Buyers,we hear you!  That’s why 49 Paddock Lane, North Andover offered at $599,900 will have a new roof constructed with a 30 year architectural shingles prior to closing.  Central air conditioning, hardwood flooring, custom built-in cabinetry,  a guest suite, 3.5 baths and more than 1000sq.ft. of beautiful lower level living space are just a few of the first class amenities this home has to offer.  Ask me about the other recent upgrades which make this home turnkey and worry free.

I went to a cook out in Andover recently.  Because of the threat of thunderstorms our host had some of the food set up in the garage–yes, the garage.  Strange as it sounds, my friend’s garage was a hot topic of conversation, the guests–especially the men–were enamored by this garage.  It was spotless….seriously, it was cleaner and more free of clutter than some homes I’ve toured.  The tools and contents were stored neatly on shelves or hung carefully on the wall. Yes, this garage was clean enough to serve food.  Homeowners often use garage space to store items as they prepare for a move.  Remember, buyers are turned off by clutter no matter where it is found…even in basements and garages.  Purge the junk and move the rest to a borrowed or rented storage space.  A well maintained garage is a big plus when selling your home! For more tips on staging your home check out New Light Redesign and remember my seller services package includes home staging consultation.

It's Party Time in North Andover

The North Andover Police and Fire Departments are hosting a huge town wide party at the North Andover Middle School. The evening will feature food and fun and games as well as an opportunity for the residents to learn more about North Andover’s Crime Watch Program and other efforts to keep North Andover safe. Choosing where to live has as much to do about quality of life and safely as it is about choosing a home style.  National Night Out is one more example of the many activities and community services we enjoy in North Andover.

Sales of single family homes for the first half of 2010 continue to improve when compared to the first half of 2009. With home sales trending upward and  mortgage interest rates historically lowsnow is a great time to buy a home.  See what’s selling in your neighborhood.

Keeping your home ready for potential buyers to tour is not easy.  Homes that show well are so neat and tidy that it almost looks as though no one lives there.  There are no dishes in the sink, no shoes by the door, no newspapers on the coffee table. There aren’t even hairbrushes or toothpaste tubes by the bathroom sink or towels hanging up to dry.  Clothes and linen closets are neatly organized–shoes, belts and pocketbooks lined on shelves, desks organized…even the tools in the garage and basement are in order.  Outdoors, leaves and grass clippings are swept and patios are decorated with flowering pots and outdoor furniture.  WHO LIVES THIS WAY EVERYDAY?  The answer is–no one—well, no one I know anyway.  As difficult as it is to tidy up everyday your efforts will pay off.  Nothing is more appealing to a potential buyer than a home that is clean and tidy. A clean and well staged home communicates a message to visitors that the home is well maintained and a well maintained home alleviates a buyer’s natural worries.  Looking to sell your home in Andover or North Andover?  Take time to prepare well…and enjoy the wonderful comments and offers your efforts will generate.

Have you ever seen the phrase “sold as is” in a description of a home for sale? What exactly does that mean and why write it into the property description?  In my opinion all homes are offered for sale  in “as in condition.” While many sellers make repairs and improvements to their homes before listing them for sale I have yet to find a PERFECT home. If you’ve ever shopped for a home you’ll know there is quite a range in the condition of homes offered for sale. An important step in the home buying process, therefore, is the home inspection.  Once a buyer negotiates a contract to purchase a home, it’s recommended that he or she hire a professional home inspector to assess the condition of the home.  If the inspection identifies unexpected  defects or problems with the home, the buyer has several options….proceed with the purchase under the initial agreed upon contract, ask the seller to make repairs, ask the seller to renegotiate the price with the buyer assuming responsiblity for making repairs, or give written notice to the seller that he will not be proceeding with the sale, cancel the contract to purchase and request that his or her deposit be returned.  In each of these options, the seller has the right to say no. If he or she  does and the buyer still wants the home, the buyer purchases the home in “as in condition.”  While it be more prudent for the seller to negotiate to make repairs  than to insist on the home being sold in “as in” condition the seller is under no such obligation.  As you can see the home buying process can become complicated as the process unfolds.  The consequences to both  the buyer and the seller during this process can be quite serious. As your REMAX real estate agent I am trained to guide you through the home buying and selling process. I can save you time and money and help you with all your real estate needs.

We closed on a home yesterday–well, my buyer clients did. It’s their first home and as you can imagine they were thrilled with their new home and excited to move in, unpack and make it their own. When we went to  the final walk through the sellers were still in the process of moving out.  Packed boxes, furniture and some wayward toys remained strewn throughout the home.  The moving company had been delayed, so the move wasn’t going according to schedule. The sellers were doing their best, sincerely apologized for the state of affairs and knew they were in for a very, very long day.  Of course, we always prefer to have everything completely moved out–in fact the sales contract clearly spells that out.  Thus, the  buyers could have postponed the closing until all the belongings were removed and everything was in order.  To their credit they understood the situation and closed on schedule.  A little risky? Perhaps—but they were planning on painting the walls anyway so a little spackle would take care of any bumps in the walls.  Also, during the previous months both parties had been respectful and cooperative negotiating  a sales agreement that was fair to both parties therefore a level of trust had already been nurtured.  A happy ending was the result—-and a good night’s sleep for both buyers and sellers! Congratulations Daniel and Shannon on your new home!

Sales of single family homes continue to improve in Andover and North Andover MA .  Median sales prices and number of homes sold are up this year when compared to the same period in 2009. Whether or not this  improvement in the housing market will continue now that the home buyer tax credits have expired remains to be seen.  Never the less the news is clearly good for the housing market in the  Andovers!

Customer loyalty

A current marketing promotion caught my eye this week.  TD Bank is offering to give new customers a free flip video camera as a reward for opening a new checking account.  While I haven’t read the fine print I did ask the teller at my local branch if the promotion was good for current customers and if not ALL current customers, perhaps those of us who have several accounts and who have had those accounts for decades.  Promotions such as these, of course are not new and not unique to TD Bank.  Other large companies such as Comcast and Verizon frequently offer their own versions of marketing promotions to attract new customers.

Not surprisingly the answer was no. There are no such rewards for loyal customers.  Most companies choose to spend their time and energies attracting new customers, often, in my opinion, ignoring their current customers and missing opportunities to develop customer service or customer loyalty.  I see the same patterns in the real estate industry.  While many realtors spend the majority of their time and resourses prospecting for new business—things like direct mail and personal promotion, I devote myself to serving the needs of my clients before, during and after each transaction.  My clients know that I will stay in touch with them and be available to help them with any real estate or real estate related need long after they’ve moved into their new homes. They recieve valuable information from me on a regular basis and understand that I value their trust in me.  They know that when they recommend my services to a friend I will follow up with a level of care and service they have come to know.

Have a question about real estate here in Andover or North Andover?–ask a question about my client appreciation program.

Elegant  Colonial set on a picturesque one acre lot in North Andover.  Sophisticated style and first class amenities throughout including central air conditioning, hardwood flooring, custom built-in cabinetry, 5 true bedrooms, 3.5 baths and an exquisitely finished walkout lower level. Private in home office, plenty of storage, many recent home improvements desirable cul de sac location. Virtual tour and photos or ask a question!  Search all North Andover homes for sale.