be my favorite, the Muffaletta, oh yes it would.
This sounds like a great way to lunch your way through a vacation.  It would also be a fun way to introduce relocation clients to your local fare.  And, for you forward thinkers, you could hold … (4 comments)

A Surefire Way to Make Certain Your Clients Hear from You Next January - 02/15/09 05:31 PM
A great tip I got from my broker when I started out in real estate was to send my closed clients of any given year a copy of their HUD Settlement Statement in January, so they would have it on hand for their tax filing. 
Doing so fulfills several purposes.  First, it helps the client in their tax preparation.  If they have recently moved, they will not have to search through boxes to find the settlement statement from their home sale or purchase.
Secondly, it is a very easy way to make a touch point with your clients once the year-end holidays are … (6 comments)

2008 Market Report for Sturbridge, Southbridge, and Charlton - 02/13/09 03:37 PM
Here is a summary of the 2008 real estate market for the Tri-Community Area of Sturbridge, Southbridge, and Charlton, in Worcester County, Massachusetts:
Please note that the source of this data is MLS PIN, the primary MLS used by Massachusetts real estate professionals. Transactions that were not recorded in MLS PIN in 2008 may not be accounted for in this report.
As always, feel free to contact me if you have questions about this report or if you are in need of other information on the market in these towns.
Kathryn Acciari, REALTOR®
… (0 comments)

Money-Saving Idea: Discounted Restaurant Gift Certificates - 02/09/09 02:01 PM
Have you heard about restaurant.com?  It is a web site where you can purchase gift certificates at discounted rates.  Plug in a zip code, and a list of participating restaurants will appear.  The most frequent discounts I have noticed are $3 for a $10 gift certificate, and $10 for a $25 gift certificate. 
This will certainly help the wallet when buying gift certificates for clients.  One caveat:  many of the restaurants have limited hours and/or days in which the recipient may use the gift certificates.  So be sure to check the notes for each restaurant before you make your purchase. 
I hope you … (7 comments)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Valentine's Day Client Gift - 02/08/09 03:20 PM
For those of you who enjoy Valentine's Day and want to share the love with your clients, here is an easy project for a gift to drop off at your clients' homes.  I make these types of gifts for many of the smaller holidays, and they have been well-received.  Show up with a smile on your face, and how could your clients not love you?

Step-by-step instructions:
1. Purchase materials needed.  Since I've been doing this for a while, it is second nature to me to keep an eye out for discounted items when I am out shopping.  What you will … (9 comments)

What a Difference a Toilet Seat Makes! - 02/01/09 04:21 PM
Here's a quck tip for a low-cost bathroom upgrade...
My clients had put a lot of effort into upgrading the property they were selling.  Everything looked great, but the bathrooms were lackluster.  They had oak cabinetry with matching wood-grain toilet seats.  I recommended that they replace the toilet seats in both baths, and voila, a fresh new look.  Below are the before and after photos.
Powder Room - Before and After Toilet Seat Improvement                                            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Main Bathroom - Before and After Toilet Seat Improvement
 

 
 
 
… (8 comments)

 
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Sturbridge MA Real Estate Kathryn Acciari - REALTOR - CDPE, CIAS

Sturbridge, MA

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RE/MAX Professional Associates, Sturbridge

Address: 49 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA, 01566

Cell Phone: (508) 982-0686

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