Taking time to prepare your Natick MA home prior to putting it up for sale is extremely important.  After all, for most of us, this is our most important asset so taking the extra time it takes to ensure we have taken care of all the small things makes the most sense.

1. Get all your paperwork together. Simple right? Not so much- if you've been in your home a long time this may take longer that you think. You'll need HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Appliances, Remotes and any other technical systems that your new owners will need to live comfortably in the home.

2. Check all the small things.  You know, the ones you've probably gotten used to living with. Check switch plates, fixtures, door handles, mailbox, etc.

3. Make things less personal. This may seem odd, but you want potential buyers to be able to picture themselves in the home, not see "your" home. So pack up and move out many of your personal items.

4. Try to eliminate all evidence of pets in the home! This may sound harsh, but you want to make it look as though you NEVER had a pet in the home. Get rid of smells, stains, food, food bowls, etc.

5. Remove clutter from every room in the home!

6. Gather estimates on repairs/or replacements.  Unless everything in your home is brand new, you can expect for it to be on the "bargaining block" during the negotiation phase. So get on top the process now.

7. No one wants a dirty house! You want to deep clean...I'm talking "white glove" test. Plus, a clean house will garner a better selling price as well.

8. Hide the kids! What?? A buyer will be checking for signs of damage from children, so make sure you've made those repairs.  When you have a showing, make sure the kids are out of the home, no one wants to have kids under foot while they are looking at a home.

9. Clean up your landscaping. No need to hire a professional...but clean up the yard so that it looks neat and tidy. Grass should be cut, twigs and leaves from winter raked and bagged. Sprucing it up with a few flowers or shrubs never hurts either.

10. Take some pictures. Once everything is cleaned up and looking nice.....take some pictures and use them for marketing purposes.  The better the pictures the more people will want to come and see your home.

It's finally spring and you're ready to find the right Wellesley MA area home for sale. We've put together some tips to help make your Wellesley MA home buying process go smoothly.

1. Find the Right Real Estate Professional. This is such an important step and will truly make the difference in the home you buy, your stress level and the money you ultimately spend.

2. Make sure you are Pre-Approved for a Mortgage. You've heard it said before, but it's true, you need to know how much you can afford. Unless you are buying in cash you'll need a financing source and you'll need to know how much that source is willing to finance.

3. Create a 'Must Have" List. This is your list of non-negotiable's and allows your agent to select only listings that meet the qualifications of this list, so that you're not looking at every home on the market and wasting your valuable time.

 4. Open yourself up to Suggestions. Share your must have list with your Real Estate Agent. They will be able to make suggestions that you may not have considered about the style or type of home/neighborhood you are looking at and could ultimately change your requirements or amenities list.

5. Make sure to check out the Neighborhood. Now that you've found your home, walk the neighborhood at different times of the day, and even at night. Talk to neighbors to find out about the people, what they like, dislike, recommendations etc. Make sure it would be a good fit for you and your family.

6. The Home Needs to be Inspected! You'll need to make sure that YOU walk through the home and do a total checklist of your own. But you aren't a professional inspector so make sure you hire one to go through the home, once that has been done make sure you follow through on all of their recommendations.

7. Submitting a Reasonable Offer. This is another reason why you need to work with a local Real Estate agent. Understanding the local housing market, the inventory of homes, home values and if a home may get multiple bids is all information that goes into the offer YOU will make.                                                                                                                                                        

8. Understand the Process & the Paperwork. Your agent should have gone through all of this with you in the beginning of your search, but don't hesitate to ask questions along the way. This can be an overwhelming process at times. Once you have found a home you will be advised to seek an Attorney to handle the legal aspects of the sale of the home.

9. Stick to Your Pre-determined Price. It's always tough to have your heart set on a home and lose it in a bidding war, but it is much worse to go above what you can afford! It is better to find a second home that you like "almost as much" as the first so that you have something to lean back on if the situation arises.                                                                                  

10. Don't expect the Sellers to make too many Improvements.Things like worn carpeting and countertops are figured into the sales price of the home upfront, so trying to get the homeowner to make more adjustments at the end can be difficult. Rely on your agent to know what is permissible and what isn't.

 For more Wellesley MA home buying tips check out our website at www.teamlynchrealestate.com. We've lived and worked in the Wellesley MA  area for 20+ years and would be happy to give you a tour of our town and all the great homes for sale. Give us a call any time!

It's spring and you've always been told that this is the perfect time to put your Wellesley or Metrowest home on the market. That's TRUE, but what else should you focus on to insure that your home sells quickly; at the highest possible price? Here are a few things to consider when you're looking objectively at your Metrowest Home:

You know you have an incredible house that you've put your loving touch into, but what else can you let potential Buyer's know?

 1. Are you living in an area with spectacular views of wooded lands, water, historical significance?

 2. What is your neighborhood like? Is it extra friendly where neighbor helps neighbor when someone's in need?

 3. Your local schools....what are they like, can you highlight something specific with the teachers, teaching philosophy, awards?

 4. Do you have outdoor living space? Great patio or deck, outside stove for cooking summer meals, plenty of space for entertaining?

5. Is your yard exceptionally large or beautifully landscaped?

6. Do you have a corner lot?

 7. Have you recently put on a new roof, siding, shingles, windows?

Then look inside your home and do the same.

 1. Do you have a fireplace and hearth that is different than many they may see in other homes?

 2. What about your kitchen, the heart of your home? Granite or Marble Countertops? Designed by a Home Interior Professional? Center island with vegetable sink?

 3. Is your home friendly to the environment? Have you used energy efficient windows & doors, do you have solar panels, is the flooring bamboo or cork?

 4. What about storage space, mud rooms, bonus rooms?

 5. Are there beautiful hardwood floors under your carpets?

 The graph above shows the percentage of home buyers that felt these "Hidden Gems" were worth every penny they cost in the overall sales price of a home.

 These are all things that you want to highlight about your home, that shows the buyer the difference and special "gems" in your home versus other ones they may look at... and why your home is the only one they'll want to buy. At Team Lynch Real Estate, we look at all these special selling points with you to develop a marketing strategy that optimizes these features and in turn highlights them for potential buyers.

 If you plan to put your Wellesley or Metrowest home on the market  this spring, NOW IS THE TIME. Give us a call and we'll be happy to come to your home and evaluate all these points with you, and share up to date market conditions here in Wellesley & Metrowest Boston. Buying & Selling homes in the Metrowest area is what we do best! We've lived her our entire lives, and participate in many community projects and events. We have also received the many awards this past year including International President's Elite, joining the top 1% of sales associates both nationally & Internationally, along with the NAR Green Designation. That means a team of Metrowest Community / Real Estate Experts', with exceptional local knowledge, great technology and the most current real estate information, will give your home the exposure and fast sale you deserve.

In Massachusetts, and our Wellesley & Metrowest Boston area, the housing market had a banner year in 2013.  Home sales and prices hit numbers that haven't been seen in a while...But what does that mean for 2014?   Experts agree that 2014 will be a year that sees continued growth and stabilization in the housing market, with home prices rising, greater activity among underwater homeowners, and fewer foreclosures.

What is important to note is that to buy a home in the 2014 marketplace, you will need incredible credit or have the ability to put together a cash offer.  In November of 2013, the average FICO score for conventional home loans was 756, while the average score for denied applications was 729.  Don't expect the credit standards to loosen up anytime soon, with the new regulations from Dodd-Frank, lenders will be closely monitored to prevent risky products from entering the marketplace.

Still, even Warren Buffett is smiling about the state of the housing market, and knows the numbers will continue to climb- offering many individuals the opportunity to own a home.  What does that mean for the Wellesley & Metrowest area?  Sticking with the 3 elements to home ownership;

1- Fixed Mortgage

2- Affordable Payments

3- Long-term Hold

​If you are looking to buy or sell in the Wellesley MA & Metrowest Boston area....NOW IS THE TIME TO ENTER THE MARKET!  Know what you want, do the research on the home and area you desire, and put together a plan and budget of how you will achieve your goal.

Team Lynch has the knowledge, technology and Real Estate Experience to bring together your dream home...and YOU.  Give us a call today to develop your personal marketing or sales plan.