• Make sure that you have enough in savings to cover your mortgage while you find a new job, should you lose your job. Many experts recommend at the very least to have six months worth of savings to cover all expenses, including the mortgage.
• Understand before purchasing your home, all of the expenses that will be involved to maintain the home. If you are considering purchasing a fixer-upper, make a list of all of the inevitable things that will need to be replaced or repaired and their costs. 
• Consider your other expenses, such as your car payment or transportation costs, taxes, etc. and whether or not this new home will be affordable for you.

• Flowers, flowers, flowers. Nothing welcomes a potential buyer more to a home than colorful flowers.
• Keep walkways clear, trimmed and weeded.
• Patios must be power-washed.
• Windows should be sparkling.
• Dust everywhere. Even the baseboards.
• Since potential buyers look everywhere, make sure underneath your sinks and closets are clean, clutter-free and odor-free.
• Remove all personal items such as framed photos, awards and collectibles. Buyers need to be able to imagine the space as theirs.
• Paint any room that is a bright color, a neutral color.
• Remove any worn or outdated furniture.
• Repair any chipped or smudged paint, broken fixtures or squeaky doors.
• Toss worn carpets.
• Consider replacing dated hardware.

Elegant North Andover Colonial home for sale

 Elegant Colonial set on a picuresque acre lot. Sophisticated style and first class amenities throughout including central air conditioning , hardwood flooring, custom built-in cabinetry, 5 true bedrooms, 3.5 baths and more than 1000 square feet of beautiful lower level living space. In home office, plenty of storage and desirable cul-de-sac location.  Take a virtual tour  of this fine home, schedule a private showing by contacting me at RE/MAX Partners in Andover, MA or search the entire MLS and sign up for free email updates!

Elegant North Andover Home For Sale — New Listing is a post from: Andover | North Andover Real Estate & Home Town News

A surprisingly peaceful backyard retreat that comes with this charming Cape style home. From top to bottom this bright and sunny home is truly move in condition. All systems go-including new roof 2004, oil tank and chimney 2006 and bonus pellet stove to reduce heat costs. Close to Andover Center and commuter routes, this home offers expansion possibilities as well as an oversized 2 car garage perfect for storage, workshop or hobbies. Abuts acres of conservation land. To schedule a private showing contact me at RE/MAX Partners in Andover.  To search all current listings and recieve free email updates in Andover, North Andover and all of Massachusetts sign up for my MLS Property Finder!

Andover Home For Sale–New Listing is a post from: Andover | North Andover Real Estate & Home Town News

• Fire Safety includes keeping pot and pan handles turned away from the outside of the stove when cooking, so they can not be bumped into.
• Keep all space heaters at least one foot away from anything that is flammable, such as furniture, draperies, even people.
• Never store propane tanks indoors.
• Electrical safety includes never putting electrical cords across doorways or under carpets.
• Never plug major appliances into extension cords; separate outlets only.
• Consider an electrical inspection for your home. 400,000 fires per year are due to faulty electric wiring.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms periodically and change batteries yearly.
• Devise a home fire escape plan that includes more than one exit and that every family member knows about.
• Teach children to call 911 from a neighbor’s phone in the event of a fire.
• Affix rugs to the floor to avoid slipping.
• With children in the home, always attach brackets to bookshelves.

• Purchase a carbon monoxide detector to place within 10 feet of every sleeping area in your home.
• Change the batteries yearly, when you change your fire alarm batteries.
• Have your furnace and fireplace checked regularly by a professional.
• Use your generators properly.
• Avoid “warming up” your car if the garage is attached to your home.

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Coughing
• Irregular Heartbeat
• Pale skin with cherry red lips and ear tips

1. Keep dead tree limbs picked up.
2. Keep driveway, steps and walkways plowed, shoveled and salted at all times.
3. Keep gutters clean - so no icicles can form.
4. Replace weather-stripping as needed to keep drafts away.
5. Keep all valves to outdoor spigots turned off to avoid burst pipes.
6. Holiday decorations should be put away as soon as possible.
7. Keeping a roaring fireplace during an open house this time of year is always a good thing.
8. Keep lists handy for all potential buyers of all of your home’s energy efficiencies, i.e. wrapped pipes, extra insulation, new windows, etc.
9. Keep all windows clean to let in as much light as possible. Remove all screens to storage and take down any heavy drapes. This will let in that extra light that so many potential buyers will be demanding this time of year.
10. Keep as many lights on as possible during showings. If you cannot be there, set lights on timers and add motion sensors to walkways. You may even consider installing motion detectors for walk-in closets.
11. Keep photos around your home showing the house in all seasons. A nice shot of your blooming flowers and lush green shrubs will help potential buyers understand what is under all of that snow!
12. Keep the indoor temperature at a comfortable setting.  You want potential buyers to linger and to see themselves relaxing at home.  A shivering buyer will be thinking more about getting back into a warm car than arranging their furniture in their new home.

Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable real estate option to single-family homes in Andover and North Andover Massachusetts. But here are just a few of the many  facts to consider before you buy.

1. Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to store belongings.

1. Outdoor space. Yards and outdoor areas are usually smaller in condos, so if you like to garden or entertain outdoors, this may not be a good fit. However, if you hate yard work, this may be the perfect option for you.

1. Amenities. Many condo properties have swimming pools, fitness centers, and other facilities that would be very expensive in a single-family home.

1. Maintenance. Many condos have onsite maintenance personnel to care for common areas, do repairs in your unit, and let in workers when you’re not home.

1. Security. Many condos have keyed entries and or even door attendants. Plus, you’ll be closer to other people in case of an emergency.

1. Reserve funds and association fees. Although fees generally help pay for amenities and provide savings for future repairs, you will have to pay the fees agreed to by the condo board, whether or not you’re interested in the amenity or not.

1. Resale. The ease of selling your unit is more dependent on what else is for sale in your building, since units are usually fairly similar. Single-family homes usually are more individual.

1. Freedom. Although you have a vote, the rules of the condo association can affect your ability to use your property. For example, some condos prohibit home-based businesses. Others prohibit pets. Read the covenants, restrictions, and bylaws of the condo carefully before you make an offer.

1. Proximity. You’re much closer to your neighbors in a condo or townhome. If possible, try to meet your closest prospective neighbors before making a decision.

Search for condominiums for sale in Andover, North Andover and surrounding communities.

Reprinted from Realtor Magazine Online with permission of National Association of Realtors Copywrite 2005 All Rights Reserved.

Should I buy a single family home or a condominium in Andover or North Andover? is a post from: Andover | North Andover Real Estate & Home Town News