Open houses are a great way to look at the inside of a home, ask questions and find out if the house is one you are interested in and should put an offer on. When you attend an open house for a Wellesley home for sale, it is important that you ask the right questions so you can take advantage of the opportunity. Here are a few questions you can ask during an open house to help you get the full picture and collect more information about the house. How long has the home been on the market? This question can help you find out if the seller is getting anxious to sell the house and can give you clues as to whether he or she is willing to negotiate on an offer. Why are the owners selling the home? Things like a change in jobs, relocating or u... 10/09/2013

Wellesley MA Improves Online Research With New Mapping Tool     As a part of its continuing effort to improve access to municipal data and resources, the Town of Wellesley recently introduced  MapsOnline, an interactive mapping service, at www.wellesleyma.gov/MapsOnline.   The new site is fully supported on the current versions of all major web browsers (e.g. Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox) and requires no third-party plug-ins. It was also designed with the touch-screen user in mind and is fully compatible with iPads and other tablet devices.     For users familiar with similar sites hosted by neighboring towns in the Greater Boston and Metrowest aresas, the Layers tab allows users to easily turn on and off a variety of mapping layers like: Zoning Districts ... 10/08/2013

What do you know about your homeowners insurance policy? While we always hope we won't have to use our insurance, natural disasters, emergencies, and accidents do happen. When they do, homeowners insurance is invaluable. As a homeowner you should know the following things about your insurance: What Your Policy Covers Knowing what your policy covers can help you save time and frustration in case of a natural disaster or accident. What Your Policy Doesn't Cover It is also important to know what your policy doesn't cover, so you can decide if you need additional coverage. If You are Getting a Competitive Rate Shop around and compare insurance providers and their rates before you purchase a policy for your home in the Wellesley real estate market. If Your Policy is Adequate for Your Home Ch... 10/01/2013

                                                        The selling process can be confusing and even daunting to those who have never sold a home before. But, these five steps can help you as you prepare your home and then list it for sale on the Newton, MA real estate market. 1. Work with a Real Estate Agent An experienced agent can help you sell your home faster. He or she will be able to help you list it for sale, find potential buyers and then close the sale. 2. Prepare to List Your Home Before you begin selling your home, take the time to remove clutter, make repairs, enhance the landscaping and even make improvements to increase your home's value. 3. Schedule a Home Inspection A home inspection can alert you to repairs that should be made before you sell your home. It can also he... 09/26/2013

                                                       If you are buying or selling a home in the Wellesley real estate market, it is important that you have an understanding of market trends. The market changes often, but knowing some basic pieces of information about current trends can help you take advantage of the market and reap benefits as both a buyer and a seller. Make Wise Decisions about When to Sell Knowing whether it is a seller's market or not can help you decide if it is the right time to sell your home. If the market isn't right for sellers, you may want to take some time to prepare your home and then list it later. Know When to Invest On the other hand, if it is a buyer's market it may be a great time to invest in a home. When there are more homes for sell than there are... 09/24/2013

The Wellesley real estate market is strong and full of so many options that chances are you will find what you are looking for here. It is definitely possible to find your dream home in Wellesley.  How do you find that perfect home? Here are a few tips to help you find it faster so you can start enjoying your dream home as soon as possible. Prioritize Make a list of all the things you want and need in your dream home. Then, prioritize them and consider which features you are willing to forgo if it means you will get another feature that is of higher priority. Hopefully, you will be able to find everything you are looking for, but prioritizing your wants and needs can help you find that perfect home faster. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Getting pre-approved for a mortgage means you wil... 09/19/2013

                                                        Buying a home is a big decision and there is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the right time to buy. How do you know when you are ready to invest in your first home in the Newton real estate market? Here are a few signs that might mean you are ready to buy a home: You Have a Down Payment Ready In most cases you will need to pay a down payment when you put an offer on a home. A good guideline to keep in mind is that most down payments are about 20 percent of the cost of the home. You Have a Budget and Can Stick to It To save for that down payment, and other costs associated with being a homeowner, you need to be able to budget wisely. You'll have to save and pay for things like a mortgage, utilities, home repairs, landsca... 09/17/2013

When your home is on the Newton, MA real estate market, you want to do all you can to make it appeal to buyers and sell faster. One way you can do this is by leveraging every room, and even showing off multiple uses for one room, when you have open houses. Spare Bedroom or Home Office? By adding a bed or desk, you can make one room both an extra bedroom and an office. This will appeal to buyers looking for more bedrooms and those who would be interested in a home office. Storage Basement or Home Theater? Don't waste the space in your basement! Turn one room into a home theater by adding comfy seating, a television and even surround sound. This will show homeowners the basement has a lot of potential beyond extra storage space. Office or Craft Room? Your home office can also be a craft r... 09/12/2013

It's that time of year again. Soon the air will be crisp and the fall leaves will show off beautiful shades of red, yellow and orange. Wellesley's beautiful scenery makes it an ideal place to take in everything fall has to offer. Here are some of the best places to see the scenery. Lake Waban Lake Waban on the edge of Wellesley College campus has beautiful views. You can boat in the lake or take a quiet walk on the two and a half mile path that goes around the lake. Wellesley College Campus Wellesley College has beautiful landscaping, making it an ideal place to take in the fall colors. The architecture and scenery here are the perfect setting for a fall afternoon. Walter Hunnewell Arboretum What better place to see fall leaves than an arboretum? The Walter Hunnewell Arboretum was estab... 09/10/2013

Boston-Globe_Wellesley-Larry Lawfer Listing Agent Wellesley Single Family Housing Market Aug 2013.  MLSPin, the Boston Area MLS listing service has 141 homes on the market as either Active, Under Agreement and Sold. This is a very good amount of activity. 69 Active homes does not indicate lack of inventory, but the 48 sales indicate that the inventory will not last long and is well below what a normal market would have available.  Houses that are on the market at the right price are garnering more activity, more bidders and less time on the market. There has never been a more important time to price your property at or below a quick sale price.  This strategy brings the most buyers and the most multiple bidding situations.  It is in the multiple bidding situation that prices go higher.... 09/06/2013

Moving to a new city often means helping kids adjust to a new school. Learning a new schedule, adjusting to a new classroom, and meeting new teachers and friends can be worrisome for some children. If you are helping your child adjust to a new school this year, these tips can help you ease her worries so the adjustment is smooth. Visit the School in Advance The schools in this area are top notch, and when you move to the Wellesley real estate area, your child will get an excellent education. Help him adjust by visiting the school before his first day so he can see the environment and even meet his new teacher. Talk About It Start conversations about the new school with younger children and pick up on any worries they have so you can find ways to help. Older kids may not be as willing t... 09/05/2013

                                                 Knowing when to put an offer on that dream home in the Newton real estate market can be hard. Things like market conditions, home inspections and the right timing all play a part in making an offer successful. The following are a few signs that might mean the time is right. When You Have Had an Inspection with Desirable Results Getting the home inspected before you put an offer on it can help you finalize your decision. It can also help you decide how much to offer and even help you negotiate things like price and repairs. When You Have done Your Homework on the House If the homeowner has refused previous offers, try to find out why, so you can put together an offer that is more likely to be accepted. Knowing things about the seller, like... 09/03/2013

  West Nile Infected Mosquitos Go Local                         The Wellesley, Massachusetts Health Department ("WHD") has sent out an alert to all residents that mosquitoes carrying the West Nile Virus ("WNV") have been found in the town. Local media reports have also reported that two Massachusetts residents have been diagnosed with (and are recovering from) WNV.  Personnel at the WHD are urging local residents and visitors alike to be extra vigilant in the prevention of bites by using insect repellents according to the recommended guidelines and covering up exposed skin when outdoors - particularly just before dawn and dusk.   I had my office in Wellesley Hills for many years and was actually quite thankful for the colonies of local bats (the flying mammals, of course) who loved to f... 08/30/2013

                                                         Knowing when to put your home on the Newton real estate market can be confusing. Understanding market conditions and knowing when your home is ready to sell are important to selling your home for what it is worth. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you decide to sell your Newton home. Is it a buyer's or seller's market? Knowing whether it is a buyer's or seller's market can help you be better prepared for selling your home. Some market conditions make it easier to sell while some make it harder. Is your home ready to sell? Outstanding repairs need to be taken care of before you list your home for sale. You may also consider working on your landscaping, staging your home and making improvements that will increa... 08/29/2013

                                                  When you plan your move to the Wellesley real estate area there are lots of things to think about. Everybody has his or her own way of going through change and settling into a new place. But, there are still some general tips you can use to help make your move an easy one. Do Some Things in Advance Talk About the Move Involve the Whole Family Take it Slowly Planning ahead and doing things like setting up utilities and arranging for a moving truck can save you from last-minute stress. When you talk about the move with the entire family you can help everyone adjust and address concerns children may have. From planning your move through packing and settling into the new place, involve every member of your family so everyone feels at ease an... 08/27/2013

                                                   If have listed your Wellesley home for sale, chances are you are anxious to hold some open houses and fill each hour with prospective buyers. But, just getting people to your open house is only the first step. When a person walks into your home, you want him to feel welcome, feel like he has walked into her dream home and to like what he sees enough to put an offer on it.  How do you do that? The secret is in the staging. Here are some ways you can stage your home for successful open houses. Make Rooms "Neutral" so they Can be Used for Different Purposes Do Not Leave Empty Rooms Group Furniture Away from Walls Accent with Fresh Flowers and Trim the Lawn To find more advice on how to stage your home, visit the Christine Norcross & Partne... 08/20/2013

Having a home inspected before you buy it has multiple benefits. Some buyers ask sellers if they have had the home inspected, and then take the seller's word on what the outcome was. It's wise to ask if the home has been inspected, but it is even smarter to have it inspected yourself. There are many benefits to having a home in the Newton, MA real estate market inspected before you buy it. A few of the major reasons include: An Inspection Could Reveal Hidden Problems An Inspection May Help You Negotiate a Lower Price An Inspection Could Alert You to Upcoming Costs The results of an inspection could cause you to second guess whether or not you want to put an offer on a home, or they could help you solidify your choice. Regardless of the outcome of the inspection, having a home inspected ... 08/17/2013

If you are planning a move to the Wellesley real estate area, the time to pack up your belongings and load them into a moving truck will come, whether you are ready for it or not. Sometimes the most difficult part of moving is the packing and unpacking process. But, once you get settled into your new home all the cardboard boxes and heavy lifting will be worth it. Plan Far in Advance Take it One Room at a Time Organize and Pack Strategically Don't Move Things You Don't Need Pack a Move-In Box  Moving doesn't have to be difficult. With some advance planning, strategic packing, and organizing, packing and moving into your dream home will be a fast and easy process. For more information on how to pack like a pro, visit the Christine Norcross & Partners website. To find a Wellesley home fo... 08/15/2013

                                                                     You can get regular updates about Wellesley and Newton real estate on our Facebook page. We also share tips on buying and selling homes, increasing curb appeal, and finding your dream home. In the coming months, we'll post regular updates and photos about our pool's construction.   Summers are getting longer and warmer in New England, so follow us on Facebook and follow along with our new pool's construction if you'd like! 08/12/2013

                                                      There are dozens of reasons to move to the Newton, MA real estate market. From the gorgeous scenery to the excellent business opportunities, there is something for everyone here. The variety of offerings in the area makes it ideal for people of all walks of life and provides opportunities that can't be found anywhere else. Community Events for all Ages City Programs and Classes Minutes from Boston Excellent Public Transportation Beautiful Weather All Year Landmark Sites Ranked as One of the Best Cities to Live In Several Schools in the City Low Unemployment Rate Booming Industries   When you move to the Newton area you will enjoy all these benefits and more. If you are interested in finding a home in the Newton real estate market, co... 08/08/2013