Color Me Beautiful! - 03/31/10 07:47 AM
COLOR ME BEAUTIFUL! Color in your home can change how you feel!
Taking some steps to select the right color can make an instant difference in the way a buyer perceives your home. Suggestions for selecting color:
1. White – makes the room invisible. Does not help the buyer to imagine themselves living in the home
2. Dark room? Use a warm color – research on shows choices in the red/yellow family create the feelings of comfort and joy. Likewise a very bright, sunny room can be “cooled” with the use of colors in the blue or green family.
3. Coordinate … (2 comments)

Am I obsolete? - 03/30/10 10:21 AM
WHEN DO THINGS BECOME OBSOLETE?
Everything has a shelf life, but when should you replace the substantial items in your home?
Here is a suggested schedule to keep your home well-maintained & up to date:
5-10 years : time for new carpets, kitchen appliances, smoke detectors(note: new MA standards as of 4/1)
10-20 years: intercom system, aluminum windows, roof, kitchen sink, faucets, A/C units, lightswitches, water heater, furnace
30-50 years: Thermostats, wooden windows, French doors (interior), kitchen cabinets
 
How long materials last depends greatly on the quality of maintenance, degree of use, and the original quality of materials. Keeping your property well maintained … (4 comments)

SPRING CLEANING - KEEP OR SWEEP? - 03/30/10 10:12 AM
SPRING CLEANING - KEEP OR SWEEP?
My grandmother was a keeper - by that I mean she kept EVERYTHING!
Perhaps because of all that clutter my dad was a sweeper - he swept everything in his path to the dump! It didn't matter if it was purchased yesterday - out the door it went!
Whether you are preparing your house for sale, or just want to feel more organized, it feels very rewarding to clean out those corners, closets, and cabinets!
I think my father had it right. He advised me to "Travel light through the world - it's easier!"
… (4 comments)

Why selling a home yourself is NOT a good idea. - 03/29/10 09:02 AM
Selling your own home has pitfalls.  This blog makes an excellent point of the fact that when sellers speak directly to buyers they can unwittingly give away their negotiating power.  Worth re-blogging!
Via Karen Otto, Home Stager, Plano, TX 469)964-0516 www.homestarstaging.com (Home Star Staging):
First let me say, I am not a Realtor.
However, as a Plano Home Staging Professional, my business involves selling real estate.  And even though I am not a Realtor nor selling my home one thing I do know is that selling a home yourself is not a good idea!
Let me explain.
Today I took the time to visit … (2 comments)

Wishing on Your Well! - 03/17/10 03:54 PM

According to the EPA, 20% of New England homes rely on private wells for drinking water.  Yet despite the obvious importance, many people don't know if their water is potable?
Well water should be tested annually for the quality of the drinking water.  Tests are performed for bacteria and other problematic contaminants - including arsenic, lead, and radon.  If bacteria is discovered, the typical treatment is to chlorinate (bleach) the well.
Cold water samples can be taken from the kitchen tap.  Water testing laboratories supply the test kit containers.  If the house has a water treatment system, water samples should … (0 comments)

Putting in the Fix...prioritizing home improvements! - 03/16/10 07:41 AM
What should you fix before you put your home on the market?  I am often called in by sellers who want to know what they need to fix to be prepared for the market. 
There are certain issues that commonly appear on home inspections.  Address these up front, and you have a better chance of not losing a buyer after inspection:
1. Improper bathroom ventilation – vents should exit through the roof not into the attic
2. Defective GFI (ground fault) outlets
3. Federal Pacific Electrical panel – Recalled item.  Has been shown to have defective breakers
4. Insulation – the … (4 comments)

Adrenaline Rush! - 03/16/10 07:27 AM
Ok, I'm a confessed adrenaline junkie, so the film "The Science of Adrenaline" at the Boston Museum of Science was a "must see"!  As you may have surmised from my picture, between listings and sales I enjoy club & vintage car racing - lately running my blue '67 Porsche 911. 
Cars have always been a passion for me.  As a teenager I started working with my dad restoring Jags and Mustangs.  Later I began auto-crossing, and in the past 7 years I've moved to road racing.
I've driven many different kinds of cars on tracks around the Northeast - Limerock, Watkins Glen, Pocono, … (4 comments)

Freeze! Your credit... - 03/15/10 06:00 AM

To help protect against Identity Theft try a Credit Freeze.
The 3 major credit reporting companies - TransUnion, Experian and Equifax - allow you to freeze access to your credit reports for a fee of $5/Freeze. Once a Credit or Security Freeze is placed on your account, credit reporting agencies will not release your information to anyone. If someone tries to use your identity to open a credit card or take out a loan in your name, they will be denied access.
A "Personal Identification Number" (PIN) allows you, for the same small fee, to lift the freeze when you … (6 comments)

Why Do People Move? - 03/15/10 05:59 AM
                                               It may come as a surprise, but even in today's global economy, nearly 4 of every 10 homeowners still live in their home town!
What motivates those who do move?
A better economic opportunity is the top reason for out-of-town moves. With Boston listed as the 3rd best place in the nation to find a job, our real estate market attracts relocation buyers.
Another compelling reason to move is to down-size. More than 50% of Baby Boomers surveyed expect to move to single-level housing. They are also staying connected by moving closer to family and … (6 comments)

What makes a home uninsurable? - 03/13/10 07:07 AM
          GOT MOLD?
"Got milk"? Well that might be good, but if you've "Got Mold" - or have made a claim based on water damage - you might find you haven't got insurance!
Even if your insurer isn't looking into your water problems, they are looking into the profiles of their insured. Made a claim in the past 3 years? Some companies won't write you a new insurance policy. If you've made a claim, and you move, your best bet is to stay with your existing insurer.
Insurance can be tricky with older properties. For example, knob & tube wiring … (3 comments)

It's a Great Time to Be Middle Aged! - 03/12/10 08:01 AM

The market advantage for a middle-aged home:Inside every dark cloud there's a silver lining!  In this housing market new construction has all but vanished, leaving a sales opportunity for owners of middle-aged homes.Think of the marketing advantages!  Older homes are located in established neighborhoods with mature landscaping - instead of subdivision scalping.  With a few key bells and whistles to make it feel like new, the middle-aged house is a newly appreciated hot commodity!  Take down the wallpaper.  Paint the stained woodwork.  Refinish the hardwood floors.  Reface the kitchen cabinets.  Install new counters and appliances.  Replace old bathroom light fixtures.  Voila!  "Old" … (2 comments)

When good ideas go bad… - 03/12/10 07:53 AM

Scenario: Listed home sells for $5,000 above asking. Bank appraisal comes in $25,000 below sale price.
Real Life Result: After Buyer agreed to put $10,000 more cash into the deal, Seller still received $15,000 less than the originally agreed price.
What happened: The recent rules change regarding real estate appraisals had their effect on this deal. The rule is Lenders can no longer choose the appraiser. The idea was to prevent lenders from pressuring appraisers to produce inflated property values.
Now appraisal orders flow from the bank through an independent agency acting as intermediary to assign out the appraisals. The … (6 comments)

Pre-Fabricated Housing is Sustainable with Style! - 03/11/10 09:38 AM
I visited the Museum of Modern Art in NYC for the MOMA history of prefabrication and its exhibit of (5) modern prefab homes erected on an adjacent lot.
Prefabs have evolved beyond early designs which were often uninspired, to the viable exciting alternatives I saw displayed - like the Cellophane House a kind of hip retro-chic. It was constructed with clear, plastic sheeting and aluminum framing, operated off-the-grid and demonstrated the power of organizing space vertically.
The exhibit showed that architectural design is changing radically due to computer-aided manufacturing and a focus on ecological responsibility. There are new manufacturing processes using … (2 comments)

Massachusetts Privacy Law - 03/10/10 06:03 AM

When the court summons arrived in the mail, my friend was shocked! He knew his wallet had been stolen out of his truck on a job-site, but he couldn't believe his stolen identity had been used to commit a crime? Several missed days of work and a legal fee later, he was excused from the matter.
Because of stories like these, our state began enforcement of the Massachusetts Privacy Law (enacted in 2007) on March 1st. Our office invited a specialist to give us advice about how we can comply with the law:
1. We are bound by law to … (4 comments)

Fenwick Farms, Framingham 01701 - Last 2 lots! - 03/10/10 05:59 AM

FABULOUS FENWICK FARMS!  $255,000 per lot!
LAST 2 LOTS on a private drive in this 17-home subdivision located in North Framingham! Beautifully landscaped entrance with stone wall and white fence sets off the thoughtfully designed colonial homes built in Fenwick Farms!
WE'VE MADE IT EASY FOR YOU! Utilities (water, sewer, & gas) have been stubbed to the lots.  Connection fees for water & sewer are PRE-PAID.  Driveways are installed with gravel base.  Plot plan and survey are done!
USE OUR DESIGN/BUILD SERVICES OR YOUR OWN! 
       Homes in the area valued to the high $600'S.
                                                              A GREAT PLACE FOR … (0 comments)

Downsizing & Living Smaller... - 03/09/10 07:18 PM
My son went off to college in the fall, and I happily emptied my nest! I felt proud to have launched my fledgling! What this left me with was a too-big nest! It turns out I am riding the wave of a national trend - living smaller.
Although the average home today is twice the size it was in 1960, home sizes peaked in 2008, and are now decreasing. It took a 30-yard dumpster, and many "donations" to downsize my life, but I am resolved now to travel lighter through the world!
The trend toward smaller houses pushes homeowners like me … (4 comments)

7 Kay Street, Westboro, MA 01581 - 03/09/10 04:08 PM

 

Welcome to 7 Kay Street Westboro! $319,900!
If you are tired of cookie-cutter homes, take a look at this cottage!
Located on 2 acres on what was formerly a Girl Scout camp in the 1950's, this home is full of charm and character!
Set back from the neighborhood by a private drive, the house has Hansel & Gretel appeal! The unifying architectural feature is the massive central fireplace. Brick walls are exposed in the kitchen and upstairs landing.
The living room and dining room have beamed ceilings. The floors are gleaming hard & soft pine, with oak on … (2 comments)

 
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Margo Otey

Westborough, MA

More about me…

REMAX EXECUTIVE REALTY

Address: 77 Main St, Hopkinton, MA, 01748

Office Phone: (508) 435-6700 x 50843

Cell Phone: (508) 439-9717

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