Let’s take a look at the sales data for single family home sales in Andover and North Andover.

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If you’ve ever thought about investing in real estate take a look at this short video. I’m excited about my enhanced training in real estate investment opportunities and am now a certified investor agent specialist. Contact me at RE/MAX Partners in Andover to learn how you can build wealth by investing in real estate.

Those ground fault outlets in your kitchen and bathrooms protect you from serious injury or even death from electrical shock.  Have you ever read the engraving on the outlet cover?  ”TEST MONTHLY” is the message. Ground fault outlets are very sensitive and require monthly testing to insure they are working properly and protecting you from the dangerous combination of water and electricity.  A few minutes of your time at the beginning of each month is all it takes to help keep your home a little safer.  While you’re at it, check your smoke detectors as well.  If you need help finding a licensed, professional electrician for needed repairs, contact me at RE/MAX Partners in Andover.

The holidays remind us of why our homes are so important to us.  It would be difficult to list all the  holiday songs, cards and movies which  have been written about this theme.  As we decorate our homes and  prepare favorite family recipes, our thoughts are filled with childhood memories of favorite places and family gatherings.  Those favorite places are our homes and the homes of our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends and we continue the  tradition by welcoming new friends and families into our own homes.   I’m thankful for the work that I do.  Everyday I’m honored to help people find their own special place to call home.  This time of year especially, I receive cards and photos from clients who are celebrating Christmas in their homes, welcoming new babies, taking new family portraits or enjoying retirement or starting a new journey in a new place.  Our homes are important to us.  I value the trust my clients put in me and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to be of service.  May your homes be filled with health and happiness this holiday season.  I look forward to a new year full of more new beginnings.

It’s been almost 2 months since our October snow storm toppled trees across the Andover region.  Driving around town I still see piles of downed limbs, and tree service trucks and equipment continue to be busy.  Hopefully you’re one of the lucky homeowners who escaped serious damage.  Never the less, with our real winter weather looming ahead it’s a good idea to check your homeowner’s policy and contact your insurance agent to be sure you’re adequately protected from potential storm damage.  It’s also a good time of year to trim tree branches and limbs which overhang your home or driveway, particularly if they appear to be diseased or partially damaged.  Frozen bare ground and leafless trees provide the optimal environment  for tree service contractors to maneuver trucks and equipment when trimming or removing trees.  Want to know who pays the damage when a tree falls across a property line?  This article provides some good advice for the worried homeowner.   Who pays?

It’s often hard for buyers to imagine how an empty home will look when it’s fully furnished and decorated. That’s exactly why home staging has become so popular and helpful in selling homes. It’s also why furniture stores create “mini-rooms” to display furniture and accessories. Another option is virtual staging—using high resolution photos to design and furnish empty rooms. Car companies have been using this technology for years. Take a look at how this can work for selling homes!

Every profession has it’s own alphabet soup of degrees and designations.  Some are very familiar to us such as  MD., PhD., RN., and DDS.  While some are specific to a particular profession such as medicine, others apply across fields  of study such as a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree.  What they all have in common, however, is that these degrees and designations identify a level of training or proficiency in a particular field of study.

The same is true in the real estate industry.  Real estate agents are required to have a license and a minimum level of training.  Some of us, however, pursue advanced levels of training and expertise.

When  you see that an agent has multiple letters or designations on her business card or website you can rest assured that your  agent will be among the most highly trained professionals in the industry. It shows you that your agent has pursued advanced training in areas such as finance, marketing and technology so you can be confident that your agent has the dedication, experience and commitment to excellence that you need to guide you through the real estate process.

When chosing a real estate agent to represent you  when buying or selling a home, doesn’t it make sense to chose a agent who demonstrates a high standard of expertise? Here are  the designations and advance training I’ve acheived so far, but stay tuned… I’m working on a new one!

I played golf this Saturday.  Yes, it was a little chilly, especially in the morning.  As I put on my winter golf gloves and set up for my first drive of the round, it occurred to me that playing golf in November in Andover  is somewhat like buying or selling a home in Andover this time of the year.  Golfers who brave the autumn winds and chill to play truly love the game.  Similarly, homeowners who list their homes for sale and  home buyers who are actively searching for homes in the fall and winter, are truly committed to the process.  So yes, now can be a good time to be an active home buyer or home seller and here are 6 reasons why this is true.

1. Sellers, we know buyers must feel at comfortable in a home before writing an offer.  What is more comfortable than a warm, festive home dressed up for the holidays?
2. Buyers, sellers who takes the time and effort to keep their homes tidy and welcoming for you, especially during the busy holiday season, have a sincere desire to sell the their home.  They may therefore be more willing to negotiate the various terms of the purchase contract.
3. Less competition–yes, throughout the year home buyers and home sellers are in competition for one and other.  While there may be fewer home buyers actively searching for homes and fewer homes listed for sale, when the right home comes along buyers will have fewer competing buyers to outbid, and when the right buyer comes along sellers will have fewer listings to outshine.
4. The “off season” makes it easier to schedule related services such as appraisals, movers, attorneys and contractors.
5. Corporate moves.  Corporations make more employee transfers in January than any other time of the year so this is an opportunity to tap into the relocation market.
6. Interest rates, interest rates, interest rates.  You’ve heard this before…interest rates at historic lows and home prices leveling off.  Buyers and sellers can both take advantage of this incredible opportunity.

Search for your new home.