Posted on August 30, 2008 by bostonkayakguy | Edit   Students in Framingham started school August 27, 2008 with a new busing schedule designed to result in savings of approximately $250,000. By implementing bus routes which combine students from a number of schools, the school district will be able to eliminate the use of six school buses. School officials are reminding parents to have their children at their bus stops early while the initial implementation of the new schedules is underway.   2008-2009 Framingham School Bus Routes http://www.framingham.k12.ma.us./2008/busroutes.htm http://www.framingham.k12.ma.us. BUS FEE PROCEDURES Fee-based transportation is available for all eligible riders who will be in Grades 7-12 and for walkers on a seat available basis. The application is avail... 08/29/2008

OUR INSURANCE AGENCY,W.T.FLYNN INSURANCE AGENCY,INC. WAS VOTED THE NUMBER ONE INSURANCE AGENCY IN FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON GIVING PERSONALIZED SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS. WE TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY WE WANT TO BE TREATED. WE WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR US. 07/08/2008

Calculated Risk recently posted an entry to their blog entitled When Banker’s Decorate…   Let’s hope there is a significant amount of information that Travis Burton, a vice president for Perini Corp. is not conveying – such as interior designers or decorators accompanying the bankers while they make their visits and “consider changing the color palettes and finishes”.   What’s next…bankers offering staging advice to Realtors® or them possibly making recommendations to investors regarding multi-families?  I wouldn't so easily discount the suggestion, remember, it all flows downhill.   It must be noon somewhere.  I need Paul Harvey…and “The Rest of the Story."   Jackie 06/23/2008

DID YOU KNOW:As of the most current reporting period of September 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tells us there are over 500,000 children in foster care in this country.   The Mean and Median is approximately 10 years of age. Over 40% of children in foster care are with non-family members. Almost 90% of these children receive an agency subsidy, which is equivalent to welfare.  I grew up having friends that were in the foster care system.  Their lives had a significant impact on me as a person.  In every case, their foster parents provided a safe haven, but they went without many things I took for granted and they were still wounded from previous battle scars.Somehow, throughout my life I've become friends with others that have become foster parents themselves.  A... 03/13/2008

One of my favorite tools for helping home owners to "see" what a buyer experiences when their property is being viewed is the screen on my digital camera.  It never lies.  Somehow that camera is able to pick up not only what the room looks like and what's in it, but what's not and often times how it feels.  Most times my clients are surprised when they "see" through the eyes of that lens and believe it or not, it empowers them, because they're not guessing anymore.  I love that A-HA moment.  The real team work frequently begins at that point.   Get out your digital camera and snap a few photos from different angles.    Upload them on to your computer so you can experience the difference you've made in your own property when all is said and done.  Remember, you have power, you are observ... 03/13/2008

Class....CLAAAAAASSSS!!!!  Listen up!  We have work to do! Jeez, do you remember one of your teachers starting the day that way?  I'm not sure what brought that image to mind - it must have been when I saw these definitions actually written out:Observe - (verb)to inspect, to watch carefully especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment to come to realize or know especially through consideration of noted factsto take noticeDiscern - (verb)a:  to detect with the eyes; b:  to detect with senses other than visionto recognize or identify as separate and distinct (discriminate)Definitions provided by Merriam-Webster OnlineHave you noticed a trend here?  I began this series with Power; the context I used it in was a verb.  The two words listed above... 03/04/2008

It could be the circles I'm networking with or just the luck of the draw.I'm seeing home owners that have to sell.Some contact me as a last ditch effort, hoping for a miracle.   I've seen a few houses that could be on the market for a long, long time.  Truth is, as soon as I approach the property I get a sense of why that is.  Some of these owners are so afraid they're as frozen as a glacier in the Tundra.  And it's obvious by the way the home is presented.     You may not have the "eye" or the financial means to stage your property as best as can be done, but there are a few low cost measures you can take so that your home is infinitely more attractive to potential buyers.   The secret is in the details.  Crank up the sound and start moving those feet - Many of you do have the power to... 02/28/2008

Overall, Framingham is currently in a strong buyer's market, across all price points the average is a 9 month supply.There is a lot of variation across the various price points, so here's the current data for the Framingham Real Estate Market: If you would like help interpreting the information, or would like some help with marketing your home or buying a home, click here.Sellers market in the following price points:$700,000 - $799,999 there is currently no supply$800,000 - $899,999 there is currently a 4 month supply$900,000 - $999,999 there is currently a 4 month supply Balanced market in the following price points:$400,000 - $449,999 there is currently a 5 month supply $450,000 - $499,999 there is currently a 5 month supply $600,000 - $699,999 there is currently a 6 month supply Buye... 02/19/2008

Happy Birthday, Presh.  February 16, 2008  "For my birthday, I want something that will last forever" Are you sure you don't want to go to the movies?    How about money to go shopping?A really big birthday party? A pony?                                     Alright, I give.  You never did make it easy.    The TRUTH is...There is only ONE (anything) I know of that is "forever" ... and that would be Father God.  He is without beginning or end.Let's talk about this more over a game of MonopolyR.  Trust me on this...you DO want to play MonopolyR with Dad and I for your birthday; and you'll want to buy the first railroadyou land on.  There will be no more clues...well, unless you can reach Warren Buffett.  That gift and the words from this Blog are supposed to be around for a very long time;... 02/15/2008

"The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the unquestioned answers."  Dena Has anyone else received the most recent Ballard Designs catalog in the mail?  Mine actually came several days ago, but I just had time to check it out today.  I get a real kick out of reading the little blurbs they attach to some of their merchandise.  On page 77 of the catalog they are highlighting the new Kingston Bedroom collection.  There is a handwritten tag describing the process as to how Ballard Designs came to find inspiration for this collection in the original antique piece they found in Brussels.   The title caught my eye because I might expect to see it here, on Active Rain, in Stage It Forward. "Sometimes, all it takes is a little paint"  And so, I read further.  Funny how that happen... 02/08/2008

Many of you know my company has adopted a "will not disclose" policy regarding all before photos that are taken of occupied staged homes.  Unless my clients have made a specific request, in writing, Perceptions AdverStagingTM will not use them in our marketing endeavors.  For those that have asked, you also know my first concern is always to highlight your property in its very best light, all while protecting the integrity and privacy of your entire family.    Today I read a blog post written by another Home Stager; he had recently staged a home while the sellers were still living there.  Specifically he shared staging photos of a teenage girl's room.  Before and after.  Truly, he perfectly executed neutrality.  From the photos you would never know the same teenager lived in that room. ... 02/02/2008

 September Numbers are the plain text.  November numbers are the Bold text.  Today's Numbers are in Italics.Active Listings                  Total Listings              Average Asking Price           Average Days on MarketSingle Family                     128      111      80        $627K   $647K   $619K           141   111    201Multi Family                          9        9       5         $467K    $453K   $378K           89   132    156 Condos                               94       87    70         $364K    $376K   $409           145   159    1881) Inventory in all categories is down from November.  A good indication Buyers are coming back.2) Average Asking Price is lower for Single and Multi Family homes.  Condo prices are up a bit which reflects the high priced condos at One Nouv... 01/11/2008

Single Family Listings  MLS #Status Address Town Description DOMList Price70691410ACT 101 Tripp St. Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Colonialx17 223$235,900   70687779ACT 4 Tartufi Road Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath Ranch30$245,900   70638175ACT 53 Lindsay St. Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Colonialx14 199$259,000   70622665ACT 30 Little Tree Ln Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath Ranchx12 165$299,900   70692385ACT 35 Janebar Circle Framingham, MA  5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath Ranchx13 8$299,900   70692470ACT 9 Norman Dr Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Ranchx18 8$309,900   70678356ACT 31 Wood Avenue Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Capex12 57$314,707   70676942ACT 69 Ardmore Rd Framingham, MA  5 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Ranchx16 59$319,000   70676886ACT 105 Simp... 01/11/2008

A new year brings excitement for me; it's much like I remember shopping for school during the hot, lazy days of August when I was a kid.  Anticipation begins building for the upcoming year sometime around Thanksgiving; something about that first big holiday gets me in gear and I start mentally reviewing where I've been and where I'd like to go - if I'm lucky I get to bring along a few for the ride.    My biggest personal commitment for 2008 is to spend more quality time with family and friends.  It's important to me that our time together be fun, warm, bright, cheerful, sometimes bold and always authentic.  I would like to stay away from the dull, dry and sterile routines of yesterday, but certainly our history together is important so I'm sure we'll be including a few traditions, just ... 01/04/2008

Recently, I got some amazing news.  I found myself sincerely speechless when I was nominated for the RESA Staging Innovator of the Year for 2007.  To say that I am deeply humbled and honored to have been recognized by my peers for this incredible award is the understatement of the century and I am especially grateful. It makes me even more humble to see who my fellow nominees are, namely Melissa Marro, Christine Rae, and Craig Schiller.  Their influence and contributions in the staging industry are tremendous and I personally THANK each of them for making the in-roads they have, because they help to create an environment that makes my business that much more successful.  Each of us has been nominated because at least one other person thought us worthy based on the following definition: ... 01/02/2008

1.     Make the Break - Start thinking of your house as a commodity on the open marketplace and let go of the home that has helped to create your memories.  Buyers are not purchasing your emotional attachments; they're in search of their own.  Acknowledge that every other house at your price point in your neighborhood, town, and maybe even neighboring town is your competition. The sooner you can do this the sooner you can begin disassociating from your "home" and recognize it for the valuable commodity it is.  You'll make your Realtors® job a whole lot easier and quite possibly your own life less stressful.  2.      Start Thinking Strategically - If you're hoping to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear that probably won't happen in today's real estate market.   Be prepared to take an ho... 12/10/2007

Single Family Listings  MLS #Status Address Town Description DOMList Price70622665ACT 30 Little Tree Ln Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath Ranchx12 131$299,900   70678767ACT 8 fairfield terrace Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Ranchx14 22$299,900   70583011ACT 15 Belvidere Avenue Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Colonialx13 201$309,900   70678356PCG 31 Wood Avenue Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Capex12 23$314,707   70673506ACT 3 Wickford Rd Framingham, MA  8 room, 4 bed, 1.5 bath Ranchx8 33$329,000   70685883NEW 21 Oakvale Road Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Capex10 1$332,000   70685288NEW 36 Elmfield Rd Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Ranchx14 3$335,000   70665113ACT 113 Lockland Avenue Framingham, MA  6 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath Capex15 52$354,900   7055... 12/08/2007

Single Family Listings  MLS #Status Address Town Description DOMList Price70675057ACT 11 Conant Rd Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath Colonialx7 10$259,900   70658473ACT 41 Anderson Road Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Ranchx20 45$299,900   70672922ACT 12 Foss Road Framingham, MA  7 room, 4 bed, 2 bath Colonialx14 16$314,900   70583011ACT 15 Belvidere Avenue Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath Colonialx13 180$315,000   70622665ACT 30 Little Tree Ln Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath Ranchx12 110$319,900   70676886ACT 105 Simpson Drive Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath Ranchx17 5$319,900   70678356NEW 31 Wood Avenue Framingham, MA  6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Capex3 2$324,700   70640993ACT 91 Lowther Road Framingham, MA  7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath Ranchx10 74$324,900   70671... 11/17/2007

Framingham Single family market snapshot Framingham10/22/07I was curious what segment of the market was more active. Where are buyers coming from and what Price range. Looking at the MLS statistics heres what I found. active listings total  - 304 homes . On deposit 48 Homes= an 9 month supply. On deposit as opposed to solds gives me a better picture of whats happening over the past 45 days. Of these 48 homes 42 are under $500,000. and 4 are in the  $500's, 2 in the $600's, 1 in the $1.5 million.  It seems as though the under $500,000 home market is the most active. If you are interested in a detailed report please contact me at 508 435-8786 or   www.MetrowestareaHomes.com I can provide comprehensive information to make informed intelligent decisions for you. 10/25/2007

The Town of Framingham is a community located in eastern Massachusetts, 20 miles west of Boston, mid-way between Boston and Worcester. At nearly 67,000 inhabitants, Framingham is the largest town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the hub of the Metrowest region. It is bordered by Southborough and Marlborough on the west; Sherborn and Ashland on the south; Natick on the east; Wayland on the northeast; and Sudbury on the north. Framingham is 197 miles from New York City. The town of Framingham is divided by Route 9, which passes east-to-west through the middle of the town. South Framingham includes Downtown Framingham (the town government seat), and the villages of Coburnville, Lokerville and Salem End Road. North Framingham includes the villages of Nobscot, Pinefield, Ridgefield a... 10/18/2007